Rin's Abi

Rin walks into the kitchen looking like he has only been conscious for approximately thirty seconds. His black shirt is hanging loosely on his frame, his hair is a complete mess and his eyes are narrowed against the morning light.

Then he sees you, the children and something in his expression immediately softens.

It happens every single time.

No matter how exhausted he is, no matter how hard training was, no matter how stressful life gets, one look at his family and all those sharp edges disappear.

"Papa!"

Aoi immediately reaches for him.Rin sighs dramatically.

"You just woke up."

"Carry."

"You have legs."

"Carry."

Rin loses the battle instantly, as usual.

He takes her from your arms despite pretending to complain.

The second she's in his embrace, Aoi grabs both his cheeks and squishes them together.

Rin allows it, without resistance, like a man accepting his fate.

Aoi giggles."Papa pretty."

Rin freezes.

You physically watch his soul leave his body.

Aoi has always had that effect on him. She could probably convince him to hand over his World Cup trophy if she asked nicely enough.

Before he can recover, Ren starts tugging on his shirt.

"Papa, me too."

Rin looks down and then without a word he scoops Ren up with his free arm.

The result is ridiculous.

One child hanging from each side while Rin stands there pretending he isn't completely wrapped around their little fingers.

"Heavy," he mutters.

Ren immediately hugs his neck. "Papa strong."

Rin stares at him and just like that, he's defeated again.

A little later, Rin finds himself standing in the bathroom doorway watching Ren brush his teeth.

Or at least attempt to.

Most of the toothpaste is somehow ending up everywhere except his mouth.

"Ren, that's not how you brush."

"It is."

Rin sighs as he crouches beside him, and instead of scolding him, he gently adjusts the toothbrush in his hand.

"Like this."

Ren watches carefully, his eyes never leave his father's face.

When Rin explains something, Ren listens as though every word is important.

Whether it's brushing teeth, tying shoelaces, kicking a football, or understanding why it's okay to cry when something hurts— Rin never rushes him.

He never mocks him, never tells him to stop feeling things because somewhere deep down, Rin remembers what it felt like to be a little boy carrying emotions too big for himself.

And he refuses to let Ren go through that alone.

A little later, Aoi discovers a different mission entirely. Unfortunately for Rin, that mission is making him do her hair.

"Papa."

"No."

"Please?"

Rin closes his eyes because he already knows he's lost.

Ten minutes later, he's sitting on the couch armed with a brush, three hair ties and with absolutely no idea what he's doing.

Aoi sits patiently in front of him, for approximately seven seconds.

Then she starts talking, turning around, moving, then giggling.

The final hairstyle resembles something created during a natural disaster.

You walk into the living room and stop.

"What happened?"

"I followed the instructions."

"There were instructions?"

"No."

Aoi proudly shows off the disaster on her head. "Papa made me pretty."

Rin immediately looks offended.

You end up fixing it while Aoi chatters happily between you both.

The entire time Rin watches with a look that makes your chest ache.

Because he genuinely tries, every single day.

Not because he's naturally good at these things, not because it comes easily.

But because his children ask for him— and that alone is enough reason.

By night, the house settles into a comfortable quiet.

Ren is asleep across your lap, one arm wrapped around his dinosaur plushie. His dark hair falls across his forehead exactly the way Rin's does.

Aoi is curled against Rin's chest, clutching the edge of his shirt while she sleeps. One tiny hand remains fisted in the fabric as if she's afraid he'll disappear if she lets go.

Rin keeps an arm around her automatically.

You glance toward him, and he is already looking at you.

For a moment neither of you speak.

Then Rin leans closer, close enough that his forehead brushes yours.

His eyes drift toward the children and when he speaks, his voice is barely above a whisper.

"I still can't believe this is my life."

You smile softly.

He watches Ren sleeping peacefully, then Aoi tucked safely against him. The corners of his eyes soften.

"You know..." he murmurs, "when I was younger, I thought football was everything." His hand gently smooths Aoi's hair. "I thought winning would be enough."

You stay quiet.

Because moments like this don't happen often. Rin isn't someone who opens his heart easily. But when he does, every word matters.

"They're everything now."

His gaze lingers on the children.The look on his face is almost overwhelming, filled with pure love and devotion.

The kind that has no conditions attached to it.

"They deserve a good father," Rin lowers his eyes for a second. "and I'm trying."

You reach up and cup his cheek.

The same cheek Aoi squished earlier, the same face your children search for whenever they're scared, excited, proud, or hurt.

"Rin," you say softly, "they already have one."

Something vulnerable flashes through his eyes, gone almost immediately.

But you catch it, the relief, the gratitude, the quiet happiness.

Rin leans forward and presses a kiss against your forehead as his hand finds yours, intertwining your fingers, holding tightly.

Later that night, after both children are tucked into bed, Rin pauses in the doorway of their room.

Moonlight filters through the curtains as Ren sleeps curled around his dinosaur plushie and Aoi hugs a doll to her chest, her tiny face completely peaceful.

The sight makes him stand there longer than necessary.

Just watching, memorizing, loving.

His expression softens into something almost painfully tender, something few people ever get to see.

Then, so quietly that only the darkness hears him, he whispers,"If I ever lose my way... remind me I have them." His gaze shifts toward you waiting for him. "And you."

For another moment he simply stands there, taking in the sight of his children sleeping safely.

Then he turns off the light and quietly closes the door.

And as the two of you walk away together through the quiet house, Rin squeezes your fingers just a little tighter than necessary.

Not because he's afraid you'll disappear.

Rin immediately turns around.

"You sound insane."

"I AM FEELING LIKE I'M GOING INSANE." You clutch your chest dramatically. " BECAUSE LOOK AT YOUR FACE."

Rin groans and covers his ears, "Stop screaming."

But totally ignoring him, you click through another picture.

And another and another.

Tiny Rin holding a toy fox, tiny Rin wearing a dinosaur shirt, tiny Rin asleep in a car seat, tiny Rin covered in cake frosting, tiny Rin laughing.

Just tiny Rin being genuinely happy.

You feel tears gathering in your eyes as you point at the screen. "He smiled, he was happy, he had joy."

Rin immediately reaches for the mouse.

You yank it away.

"NO."

"Give it."

"NEVER."

"Give me the mouse."

Rin grabs the armrest of your chair but you cling to the desk.

A brief struggle begins, one that would probably look ridiculous to anyone watching.

An elite striker worth millions wrestling his girlfriend over childhood photos.

Eventually you win through sheer insanity and Rin loses because he's afraid you'll hurt yourself and break the computer, so he lets go.

You grin victoriously. "I am keeping these."

"They're mine."

"They're mine now."

"They are absolutely not yours."

"They became mine when I fell in love with you."

"That's not how ownership works.

""It does, for ne."

Rin stares as you smile sweetly at him. He hates how often that smile works.

Anyways, ignoring his glare you click another picture.

In this picture baby Rin is fast asleep. His one tiny fist tucked against his cheek, his lips slightly parted, his blanket is tangled around him.

Completely defenseless, completely adorable.

You stare and point at the screen again, you hand is shaking.

Rin just closes his eyes.

"Look at him."

"No."

"I said LOOK!"

Against his better judgment, Rin glances, for one brief second, and immediately looks away again.

Because even he can admit, he had been a cute kid.

Rin sighs heavily but then you say the words that nearly stop his heart.

"I want our babies to look exactly like you."

Rin freezes because his brain has short-circuited. His ears are red too.

The kind of red he absolutely hates because you always notice.

And of course to his horror, you notice again.

"Oh my God."

"Don't."

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"Rin, you are literally red."

Rin turns away, which only confirms it.

You grin wickedly and walk toward him like a determined menace.

By the time you reach him, he's backed himself into the side of the bed.

You poke his cheek softly and his face immediately hardens.

But he doesn't move away.

"At least two."

His eyes widen.

"...What?"

"Children."

Rin nearly chokes and you laugh so hard that you nearly fall over again.

Rin watches you and despite all his complaints, all the embarrassment, his chest feels warm.

Because you're looking at those photos like they're priceless, like every version of him matters. Like not just the player, the striker, the version the world knows of him is only important.

Your laughter slowly quiets down as you lean against him, still smiling.

Still holding the mouse like a weapon.

Rin wraps an arm around your waist without thinking.

You immediately notice and grin."You love me."

"...Unfortunately."

The answer comes so quickly that you burst out laughing again making him roll his eyes.

Then you glance at the screen again and your eyes sparkle with dangerous ideas.

Rin recognizes that look instantly and immediately feels fear.

"Don't."

You look innocent. "I didn't say anything."

"Don't."

"What if Sae—"

"Absolutely not."

"But, he deserves to see—"

"No."

"The world deserves to see—"

"No."

"The future children—"

"NO."

You laugh so hard tears gather in your eyes.

And before you can continue your evil plans, Rin lunges forward. And the next thing you know, you're both tumbling onto the bed.

You squeal as he steals the mouse.

You try grabbing it back and he catches both your wrists with one hand and pins them above your head.

A few strands of his hair fall into his eyes,  which is still slightly damp from the shower, as his face hovers inches from yours.

"Listen carefully."

You immediately start smiling, because whenever Rin gets serious like this, he's usually about to lose.

"I am not cute."

You snort.

"And I definitely was not a dumpling."

You completely lose it and laughter explodes out of you.

Rin's expression darkens, embarrassed.

Because he knows you're never letting this go, ever.

Years from now you'll still be talking about it. You'll probably show them to your children. You'll probably make albums heck you'll probably frame one and the thought alone makes him want to disappear.

But at the same time—

The image of you showing those photos to your future kids while laughing together settles somewhere warm inside his chest.

A future, a home a family. With you.

His grip softens.

You smile up at him and brush a strand of hair away from his face. "You're precious, you know that?"

Rin's throat tightens as his eyes flick away.

"...Shut up."

But there's no bite behind the words. Only embarrassment and the quiet vulnerability he rarely lets anyone see.

You lean forward and kiss his cheek.

His ears immediately turn red again.

And when you laugh softly, he buries his face against your shoulder in defeat.

"...You're impossible."

You wrap both arms around him, holding him close, smiling into his hair."Maybe."

Rin lets out a long sigh, the kind that says he's accepted his fate.

Because the photos aren't getting deleted, the folder isn't staying hidden anymore.

And for the rest of his life, you're probably going to remind him that he was once an absurdly cute little boy with round cheeks and with a stuffed owl.

A horrifying future, truly.

Yet as he quietly folds himself closer against you, listening to your happy laughter fill the room, Rin finds that he doesn't really mind.

Your soul leaves your body.

You throw the blanket off immediately.

"Oh my god."

Bachira snorts. "Yeah, come quickly. He's terrifying."

"I'm on my way."

➽──────────────❥

The second you step into the club, your senses get assaulted by flashing lights, vibrating bass, alcohol and chaos. And somehow, in the middle of all of it, Rin still stands out instantly.

Even though he is being physically restrained by Barou and Isagi.

You stop walking.

Your boyfriend, who's normally composed to the point of being emotionally constipated, is currently fighting two professional athletes because apparently the only thing he wants in life right now is you.

His dark hair is messy, falling into his eyes. His cheeks are noticeably flushed from alcohol. His black shirt is half untucked like he stopped caring hours ago.

And somehow that only makes him look even more unfairly attractive.

Barou looks one second away from murder.

"Hold him properly, idiot!"

"I am holding him!" Isagi snaps back while Rin nearly drags both of them forward.

Bachira notices you first and his grin becomes horrifyingly wide.

"Ohhhh," he sings. "Look who's here."

Rin's head lifts immediately.

The second his eyes land on you, everything about him changes.

He freezes completely and the irritation disappears from his face completely. His expression softens instantly, dark eyes locking onto yours with such overwhelming focus that your chest tightens.

Then suddenly—

"YOUUUUUUU!"

He practically launches himself across the room.

Barou curses violently. Isagi stumbles sideways. And Rin crashes into you hard enough to nearly make you fall.

But his arms wrap around your waist immediately, lifting you clean off the floor like you weigh nothing.

"I missed you," he mumbles directly into your neck, words slurring together. "So much."

Your face burns instantly.

"R-Rin, oh my god—"

He pulls back only enough to cup your face in both hands, squishing your cheeks together while staring at you with glassy eyes full of drunken affection.

"I love you," he announces loudly.

The entire nearby area goes silent for half a second and then everyone's phone immediately comes out.

You want to evaporate.

"I love you," he repeats with complete seriousness, like this is the most important confession of his life. "You're so pretty."

"Delete those videos!" you shout in horror.

"Absolutely not," Reo says instantly, already recording excitedly.

Rin ignores everything happening around him because he's too busy kissing you.

Messily, everywhere. Your lips, your cheeks, the corner of your mouth, your jaw, your neck. He has absolutely no restraint or whatsoever now that he's drunk.

"I love you so much," he mutters between kisses, words warm against your skin. "Why weren't you here? I needed you."

You clutch the front of his shirt helplessly, completely overwhelmed by the fact that this is Rin, the same man who acts like hand-holding in public equals to scandal.

"I was home," you whisper desperately. "Rin, calm down—"

"No." The answer comes immediately. "I'm not calming down."

Then he kisses your cheek again.

"Not until I kiss you more."

Barou looks disgusted, Isagi is blushing, Bachira is whizzing, Reo is proudly recording without a care.

But then after a lot of pursuing they finally agrees to getting Rin into a cab.

Barou hurriedly opens the door of the cab while muttering about never pulling pranks on Rin again.

Isagi pushes Rin toward the seat with visible exhaustion.

And the second you climb into the cab, Rin immediately grabs you and drags you straight onto his lap.

"Mine," he mumbles, wrapping both arms around your waist possessively. "Stay."

"I'm literally right here."

"Good."

He buries his face in your chest immediately, arms tightening around you like he thinks you might disappear if he loosens his grip for even a second.

The city lights flicker through the windows while he absentmindedly traces lazy patterns against your waist.

Everything about him feels soft right now, so unlike the Rin everyone else knows.

Then suddenly he speaks again.

"You know..." he murmurs sleepily, "I'm gonna marry you."

You blink.

"...What?"

"I already planned it."

Your entire brain short-circuits.

"The ring," he continues seriously. "The proposal, the penthouse." He tilts his head up just enough to press a sloppy kiss against your jaw. "Two kids too."

Your heartbeat starts malfunctioning.

"A boy first," he says thoughtfully. "Then a girl."

You almost tear up.

"I wanna wake up with you every day." Another kiss. "Every morning." Another. "For the rest of my life."

You stare down at him in disbelief while he holds you like you're the only thing anchoring him to earth.

"You're so drunk," you whisper softly, running your fingers through his silky hair.

"And I still love you," he groans dramatically, hugging you tighter. "I always miss you. Even if you leave for like five minutes."

Your throat tightens painfully because he sounds so sincere, so vulnerable.

Rin nuzzles against your neck again, eyes half closed.

"I don't wanna hide it anymore," he mumbles quietly. "I just wanna love you."

And somehow that affects you more than everything else tonight.

Because sober Rin loves silently, through actions, protection, through the way he remembers every tiny thing about you.

But drunk Rin says it aloud like he physically can't hold it inside anymore.

By the time you finally get home, Rin is clinging to you so heavily that walking through the doorway becomes nearly impossible.

The second the door closes behind you, he grabs your wrist immediately.

"Bed," he says.

"You want to sleep?"

"No." His brows furrow like the suggestion offended him. "Want to hold you."

You laugh softly despite yourself and guide him toward the bedroom anyway. He stumbles dramatically before collapsing face-first onto the mattress with absolutely zero dignity.

Then he rolls over and opens his arms.

"Come here," he repeats with a VERY cute pout that can ruin nations.

And of course our heart doesn't survive it. So you lay down.

And the moment you lie down beside him, he wraps himself around you instantly like an oversized possessive cat.One arm slides around your waist, one hand disappears into your hair, one leg hooks over yours to trap you in place.

Then he exhales deeply against your shoulder like he can finally breathe properly again.

"God," he whispers, pressing slow kisses against your collarbone, "I love you so much."

You stroke his hair gently, unable to stop smiling.

"You're cute when you're drunk."

"I'm cute always," he mumbles immediately. "You're the one who says that."

You laugh quietly.

"Okay, yeah. True."

He lifts his head slightly then, staring at you through heavy-lidded eyes and suddenly the teasing expression disappears completely.

"Please don't leave me," he whispers.

Your chest aches instantly.

You cup his face carefully, brushing your thumb against his flushed cheek.

"I'm not leaving, ever."

Rin studies your expression for a few quiet seconds like he's making sure you mean it.

Then finally, slowly, he relaxes.

"Good," he murmurs.

He leans forward and presses a lingering kiss against your forehead, slow and warm and full of sleepy affection.

"You're my everything."

A few minutes later his words start slurring together from exhaustion but even while half-asleep, he still reaches for your hand.Still brings it to his lips.

Still presses one final sleepy kiss against your palm.

"I'm gonna marry you," he murmurs weakly. "Even if I gotta fight the whole world first."

Then his grip loosens slightly as sleep finally drags him under.

And you're left lying there in the dim quiet of your room, staring at your sleeping boyfriend while your entire face burns.

Silence fills the apartment.

Sae blinks once, twice, then a third time, slower this time, just to make sure he heard correctly.

Rin Itoshi, is in love.

The realization is so absurd Sae almost laughs.

Instead, he carefully places his coffee down on the table.

"With who?"

Rin immediately looks offended.

"Don't make me say it."

Sae leans back against the couch, expression smooth and unreadable.

"Rin."

"You know who."

"I want to hear you say it."

Rin looks like he's being tortured. His fists clench at his sides while his face twists with irritation, embarrassment and something close to panic.

For a second, Sae genuinely thinks Rin might leave through the nearest window instead of answering, but then Rin mutters your name so quietly that it's nearly inaudible.

Sae tilts his head.

"Hm? Didn't catch that."

Rin's head snaps upward immediately.

"YOU HEARD ME."

"I didn't."

"You're such an asshole."

"And you're still here."

Rin glares at him at first but then, after inhaling sharply like he's preparing to dive underwater, he finally forces the words out properly.

"I love Y/N! Happy?"

Sae stares at him for a moment before a slow smirk appears on his face.

Well, this is fascinating.

"You," Sae says carefully, "are talking about a girl instead of soccer. Of course I'm interested."

Rin groans like he's physically suffering and drags both hands down his face.

"This is why I didn't want to come here."

"And yet," Sae says smoothly, "here you are."

Rin mutters something violent under his breath and as usual Sae ignores it completely.

Instead, he studies his younger brother more carefully.

Rin looks restless in a way Sae rarely sees anymore. There's too much emotion trapped beneath his skin, too much tension in his shoulders, too much vulnerability leaking through the cracks of his usual cold demeanor.

It's strange and oddly human.

"How long?" Sae asks.

Rin immediately looks exhausted by the question.

"I don't know."

"That helpless, huh?"

Rin rakes a hand through his hair harshly.

"Weeks. Months. Maybe longer. I don't fucking know anymore."

He starts pacing again, fast. Sharp turns across the living room like he has too much energy trapped inside him and nowhere to put it.

Sae watches him with mild amusement.

"Calm down."

"I can't."

"Why?"

Rin stops abruptly, spinning toward him with frustration written all over his face.

"Because she makes everything worse."

Sae blinks.

"That's your definition of love?"

"Yes. No. Shut up."

Sae nearly laughs into his coffee while on the other hand, Rin looks genuinely miserable.

"I can't think when she's around," Rin says suddenly, voice strained. "My brain just stops working."

Sae hums softly.

"She talks and I forget what I was doing. She smiles and suddenly I can't focus on anything else. She touches me and I feel like I'm dying." He drags both hands through his hair again, frustrated. "I sound insane."

"You are insane."

"I KNOW THAT."

Rin starts pacing again immediately after yelling it and the sight is so ridiculous that Sae has to bite back a grin.

Rin Itoshi, cold, composed, terrifying Rin, is currently unraveling over a girl.

Amazing.

Sae decides to make it worse for entertainment purposes.

"Does she know?"

Rin stops dead in his tracks.

"No."

"Why not?"

Rin stares at him like the answer is obvious. "Because I don't know how to tell her!"

"You're telling me just fine."

"I DIDN'T WANT TO."

"But you still came."

Rin's eye twitches. "And I'm definitely regretting it."

Sae takes another slow sip of coffee, enjoying himself immensely now.

"So what exactly do you feel for her?"

Rin stares blankly at the wall for several seconds like Sae just handed him an impossible exam question, then he groans quietly and drops onto the couch, elbows resting against his knees.

"When she laughs," he mutters, "it pisses me off."

Sae snorts immediately.

"Very romantic."

Rin glares."Not because of her. Because everyone else can hear it too."

Sae nearly chokes on his coffee.

"So you're jealous of oxygen now?"

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID."

"It literally is."

Rin sinks lower into the couch, visibly regretting every life decision that led him here.

But once he starts talking, the words keep spilling out despite himself.

"When she looks at other people," he says more quietly, "I want to break something."

Sae nods thoughtfully. "Very funny."

"You're the worst person alive."

"And yet I'm still giving relationship advice."

Rin ignores that, his expression softens slightly instead, gaze lowering toward the floor.

"...When she touches me," he admits carefully, "even accidentally... my chest feels weird."

Sae raises an eyebrow.

"Like my heart stops." Rin looks deeply offended by the concept itself. "I hate it."

"No, you love it."

"For the love of god, Sae," Rin glares harder. "I'm trying to be serious."

And then something shifts slightly in Rin's expression, the frustration fades just enough for something softer to show through, something honest."She makes me want to be better."

Sae stills because that one catches him off guard. Because Rin doesn't say things like that.

Sae knows Rin's devotion has always been intense, consuming, absolute. So if someone makes him want to become better— not stronger, not more skilled in football but genuinely better— then this isn't some temporary crush.

This is real.

Sae leans back slowly, watching him more carefully now.

"Better how?"

Rin shrugs awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

"Everything," his voice drops quieter. "As a player. As a person. As a man."

There's a sincerity in his tone that almost feels foreign coming from him.

Sae's teasing expression softens slightly.

"Have you told her any of this?"

Rin immediately looks offended again.

"How the hell do I tell her that every time she ties her hair back I forget my entire identity?"

Sae lets out a short laugh.

"Poetically?"

"Do I look like a poet?"

"No," Sae says honestly. "You look like a disaster."

Rin flips him off instantly and Sae just smiles into his coffee.

For a while, silence settles between them.

Rin looks unusually uncertain sitting there, shoulders tense, gaze distant. Sae realizes then that beneath all the irritation and dramatics, Rin is genuinely scared.

Sae exhales softly before leaning forward slightly.

"Rin."

Rin glances up.

"If you love her," Sae says calmly, "then tell her."

Rin's throat bobs, and for a moment, he says nothing.

Then, quietly, "I'm scared."

Sae blinks once, because that might be the most honest thing Rin has said since coming here. "Of what?"

Rin looks away immediately.

"...That she won’t choose me."

The words come out rough and small, like they physically hurt to admit.

Sae watches him for a long moment, then he sighs softly.

"She will."

Rin looks up sharply.

"How the hell do you know that?"

Sae almost rolls his eyes.

Because honestly? Rin can read a soccer field in seconds but remains catastrophically stupid about emotions.

"If she's still with you after knowing all your flaws," Sae says simply.

Rin goes still.

"She genuinely loves you, half baked idiot."

Rin's breath catches slightly.

Sae notices the exact moment hope appears on his face— small, hesitant, almost disbelieving.

"...What?"

Sae shrugs and Rin's entire face turns red instantly. His ears become violently pink, and he immediately looks away like he's been shot.

Sae smirks.

Adorable.

"You're welcome," he says, standing up and grabbing his empty cup. "Now leave. I have training."

Rin stands too, muttering curses under his breath while heading toward the door. "You're an asshole."

"And you're a half baked idiot who's hopelessly in love."

Rin groans in agony.

Then, just as he reaches the door, he pauses.

Sae glances up.

Rin doesn't turn around when he speaks again.

"...Thanks, nii-chan."

Sae freezes completely. And by the time Sae processes the words, Rin is already gone— fleeing down the hallway with red ears and obvious embarrassment before Sae can react.

The front door clicks shut behind him.

Sae stares at it for several seconds.

Then he exhales quietly, shaking his head with a faint, helpless smile.

"That idiot," he murmurs softly while looking down at the abandoned coffee cup on the table and laughs under his breath.