BokuAka (Bokuto/Akaashi) | Fluff/Romance | 1st Year/2nd Year, in which Bokuto and Akaashi decide to feed some Koi
It was their second semester now, and the mood of the Fukurodani Team were pretty rough lately. Despite the constant practice matches, especially with Nekoma, they'd lost their first set of games. It was incredibly frustrating. Even though they'd worked so hard, it hadn't really amounted to anything. The feeling wasn't welcome. It was a hopeless, and confusing emotion. Frustration, and the need to get better. Stronger.
He sighed to himself, tugging at his bag and making sure it was secure on his shoulder. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed to work on his Spiking. Glancing towards Akaashi, Bokuto felt a little trill of excitement, despite his glum thoughts. They were walking alone together, on their way from practice.
Komi was sick with a fever, so naturally it was just Akaashi and Bokuto walking home today. Konoha had rushed to the other's aid, with the thought striking Bokuto as pretty amusing. He wasn't generally an expressive guy, unless he wanted to express how annoying people were, but when it came to serious situations... well. Serious situations that usually involved Komi, specifically.
Bokuto laughed at the thought.
"What?" Akaashi asked, looking over at him curiously.
"Oh, nothing, I guess. I was just thinking of how funny it is, to see a guy like Konoha worry over Komi," Bokuto said, repeating his own thoughts. He could only really ever envision a prickly side to Konoha. Quick to dismiss others, easy to piss off. He really didn't understand how Komi wasn't strangled by him, given how loud and obnoxious he tended to be.
"Maybe. Though, I don't really think so. He cares about Komi, so its not really that odd," Akaashi responded with a shrug. He wasn't wrong. Komi and Konoha were particularly close, especially considering they'd known each other since childhood. Much longer than Bokuto had known either of them. "If you really think about, you'd be pretty worried, too."
That made Bokuto think. He crossed his arms in contemplation, his head tipping back so he could stare up at into the dark sky. Worried, huh? "So, basically... like Kuroo would be worried if Kenma got sick?" he mused aloud. Though he chastised himself, remembering that Akaashi had only met them once, so he wouldn't entirely understand.
But to his surprise, Akaashi just nodded, "Yeah, kind of like that, I guess. I mean, they seem really close. And I'm pretty sure they'd be dating by now, if they weren't so oblivious."
Bokuto frowned slightly, feeling a little bit confused. If he weren't concentrating so hard on why exactly those words bothered him, he would have laughed his ass off. Kuroo and Kenma were definitely the oblivious type, when it came to how they viewed one another. Tapping a finger against his chin, Bokuto asked, "So... when your dating, or you really care about someone, you worry when the get sick?"
"Yeah," Akaashi responded, his expression light and nonchalant.
He ruffled his hands through his pale, spiked hair, eyes narrowing in concentration. So it was on the same term as dating, then? He grit his teeth, wondering why his thoughts seemed to be all jumbled up. Man, that was really confusing him now. Did that mean Konoha and Komi...? He let that thought split off the moment it began, fearing if either of them knew he'd so much as considered the possibility, they would murder him and laugh at his funeral.
Then, the thoughts began to rise even more pressing matters. Like, if you were only supposed to worry about someone you deeply cared about, someone you would consider dating, did that mean...? He gripped his hands into his hair, wondering if the pain would stop his train of thoughts. But it didn't help any. He closed his eyes, trying to picture how he would feel if Komi, Konoha, or Akaashi got a fever. Komi already had one, so he knew he was only a bit worried. And it would probably be the same with Konoha. But Akaashi... his stomach squeezed at the thought, making him quickly open his eyes and look down at him.
"But friends... can still worry about one another, right?" Bokuto suddenly said, as if fishing for something that could quell his worries.
"Well... yeah, of course," Akaashi said, glancing over at him with a slight raise of his brow. His expression was a bit concerned, now. Bokuto probably wasn't hiding the fact that he felt incredibly frustrated and confused, at the moment. As if trying to comfort him more, he added, "But I think the difference is that a friend would be worried, and try to help as much as they can. Whereas someone you were dating, or cared deeply about, would probably insist on cooking meals and spending the night. Basically, you'd be so worried you wouldn't want to leave their side."
That didn't help him, not one bit. He didn't know what he'd do, and he really didn't want to think too hard on that at the moment. He'd known him for less than a year, so it was probably weird of him to consider Akaashi as someone close. Someone he knew he definitely cared about, in the least. Bokuto crossed his arms as he mulled over what exactly he'd even feel in that moment. He wouldn't want to spend the night or anything, but he would want to take care of him. Not that he probably didn't have someone else who could do that.
Before he could torture himself any further with his thoughts, Akaashi cleared his throat and asked, "What about you? Do you have anyone you'd be that close with?"
The question took him by surprise. Was he able to read his thoughts?
Slightly unnerved by how accurately close the question had been to his own frustration, he glanced down at the path in front of them. "Mm... like, to date?" he asked, hesitating when he considered his answers. When he received a subtle nod from Akaashi, he grunted in thought. "Well... not really, I guess? I mean. I've never given it much thought, or even considered dating anyone. I guess it would be nice. But I also feel like it would conflict with my Volleyball practice, and games. What if I got dumped? Or, worse, what if I got rejected? I'd be really upset, y'know?"
Akaashi made a sort of snort, which Bokuto could tell was suppressed laughter. He smiled, catching the way his nose crinkled whenever he did that. It's pretty cu— and he cut that thought off quickly, surprised at how rampant his mind was being at the moment.
"Makes sense you'd say something like that, Bokuto. And I guess it would be a pain if you got so upset you'd be unable to play properly..." he finally responded, trailing off with a look of curiosity on his face. He seemed like he wanted to press the subject more, but then thought better of it. "Anyways, its probably not best to think too hard about it, right? If Komi or Konoha knew we were talking about this stuff, they'd probably get pretty angry."
"Yeah. So no telling them, okay?" Bokuto piped up, fearing for his safety. Komi might be pretty short, but he still had a pretty nasty attitude.
"Sure thing, Bokuto," Akaashi hummed in response.
Satisfied with his answer, Bokuto continued on. He knew that he wasn't the type to spread any rumors, or cause any trouble. Akaashi preferred to keeps things on surface level, nice and peaceful. He was respectful, and had a good head on his shoulders. Bokuto envied that part of him; he tended to be rather brash and insensitive at times. Where Akaashi was level headed and poised, Bokuto was clumsy and aloof.
Watching as lights had begun to flicker off for the evening in distant shops, he couldn't help but admire the water passing under the bridge they were crossing. The atmosphere almost seemed ethereal, and soothing. He slowed his pace until he came to a stop at the center of the railing. Wanting to enjoy the feeling a bit longer, Bokuto stopped and leaned partly over it.
There was a singular light post, giving the water and area around him a soft glow. Akaashi, noticing Bokuto was no longer keeping up with him, sighed and backtracked a bit. "What're you doing?" he asked, sounding tired and ready to get home already. "I don't want to miss dinner..."
He shrugged, his shoulders rolling with the carefree movement. Bokuto smiled at Akaashi, placing his hands on the railing and looking up at him now. "Sometimes you just wanna' enjoy the moment, y'know?" he said, mostly talking about the water, or the way the lights glinted off of its surface. But, then again, he was partly talking about Akaashi, too. It was rare he got so many moments to talk one on one with him.
His eyes followed Akaashi's expression, almost like a hawk, as he narrowed his gaze before leaning against the railing and looking down into the water as well. Glad he'd be able to explore his features a little longer, he drank in the sight eagerly. The light make his hair shine, a soft glow that complimented it. His face seemed softer, too, in the light. And his usually brighter, pale blue eyes were now a darker and mysterious indigo — with tiny, little lights flickering in them occasionally. Bokuto faintly remembered the first time he'd seen him. And the thought still applied to this day; he was breathtaking.
"Bokuto," he said suddenly, causing him to startle from his thoughts.
Not wanting to be caught ogling at his beauty, Bokuto followed his gaze, down to the water. His eyes widened, a smile stretching across his face. Beneath the water surface, where you could barley make anything out, were a group of Koi. It was a bit easier to see them, with the light glinting off of their scales. It was almost like a bunch of tiny, translucent disco balls and glitter had been tossed into the river. They disappeared under the bridge, causing Bokuto and Akaashi to walk over to the other side and peer over the edge.
The Koi slipped through the water, going in a singular direction. "They're always moving forward, huh?" he said aloud, placing his arms on the railing again.
He positioned his head comfortably against his hand, his chin resting on his palm. The silent, ambient city sounds were comfortable. Cars, the usually loud city noises now hushed and sleepy. When Akaashi broke it, he didn't mind all that much. His voice was clam, and tepid. It felt right, and welcome, a compliment to the background sounds.
"We're all moving forward, in our own way, though," he said, as if his statement were purely fact. Bokuto glanced at him, wondering not for the first time how he'd managed to become friends with someone like him. "It may not look like it, if you don't notice anything. Even when we mess up, we're still trying to pick ourselves back up. That's all we can do. Move forward."
"Man, its scary how mature you are, for a First year," Bokuto said with a small shudder, straightening up.
"But you've got it right," he continued, beginning to walk in the same direction they'd been heading previously. Bokuto grinned widely, one hand resting neatly in his pocket. Akaashi cast him a bewildered expression. Whether his mind was preoccupied with the loss of their Volleyball game, or the fact that Akaashi made him more confused each and every day, he wasn't too sure. "There's only one way to go, and all we have to do is gonna keep moving forward."
AN: Sorry its so short, I'm just really trying to build on their relationship starting from when they met, to in the future. Trust me, there will be fluffier and fluffier stories as I write even more!