Disclaimer: Diamond no Ace belongs to Terajima Yuuji.
Snapshots 01
1.
They start harassing him two months into his contract with the team. Someone catches him smiling at his phone one time too many, and someone else notices his lack of interest during their parties; put two and two together, and that's how the team realises that Takigawa Chris Yuu is unavailable.
None of them are surprised, not really. Some of them have suspected it; some of them are mildly disappointed. But what's done is done, and Chris looks like the loyal type. Which means there's only one thing left to do.
"Is she hot?
"Is she nice?
"Fuck you, why does it have to be a girl?"
"I bet it's a guy."
"Is he hot?"
But Chris just smiles, and tucks away his phone, and they're left to debate it amongst themselves.
As things goes, the issue escalates, and boils down to them running a betting pool. The money spreads out fairly evenly across both sides, and everyone's eager for answers.
One of them suggests stealing his phone. His security pin is only four digits long; it shouldn't take too long to crack.
The rest of the team is earnestly backing this proposal, and they're already halfway through a convoluted plan to whisk away the prize until someone carefully points out that something like that just might honestly piss Chris off, and no one wants to take the blame for that.
They scrap the idea.
No one actually realises how drastically gone they are until Chris walks in on them arguing about it in the lounge, chucking snacks and empty beer cans at each other from opposite sides of the room.
He doesn't laugh, but the faintly lopsided curve of his grin means Chris is definitely holding back. "Is this really what you guys do in your free time?"
"Chris, I swear if you don't tell us right now, one of us is gonna commit murder tonight."
"At least give us a name."
Chris does laugh then, looking far too amused at his teammate's distress. "Well, all I'll say is Kou-chan is most definitely not a girl."
Half the crowd groans in despair
(1.5)
"You should have seen it," Chris murmurs later that week, when the two of them are sprawled out on the couch, and neither of them are paying attention to the movie that's playing. He leans back, pressing against the other man's chest, drinking in the warmth. "Apparently, it's been going on for months."
Tanba makes a disbelieving sound in his throat, and his fingers flatten on Chris' stomach. "Your entire team is crazy."
He smiles, tangling their fingers together. "They're fun, though. Nice."
"As long as you're happy," Tanba says, pressing a kiss to his scalp.
2.
Chris can see them, out of the corner of his eyes. They're hunched together in a semi-circle, watching with so much intensity that it seeps into the atmosphere around them, buzzing with energy. It's making Tanba uncomfortable; he can see the other man tensing up, fingers curling into fists, unconsiously aware of the attention. Miyauchi, ever the observant one, casually sidles forward, planting himself directly between Tanba and Chris' teammates.
He makes a mental note to thank the former catcher later. "Don't force yourself to stay. I know these things can be pretty taxing.
"No kidding," Miyauchi retorts. "Sorry, Chris. I know it's been nearly three weeks, but Kouichirou owes me a drink."
Tanba grimaces. "Maybe next time?" There is a faint note of hope in his voice.
Chris smiles a little. "Of course. Don't worry about it. Thank you for coming."
Miyauchi snorts. "You sound like the host of the party."
"I am to you two." Chris turns to Tanba, meeting his gaze. "I'll see you later?"
Tanba nods, but he's biting his lip. Chris stares up at him quizzically; out of the corner of his eye, he sees Miyauchi turn away slightly, and Chris takes that as a sign to lean closer. Before he can say anything, Tanba's hand darts out lightning quick, fingers gripping his shoulder, tugging him forward. Chris stumbles, surprised-
-as Tanba presses a brief, chaste kiss to his forehead.
He pulls away just as quickly, and Chris stands there, blinking at him, gaping open-mouthed
Tanba's resolutely not looking at him, but his cheeks are flushed, so Chris thinks he can be fairly certain that what happened did indeed happen
"Well," Chris says, and swallows. Blinks some more. And then he's grinning wide, helplessly.
Tanba makes a strangled noise in his throat, and turns on his heels, marching towards the exit without so much as a glance back. Miyauchi follows suit, smirking as he gives him a final clap on the shoulder
Chris watches them go, his blood warm underneath his skin, heating his chest. He barely has time to consider composing himself when he's tackled bodily by several people at once. His team is hooting, cackling, shoving at him with teasing grins
"You dog. Flirting with your boyfriend right in front of us.
"Jackass. Have some shame."
"Someone's getting laid tonight."
"Good for him, because the rest of us aren't."
As the whole team turns as one onto the new target, tackling him to the floor, Chris steps quietly out of the way. He ducks his head, trying to hide the way he's still grinning, and uses every ounce of his willpower to resist touching his forehead, where he can still feel the brush of Tanba's lips, shy and feather-light
3.
They're halfway through a heated discussion of Lancelot and Guinevere when there's a knock on the door. Miyauchi goes over to answer it, stepping aside to let Chris in. Tanba watches from his perch on the chair, as the two men chat amiably. Despite the fact that his team played 12 innings earlier that day, there is only a hint of fatigue in the slant of his shoulders as Chris drops his bag by the foot of the bed.
He tunes into the conversation just in time to hear Miyauchi say, "-obviously want to talk to Kouichirou, so I'm heading off."
Tanba blinks at that, but the other man is already gathering his things. "Wait, what?"
"You two might have a limitless supply of energy, but I'm beat, so I'm going to sleep," he says, pausing by the door. "Once you finish the last book, you'll see what I mean. Until then, I'm calling this my win by default."
Miyauchi gives them both a lazy wave, and shuts the door. Tanba sighs, slides off the chair and pads over to Chris. "You wanted to talk?"
Chris gives him a brilliant smile, curling his fingers around Tanba's arms-
-and shoves, leaning his weight forward until they're both pressed up against a wall. Tanba bites out a startled yelp, but Chris just hums happily into his neck, grazing skin with his teeth. "Not really."
The thought comes to him slowly, later-much, much later-when they're both lying in bed, facing each other.
Chris is laughing, breathlessly delighted. The curl of his lips is radiant, the corners of his eyes crinkling, half hidden by his mussed up hair and the folds of his pillow. His laughter evens out into softer chuckles, eyes still closed.
Tanba reaches out, brushing his fringe aside, cupping his jaw. Chris meets his gaze, yellow eyes bright, as Tanba caresses his cheek.
It feels like a revelation, like a weight is dissipating from his chest, clearing his lungs; it feels like he's finally understanding what Chris has been saying, all this time.
"Because of the kiss earlier?" he asks in hushed wonder. "Because of me?"
"Yes," Chris says, and he must sense it too because his features soften, relaxing wholly and completely. "You."