Chapter Nine: The Meaning of Us

Kenma felt weird having a friend other than Kuroo on his couch. Despite being in the middle of the super smash battle, Kenma gave a side glance to the orange hair that was now jerking with each pound of the remote.

"Jump, you big ape! Donkey Kong smash!" Hinata's loud yell did not match the moves that his player was making, showing this wasn't a game the teacher played often.

"Please be quieter, Kuroo is in the other room," Kenma requested, pressing a set of buttons in order to hit a tilt up kick. Watching the furry animal fly into the air was somewhat satisfying for the editor, though he kept it inside as he quietly initiated another melee of hits. In seconds a well placed up-smash had Donkey Kong slamming into the screen, making Hinata's fourth life disappear from the bar in the corner. All five of Kenma's lives were still bright on the bottom of the screen, showing his skill with the cloaked woman.

"No way! I totally had you this time." Hinata's groan was muffled into the pillow on the couch, Kenma brushing his hair behind his ear as he shrugged.

"Your damage was too high."

"This game is unfair. If a giant monkey throws a weak princess off a cliff, she should be crushed!"

"So if I throw a shrimp off my spot on the couch, will the result be the same?" Both short men peeked behind them to see Kuroo's lazy grin, the man pressing his large hand onto Hinata's head to ruffle the unruly hair.

"Kuroo," Kenma condoned, the photographer's eyes showing pure mischief when looking at his roommate.

"Don't worry, I'm not staying to reclaim my position as your best friend."

"You're leaving?" Kenma was surprised at the nod from Kuroo, who finally released the annoyed teacher's head to move into the kitchen. Even as the game started the next round, Kenma couldn't say his full attention was on Hinata's charging character.

"Yup, Bokuto and Akaashi are meeting me downtown for a drink. I guess birdhead's got some girl from his job he wants me to meet."

"Ah." Trying to drop the conversation, the editor turned back to the screen to barely block the monkey's offensive attack. Despite the close call, it felt harder for Kenma to type in his memorized moved as his mind drifted back to the conversation Kuroo had started. "We know her?"

"Nope, some new girl. Bokuto says she's into motorcycles and messy hair, which apparently means we're the perfect match."

"You own a bike? Iwaizumi rides one too-yes!" Hinata's loud cheer after finally knocking Sheik off the screen was instant, the short man tossing his hands into the air. Kenma's irritation felt out of place for the loss, never getting upset when his friend got a lucky shot. But pairing it with Kuroo's reply seemed to damper his mood. Not sure how to represent this, Kenma kept quiet, focusing on hammering away at his opponent's health percentage.

"I've never really liked driving in cars, but I've got to be able to get to location shootings. I made a compromise."

"Do you bring Kenma on it?"

"Yup, he's even got his own helmet." Kuroo's voice was filled with pride as he moved over to the front door, sliding on his shoes before lifting his head back to the quiet blond. "Do you want me to bring you something home for dinner?We're going to that restaurant with the killer macaroni and cheese."

"Yes please," Kenma answered, though didn't let his eyes move from the screen in front of him. He fought back a flinch when a warm hand pressed to the top of his head, gently petting down his silky hair.

"Don't get too lonely without me, kitten." Then with a short goodbye to Hinata, Kuroo was out of the apartment, the door closing quietly behind him. Kenma took a slow breath after the man disappeared, not sure why he had been holding it. Trying to ignore his muddled feelings, Kenma watched Sheik evade one of Donkey Kong's fists by jumping to a broken piece of Hyrule Temple, surprised when the character didn't give chase. Looking over to Hinata, the editor was met with a concerned gaze from his friend, making Kenma blink before lowering his controller.

"What?"

"Are you okay?" The question wasn't what the blond was expecting, and Hinata took the initiative to continue. "I mean, with Kuroo going on a date and all."

"He didn't call it that," Kenma answered, Shouyou shrugging before he leaned back on the couch.

"Wasn't it implied? I mean, that Bokuto guy said they were a good match up or something. If they hit it off, Kuroo would probably go out with her again."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Not if he's the one who makes your heart go all 'whoosh'." Hinata's blunt response was enough to make Kenma blush, his bright cheeks seeming to make the teacher second guess his statement. "Wasn't it Kuroo who you were talking about before?"

"I don't know."

"If he was, then you shouldn't have let him go out with that girl. You could have said something, and Kuroo would have listened."

"It's not my place," Kenma answered instantly, disliking the way his heart squeezed in his chest. He tried to keep his unpleasant feeling from showing as he anxiously rotated the control stick with his thumb. "I don't know if this woman is good a match for Kuroo or not."

"But you like him! It doesn't matter if you know her or not; you don't want to see him dating someone else, right?" The question made Kenma squirm in his seat, unsure of why he couldn't deny Shouyou's claim. Kuroo was his best friend, yes, but that was different than liking him. The implication the teacher was making should have made Kenma uncomfortable. And it did, just not in the way that he had thought it would. Instead, his stomach cramped and a queasy ache gurgled in his stomach when imagining Kuroo finding solace in another person. All the time, Kuroo suggested that Kenma was trying to replace him. But what if the opposite happened?

"Maybe." The ambivalent answer didn't seem to satisfy Hinata, but Kenma was quick to continue by changing the subject. "You want to play the storyline this time? I'll let you be player one."

"Really? I've never made it through the whole thing before!" The excitement that glowed in Hinata's face was enough to assure Kenma that the previous conversation was no longer relevant. Still, even as he listened to his friend chatter while he picked from the menu, Kenma couldn't shake the sickening feeling still pooling in the deep part of his stomach.


If Tsukishima had to pick one word to describe his current mood, livid seemed the most appropriate. Normally Fridays were the days in which the lawyer felt a sense of relief at the work week being over. Though he tended to do work on Saturdays, he enjoyed the solace of his home. There were no annoying co-workers to cut down to size, and he had the option of sleeping in if he felt inclined to. This particular Friday had been filled with more clients than normal, as he had taken an early day the previous week for the tux adjustments. The middle of the day was a grind to get to, and even the schooled lawyer felt a little anxious to finish the day off quickly.

But just as he ended his session with his last client of the day, the blond's secretary had informed him that he had a message waiting in his office.

Since you've yet to reach out to your fiance in regards to your friend's wedding, I took the liberty of contacting the family on your behalf. Kiyoko-san is free for July 8th and her father has agreed to have her accompany you. I expect you to treat her as the proper man you have been taught to be and escort your fiance accordingly. We'll talk soon.

He wasn't sure why thirty minutes after receiving the message the lawyer was driving his BMW down the windy road of "Little Crows". It had simply been the first address that he had popped into his gps while slamming his office door. Now, as he moved from the front seat of his car to take in the venue, the lawyer wondered why the semi-familiar scenery made the ache in the top of his spine start to dissipate.

"Yo, Tsukki!" An automatic twitch pulled at the lawyer's eye, his golden glare lifting up toward the source of the annoying nickname.

"Don't call me that, Kuroo-san." The photographer seemed quite content to lay his arms over the balcony of the venue, his grin wide despite the firm tone in Tsukishima's voice.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of seeing you here so late in the evening?"

"Please fall," was Tsukishima's reply, the photographer giving a low whistle before casually running one tan hand through his messy hair.

"Sounds like someone needs a little pick-me-up. Yams is in his greenhouse; let our little sunflower put a smile on that grumpy face."

"Go away." Tsukishima let his feet walk toward a familiar greenhouse behind the main building, strategically ignoring the obnoxious laughter from the annoying brunet. The sun was close to gone, low enough for the lights in the glass building to turn on. The glow made it easy to see through the greenhouse, a small silhouette being the only movement inside. Quietly the lawyer stepped through the open door, pushing his glasses up his nose to observe the humming florist pointing his pencil at one of the rows of flowers in front of him.

"Row twenty three's carnations are blooming well, and look like they'll be ready for next week's wedding. Now the roses…" Yamaguchi's words trailed off as he turned, brown eyes rounding in surprise when seeming to finally realize he had a visitor. It was almost comical when the freckled man jumped, fumbling to keep his clipboard from dropping from his hands.

"Do you always talk to yourself?" He couldn't resist the teasing remark, especially when Yamaguchi's cheeks darkened to match the red flowers he had previously been counting. Finally composing himself, Yamaguchi tapped his pencil against the clipboard and cleared his throat.

"Ah, good evening! What are you doing here?" The question seemed to be the theme of the night, though he had yet come up with a plausible answer. It made his eyebrows furrow, the lawyer giving a slow glance to the greenhouse around them. The huge glass structure looked much wider inside, allowing the florist to keep hundreds of flowers with no fear of weather deterioration. Slowly walking down the row that the florist was currently occupying, Tsukishima kept his eyes on the greenery while he spoke.

"I need a bouquet that says 'fuck you'."

"Wh-what?" He didn't need to look up to tell the request was not what Yamaguchi had expected, the blond shrugging before running his slender fingers against the petals of the purple flower in front of him.

"I'll pay you, of course. Money's not an issue, though I would like them before I leave." Finally turning his sharp eyes to the man, Tsukishima kept his face serious to show the request wasn't his attempt at being funny. "Can you do it?"

"Ah, well…" Yamaguchi's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, nervous eyes flickering around the greenhouse before he gave a quiet nod. "Just a moment."

"I've got time." Then the lawyer fell silent, keeping his attention on the man now weaving through the rows of flowers. A brown cowlick swayed with Yamaguchi's movements, his fingers quick to pick out flowers from different rows. It was impressive to see how fast the florist moved, seeming to memorize where each specific flower was grown in the massive greenhouse. Even if given a picture of the desired plant, Tsukishima wasn't sure he would be able to work as efficiently as the man now hesitantly returning in front of him. "You finished?"

"I believe so," Yamaguchi answered, his fingers arranging the bundle in his hands as he spoke. "I'll need to clean up the bottoms and get some paper from my workshop to wrap them, if you'd like them finished tonight."

"Care to tell me what I'm buying?"

"Oh, right!" Blushing as pink as the first flower he lifted, Yamaguchi twirled the funnel shaped plant as he spoke. "The petunia is representative of resentment and anger, despite their popularity in normal gardens. By pairing it with these yellow carnations, which are the flower representation of rejection and disdain, this bouquet takes on quite a negative connotation. Finally, these small orange bundles are called butterfly weed. Though quite beautiful in their color, the reason I didn't suggest them for Noya and Asahi's wedding is because their meaning is literally 'leave me alone'."

"Quite a statement," Tsukishima surmised, Yamaguchi's smile wide as he nodded.

"Yes! So you see, if I scatter some of these into the arrangement, you'll have your...your 'fuck you' bouquet." The tips of the florist's ears were pink after his comment, and the lawyer felt a smirk twitch at the side of his mouth. It was obvious that the man wasn't the swearing type. Yet somehow, hearing such rough words from the soft man pleased the blonde.

"I'll buy it." Yamaguchi gave a quick nod, moving the flowers to a bench and gently placing them against the wood.

"Just let me finish the inventory on this row and I'll have them wrapped up for you, okay?"

"That's fine." From the business point of view, Tsukishima understood the need to finish one objective before jumping into another one. He had come unannounced and asked the man for a favor while he was trying to finish his duties for the night; he could spare a few minutes to allow the florist to finish his task. He wasn't that much of an ass. Turning his gaze back toward the collection of flowers that Yamaguchi had put together for him, a question formed in the lawyer's head. "I do have to ask; why would you keep flowers with such negative meanings in a wedding venue?"

"Many people don't know the true meaning behind flowers, though I warn them if they make a selection such as your own. If you have a mix of positive and negative flowers, sometimes the flowers can take on different meanings."

"Such as?" The curiosity from the blonde seemed to excite the florist, who didn't hesitate to point to a flower toward the end of the row.

"You see that white flower that kind of resembles a carnation? It's called a Begonia. Their meaning is 'deep thinking', which paired with the yellow carnation could mean that the person deeply hates the situation or person they are thinking of. However, when paired with something like the red rose, the deep thinking is thoughts of love, not hatred. And when alone, it gives off the meaning of intelligence and adaptability. That's my Suga-san flower."

"You've picked out flowers for your co-workers?"

"Ah, not on purpose!" Yamaguchi's lip was tugged between his teeth after his admission, showing his embarrassment. "It just...happened, I guess."

"Please tell me you picked the one that equates to 'pain in the ass' for Kuroo-san." Tsukishima's dry answer had Yamaguchi laughing, his earlier modesty dissolving as he shook his head.

"Kuroo-san isn't all bad. Here, I'll show you." A warm hand was around his wrist before Tsukishima could protest, the eager florist pulling him deeper into the greenhouse as he scanned the rows. "I know I still have a few left over here-ah! This one."

"It looks stupid." Not bothering to hold back his honest opinion, the blond scrunched his face at the dark flower that he was staring at. It looked almost black, though the gleam of light proved the purple tint to the long petals in front of him.

"This is the Cattleya orchid. It's known for it's exotic beauty, and it represents a mature charm to those who know it's true meaning. Whenever I see it, I think of Kuroo-san." The fond way Yamaguchi spoke of the flower mirrored the soft expression of the florist's face, Tsukishima quietly watching the man beside him. Why did Yamaguchi get so sentimental over plants? They were just flowers, not human beings. They couldn't hold conversation or even retain memory of the time and effort the freckled man put into nurturing them. And yet Yamaguchi treated them with such care that Tsukishima couldn't force himself to berate his wasted sentiment.

"I can only imagine what ridiculous flower you'd choose for Oikawa-san." Instead, the lawyer gave the florist an opportunity to divulge deeper into his personal happiness. Yamaguchi was more than willing to show the teal bundle he called Hydrangeas, which represented a boastful vanity as well graceful beauty that Tsukishima had to admit reflected Oikawa quite well. He struggled to admit that the purple tulip, reflecting solitary elegance, could relate to the snotty baker Kageyama. Kenma's relationship to Kuroo seemed to reflect in the yellow Alstroemeria, Tsukishima agreeing with Yamaguchi's definition "devotion to friendship".

Yamaguchi also educated the lawyer on some of the colors of each flower, like how sending a yellow rose and red rose gave two completely different implications. Things that Tsukishima would never bother to think about were second nature to Yamaguchi, who seemed more than willing to share his knowledge with the quiet lawyer. Some flowers had historical stories, while others were woven into mythology of different cultures. Even as the sun completely disappeared from the sky, implying that Tsukishima had been in the greenhouse far longer than he had intended, he couldn't voice his complaint of time wasted. Each time the words started to form on his lips, Yamaguchi's face would light up at spotting a flower he had yet to explain to his companion.

"And so then when Aphrodite started to cry over Adonis dying, the tears were said to create the Anemone flower-"

"Yamaguchi." At the call of his name, Yamaguchi paused in his story, lifting his head from the tiny purple flower which he had previously been talking about.

"Yes?"

"Is there a particular flower you'd represent yourself with?"

"Oh, I've...never really thought about it." Yamaguchi's answer wasn't surprising to the lawyer; the florist was so focused on the positive qualities of the people around him, he'd never be able to truly think of himself for long. It was no wonder the man had no self confidence when it came to himself. Yamaguchi's eyes swept the ground in humility before he casually threw out a comment to diffuse the sudden silence. "But I've thought of one for you."

"Me?" Golden eyes narrowing on the man nodding in front of him, Tsukishima crossed his arms over his chest as he scoffed. "Might as well show me, then."

"It's over here." Again Yamaguchi grabbed his wrist, though the taller man didn't voice a complaint at the touch. Instead, he remained silent as Yamaguchi pulled them in front of a flower that Tsukishima had never encountered before. Slender and tall, the bright yellow flowers grew in a vertical line up the sturdy stem of the plant. The funnel of the flower was familiar to the petunia and daffodile, though neither grouped so efficiently as the flower in front of him.

"What is it?"

"They're called gladiolus," Yamaguchi answered, the familiar fondness he had used earlier returning to his tone as he stepped closer to Tsukishima. "Sometimes they're known as 'sword lilies' because of their unique growing pattern. But they've also garnered that name because of their meaning in the florist culture. Gladiolus are representative of strength and moral integrity. And...well, I guess that kind of reminds me of you."

"What, you run out of flowers that meant 'cocky' or 'rude'?" Tsukishima asked, Yamaguchi's smile weak as he reached out to run his fingers over the bright petals in front of him.

"I used to think you were like that the first time I met you. But the more time I spend with you, the more I get to see the person underneath the lawyer persona."

"Most agree there's nothing redeeming about my 'true' personality." Brown eyes sparkled with genuine honesty as they flickered up to Tsukishima, the florist seeming to hesitate with his words before continuing.

"You're not a bad person, though. I enjoy spending time with you, Tsukki." Yamaguchi's face scrunched after his comment, the man shaking his head quickly. "Ah, sorry! I know you don't like when people call you that-"

"Don't worry about it." At the confused look that Yamaguchi gave him, Tsukishima gave a slow shrug. "I expect weird nicknames from you, flower king."

"T-Tsukki!" The bright color to Yamaguchi's face made Tsukishima smirk, enjoying how flushed his counterpart was. He would never say the embarrassing name in front of another living soul, yet having something like this to hang over Yamaguchi's head was enough to satisfy his sadistic side. Before he could continue his teasing, a sudden splash of cold water hit into his face, instantly removing any sign of amusement. His eyes darted over to his right, barely catching sight of the small sprinkler at his side before his glasses were doused with another shot of water.

"What the fuc-"

"It's eight already?!" Yamaguchi's cry of shock drew Tsukishima's attention back to the florist, the blob of brunet reflecting in the water on his lenses. Growling as he snatched his glasses from his face to wipe them clean, the florist continued with his quick explanation. "The sprinklers always turn on at 8pm, since I'm normally out of here by now. I just got distracted and I was having so much fun-I'm sorry, Tsukki!"

"Stop apologizing; we need to move." Taking the initiative after he could see again, Tsukishima snatched the man's soaking hand to drag him through the greenhouse. Sprinklers were raining water down on them as they ran, the lawyer keeping his free hand perched on his forehead to keep his glasses from getting splashed again. By the time the two finally made it to the corner of the greenhouse and away from the spray of the sprinklers, both were dripping wet. The suit that was worth a pretty penny was heavy from the water, his shoes squishing each time he shifted in them. Yamaguchi was pressed into the corner of the greenhouse, Tsukishima leaning next to him while both men tried to catch their breath from their previous running.

"They should shut off in a minute or so."

"Fantastic." The sarcasm that dripped from Tsukishima's voice was almost as evident as the line of water now trailing down the side of his cheek.

"Should I apologize again?" Yamaguchi peeked up through his shaggy hair which was now plastered against his cheeks, a hint of a smile threatening to spread when Tsukishima glared down at him.

"Don't make me drown you with the water in my pocket." The intimidating tone seemed to have the opposite effect on the florist, who burst into giggles as soon as the words were out. The shorter man tried to quell his laughter as he stepped in front of Tsukishima and lifted his free hand, wiping some remaining water off Tsukishima's lenses.

"Sorry, Tsukki." Yet the lack of sympathy in his voice was quite evident to both, Yamaguchi starting to laugh again when the lawyer rolled his eyes and reached over to flick the brunet's cowlick.

"Even now, this thing refuses to stay down."

"Ah, I guess. But…" Yamaguchi let his fingers linger against Tsukishima's temple, the warm palm resting gently on the curve of the blonde's cheekbone. "Someone once said it looked good on me."

"It does." The words slipped out without warning, making Yamaguchi's eyes widen. The hand now snugly pressed into Tsukishima's tensed, the lawyer schooling his features to try and ignore the skipped heartbeat in his chest. "Though the original statement was that your looks suit your occupation."

"R-Right." Neither spoke after that, though the sudden lack of background noise signaled to Tsukishima that the sprinklers had finished their job.

"You should finish my bouquet before I'm given another unwanted shower by your ill-timed sprinklers." The comment seemed to snap Yamaguchi into action. The florist yanked his hands away from the lawyer and nodded with enough force to snap his neck.

"I'll be right back!" And off the man went, using the familiar speed he had displayed during their last encounter. The lapse of Yamaguchi brought attention to just how uncomfortable the wet clothing was against his skin, making Tsukishima grimace in annoyance. Why hadn't he yelled at Yamaguchi for not remembering when the sprinklers would come on? Normally, the blunder would get a tongue lashing from the blonde before he made the responsible party agree to pay for the dry cleaning. If he was in a particularly bad mood, as he had been, he wouldn't be satisfied until the other person was grovelling at his feet or crying. Yet none of that had happened, mainly because Tsukishima hadn't gotten mad. And though he hated to admit it, it didn't take a brainiac to realize why. The flash of the florist's laughing face and shy touch made Tsukishima's stomach cramp, his skin warming with an unwanted hint of a blush.

Yamaguchi Tadashi was more dangerous than Tsukishima had originally thought.


Hinata knew that he shouldn't be humming so happily over something that Daichi had forced him to do. Wednesday used to be the day he would work on his arms at the gym, or go to the buffet with Noya and Tanaka. Sometimes both if the mechanics didn't have a lot of cars in the shop. But since the lava cake incident, Hinata hadn't really minded the shift in his schedule. At first it had been a pain, but it had been a month since the catastrophe and Hinata was getting used to his new obligation.

It had nothing to do with wanting to spend time with Kageyama. Or, he hadn't thought it did. Nine times out of ten, the man was aggravated at the way Hinata breathed, nevermind when he talked. They bickered like an old married couple. The thought made the teacher nearly trip down the long stairs to the basement, cheeks rising in color as his mind drifted back to the conversation he had the night before.

"So you decided to go there every week because of a piece of cake and a pat on the head?" Yachi's disbelieving tone made Hinata scowl, his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear while he flipped the grilled cheese in his pan. His hectic schedule at the school with the final quarter approaching made it hard for him to see his best friend, though they made sure to call each other once a week for updates on each other's lives. Hinata had just finished explaining the weird interaction with Kageyama at the wedding, still unsure why he had decided to increase their time spent together.

"Yachi, it's not just any cake. Kageyama makes the best cake, and I would know; I've tasted almost every type of cake in the state! This stuff literally melts in your mouth and then explodes in pure amazing taste. It's the cake's fault!"

"Or, here's a thought; is it possible that you like the cake because it's Kageyama making it? The guy you've already openly said is very attractive-"

"I said his eyes were eccentric looking," Hinata argued, the sigh in the phone making the teacher visualize his friend rolling her eyes.

"Could this just be another indication that you just like Kageyama?"

"I like the cake, Yachi, the cake!"

"Can't you like both?" Hinata's mouth opened to answer the question only to realize he didn't have a response. His nose twitched at the smell of burning food, Hinata mentally swearing as he rushed to flip the sandwich over. Though part of the bread was charred and looked unappealing, it wasn't enough to deem the meal a lost cause. Staring down at the cooking grilled cheese, his mind went over Yachi's question.

"I don't know...I mean, I like Kageyama as a friend, even when he picks on me and calls me names. But sometimes he's really cool and I...this is all really weird to think about," Hinata admitted, his voice low as if uneasy voicing his thoughts.

"You're overthinking this because he's a guy." Yachi's words of wisdom seemed to make sense to the troubled teacher, who remained quiet when the blonde continued. "Why don't you just try to see how your heart feels next time you hang out? You've never been the type to think things through logically; you're always going on instinct. So just let that side of you take over, and see where it leads you. And who knows, maybe you'll be able to pick up on what Kageyama is feeling about you, too."

"Why do I feel like you just insulted me?" Hinata was answered with a laugh from his friend, making him pout before continuing. "But alright, if you really think it'll work..."

"Trust me; it will."

"Kageyama!" Hinata's loud call of the baker's name echoed in the large room. Instantly Kageyama flinched, turning his head to glare at the man now jogging across his kitchen.

"Idiot, not so loud-"

"Are those cupcakes?!" The excitement and hunger that swirled in Hinata's stomach was instant at the delicious scene in front of him. In rows of multiple colors, the mix of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes were enough to make the teacher's mouth water. His attention drifted up the large table, fascinated by the bright colored frostings already decorating the first three rows. It only took him a second realize the pattern of colors. "Rainbow cupcakes?"

"They're for an engagement party; the brides paid extra for these to be presented at the party," Kageyama explained, his blue eyes dropping back down to the bare cupcake in front of him. Hinata watched in awe as Kageyama easily piped the green frosting onto the cupcake, the perfect swirl only adding appeal to the pleasantly aromatic dessert. Kageyama then pinched a few rainbow sprinkles onto the top of the icing, completing the look to start the green arch of the rainbow design.

"That looks so cool! Teach me how to do that-"

"No way."

"Aw, don't be like that," Hinata whined, scooting over to the baker to gently tug on his sleeve. "I'm supposed to be helping out, not just watching you do everything. I bet if you taught me how to do that, we could bang these cupcakes out in half the time."

"Like I'm going to let you touch something the customers are going to see," Kageyama snapped, the two men glaring at each other. Hinata gave another tug to the sleeve on the baker's arm, his other hand waving around as he spoke.

"You let me work on the wedding cake last time, and I didn't mess it up! Just let me try a few and then I won't ask again."

"...Fine." The growl under Kageyama's tone didn't deter Hinata's smile, the grumpy baker walking over to the counter and pointing toward a couple cupcakes separated from the rest. "These are the duds of the batch. You can practice on them, and if you don't completely suck, then I'll let you help."

"Alright!" Eager to prove Kageyama wrong, Hinata vibrated in his spot while the man quickly put together a second piping bag, testing the end with a few practice squeezes before he handed the bag to the shorter man. Hinata stared down at the baking instrument for a few seconds before he looked back to Kageyama, blinking once. "How do I hold it?"

"How do you-" Steam practically billowed from Kageyama's ears as he smacked his forehead, muttering a few things the teacher couldn't catch before dropping his hand and glaring at Hinata. "Twist the top of the bag until all of the frosting is at the bottom of the piping bag. Then you rest that twisted part between your thumb and palm and add pressure to direct how much icing comes out of the bag. Got it?"

"Uh, yes!" Hinata gave a thumbs up to the baker, who rolled his eyes before he turned back to his cupcakes. Waiting until he was no longer being watched, Hinata dropped his gaze to the frosting filled bag in his hands. Scrunching his nose in concentration, the orange haired man twisted the top of the bag and yelped when a glob of white instantly shot out of the end of the bag. The other end was also dripping with icing, though the pointed tip kept the flow to a much smaller amount. To say he had made a mess would be an understatement. Lost as to what he had done wrong, the teacher jumped when seeing a tall shadow loom over his still bare cupcakes. Hesitating before looking over his shoulder, Hinata winced at the glare he was receiving.

"How did you mess up already?"

"I did what you said!" Hinata fought back, dropping the messy bag to the counter and pointing at the twisted part. "I was twisting it, and all of it just fell out of the bottom."

"You have to push the frosting down before you twist it, idiot."

"Well you didn't say that."

"I-" Kageyama paused in his reply, the baker closing his mouth as he stared down at his partner. The silent stare had Hinata's hair on edge, the teacher leaning closer to the counter despite trying to meet the look with his own. After a long moment of silence Kageyama sighed. "Right, you've never done this before."

"Well yeah. I mean I love sweets, but I don't make em," Hinata defended, the black haired man giving a slow nod.

"Go wash your hands off and come over to my station." The calm way Kageyama instructed Hinata was different, leaving the teacher stunned at the show of understanding. Slowly Hinata did as he was told, making sure to dry his hand from any of the sticky icing before moving back to the center table. Kageyama had refilled his piping bag with the green frosting, glancing toward Hinata to make sure the teacher was watching before he spoke. "Stand in front of me."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Fine fine," Hinata grumbled, shuffling himself to stand in front of the cupcakes Kageyama had previously been frosting. His attention was distracted by the delicious looking treats, though all thoughts of sweets went diving out the window when a hard chest was pressed into Hinata's back. Arms that Hinata had only admired a few times were now moving around him, freezing the panicking man despite the calm voice entering his ear.

"See where my hands are?"

"I…" It took Hinata a few moments to realize he needed to breath before his lungs exploded. Trying to keep his breathing quiet, Hinata closed his eyes and thought about what Yachi had said to him during their phone conversation. Though his mind was racing and thinking of 1000 things that were wrong with the current situation, his body was having a completely different reaction. His was lax against Kageyama, and though his heart was pounding in his chest, it wasn't painful. He could feel the rush of heat in his face, and his lips felt dry despite how many times his tongue swiped over them. Still, the warmth that seeped into his back and the tingling in his fingertips that erupted when Kageyama guided his hands to the bag weren't from disgust. It was from excitement, Hinata fighting the sudden urge to lace their fingers when Kageyama started to pull his own back.

"Now you want to go slow, or you're going to put on too much frosting." There was a firmness under Kageyama's instructions, yet it didn't scream tyrant. It was easy for Hinata to follow, and after a few professional critiques from the baker, Hinata's third attempt at frosting the cupcake was a success. It wasn't as neat at Kageyama's and he had gotten some of the green frosting on his hand, but the work he had accomplished with the baker's instructions was enough to make Hinata grin.

"I did it!"

"Not bad." The slight praise from Kageyama had Hinata lifting his head to look up at him, taken aback by the lack of space between their faces. Though Kageyama was obviously taller than Hinata, in this moment the space seemed much smaller than he originally thought. From this close, Hinata could see that the dark blue within Kageyama's eyes was solid, not spotty like the amber flecks he bore. Dark lashes framed the pretty eyes which now stared down at him in confusion, though Hinata felt like he was the one missing something. It wasn't like he expected the baker to shower him with praise or words of confidence. And yet he felt like a high five or even a pat on the head would-

I want him to touch me again. The words were in his head before he could stop them, finally connecting the missing link between his brain and body. The rush of need that swept through him made his head feel heavy, yet he didn't want to pull away from the cage that Kageyama's arms had unknowingly created around him. By now his back was resting against the sharp edge of the table, his spine not okay with the pain of having the stainless steel pressed into it. Still he remained still, staring up at the scowling face of the man who had been confusing him for weeks. Could it really be what Yachi had said? Could he like the cake and Kageyama?

"What the hell are you staring at?" Kageyama's sharp question snapped Hinata's sudden revelation, his hand quick to push the man's face away from his own. Brown eyes filled with horror when seeing the green frosting he had spilled now smearing across the baker's face, both men tensing at the action. Neither moved, blinked, or even breathed for what felt like an eternity to Hinata. Kageyama's arms slowly dropped to his sides, giving the teacher an opportunity to stumble to the other side of the kitchen. The movement of Hinata seemed to snap Kageyama out of his trance, the baker giving a deadly growl before he turned toward the smaller man. "Hinata…"

"I didn't mean to do that!" The words didn't seem to matter to Kageyama, Hinata giving out a panicked scream when Kageyama chased after him. The large kitchen gave the two plenty of area of run around, though it didn't stop Hinata from knocking in many things along the way. Flour and eggs were among some of the mess now spreading over the kitchen floor, neither seeming to care. Kageyama was focused on capturing Hinata, while the chased man in question was desperate to prove his own innocence.

So caught up in watching Kageyama, Hinata didn't notice he had stepped into his own trap. A broken egg sent the man in the air, Hinata's grunt loud when his back slammed into the kitchen floor. Though his spine was livid for being abused for a second time that night, his head bouncing on the floor seemed to take precedence for his pain receptors. The room was spinning as Hinata groaned and closed his eyes, the throbbing feeling like drums inside his skull. He didn't want to move from his spot, unsure how much the rest of his body was going to hurt.

"Hinata!" The call of his name made the teacher slowly peek one eye open, Hinata noticing the panic rounding Kageyama's eyes as he knelt down next to him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Except when he tried to sit up, the sudden rush of pain made him press his hand to his head and hiss. "Though my brain feels like scrambled eggs."

"Stay here." It wasn't hard to listen to Kageyama's request as the room was still slightly spinning. By the time his eyes finally got back into focus, Kageyama had returned with an ice pack wrapped in a hand towel. "Put this on your head for now."

"Thanks," Hinata whispered, the coolness of the compress making him hum in relief. Kageyama gave a quiet nod, though said nothing and let the next few minutes fall into silence. Though he wasn't a fan of the quiet, his head was grateful for the reprieve of noise. Closing his eyes, Hinata tried to lean his head back to alleviate some pressure on his neck, though the sudden rush of dizziness made him cringe. Before he could pick his head back up to bear the discomfort in his neck, a cool hand behind his ear led his head to his left. The movement made him lose balance, but his shoulder met Kageyama's chest while his head was cradled in the crook of the man's neck.

"If your head doesn't feel better in ten minutes, we're calling the emergency room." He could feel the quiet words against his temple as they vibrated the baker's neck. He knew he should have refused the support from Kageyama, but the cool hand still pressed against his skin felt almost as good as the ice pack on his forehead. Unsure of how to take this new information, Hinata remained still, letting himself relax into Kageyama's body. And as soon as he shut his brain off, the orange haired teacher felt some of the pain start to dwindle away. Within minutes of simply relaxing into whatever he had been fighting against, the throbbing dimmed and the strikes of pain disappeared into nothing. No longer needed the ice pack, Hinata let it drop into his lap, finally breaking the silence between them.

"Can I still help with the cupcakes?" His words were soft, slightly muffled by Kageyama's shirt. The response he received was a snort, though it was dimmed down in respect to Hinata's headache.

"Sure, idiot. After you clean up your mess."

"I hate cleaning."

"I hate seeing you get hurt." Hinata's eyes opened at Kageyama's comment, the teacher slowly lifting his head to meet the now wide eyed stare of his companion.

"Did you say-"

"I meant anyone!" But from the panicked look that now refused to meet Hinata's gaze, the teacher wasn't buying Kageyama's sudden compassion for everyone. The baker huffed as he shoved up onto his feet, distracting himself with brushing his shirt off while he glanced back toward the cupcakes. "I'm...you...ju-just clean this mess up so we can finish these and go home."

"Fine, Bossy-yama" Hinata relented, though his eyes didn't stray from the tense back of the baker. He wasn't 100% sure what he was feeling for the snarky baker. But if he had to guess, Kageyama was just as confused as him.

And that begged the question; what was going on between them?