Yamaguchi knew he had to get out of bed. Lounging around in his sorrows only lasted for so long and it didn't take him long to move out onto the sofa. Sometimes laying on the sofa, TV blaring and cookies baking in the kitchen was just what was needed to feel better. And Yamaguchi did feel better, at least a little. Enough so that he was happy to head back to work that afternoon and ready to face the whirlwind that was their new trainee.
"I'm heading to the store, you want anything?" Wrapped up in a warm winter coat and tight little hat, Nishinoya looked ready to face a snow storm rather then the short walk to the corner shop.
"I think I'm fine but thank you. If you want milk with the cookies though you should probably pick some up there." Nodding as he stepped out the door, the short man back peddled quickly.
"I forgot to ask did you see the Raven last night?"
Feeling his stomach roll and his heart skip a beat, the freckled man focused on the screen in front of him, keeping his face neutral.
"Ah yeah, he was pretty good."
"He's been outed." Whipping his head around to stare wide eyed at Nishinoya, Yamaguchi shook his head.
"What?" Swinging the door open and closed restlessly, Nishinoya nodded.
"Yup, it's on his twitter. You should check it out. I only saw pictures on Facebook, but it seemed pretty serious." Watching his housemate leave, his jaw slack, Yamaguchi searched the mass of blankets for his phone. Had someone actually managed to de-mask Tsukishima? He had said people had tried in the past, maybe someone had actually managed it. Pulling up twitter and searching out the Raven's tag, he refreshed the feed and found a video posted that morning. Licking his lips nervously as he clicked it open and waited, he muted the TV and sat back, watching with baited breathe.
The backdrop of the white cream and shelves of Tsukishima's apartment flashed up on the tiny screen. Taking in the display with curiosity, Yamaguchi couldn't hold back the gasp as a familiar black and feathered mask appeared on screen. Text flashed up beneath the screen, working as a running commentary.
Up until now, I've been faceless, voiceless and let my music speak for me. But that all changes now.
Shaking his head as he watched the masked figure shifted and remove the leather. Yamaguchi wasn't sure what he expected. In fact he half expected it to be a joke, maybe a ploy but as Tsukishima's beautiful honey eyes stared down the camera, his heart stopped.
"My name is Kei Tsukishima, I am the Raven and I messed up." Sighing, the blond ran a hand through his hair, looking incredibly uncomfortable on screen. "I messed up my frenchfries and I miss them and I have no other way of fixing them. So I'll be waiting at Sugar, today in the afternoon. For them. Please come. Don't make me look stupid, I'm serious." Taking deep breath and shrugging, the tall man smiled. "I am no longer the Raven, I'm just some blonde DJ with a good mix and the power to raise the roof. Thank you for your on going support and I look forward to the next set of gigs. Thank you."
The final screen cut to a gig list with the club and addresses as well as a new symbol replacing the famed mask of the Raven. Struggling to breath, Yamaguchi sobbed as an overwhelming wave of emotion hit him. Why would he do that? The secret identity, the anonymity, it was what made the performance fun. Had he really just given all that up? And for what? Thinking back to all his unanswered messages and calls, the dark haired man felt overwhelmed with guilt. Was it because he hadn't reply? Maybe it had been Tsukishima's last resort. Glancing at the clock in the kitchenette and gauging the time til the next bus. The freckled man jumped off the sofa and dashed to his room, throwing on a set of crumpled clothes previously dumped on his bedroom floor. He needed to get to work, just to find out why. Just to see Tsukishima and to clear the air. If he'd all but thrown away his career for something so small as a scorned man not returning his messages, Yamaguchi would never forgive himself or Tsukishima for that matter.
It was somewhat awkward returning to Sugar after everything that had happened. It was raining outside, so Tsukishima opted to take a taxi rather than walk along the river. Dashing from the open taxi door to the cafe threshold he still managed to catch a soaking. Coat hanging just inside the door and tugging off his gloves, there was a small part of him that had been worried the couple of thousand people who had viewed his video might have cottoned onto his meaning. But from the variety of different messages he'd received after posting the clip, everyone just seemed to think he was tripping some serious balls. Including Kuroo who had nearly had a fit when he'd seen what he'd done. But it was all he deserved, especially for being such an asshat. There was a loud, annoying youngster manning the counter, a new recruit if his memory served him correctly. Ordering a coffee from the young man was like trying to teach a squirrel to sit still. Taking the seat in the corner as he had barely a week ago, he waited for his coffee and tried desperately to ignore the piercing stare coming from the owner with silver hair. Settling in his seat, he pulled out his laptop and began reading over the new contact with Kuroo. Pissed his agent may have been but stupid he was not. Doubtless he still be worth something to their agency and his new ploy was certain to be a success. It wasn't surprising the other man had jumped at a new contact and record deal. Crafty was pretty much Kuroo's MO.
Tearing his eyes away from the laptop screen, Tsukishima could hardly believe it had only been four days. The world had been crawling by, each moment hinted with Yamaguchi, making their short time together feel like a delicious entirety. And he didn't want it to end. He just hoped his lover felt the same. Heaven knew what Kuroo had actually said to him but if it was enough to make him run it probably hadn't been nice. The rain was hitting the glass pretty hard from outside, the windows a mist with tiny droplets and condensation from the heat inside. It was like glazed ice and impossible to see through. Tsukishima wouldn't be able to see him coming until the minute he walked through the door.
Keeping his eyes focused on the PC screen only worked for so long and with his coffee quickly draining from his cup, he'd have to brave the silver haired owner for a refill. Every ring of the bell as the door was tugged open against the elements had him jumping. Glancing casually at each face that passed the threshold, he refused to get his hopes up too high. There was no way of knowing Yamaguchi had even see the video and if he did it might even be a week from now. Swallowing the end of his thick, bitter coffee, the ding of the door's bell had him look up and lose his breathe. In theory his plan had been perfect. Lure Yamaguchi back, mend the bridge, take him to Christmas lunch and beyond. But now confronted by the dark haired man he wasn't so sure. Watching as Yamaguchi shed his coat and flicked water from his hair, it gave his locks a dark shimmer. He looked tired. Like he had when they'd first met. Dishevelled, tired, plain and yet so oddly appealing. And that appeal remained, even as tired eyes fell on him and crippling guilt rushed through him.
"Are you mad? I thought your secret identity was your whole thing. Why would you throw away your whole career for that?" Well that certainly wasn't the reaction Tsukishima had expected. He'd expected some kind of anger, but not about his outing. Something about Yamaguchi's own pain and suffering yes, but not this.
"You wouldn't talk to me." Throwing his hands up in the air in a desperate gesture, the shorter man shook his head wildly.
"And? A normal person would allow for a cool down period. The fuck is wrong with you? Why? Why would you do that?"
Please don't make me say it Tsukishima internally screamed at him. Yamaguchi had obviously understood the gravity of his actions. Staring him down with that spark and flare, hidden behind soft smiles and warm eyes burnt brighter then ever. And it made the blonde even more needy.
"You know why." Came Tsukishima's slow and measured response, unable to meet the other man's eye as he pulled up a chair across from him.
"Because you're an ass." Laughing drily as he pushed his cup across the table as the ginger waiter pushed past and asked after Yamaguchi's order. Waving him off, chocolate brown eyes blazing, his lover looked ready for a fight. But Tsukishima couldn't tell if it was anger at him or anger at his choices. "I can't believe you'd do that." Looking up as Yamaguchi's tone softened, the tall man was taken off guard as his hand was clasped and squeezed tight. "I would have called you back."
It didn't sound like a lie, in fact it sounded incredibly serene and supportive. Looking out the window and fighting down a blush, the blonde shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.
"Well I didn't know that." A sound remarkably close to a chuckle came from the other man and it made Tsukishima narrow his eyes suspiciously.
"I still don't understand why." Sitting back, hands still linked, Yamaguchi rubbed little circles up and down Tsukishima wrist. "I mean," he sighed, shaking his head. "I'm just for Christmas right? You could find someone else." Wincing at his words, Tsukishima knew that sounded far too harsh, cruel and yet it was what he'd thought barely a week before. How things had changed.
"No," Tsukishima said slowly, shivering at the little patterns being drawn under his wrist. "I just-" he fumbled unsure what to say. "Don't make me say it out loud."
Unable to help the grin, Yamaguchi shook his head, feeling brave. Tsukishima had all but declared his love online to sixteen thousand twitter followers, but he couldn't say it in person, in a cafe inhabited by twelve. "I didn't want to lose you." It was short and simple, but to the freckled man it was perfect. In those five words his fears and concerns were put to rest and his heart skipped a beat. Plus it was cute to see the blonde so flustered and red faced, it was a strange shift in dynamic and Yamaguchi loved it.
"Thank you." Leaning across the table before the other man could protest, the dark haired man kissed his lover, with a twelve person audience and burning cheeks. "I don't want to lose you either."