Titolo: eternal friendship
Fandom: Free!
Personaggi: Nagisa Hazuki, Rei Ryuugazaki
Genere: fluff
Avvertimenti: fandom!AU, in inglese, gen
Parole: 747
Note: allo', la pokemon!AU la scrivo solo perché serve fare numero per il COW-T sta settimana, per la missione 4 visto che dobbiamo ancora completarla. E poi l'unico modo che avevo per non far finire Nagisa e Rei a trombare era renderli membri di due specie completamente diverse e lontanissime k bye btw il titolo viene dalla OST della prima stagioneeee TOT

They have been friends since the blond was in the womb and Rei was a Caterpie. Well, probably not that early, but Nagisa cannot remember one moment of his life where Rei was not there, beside him, taking care of him or cheering him up, playing with him, keeping him company when his parents imposed punishments on him, and obligations he could not understand. Rei understands him better than anyone else. Rei understands why little Nagisa would feel betrayed any time his parents would force him to study instead of letting him out to play.

Rei, right now, is Nagisa’s whole world. He is when they run around playing tag, Nagisa protesting any time Rei flies too high and cannot be touched. And every time Nagisa feels too energetic to sleep, at night, his friend takes care of him, dropping a bit of sleeping powder on his face. And then looks over him, in love with the way Nagisa’s strands of hair crown his soft round face. Rei, really, is in love with everything that is beautiful in the world. He wants to see more, he wants to see it all, learn to be the most beautiful and perfect Butterfree there is.

And then one day Rei decides Nagisa is big enough. He does not need a friend to keep him company since the blond bubbly teenager has met Makoto, and Haruka, and started traveling with them to pursue a career. Nagisa has it all planned: he will train hard, and then go work at a Pokémon Center, where he can take care of many amazing new friends. His beautiful friend does not need him anymore, he thinks. He already envisions their separation: filled with tears - on Nagisa’s part - and a happy farewell. Reality is the contrary of what he has imagined. Nagisa is crying, promising him that he will travel with him to see the world, he is telling his best friend that separating is not necessary. That there are many like him, many Butterfree, but he is the one. The one companion for a lifetime. Every flap of Rei’s wonderful wings away from him is physical pain, but still he cannot let Nagisa throw his dream away just because he cannot stand the idea of separating from each other.

Rei lands on his shoulder, nuzzling into him, into his golden locks. Nagisa understands why Rei’s dream would make them part ways, it just feels wrong to live without Rei on his side. He has imagined growing old together, like two friends bound by something stronger than blood or tears. Nagisa owes him too much. Rei owes Nagisa a lot too. When he flies away again, he leaves behind a promise. They will meet each other again.

Years have passed since then. Nagisa is one of the many nurses working at a hospital for Pokémon, one of the most resourceful people they have. He loves his job. He has cried many nights before understanding Rei did not abandon him, and he tied his hands and life with people, other little friends, has intertwined his existence with this amazing flourishing world, and has seen plenty of smiles from trainers and people just having Pokémon friends - like him - after he has cured their companions.

He has also seen many Pokémon die. He desperately cried every time, with others looking at him like they wouldn’t. He always cried for those innocent lives being lost because of cruel battles. He has always, perhaps in a selfish thought, imagined they were Rei. And always, his heart has broken.

All Butterfree look alike, more or less. But when, during a peaceful walk, he hears some wing flapping and a gentle squeal, Nagisa naturally feels his eyes prickle. He looks up, just about two feet above him, and smiles whispering, “took you long enough, Rei-chan.” They have a lot to tell each other. They will catch back and tell stories to one another, just like they used to.
Rei is very proud of his Nagisa. He has seen so many things in that time, but he will never see anything as precious and joyful as this boy. And that is why he came back. He is wrapped around his finger for life, and that is a fact he has accepted happily from the beginning.
The most pleasurable thing is, Nagisa did not change, almost like he wanted to wait for him to meet again, and then go on together.