Akaashi felt lost.
It wasn't that he didn't realize how time worked. A year-now only three months. Had it really been nine months already?
It wasn't that he didn't know. How many times had he told himself? Bokuto was a University student. He'd worked at it for so hard, so long. Akaashi would never do anything to take that away.
So, no, it wasn't that he didn't know the time or the consequences of said time; it was that he had never quite realized how sharp it felt against his lungs, like every breath should be measured, every heartbeat counted and stored away to save as a treasure for coming days when….
When he'd be a Queen instead of a future Queen and Bokuto would still be a University student.
It was so hard to remember to savor the moments when Akaashi could already feel them slipping away.
And maybe….maybe the part that made it the worst was the same part that Akaashi found himself inexplicably grateful for.
Bokuto never mentioned it. By the looks of it, it didn't even occur to the man how quickly their time was fading away. He did not mention the months left, only mentioned the coronation in a way that seemed exciting rather than Akaashi's odd mix of waiting-anticipatory-excited-terrified-eager-dreading. Even Akaashi's sidestepping comments about how little time they had left was only met by what seemed to be Bokuto's mild confusion.
Bokuto wasn't thinking about it. And Akaashi was so truly grateful. Because if Bokuto wasn't speaking of it, Akaashi could almost let himself forget, slip into the warmth of a smile and the feeling that time ran slow like dripping honey instead of coarse like grains of sand. Of course, Bokuto wouldn't speak of it. It was not who he was to fret over things that were unchangeable. No, Bokuto had always been a mix of excited plans, hopes, and fears. He was always one to move ahead.
But….at the same time, Akaashi did not know how to handle that and that very inadequacy only made his own worry worse.
It made him feel inexplicably that, even though Akaashi was the one who'd be leaving, Bokuto was already leaving him behind. And, worst of all, it seemed like Bokuto hadn't even noticed. Like it was an expectation and the only thing separating it from reality was time.
And nothing about that fit with the Bokuto that Akaashi knew. The difference unmoored Akaashi and made him feel, well….
More lost than ever.
A book flew past his head.
"Quit pinning!" Konoha looked like he was about to tear out his own hair. "Fates, you're literally dating the man! How can you possibly still be pinning?!"
Akaashi didn't answer because he truthfully didn't want to talk about it. At least not to Konoha.
Instead, he saved the tome turned projectile from his bed. "Shouldn't a Jack have more care for books?"
"Probably." Konoha shrugged before his gaze practically flew back to the window, hand coming up to chew on his nails. "Oh Fates! Fates, do you think he's here yet?!"
Akaashi sighed deeply.
"Hey, none of that!" Konoha pointed at him without looking away. "I've listened to your pining, angst, and existential crises for months! The least you could do is help me in my hours of need!"
Akaashi conceded that Konoha might possibly have a point and stood to wedge in beside his friend, looking out at the courtyard below and waiting to glimpse the University's newest visitor.
"I heard he could kill a man with one look," Konoha whispered in terror.
Akaashi couldn't help roll his eyes. "We both know that's not true."
"Maybe," he allowed, "but, I did hear he visited Hearts for a day-a day!-and he managed to tear apart a smuggling ring they'd been trying to track down for months!" Konoha considered for another second. "Plus, with how close he's supposed to work with the Ace of Spades, I'm really not sure the kill-with-a-single-look thing is that much of an exaggeration."
"The Jack of Spades is not going to kill you," Akaashi said dryly.
"Of course not! He'd send their Ace, the assassin!"
"Akinori."
"Okay, fine, he won't kill me!" Konoha pushed off from the window, flopping back dramatically on Akaashi's bed. "But, I still say I am completely in the right to be utterly panicked here! Call it a matter of professional pride!"
Akaashi eyed him, a small smile working across his face. "You can't be telling me you're feeling competitive?"
"Competitive? Competitive!" Konoha shot up, waving his hands wildly. "I am way, way passed, competitive and possibly into….I don't know, envious? Star-struck maybe? What's the right word for I'm abjectly petrified of talking to him; but, also want to ask him a million questions to pick apart his mind!"
Akaashi laughed.
"Oh, shut up, Keiji!" Konoha moaned dramatically. "He's two years younger than me and has been running Spades spy network since before he even Claimed his title. Just wait until the Queen of Spades comes and then we'll see how sympathetic I am."
Akaashi patted his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do fine."
There was the rolling clacking sound of wheels on cobblestone and Akaashi and Konoha both squeezed back to the window, just in time to see a beautiful wood carriage with the black mark of the Spades suit embossed on the side.
The carriage stopped, door coming open. From this far up, all that Akaashi could make out was light blond hair and a tall frame.
The figure straightened, stepping out and walking down into the courtyard before stopping in the middle.
His head tilted up and, even though Akaashi knew from the angle of the window that there was no way possible the Jack of Spades could see them, he still couldn't help but feel that the younger man was looking straight up at them and smirking.
Finally, the figure continued his walk, being greeted by the University masters.
Konoha slumped down by the window, letting out a brief shiver. "Oh Fates, he's terrifying!"
And Akaashi found he couldn't quite disagree.
Tsukishima Kei, Jack of Spades, had arrived at the University.
ooooo
Tsukishima Kei was planned to be in Clubs for all of two weeks-a few days in the capital followed by most of his time scheduled for the University due to his "annual study" or, more accurately, stealthily meeting the new Suit.
He'd only been there a few days and Akaashi already had no doubt that the younger man was in charge of Cards' spy network, closely aligned with the kingdom's foremost assassin.
There was something sharp about the blond man, not quite cold but purposefully apart in the way he interacted with people that made Akaashi simultaneously wary and distinctly glad the man was on their side.
All in all, Akaashi was perfectly fine leaving the Jack of Spades alone in the library while Akaashi gravitated from his studies to find some warmer company.
The problem was….Akaashi was having some difficulty finding said warmer company.
Unfortunately, Bokuto was far, far better at tracking down Akaashi than Akaashi had ever been at finding him. Bokuto seemed to find him unerringly; Akaashi normally had to rely on blind luck.
He checked the courtyards, the cliffs, the classes, even the training grounds and endured all of Yukie and Fumiko's pointed teasing before they finally admitted they hadn't seen him.
Eventually, Akaashi was about to give it up for a loss and assume Bokuto had headed to town, when a bright laugh caught him.
The kitchen.
Akaashi smiled slightly. He should've guessed.
He followed the sound, stopping at the door when he realized Bokuto wasn't alone.
With Bokuto was a servant, short enough to be mistaken for a child until Akaashi caught a better look at his face, grinning widely under a messy mop of shockingly orange hair.
Bokuto was laughing with him, both of the two partly covered in flour and talking animatedly over a pile of….something that Akaashi wasn't even entirely sure was edible.
Akaashi leaned against the door frame, just watching.
There was something about the two, the way that Bokuto's eyes would shine only for the servant to bounce back with him, words jumping between one and the other fast enough that Akaashi couldn't follow. They hadn't noticed him yet and absurdly Akaashi felt like he was watching Bokuto and a tinier, more orange version of him.
He cleared his throat, amused. "The cooks are going to kill you if they find you wasting ingredients."
"Keiji!" Bokuto's head bopped up, grin brightening even further as his eyes landed on Akaashi.
Akaashi smiled back, heart tripping. He really didn't want to leave this behind.
He looked away, only to find the servant watching him, something far more considering glinting in brown eyes before Akaashi blinked at it was gone, fast enough that Akaashi realized he'd probably just imagined it.
The servant grinned. "We're not wasting stuff! We're baking!"
Akaashi skeptically eyed the pile of what looked like it could possibly be called dough if the definition of "dough" had been summarily butchered.
"They're mince tarts," the servant said brightly before his face twisted up in a considering expression. "Well, I mean they're kind of mince tarts. It's Yachi's recipe."
The servant eyed the dough again.
"Yachi isn't a very good baker," the servant confessed, leaning in conspiratorially. "So, they're kind of awful."
Akaashi wasn't going to pretend he knew who Yachi was, probably another servant.
Instead, he looked at Bokuto. "And why did you decide to make a purposefully bad recipe?"
"For the Jack of Spades," Bokuto said earnestly, the servant nodding eagerly by his side.
If anything, that made even less sense.
"Why," Akaashi asked, "are you making bad tarts for Clubs' esteemed guest."
"Because they're his favorite," the servant said with an eye roll. "Tsuki has terrible taste!"
Akaashi didn't know whether to puzzle more over a servant knowing the Jack of Spades' favorite pastry or "Tsuki"; but, was luckily saved before he could ask either.
"Hinata."
Bokuto and Akaashi both jumped as the terrifying figure of the Jack of Spades strode into the kitchen, looking like he was a step away from murder.
The servant-Hinata?-grinned, waving.
Tsukishima crossed his arms. "What are you doing here?"
Hinata tsked. "Honestly, Tsuki, you can just say you missed me."
"I missed you like I miss sores and rashes," the Jack responded dryly.
"You look tired," Hinata continued, unbothered. "Not getting enough sleep? Homesick?"
"Not at all, it's just very tiring dealing with you."
"Have you been eating enough? Suga told me to make sure you're eating enough."
"Hinata!"
"I made you mince tarts," the servant hooked a finger to the dough. "Yachi's recipe."
Tsukishima glared at him, obviously caught between making another retort even as his eyes flickered traitorously to the dough.
Akaashi decided to step in. "Sorry, do you two know each other?"
Tsukishima sighed like every second was an inordinate burden. "Unfortunately."
Hinata grinned, sticking out his hand. "I'm Spades' official courier and the Suit's manservant. Hinata Shouyou!"
Akaashi delicately took the flour covered hand.
"Hinata," Tsukishima repeated, "why are you here?"
Some of the levity in the servant's expression smoothed out as he eyed Tsukishima.
"The Ace of Spades sent me."
Tsukishima raised a brow. "Oh, did he?"
"Definitely," Hinata answered. "You're needed back in Spades."
"And did our Ace happen to mention why when I've been planning this trip for months?"
Hinata shrugged. "Why would they tell me? I'm just the messenger."
Tsukishima gave the servant a look like he was blaming him anyway even though Akaashi thought that was a reasonably fair response if a bit more blasé than he was used to from servants.
"Then, I suppose I'll have to wait to see what our dear, dear Ace could possibly want with me." Tsukishima crossed his arms. "On an unrelated note, I suppose you'll be riding back with me."
Hinata perked up. "In the carriage?"
"I suppose."
The servant and the Jack didn't stop so much as move together as if an accord had been reached and a plan had been made that seemed to stretch much further than a carriage ride and, at once, Akaashi was struck at the picture it made of the Jack, making him look more approachable, more human maybe, than he'd been in the previous days.
At first, Akaashi thought of a dagger and a sheath, a familiar servant there to cover the Jack's edges. But, on further examination, that seemed….wrong. Something off in implying the Jack was any less dangerous here than he'd been in the seconds before and, oddly, also too off to imply that the bright servant was a cover for a weapon instead of….something else, Akaashi wasn't certain.
No, instead and inexplicably, Akaashi thought of the moon. Nothing about the moon changed when the light of the sun hit it, only the picture of its surface became illuminated. That was how Tsukishima was now, nothing changed just further illuminated.
And, at once, Akaashi's eyes were drawn again to the strange servant-Hinata. Because if that was the analogy, then that would put him in the role of the sun. And who was this servant that he had the power to light the faces of royalty?
Then, Hinata grinned up at Bokuto and Akaashi's observations evaporated like morning dew in sunlight.
He shook his head. Perhaps he'd been stuck in the library if he was imposing metaphors and symbolism on poor, unsuspecting Spades' couriers.
Tsukishima and Hinata swept out of the kitchen barely a few minutes later, still swiping cutting remarks back and forth almost like it was a sport.
Akaashi watched them go while arms wrapped around him from behind and he leaned easily into Bokuto's chest.
"So, that's the Jack of Spades, huh," Bokuto said, a puff of breath by Akaashi's ear.
"Yes."
"He's not what I expected."
Akaashi laughed. "No, he isn't."
Between Kuroo and Tsukishima, it seemed that none of the Suit members were what Akaashi had expected.
ooooo
The water dripped down from the cave walls, adding the steadiness of a not quite base that danced whimsically along with the way Bokuto thrummed at his lute.
Watching him, Akaashi unconsciously chewed on his nail in a way that was only part nerves, mostly fascination, and entirely un-Queenly behavior.
Time, it seemed, passed strangely with just the two of them tucked deep away, hidden by both rock and sea and lit by sparring candles. That is to say that time felt like it shouldn't be moving at all. So much so that Akaashi forgot it did, only to be pressed doubly with the unpleasant truth of the matter the moment he was confronted again with the sun.
For now, he simply let himself forget.
Bokuto paused in his playing to lean in and kiss him, soft and sweet. "What are you thinking about, Keiji?"
"Nothing in particular," Akaashi answered, letting his weight fall onto Bokuto's shoulder.
Bokuto laughed. "I don't believe you. You're brain's too big and smart to be thinking about nothing. If you wanted to think about nothing, you should've had a head like mine. It's easier to get lost in."
Akaashi rolled his eyes. "Ridiculous."
"That, too." Bokuto's fingers skipped along the chords, playing something light-the first chords of a jig, maybe, before he got distracted and moved off into the sweetness of a lullaby. "So, what are you thinking nothing about?"
Akaashi stayed still.
"...the coronation, I suppose," he admitted softly.
Bokuto went quiet beneath him, the melody changing to something slower that he always preferred for deeper thoughts and Akaashi felt momentarily panicked.
Because as much as it scared him to believe Bokuto wasn't thinking about the coronation; the only thing that scared him more was that Bokuto was and it was a thought he didn't wish to share with Akaashi.
The moment passed as easily as it came when Bokuto asked, "Hmm, hey, Keiji, after the coronation, what's the first thing you want to do?"
Akaashi's thoughts pulled to a stop, the question twisting in his mind as he realized he'd been thinking much more imminently about either the coronation itself or the long-term demands of being Queen instead of the specifics of first actions.
"I suppose putting out a speech would be good," Akaashi thought for another second. "Maybe planning a tour of the kingdom for the next season so all of Clubs that can't make it to the coronation can see their Suit."
"No, I mean like-," Bokuto huffed, fingers moving quickly through chord progressions, "I don't mean the official stuff, I mean like what do you want to change first?"
Akaashi blinked. "Change?
"Yeah, you know, what do you want to make better?"
When Akaashi thought of being Queen, he thought of upholding what came before him. He thought of Satoshi, of Fumiko and Aratani, of the late King Susumu. He thought of the people he'd serve and preserving the kingdom they loved.
He did not think of change.
The question settled like a stone in his stomach, uncomfortable and heavy.
"I'm not sure," he admitted quietly, settled in the warmth of Bokuto's side and hoping it would melt the chill of Akaashi's hesitance. "What would you change? If you could do anything?"
"Oh, um," Bokuto blushed under him. "It's stupid. Whatever idea you come up with is probably going to be a lot better, Keiji, trust me."
"You underestimate yourself," Akaashi said, shifting so he can look up at Bokuto's face.
The lute had fallen silent in between them.
"No, really," Bokuto said, "it's probably a dumb idea. I don't think a lot of people would like it."
"I'd still like to hear it." Akaashi curled in more firmly, resting a hand on Bokuto's bandaged hand. "Please, Kotaro."
Even under the candle light, he could see how Bokuto's blush darkened.
"I'd like….I'd like to try and get the mining villages and the University branches to work more together," he said, words halting and hesitant. "I mean, you know, right now they're both great and everything. But, they're both...they're both Clubs, yeah? And sometimes it just feels like they hardly know anything about each other and that….I mean it feels like it shouldn't be like that, right? Not when they're both what makes Clubs awesome."
By the end of his speech, the words were coming a bit quicker, a little more fire beneath them that died down to embers as soon as he looked up as if realizing he said everything out loud.
Akaashi's hand moved up to cup his cheek and Bokuto's breath shuddered out of him, turning up to Akaashi with a small smile.
"Sometimes…..sometimes, that's why I think I'm here," he said, bandage hand coming up to make an aborted gesture.
Akaashi felt confused. "At the University?"
Bokuto blinked. "I guess? I mean more like….I don't know like maybe it's my fate or something." He let out a half laugh, self deprecating. "But, probably not, yeah? My fate's probably something a lot more simple, right? Like trying to make sure everything doesn't catch on fire."
Akaashi just smiled. "I can't believe someone like you could ever have a fate that simple. You're too important for that."
"Now, who's being ridiculous?"
"Still you." Akaashi kissed him, just a soft press of lips-a reassurance, a promise. "How would you do it? Bring the mining cities and the Universities together, I mean."
"Huh?" Bokuto's eyes flickered open, distracted enough by the kiss that he answered before he could start second guessing. "Probably by setting up more work programs. Get some of the fancy University scholars to work more in the caves, set up more relationships between the two. And, also, maybe help the kids from mining cities get more of a chance to see what all the University's doing. Make it easier to attend if they want to later."
"That sounds like a great idea," Akaashi told him.
Bokuto's blush returned, ducking his head down and smiling softly. "You really think so."
"Yes."
And if Akaashi would one day be Queen, he'd do everything possible to make sure it came to pass.
"Guess we've both got more time to think about it though," Bokuto said, cutting through Akaashi's thoughts. "A few more months at least."
Akaashi tried not to twist unpleasantly at the thought of time.
He settled back on his place at Bokuto's shoulder, watching as his hands returned to the lute.
"Play me something, please," Akaashi requested.
Bokuto let out another laugh. "As my Queen commands."
Akaashi elbowed him because, Fates, he knew that Bokuto had realized what that particular way of saying his title did to him.
Bokuto dodged him as well as he could, the first notes of a song playing out and Akaashi closed his eyes to listen to them better.
Bokuto sang lightly along, his deeper voice moving under where Akaashi's head laid as he sang about a fair spring and a fairer maiden and a poor farm boy that tied it all together.
"Are all the ones you know love songs," Akaashi teased, eyes coming open to trace the lines of Bokuto's hands as they moved along the cords.
Bokuto hummed, pausing momentarily as the lights of the candles drew out the curves of his smile, making it look almost mischievous.
"Well, maybe not all of them. I do know one that's fairly unromantic if you'd like."
Akaashi leaned his head on his hands. "Oh?"
"It's a classic," Bokuto confessed.
Akaashi smiled. "I didn't think you bothered with classics."
"It's an exception. One of my favorites, probably," His hands stilled on the lute. "Want to hear it?"
"Of course," Akaashi said.
He made sure to stay quiet like being too loud would break the moment held between them in the shadows of the candles and the breath between the strings.
Bokuto readied his hands, brows drawing down with an intensity that wouldn't look out of place for a court minstrel.
Akaashi leaned forward as he waited.
Bokuto cleared his throat.
"There once was a man from Sanpucket-"
Akaashi's laugh burst through the cave like the echo of the canon.
"Whose dic-"
"Fates, don't you dare finish that line," Akaashi said, trying and failing to stop laughing long enough to catch his breath. He batted feebly at Bokuto's hands on the lute. "You're ridiculous!"
"It's a classic," Bokuto defended, grinning back as he turned his hands, twisting them until they intertwined with Akaashi's. "How can you hate classics, Keiji!"
Akaashi didn't bother responding, grabbing Bokuto's collar with his free hand and pulling him forward to lick the next words out of his mouth.
ooooo
He loved him. By the Fates, Akaashi was in love with him.
Heart pounding like a fall from a cliff. Dizzying as the notes of a lute. Surprising as finding rubies among rubble. More encompassing than anything like Fates and magic and Suits and titles had ever hoped to be.
He was in love with Bokuto Kotaro.
And Akaashi felt like his heart would break even as it felt like soaring.
ooooo
It was not something as ridiculous as a crush, no matter what Konoha said.
That would be absurd and, honestly, as they were Akaashi's feelings and he very well knew what a crush felt like-thank you very much!-he could say with absolute certainty that it was not a crush.
It was….
Look, the fact remained that Akaashi did not have a crush on the Queen of Spades.
"It's an intellectual crush," Konoha teased. "You're in love with his brain or his magic or whatever it is that mages like to dork out about."
Akaashi rolled his eyes. "I admire him; he knows more about magic than anyone in generations-probably in all of Cards history. Calling it a crush is just ridiculous."
"Would you prefer hero worship?"
"No."
He could already tell Konoha was getting ready to tease him more-probably still payback from Tsukishima Kei's visit-so Akaashi happened to say in a completely casual tone, "Oh, look is that Satoshi I see looking for me? Better not let him catch you."
Konoha glared at Akaashi before turning back and swearing when he actually did see a very familiar profile starting down the hall.
"This isn't over," Konoha hissed, ducking back into the shadows of the hallway and scurrying away before the Queen of Clubs could see who Akaashi was talking with.
Akaashi smiled victoriously, ducking his head in greeting at the timely approach of his guardian. "Queen Satoshi."
Satoshi inclined his head in response. "Akaashi, I don't suppose you have a moment? There's someone who'd like to meet you."
Akaashi felt his heart beat faster in excitement-not a crush, absolutely not a crush, intellectual or otherwise-which he tamped down with a graceful nod. "Of course, my Queen, I'm at your disposal."
Of all the Card Suits, easily the most beloved was Sugawara Koushi, the Queen of Spades and the Mage of Air. It wasn't just his power or his age, though, really, never had there been a recorded case in Cards' history that a Suit member was so in touch with both magic and the kingdom to halt his age and still be worthy to rule over a century later. Yet, it was his kindness and his grace that Cards most knew him for-the perfect picture of a Queen.
Sugawara Koushi was the figure that, either consciously or unconsciously, all Queens had tried to model themselves out of even as the man himself stood beside them.
So, yes, it was possible Akaashi had a little bit of hero worship.
None of which actually prepared him for the sudden onset of nerves at actually meeting the Queen of Spades.
Warm eyes and silver hair greeted him as he entered the garden.
"Hello. You must be Akaashi Keiji. Satoshi's told me so much about you. I'm so pleased to finally meet you."
The man himself looked surprisingly young-barely mid-twenties even though Akaashi knew he'd been Queen of Spades since the time of Satoshi's predecessor. His clothes were simple but well-kept with the mark of Spades as the most prominent feature, embroidered and resting over the man's heart where the actual Mark lay beneath fabric. And, yet, there was something about the man that radiated serenity, a calm kind of power that wasn't made by loud actions and force but by soothing words and careful calculations. Something about the man that made it obvious he stood in a seat of power and, more, that he belonged there.
Akaashi took the hand offered to him. "A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."
The Queen laughed. "Oh please, call me Suga. After all, we're going to be working together for quite a long time. Trust me, the formalities get rather old after the first decade."
Akaashi hesitated, eyes flickering briefly to Satoshi as if asking if he could really call someone like the Queen of Spades by something as simple as a nickname. Satoshi was standing back, face impassive in a clear sign he was letting Akaashi handle this on his own.
"Suga," Akaashi agreed, pausing as his brain tired to sort through an appropriate opening question, "how long are you planning on staying in Clubs?"
"Just a week or so," Suga said, tossing him a wink. "Spying, of course, but I believe we're using more delicate phrasing. I heard you met our Jack recently? I hope Tsukishima didn't give you too much trouble. He really is a lot more friendly than he is on first meetings." The Queen hesitated. "Well, alright, maybe 'friendly' is the wrong word."
Akaashi doubted anyone had ever referred to Tsukishima as "friendly" in his entire life.
Akaashi nodded anyway. "Yes, a few weeks ago. I'm afraid he had to leave early, though. Your courier came to call him back to Spades."
"Our courier?" Suga's eyes lit up. "Ah, then you've met Hinata, then. Good. I imagine he'll be a rather frequent visitor across Cards so it's nice to hear he's becoming familiar."
Akaashi briefly thought about the mess of the kitchen, an indistinguishable pile of dough, and the twin smiles of Bokuto and Hinata. He supposed it was still better than Kuroo and Bokuto together.
Suga smiled at him as if trying to divine his thoughts though Akaashi couldn't tell yet what he could possibly be looking for.
"So, Akaashi," Suga said, kind voice lilting in the garden, "what's your plans once you become Queen?"
"To serve Clubs and the Card Kingdom," Akaashi answered, words ready enough and coming on reflex even though they were true.
"A perfect answer," Suga agreed. "And one that I'm sure is true for all of us. However, I find I'm more curious about the specifics. I've found that the best way to see where a new ruler's mind is is to find out their larger goal."
"Really, Sugawara," Satoshi stepped in beside them, "Akaashi hasn't even become Queen yet. He should be focused on upholding all that Clubs already is rather than having his mind pulled away by trying to change it."
Suga merely smiled, eyes not leaving Akaashi.
"Change is inevitable," Suga said calmly, "even for one such as myself, maybe even especially. What is and what has been can only get any of us so far. Eventually, we all must look to what is to come. If not, the eventuality will swallow us whole."
Like wind smoothing down the stone of mountains into sand, there was something beneath the Queen of Spades' smile-something deeply powerful, knowing and ever present, even if only glancing once would make it seem as small as a gentle breeze.
And Akaashi….Akaashi was struck suddenly by the fact that he did have an answer. An answer that he wouldn't have had a month ago, maybe not even a week ago, but one that his tongue found easily now like a laugh echoing in the walls of a cave.
"Festivals," he said decisively. "I want more festivals."
Both Suga and Satoshi leaned back at the answer, Suga blinking in what looked like mild surprise while Satoshi frowned in confusion.
"Festivals," Satoshi repeated, not even quite disapproving, merely thrown off by the unexpected frivolousness from his most dedicated student. "You want Cards to have….more parties?"
Akaashi laughed, the sound feeling warm in his chest. "Well, no, not parties exactly. Showcases or...or maybe exhibition fairs, workshops. It's just…," he paused, finding the words to make them understand, "if being here, if traveling across Clubs has taught me anything, it's that our people have so many different voices, different talents. I want more opportunities to celebrate those, more chances for people to see what the kingdom is doing, to have pride in their own talents. And I want….," he smiled, "I want everyone to see that it doesn't have to be perfect. That there's nothing really perfect about anything, just a million different paths to make things beautiful. I want Clubs to have a chance to see the joy in creating rather than just the finished product."
Akaashi thought about misshapen stone flowers and notes lilting and weaving together.
Yes, Akaashi wanted to give his people a chance to find their own joy.
Satoshi was still staring at him, conflicted as if unsure how he should respond.
Suga, on the other hand, was watching Akaashi with a particular light shining in his eyes.
"I think….," the Queen of Spades began, "that sounds like a wonderful idea. I'd be very interested in hearing more if you don't mind?"
Akaashi felt his heart beating beneath his breath, felt the wind across his face, and the sun warming his hair.
For the first time, Akaashi felt like he was exactly who he should be.
He was himself.
He smiled back. "Of course."
ooooo
"Keiji?" Bokuto brightened at seeing him. "Hey, Keiji! I heard you met the Queen of Sp-mfph!"
Akaashi laughed into the kiss, hands gripping in Bokuto's shirt and pressing in harder.
When he broke off, he didn't go far, barely an inch away and feeling Bokuto's pants against his lips.
"So….um, I'm….thinking it went well?"
"Mhmm," Akaashi hummed in agreement, leaning his head against Bokuto's and looking up intently through his lashes. "It did. But, I think my day's about to be even better."
"Yeah?" Bokuto grinned up at him with fire lit through gold eyes. "Why's that, my Queen?"
Akaashi laughed again, fumbling behind Bokuto's back for the door to his room and throwing it open.
He shoved Bokuto though, following right after.
"Try to guess."
ooooo
The sun was warm, shining through to rest on the silver in Bokuto's hair and the soft linen of the bed sheets.
Akaashi felt incandescently happy.
"Keiji." Bokuto trailed kisses along his chest. "Keiji."
Bokuto paused in his attention at the Mark resting above Akaashi's heart. "My Keiji, my Queen."
Akaashi's breath caught at the feeling of teeth against the edges of his Mark before Bokuto placed a soft, lingering kiss right at the center of the Club symbol.
"That tickles," Akaashi said in what wasn't anywhere near a complaint with how his hand had come to thread firmly through Bokuto's hair, keeping him in place.
He could feel Bokuto's smile against his chest and Akaashi had to wonder if the skin around his Mark had always been so sensitive.
"Keiji," Bokuto repeated, letting out a soft sigh as he closed his eyes, seeming content to just rest his cheek over Akaashi's heart.
Akaashi took the time to watch him, the hand gripped in Bokuto's hair loosening enough to run his fingers through it in a soothing gesture.
The sight before him was one worth watching and Akaashi found his eyes fixed on the smaller details-the way Bokuto's sun tanned skin looked against Akaashi's paleness, broad shoulders with a smattering of freckles Akaashi had never seen before, strong back half held on the mattress so he wouldn't crush Akaashi beneath him, mused hair half flattened and somehow even wilder in the light of the afternoon sun.
Really, it was a sight Akaashi thought he'd be entranced to watch forever.
His lips quirked up in amusement, hand running down and lifting Bokuto's left hand-for once, ungloved even if his other was still bandaged firmly.
Bokuto made a questioning noise.
"Tan line," Akaashi answered, softly running his finger along where the starkly paler skin met golden tan. Akaashi laid a kiss on the center of the palm before letting it drop. "It's strange, I think this is the first time I've seen your hands without a glove."
Bokuto went still on top of him, propping himself up and looking down at Akaashi with a hesitant but determined expression.
"Do you want me to….I mean would you like to see….," he gestured with his bandaged hand. "Do you want me to take off the bandage?"
Akaashi smiled. "It's fine, Kotaro. I know."
It was enough that Bokuto felt comfortable enough even removing one glove around Akaashi. If keeping the bandage helped serve as a makeshift glove then Akaashi was just glad Bokuto was happy.
After all, it wasn't as if Akaashi had some pressing need to see both of Bokuto's palms….Even though he's sure having two tan line marked hands would be adorable.
"Besides," Akaashi grinned, bringing the other hand up to kiss at the skin right above the bandage, "what would the healers say if they saw your suddenly healed wrist."
"Heh, it's a miracle," Bokuto joked but his expression evened out, going back to rest on Akaashi's chest.
Bokuto sighed, breath fanning out against Akaashi's skin.
"My Keiji," he murmured softly.
"Yours," Akaashi agreed.
He felt Bokuto's breath catch. "Hey, Keiji…."
Bokuto trailed off.
"Yes?"
Instead of saying anything, Bokuto pushed forward.
His lips met Akaashi's, hand coming up to grip the back of his neck, and pulling him up into something deep. Something ground shattering, clinging to Akaashi's very bones and magnetizing the blood in his veins.
A declaration more than a kiss. A promise more than a movement.
And Akaashi felt it in a way that cleanly broke through the moment previous, separating it into a new present where everything previous would always be a mere before with this as the inevitable conclusion.
Oh, Akaashi thought in the part of him that was still capable of thought. …..Oh.
Bokuto truly had always been better with actions than with words.
When they finally separated, a new eternity, Akaashi gave the answer that mirrored the action.
"I love you," he said, clear like the light off a gem.
Bokuto smiled back like the final note in a symphony. "My Queen."
