Note: There's some pretty serious warnings on this fic. That stuff won't be graphically described, it's all in the past and is committed by characters made up for the purposes of the plot. The characters do talk about their experiences though. I don't want to get too specific with the tags in case people don't want spoilers but if you need more information the following link should take you to a tumblr post that describes the warnings in more detail, it does have spoilers but it's totally ok to read if you think it's best to check. Your safety is important.

Just in case the link isn't showing up it's available at nimbus-nsfw . tumblr post/152483413254/expanded-warnings-for-better-together with the spaces removed.

Chapter 1

Ryuunosuke isn't dissatisfied with his life. He has a job he mostly doesn't hate, a roommate who is also his best friend, enough money to get by, and a sister who cares about him. Sure, there were some things he would change if he could. Not so many long nights at work, not so tight of a budget, a better relationship with his dad, a cute partner to come home to. But he is ok.

He gets by. He has enough. He isn't dissatisfied.

He isn't looking for things to change.

But change is one of those things that seems to do as it wills, with no regard for the designs or desires of man. Unknown to Ryuu, a major change is in the wind and is coming for him. It enters his life on a lazy spring breeze, and the ring of a doorbell in the early afternoon.

At first, Ryuu isn't sure what has woken him, but a few moments later the doorbell rings again. He debates just ignoring it and hoping whoever it is will just go away. He'd worked a closing shift the night before and hadn't even gotten home till well into the early morning.

But, he reasons, he is already awake now and he isn't going to be able to go back to sleep either way, so he may as well see who it is. He makes his way out of his bedroom and shuffles towards the door, not bothering to look for a shirt.

At first when he opens the door he is blinded by the sunlight in the open air hallway, but when his eyes adjust he notices the cute redhead from the third floor. The boy's face is so red with a blush it is hard to see the freckles scattered across his nose and cheeks, and he looks away quickly after seeing Ryuu. The redhead shifts his weight, his grip too tight on the handlebars of his bike.

"Noya's at work sorry." Ryuu says.

He knows the redhead works in some sort of bike courier business that does a lot of jobs for the company his roommate works for. The two had met a few times through that and through living in the same building and he knows they are on good terms. He doesn't let himself be disappointed by how uncomfortable this guy is to talk to him. Ryuu knows between the tattoos, the piercings, and the buzz cut, he has a style not everyone approves of or is comfortable with. It's part of the reason he likes the style, but it can be annoying sometimes. Like now.

"Um… I'm- I'm not here to see Nishinoya." The redhead says nervously. "I um...I actually needed to talk to you and Nishinoya said you'd be home right now so…"

Ryuu raises an eyebrow in response. He'd never actually spoken to the redhead, didn't even know his name, they were in very different professions. He has wanted to talk to him since he had moved in last summer but he can't think of any reason for them to need to talk.

"Um…" The redhead continues. He takes a deep breath and seems to gather his courage, looking Ryuu in the eyes as he continues. "Will you pretend to be my boyfriend and come visit my family?"

Ryuu is so caught off guard by the intensity of his stare he almost completely misses what he said. He goes over it several times in his head though, sure he misheard because he does not understand.

"What?" He says after giving in to the fact that he's not going to figure it out on his own.

"I have to visit my family next weekend for an annual get together thing. Whenever I visit my mom always tries to get me back together with my ex and I really just don't want to deal with that this time so I need someone to pretend to be my boyfriend so she'll think I've moved on and stop trying to get us back together." The redhead explains in a rush.

"Why would you want me for that?" Ryuu asks, he's not really the type even people he's actually dating want to meet their parents and he's got a bad feeling that maybe this kid has the wrong idea about him. "I ain't gonna beat up your ex for you if that's what you're looking for."

The red head's eyes widen and he shakes his head 'no'.

"No, no that's fine I don't want you to do that." He says. "I'm asking you because it has to be someone my mom doesn't already know and Nishinoya said it was a bad idea to hire someone from online... and he suggested you…"

So his roommate volunteered him? If Noya's so invested in this why doesn't he just do it himself.

He may have mentioned to Noya a few hundred times how cute the redhead is, but he really hopes this isn't some ill conceived plan on Noya's part to get them together.

He runs his hand over his short hair, the redhead blushes and looks away again.

"You want to come in? We can at least talk it over more?" He asks, stepping back in the doorway and gesturing inside.

The redhead frowns and bites his lip, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

"I actually have to get to work soon, sorry." He says. He holds out a small folded piece of paper towards Ryuu even though he still won't look at him. When Ryuu takes the paper he notices how small the redheads hands are compared to his own. Is anything about this kid not adorable? He wonders.

"That has my number. You could text me your questions and I'll answer in between jobs?" The redhead says.

"Umm… sure." Ryuu responds. The redhead nods in response and starts to walk his bike towards the exit.

"Wait!" Ryuu says stepping out into the hallway. He can feel his own cheeks heat up with a blush when the redhead turns back to him question all over his expression. "I um… I don't know your name?"

"Oh." The redhead says and runs a hand through his hair sheepishly. "My bad I should have said."

"My name is Hinata Shouyou." He says and smiles at Ryuu before waving and leaving.

Ryuu makes his way back inside his apartment, leaning against the back of the door with a groan.

He's going to say yes, he already knows it. That smile is too much and he's weak for cute things and people that need help.

This is all Noya's fault.

Note: I hope you liked it? Comments/messages are appreciated. I'm not sure about the title? So if anyone has any comments/suggestions about that I'd love to hear them.

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