Ah sorry I missed last week's chapter! I totally forgot to put it up on this site! I am on A03 for HQ with some stories under the same name if you wanna make sure to get the most updated chapters!
Disclaimer: Don't own them
Chapter Seven: The Other Side of Stoic
Cruising down the driveway of Little Crows on his motorcycle made Iwaizumi realize just how far away the wedding venue was from the rest of society. The long road was full of curves, the surrounding trees making for pretty scenery. There was nothing more relaxing to the cop than taking a solo drive on his bike, though it wasn't a coincidence that he had wound up at the wedding venue. Daichi, the man with a soft spot for a particular silver haired planner, had collected some of the RSPV's from the friends and family in town. His genius plan (which he refused to admit was a plan) had been to bring the invitations on their day off. It had nothing to do with Iwaizumi, so the grumpy cop left his partner to his own devices. If he wanted to make the long trip back to the wedding venue to fumble over his words and make a fool of himself, let him. It seemed like Sugawara liked the attention from his partner if the flirty texts (again, Daichi denied were flirty) were anything to go by. Maybe a Tuesday morning visit would be just what the two needed for one of them to stop dancing around their feelings.
But like a bad joke, the morning that Iwaizumi had planned to do absolutely nothing, Daichi called him. Sugar, being the curious dog that she was, had decided to investigate the bag of chocolates that one of their co-workers had given to Daichi the night before. And by investigate, he meant the canine devoured the whole thing while Daichi was taking a shower. Now stuck in the dog emergency room (Iwaizumi never thought he'd need to put those two words together), Daichi had turned to him to finish the job he had signed up for. Hajime had every right to say no, but the slight strain in Daichi's voice gave insight to just how anxious he had become over the dog's condition. Despite the mutt being a pain in the ass, Sugar was a good pet for his friend. She cheered up the serious man with unconditional love and happiness. He could only assume panic was rushing through his partner, as the dog had become a part of their weird family.
And maybe the long ride would help Iwaizumi ignore his own worry for the mutt.
Yanking his helmet off, Iwaizumi untied the box of invitations from the back of his bike before he yanked it under his arm. He could hear the shifting of the envelopes in the big box, and he wondered just how many Daichi had managed to gather in such a short amount of time. Seriously, the man was in deep for Sugawara. Shaking his head, Hajime jogged up the few steps to the entrance, hoping to find a friendly face. Though he had been shown Sugawara's office during the tour, he couldn't say he remembered exactly how to get there. Most of that could be blamed on his horrible tour guide. If Oikawa had been focused on showing them the important parts of the venue instead of Iwaizumi's bicep size, he wouldn't be lost. Scoffing at the thought of the weird wedding planner, Iwaizumi started to walk through the spacious building, hoping to stumble onto anyone but Oikawa. The quicker he could deposit the invitations, the smaller the probability of running into the perverted man.
A soft mummering of voices could be heard around the corner of the hallway, and the officer realized too late just who it was. Though his back was to him, Oikawa was a hard man to mistake. Currently, the flirty planner was squaring off to what Iwaizumi could only assume was his next victim. Debating if he wanted to interrupt the man to ask where Sugawara was, the dark haired man caught his first clear snippet of their conversation.
"I'm not a carnival attraction, you know. You can't pay for a ticket to ride me." The clipped tone that Oikawa was using was out of character, and it was then that Iwaizumi picked up on how tense his shoulders looked. Hands were placed firmly on his hips, the brunette's back straight and lacking any sense of friendly demeanor. It wasn't hard to realize just how displeased he was with his current company, as the officer was always quite perceptive with body language. Right now, the planner's limbs were practically screaming for space, which his companion refused to pick up on.
"Come on, babe. You're not even giving me a fair chance."
"That's the beauty of being me: I don't have to." Sharp tongued and clearly not in the mood to play naive, Oikawa took a step back and made a shooing motion with his hand. "Now go find yourself another chew toy to play with, I'm quite busy at the moment."
"How am I supposed to leave without some sort of prize? The best man said you've got some skill with your mouth, but I'd need first hand experience to really be a judge."
"I slept with your friend because I thought he was attractive. Whatever game you think you have is not doing it for me. If I wanted to sleep with you, I would have, and yet I still have my pants on. Can you put your context clues together, Dora, or do I need to sing for your map?" The stunned look on the other man almost made Iwaizumi snort, though a slight smirk did twitch at his lips. Who knew the pain in the ass could be so witty? It was almost impressive to Iwaizumi. His personality was shit, and grated on every one of the cop's nerves, yet he could appreciate just how quick he was with a comeback.
"You're acting pretty snobby for a guy who sleeps with anything with a pulse." The bite to the man's tone showed he was both embarrassed and angry, though Oikawa simply sighed before he dramatically placed his hand to his heart.
"I'm wounded. Ow. Whatever will I do without your approval?" Sarcasm dripped from each word, and from how Oikawa had turned, Iwaizumi could see the smug smile painted over Oikawa's lips. "Just remember that you got rejected by the man who 'sleeps with anything with a pulse'. Think long and hard on that one, babe."
"Fuck you."
"Not likely." The dismissive way Oikawa turned his back to the man was the final insult to injury, and Iwaizumi almost felt the burn from how red the man's face was. Oikawa's eyes caught his for a second, lighting up with clarity and an excitement that had been missing during his previous conversation. Before the tailor could call out to the cop, a hand jerked him back, shoving him hard into the wall of the hallway to face his previous discussion partner. Before Oikawa could speak, a hand had snagged his jaw forcefully, making him look up at the rejected man. Brown eyes sharpened like daggers as Oikawa glared, making sure his disgust was palpable even without speech.
"I wasn't finished talking to you." It was clear the man did not take the humiliation well, his grip tightening on Oikawa's face as he spoke. To the wedding planner's credit he didn't flinch, though it was clear to the cop that Oikawa wasn't one to get into a physical altercation. He had a silver tongue, but his fighting skills were doubtful to match. He created dreams for his clients, not bruises. It simply wasn't a part of his profession.
"You looking to catch an assault charge?" Lucky for the brunette, it was second nature for the cop to get physical. By the time the man had recognized the third man's appearance, his hands were forcibly removed from Oikawa, the officer now pressing the man hard into the wall. Pinning his arms behind his back, Iwaizumi made sure his shoulder was snug against the middle of the man's back. "I'm not in the position to arrest your stupid ass, but one call to my department and I can have three officers here in minutes. Ready to go to jail tonight?"
"I wasn't doing anything! Get off me!" The man tried to struggle against him, but Iwaizumi's grip was steady. It was no secret in the department that he was one of the strongest in the unit, winning several wrestling contests for charity each year. He prided himself on being in shape, and in cases like this it was easy to see the benefit. Ignoring the man's irate yelling, the officer sent a sharp glance over to the wide eyed tailor standing a few feet next to him.
"Want me to call the precinct?"
"Oh." It took a second for Oikawa to respond, but his eyes cleared quickly while he shook his head. "No, that's fine. I think our friend was just about to go crawl back into whatever sewer he came from. We don't want the police to get involved, right?"
"...Right." The other man's grumble was low, Iwaizumi not taking a chance on him getting another hand on Oikawa.
"Let's make sure he gets there." He pulled the man back from the wall, guiding him toward the entrance that he had travelled through minutes earlier. The release of the man's arms only came once he stumbled onto the front steps. Iwaizumi made sure his body blocked the doorway while he crossed his arms. "If I see you around here again, I'll be ignoring his request and I'll press the charges myself. Don't let me see you."
"Goodbye!" The sickly sweet voice of Oikawa floated close to Iwaizumi's ear, a sturdy chest pressing to his back as the wedding planner waved over his shoulder at the retreating man. The cop kept his stance firm until the car peeled out of the parking lot, Iwaizumi letting out a weak snort before stepping back into the hallway. A second later Oikawa was in front of him, brown eyes sparking with intrigue as he stared down at the slightly shorter cop. "Iwa-chan, you were so impressive! Using your muscular physique to man-handle him really was a sight to behold."
"I wouldn't have to do anything if you could keep your dick in your pants for more than three seconds."
"Don't be so harsh on me, I was just-ow." The pout on the tailor's face gave way to a look of pain when he parted his lips a little too wide, the cop catching the twitch in Oikawa's jaw. Remembering how the brunet's chin had been squeezed, Iwaizumi huffed before he stepped closer to the flirt and reached his hand up. "Iwa-chan, so bold-"
"Shut up for a second." The calm command took the tailor by surprise, Iwaizumi not hesitating to turn Oikawa's face for inspection. The pink marks from the man's thumb and index finger framed the brunette's lips, but they looked minor. He doubted they would bruise, though he swiped his thumb against one of the marks to check the sensitivity. "Does that hurt?"
"Only if it gets you to kiss it better."
"I'm being serious, jackass." Iwaizumi's insult made the planner smirk, leaning closer to the cop while pushing his cheek into the man's palm.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were concerned about me." There was a teasing tone entwined in his voice, and Iwaizumi rolled his eyes to show he caught onto it.
"Anyone would be."
"Wait, you're really worried?" The pompous act dissolved at the question, and Iwaizumi took a second to observe the other man before he shrugged.
"You're a pain in the ass, but I don't want to see you get hurt. So if guys like him keep harassing you, tell me. God knows you've got my number from all the damn pictures you send me. But even a guy like you doesn't need to be treated like that."
If he hadn't been so talented in reading the slightest of changes in people's expressions, Iwaizumi may have missed the way Oikawa's eyes opened a little wider than normal. He could feel the clenching of teeth just underneath Oikawa's soft cheek, making his eyebrow raise questioningly. The strange reaction was not what the cop expected from his perverted companion. Had something he said hit a nerve? And if so, why? The questions stayed in his mind, knowing it wasn't his place to ask. Over the past few weeks, Oikawa had texted him. Alot. And though many of them were full of pointless pictures and lewd comments, he had gotten to learn small parts about the man's personality. That did not make him an Oikawa expert. Even if he had years, he doubted he'd be able to fully master the complexity of Oikawa. Before witnessing the exchange, the officer assumed that the tailor wasn't picky with who he spent the night with. But with how clear he made his boundaries with the man, it seemed that there were more layers to the assistant than he thought.
"Iwa-chan…" The soft purr of the dreaded nickname snapped the cop from his musings, realizing that his moment of distraction had given Oikawa time to slip closer to him. Now the man's lean arms were wrapped around his neck, slender fingers gently carding through the hair at the back of his nape. The previous look of awe was gone, shadowed by half-lidded eyes and an aura that could make a stripper blush. Mentally swearing at letting his guard down, Iwaizumi held back a groan when Oikawa pressed his body into the cop's personal space. "You really should let me thank you for being my savior. And I could think of a few fun ways to express my overflowing gratitude."
"Dumbass," Iwaizumi spat out, shivering at the way Oikawa's fingernails gently scraped down the back of his neck.
"Let me repay my knight in shining armor. I promise I'll make it so good for you." Sensitive nerves were overloaded for a second at the dirty tone paired with how good the tips of Oikawa's nails felt on his sensitive skin. Refusing to fall victim to the pervert's trap, the cop quickly shrugged the touch away from him before he ducked under the other arm to separate the two of them.
"I'll pass."
"Don't be so shy, Iwa-chan! I promise I won't bite hard." Oikawa's pout was automatic when Iwaizumi escaped, but the officer ignored it to move back toward the box he had dropped when apprehending the man. Making sure the top was still secure on the box, he straightened back up before holding the box out to Oikawa's grumpy face.
"If you give this to Sugawara, then we'll be even."
"This is not as fun as what I had planned." The blunt tone in Oikawa's voice didn't change the offer, the shorter man waiting until the huffing wedding planner took the box before he shrugged.
"I have a feeling you'll live, princess." The owlish look covering the tailor's face made Iwaizumi smirk, jerking his thumb the front door's way. "I'm heading out; got to go make sure Daichi's mutt is doing okay. Make sure your boss gets those, and keep your ass out of trouble."
"Or what, you'll arrest me? I may rob a bank if that's the case." The flirty wink added to the end of Oikawa's comment proved the lack of innocence his tone already gave away.
"You're a piece of work," the cop countered, Oikawa laughing in response.
"Make sure not to be a stranger, okay? I get so lonely when you're not here."
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." His voice lacked any serious thought of the offer, Iwaizumi spinning on his heel and moving toward the door. He gave a short wave over his shoulder as he spoke. "See ya around, Asskawa."
Distracted by his thoughts of Sugar while leaving the venue, Iwaizumi missed the troubled look that fell on the now flushed tailor's face.
Hinata was late. On a normal day, this fact would be nothing out of the ordinary. Never being the best with time management, the preschool teacher was always running on island time. Meetings, dinner parties, even the night he was awarded with "Outstanding teacher of the year" from his school, Hinata was a few minutes behind everyone else. It was just a part of who he was, and normally he didn't really mind. A bright smile and a rushed apology was enough to make most forgive him. Those who couldn't be swayed easily tended to forget their anger after a few infectious minutes with his charming personality. Yachi liked to say it was sneaky; Hinata simply called it a personal blessing.
But when it came to Kageyama, Hinata knew nothing short of a seppuku would satisfy the grouchy baker.
"It's his fault I'm super late!" He had planned to wear the same clothes he had at the preschool, not caring about the stains and smears of miscellaneous food on his pants. They were the only ones in the kitchen, and he tended to get even more messy helping the frigid baker. Why was he going to change to get messy again? However, on the way to the venue, Suga had called him. Kageyama, being the owner of the worst memory known to man, had forgotten to let Hinata know that he would be assisting in catering a wedding that night. As part of the crew, he was required to wear black clothes, as a party of seventy people would be seeing him. The miscommunication had made Hinata turn back around, dig through his barely touched closet for something semi-decent, and nearly break his scooter from how fast he was driving.
The preschool teacher burst into the kitchen, his apology and insult both stilling on his tongue when realizing the area wasn't empty. Several people were bustling around the kitchen, all in black with hair far neater than the orange mess atop Hinata's head. They must had been the waiting crew, if the empty plates balanced on skilled hands were anything to by.
"Behind!" When one nearly ran into his frozen form, Hinata decided standing in the middle of the chaos was not a safe place to be. First thing he needed to do was find Kageyama. Doing his best to weave through the waiters and waitresses, Hinata slinked his way around while keeping a keen eye out for the tall baker. It took him a few minutes to find Kageyama, but when he did, his mind momentarily slowed.
Kageyama looked really good in black. The professional attire he wore was different than his normal chef jacket, the red tie contrasting the dark blue of his eyes. The bangs that normally covered his forehead were swept to the side, making the silky strands look soft and fluffy. A few strands at the top of his head refused to stay down, but Hinata couldn't find the means to care. Paired with the button down black shirt and form fitting dress pants, the baker was a sight to see. The new look took Hinata a few seconds to acclimate to, and when he returned to the present, Kageyama's glare was directed at him.
"Dumbass, get over here." Hinata huffed at the insult, trying to blame his flushed cheeks on his anger as he stomped over to the irritated baker.
"What the hell, Kageyama?! Why didn't you tell me I was going to be helping in a wedding tonight!"
"Forgot." The one worded reply showed how little he cared about the conversation, his eyes darting over Hinata's shoulder to call to a man by the cooling racks. "Kinoshita-san, what's the status on the cinnamon spice cake?"
"Just finished cooling; still needs to be frosted to get it ready for serving." At the man's words, Kageyama swore, his hand racking through his bangs while his attention shifted to another part of the kitchen.
"For now, I want Narita's team to start plating the other two cake options. Those who aren't helping Narita should be out at the tables getting the orders from each group. Write down the number of the table and the tally of each style of cake. Understood?" It was strange to hear Kageyama speak to the group of wedding helpers, especially since Hinata knew first hand how much he hated conversation. But from the slight strain in the normally composed man's voice, it was obvious his stress was overseeding his nerves. The group was in motion as soon as the words were out of his mouth, Kageyama glancing down to Hinata with a scowl. "What are you looking at?"
"You look like you're about to pass out." The blunt words made Kageyama tense, his eyes sharpening despite the red scorching his cheeks.
"Shut up."
"Did something go wrong?" When Kageyama turned away from him to cross the bustling kitchen, Hinata followed, his voice rising over the noise of the other workers. "And what's up with the multiple cakes?"
"The groom's mother, step mother, and father refused to agree on a cake. Trying to please all three, the couple asked if we could make multiple cakes." Kageyama's irritation was quite clear on his face as he moved to a bowl of frosting another baker was finishing, giving him a soft direction that Hinata hadn't been able to hear. The woman nodded before she scurried over to the man Kageyama had put in charge of frosting the cake. Kageyama took a quick glance to the clock on the wall, his teeth showing themselves when he clenched them. "But none of them bothered to let Suga-san know about the change of cake choices until this morning."
"That's why you're so far behind." A murderous glare made Hinata's spike straighten as he took a few steps back, bumping into one of the waitresses passing by. He quickly shouted out a 'sorry!' to the girl before turning back to Kageyama, who had already pointed toward the table with the unfinished dessert.
"Go help Kinoshita-san with the cake before I strangle you."
"Fine, no need to be rude," Hinata muttered, quick to duck under the hand that reached for his head before he scampered to the opposite side of the kitchen. By the time he got over to his new task, the man named Kinoshita had a knowing smile on his face.
"I'm gonna guess you're Shouyou." The look of surprise must have been easy to see from the casual shrug the new man gave him. "Sugawara-san told us to help you out since it's your first time working a wedding. Though from how many daggers Kageyama is mentally throwing at the back of your head, I'm thinking learning to plate will be the least of your worries."
"Is he that snappy with everyone?" Hinata griped, accepting the baker's tool he had no idea how to use. Kinoshita shook his head at the question, spinning the large cake on the turntable in order to smooth out the pink frosting. Hinata watched in awe as the man easily perfected the look of the dessert, even as he glanced up at Hinata and spoke.
"Normally he's not like this; Kageyama's pretty quiet when we're working together. It's just stressful for any baker to be asked to change something so close to the wedding. The fact that Kageyama was able to bake two additional cakes in the small timeframe they gave him while doing the rest of the prep work is just a example of his skill."
"So is he like the king of all bakers?" Hinata asked, exchanging the flattened spatula for the iron looking tool Kinoshita previously had used.
"He'd probably punch you for calling him that, but he's pretty high up there for skill. Before he worked here, we went to school together. I remember hearing after I left that some of the best bakeries in the world wanted them to come work for him," Kinoshita explained, swiping the overlapping frosting at the top of the cake to give a consistent look. He made the skill look easy, but Hinata knew that if he had tried the same tactic, it would have been a disaster. Instead he quietly watched, listening while Kinoshita enlightened him on the baker's past. "When he decided to come work here, a lot of our classmates called him a coward. Said he got too nervous to compete with the big dogs or something. I never believed it, though. Each time I come here to help cater a wedding, it's obvious he's gotten even better. I guess he just likes working with Sugawara and the others."
"I never knew he was that good." A quick glance to Kageyama showed he was plating the largest of the three cakes, easily separating the pieces with equal servings. Even as he did it, his eyes were constantly moving, checking each station to make sure everyone was working at a good pace. He didn't simply dish out orders; he was throwing himself into the mix, lending a hand when needed while still steering the ship. To be able to juggle so many tasks at once was a headache for Hinata, and he wasn't even the one doing the work! He could only imagine how Kageyama felt, yet for the most part the man was keeping it together.
"Finished over here, Kageyama." Kinoshita glanced back to Hinata, who had unknowingly gathered all of the frosting covered tools into his hands. "Go toss those into the sink and I'll have you help me plate these pieces."
"Right!" Off like a rocket Hinata went, now weaving through the mass of waiting staff with ease. It took him a few moments to get his bearings when arriving, but the short man was good at adapting to new situations. It was easy work to drop the frosting tools into the sink, his smile bright at accomplishing the simple task. He wasn't a cake master, but he could still be useful! Returning to Kinoshita's side, he was eager to assist in the next task, the two making quick work of the cake. It was an easy system to adapt to, and by the time the servers had come to retrieve the cake pieces, the two men had succeeded in separating the last two slices. As quick as they had been cut they were gone, whisked away to the awaiting tables of guests. Kinoshita gave a casual salute to Hinata before he too left the kitchen, the small man letting out a tired sigh while closing his eyes and leaning onto the counter. The kitchen now felt huge with the absence of people.
"Yo." Slowly Hinata's eyes reopened, glancing up to see Kageyama by the opposite counter. His hair was a little frazzled from the sweat on his forehead, but his eyes were just as sharp as ever. "Come here."
"Shouldn't we be going to check on the tables?" Hinata asked, wary of getting closer to the man. A roll of blue eyes showed Kageyama thought the question was stupid, his arms crossing over his chest.
"I let Narita and Kinoshita handle the people side of the business. Once the bride and groom have cut their ceremonial cake, I come back here." The explanation fit the baker's introverted nature quite well. It didn't seem like Kageyama's style to enjoy being in the spotlight for his work. Instead the baker took a step to the left of his counter, Hinata's attention darting down to the sole slice of cake laying on a folded up napkin.
"That looks so good," Hinata mumbled, feeling his mouth salivating at the sight. The dark red fondant flowers contrasted perfectly against the white frosting, a rich looking chocolate cake hidden beneath. Even separated from the other pieces, it was perfectly cut, the mastery of Kageyama's decorating skills on full display. The sweet tooth inside of him begged to devour the dessert, his tongue constantly pressing to his lips as he glanced up at Kageyama. "Why didn't you send it out with the others?"
"It's for you,idiot." The urge to smash the baker's face into the teasing treat was squashed when Kageyama glanced out the window, long fingers tangling in front of him as he spoke. "It's for forgetting to tell you about the attire. Turns out we didn't need you on the floor, but I should have been more aware of the situation and gave you ample notice."
"I can really eat it?" He tried not to sound too eager about the act of kindness, but realizing Kageyama had held back some cake just to give a roundabout apology made his desire to eat it double.
"Well it's not just for you to look at!" The baker barked out, Hinata ignoring the tone to skip over to the other side of the kitchen.
Instantly his hand went to the fork, not hesitating to pop a piece into his mouth. He felt his toes curl in his shoes at the sugary taste of perfection on his tongue. Kinoshita wasn't kidding; Kageyama's cakes were out of this world. And for someone who had eaten his body weight in sweets, he would know. Humming to show his appreciation over the flavor, Hinata took another large bite and grinned. He knew he should have offered to share. After all, Kageyama was the one who put all the actual work into the cake. While he was debating how to try and split up the rest of the quickly disappearing morsel, a warm hand on his head paused all train of thought. The fingers felt stiff on his head as they ruffled his hair, Hinata's eyes trained on the closeness of Kageyama's feet to his own.
"Kage...yama?" Hinata forced out, his slow swallow having nothing to do with the mouth-watering cake.
"G-Good job today." The awkward tone in the baker's voice proved he wasn't used to giving compliments, and the teacher felt an instant need to capture the look on Kageyama's face with his own eyes. Peeking up through his smooshed hair, the shorter man's breath stuttered at the sight. Though Kageyama still wasn't looking at him, the rosy color on his face only elevated the unsettling attractiveness he possessed. The hair he had tried so hard to control won its revolt, swaying back to rest on the pale skin of his forehead. His lips were caught between a smile and a frown, yet there was something so genuine in his expression that Hinata nearly dropped his fork from the heat that ran wild through his body.
Logically, the reaction made no sense; even with attractive women who treated him well, Shouyou had never had a physical response like this. His lungs felt tight and his stomach clenched with warmth, as if he had been given a free pass to eat any cake Kageyama baked for the rest of his life. The painful thump of his pulse was only challenged by his heartbeat, the smaller man feeling as if he had run a marathon. The touch on his head felt so comforting now, and after a second Hinata realized he wanted to lean into the touch. What was wrong with him?
"Hinata?" It took him a moment to realize that Kageyama had called to him, the teacher jumping back a few steps to separate the two of them. A cocked eyebrow from Kageyama proved he was acting strange, but before the man could question him, Narita poked his head into the kitchen.
"Kageyama, Sugawara-san is looking for you."
"Okay, thank you." Walking toward the exit of the kitchen, Kageyama sent a glance back to Hinata and shrugged. "You look like you've got a fever, so you should go home. I don't need you getting everyone else sick."
"Fever?" Hinata repeated, pressing his fingers to his cheek to feel the hot skin there. Kageyama nodded, pressing his hand to the heavy door before pausing in his walk.
"You work with kids; they carry plenty of viruses. If you're sick in two weeks, then I can't use you for-"
"Next week!" The blurted out response cut off the baker, Hinata squaring off to look at him while he gave a short nod. "I learned a lot today, so I've decided I'm going to come every week!"
"That's not the arrangement." Was Kageyama's instant reply, the oranged haired man refusing to take that for an answer.
"So what? I want to come next week." Seeming to want to avoid the fight, the baker scoffed before he relented.
"If you get in my way, I'm kicking you out."
"I won't, promise." There was a serious tone in Hinata's voice that seemed to catch the baker's attention, the lingering gaze between them making Hinata's fingertips tingle. The baker's lips parted to reply, but a sickly sweet noise wafted through the air.
"Tobio-kun, where are you?" Oikawa's voice was enough to set Kageyama into action, the baker not wasting time saying goodbye before he fled. Hinata was left alone in the kitchen, the giddy feeling bubbling in his chest clashing with the panic seeping in his mind.
He couldn't shake either feeling when he went to bed that night.
Tsukishima was ready to kill someone. Whoever thought having Hinata, Tanaka, and Noya in the same room that thursday afternoon was clinically insane. The only reason he refused to kill all three was that by legal terms, it would label him as a serial killer, and jury were more likely to sentence him to death. The fact that cops were sitting on either side of him were the only reasons all three were currently still breathing. The lawyer watched as Hinata practically bounced around the spacious room. He had been told that this was Oikawa's office, though it looked more like the back of a seamstress's workspace than a place to do business. Dresses were hung up throughout the space, mirrors and fitting platforms in abundance. The labels on most of the items were written in such poor handwriting, that even when wearing his glasses, Tsukishima couldn't decipher it as human.
Well, the writing matched the owner in that case.
"Noya! Come check out this hat!" Hinata's loud voice was full of pride as he slammed the floppy woman's hat onto his head, the brim decorated with bright flowers that Tsukishima found his gaze lingering on for a few seconds longer than necessary. "Wah, it's so big!"
"Hinata, put down the hat, or I'll make you buy it." Daichi's stern voice showed that his patience was running as thin as the lawyer's, Tsukishima getting a sadistic satisfaction from how quickly the teacher's face paled. Living on the small paycheck he did, the midget's wallet was always on the empty side. Though it would be chump change for the lawyer, he was sure Hinata wouldn't feel the same. Deciding to stoke the cop's fire, Tsukishima let his casual gaze flicker over to the bald man currently creating mischief in the corner.
"If Hinata has to buy the hat, can we make Tanaka-san wear that dress to the wedding?" The other best man froze at the attention, an aqua bridesmaid gown hanging around his neck. Noya was hysterically laughing on the ground next to the platform Tanaka was currently posing on, Ennoshita smacking his forehead with his palm as he mumbled about 'troubling friends'. A well placed look from Daichi had the bald man scrambling to toss off the dress, though thought better of his choice before carefully placing it back on the dress rack he had grabbed it from.
"I think Iwa-chan would look stunning in that color." Oikawa's smile was bright as he waltzed into the room, though the pompous tailor wasn't what caught the blonde's attention. That honor went to the man quietly following behind Oikawa. Though not covered in dirt and flowers, Yamaguchi still looked quite meek in comparison to the overinflated ego of the man who now draped a casual arm around his shoulders. "Don't you think so, my sweet little daisy?"
"Just say the word, Yamaguchi, and I'll arrest him for sexual harassment." Iwaizumi's words were met with a wave from Oikawa, Noya popping into the conversation next to Yamaguchi.
"Yamaguchi, what are you doing here?"
"Ah, well, I know a little bit about measurements, so I offered to help Oikawa-san." The hesitant smile from the florist was unsteady at best, his eyes briefly finding Tsukishima's before looking back to Noya. "I'm not nearly as capable as him, but he'll be able to correct anything he feels isn't right."
"I'm sure you'll do fine! Get a little confidence in yourself." Oikawa's words were paired with a few pats to the top of Yamaguchi's head, the tailor taking a large step to the group before he clasped his hands together and smiled. "Alright then, let's get started. Gentlemen, I'll be needing you to strip."
"Excuse me?" The flat tone Tsukishima used clearly showed his opposition to the request. He wasn't the only one; Asahi's face looked identical to a fire hydrant, and Iwaizumi nearly snapped his neck with how quickly his head whipped to glare at the tailor. Oikawa simply smirked at the reactions, Yamaguchi rushing to amend the statement.
"He means we'll need you to take off any scarves or jackets you're wearing. There's no need for you to get na-naked or anything!"
"If I knew you were going to ruin all my fun, I would have told you to stay in the greenhouse," Oikawa griped, his pout evident in his words while he sent a half-lidded gaze Iwaizumi's way. "I was really looking forward to seeing if I had guess all your sizes right."
"You better be talking about our waist measurements," the cop warned, Oikawa pressing his fingertip to the middle of his lips with a wink.
"I'd just like to know what I'm working with. You know, for future endeavours."
"Do you ever shut up?" Rolling his eyes, Iwaizumi shrugged off his jacket and dropped it onto the seat behind him. "Last time I checked, you don't need to talk to do your job."
"Always the cranky one. I'll be nice to my sweet pea and take grumpy gills." Scanning the group with the first serious look since entering the room, the tall brunette nodded at whatever his creative mind had decided. "Let's split them up by their height. If I give you an odd number, go to the left of the room. Evens to the right. You ready?"
"This feels like what the teachers used to do in math class," Tanaka complained, Ennoshita laughing at the disgruntled look his friend made. Seeing a perfect opportunity, Tsukishima smirked before casually responding.
"They did that because they were worried nobody would choose to work with you."
"What did you say?!" Snickering as Tanaka responded as volatile as he expected, the lawyer simply shrugged in mocked innocent before he turned his attention back to the two wedding planners in front of him. The separating of the group was simple, though Tsukishima disliked being in the same group as both Hinata and Tanaka. Ennoshita was little help to stop the rambunctious two from getting excited over the smallest piece of dirt. The only benefit of the grouping was that he had been shifted to the right, where Yamaguchi was setting up his supplies. If he was being honest, he should have wanted to be paired with Oikawa. Yamaguchi had voiced that he wasn't as skilled as the other man, and Tsukishima preferred to deal with the best option possible. Despite how elementary it was to take measurements, a miscalculation could result in an awkward fitting tux.
In a normal situation, the lawyer would have simply stated he would only work with Oikawa, making the others formulate a plan around his firm decision. Yet his voice stayed mute while watching Yamaguchi politely bow to Hinata. While Oikawa was more than a little talkative as he "measured" each of his groomsmen, the florist kept his voice soft. Maybe it was Oikawa's experience or overconfidence that let him flirt with each man while he worked. It was more than a little amusing to Tsukishima to see Daichi's well hidden modesty flare up at the tailor's intrusive questioning about his body, claiming he was asking "for a friend". And when the tailor gave a hum of approval when pressing the tape along the muscular thigh of the cop, Daichi looked two shades away from dying of mortification.
Yamaguchi was different, though the blonde expected as much. His eyes were concentrated on getting each of the numbers right, apologizing to Tanaka when asking to re-measure his arm span. He did engage in simple conversation with Ennoshita when wrapping the tape around his waist, complimenting the student on his brand of shirt. It didn't feel pretentious or filled with ulterior motives; the flower child genuinely liked the man's choice in clothing, and felt the desire to let him know. Was this naive fool made of pure honesty and innocent charm? The lawyer felt himself shaking his head, reminding himself that the defenseless man was not his problem. If anything, he was his enemy, as their bet had yet to be resolved.
"Shittykawa, you brush your hand near my ass again and I'll chop it off." The threatening tone that Iwaizumi used was met with an innocent look from the tailor, who tried to look confused despite the mentioned appendage still firm on the back of Iwaizumi's thigh.
"No need to get so defensive, Iwa-chan. I'm simply trying to get all your measurements accurate."
"I should have went to Yamaguchi; you know, the nice tailor," Iwaizumi grumbled, though Tsukishima saw a twinge of a smirk on the cops face when Oikawa's mouth dropped open in shock.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I'm tempted."
"That's cause our tailor is the best!" Tanaka's boasting over the stupid competition made Tsukishima scoff, though Hinata was quick to start chanting Yamaguchi's name. The look of bashful uneasiness made Yamaguchi quick to shake his head, his hands tightening on the tape measurer.
"That's not exactly true. Oikawa-san is fantastic at his job." Looking to change the subject, the florist turned toward Tsukishima and gave a lopsided smile. "I'll do your measurements-"
"It is true that I didn't hear Yamaguchi flirt once during his measurements," Daichi added in, laughing at the scrunching of Oikawa's nose. Crossing his arms, the tailor lifted his nose in the air to show his lack of interest in the conversation.
"That's because he doesn't know how to flirt. Our little Yamaguchi is still a lily white virgin, after all." The loud proclamation seemed to echo from the silence that followed it. Though the statement didn't seem like a big deal to Tsukishima, he noticed how quickly the man beside him tensed. Stealing a glance from the corner of his eye, the lawyer caught the pure look of mortification that washed over the freckled man's face. It wasn't the same twinges of embarrassment or modesty he held when someone was teasing him or complimenting his skill. Yamaguchi was truly affected by Oikawa's declaration. And that, for some reason, affected him as well.
It made no sense. Tsukishima thrived on one upping people. It was part of why he always tended to take the side of lower odds winning. Being able to rub it into a rich man's face when his wife won her case was almost as sweet as finding out just how many times the husband 'worked out' with the guy down the street. Humiliating someone was just second nature to Tsukishima. Hell, sometimes he hung out with Hinata just to find new things to bug him about. Tanaka's lack of maintaining a relationship was always fair game to the lawyer. But here, in this moment, he didn't want to jump on Oikawa's band wagon. Seeing Yamaguchi's face flush in humiliation was a completely different ballgame.
"Last time I checked, Hinata's score is still zero." The taunting voice he used was an easy way to make the pre-school teacher schwack in protest, though the lawyer didn't stop there. "I'm pretty sure his students were giving him pointers, but gave up. Even preschoolers know a lost cause when they see one."
"I-I totally have experience!" The obvious lie was so apparent in Hinata's voice, the room burst into laughter while Noya slapped him on the shoulder and snickered. Now red as a cherry, Hinata sent a glare toward Tsukishima, though the blonde didn't give it a second thought. Instead he turned his attention to Yamaguchi, the freckled florist doing his best to smile while watching Noya try to cheer his blushing friend up. It was so obvious that he was still feeling the aftereffects of Oikawa's words. Even when he turned to the lawyer to finish the measurements, he kept his eyes downcast and his speaking to a minimum. The stupid group he was with instantly blamed him for "scaring" Yamaguchi into silence, but the tall man knew better. If the hasty way the man collected his supplies wasn't a red flag, the horrible excuse of "checking on his flowers" while practically sprinting from the room was.
It only took Tsukishima a moment to 'tsk' and shove his hand into his pocket.
"Daichi-san."
"What's up?" Flashing his phone to imply it was ringing to Daichi, the cop gave a nod of understanding before the lawyer left the room, dropping the device back into his pocket. It wasn't uncommon for Tsukishima to get a phone call unexpectedly, so using it as an excuse to leave was never questioned. The man walked into the hallway as he glanced both ways, wondering which way the man in question went.
"Hey there, Tsukki." The smooth voice of a familiar photographer made Tsukishima's lips press tightly together, turning his body to see the tall man sitting on the ledge of the window. The camera hanging around his neck implied he was taking photos, though gave no implication as to what his focus was on. Currently, however, it was clear that Kuroo's eyes were trained on him. "You looking for something?"
"Cell service," Tsukishima answered, trying to keep his eye from twitching when Kuroo's weak hum implied he didn't believe the answer.
"Weird, I've never had problem with that here."
"Lucky you."
"I wonder if Yamaguchi has any trouble with that; it would explain why he came running out that very same door you did." Kuroo was playing with him. Though the man's posture was casual and inviting, the golden eyes showed the truth behind Kuroo's words. Like a cat toying with a mouse before devouring him, the photographer casually ran a hand through his stupid looking hairdo and sighed. "I never would think our flower child would get so upset over electronics. He looked ready to cry."
"Then as his friend, shouldn't you go take care of him?" Tsukishima's snappy comment was his attempt to cover the tug in his stomach, though Kuroo didn't seem to mind.
"Maybe, or maybe someone else should." If the lawyer was anyone else, he was sure his face would be flushed by the purposeful stare the dark haired man sent his way. The intensity was strong for only a moment before Kuroo shrugged, his camera being lifted to his eye before he turned back to the window. "You'd have better luck finding what you're looking for outside. If I had to guess, the best spot would probably be at the swingset behind the gazebo. It's a great place to go when you want to be alone...or, you know, get cell service."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tsukishima answered, his feet moving before he had finished his sentence.
"Good luck." Ignoring the implication behind the man's words, the blond didn't waste time replying while he left the hallway. It only took a few minutes to locate the swings that Kuroo had hinted at. Looking like a place for younger children to play while their parents dealt with wedding semantics, its only inhabitant was the freckled man that had fled earlier. His basket of supplies were dropped on the ground, Yamaguchi's hands tight on the chains that held up his swing. From the downcast face and slump in his shoulders, it was obvious that the man was upset. The pathetic display made the lawyer snort, making the florist's head jerk up in surprise.
"T-Tsukki? What are you-"
"You look like someone just shot your dog." The blunt reply had brown eyes widening in surprise, though that emotion quickly gave way to a flood of guilt as Yamaguchi glanced away and shrugged.
"Ah, sorry."
"Why did you let that idiot walk all over you?" Moving toward the swing beside the florist, Tsukishima gave a sour look to the dusty rubber before he sat down. Once steady on the seat, he tried to find the man's eyes again, though they looked quite content boring holes into the ground. "Next time he opens his mouth, just insult his lack of progress with Iwaizumi. I could think of seven things just off the top of my head that would put that pompous pervert in his place."
"Sorry." This apology was smaller than the first one, and it was easy to see that Tsukishima's tactic was only deepening Yamaguchi's embarrassment. "I guess I should be used to letting people pick on me, but I wasn't expecting that."
"Why would you be accustomed to it?"
"Well, I wasn't exactly in school." A shy brush of his nose showed that the brunet felt insecure over his statement, even if he tried to smile through the explanation. "I had a lot of stuff for people to made fun of. I've got all these weird things about me; I like flowers, I'm covered in freckles, my hair grows in a funny way, I'm pretty scrawny...I guess since I look like a dork, it's always been easy to tease me."
"You're not ugly." The straightforward comment made Yamaguchi sit up straight, Tsukishima now finding interest in the sway of the tree branches above them. "I'd expect these excuses from someone who lacked in the appearance category, such as Tanaka, but that's not your case. Your freckles suit you, as does your haircut and lack of overcompensating muscle definition. These features make you more approachable in your line of work. A job such as a florist has no reason for bulging pectorals. Smart individuals use their strengths in order to better themselves and put them ahead of their competition. Oikawa-san has a dramatic and playful nature which he turned into a talent by becoming a tailor for the biggest party a woman can throw. You worked your unintimidating nature by finding a career which fits you. It's a testament to your intelligence."
"I...never thought of it that way," Yamaguchi admitted, the rose color to his cheeks no longer being tinged with negative feelings. The florist let the swing sway a few times before he looked up at the lawyer and gave a meek smile. "Thanks for cheering me up, Tsukki."
"Don't make assumptions," Tsukishima scolded, keeping his face stoic. "This is just because people like Oikawa-san are particularly annoying."
"Oikawa-san?"
"His obsession with sex. It's not nearly as important as people imply it is in a relationship." He should have realized earlier that the other man was a virgin by how red his face got whenever the topic was brought up.
"S-So then...what do you look for in a boyfriend?" There was a heartbeat of silence between them, the creaking on the swing's old chains seeming to amplify in sound. Tsukishima rolled his eyes before he pushed off his swing, dusting the back of his jeans.
"Shut up, Yamaguchi."
"Sorry, Tsukki!" But unlike his previous apologies, this one was followed by a bout of laughter which implied the florist's earlier melancholy was gone. It was a weird sort of sound, but the lawyer could think of a hundred other noises that were more grating on the ears.
"Your focus should be on trying to win our bet." A casual glance behind his glasses toward the quieting florist made sure that the man heard his next taunting statement. "Or have you realized you're in over your head?"
"N-No way! I'm still in it to win." The brunet popped out of his swing after the brazen statement, moving to stand in front of the taller blond. "In fact, I was thinking you should come the greenhouse next week. If I don't have any clients, I can give you an actual tour of my whole garden."
"What a thrilling friday night." The sarcasm was heavy in Tsukishima's voice, but it didn't seem to deter Yamaguchi.
"I'll take that as a yes." Like being told he won a million dollars, Yamaguchi's smile was bright as he scrambled over to his basket of supplies. Both hands were tight around the handle as he peeked back up at Tsukishima, swinging the basket while he spoke. "Or if you're not busy now…"
"I'm actually due for a conference call in the next fifteen minutes." To emphasis the point, the lawyer lifted the phone from his pocket and gave it a slight wave. Being out of the office was a nice change of pace, but he still had hours of work to catch up on. Yamaguchi took the quiet refusal well, nodding before he glanced back to the swings.
"Well I won't take up any more of your time. Oh!" The idea that popped into Yamaguchi's head seemed to lose some of it's appeal on second thought from the loss of spark in his eyes.
"Yes?" Tsukishima raised an eyebrow at the weird look Yamaguchi's face made as he seemed to struggle with himself. The blonde was sure he heard the florist mumble 'just do it' to himself before he was moving, reaching up to grab the device from Tsukishima's hand. Taken aback by the bold move, the lawyer didn't fight the movement, watching silently as Yamaguchi typed something into the touchpad. Each button he clicked seemed to darken the color on the man's face, and he could be compared to a stop sign when he shoved the phone back into Tsukishima's possession.
"Uh, for when you want to come by. Just..give me a call? O-Or a text. Either's fine! Okay? See you around, Tsukki!" A second later Yamaguchi was gone, the florist clutching the basket like a lifeline to his chest as he scurried past the gazebo. The speed that the smaller man possessed made Tsukishima blink, wondering if he had acquired it from running from those who teased him in the past.
Glancing back down to the screen, he released a scoff when realizing that the freckled man had been too scattered to even write his name. Had he even noticed the number wasn't even saved yet? From how panicked his voice had sounded at the end, he doubted it. Tsukishima was used to the nervous aura people oozed when he walked into a room, as he was known for making most sweat. Yet there was something a little different about the florist; when it came to their bet, he shed any sense of fear. Most wet their pants when dealing with a stipulation involving the intelligent lawyer (something he revelled in). Yet the only time Yamaguchi become a blushing, stuttering freckled mess, was when they didn't talk about the bet. What the heck was that about?
His eyes refusing to waver from the screen, Tsukishima knew he could just erase the phone number and later blame it on the incompetency of the florist. Then he wouldn't be burdened with making plans with someone. And seriously, what self-respecting lawyer would consider going to a greenhouse for fun? He finally looked back to the path the mousy man had used to escape, remembering the overexerting smile Yamaguchi had after his 'pep talk'. A image that should have irritated him for it's sheer stupidity.
Yet it was that memory that had him save "Flower King" into his phone seconds before his conference call came in.
Ah Tsukki, such a little pain. But we all love him! So, what will happen in the next chapter? Will a certain couple cross the line? Or will they be left in a worst position than before? Gotta wait to find out next week! Again, come check me out on A03!
Next Chapter: Carpe Diem!
