Chapter Thirteen- Gravity
In his head, Tsukishima knew he had no reason to be standing in the parking lot of Little Crows on the humid Friday night. If he was being honest, there were several other things he could be using his valuable time for. Paperwork still needed to be looked through on his desk, and there was a case next week that was going to trial. Phone calls and responses to emails were on his list, yet none of this deterred him from taking the long drive to the wedding venue. There were some cars that he had never seen in the parking lot, and he faintly remembered being told of a night wedding occurring sometime in May. Even when he closed his eyes and tried to think of a specific date, he couldn't recall the florist giving him one.
It had been over a week since Tsukishima had spoken with Yamaguchi. Eight days, if he was being specific. They had both been at the dance lesson Wednesday, yet Tsukishima hadn't been able to actually talk with the evasive florist. Tsukishima was smart enough to know that the brunet was avoiding him on purpose. The fact that he had willingly chosen Hinata as his dancing partner proved to the lawyer that Yamaguchi was taking their argument to heart. There had been no exchanges of text messages or phone calls, though Tsukishima was unsure why that was an important factor to highlight. Sure, the weeks before had consisted of Yamaguchi randomly sending pictures of bouquets and floral arrangements he had worked on throughout the day. Sometimes Tsukishima would give a heads up of his intention to visit the greenhouse. But it wasn't like they were teenagers; constant communication wasn't necessary for their type of...relationship.
Except now, Tsukishima felt irritated with the radio silence. Work had been stressful, despite nothing extravagant happening. His clients were more annoying, and none of his co-workers could shut up long enough for Tsukishima to get work done. The days seemed longer, and sleep became a delicacy that the blond rarely dabbled in. His family was quiet, for once, but even that felt like a trap waiting to be sprung. He hadn't felt this run down in years, and the logical side of him was urging him to get back in his car and drive home where a bottle of scotch and a bed were waiting. Yet here he stood, staring at looming building with a scowl.
"Tsukishima?" The voice of the wedding planner made the lawyer lift his head, his golden stare taking in Sugawara's appearance from around the back of the venue. The older man gave a quiet smile and wave, the other hand holding a basket filled with dinner napkins. From the black attire and earpiece wrapped around Suga's left ear, Tsukishima confirmed that the venue was preparing for a wedding, and the blond wondered if he would even be able to complete the mission he came for.
"Good evening," Tsukishima finally answered, giving a polite bow. Sugawara laughed at the manners, though returned them quickly before he spoke.
"Same to you! I'm a little surprised to see you here."
"I was unaware of the wedding festivities for the night. I can come back-"
"If you're here for what I think you're here for, then there's no need." The supportive smile Sugawara gave made Tsukishima shift in his shoes, unaware of how much the wedding planner knew. While he had no issue in giving Kuroo passive aggression, Sugawara was a different situation. He played at the same level that Tsukishima did, and was the closest thing for a formidable opponent Tsukishima had encountered as of late. It also didn't help that he was in an intimate relationship with Daichi, someone that the lawyer respected. Each of these reasons played a factor in the careful response Tsukishima gave.
"I'm not sure."
"Then maybe I should rephrase it differently."
"Please do." Instead of answering, Suga's hand popped up to his earpiece, the wedding planner tapping a button before he spoke.
"Tadashi, are you still in the hall?" There was a pause before Suga gave a nod, walking the short distance to the silent blond in front of him. "You remember where the hall is, right?"
"Yes, but-" Tsukishima's grunt was small when Suga shoved the basket into his chest, forcing him to take possession of it while pressing the button again.
"I'm sending someone over to you with the napkins for the tables. He'll help you get them folded while I go check in on our wedding party." Releasing the earpiece, Suga smiled brightly while he rose to his toes, giving a rough rub to Tsukishima's head. "The wedding doesn't start for another hour, so you've got some time to speak with him. I know that he's been feeling down the past couple days, which makes all of us sad. Let's try to fix that, okay? Now, off you go. Tadashi is waiting for you, and those tables need napkins."
Words weren't able to formulate quick enough to respond to Sugawara's command, the wedding planner slipping up the front stairs to greet a pair of venue workers carrying chairs. Tsukishima glanced down to the basket, his scowl growing when realizing he no longer had control over the situation. Sugawara had given him more than a simple errand run; the cheerful man wanted Tsukishima and Yamaguchi to talk. The expectation felt heavy on his shoulders, and under normal circumstances, the lawyer would balk at the instructions. He didn't work at the venue; if he wanted, he could drop the basket and simply leave. It wasn't his job to deliver supplies around the venue. Didn't Sugawara have helpers for this?
Yet even with defiance in his veins, Tsukishima's body moved toward the hall with the basket in hand. People were bumbling around the outside area, and Tsukishima kept out of sight in case a particular photographer was lurking. The last thing he needed was Kuroo questioning his appearance as well. It was one thing for Sugawara to discover him; Kuroo wasn't mature enough to keep his comments to himself. The mission to stay unnoticed went smoothly as Tsukishima departed from the busy part of the venue, moving into the hallway that led to the hall.
He had been in the room a few days ago for the dance lesson, though he wouldn't have believed it was the same area if not having walked into it himself. What once had been an open room was now completely transformed. The darker decorations lined the walls, gothic lights dangling down each window to create an intimate feeling. The overhead lights to the hall were low, but Tsukishima could make out Yamaguchi on the other side of the room. He was balancing on a ladder, twining flowers on the chandelier above a table. Music was filling the air, and the rock undertones of the song were surprising to Tsukishima. The florist was a cheery, upbeat man who seemed scared of his own shadow. The aggressive vocals and defiant theme were a complete contrast to the florist who mouthed the words as he hopped off the ladder. Seeing his opening to speak, Tsukishima let out a sigh loud enough to catch the attention of the brunet.
"Is this a wedding or a funeral?" His question was met with Yamaguchi's tense back, the freckled man quick to turn to face him. When recognizing that Yamaguchi was clearly confused, the lawyer lifted the basket. "Sugawara asked me to bring these here."
"O-Oh, thank you." Nervously Yamaguchi moved over to the wall, flicking the ceiling lights on in order to illuminate the room. Wincing at the sudden change of brightness, Tsukishima moved to place the delivery onto the closest table. The hesitation in Yamaguchi's steps was obvious, though Tsukishima kept the observation to himself while looking around the hall.
"Isn't it bad luck to have black in your wedding?"
"Only in some cultures," Yamaguchi answered, finally approaching the table as he stared down at the black napkins. "Red is seen as a bad color in western cultures, yet several eastern cultures wear red for their wedding gowns. Many colors simply represent the personality of the bride. This one is very sophisticated and likes the intimate feeling the color gives off with the red of her flowers."
"Seems overbearing." Was the blond's response, turning his attention back to the florist. Brown eyes were gazing up at him, a lower lip snagged between white teeth in obvious nerves.
"Not to be rude, but...well, why are you here?"
"I told you, Sugawara asked me to deliver the napkins."
"I-I meant at the venue!" Obviously the taller man knew the real intent of Yamaguchi's question. Unsure of how to answer, Tsukishima glanced to the potted plant sitting comfortably on the table.
"This flower...is this the bride's chosen flower?"
"That's right. They're Amaryllis flowers; meaning pride, determination, and radiant beauty." The words came out of Yamaguchi's mouth as if rehearsed, Tsukishima keeping his stare on the familiar looking plant.
"Hm. It's fitting, I suppose."
"For the wedding?" Yamaguchi's question was answered with a shake of the head, Tsukishima finally turning his attention back to the florist.
"No, my mother. I doubt she knows the meaning, but this is the flower she keeps on her office desk at her office." He paused in his explanation, waiting for the florist to digest the answer. "The woman is as beautiful as she is business savvy; the only thing she lacks is a loving bone in her body. She's a perfect match for my father on paper in that sense, I suppose."
"You're not...close with your parents?" Yamaguchi asked quietly, the edge of sadness bleeding into his words. Tsukishima gave a slow shrug, distracting himself from Yamaguchi's stare by reaching out to snag a napkin. With ease he folded the cloth, his words slow and steady.
"My family isn't like yours; we don't enjoy each other's presence much. My parents had children because it was an expectation from their parents. To be honest, either would have been happy without having a child; after my brother, they weren't prepared to have a second. My birth was unexpected, but getting rid of me was out of the question. Their reputation would be tarnished by adoption or an abortion, I suppose. Parenting wasn't something natural for either my mother or father, so they ran my home like a business instead. Excellence was the assumption; it was nothing to be proud of. It was a bit...unexpected to hear high praise from your parents."
"I guess that's because all they ever wanted was to be parents." Yamaguchi's words were soft, and Tsukishima's eye caught a glimpse of gratitude in the florist's smile. The brunet reached for a napkin, shaking it out once before starting to mimic Tsukishima's fold. "They struggled to get pregnant for years, so when they had me, they were overjoyed. I guess that's why they sometimes overdo the compliments. One time, my mom cried because I won a spelling bee."
"They're proud of your accomplishments," Tsukishima amended, Yamaguchi giving a side smile in response.
"But I'm used to it. You're not. I'm sorry they gushed over you; it's just their way of showing they really like you and-"
"Don't apologize for your parents being good people. It's unwarranted, as their actions did not cause any harm." The dismissal in Tsukishima's voice was low, and the lawyer felt his eyes narrow on the new napkin between his fingers when he continued. "If they, however, spoke in a disrespectful manner toward someone they preferred to converse with, then an apology would be appropriate."
"Is...that your way of saying 'I'm sorry'?" Yamaguchi's voice wasn't tinted with mockery or superiority; it was pure curiosity that the florist used when peering up at Tsukishima. With a dusting of pink on his cheeks, the lawyer swayed his gaze away, unsure why the harmless smile the freckled man wore was so disarming to him.
"You're an intelligent person; I'll assume you can read between the lines." Despite the lack of admittance, Yamaguchi seemed satisfied with the answer. Placing the finished napkin onto the pile they were creating, Yamaguchi stepped around the table and snagged the firm bicep of the blond. A tone of protest was rising in Tsukishima's throat, but the noise died a noble death when warm arms wrapped around the taller man's torso. Yamaguchi's face felt like a furnace as it pressed into the side of Tsukishima's neck, his voice showing his embarrassment better than any facial expression could.
"Th-This is how my family says so-sorry, so…" Tense shoulders kept their rigid form for a few heartbeats, Tsukishima unsure of how to respond. Physical touch was unheard of in his family; a handshake was only acceptable when finishing a business transaction. He couldn't remember a single time in his life he had witnessed his parents showing affection to one another. His brother was known for impromptu hugs, but even those were few and far between. If any of his friends attempted to share their "signs of affection", it was met with a quick stiff arm or a lethal glare from the lawyer. That was just who Tsukishima was.
But here, standing in the embrace of a man who he could easily overpower, the blond felt different. There was no shower of rainbows or herald of angels singing hymns of love. The back of his neck was sweaty from the heat in the hall, and his feet ached from standing on them all day. Dinner had yet to be thought of, and his stomach was starting to cramp in hunger. These physical struggles were logical, and something that Tsukishima was able to alter on his own. All it required was him separating from Yamaguchi's touch. Despite this basic understanding, the blond didn't move away. Instead, hesitant arms raised from their frozen spot by his sides, Tsukishima silently wrapping them around the florist's back. Instinct told him to pull Yamaguchi closer, their bodies pressing together from the reciprocated embrace. There was a moment where the brunet's back stiffened from surprise, but it was quick to dissolve. To save face, Tsukishima released an irritated sigh which he was sure the other man knew wasn't felt.
The embrace was quick to break apart. It didn't seem to matter, though; the smile that spread across the cherry-colored cheeks matched the elation filling the florist's brown gaze.
"Thanks...fo-for, you know, bringing the napkins." Arching his eyebrow at the fumbling man's lame explanation, Tsukishima took the higher road by remaining quiet. The lapse of conversation made Yamaguchi avoid eye contact, his attention drawing to the clock on the wall. "It's that late already? The ceremony will be starting soon, and I've still got to finish the hall."
"I'll let you get back to work." Yamaguchi seemed torn by Tsukishima's response, and gave a resigned sigh before nodding.
"Right. I guess I'll see you around, then?" The lawyer nodded once, his eyes lingering on the obvious disappointment tugging at Yamaguchi's face. Silently he made his way toward the doorway, his mind quick to shift toward the need for food. If he didn't get dinner soon…
"Yamaguchi."
"Huh?" He didn't have to turn his head toward the florist to know he caught his attention, and he could easily imagine the confused face Yamaguchi was making.
"In my family, we don't apologize. We do, however, take out those we wish to get in our good favor." The golden gaze casually glanced at the hand which was resting on the edge of the entrance, his ear picking up the small inhale of breath behind him. "When you're available, I'd like to request your presence for dinner."
"You wanna...have dinner with me? Like a..." It was only then that Tsukishima returned his gaze to the obviously frazzled florist behind him, a golden eyebrow arched above a smug smirk.
"Like a what?" The panicked look he received looked good on the florist, Yamaguchi struggling to keep his cheeks from burning off.
"Nothing! I just...Yes, I'd really like that." To prove his point, he nodded his head rapidly, bunching the napkin he had been folding in-between sweaty hands.
"Good. I'll be in touch." Satisfied with the response, Tsukishima walked away, not giving Yamaguchi a second look. He didn't need to; the muffled shout of excitement from the hall proved his point had gotten across just fine.
"God damnit." Frustrated didn't even begin to describe the feelings coursing through Daichi's body as he slammed his front door, tossing the top of his uniform onto the ground. Sugar's head popped up from the couch, a wagging tail showing she didn't mind the angry owner. One glance to the loyal puppy had Daichi's shoulders relaxing, moving to give a rough pat to Sugar's head. Even with the loving lick of his pet, the anger simmering just under his skin couldn't be cooled.
It was rare that he came home from work mad. At times he was tired or overworked, but he normally enjoyed his co-workers. Today, however, a younger cop had managed to lose the paperwork that Daichi had been waiting for all week. Normally the accident wouldn't bother the workhorse, as the cop had made mistakes when he was starting off as well. Except this case was different; it was Suga's. He wasn't allowed to be the head on the case, as Ukai was aware of Daichi's relation with the wedding planner. Even if he didn't, Daichi would have recused himself from the case. He trusted the officers in charge,but the error had cost them valuable time and information. It was aggravation that had made Daichi snap at his co-worker, the younger cop beyond frightened at the officer's rant.
Ukai had yanked him into his office and gave him his own tongue lashing before sending him home.
"I'll make sure to apologize to everyone tomorrow," Daichi murmured, Sugar's loud bark seeming to agree with Daichi's decision. Another few strokes on the dog's head was broken up when Daichi's phone started to vibrate, the dark haired man fishing in his pocket to snag the phone. One glance to the caller ID made his previous frown disappear, Daichi easily accepting the phone call. "Hello?"
"Good evening, Daichi." Suga's airy tone lifted the officer's spirits, the wedding planner humming slightly before proceeding with the conversation. "I was just informed that my assistant has started to work on your wedding party's attire and I wanted to give you the good news. What are you doing on this lovely warm night?"
"Besides getting chewed out by my boss? Nothing really." Casually Daichi tossed in the frustrating outcome to his day, listening to a soft intake of breath from the other side of the phone.
"Well that doesn't sound very pleasant at all. Care to share what happened?"
"One of the rookies made a mistake and I may have lost my cool on him."
"Ah, that's never good. I hate when I get into fights with my co-workers, although it's a whole other story when Tooru is on the other end. Sloppy tears and threats of moving to Maui are almost always involved." Suga's words forced a smile onto Daichi's face, shaking his head at the all too believable story. "So are you home, then?"
"Yeah, just got here."
"Then I suggest you go and take a shower. Nothing helps like some hot water washing away your troubles. I'm just about to get into my car, so I'll give you a text when I'm not driving." The suggestion was bittersweet to the cop; though taking a shower sounded amazing, he had hoped to spend more time talking to Suga. Speaking with the wedding planner was a good way to unwind for Daichi. The sweetness of his voice and his heartwarming laugh always settled something inside the officer. They had conversed more since Suga's break-in, the dark haired man tending to check in once his shift was over. If the younger man was bothered, he never spoke of it, and the two had no problem delving into deeper conversation.
"Let me know you got home safe," Daichi instructed, the two exchanging an easy goodbye before ending the call. True to what Suga had predicted, the steaming water felt amazing for the tired officer. His skin practically melted from the intense heat, but Daichi refused to lower the temperature. After thoroughly scrubbing his skin, Daichi left the shower, a towel still resting on his bare shoulders. Overheating his body from the sauna-like conditions, Daichi shrugged on a pair of workout shorts and trudged out to the living room. Getting sent home early wasn't all bad; there were some good shows that he had been dying to watch.
But before the officer could get comfortable on his lumpy couch, the sound of his doorbell caught his attention.
"Coming," Daichi called out, letting out a slow breath before forcing himself back to his feet. Iwaizumi was due to make an appearance and give his partner a piece of his mind. Daichi was surprised the man didn't simply barge into his apartment like he always-
"Wow." Brown eyes blinked at the awestruck tone, Daichi realizing that it wasn't his grumpy neighbor at the door. Instead stood Suga, his cheeks pink and eyes curious when trailing down the expanse of Daichi's exposed chest.
"Suga? What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to surprise you, but then you…" It took the officer a second to realize why Suga was distracted, Daichi coughing once and modestly scratching the side of his neck.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be." Instantly Suga's eyes were back to Daichi's face, a smile on his face while he lifted his hand. In it was a grocery bag, sending another wave of confusion through the officer. "When I heard you had a rough day, I knew just what you needed. So I went to the store, bought some ice cream and rented a horror movie. I figured seeing the bad day these people go through would make you feel a little better about your own."
"You didn't have to do this," Daichi said quietly, Suga's shrug showing he brushed the response off casually.
"I didn't have any other plans. Plus, I may be using this as an excuse to come see you." The honesty in the wedding planner's voice took Daichi by surprise, but the warm sizzle in his chest proved the words were welcome.
"Then I hope you bought chocolate ice cream." A melodious laugh filled the living room when Suga walked in, Daichi closing the front door before following his guest into the apartment. He let the wedding planner take in his surroundings as he snagged a shirt from the pile of clean laundry, feeling modest over his lack of clothing. He was amused by how easily Suga made himself at home, dropping the bag onto the table before crawling onto the couch. "And what movie are we watching tonight?"
"Only the best horror movie to ever be made; Friday the 13th."
"New or old?" The look of disgust from Suga made Daichi laugh. The fair haired man lifted his nose in a snobby nature that was an obvious act.
"Like I would every betray the classic that was the original. Just for that, I should eat both tubs of ice cream by myself." Suga tossed the movie toward the owner of the apartment before he dove into the bag, pulling out an individual dessert and a plastic spoon. Sugar was on the wedding planner in a second, another set of laughter coming from Suga as he rubbed his face into the dog's nose. "Hello Sugar. Still as cute as ever, I see."
"Try saying that when she's shoving her paw in your face at 5 in the morning," Daichi grumbled while throwing the DVD in, though the lack of anger proved he didn't mind. When making his way to the couch, he caught hazel eyes watching him, a small smile partly hidden by white fur.
"Why would I be here that early, Daichi?" The innocent question was quick to enflame the officer's face, Daichi forcing out a sharp cough while dropping to sit on the opposite side of Sugar. He tried to focus his stare on the television, watching the creepy menu screen pop up instead. Trying to distract himself from the man beside him, the owner of the apartment snatched his remote, quick to click on the start of the movie. He knew that Suga was teasing him, yet the idea of having the wedding planner spend the night...well, it definitely wasn't a bad thought.
"So you don't like any new horror movies?" The change of subject was abrupt and obvious, the wedding planner giving a small hum before he shifted closer on the couch. Sugar, no longer getting the attention from the guest, hopped off the sofa in order to find a comfy spot on the floor to rest.
"Sometimes I go with Kuroo and Kenma when a good looking one comes out. But I tend to prefer the classics." A moment of silence fell between them, Daichi jumping when feeling a warm weight drop onto his shoulder. Brown eyes finally pulled away from the teen counselors on the screen to peek at Suga, the fair haired man's eyes lidded and facing the television. "I still remember watching them with my father when my mother would go to bed early. She hated anything scary. She wasn't a fan of letting me watch them either, so it was like a secret between me and my father. I'm pretty sure she knew what we were doing, but as a kid I was sure we were pulling the wool over her eyes."
"So you were sneaky back then, too." Daichi's spine relaxed as he fell back into the couch, feeling at place sitting beside the younger man. Both looked back to the movie in time to see the first set of victims murdered viciously by Jason in the cabin. At the action Suga buried into the officer's side, giving a meek smile when catching the questioning gaze of Daichi.
"I may love them, but horror movies totally freak me out." The statement was so Suga that Daichi couldn't contain his laugh even as the other huffed and smacked his shoulder. "Daichi, don't be mean!"
"Alright, alright, come here." Too swept up in the good feeling that always bloomed inside Daichi at the sight of Suga, the officer didn't hesitate to slide his arm around the planner's shoulders to pull him closer. Seeming pleased despite his blush, the wedding planner pressed his head to rest on Daichi's chest, allowing him to still see the screen from his position.
Throughout the classic film, Daichi couldn't keep himself from smiling. Horror movies had never been his first pick; he was drawn more to historical films even as a child. But having Suga burying his face into Daichi's shoulder after each kill or snag his hand after a particularly unexpected scare made the film jump to one of his favorites. They didn't speak much during the movie, only breaking the silence when Suga remembered a random fact about the making of the film. Ice cream was shared and devoured, the empty bins dripping onto the coffee table in front of them. Even knowing the mess was going to aggravate him later, Daichi didn't move, refusing to leave his spot next to Suga. He felt content with the wedding planner, something he hadn't shared with another person for quite some time.
The clock was close to hitting 1am when the movie finally ended. Suga was quick to offer help in cleaning up the living room despite Daichi assuring him it was fine. Afterwards, Daichi walked Suga to his door, the planner stretching his arms over his head while letting out a slow yawn.
"That was really fun. We'll have to do a movie marathon on a night I don't have work in the morning." The tidbit of information caught Daichi by surprise, which made Suga sneak in a laugh and grin. "Yup, I've got an 8am walk-through setup for tomorrow."
"Why didn't you tell me that sooner?" Daichi asked, Suga shrugging while twirling the DVD case in his hands.
"Because I knew you'd make me leave, and I didn't want that. You were there for me when my house got broken into, and you've been working really hard on my case. I wanted to repay the favor and show you that you can rely on me too. I can't really shoot guns or arrest people, but I like to think ice cream and horror flicks are close enough." Daichi stared down at the shorter man, unsure of what to say in response. But when catching the unsure edge of Suga's hazel eyes, the officer decided words weren't necessary.
His hands were grasping Suga's hips seconds before he kissed the unexpecting man. Soft lips were slightly parted under his own, and Daichi took the initiative to press his tongue against the open seam while stepping closer to his guest. The thud of the case hitting the floor was followed by lean arms wrapping around his neck, Suga eagerly returning the kiss presented to him. Daichi's stomach warmed at the slow stroke of the wedding planner's tongue against his own. His body pressed Suga's into the sturdy front door, his thumbs brushing the exposed skin between the bunched shirt and black slacks. A moan was echoed into his mouth, making the officer shiver. His lower lip was sucked between the soft mouth of Suga, a hot sentation tugging at his groin when teeth nibbled the bruised skin. His hands gripped tighter on the hips presented to him, shoving his mouth back onto the greedy lips of his guest.
Suga's skin was riddled with goosebumps wherever Daichi touched. The smooth expanse of porcelain skin was taunting to Daichi's mind, who continued to kiss the breath from his lungs. The fair haired man didn't seem to mind, eagerly arching his hips into the strong hands of the officer. Though he was tempted to explore further up his torso, the gentleman inside him was quick to douse the thought. Giving another lingering kiss to the fully swollen lips of the planner, Daichi finally broke their connection in order to steady his breathing and speak.
"Are you free Friday?"
"Friday?" The dazed look he received stroked his ego more than he expected, unable to resist swiping his thumb against Suga's lower lip. The planner's mind seemed to clear at the motion, fumbling to pull out his phone and glance down at the calendar on it. "Well, I have an appointment at 3, and there's a wedding Saturday afternoon. But other than that, I'm open."
"So you have no plans for dinner?" The words were rushed, but it didn't seem to bother the recovering planner. With a teasing look, Suga gave a gentle punch to Daichi's chest.
"Should I assume this is your way of asking me on a date?" Despite their previous actions, the mention of the proper name for his question had the officer's cheeks dusted with a pink tone.
"Only if I can assume you'll say yes."
"Tooru would be proud of that pick up line." Suga's gaze was warm with humor as he stepped forward, lifting to his toes to place a soft kiss onto Daichi's mouth. It lacked the heat and explosive desire from before, but it still made Daichi's heart flutter. As Suga pulled away from the contact, he opened the door, keeping their gaze connected. "Pick me up at work. Is seven okay?"
"Yeah," Daichi breathed, Suga sending the dark haired man a signature smile. He bent to snag the long forgotten DVD before making his quick escape. Even as the door closed, Daichi didn't move, feeling if he did, he would wake up. He thought about how the night had developed, and how none of it would have happened if not for the mess up of the rookie officer. That had left him time to answer Suga's call, something he would not have been able to do on the clock. Then he got an impromptu movie night, and not only had he got to kiss Suga (twice), but he had gotten his first official date with the attractive man. In the end, the mess up had gotten him further than anything his brain had tried coming up with.
"Damn. I guess I owe the rookie a beer," Daichi mumbled, still smiling as he walked out of the room.
"Lastly, with the end of the school year coming up, make sure that you're thinking of the deadlines for grades. If we're worried about any child's development, let's get those referrals out for testing in the next week. If you all wait until the last minute, we won't have time to get full assessments. The younger we can get these tests done, the better it is for the children's education." The principal of the school gave the teachers around the table a few seconds to process his information before nodding, gathering his papers. "That's all I had on our agenda. You are all dismissed."
"Yes!" The loud shout from the short teacher was quick to grab everyone's attention, though Hinata didn't care. Instead he scampered from the table, yanking his messenger bag over his shoulder while rushing to gather his things.
"With the way you're moving, you'd think it was the weekend." A fellow teacher and friend of Hinata's gave a knowing look to a man on his right, the lighter haired man laughing in response.
"It's Wednesday, Koji, which is basically date night for Shouyou." The suggestive comment made Hinata flush, looking at his two co-workers and fumbling to respond.
"Izumi! It's nothing like that."
"Of course it's not," Koji replied, keeping his voice low and glancing to the window with a sigh.
"But if it was, you know we'd support you, right?" Izumi's calm voice didn't help the uncomfortable ball welling in the pre school teacher's chest, Hinata shoving the last pile of papers into his bag before pushing away from the table.
"I-I've got to get to the venue. I'll see you tomorrow." Using his speed as a weapon, Hinata bolted from the conference room, trying to focus his attention on not being late.
In Hinata's opinion, there was nothing wrong with men liking men. Plenty of his friends were into men, either being gay or bi-sexual. It didn't change their friendship one bit. Seeing Noya and Asahi sharing such a loving relationship wasn't altered because both of them were guys. Some were quite open about their preference for men, like Tanaka or Noya. Asahi and Ennoshita rested on the other side of the spectrum, preferring to only give the information to those who they trusted. His other friends varied depending on the circumstances. No matter their comfort zone, Hinata met each friend at their level and supported them any way he could. When Noya and Tanaka had roped Ennoshita into his first gay pride march, the little teacher offered to go along. Falling in love wasn't a choice, and who your heart yearned for was just as random.
Yet on the trip to the wedding venue, Hinata couldn't shake his friend's question. It sounded less like a guess and more a known fact. The infamous night with Yachi came slinking back into his mind like a long forgotten secret. Because of that altercation, everything in Hinata's life was flipped on it's head. Things that he was sure of two months ago felt complicated and tentative. Feelings about relationships weren't as clear cut as he wanted to believe. Before, a thought of kissing a man would be weird for Hinata. He could stand by his friend's romantic choices without actually jumping in the fray. But now, while he parked in the well-kept lot, a flash of narrowed blue eyes and slender fingers caused a physical reaction in his lower stomach. It made his mind fuzzy and his heart pound, distracting him from the pair of voices conversing in the venue's kitchen.
"You really take the 'dark and mysterious' thing too literal, Tobi-chan." A tone that could only be compared to a purr paused Hinata's feet, the teacher standing still in the kitchen's doorway. The moment of paralysis only lasted a second, the orange haired man hiding behind the wall to peek his amber gaze inside stealthily. Kageyama's glare was a normal sight, though the brunet tailor sitting on the counter was different. With lean legs swinging casually, Oikawa leaned closer to the stoic baker and gave a wink. "Yet beneath that cold mask, you really are a Code Shamrock."
"You're impeding my work; I need that counter," Kageyama answered, ignoring the smirk from his co-worker to focus on stirring the batter in his grasp.
"You're just making a cake to show off to chibi-kun." Hearing the nickname puffed Hinata's cheeks in irritation, though it was quick to disperse when thinking about the sentence. Blinking once in surprise, Hinata pressed closer to the door as Oikawa rolled his eyes. "I looked at your calendar; you don't have any chocolate cakes on the list. Which means you finished your other cakes, and now you're scared the little rugrat won't want to hang out with you unless you tempt him with treats."
"It's not that!" The rising color in the baker's cheeks was a hint his words weren't telling the truth. Oikawa seemed to catch onto the same thought, rolling his eyes and scoffing.
"You're so dumb it's almost cute." Stunning his co-worker with his statement, Oikawa took the opportunity to reach forward and dip his finger into the chocolate batter. Not giving Kageyama time to react, the tailor popped the coated digit into his mouth and hummed in pleasure.
"Oikawa-san, please don't do that."
"Why? Giving you dirty ideas?" The distance between the two wedding employees decreased to mere inches, making Hinata's eyes widen in shock. The baker seemed taken aback by the comment as well, nearly dropping the bowl at Oikawa's actions.
"Oikaw-"
"We could make them a reality, if you wanted." Their noses almost brushed at the proximity, and before he could think twice about it, Hinata was rushing into the room.
"Bakayama!" His call to the baker had the desired effect; Kageyama lifted his head away from Oikawa in order to send a fierce look his way. Having the deadly look on him should have given Hinata the chills, yet something else bubbled inside as he watched the baker's attention focus solely on him. Like he had forgetting the third person in the room, Kageyama stormed over toward the approaching teacher with a growl.
"Idiot, you're late. Where have you been?" He didn't hesitate to shift the bowl to one arm, his free hand reaching out to snag the teacher's head.
"I was stuck in a meeting! I've got a job too, ya know." Even as Hinata whined and batted the hand away from his hair, amber eyes flickered over toward the brunet who was silently watching the two from his spot. Once making eye contact, Oikawa smirked, sending a weird twinge in Hinata's chest. He had expected some sort of annoyance or displeasure from the tailor; but the victorious look on his face wasn't sitting well with the smaller man. Feeling defensive at the lingering attention, Hinata turned away from Kageyama to face Oikawa. "A-Are you looking to fight?!"
"I could ask the same thing, chibi-kun. You look a little annoyed." Unsure of how to answer, Hinata remained quiet, though Oikawa didn't mind the lack of response. Shrugging as he pushed off the counter, the assistant rolled his shoulder before walking around the two. Kageyama didn't seem to notice the strain between them, his lips dropping to a frown as he placed the bowl onto the kitchen island and spoke.
"What are you up to now?"
"Nothing, I'm leaving." Causal as a cucumber, Oikawa paused at the kitchen's exit before sending a lazy glance back over his shoulder. "I don't want to make your little boyfriend any more jealous."
The comment should have annoyed Hinata. Oikawa was implying that he had a romantic relationship with the baker. It was the third time in a short period that someone had implied he was interested in a male partner. To make it worse, it was in front of Kageyama, the person Oikawa was implying the teacher wanted to be with. These pieces of the situation should have had Hinata protesting, shouting insults at the tailor and denying the claim. Yet even as the brunet waved and departed the eerily quiet kitchen, Hinata couldn't feel anger. Someone thought he was Kageyama's boyfriend? The strange pressure in his chest when thinking of Oikawa's claim felt different. It was nice. He should have hated it, being called the baker's partner. Yet even as his cheeks rose with color, Hinata's lips twitched with the desire to smile.
"Hinata?" The low voice against his ear synchronized with the steady hand resting on the bottom of his spine, the teacher letting out a small gasp at the touch. Even with his shirt as a buffer, he could feel Kageyama's warm skin radiate through his back. The touch was gentle, like someone trying to soothe or comfort. Despite the benign implication, the location was a sensitive spot for the teacher, making a strong shiver vibrate his body. Embarrassed by his knee-jerk reaction, Hinata jumped away from the baker, climbing on top of the counter that the tailor had previously been occupying to escape. His face was hot, and he willed his blush away as he tried to think of an excuse for his erratic behavior. The slow blink from the baker showed his confusion at the reaction, though the look passed into guilt with little time for Hinata to process it. Kageyama shoved both hands into his pockets, his eyes downcast and his voice quiet. "Right, you're...Sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out."
"Y-You didn't, " Hinata protested weakly, knowing his cowering on the counter didn't help his case. Blue eyes were quick to challenge his statement with a narrowed stare, making Hinata's stomach flip with butterflies he didn't ask for.
"You moved away from me."
"I was just surprised."
"You jumped onto the counter."
"...Really surprised."
"Hinata, I felt you cringe-"
"I liked it!" The words flopped from his mouth with little effort, though Hinata wanted to chop his tongue off when seeing the baker's eyes widen. Feeling his chest compress in confusion, the smaller man grasped his hair with his hands and gave a painful tug. "I mean I didn't like it but-maybe I did? I don't know! It's just-you're...this feels so much more 'bwah'."
"Bwah." Kageyama repeated, the irritated look proving Hinata was making no sense. The painful tugs of his stomach, hands, and his heart were overwhelming him. Why was everything so confusing? He just wanted to be normal! Was that too much for ask? Closing his eyes, Hinata prayed that he could wish the conflicting emotions away. He just needed a minute to breathe. But when his ears picked up the slow shuffle of Kageyama's feet coming closer, his heartbeat rocketed to concerning levels. "What does that-"
"It didn't feel like this with her!" The shout echoed in the large kitchen, Hinata choking on the last word before pressing his palms over his eyes. His body felt itchy, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he forced himself to keep breathing. The silence that fell between the two was tense, the teacher pressing his hands harder into his face. Confusion, guilt, and pain hit him hard. Why had he said that? Kageyama was not his friend; he was a guy who was forced to work with him. From the get go, the taller man had made it clear that their relationship was not voluntary. Even if Kageyama had let him come more often, that didn't mean he wanted to deal with Hinata's existential crisis. Yet even as he chastised himself, the short man wanted the baker to care. He wanted to mean something-
"With...who?" Slowly, Hinata slid his hands away from his face, amber eyes peeking between orange bangs to look at the uneasy look Kageyama was presenting to him. The baker's hands were curled on the edges of the counter on either side of Hinata's thighs, his own legs close to brushing the teacher's knees from their proximity. Slightly bent to meet Hinata's gaze on the same level, it was obvious that the dark haired man was not used to this type of intimate conversation. Still, he stayed, trying to frown enough to hide his nerves from Hinata.
"Oh." Giving his own blink of surprise, Hinata hesitantly dropped his hands into his lap, his legs swinging slightly while he spoke. "With my ex-girlfriend, Yachi."
"She didn't make you feel...bwah?" Hearing the unique word come from the baker's mouth made Hinata's smile hard to hide, though the teacher gave a slight nod to show that Kageyama was correct.
"We didn't really date long; maybe a month? She's my best friend, so it just kind of felt like we should date or something. And Yachi's really cool! But when we kissed...it didn't really feel like much. That was sort of normal for me; even in high school, I liked to cuddle and stuff, but I wasn't super into kissing. Yachi wasn't either, so it seemed like we were working out. But then..." The lightness that had peeked into the conversation was quick to hide as Hinata bit his lower lip in trepidation. "Some of my friends started to tease me about not 'getting any', a-and so I tried it. We tried it, we re-really did but...but my body didn't…it couldn't..."
His body didn't react the way it was supposed to. Despite having Yachi undressed in front of him, Hinata couldn't get aroused. It had shook him to the core, humiliated him despite Yachi's supportive words and comforting embrace. None of it made sense to him back then; why wouldn't he get turned on in this situation? He didn't feel pressure being with Yachi, and he thought she was super pretty. But words like 'sexy' and 'alluring' weren't ever really in his head when he kissed her. Then again, they had never been. Women just didn't spark that description from him, no matter what they wore or how they were speaking. He had confessed these thoughts to his best friend later that night, after the two had reclothed and snuggled up on Hinata's couch.
It was then that Yachi had asked him the question that tore his world apart at the seams.
"And now I'm here, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do." The words were wobbly from Hinata's throat, the teacher blinking back a few tears at his lack of control. It was one thing to occasionally question his sexuality, but to accept that he wasn't straight was a whole other ballgame. He laughed despite his desire to cry, his head dropping down to hide his humiliation. This shouldn't have been a big deal; millions of people were gay. Most of his friends were. He was in a wedding for two men! It wasn't like this was a terminal illness or an unexpected death. Love was love; those were words he lived by.
Yet still he couldn't contain the water that lined his eyes when staring at the scuffed up shoes that swayed in front of him. His mind echoed the memories of his mother teasing him about the day he would have his children. His sister asked him what his perfect wife would look like with expectant eyes. Would he let them down if he didn't want that life? Suddenly, everything felt like too much. No matter how much he wanted to simply fall into his new role gracefully, he felt gravity dragging him down with no chance to gain his balance.
"There's nothing you can do, idiot." The firm words from Kageyama stung, but before he could feel the pain, a sharp tug on his shoulder made him topple into the warm chest in front of him. Hinata's legs cradled the slender hips of the baker, whose arms were now wrapped around the little back in front of him.
"Kage...yama?" The hesitation in his voice was met with a tighter squeeze and a rushed response.
"Suga-san did this when Yamaguchi's family cat died, so..." The way Kageyama tapered off at the end of the sentence proved just how little he knew about comforting another person, though the awkwardness of the sentence made Hinata's lips rise in a smile.
"You're really stupid, Bakayama."
"S-Shut up." Laughing for the first time since coming into the kitchen, Hinata buried his face into the tense shoulder and let his hands wrap around Kageyama's torso. Everything about the moment should have made his emotional state worse, yet despite the stiffness of the embrace, Hinata felt his shoulders relinquish their tension. Just knowing that Kageyama was attempting to console him made some of the panic dwindle. Hesitantly, the baker's palm rubbed circles down the teacher's spine, and Hinata hummed to show his approval. His face was pressed into the cotton shirt on Kageyama's shoulder, but the shorter man didn't fight the hug. Instead, he leaned into it, his heartbeat strongly thumping into his ribcage as he closed his eyes.
Being held by Kageyama felt different, but Hinata couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not. Every shift or movement from Hinata made the baker tense, his hands freezing and his breath stilling. It only began again when the teacher settled into one place, nudging his nose into the bony collar bone against his cheek. A hint of vanilla in Kageyama's scent comforted the teacher, though he wasn't sure why. There was still a part of Hinata that wanted to panic at feeling so at ease in the arms of another man. But this was Kageyama, the grumpy baker who hit him daily but saved him pieces of cake to take home each week. Of course Hinata would feel good being embraced by the confusing man. After all, wasn't he the one who started this whole mess in his heart to begin with? Hinata's fingers twisted in the fabric of the baker's shirt, closing his eyes tight to ignore the question. He didn't want to think about sexuality or emotions anymore.
Instead, he focused on the rhythm of Kageyama's hand on his back, and how comforting the action was to his restless soul.
Next Chapter: The Memories That Build You and Me