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I fear that this is going in the list of things to make.

TW for talks of abuse, neglect, depression and su*cide

I fucking love the "platonic yandere batfam x neglected reader" but I wish there was more of it to explore.

Like where are the readers that are bitter yet burned out? The reader that knows that they're being forgotten about early on (maybe it's familiar– maybe their mom was terrible too) and doesn't push for the attention? They know that trying their best and worst won't get them the results they want so they just... fade in the background. No awards or straight As– the reader strives for mediocrity and prays to dissappear as soon as they can and start over. They don't want anyone in this godforsaken family to ever give them a crumb of thought but eventually they do and any ounce of attention is hell.

Or what about the reader that hurts and hurts and hurts until they can't take it anymore and they attempt the unthinkable. Whether this reader wanted the batfam to be hurt by their death is up to interpretation but the results are the same. They were negligent sure but they never hated the reader– it's all so sudden that the spiral is damn near immediate. Wouldn't you do so too, afraid and guilty and grief striken that you're inaction could have killed someone that was supposed to be dear to you?

I think about it sometimes.

because they slayed 🤪 (again literally)

audio credit ✨️

i forgot about this video and how rlly attractive jasmine was 🤭🤭🤭

also i might write about this 👀👀👀 (probably around OCT)

✨️video here✨️

Gift for aliquoten: Tsukishima closes his eyes and falls into a restless slumber (sofa’21)

Restless

Read on Ao3 

Tsukishima can’t sleep. Actually, he hasn’t been able to sleep well for the past few days, but this is the first time he’s opened his eyes to see him sleeping. The reason behind his insomnia. The room is dark, they always close the blinds every night, but it’s slowly approaching sunrise and some of those lights are starting to peek into their room.

Hinata is lying completely still next to him. It’s so different from the excitable and human version he (and everyone) sees during the waking hours.

Since Hinata doesn’t usually have to sleep, it’s rare for Tsukishima to see him in this state. After all, why would vampires need to sleep? He can see Hinata rolling his eyes at him, Everyone needs to rest every now and then, even people like me! He remembers Hinata’s stories of how he used to have a younger sister and they’d both end up sharing a futon sometimes, their limbs sprawled all over the bedding but also spilling out onto the hardwood floors of their traditional Japanese home. Their mother would find them snoring loudly in the mornings, their bellies uncovered, I don’t really remember what it felt like, to sleep like that, but sometimes I remember feeling happy you know? So I miss it. I can’t really snore anymore since I don’t need to breathe

No, he doesn’t. Instead, Hinata’s slumber is still, dark, and Tsukishima would usually panic if he woke up to someone so still and cold sleeping next to him, but this is somehow a comfort to him. He knows anything can easily wake up Hinata but his hand moves before he can think and he places it into Hinata’s, holding the lifeless limb

Hinata doesn’t move so he’s either truly dead to the world or he’s humoring Tsukishima

Tsukishima closes his eyes and falls into a restless slumber.

---

They have been living together for five years. Tsukishima doesn’t believe in forever. He knows that things change for one reason or another, but he feels like this could be it and it scares him that Hinata will just stare at him in silence when he talks about something longer. Or that his answers will carry some uncertainty. He’ll still be exuberant, but his eyes will shift, his hands will randomly start to play with something as a distraction, and Tsukishima wonders if maybe he’s the only one that wants forever

But Hinata truly has forever. He’s changed his life numerous times. Forever to him means a timed life, I haven’t lived everywhere in Japan yet but I’ve visited every place I can find, you know, to see if maybe it can be my next home. One time I went to America! It was so different!! But I came back. Maybe it can be my next home one day but I like it here

Tsukishima has only considered and embraced forever because Hinata is by his side

He doesn’t want to move from town to town and start a new life, change his name on occasion, leave loved ones behind, but he does want to keep holding Hinata’s hand. He wants them to keep going on those expensive trips where Hinata tells him some obscure tale about the inns that only someone who had been around hundreds of years ago would know. He wants to scold Hinata about walking around the house or outside with his hair wet, even though he knows nothing will come of it, because that’s what couples do. And as sullen as he’ll look in many of the photographs that have accumulated in their little apartment, Tsukishima also wants more of that

He wants to always be able to see Hinata’s smile at its brightest.

---

Hinata says he doesn’t live in the same place twice, but I made an exception for this place. I actually went to school here once, a long long time ago! I’m glad I came back

Tsukishima is glad too. He knows they started off on the wrong foot, mostly because Tsukishima is a jerk, he admits it, knows it, and is rather proud of it. He doesn’t like to give everyone his time and being nice to everyone is just exhausting. Perhaps there was some resentment in his way of thinking a few years ago, but he’s since then disentangled those threads and now he keeps up his attitude because it’s such an easier way to live

Being with Hinata has mellowed him out in some people’s eyes at least. Yamaguchi is still his best friend and they have the same sense of humor often, but if Tsukishima ever says the wrong thing, he knows Hinata will call him out. He doesn’t usually listen if the person he’s pissing off is Kageyama and he’s come to terms with the fact that there’s some jealousy in his blood regarding that

One of the reasons Hinata doesn’t like to come back to the same place more than once is because of people like Kageyama. They’re sitting on the couch when Hinata tells him, You shouldn’t be so mean to Kageyama, he’s not a bad guy. Tsukishima had only made an annoyed grunt. You know, this is a secret but…I used to know someone from Kageyama’s family when I lived here the first time. It actually scared me the first time I saw him, they look almost identical. Maybe that’s why we’re so competitive

Tsukishima wonders if this means anything. Hinata tells him that he’d been best friends with the other Kageyama and he speaks fondly of him. He wonders if that one knew of Hinata’s secret, if he would have also desired forever with Hinata, or if he’d known and decided to stay here. So many things could be different

He asks about his own ancestors. Hinata looks at him, No Tsukishima’s of your family in my life until you, that’s why I’m so happy I came back

Tsukishima agrees.

---

The first time Hinata drinks directly from Tsukishima happens when they first start living together. Hinata likes to hold his hand and Tsukishima doesn’t mind, he enjoys the way Hinata’s fingers will roam his skin, how his eyes will look so intently at the veins there. Tsukishima doesn’t know much about vampires, aside from the usual pop culture stereotypes, but he tells Hinata one day, if he wants to, that he doesn’t mind letting him drink from his neck

He imagines it would be painful, but if it’s for Hinata, he doesn’t mind. And there’s a sense of possession that he likes in the act.

Hinata had sat on his lap at the offer, kissed him slowly, so tenderly, on the lips. Drowned him in kisses, on his cheeks, his forehead, and then moved so slowly onto his neck. Tsukishima had gripped those small hips, prepared himself, but Hinata had only kissed him, gone so far as to leave a hickey. He’d seen how he’d stared at the blood coming to the surface, licked his lips. But he’d continued kissing, pulled his arm to his lips, kissed his wrist, up, up, up

And that’s where he felt the pinprick of teeth

Hinata had drank as carefully as he kissed, making sure to keep Tsukishima’s discomfort at a minimum. He’d asked about it when they were in the bath, Oh that, well, what if I hurt you? I’ve known vampires that have accidentally killed people like that. And doctors always take blood from the arm so that seemed safest to me

It makes Tsukishima curious about other things.

At that point, he’d known that sunlight didn’t truly affect vampires like it did in movies. Hinata didn’t turn into ash, otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived as long as he did. And he doesn’t start to look otherworldly…or at least not in a vampiric sense. It does make him dizzy to stay out for too long and one time he’d passed out. Tsukishima remembers they’d been having a team reunion and everyone had panicked when Hinata just lay still in the park.

Sugawara had already snapped open his phone to call for an ambulance and Yachi (who had been the closest to Hinata) had nearly fainted as she yelled out that Hinata wasn’t breathing. Tsukishima had just grabbed Hinata, and he was glad he kept a semi-regular workout routine because otherwise picking up his limb boyfriend would have been nearly impossible, and told the others he just needed to cool off indoors for a moment, I’ll be right back

He’d managed to help wake Hinata with a bit of blood and after that, everyone decided that the next time they met, being outdoors for too long would be a bad idea

As for the garlic, that was one of the earliest examples that proved “deadly vampire items” were not exactly accurate.

But Tsukishima wondered, what about turning others? He was afraid to ask. What if that wasn’t true either? Or, he felt a churning in his gut every time he thought about this, what if Hinata didn’t want Tsukishima in his life for that long?

---

Tsukishima’s sleep is restless so when Hinata starts to move his fingers along his arm, he feels it and he’s instantly awake. But he doesn’t open his eyes. He keeps his eyes closed and enjoys the feeling of Hinata’s cold touch. Tsukishima is still holding onto one of Hinata’s hands and when he feels Hinata move closer, he knows that Hinata has noticed he’s awake. Tsukishima opens his eyes to see Hinata only inches away from him. He’s smiling and they kiss good morning

“How did you sleep?” Hinata asks quietly. He’s so quiet that Tsukishima wonders if maybe he imagined it.

Tsukishima’s body feels tired. He wants to stretch and see if anything pops, if it will help him relax. His body is too tense. But he also doesn’t want to move away from Hinata so instead, he says, “Okay.”

Hinata is watching him and Tsukishima knows he can see the lies. Hinata moves up to touch the bags under his eyes, touches his pale skin, and caresses his damp hair. He only notices it now

Tsukishima closes his eyes again for a moment.

Hinata has been here too long.

Hinata has been here for ten years and people are starting to comment on his appearance more and more. It’s not entirely strange for someone in their supposed late twenties to still look young, but soon it will be apparent that something isn’t right. And soon Tsukishima will start to look older than the boy who has been stuck at twenty-five for hundreds of years. It will be obvious, so Hinata had started the process

Tsukishima had seen some of the photographs and decorations disappear from where they belonged. He’d seen Hinata’s usual messy clothes in their shared closet become neater. Some clothes folded and packed too meticulously. He’d been home for a few weeks too. He’s sure Hinata has quit his job

Hinata has also stopped asking for food. Hinata doesn’t have to eat and his body doesn’t reject the food (as long as he takes care and has enough blood circulating in his system, Hinata functions as a normal human would), but he’s always loved sharing meals with Tsukishima. Now he’s only seen Hinata snack on a few things.

It has also been a week since he last fed from Tsukishima.

He wonders if this is Hinata’s way of slowly removing himself from Tsukishima’s life. He wonders how Hinata even managed to get inside so deeply.

Tsukishima wonders if this is Hinata’s answer to the many times he’s implied he wants forever with him.

He feels Hinata shift in bed again and then he’s being hugged, Hinata’s small hands rubbing his back. He’s half laying atop Hinata and he wants to tell him to get away, but if this is what he’ll be left with, he wants it all. He grips Hinata tightly and they both lie there as the birds sing outside and the sun finishes its ascent.

Hinata clears his throat and Tsukishima realizes that lying like this, he can’t see Hinata’s face, his eyes, and from how wobbly he speaks, his tears, “Kei, it’s time you know.”

Tsukishima doesn’t say anything, let’s Hinata continue.

“I’ve never stayed this long you know,” he’s not trying to hide the fact he’s crying, “Ten years is a lot in my time. People grow and change a lot in that time, but…but I like it here. I like the kids at the school, they’ve been practicing so hard for their next match, and I like to see K-Kageyama huff and even smile when we beat his team.” Hinata’s hand stops rubbing Tsukishima’s back, opting to just stay in place

“And whenever we can meet up with the team. Yachi also called me the other day. She’s having twins, did you know that?”

He did. Yamaguchi had been so happy and scared that he’d called Tsukishima as soon as he’d heard the news.

“But you know why I didn’t leave?” they shift again and Tsukishima feels a messy kiss on his forehead. He moves to kiss Hinata and is surprised and glad at the desperation they both share at that moment. Tsukishima is breathless when they finally part and Hinata is looking at him like he also wants forever with him, “It’s because you’re here. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave you. Ever.”

Hinata cries into him and Tsukishima wants the same thing, but neither of them knows how to make this come true. Hinata has rarely encountered any other vampires and he doesn’t remember how he came to be in this state. He just remembers…being.

Tsukishima isn’t the type for mushy talk but he grabs Hinata’s face and finally lets his feelings flow, “We can find a way. And if we can’t, ” he swallows the lump in his throat, because that is always a possibility, and if ten years have passed by so quickly, he’s afraid of how fast the rest of his life will go, “If we can’t…then let’s just enjoy what we have. Together.”

He kisses Hinata, “You don’t have to go alone this time. Be selfish. Ask me to go with you.”

---

When they finally manage to get out of bed, the apartment starts to become cold. Decorations are taken off the walls, the refrigerator, the shelves. When Hinata moves, he tries not to take anything with him. It helps alleviate the pain of leaving people behind, but this time Tsukishima is coming with him.

They don’t have to start from zero

---

A/N:

OMG this story was TORTURE

I actually had a few ideas when it came to these two but then I was sleeping (restlessly) and randomly thought, what if Hinata were a vampire?? And since there was recently that TsukkiHina or Tsukishima magic week (or something) and my giftee's likes included some fantasy elements I was like why not? And of course, DA ANGST, which my giftee also listed

Watch me cry over what I wrote

Also, I usually like writing OMAKE in the end notes, please let me know if that's something you guys would like. I kind of didn't automatically do it this time because uhm, I was too busy crying so (esp aliquoten) if you want a little something extra, lmk, I kind of already have something in mind

I hope you all enjoyed~

Gift for Daiyanerd: Miyuki Kazuya. Always cool and collected. Has a great side profile. Good at baseball. Well, no, great is the correct word. (sofa’21)

Moratorium

Read on Ao3

ONE

Miyuki Kazuya

Always cool and collected. Has a great side profile. Good at baseball. Well, no, great is the correct word. Even when he sometimes messes up some of the smaller plays. Reliable. Daring. Funny. Charming. Has probably had a dozen girlfriends, or maybe not. Nobody has been able to get any concrete answer on that one question, but he's definitely a lady's man, his fan club primarily consisting of girls and women that claim they would leave their current lives just to marry him if he so much as hinted interest. Or at least that's what many of the magazines, both sports and gossip ones say about him

Not to be too full of himself, but Kazuya thinks that much of what they say has some foundation. Yeah, people like Yoichi and Jun know better but he has to agree that his catching skills are unparalleled. He might also really like sending magazine covers with blown up images of his smiling (smirking) face to Yoichi just to get a scathing reply or an angry call. His only response is his lady killer (annoying) laugh

He knows he's always being watched by someone, but it completely slips his mind that anything could go wrong on that day

The headlines are brutal and he's gotten many messages and calls from his friends. He hasn't really answered because, well, he hasn't been able to. But he knows what they're saying. He's laying at the hospital with bandages covering most of his torso. He has a sense of deja vu, having been in a similar position when he'd been in high school, but this is much, much worse. Something happened and everyone is scrambling to find out what

Everyone except Rei, who has been detained. The tabloids are lapping this up like it's the sip of water they've finally been allowed after being stuck in a desert for months. Except that they're ruining the lives of the people Kazuya loves the most

He sees different news channels trying to get interviews from the few people that make up his friends. They want to know about Rei from high school. They've dug up her whole life's story and put it on full blast. They want to know about Kazuya, as if they haven't already told all there is to say, invented and created his whole career. They talk about how Rei pretty much scouted him from a very young age. The same women that claim they would do anything for Kazuya have turned razer sharp, claiming that "they knew it all along" and that Rei "had it coming"

They all twist the information for entertainment and Kazuya closes his eyes, disgusted at what they say about her.

There had been an accident. His car had been hit and he knows he needed surgery. Later they found out it was all a setup and he went from being one of the richest people and baseball players in Japan to having nothing. His career may as well be over. It will take too long for him to recover. Games won't wait.

Kazuya throws the remote in his hand and wants to tell them all its lies. He knows Rei would never do something like this. She's smart. It doesn't make sense. As much as Rei will follow a gut instinct, especially if it's about recruiting potential, it's always based on logic. There is no logic here.

His name flashes on multiple headlines and all he wants to scream is no, I didn't she say she stole my money!

The machines connected to his body have been beeping for a while now and finally, nurses and doctors run in. They try to get him to calm down but all he can do is repeat It wasn't her! It wasn't her! Rei would never! Tell them to stop!

Soon he feels drowsy and he realizes he's been sedated.

Before he closes his eyes he sees a picture of Rei next to the news anchor. Her hair is down, her eyes look haunted, but her posture is proud. She's not in her usual suit. Instead, she's wearing that dreaded green top, almost drowning her, making her pale skin paler. She doesn't look right. It's not the Rei he knows. The Rei he owes everything to.

He feels the tears burn his eyes.

----

TWO.

It takes a little over a year for things to "settle" down, but once the storm is over, everything is ruined.

Kazuya still manages to get his face blown up on magazine covers, but this time it's for a different reason. He's now considered a victim and he hates the images of him being wheeled out of the hospital. Of the tabloids somehow getting a shot of his bloodshot eyes, his pale skin, and his hunched shoulders. He wishes his attorney had allowed Kazuya to do something, but everything was too precarious, we have to be careful. Careful of what? He can no longer play baseball. He was already pushing the age of acceptability, only being allowed to continue contracts because he was so good, was still quick, was dedicated in mind, body, and soul to the game. But now he was injured, would be in rehab, and nobody knew if he'd still be able to move as great as before. Nobody would take that risk

Rei is finally released, but her life is ruined too. Hers is worse than Kazuya's will ever be. Not just because she's the supposed mastermind of the accident and subsequent disappearance of his capital, but because she's a woman. It's made him sick how she's been torn apart and left behind. She had already been forcefully (through great results) making her own space at the table. This was just the excuse to make her disappear. Nobody wanted a criminal as their associate. The label was tarnished and it would take time to rebuild their name. "Apologies" had been passed around, but nobody would take the risk of allowing her space again

Nobody thought to ask her side of the story, to reach out and help. She was alone. Nobody could legally take what she's rightfully earned, but they can pile fines upon fines. She is "free to go" but they have severely limited what she can do.

It only makes sense that she finally retires. Kazuya goes to see her with the Seidou team. He breaks when he finally sees what they've done to her, all in "his name", to "protect him". Rei is strong, logical, smart, but she can't help but allow herself to show a bit of emotion at that moment. She wipes away at Kazuya's face, "There's nothing left for me here and there's no use crying. The only way to go now is forward."

Chris recommends that Kazuya go to the same rehab facility he went to in America.

Kazuya doesn't want to leave. It feels like admitting defeat, like running away, like he's abandoning his friends.

Yoichi grits his teeth, tells Kazuya he wants to punch him for being so stupid, "But hitting an injured person isn't my style, even though it's YOU."

There is little progress on his health, both physical and mental, and then Yoichi, who has been singlehandedly taking care of him whenever he has a moment to spare, nearly begs him, "Kazuya, please. Go. Don't let this defeat you. I don't want to admit it but I miss seeing that stupidly smug look on your face. Remember what Rei said. You have to keep moving forward!"

He can't help but laugh one night when he can't sleep, Yoichi's words and his concerned face plaguing his mind. He can't believe he almost let this defeat him. He can't believe he was down enough to force his best friend to make such a face, to make him cry for his sake. He feels like he's let everyone down, especially Rei.

He calls Chris a few days later.

Before leaving, he logs into his Twitter account, which, like any other media source, he's been avoiding for the past year. Someone has obviously logged in and cleared his notifications and as his last stand, no first, because even now "they have to be careful", Kazuya quote RTs an article he hasn't even read, but he doesn't need to. He chooses it because it has one of those headlines. He presses send and logs out.

I NEVER said she stole my money.

----

THREE.

It's two years when he finally comes back to Japan. His rehab had ended months ago but there was a part of him that had been afraid to come back. He's sure Yoichi had sensed it, which is why he'd pretty much dragged him back.

He remembers the conversation they had. It had been really late in Japan, he's sure that Yoichi was on the verge of passing out, could hear every yawn he tried to hide, but he wouldn't let Kazuya hang up, "I'm not hanging up until you agree."

Kazuya sighs, "There's nothing for me to do out there anyway. Here, I've been helping at the hospital."

"But you don't even like that kind of stuff! I bet you're bored out of your mind," Yoichi countered, and Kazuya has to admit that he's not exactly wrong. He misses the excitement from the diamond, feeling the burn on his thighs as he squats behind the batter, signaling different plays to his catchers, the feel of the ball as it lands perfectly in his gloved palm, the roar of the crowd as they once more strikeout another enemy batter. But he can't have any of that. This year Kazuya turns 30 and he has become stiff. He can't move as dexterously as before.

He hears some shuffling on the other end, as if Yoichi is changing positions on his bed, "Look. Not many people know this but...this is actually my last year playing."

Kazuya freezes at that. He knows Yoichi is still keeping up with his own records, has won his team countless matches for his boldness, knows they would never want to let him go. He briefly fears that maybe an injury is involved but shakes his head. No, Yoichi would tell him if that's the case, so then, "Why?"

"That's why I called and I need you to come back," there's another pause, not long, "I'm getting married."

Kazuya blanks out for a moment and then stops what he's doing altogether (he turns off the stove, he'd been making breakfast but this is more important. Besides, he had almost been done), "Married? Did you kidnap some poor girl? I haven't even heard of you dating."

"KAZUYA," he hears Yoichi yell, "I didn't kidnap anyone! And that's because my PR team has been making sure to keep things tightly sealed, and I guess we also haven't been able to see each other much too." That last part is mumbled but Kazuya catches it anyway.

Kazuya hums, still disbelieving, but only slightly. He knows Yoichi wouldn't kid about something like this so if he says he's getting married, he's getting married, "Congratulations then. Not sure how someone found you husband material, but they do say there's a type for everyone. How'd you meet her?"

"You are such a dick," Yoichi hisses, "How are we still even friends?"

Kazuya sometimes wonders the same thing. Yoichi has been with him at his best and worst and has never given up on him. He laughs, "My great personality?"

Yoichi snorts right before laughing, "Yeah right. Anyway, so I met this guy-"

"A husband?" Kazuya cuts him off, genuinely curious, but also can't help but tease, "You hid it so well with all those magazines. I'm sure nobody suspected. No wonder your team is doing such a great job at hiding this."

Yoichi yells into the phone, "Let me finish asshole! No! It's not a guy, her name is Wakana! And she's the childhood friend of this guy I met!"

Kazuya makes a tsk noise, "Yoichi, did you steal her from this guy? Are you a homewrecker?"

Instead of getting mad, Yoichi snorts, "As if. Can you believe Wakana was actually in love with Sawamoron for years and he didn't realize."

Kazuya adds, "So you seduced her?" before Yoichi can continue with the story.

"No? I mean, I'm not sure," but they both know that Yoichi probably couldn't seduce anyone even if he tried. Charmed, yes, but outright seduce? And a girl he liked? Very unlikely, "But she'd been tired of waiting and so I met her after she'd confessed and he rejected her."

"Hmm," Kazuya interrupts again, "So you took advantage when she was down. That makes more sense. She was probably so down about being rejected she would have said yes to anyone. Sadly that someone was you."

Yoichi is flabbergasted, "Take advantage?! MIYUKI, that's not- I'd never - just let me finish!"

Kazuya laughs, "Ok, ok. So how did you meet her? I won't interrupt again."

Just like that, Yoichi calms down and Kazuya notes the happiness in his voice as he laughs, not at Kazuya, but at something, the memory perhaps, and Kazuya is slightly jealous. He's not sure at what or who.

"So this kid, Sawamura, we were going to meet up at the park. He had something to tell me, but then I see him running after this girl, yelling about money or something. So I cut her off-"

Kazuya can't help but laugh, "Y-Yoichi, did you, did you attack the poor girl?"

"Didn't you say you weren't going to interrupt?!" Yoichi screeches, but he starts laughing a bit too, "And no, I didn't attack her but, well..."

There's a groan on the other end and Kazuya can imagine his best friend blushing to the tips of his ears, "I pulled her by the arm and she was surprised, but then she did something and next thing I know I'm on the ground, looking up at her and Sawamura is laughing like he's seen the most hilarious thing ever!"

He wonders if that kid was laughing as hard as he is now. He feels the tears tickling his eyes, his cheeks hurt, and he feels the force of his laugh pulling on his stomach, "I already like the girl. What happened next?"

Yoichi lets him laugh but his voice is annoyed, not at him he notes, but at what happens next, "So Sawamoron comes up finally and he knows the girl and I'm confused and just got thrown to the ground by a girl that doesn't even reach my chin, and I ask him why he was yelling about a thief, because that's what he was doing."

More shifting on Yoichi's end, "And you know what he said to me?"

"What?"

"He goes "I never said she stole my money!" so I knock him over the head because yeah, he's right, he was YELLING IT. Everyone in the goddamn park heard it! Made him buy me dinner and everything."

Kazuya feels a lump in his throat but pushes it aside, he turns the stove on again to finish preparing his breakfast, "I guess for Wakana I can go back. When's the wedding? And will I be your best man?"

----

FOUR.

Kazuya hasn't even been home a month when Yoichi walks into his apartment with their old Seidou team. Everyone seems to be there, even the first years like Ryo's little brother and Furuya. There really isn't anything Kazuya can do but move aside so that everyone can come inside. At the end of the group, right after the first years enter, he spots someone he doesn't know. A kid with unruly brown hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin who looks slightly nervous. His posture is too stiff but he's also looking around curiously.

Yoichi notices Kazuya looking at him and comes over for introductions. He pulls the kid into a side hug, "Kazuya, this is Sawamura, Wakana's friend."

Kazuya looks him over. He's heard a few things about him from Yoichi, "So this is Sawamoron?" he teases. He can't help the lift of his lips as the kid splutters in indignation.

A high pitched, "Kuramochi-senpai! You can't call me that anymore, we're practically family now!"

Yoichi howls, slapping the kid on the back, "You're always going to be a moron Sawamura, hyahaha!"

Sawamura grits his teeth for a second before standing up straight, stretching out his hand towards Kazuya, "Good afternoon, It's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Sawamura Eijun! Thank you for inviting me!!"

Kazuya looks at the outstretched hand for a moment before he doubles over laughing. Sawamura let's out another unidentified sound before yelling, "That's so rude Miyuki Kazuya!!" but he hasn't dropped his arm.

Kazuya takes a breath, isn't surprised he knows his name (briefly wonders if he knows who he is), right before taking that tanned hand into his own. Sawamura's hold is firm, if a bit sweaty, nerves probably, "Well, as you so clearly let my neighbors know, my name is Miyuki Kazuya." He pauses, "And I didn't invite you."

Sawamura pales slightly, looks over to Yoichi who just makes a rude noise, "Really Kazuya? You have to be a dick right off the bat?"

Kazuya only smiles brightly, finally letting go of the kid's hand, looks around his house, and says, "Actually, I didn't invite any of you over. Why are you all here?"

The others have already settled into his kitchen and, he peers through the doorway, there are bottles of coke and beer and the smell of oily pizza in the air. Jun has already made himself at home on his couch, a paper plate with a pizza on it. He's halfway into that slice and Kazuya doesn't know why Jun didn't just take an extra slice or two with him before settling down. Ryo and Haruichi are putting things in his fridge. He realizes now how empty his fridge must have been. He had been meaning to go grocery shopping but he supposes he hadn't had the energy to go. Kanemaru is clearing up some of the boxes he had yet to unbox, reading the labels Chris had helped him write, and arranging them accordingly.

He knows that many of these guys are still part of the leagues, wonders how they managed to take a moment to raid his home (notices a few faces are missing, like Yuki but he would have been REALLY surprised if they'd managed to get him to come over). He remembers how they'd made it a routine to visit him when they were at Seidou, knowing he could get lost in strategizing and numbers quickly. He feels a penetrating gaze and turns to see the new kid watching him intently. Kazuya can't help the grin that grows on his face and it's finally starting to feel like home.

He motions the two in, "Well, you may as well come in. Everyone is already inside. Feel free to raid my fridge and make a mess in my new kitchen."

Yoichi laughs, pulling Sawamura inside with him. The kid still looks slightly off-balance, but he sits next to the first years like he belongs and he wonders why this picture looks so right.

Yoichi dives in for the last slice of pepperoni pizza just as Sawamura is about to reach for it and then loudly exclaims, "Hey Kazuya, wanna hear something funny?"

Kazuya has already grabbed his own plate and he wonders how he missed all of these pizza boxes when they first came inside. He grabs one with sausage and mushroom, "Hm?"

"So while we were getting the pizza, we sent Sawamura to go get the drinks, right?"

Sawamura, who had just taken a drink from his can of soda, instantly spits it out and Kazuya is both intrigued and disgusted as he sees the drink mixed with spit cover his table, "Kuramochi-senpai, don't!"

He sees Kanemaru chuckling and Jun roars from the living room. Apparently, there were many witnesses to this apparently funny story. Haruichi pats Sawamura's back softly while the kid's face glows red. Kazuya is momentarily worried he might faint but then curiosity wins out, "Oh?"

Yoichi and he share a look, "Get this, we all gave him our share, right? So he goes in and comes back all mad, saying we didn't give him the right amount, but then, but then," It seems the rest of it is too funny for Yoichi to continue because he starts laughing and he notices Sawamura cover his face. He mumbles something but Kazuya doesn't catch it.

Ryo helps him out. He's also amused, a smirk on his face, "The girl stole his change."

Sawamura uncovers his face and yells, "I never said she stole my money!"

There's a moment of silence before...

Jun. He'd come back into the kitchen to get more pizza, "Who else could it have been? Had to be the girl at the counter, or did you just give up your money?"

Kuramochi, "Easy prey, how you're even a teacher is beyond me."

Kanemaru, "Wait. So it wasn't the cashier?"

Even Kazuya can't help but ask, laughter tickling his words, "Emphasis on "she"?"

Sawamura seems to realize his error and covers his face again. He's mumbling again but instead of being annoyed by the bad habit, Kazuya thinks it's almost cute.

"Haruichi?" Ryo questions and Sawamura uncovers his face to yell, "Onii-san! That's not fair! Haruichi you can't tell, you promised!"

Haruichi is looking back and forth between them, "Well..."

Then Furuya explains all, "He was flirting with the delivery guy."

It somehow gets even louder inside his house and Kazuya can't believe he thought of not returning. It's true that his baseball career is over, but this is where his family is at. This is where his life is truly at. He laughs until the tears in his eyes fall.

They spend hours getting him up to speed on gossip.

----

FIVE.

Even though he's only known Sawamura for a few days, maybe weeks, he's the one that keeps Kazuya company the most. And there's a big reason for that named Kuramochi Yoichi. Even though, or perhaps because, it's nearing the end of his contract, Yoichi gets busier. There are some rumors as to why he's finally leaving baseball, but just like he'd told Kazuya, everything is still under wraps. There are no incriminating photos and no face to put to those rumors jealous girls spread online. Kazuya wonders how things will turn out once Yoichi fesses up but until then, Sawamura becomes his shadow

One, he's not bound to such a strenuous schedule (Yoichi told him Sawamura is the grade school teacher at one of the local schools not far from Kazuya's new place. His new house is conveniently placed so close because it will soon be Kazuya's new workplace and they just happen to be on break now), and second...well, Kazuya's not sure. Yoichi didn't want to tell him. Not exactly

He remembers the last time he actually met up with his best friend.

Yoichi had invited him over for dinner and Sawamura had come up somehow (Kazuya comes to realize that Sawamura comes up in their lives very often). Yoichi had been contemplative. They'd just finished watching a movie and were just sitting there in the dark, the credits rolling.

"You know. If Sawamura had actually been interested in Wakana...I don't think I'd have ever had a chance with her. There's just something about him...he's so..." Yoichi makes vague hand movements, "you know?"

Kazuya laughs and wonders if this is what best men have to deal with with their to-be grooms. Jitters, he's heard them called, but he was sure this feeling was supposed to happen days before the wedding, not so far ahead when there wasn't even a date finalized, "Already second-guessing the married life?"

Yoichi doesn't even take the bait. He just sighs and leans back on the couch, "No, I'm serious. There's just something about Sawamura, he's so honest and hardworking. I can see why Wakana liked him."

"Careful, or I might start to think you actually want to marry Sawamura instead."

Yoichi kicks him halfheartedly, "Dumbass."

Their feet are still touching and Yoichi nudges him, "He's a good kid you know."

Kazuya leans out to grab his drink from the low table, takes a sip, "He does seem like it. Although he's a bit..." He tries to find the right word. Dense? Airheaded? No..."innocent?"

Yoichi laughs, "Yes! The stories I could tell you."

It gets quiet and Kazuya enjoys it. It's been years since the two of them have done something like this.

Yoichi breaks the silence again, "You know...Rei actually tried scouting him."

Kazuya takes another swig of his drink, deep, and tries to wash away the feelings of guilt. He hasn't spoken to Rei since the incident. Hasn't really asked about her although he knows she's ok, thanks to Chris

But he's curious now. If Rei had been interested in him then he was undoubtedly good talent, "What happened?"

Yoichi scoffs, "The idiot turned her down! Said he didn't need any fancy schools to play baseball."

Kazuya can't help the snort he lets out into his drink. He hasn't known Sawamura long but he can somehow imagine the face he'd make, how loud he would yell that statement with conviction, "Too bad." He's sure Sawamura could have been someone if he'd come to Seidou and he somehow feels cheated of something

"What position?"

"Pitcher, a southpaw, nasty throw," Yoichi grips his cup tightly. He looks over at him, "He's not a professional but he does still play."

It's a subtle nudge that Kazuya ignores.

Which is probably why he finds Sawamura so often on his doorstep.

Today he's managed to wrangle Kazuya out of his house, but only because it's work-related. The summer heat isn't terrible today so the two decide to walk and even though it's not that far, Kazuya finds himself lightly perspiring. Perhaps he's let himself go more than he thought, and he begins planning a timetable to get his fitness in a better state. Meanwhile, Sawamura is all smiles

"Hurry up Miyuki Kazuya!" He's already at the side door, opening it with his staff key, and Kazuya wonders if they should even be here. There are hardly any cars parked outside and the school is obviously void of children. Classes don't start until next week

"You don't have to call me by my full name," Kazuya tells him as he enters the building. Sawamura slides past him after closing the door, making sure it locks properly, "You can call me Miyuki-senpai."

"What?!" Sawamura's voice echoes in the hallway, "Why should I call you that?!"

"Because you're younger," he pats Sawamura's head and grins, "And smaller."

He slaps his hand away, a blush on his face, "I'm not small! And you're not even that much taller!!"

He stands closer to Kazuya and points at the few centimeters difference between them. Kazuya pushes him back, "Miyuki-senpai."

Sawamura just rolls his eyes and continues walking, "You really do have a terrible personality Miyuki Kazuya!"

Kazuya just laughs, "Thanks!"

"Not a compliment!" Sawamura yells and then points to the rooms in the hall they're in, "I'm usually here with the kids. Since the school isn't that big you'll probably get kids as young as eight and as old as thirteen in your class too, since you're the only gym teacher until Kuramochi-senpai gets married."

Kazuya nods, "Ok, Sawamura...sensei."

Kazuya notes how easy it is to rile up Sawamura. How his face will quickly turn red and his lips will form pouts or grimaces, his body reacting so honestly so quickly. Now he brings up his hands to cover his ears as he yells, "Don't call me that!!"

"Then stop calling me by my full name, it's weird."

"MIYUKI KA-"

Kazuya somehow manages to raise his voice enough to speak over Sawamura, "So Sawamura-sensei, where do the kids go out to play? Sensei?"

Sawamura looks like he's about to burst and goes off yelling. Miyuki follows him, laughing, their voices echoing in tandem

They end up outside behind the school somewhere. Even though it's small, Kazuya is impressed by how well maintained it is. There is a small playground to the side, which has been recently repainted, signs marking the walls and tape clearly discouraging anyone from touching. The mats at the bottom look worn but not in bad shape. Then there is a track that circles what looks like enough field to be a neighborhood. Most of it is empty and Sawamura's talking about how sometimes the kids will go out there and play soccer or volleyball or really whatever sports they need that requires a lot of space. The only place that looks like it truly has a defined purpose is the baseball field.

He feels excited and scared at the same time, wants to run to home plate, to feel the dirt path against his feet, crouch, and take in the view. But he also thinks this is a bad idea. Maybe he shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have accepted the job. He knows why they want him, why they're willing to wait a year for Yoichi to come and teach. He's not sure if he can take the pressure

"Miyuki-senpai," he turns to Sawamura, who is pouting.

He's not sure why he feels himself calm down, perhaps it's because he'll take any distraction, even if it's loud Sawamura, or maybe it's because Sawamura looks ridiculous with his cheeks puffed out and his eyebrows scrunched up between his eyes. Kazuya smiles. It hurts a bit to do so, "Is this all just for the little gremlins? Lucky them, I didn't have something so big at my disposal when I was at school."

Sawamura suddenly inflates as he grins, "Yeah me neither! I'm from the countryside from a school even smaller than this! Wakana and I had to go to the other side of town with our friends if we wanted to play baseball. That's sort of what it's like here too. We share with some of the other schools and really anyone is welcome to come here as long as the kids aren't out playing."

"Wakana, huh," Kazuya notes. He hasn't actually met the bride-to-be yet, "Is she in the habit of taking people's money?"

Sawamura looks confused and perhaps a bit upset, "What?"

Kazuya only smirks, "I heard how Yoichi met her."

Understanding fills his eyes and he groans, "I keep telling Kuramochi-senpai not to tell that story! It's all lies! Lies! Come on, let's go to the gym, your to-be base."

They head back inside and Kazuya feels the smile that spreads on his face is lighter, amused. It's relaxing being with Sawamura, "So what, she wasn't stealing your money?"

"No!" Sawamura defends, "I never said she stole my money! It was all a misunderstanding!!"

"So what? She was just borrowing it?" Kazuya pushes and can't help but laugh as Sawamura goes red.

"I-It, my, NO! She just grabbed my wallet!! But she wasn't stealing it!"

----

SIX.

Kazuya hasn't been teaching for long when it's time to prepare for Sports Day and he forgets how tiring it can be. Sawamura is ecstatic the whole week leading up to the moment all the kids are let loose to run and play, and he's not sure how the flow of energy works, who feeds off who, but everyone seems to be ready to burst with enthusiasm by then. Kazuya feels like he's the only one who is burnt out. He's not usually used to so much happening, at least not like this

The school asks him to give an encouraging speech before the event begins, which Sawamura jealously admits had been his job the last two years, but he grins all the same. He encourages him to do his best, just like he does to the children and Kazuya isn't sure if he should be offended or glad when he feels the flat of Sawamura's palm on his back.

By then, Yoichi has finally wrapped things up with his team. He still has a few more interviews scheduled, but he's essentially removed himself (as much as he can) from the public eye. He's announced he's going to get married and has been asked many times about his to-be wife, but just like Kazuya, everyone is kept in the dark. On the few nights Yoichi manages to call him, to check up on him, Kazuya teases that maybe this is the most elaborate plan he's ever seen, that maybe this Wakana girl doesn't even exist

Yoichi just laughs, "What? Is The Great Miyuki Kazuya actually curious?"

Kazuya scoffs, "Of course not, and don't call me that. I can't get Sawamura to stop, I don't want you doing the same. It's so weird."

They talk until they're both ready to pass out but Yoichi tells him he'll be there and that he'll bring Wakana too. There's something strange with the way he says this but it's late, they've both been up for too long, and Kazuya doesn't remember the unease the next day

He doesn't remember until Sports Day, right before it happens.

It's usually a big event with parents and friends and the neighborhood coming by to see all their children perform at their best. This school is slightly different because of its size. It isn't just their kids (as Sawamura likes to say and Kazuya, reluctantly, has started to call his students), but a few students from two or three of the neighboring smaller schools. He's never seen the field so packed with kids. There are also a lot of cameras and flashing and suddenly Kazuya feels uncomfortably warm. This year it's not only locals that are here. He can see various news channels documenting the event and there are probably other labels walking around, trying to figure out what the next scoop will be. Or perhaps they've already been hinting at it but Kazuya has been avoiding all the gossip. He briefly wonders if they're here for him and while this might be slightly true, he's sure they're more likely to be here to catch a glimpse of Yoichi and Wakana

He decides to stick with Sawamura for most of the day.

Sawamura seems to be oblivious to all the attention, focusing on the kids, high-fiving everyone who is going to race, yelling encouragements as they pass him by, and yelling out happily as the kids make the baskets and reach the finish lines. Kazuya tries to show his support as well and Sawamura drags him from one event to the next. The parents love him as much as the children do. He briefly wonders if Sawamura will have any voice left for the next day

It's around the time the kids finally get their break for lunch (and that Sawamura pulls him over to an empty patch of grass so that they can finally rest as well, how Kazuya was able to crouch for hours on end before is almost a mystery to him now, he really HAS let himself go) that he starts to hear them

"I didn't say she stole MY money. Did you really not know?" "Is she REALLY here? "The NERVE of her." "We should tell the principal to kick her out. Where is she?"

Everything starts to go quiet as Kazuya looks around. There are too many people around, but he manages to find her by the fence behind the diamond. She's looking right at him and Kazuya feels himself stop breathing for a moment. He isn't sure what he was expecting but she looks exactly like she did three years ago, except somehow better. Her hair is up in her typical bun, she's wearing a pink button-up with her trademark pencil skirt. There's a small coat hanging off her arm, which is the only sign he has that she plans to stay for the whole of the day's events.

He gets up, ignores Sawamura's confused, "Miyuki-senpai?" and goes to meet her.

He remembers how Yoichi had sounded over the phone the other day and realizes that when he said her, he hadn't meant Wakana, he had meant Rei. She's smiling at him and once they're close enough, she says, "Miyuki Kazuya, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Rei," he all but whispers and he notices people are looking, the cameras are pointing in their direction and he smiles. He's so happy and relieved to see her. He wonders why he hadn't tried contacting her before, where the guilt and fear have gone. He thanks Yoichi, will thank him later as well, for always doing things like this for him, I'm the worst friend, aren't I? He can already see Yoichi's annoyed face as he threatens to punch him if he says anything so stupid again. He laughs, "It's been way too long. I'm sorry."

He finally has the chance to really apologize for everything, to offer his support, to ask how she's been doing, and he marvels at how Seidou is truly a family. His old teammates haven't just been trying to get him to move forward, they have also been helping Rei regain a semblance of her old life.

When they part, it turns into a game. They both know how things will go so they are bold, they grin, and take each other's hands in a firm shake.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you on the field in the future." It's not a question.

"Of course." It's a promise.

At the end of the day, Sawamura and he are the last to leave the school since Sawamura offered to stay and clean up (and with him Kazuya). The sun is already on the verge of setting and Kazuya can't wait to take a bath and then crawl into bed. He doesn't want to wake up until a week from now.

As they're walking home (or really walking to his house because even now, he's never really asked where Sawamura lives, he imagines not far), Kazuya notices how quiet Sawamura is. He bumps his side with his shoulder, "Lost your voice with all that yelling?"

Sawamura looks over at him and shakes his head. Kazuya is momentarily mesmerized by this side of Sawamura. Quiet, almost shy. He's not pouting or angry, his features calm, slightly sharp on his handsome face. The remaining rays of the sun make his eyes look slightly gold and Kazuya wonders why he's suddenly noticing these things, "What's wrong then?"

The temperature had dropped enough that they were now comfortably wearing jerseys. Sawamura mumbles into the collar of his jersey and Kazuya is annoyed, but only slightly. It's that bad habit of Sawamura's and he wonders if he could tease those mumbled words out of him, is about to do that when Sawamura stops walking, closes his eyes, and yells out, "Do you like Miss Rei?!"

Kazuya is left speechless. At least that answers his other teasing question. Sawamura is as loud as always, "What?"

Sawamura opens his eyes, he's blushing and he can't seem to look him in the eye, "Well, there were those rumors...and then today...I mean, she's really pretty and just..." He goes quiet.

There's a lot here he wants to clear up, but he figures he should start with Sawamura's question, "No. At least, not really."

There's a question in those golden-brown eyes and Kazuya continues to explain, "I'm sure everyone on the baseball team liked her at one point. We were all teenagers and she's a really attractive woman, but that's it. Rei...she scouted me, believed that I could go far, pushed me, pretty much built my whole career. She's not really like my mom, not really an older sister...but yeah, like family."

They're both surprised by how honest he's been, which leads him to his own question, "Rumors? So you knew who I was. Is that why you called me by my full name?"

Sawamura looks embarrassed, "Yeah. I, I was curious about Seidou. I bet Kuramochi-senpai already told you about Rei and her coming to scout me?"

Kazuya nods.

They start walking again, "Well, I started seeing your name come up a lot. I always had trouble with my own catchers, I wasn't very good, sometimes my throws would go wild. I guess. I mean, they felt right, but Wakana, she was my main catcher, it was hard for her to catch them. Anyway, I started following your career. And just, well, then that happened and the rumors..."

They're quiet for a moment. Kazuya thinking back to how Yoichi had called Sawamura's pitch a nasty throw, the way Rei had pointed out Sawamura's staring while they talked and how Kazuya should catch for him, "When I saw him pitch, I knew you two would make a great battery. I knew you would be what could push him to greater heights, and that he would influence you too. All of Seidou. He has the heart of an Ace."

He's curious.

"Do you regret it?"

It's been a few minutes but Sawamura follows his question, turns to him, conviction in his burning eyes, "Never!"

----

SEVEN.

Kazuya finally gets to meet Wakana on his birthday. Yoichi tells him they're going out to celebrate at a fancy restaurant and he's not allowed to say no. Since he is the best man at their future wedding, he supposes it would be rude to not meet the bride-to-be so he pulls out one of his old suits, is relieved it still fits, and decides that's enough effort needed on his part. He also decides to forgo the tie and leaves the first two buttons undone. It's classy.

He's not surprised to see Sawamura also at the restaurant, and he's also not surprised to see him sporting a loud outfit. He's also wearing a suit but his shirt is a bright blue with baseball patterns, he's pulled up the suit jacket sleeves to his elbows (which, might he add, does not match his pants, but it somehow works), and he's actually wearing a tie. There's a girl trying to tame his hair but she soon gives up when Sawamura spots him and calls out, "Miyuki Kazu-mmyaa."

"Eijun!" the girl chides him, "We told you to be quiet!"

She's covering his mouth and let's go once he settles down. He rubs his hand through the back of his hair, ruining whatever work the girl must have done, "Sorry."

The girl shakes her head and turns to him, "So you're the famous Miyuki Kazuya, in the flesh."

Kazuya smiles, "And you must be the infamous money stealing Wakana."

They shake hands and Wakana laughs, "The one and only."

Yoichi comes up behind him, "Good, you're here. I thought I was going to have to send someone to drag you out of bed."

They're escorted to the back where they can dine in private. Yoichi walks in the back with him and Kazuya watches the way Sawamura's body faces Wakana even when they're walking. The way she pushes and holds his arm, laughs at what he says. The way that Sawamura lets her choose where she wants to sit and then makes space so that the table decorations aren't in her way. He sits across from her.

Yoichi whispers at him, "See what I mean?"

Kazuya doesn't need to see them interact to know why Wakana once liked Sawamura, but it definitely solidifies their closeness.

Wakana is very pretty. She has short hair that is slightly tinged with red, natural, she mentions when she sees him looking at her, "I get asked a lot." Apparently, it's a color she inherited from her great grandmother

She's as small as Yoichi claimed her to be, which makes her look tiny with her current company. She's wearing a simple and modest blue dress that matches perfectly with the ties Sawamura and Yoichi are wearing. She's just as honest as Sawamura is, and Kazuya wonders if all the people in his life are like that. It's refreshing. He instantly likes her and knows that Yoichi will be happy. It makes him happy too.

They're waiting on their food when Sawamura tells Yoichi that "Miyuki Kazuya" called Wakana a thief. Yoichi puts down his glass of wine, sending his best friend a glare, "I should have known you wouldn't behave!"

Sawamura is quick to respond, "It's all your fault Kuramochi-senpai! You keep telling that stupid story!!"

"The only thing stupid about that story is YOU Bakamura!!"

They look like children snapping at each other across the table and Wakana is just laughing. She turns to Kazuya, "Did he tell you what actually happened?"

Kazuya nods, "Sort of. Something about borrowing a wallet."

Wakana smiles, "Something like that, yes."

"See! I told you I never said she stole my money!!" Sawamura gets up suddenly but nobody notices the waiter coming with trays until the sound of plates falling to the ground and shattering are heard. But the worst part is probably the cake that Sawamura tries to save. Part of it lands on his hands, some of it on the table, but a big portion of it (thanks to Sawamura's interference), is now all over Wakana's dress. Everyone holds their breath, the waiter looks horrified.

Kazuya knows he shouldn't but he snickers and that seems to bring everything back to life. Wakana laughs and tells the waiter it's ok, she pats his hand reassuringly, "But can we get another cake? We'll pay for both of course."

The man is so relieved, he smiles and nods, and says he'll be right back to clean up, that he can also ask someone to help her out. Sawamura looks constipated and ridiculous standing there with chunks of cake in his hands.

"This is so coming out of your wallet Sawamoron!!" Yoichi cries out as he grabs chunks of cake from Wakana's lap and throws it on the table, "And YOU, I can't believe you did that!"

Kazuya only smirks, looks over at Wakana, and says, "Welcome to the family."

It seems like Wakana isn't just depleting Sawamura's accounts, but also stealing hearts.

----

OMAKE (months later)

It's the wedding night when Sawamura decides to crash at Kazuya's house. They're both exhausted and since they're both going to the same place the next morning, Kazuya doesn't make a fuss. When they make it home, they fight about who will take a shower first and Kazuya wins because, ultimately, this is his house so of course he has dibs. Sawamura pouts as he heads to the living room, ok, ok, just go you evil tanuki bastard.

When Kazuya comes out in a white t-shirt and boxers, he finds Sawamura already passed out on the couch, his arm and leg fallen off the side. He notices that he at least had the sense to take off his suit jacket and shirt. He's only wearing his undershirt and his pants have risen up his shins. Everything else is thrown against the back of the couch and his keys, cellphone, camera, and wallet, are all on the table. He's snoring lightly, his breath coming out more like little sighs, and there's a bit of drool where gravity has decided to do its job.

He's about to wake up Sawamura when he remembers something Wakana told him the first time they met. Right before they left the restaurant, she had pulled him aside, telling the other two NOT to come closer, Next time you get the chance, look inside his wallet. I promise it'll be worth it, and don't worry, he won't mind. He yells a lot but that's all there is.

The wallet is right there and Kazuya wishes it had landed the other way. At least like that, it wouldn't feel like he was snooping. No, he wouldn't. He doesn't really understand why Wakana wants him to look inside, but it's not really any of his business. He shakes his head and walks towards the couch. Before he can even reach forward, Sawamura shifts and mumbles a sleepy, "Kazuya."

Kazuya freezes at the stupid smile on Sawamura's face. He feels his face heat up and he's not sure why. He briefly glances at the wallet again, then moves to shake Sawamura's shoulders.

It takes a moment, a testament to how tired Sawamura is, before his brown eyes open and he sleepily mumbles, "Miyuki Kazuya?"

Kazuya hesitates for a moment. He doesn't have extra bedding and he knows sleeping on the couch is uncomfortable. They were going to share the bed, just like he always does whenever Yoichi visits, but suddenly he wonders if maybe this isn't a good idea. He tells Sawamura it's his turn to shower and nearly drags him to the bathroom. He stands outside just to make sure he doesn't pass out inside and somehow Sawamura looks even more drowsy than before. His skin is red from the heat of the water and they head to the bedroom.

Sawamura is out before his head hits the pillow. Kazuya arranges him on the bed properly and covers him with the blanket.

He finds it hard to sleep, the sound of his name coming from Sawamura's sleepy lips echoing in his head.

---

A/N:

I scoured Reddit for some inspiration and found this interesting prompt: "I never said she stole my money has 7 different meanings based on which word is emphasized." I sort of followed the prompt? LOL

things to note: 1. I just googled "prisoner clothes in japan" and green outfits came up, hence why Rei is dressed in a "green top" 2. I don't actually know how legal proceedings go in japan, if it would take longer or less (but this is fanfic so let's not question it) 3. Again, I don't know how long rehabs take but I'm not aiming for accuracy 4. If it wasn't obvious, Sawamura wasn't in the original Seidou team in this fic (lol) 5. Sports day apparently apparently happens around October (and again, Idk much about it)

I don't think I've ever written anything "complete" for this fandom but I hope you all enjoyed, especially you daiyanerd ^^

p.s. This got out of hand omg it's so long and hardly anything happens i hope you guys don't mind Orz Also, I kind of want to write more for this, maybe Sawamura's side of some of the events, maybe just a continuation, idk....

"We understand why you did it but...we're a team, right? Together we can fly even higher. Always." (HQ Fluff Week, D1)

Restless, Ch2

Read Chapter 1 | Ao3

Hinata can't help the bouncing. It's been years since he's been back and after "sightseeing" from afar (because really, they could still be recognized, it hadn't been that long since they left) they're home.

Tsukishima scoffs, "It's only been a few years for us, it's been nearly their whole lives."

Hinata smiles, grabs Tsukishima's hand in his, reminds himself that yes, that's true, it could have been Tsukishima's whole life, nearly gone in the sixty years they'd been away, is glad they found a way to make it not so. But he also feels slightly guilty. Was Tsukishima glad he'd left all of this behind? It was still early but what if...

Tsukishima squeezes his hand, "Stop thinking, you always think about stupid things and then get sad."

Hinata pouts, "Not stupid!"

Tsukishima rolls his eyes, "Really? Then why the constipated look? Need a bathroom? You can probably run into the woods." He frowns at the lack of homes as they continue to follow the road, "Where did they say to meet again? I can't believe Tadashi lives so far..."

Meanwhile Hinata just splutters, "That's so unsanitary!! And no I'm not constipated, we haven't even eaten human food!!"

Tsukishima laughs and tugs at his arm, "Then everything is okay, let's hurry."

Hinata feels a smile come to his face again and he yells out, "Okay!" Because really, Tsukishima is right, somehow everything has been alright

Which is why they even have this opportunity

---

After being gone with little to no communication, most of Karasuno had paid them a surprise visit at their new home, which was so far out North that Tsukishima had nearly frozen when they'd first moved there.

(Hinata remembers how he'd felt so useless, unable to help warm Tsukishima. It was the opposite really, his body much too cold, and after sleeping together for years, making sure to keep his distance, at least at night when Tsukishima's temperature also dropped, had made him very sad. They'd both acclimated to the situation in time)

They had only just finished a feeding session, which Tsukishima had almost forcefully made Hinata do. He'd noticed how Hinata somehow felt colder, he had been spacing out, and that tanned tinge to his skin was starting to become paler. He had started to look like, well, a creature

"Just hurry up and drink!" He'd pushed his arm under Hinatas nose, his sweater sleeve drawn up. He'd seen the way Hinata's eyes had dilated, his mouth opened, but still he held back

He'd sighed, touched Hinata's lips, "It's okay, I'll be fine, it'll only be a bit."

Hinata had drank, carefully, watching him, making sure he really was okay. He'd then lapped at his skin, tickling him with his tongue, kissed the fading and new marks of his teeth, staining his lips red, and then bandaged him up, pulled his sleeve down, kissed him over the cloth, held his hand

"I love you."

The knock came when Hinata was putting away the first aid kit

They had both been confused. They hadn't told anyone their new address, although they also hadn't tried to hide it either (anyone who truly wanted to find them could with a bit of detective work). Tsukishima pulled on a small blanket over his shoulders as Hinata went to open the door

Karasuno's relieved but upset faces greeted him

They'd sat around their small living room, the air slightly tense.

It had been interesting to see Hinata apologize and try to hide what was going on, his flailing and muttered words so obviously lies that even Kageyama wasn't convinced.

Tsukishima had finally given into Hinata's side stare and admitted, "He's a vampire."

Hinata just gaped at him.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, it was Kageyama who broke the silence with a so that's why your hands were always so cold, which made Tsukishima want to facepalm. Really? So easily? And because of that? Hinata could have just had bad circulation (although thinking about it, that probably wouldn't have made much sense either)

But then the pieces began to come into place for the others too and Tsukishima begrudgingly was glad for Kageyama's words. The little things that everyone always found off but never truly questioned surfaced

Sugawara, "The passing out?"

Tanaka, "I knew it was weird you didn't eat as much as us even though you ran around the most!"

Nishinoya, "So cool!! Can you turn into a bat?!"

Daichi, "Wait, are you...?"

He'd shaken his head, "No." He paused. They may as well tell them about their plans too, "Not yet."

That was how they shared their biggest secret. And also when they were made to promise not to disappear again

Sugawara had smacked their backs, "Our first years are so high maintenance! I can't believe you made us come all the way out here!"

Taukishima had just sighed, "We haven't been in school for years."

Sugawara was quick to reply, "And yet you two still act like kids, especially with this little stunt!"

Azumane had been kinder. He'd grabbed Hinata by the shoulder, a soft smile on his lips, "We understand why you did it but...we're a team, right? Together we can fly even higher. Always."

Hinata had cried big ugly tears, "Always!"

---

It was the first time Hinata had broken his rule about returning to a place before it was safe and he's glad the reason is this little town where he's gained so much. Perhaps he'll find himself living here a third time (another rule broken) in the distant future, Tsukishima at his side

But for now, they sneak into town in order to meet up with their friends, practically family, without anyone's notice.

"Finally, there it is," Tsukishima sighs

It was a perfect little home with a big backyard, nearly merging with the woods behind it if it weren't for the fencing around the house. There also weren't many neighbors, which was ideal for the occasion. They came in through the back, the door left unlocked just for them

There's a woman on the porch, her silver hair cropped, and her tiny feet dangling in the air, sandals right under just in case she needs them. She has a baby on her lap, a pacifier keeping them occupied, while another child, this one a toddler, runs around with a volleyball in hand. He seems to be blubbering about something Hinata can't make out. He feels his eyes prickle and he grins wide

"Yachi!!" he waves at her while pulling Tsukishima along.

Yachi turns around, only just noticing them. She rearranges the baby so they are sitting up, "Hinata!! Tsukishima!!" She turns into the house, "Tadashi, they're here!"

There is some shuffling indoors and then a freckled man appears, his back slightly angled, "Tsukki?!"

From there, an outpour of people comes. Tsukishima mutters an I can't believe the King is still alive, I thought he'd keel over first, and Hinata can't help the bellow that leaves his body

And Kageyama, such a force on their team, is still loud and awkward and unwavering. And he needs a cane because of an injury

Sugawara had laughed when he'd told them the news a few months back, "He still acts like a kid, his body can't keep up!"

Azumane is the first to properly greet them, "You two really haven't changed."

Nishinoya is on his heels, still bright and energetic. His hair is shorter and speckled with gray, and just as wild as his high school days, "Of course they haven't, you know why!"

Azumane laughs, "Not because of that."

Yachi asks Hinata if he wants to hold the baby, her grandchild from her youngest daughter, now 23 and conveniently not home. Hinata nods enthusiastically and he's instantly charmed by the gurgles and kicking and the honey-brown eyes he's sure they've inherited from Yachi (Yachi blushes, but nods, "Yup! My daughter and her husband both have dark eyes so all mine!).

As he's holding the child, he realizes this is the first time he's been this happy, not about leaving, he will always hate leaving, but at how things turned out

He watches Tsukishima carry the other child, who hadn't stopped staring at him because "Ta'! Me, up, up!"

Daichi and Tanaka aren't there yet, both of them running late (Sugawara tells them Daichi went to pick up Kiyoko and Tanaka from her family home where she'd been visiting her parents' graves. He'd laughed at Hinata's worried look, Don't worry. None of them are actually driving.) - but everyone else is sitting outside in the shade of the porch, recounting the latest gossip. Their laughing is loud and Hinata thinks that his family has also not changed at all

He looks over at Tsukishima, who now has a slightly disgusted look on his face as he lets the child climb on his shoulders, his dirty hands pulling at his blonde hair

Hinata smiles.

Together they really have flown to the top

It's perfect.

---

A/N:

i was conflicted about tenses and character names #rip (ah well)

i hope you guys enjoyed! this is sort of the “good ending” of this used to be oneshot i wrote for the seasons of anime exchange, but like i mentioned in that posts notes, i kind of wanted to continue but didn’t know if i should do the good or bad ending xD maybe if there’s a hq angst week i can post the bad ending :”) but for now, i think this will be it?! who knows

Prompts for day 1: - Reunion - Found family - "We can fly even higher!"

Gift for KaiAmLegend: “If there’s anything that Hinata enjoys about his “new” body, it’s how resilient it can be.” (HQ Secret Santa 2021)

Doctor’s Visit, Ch1

Read on Ao3

If there’s anything that Hinata enjoys about his “new” body, it’s how resilient it can be. He can withstand injuries that normal humans can’t, such as getting hit by a car. No, he’s not the type to test out his limitations, but one time he’d been heading home in the dark and his light had run out of charge. He would usually carry around a neon band but he’d forgotten to pack it that day and he’d been mostly wearing black. But nothing had ever happened before so he didn’t think too much about continuing his path.

I’ll just be careful, and not even fifteen minutes after he’d thought this, he’d been hit.

He remembers seeing the driver stop, his tires screeching, and then the sound of his panicked voice as he tried to find what he’d hit.

“Oh god, oh shit.”

Luckily, Hinata is very quick on his feet (although this used to be true back when he was alive too) and he’d been able to hide. It wouldn’t do to just sit up and smile with so much blood and a few broken bones (his neck, most importantly) incorrectly…aligned.

But that doesn’t mean he’s completely immune to death. He knows that with enough force, any vampire can die. He knows because those are the tales that circulate on this side.

The downside is that when injured, his injuries take forever to heal. Unless he drinks enough blood, but he’s kind of a vegetarian vampire. He mostly takes blood from animals, which mainly just help in tempering down his hunger, and occasionally, when he really needs to, takes from humans. And he does have a source but said source is very strict about when they give out human blood.

The thing about human blood is that, like in the stories, it’s addicting. He’s heard that some vampires, the ones that acquire a taste for it, purposefully harm themselves in order to receive it.

“Those idiots! What do they want us to do, drain humans? Then we’d all start getting hunted again!”

So the day that Hinata hits his head while playing with five-year-olds, he knows he’s in for a lot of pain. After all, he’d only just gotten his supply of human blood.

“Oh man, Kageyama is going to kill me!”

He doesn’t feel it at first. It’s just like any fall, and he’s quick to bounce back on his feet. He remembers how the kids had gathered around him to see if he was okay, and he was. But now it was the next day and he felt like his head wasn’t properly attached to his body, and that was fatal for vampires. Well, cutting off a head is a sure killing blow for any creature really.

“Are you an idiot?!” Kageyama yells through his phone.

“Don’t yell, it hurts,” he moans. He’d skipped his morning classes and called his supervisor to tell her he couldn’t go to the kindergarten today. Yui-chan had been so nice and worried about his condition. Told him to stay home for as long as he needed.

There was a pause on Kageyama’s end and then a sigh, “Look, I can’t give you another supply. Go to the doctor. Human medicine should help with the pain. Everyone is busy here.”

And so that was the verdict. It took him a moment to get out of bed, but he eventually made it to the doctor’s office down the road.

The thing about vampire bodies is that they are the most deceptive right after a feeding, so when he ends up filling out his information and getting a quick surface check-up, his vitals are healthy.

What he doesn’t expect is to find the doctor in front of him to be about his age (or so freaking tall! He’s unable to tilt his head up to see him properly). Behind him is the nurse who had helped him start his paperwork. She’s tiny next to the doctor, which, he can’t help but jealously notice, means he does too. The doctor raises a brow, “Hinata Shouyo?”

Hinata grins weakly, wincing when his head moves, “That’s me.”

The doctor makes a sound, looks him over, motions for him to sit at the empty seat in front of him, and looks over the chart that Hinata filled out. It was one of those questionnaires that asked him what the problem was, where he felt pain, and how bad the pain was.

He’s blonde with short hair and Hinata can see the bags under his eyes even with his thick-rimmed glasses in place. Aside from his age, he fits the description of every doctor he’s had an appointment with before, healthy-looking. There isn’t much muscle on him but it’s obvious he takes care of himself.

“Tell me what happened,” the doctor says after a moment, taking out a light from his pocket and looking into his eyes. He hums and then tells him to follow his finger. A slew of questions leave his thin lips, leaving Hinata unable to answer his initial question, “How many fingers am I holding up? Have you felt nauseous? Any stomach problems? Dizziness?”

Hinata does and answers every request and question. Then the doctor stands and walks behind him, “I’m going to touch your neck. Tell me if you have pain.”

Hinata shivers at how cold the doctor’s fingers are but can’t help but feel a tingle. He’d seen how elegant and long they were, and now he was partially feeling it.

He feels pressure along the back of his neck and along his shoulders, and if it weren’t for the fact that he was at the doctor’s with an injury, he would have said it was a great massage.  

He winces slightly, “I have an internship at the nearby kindergarten, I was playing with the kids and fell. I hit my head in the gym. It didn’t hurt the day I hit it but I woke up today with a headache and, ouch! ”

The doctor had tried to tilt his head back but stopped when he flinched. For the whole of the checkup, the nurse had mainly stayed in the back, but now she moved as if to help him.

The doctor sighed and came back to his seat, “Good news, you don’t need any scans. Bad news, you’re going to be in pain for the next seven to fourteen days. I can prescribe some pain medicine,” he shuffles around some papers, “and some stomach medicine.”

Hinata tilts his head, “Stomach medicine?” and then winces, moving his hand to cradle his neck, “what for?”

The doctor stares at him for a moment and then says, “You haven’t shown any negative signs, which is great. No dizziness, no numbness, only slight nausea and vertigo, but people who undergo shocks like this can also have stomach problems.”

Hinata makes a sound, “I wouldn’t say this was a shock though…A surprise, maybe.”

The doctor gives him another look, but this one he understands because it’s one that Kageyama frequently sends him. He sits up, wincing, and then accuses, “You just thought I was an idiot, didn’t you!”

There’s a small gasp from the nurse and Hinata can see her raise her clipboard to her mouth.

Another look from the doctor, this time as if to say, oh did you figure it out? Instead, the doctor smiles (Hinata frowns at how fake it looks) and says, “It’s a shock to your body. You’ll thank me in a few days.”

Except Hinata wouldn’t because he has no need to expel anything. And the doctor doesn’t need to know that but he feels like he should respond. He smacks his lips and raises a brow when he sees the lips of the doctor tilt slightly in response.

He hands him his prescription and says, “Just take this to the front desk, they’ll give you the medicine. Take it easy for the next few days. And maybe tell the kids to go easy on you next time. Any questions?”

Hinata feels his face turn red and he sees the nurse quietly laughing.

He doesn’t really have any questions so he’s not sure what prompts him to say, “How long have you been a doctor here?”

It must also startle the doctor because he seems momentarily speechless. Then he says, “Just over a year.”

“You look really young, how old are you?” Hinata looks over at the nurse and sees interest in her eyes. Does she not know the doctor’s age either?

The doctor rolls his pen in his hand and then smiles, “I meant any questions about your well-being.”

“What’s your name?” Hinata continues.

The nurse giggles quietly and Hinata notices the way the doctor looks over at her with a frown, but that doesn’t seem to stop her from grinning.

The doctor turns his frown towards him, “It’s on the door, didn’t you read it before coming in?”

Hinata pouts, “My head hurts and I can barely move it!”

The doctor sighs and finally, Hinata can see how those thin lips part, how those golden eyes close slightly, and his eyebrows dip. Everything about the doctor seems to be slim.

“Tsukishima,” the doctor concedes.

“Tsukishima…” Hinata prompts, but the doctor just stands up.

“It looks like there are no other questions-”

“When are your days off? Or do doctors work every day?” He can hear the nurse laughing again, this time a little louder.

Tsukishima gives him a look that he’s able to grasp (disgust) because of Kageyama and for the first time he’s glad his best friend has such a temper.

“You’re not very nice,” Hinata pouts, getting up from his chair, “What if I feel worse? Shouldn’t I come see you again?”

Tsukishima crosses his arms, “We have your files so any other doctor can help you. And I’m sure you won’t need to come back. You seem perfectly fine.”

“Ok, one last serious question.”

Tsukishima looks at him warily and Hinata grins wide, making sure not to move his head too much, “Do you want to get a coffee? Or tea? I don’t really like coffee or tea but I was thinking we could-”

“Good BYE,” Tsukishima emphasizes but Hinata can see the slight blush on his cheeks.

Hinata finally leaves but makes sure to look at the office sign, cradling the back of his neck so he can look properly, Tsukishima Kei.

OMAKE

The pain somehow gets worse after his doctor’s visit and for a moment he wonders if Tsukishima has some sort of sadistic magical powers. Maybe he’d annoyed him with all the questions and he’d exacted revenge by placing some kind of curse on him! Kageyama calls him an idiot and Yamaguchi laughs.

After a week, his head stopped hurting and as he predicted, he had no need for the stomach medicine. Yamaguchi is the one who explains that yes, humans usually do develop stomach problems after something like a head injury. Hinata remembers falling once when he was a kid and hitting his head, but he can’t remember feeling sick after. It probably wasn’t a serious blow then.

But no pain also means he has no excuse to visit the doctor’s office, and suddenly, he wonders if this is what addicted vampires are like. He can see Kageyama giving him the stink eye, and he’s sure they’re both thinking the same thing.

They’re at a cafe and since Yamaguchi is the only human of the three, he’s the only one eating. It’s not that vampires can’t eat, but that usually means they need more energy and so the blood supply doesn’t last as long. But they do join him with a few drinks.

Hinata groans into his teacup, “He must live around here, right? Why haven’t I ever bumped into him?!”

Kageyama frowns, thinking about this seriously, “Maybe you did. You just don’t remember. Or maybe he lives outside the city.”

“But he’s so pretty,” Hinata sighs, ignoring the potential that Tsukishima is not a local resident, “And tall, I remember all the tall people I meet!”

The bell at the cafe dings and Hinata’s eyes look over by reflex, and he nearly spits out his tea when he sees the doctor walking in.

Yamaguchi smiles with pancake shoved into his cheek, “I told you this cafe was good.”

—

A/N: 

you know what i apparently like to do? base stories on stuff that has happened to me lOL. i was going to share another story where i did something similar but i forgot it's still hidden but it should be revealed sometime this month (and i’ll post it here after), 

i wrote this for kai so i hope this is to your liking! i heard you were into tsukihina and things like vampires and college au. i hope i did your prompts justice! and you may notice i focused more on the vampire part than the college rip. 

p.s. idk anything about doctors and how they do checkups, i avoid them with a passion so uh yeah

p.p.s. this was going to be just a chapter and omake but it keeps whispering into my ear so i gave it an extra chapter but now it’s looking like it will be three chapters long! enjoy

“The next few days, Yachi makes sure he doesn't forget about Hinata Shouyo. ” (HQ Secret Santa 2021)

Doctor’s Visit, Ch2

Read Chapter 1 | Ao3

Tsukishima's week has been hectic and by week he means since last last Sunday when he was called in because a coworker got sick and well, he hasn't had much luck in getting a break. He's told he'll be able to get a break this weekend, but he knows that's not always true. Emergencies happen and while the clinic isn't really short-staffed, it's also nearing the holidays. The time, in his opinion, when people become stupider.

He sighs and mutters, "I hate the holidays," then he looks up from his desk and says, "What happened to the next one?"

Yachi stands in front of him with a clipboard and the paperwork of his next patient. Hinata Shouyo is written at the top in very clean and elegant writing. He's not sure why but he gets the feeling his grandparents would approve of this penmanship

Yachi looks worried as she explains, "His name is Hinata Shouyo. It looks like he hit his head at work. He's been sitting in the lobby holding his neck. He doesn't look well."

Tsukishima is only half paying attention, reading the details that this Hinata wrote down. It doesn't seem like it's too serious, but one can never know with blows to the head. They can be really nasty and he's glad that at least this patient had the sense to come to the clinic and get checked. Even though it's after the fact. Better late than never.

"Bring him in," he tells Yachi and while she does, he takes a moment to rub at his eyes.

When Yachi returns he's standing and back in professional mode. While he can't be as sunshine and rainbows as some of his peers, he can be civil. No need to worry or harm the patients, although there have been many tempting times to hurl insults. He raises a brow at the man who walks in. His parents chose a good name.

The checkup goes well for the most part and he's surprised that Hinata can pick up on some of his silent insults because really, who gets hurt while playing with five year olds? He looks like he's a pretty lithe person, but he supposes that appearances are deceiving.

But if he's being honest, he's also arrested in those moments. They don't make much eye contact since he's making sure Hinata is alright (his hands are small but hold strength, his neck surprisingly warm) but when he turns, Hinata is watching, staring, and his eyes are so bright and piercing, they make him stall.

He hands Hinata his prescriptions and says, “Just take this to the front desk, they’ll give you the medicine. Take it easy for the next few days. And maybe tell the kids to go easy on you next time. Any questions?” He wouldn't have spoken like this to any other patient, but there's something about Hinata that makes him think he won't start trouble, well, if he even catches the insult. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes over his head

But what Hinata says next completely derails him, “How long have you been a doctor here?”

It's not really something he's been asked frequently. If anything, he only gets it from upset parents and older patients who always want a more "experienced" doctor. But there doesn't seem to be any malice in his question, just curiosity so he says, “Just over a year.”

“You look really young, how old are you?” and that's what Tsukishima was hoping wouldn't be asked. It's not that he doesn't want to reveal his age, but he's already the youngest doctor in the clinic, and he'll admit that he does have a connection, but he's also qualified. He spins the pen in his hand and smiles in a way he knows pleases the nurses, “I meant any questions about your well-being.”

But his attitude doesn't seem to deter Hinata and when his questions eventually turn more personal and Yachi's laughs become bolder, he realizes that Hinata isn't trying to belittle him. He was never really the type to get confessions so he's not sure how to react, and his traitorous body flushes and his heart starts to beat a bit faster. He scowls.

“Ok, one last serious question," Hinata promises and Tsukishima looks at him warily.

He didn't think Hinata could look brighter, but apparently this is him at his dullest. He grins wide, “Do you want to get a coffee? Or tea? I don’t really like coffee or tea but I was thinking we could-”

“Good BYE,” he emphasizes and is glad when Hinata does as he's told. He slams the door shut and Yachi is full blown giggling behind him. He turns around and she takes a breath to say, "You're blushing, oh my god, does that mean you think he's cute?"

He remembers the Yachi of when he first arrived at the clinic and misses how quiet and scared (of him) she used to be, "No." But he does take off his glasses to rub at his eyes, two curious and piercing eyes looking at him from the darkness.

The rest of the day is completely dull compared to that one visit, but he does manage to take a nap for a few minutes during lunch. He wakes up to a small bento from Yachi at his desk. He raises a brow at her but thanks her

"I knew you wouldn't bring a lunch today either and since I had extras," she says while already eating her own share, which the exact same size as his. He checks the time, making sure he has enough time to eat

----

The next few days, Yachi makes sure he doesn't forget about Hinata Shouyo.

They're having lunch one day when she says, "I wonder how Hinata is doing. He really had some trouble that day, remember how he was holding his neck?" She mimics Hinata but her face is completely miserable and Tsukishima can't help but smile.

"I'm sure he didn't look that miserable," he says. When Yachi smirks, he can't help but feel like he's lost.

"Really? How did he look then?" And his mind immediately conjures Hinata holding his neck after he'd tried to tilt it back. Yes, he'd been in pain but his posture had mostly been good. His hair had been lively, fluffy even, his skin warm, his eyes bright, and his lips-

He frowns and closes his bento, thanking Yachi once more, "For the lunch, your company has been less than stellar lately."

That only makes her laugh, "You don't like anyone's company."

It's true. He'd rather be by himself.

The next time she bring him up they're both on a quick fifteen minute break and he takes this chance to get a coffee.

"So why didn't you take him up on his date?"

She is so to the point that day that he nearly drops his coffee. He frowns, "You know that's unethical."

She has her own drink in hand and he recognizes it as a hot chocolate from the vending machine. But she's relentless, "Ok, what if you met him at like, the grocery store or at a cafe like he said, what if he asked you out, would you say yes?"

He scrunches his nose in defiance and lifts his coffee to his mouth, letting the aroma wake him up. He'd been called in again, his weekend rest ruined, "Why are you so invested in this? He probably said that to be cheeky."

She hums and Tsukishima worries about what she'll say next. His worry is correct when she says, "But did you think he was cute?"

He sighs and starts walking back to his office, "Our break is almost over." But he can tell he's blushing slightly, not just because he suddenly feels the heat on his ears, but because Yachi is smiling, a bounce in her steps.

The next time he's ready for Yachi's questioning, but she doesn't bring up Hinata. Instead, she says, "There's this really nice cafe a quick walk from here, by the grocery store. Their hot chocolate is so good! And they make some of the cutest latte art."

It seems innocent enough until, "It's the perfect place for a date, don't you think?"

He inwardly groans but smiles politely, "I'm sure. Did you and Tadashi go there?"

Yachi nods and starts to give him a detailed account of how her boyfriend found it, the really handsome staff, and the delicious food. But he also wonders how this pertains to Hinata. He was pretty sure he'd mentioned a kindergarten internship so he wouldn't really have time for another part-time job, right? He scowls at where his thoughts stray and decides he's overworked.

"I'm taking a break," he tells Yachi as he takes off his glasses and heads outside.

He finally gets to have a day off on Monday and he spends it sleeping most of the day. When he returns on Tuesday, he can feel Yachi watching him for longer than necessary. When the staring doesn't stop by mid-day he asks, "What is it?"

Yachi, in almost a whisper, asks, "Did you go?"

He is confused, "Where?"

Yachi sighs in disappointment, "Where else? The cafe!"

He shuffles some papers on his desk and stares at her with a deadpan expression, "Why would I go?"

Yachi looks too innocent when she says, "To see if the coffee is good?"

Tsukishima sighs. He doesn't have many vices but when you work hours like they do, it's nearly impossible not to get addicted to caffeine, and even when he knows it won't help, especially with how long he's been drinking it, he can't stop. But more importantly, "You know I try not to drink coffee outside of work hours."

Yachi sighs dramatically, "I know but still!"

Her posture is more subdued for about half the day before he once more sees a fire in her eyes. As they're both heading home that night she says, "The atmosphere is really nice too! You like quiet places too, right? It's very soothing."

He wraps a scarf around his neck and pulls on his gloves, his jacket and bag already on. Yachi is a bit slower in getting ready

"You must really like this place," he plays along. Then adds, "Is Tadashi picking you up?"

Yachi brightens, "Yes to both questions!"

It's nearing midnight when they finally head outside and meet up with Tadashi, and Tsukishima is glad he can finally get rid of Yachi. He's met Tadashi only a handful of times, his work keeping his social life as nonexistent as possible, but the guy seemed nice and Yachi never complained. And if you asked Tsukishima, they did make a nice couple, Tadashi with his slightly dorky smile and Yachi with her exuberance. They were both sickeningly doting as well

Before they part Yachi yells, "Make sure to go on your next day off!"

Tsukishima doesn't answer but as he's walking home, he thinks that maybe he can concede this one time. And it's not because he's worried or wants to see Hinata. No.

"...so she can stop pestering me."

Gift for adorations: "Kei goes to Tadashi’s house almost every day and almost every day he falls asleep on his bed." (Dec'23 GDC)

Kei Dreams

read on AO3

Kei doesn’t really like the holidays. It’s not because Christmas starts months in advance and every single ad he sees is about buying your loved one that super special and perfect gift and we can make sure it’s perfect if you buy with US. It’s not even because Santa decorated everythings were suddenly shoved in his face. Although, he admits he once asked Santa to get him a Santa-themed T-Rex figure but he was 10 so he thinks he gets a pass. He didn’t know better…

(Ok, he’s lying. That is a big part of why he dislikes the holidays, especially Christmas)

“Tsukki,” he feels someone shake him awake, “It’s getting late.”

There’s a warm hand on his cheek and he grumbles something that makes Tadashi laugh. There’s movement around the room and he keeps his eyes closed just a moment longer. When he finally opens his eyes, Tadashi is out of his uniform. He’s grabbing all of his stuff (wallet, game console, notebooks, and pencils) and packing them back in his bag. Kei realizes with a bit of annoyance that he did it again. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, “I didn’t mean to fall asleep again.”

(He goes to Tadashi’s house almost every day and almost every day he falls asleep on his bed)

Tadashi sets his packed bag down and goes back to Kei’s side. He pats his side and grins, “It’s ok. It was too cold to study anyway, and we did technically finish what we had to at school.”

“Is my brother here?” Kei asks, because even when he tells his mother he can just walk home alone, she always worries and sends Akiteru to pick him up. Tadashi nods and Kei reluctantly gets out of bed. 

He thinks that if Tadashi didn’t sleep in it every night, it would smell more like Kei with how often he wakes up on it. 

Tadashi hugs him with a grin and asks, “Do you want to brush your teeth?”

He holds Tadashi back loosely, his eyes still feeling a bit crusty and he wants to yawn but he’s very conscious of how his breath smells. He nods and Tadashi pecks him on the mouth, “Ok.”

Kei goes into the bathroom, which is right across from Tadashi’s room to finish waking up. When he steps out, he’s glad he can hear the TV and Tadashi’s voice downstairs. He grabs his bag and heads down too.

His brother is there, sitting at the Yamaguchi table with Tadashi and his parents. When he sees Kei he grins, “Ready to go?”

Kei knows he’s pouting when Akiteru laughs. He turns back to Tadashi’s parents and nods, “Thanks for the tea. It’s really delicious.” He flashes a tea box at them, “I’m sure Mom will love them. I’ll wait outside.”

The last bit is for him because (as Akiteru likes to tease), he knows he doesn’t like to be watched when he’s being all ‘cuddly’ with his boyfriend. Don’t worry, it’s not weird, it’s a teenager thing

Yamaguchi’s parents also tease and he feels himself go red, but Tadashi just grabs his hand and tugs him toward the genkan. He bows his head and excuses himself.

Kei is taller than Tadashi, but when he steps down to put on his shoes, Tadashi is the taller of the two. But only just. He knows Tadashi likes it when they stand like this (Kei does too) because he’s able to wrap Kei in his arms from above. Kei doesn’t like to hold Tadashi like that. He likes to hold him around his back and waist. (So he does)

Tadashi kisses his forehead and it would feel suffocating with anyone else but it feels warm with Tadashi. He knows not to hold on too tightly

He whispers into Kei’s ear, “I’m so excited for tomorrow.”

Kei isn’t, “I’m not.” (He is. Just not entirely. He’ll have to share Tadashi and it’ll be busy).

Tadashi just laughs because he knows, “Will we have time for a nap?”

Kei shakes his head, “We’ll be too busy. Mother likes to cook.”

---

They don’t have Christmas off, which means Kei still has to go to school in the morning and sit through boring lectures. Volleyball is canceled today though, which means he’s able to take the train to Tadashi’s school (still in the same town but a few stops from Kei’s). They both get ready at the dorms at his school. There’s no time to sit down and relax because his mother is already sending him messages of things she forgot to buy that he should get on his way home

Tadashi grins, “It’ll be like a little date.”

Kei smiles back and grabs his hand. 

---

Christmas in the Tsukishima household is fairly simple. Most years, his mother just buys most of what they’ll eat but when Kei came home one day and announced (shoes still on, bag still in hand, and a frown on his face), Tadashi will be over for Christmas this year, is that ok? she had been over the moon!

She pulled out old recipe books she only used occasionally, watched cooking videos like she was going to be on some professional cooking show, and asked him repeatedly about Tadashi’s likes and dislikes. 

Is he ok with dairy? What about eggs? Does he like cheese?

He likes rice, right? No wait, maybe he’s more of a bread person.

Do you know what kind of cake he likes best? 

He reminds his mother that Tadashi isn’t some stranger he picked up off the street but his elementary school friend, It’s not his first time coming over

His mother laughs but continues her barrage of questions, But it’s his first time here as your boyfriend. I can’t disappoint!

---

In the end, Kei and Tadashi walk into the Tsukishima household with a bag of yokan sweets and frozen vegetables. Tadashi sniffs the air and nearly drools, “It smells so good!”

He speaks loud enough to be heard in the kitchen and he knows his mother heard when a muffled, “Did you hear that Aki?” carries through the hall. There’s some shuffling and then his mother hurries over. She’s drying her hands on her apron and her smile is wide. Tadashi matches her cheer but Kei just wants the day to be over with

“Welcome, welcome,” she calls and pulls at Kei’s other arm, “Come in you two. Oh, Tadashi! Look at how much you’ve grown!”

She pulls him into a hug and Kei rolls his eyes. He lets go of Tadashi’s hand and goes to the kitchen to drop off the bag he’s carrying. 

When he hears Tadashi say, “Oh! I’d love to help!” he knows they’re doomed. Akiteru gives him a shrug, taste-testing the broth his mother has on low heat. He makes a noise and then hovers a spoon near Kei’s mouth, “It’s so good! Try it!”

Kei just stares and Akiteru does too. It’s been a few years since they’ve talked and figured things out, but sometimes Kei wishes Akiteru still backed down like he used to. Now his stubbornness outlasts Kei’s and he sighs, opening his mouth.

Kei’s eyes go a little wide because it really is good

Before he can say anything, their mother walks into the kitchen, “You two better not be sticking your fingers in there.”

Kei raises his hands and he can see the way Tadashi covers his mouth behind his mother, hiding a laugh. Akiteru, however, doesn’t get off too easily. He’s got the spoon in his hand after all. 

He defends, “I’m only making sure it doesn’t burn, just like you said.”

---

They sit down to watch TV after dinner. Dinner had run a little late because they had to let the food cool down. She looks at Tadashi when she says, “You know how Kei is.” 

Tadashi, who ends up sitting between the couch armrest and Kei nods. They share conspiratorial grins and Kei rolls his eyes, “You can’t taste anything if it’s too hot.”

Which is why he hasn’t touched his tea yet. It sits on the table with steam coming off the top. And it could be Tadashi’s warmth as he sits tight against Kei’s side, or the warmth of the house, which still has the smell of dinner in the air. Or it could be the sound of the TV and his family’s voices, but eventually, he dozes. 

(He dreams of more holidays just like today)

He wakes up a few hours later with his head on Tadashi’s chest and his body askew. He’s somehow maneuvered himself so that he’s half laying across Tadashi, who has also moved to hold him (spoon him, his mind corrects) more comfortably. His mother is sitting on the floor with her legs tucked into the kotatsu at the center of the room, a blanket over her shoulders, and the TV still on (volume lowered). His brother isn’t in the room anymore but he can see another blanket on the other side of the kotatsu so he knows he hasn’t been gone long

The lights from the Christmas tree dance along the walls. 

He looks over to see Tadashi dozing as well. His face is peaceful and Kei watches as different parts of his face light up as the lights change. He must be staring too hard or it might be the movement, but Tadashi’s eyes open slowly. When he realizes Kei is awake, he smiles softly and leans their heads close

“Is it time yet?”

“Dunno,” he mumbles. 

His mother looks back at them and smiles, “We still have about two hours, but if you kids want to open gifts now and get some proper rest, we can do that too.”

“Where’s Akiteru?” Kei asks, sitting up and rubbing some feeling back into his limbs. Tadashi rubs his back too. Kei grabs his cup of tea, which has gone cold. It helps him wake up some more. 

“He’s on the phone, but he should be back soon.”

Soon ends up being fifteen minutes and in that time they’ve cleared the kotatsu and set up the gifts to be unwrapped. 

He panics, “Wait! Isn’t it too soon?”

“We’re opening them early because we’re tired,” Kei tells him. 

Akiteru only grins, “You mean you’re tired.”

“You can open your gifts last .” Akiteru whines, his mother laughs, and Tadashi snickers. As they all sit around the kotatsu, Kei doesn’t miss the little box Akiteru slips into the pile. 

---

His mother sets up her phone to record and Tadashi flashes a peace sign before saying, “Tsukki! Let’s open your gifts first!”

He pushes a box toward him and Kei looks at him with a smirk, “You do realize we’re supposed to guess who these are from, right?”

Tadashi looks at Kei’s mother, “I have no idea who that one is from.”

She smiles, “Oh, I can wager a guess.”

Kei rolls his eyes and opens the gift. When he does, he feels his eyes twitch and he turns to Tadashi, who is smiling innocently. It’s a Christmas sweater with a pixelated T-Rex eating Santa Claus. In a horror-esque font it says SANTA CLAWS and tiny rocks are falling from the top. One of the sleeves is wrapped in Christmas lights and some of them even come off as 3-D puffs. 

“It’s…ugly.” 

“That’s the point!” Tadashi laughs.

Kei’s mother claps, “Oh Kei! You have to wear it now. It’s perfect.”

And Kei is weak to Tadashi and his mother so when they both urge him, he relents. He puts on the sweater over his clothes and frowns when Akiteru takes a picture. 

“Can you send me that picture?”

“Already sent!” Tadashi’s phone buzzes. 

Kei didn’t even realize they knew each other’s numbers. 

They open gifts in that style and when his mother grabs a small box to see who it’s for, Kei says, “That one’s from Akiteru.”

---

Tadashi spends the night and when they’re both in bed (Kei sans the ugly Christmas sweater), Tadashi gives him an extra gift. It’s small and flat and Kei is pretty sure it’s an envelope but less sure about the contents. He frowns, “Why didn’t you put it with the others?”

Tadashi is blushing and Kei likes the way it makes his freckles pop. 

He’s a little quiet when he says, “This one is special. I…I didn’t want your family to see it yet. Open it.”

Kei opens it and feels his eyes widen when he sees what’s inside. It’s a listing for a small apartment and at the top of the paper it says, Do you want to live together? in Tadashi’s messy script

It’s quiet in his room and Tadashi begins to ramble, “We, uh. We haven’t talked about it too much, just vaguely, I know, but I was thinking that starting in the next school year we can do this instead of staying in the dorms. It would be cheaper and we wouldn’t have to-”

“Tadashi,” Kei stops him. Tadashi stops talking and Kei isn’t even sure what he wants to say. His heart is pounding and he’s sure his face is red. 

Instead, Kei takes his hand and squeezes. He nods and Tadashi lights up.

“Really?” he asks, “It’s not too much? I know you like your space and-”

Kei squeezes his hand again, “It’s not too much. I want to.” He gestures at the paper, “We can talk more about it tomorrow.”

---

Kei dreams of days that aren’t completely taken up by his long naps. He dreams of waking up to Tadashi’s smiling face and instead of hearing it’s time, Tadashi asks him, “What should we have for dinner?”

---

A/N:

For adorations.

EEEE!! Another gift fic and this one is for the holidays :D i really liked the cute and domestic prompts because that's the kind of HQ i love LOL. Adorations, you mentioned wanting (if possible) some type of chronic rep and idk if this is it but you mentioned fatigue and i suddenly remembered how most of my HS time with my then s/o was spent with me sleeping bc i would always fall asleep at their house xD so tsukki is now sleepy boy. even now i do have a weird sleep schedule sometimes and if i can get away with it, i do everything (yes even washing the dishes) while sitting (hehe) some of the prompts you gave me + established relationship/domestic + canon compliant/college au + meet the family/family dynamics + ugly sweaters

He tries to keep his tone light, to make it seem like he doesn’t care, but his voice gets softer when he says the word ‘serious’, and then he needs to clear his throat because why does it feel like he’s choking all of a sudden?! (ReiMobRei, MP100)

In Need of a Trim

Read full on Ao3

tags: age angst, canon age gap, insecure 50yo reigen, kisses, haircuts, grey hairs, comfort, dates, rated E but this PV is sfw

note: this is a rewrite of another fic i wrote called "a grey hair a day" so if you read that one already, this one has more scenes, specifically from reigens pov in the hopes of a more balanced dynamic (idk if i succeeded tho ;o;)

p.s: i told myself i would submit an mp100 prompt for this bang i joined and I FORGOT *cries* maybe i'll update the drabbles fic i have, i kind of want to write something for them, lmk if you have any ideas~

——————————————————————————

Reigen is almost 50 years old when Mob realizes that he’s been dying his hair regularly. He’s not sure how he missed it, thinking back on it now. The signs are obvious: Reigen coming home with a different set of clothes (the job got a bit messy, that’s all) and how unnaturally glossy his hair looked sometimes (oh you know, I’ve been trying out this new product, it’s supposed to make you GLOW ). But his biggest clue should have been Reigen’s age

Ritsu is younger than Mob and he’s been showing grey hairs since he turned 30. Ritsu, as usual, never fails to make a pointed remark toward Reigen at Mob’s observation

“Ritsu,” Mob admonishes him. Ritsu had come to visit Seasoning City (he’d moved out years ago) for their parents’ birthdays and had made plans to have dinner with him. They were now at a restaurant near Reigen’s office (yes, they were still doing Spirit Consulting and yes, Ritsu was still slightly bitter about that)

Ritsu rolls his eyes, “Fine. Fine. I’m sorry, but really? Even Mom, who used all those anti-aging products, got grey hairs before she hit 50.”

“But I’ve never seen him with any grey hairs,” he counters. 

Ritsu, who had been about to take another bite of his hamburger, pauses. He shrugs a second later, “He probably dyes it. I can’t think of another explanation.”

He digs in and chews, thinking, and then nods, his mouth still slightly occupied, “Pro’ly w’ried.”

Mob frowns, genuinely confused, “Worried? About what?”

Ritsu smiles at him, “You really are still the same when it comes to some things. Fine! I’ll help. It’s his age, Shigeo. His partner is 14 years younger than him! He’s probably worried about how that looks to others.”

He sends one of those looks at Mob and Mob decides to ignore it. He’s focused on this revelation. Yes, he’s conscious that Reigen and he have a rather hefty age gap and many people have expressed their disapproval throughout their lives, but this had been something the two talked about before. 

He thought that Reigen had understood that age was something Mob didn’t care about, but as he continues to talk with Ritsu, he realizes that perhaps he hadn’t been as reassuring as he could have been. He’d need to try harder, and the first step was to see if Reigen was truly dying his hair

.

.

.

He’s not exactly sure how to bring up the subject. If Ritsu is right and Reigen IS dying his hair (Mob is realizing the possibility of this being true has now shot up to 99%) because he’s worried, should he just march into their home and announce, Reigen, I don’t care if you have grey hairs, I think they’re beautiful?

Reigen would surely call him a liar and he’d partially be one. After all, he’d never actually seen these alleged grey hairs (but Mob knows he’d love them because they were Reigen’s grey hairs, so no, he wouldn’t really be lying)

.

.

.

Reigen realizes something is wrong with Mob immediately. He hasn’t been officially together with Mob for nearly a decade for nothing! His usual modus operandi is to let Mob come to him, to let him sort out his thoughts and feelings, which is why he doesn’t say anything. 

He doesn’t say anything when he feels Mob’s stare all day as he’s trying to convince a pair of teenagers that him being old is actually a good thing, It’s the young swindlers you need to be wary of! I have wisdom beyond my years! Besides, he coughs, we’ve been doing this for longer than you tweens have been alive. We’re experts! Right Mob?

Mob misses his cue and Reigen nearly swats the little twerp who mutters, He doesn’t look like he’s all there either…

Luckily, he does come back to his senses when it’s time to do the job, which somehow ends up with Reigen falling into a ditch and ruining his trademark suit. It’s been a while since that’s happened and Mob apologizes so much that Reigen decides to show him that yes, he’s more than forgiven, and no, it’s not your job to stop my every fall, it’s ok, besides, we finished the job quickly, you did really well

As they lay in bed, Reigen the big spoon this time, he can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with him and that’s why (a week after Reigen noticed) Mob hasn’t said anything

.

.

.

It most definitely is related to Reigen. 

Reigen really hates to bring up his age as an explanation for everything (he’s come to realize that this is an “old-man” trait), but in this case, he’s sure becaus e he’s no spring chicken. But also, Mob is a little too fixated on him, touching his hair and face at random moments with no mind to their setting, petting him , watching him when he thinks Reigen isn’t paying attention, staring him down when Reigen decides to make eye contact, his mind silently screaming tell me what’s wrong! This is your chance! But no.

It’s honestly starting to get a bit unnerving and since he doesn’t want to live the rest of his unmarried married life with a quiet, potentially too contemplative, and getting creepier by the week Mob (he’s not even sure how he survived a month of this already!), he decides to ask for some help

He’s at the station with a disgruntled Ritsu on the line. He’s tight-lipped. 

“You do realize my allegiance is with my brother and that I hate you, right?”

The sound of the train leaving echoes in the space, making Ritsu nearly inaudible but Reigen has heard this line so many times, his brain fills in the words he misses. And, like always, he replies, “Don’t you get tired of lying? I know you don’t actually hate me. Besides,” he counters, “I don’t want you to spill, I just…need a hint. Is it…serious?”

He tries to keep his tone light, to make it seem like he doesn’t care, but his voice gets softer when he says the word ‘serious’, and then he needs to clear his throat because why does it feel like he’s choking all of a sudden?! 

A little voice, the traitorous one that sounds like his parents, whispers in his ear, feeding his fear of losing Mob. He’s probably tired of you and is trying to run you off, what did you expect, at your age

“Aren’t you with my brother now? Just ask him.” Except that they’re not together and that’s the reason he called Ritsu.

“It’s been a busy season so we split up to cover more ground.” Mob hadn’t wanted them to, saying it could be dangerous, but Reigen had a thing for weeding out most of the non-spirits-related cases and had taken on those jobs

Ritsu sighs dramatically, “Fine!”

And Reigen should be happy at the admittance but he knows Ritsu so he’s sure he’s not getting what he wants. Ritsu is only compromising, but that doesn’t stop him from smiling, or his heart from hammering in his chest, worried and anxious. He’s sure he paints an interesting picture. He’s already paid his fair but he’s standing in an alcove in the middle of the station, his suit tattered at the back, mud on his knees and calves, and a few scratches on his hands

He’s probably sweating a lot too. He can feel it

“It’s not what you’re imagining! That’s all I’m giving away!” he yells and then mutters a not-so-quiet, you two are equally hopeless! before the line goes dead

.

.

.

Reigen makes it back home before Mob, which surprises him. He’s moving on autopilot: removing his clothes (ruined), washing off the grime and smell of angry cats from his hair (it’s getting long again), and then soaking his tired bones (why is he so tired?). It’s when he’s sitting in the tub (for how long, he’s not even sure) that he snaps back to reality. He yells out, “How do you even know what I’m imagining?!”

Yelling helps him relax and then he starts laughing at how ridiculous this all is. At how ridiculous he’s being

He shakes his head, “At least he didn’t say not to call back this time.” Not that Reigen ever listens to that demand

Mob comes home right when Reigen is dry, but still only wrapped in a towel, debating whether to try and save his suit pants or just throw them away. 

(They decide to try and save them together)

.

.

.

Mob finally says something three months later. It’s summer, the heat is unbearable even at night, and Reigen is upset about how long his hair is. He’s fresh out of the shower, wearing his loose and comfy pajamas and Mob beckons him over to the couch. 

He uses his powers to turn on the light so that it isn’t just the light from the TV bouncing on the walls. Reigen sits next to him and Mob maneuvers them so that Reigen is between his legs. He uses the towel around Reigen’s neck to start drying his hair

“What’s wrong?” he asks. Reigen bumps his back a few times and groans when Mob applies a bit more pressure with his powers. 

“My hair is getting too long and the place I usually go to just closed!” he complains, “The owner retired and the girl that works there decided to open up her own place elsewhere. I’m happy for her. They pay better in the big city, but now I’ll have to find a new place.”

Mob touches the ends of Reigen’s damp hair and smiles, “It is getting a little long.”

Reigen leans back, further into Mob, which makes drying his hair more difficult, but Mob doesn’t mind. He puts his arms around his waist and breathes in the smell of Reigen’s shampoo. 

“I wonder if Tome can recommend something. She’s always going to salons with her wife.” Reigen’s voice is less directed at Mob and more just him talking to himself. 

“I can cut it for you,” Mob suggests. He’s not even sure why he says it. He’s never cut hair before. 

Reigen turns to him and raises his brow, “Don’t tell me you’re secretly a professional barber?”

Mob kisses Reigen’s crow’s feet and smiles, “No, but I’m sure I can learn. For you.”

Reigen contemplates, “I don’t know…”

Mob has him sit up so he can finish drying his hair. Once it feels dry enough, he sends the towel to the back of one of the kitchen chairs and runs his hands through Reigen’s hair. He smooths it down and as he’s running his fingers through the hairs covering his ears (definitely needs a trim), he sees them. Little grey hairs sticking out, barely visible, and only the roots

Mob leans down to kiss his hair, right behind his ear, and whispers, “Beautiful.”

.

.

.

Mob’s staring stops but the hair touching (somehow) intensifies and Reigen realizes what this is all really about. 

They’ve always had a routine before bed, which consists of Mob helping Reigen dry his hair and Reigen (usually) giving him a massage (he’s only gotten better after all these years of practice). But now Mob wants to comb his hair, especially on days when Reigen wakes up with bedhead. Since it’s easier (and feels nicer) than pulling out mirror after mirror to try and see the back of his head, Reigen agrees to Mob’s insistence

But not always! I can’t have you pampering me every day. Think of it as a treat. And when Mob’s face lights up, Reigen realizes it’ll be a treat for them both

It doesn’t stop there. Mob also makes sure Reigen sees that he’s serious about his hair-cutting proposition. They’re in the office, Mob at the computer, looking up hair-cutting tutorials and they’re all (un)surprisingly for short hairstyles like his. 

Reigen hovers behind Mob’s chair. 

They’d been so busy for the last few months but this week things had finally started to slow down. Today almost seemed like an anomaly. They’d had no scheduled clients (potentially suspicious) but also no walk-ins either. He’d briefly considered closing early but with age also came this need to do something, to be useful . He couldn’t just close up for no reason

“You’re serious about this,” he says after Mob clicks on a new video.

“I’m always serious about you, about us,” Mob replies without a second thought.

Read the E on AO3

Gift for TachibanasWife: Hajime laughs, “Are you going to ask me if I’d still love you if you were a worm again?” (IwaOi, HQ)

Would you still love me if I were the size of a truck?

Read on Ao3 (Send Kudos)

tags: omegaverse, pregnancy, implied antenatal depression, comfort

note: i've picked up a few more HQ gotcha fics after pinch hits were opened up and here's one of the (surprisingly many?) pregnancy fics i picked up. enjoy~

——————————————————————————

Tooru has mixed feelings when he ends up pregnant. He imagines himself in a few months, all stretched out in the middle with no clothes big enough to fit him. He’ll have giant swollen feet, will probably be lucky if he can see them, and won’t be able to go to the bathroom alone. He’s sure that by the time he’s six months pregnant, Hajime will be tired of him and he’ll be giving birth alone!

Hajime notices he’s spiraling and pinches his cheeks to get him to focus again, “I’m not going to leave you.”

“But I won’t be pretty anymore,” Tooru tells him. He’s only half joking. He knows Hajime isn’t the type of person to care about stuff like that, but…pregnancy was a big change. Not just physically. Their lives would be different from here on out. What if he gave birth and Hajime changed his mind about being a father with him? 

His husband kisses him and then whispers, “You’re always going to be the prettiest. Now stop fishing for compliments!”

Tooru pouts, “You only say that now because I’m not the size of a truck!”

Hajime laughs, “Are you going to ask me if I’d still love you if you were a worm again?”

“No,” he grins, “I’m going to ask if you’d still love me if I were the size of a truck.”

His husband pulls him close and starts to scent him, “I would.”

“I’ll be all hard edges and cold and huge. I won’t fit on normal roads.”

He gets a kiss on his temple, “It’s fine. We’ll take the long way. And listen to that cringey pop music you love.”

Tooru is already feeling sleepy from their scenting but he weakly pounds on Hajime’s chest, “Pop music isn’t cringey. It’s stylish. And catchy. I’ve heard you humming it before. Fake hater.”

He feels the rumble of laughter as he closes his eyes. 

Scenting soothes Tooru. 

It always has but it helps even more after he’s pregnant. He’s not sure why but doubts easily worm their way into his head nowadays and he’s glad he has Hajime at his side to keep him grounded. He’d never known having a child would be so exhausting, not just physically but also mentally (His mother laughs when he tells her, I just thought I’d feel bad for two weeks and that it would hurt 9 months after that! )

It helps when he reads books like The 101s of Childbirth, What the Media Hides About Childbirth, a Guide For Pregnant Parents by Real Birthgivers, How to Raise Independant and Healthy Kids, Simple and Easy Exercises for Omegan Parents, and Will My Body Ever Recover? 10 Easy Steps to Get Back Your Pre-Pregnancy Body by Award Winning Pregnancy Coach Tanaka Jun. Hajime tells him that he doesn’t need books like the last one. That his body will always be perfect. He scowls down at some of the advice and tells him, Your body is changing so that you can nurture our baby properly, during the pregnancy and after. 

Tooru isn’t easily pacified. He whines, “But you’re my husband! You’re supposed to say mushy things like that!”

Hajime sighs but looks determined, “Ok. If you’re really worried, I can take care of researching that aspect of pregnancy. You’re already stressed enough.”

And he does. Tooru has seen more reputable titles on his desk (Building Body Fat for a Healthy Pregnancy, 10 Ways to Help Keep Your Mobility While Pregnant) and in his bookmarks (5 Ways My Wife Helped Decrease My Stress During Pregnancy, What I Wish I Knew Before I Became Pregnant (And How I Improved My Mental Health)). They start doing simple workouts at home, which are mainly stretching and breathing focused. It helps him relax 

The scenting especially helps when the morning symptoms finally kick in and when the bump finally grows from the size of a peach to the size of a volleyball. 

He feels so undesirable in those moments. 

“Let’s go out on a date,” Hajime tells him one day when Tooru is under so many blankets, brooding. 

“Don’t wanna.”

“Didn’t you say you were craving something sweet?” he asks and Tooru feels himself crumble.

“I am…”

Hajime snakes a hand under the blankets to rub at his belly, “Let’s go for a walk. We can get some fresh air.”

He doesn’t need to tell him he’s worried about Tooru staying cooped in for days for him to understand. He gets out of bed and his feet are slightly sore. Hajime takes no pity, telling him it’s his fault for hibernating in their nest while he’s been busy at work. Then apologizes for being so busy that week. He massages his feet before they go out. 

Walks are miracle workers. They must be because it helps improve his mood. 

He loves being bathed by Hajime’s scent but it’s fall now and the smell of the crisp air, of the falling leaves, and the flow of the river…it all makes him feel at peace. It also helps that he’s finally eaten something sweet. It doesn’t satisfy the crave completely, but it’s a start. 

They hold hands as they sit down near the playground. It’s a weekend so it’s full of children laughing and running around, and families walking their dogs. Tooru watches, transfixed, at how many pregnant parents are walking around. 

He’s the first in their group of friends to get pregnant. Some of them don’t want children and others have said they’re not ready yet. He got congratulatory messages and Hinata had been hounding him for details about everything. Even Ushijima had sent him a message. A simple ‘I’m happy for you’. Kageyama had asked if he needed anything about two months ago and Tooru had left him on read (until Hajime told him he was being petty). His reply might have been petty

He grins, “Iwa-chan! Let’s take a picture!”

Hajime smiles, “It’s been a while since you last called me that…”

And Tooru realizes it’s true. He feels his eyes water slightly, “Sorry. I’ve just been…it’s been hard…”

“Don’t,” Hajime tells him, “You don’t have to apologize. Ever.”

They take a few pictures but they’re not exactly what Tooru wants, and it isn’t until another expecting couple walks over and offers to take their picture that he’s satisfied. 

He posts the picture onto his Instagram. He hadn’t updated it in months. He thinks it’s easier like this. In the caption he writes: Iwa-chan and I went on a date! Iwa-chan, tell me how pretty I look #pregnantandbeautiful

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No, Wait, You Got it All Wrong

You know what there’s not enough of? Canon compliant future fic where Stiles is a cop and he runs into Derek again. What’s that you say? There’s a ton of that?? Yes, true, but NOT ENOUGH.

“…. so then he says, ‘No, Officer, I swear to God this is the first time I’ve ever smoked up! I’ve never been in trouble with the law in my life! And I say, Billy, my man, you’ve been in trouble with me personally twice this month.” Stiles snorts at the memory. “Kid was so fucking high.”

Amanda must be halfway past tipsy, because she laughs uproariously into her beer at the mediocre punchline.

Stiles smiles. He’s satisfied with her reaction, with the warm murmur of the bar, with the buzz he’s got going… with just about everything, actually. After tonight, he’s looking at two full days off before he’s back on the beat, and the night’s still young. He leans back in his chair and takes a pull of his beer, savoring it.

Amanda glances towards the bar, probably considering a fourth round, and then visibly perks up as something near the front catches her eye.

“Oooh, Stiles,” she croons. “Look over at the door, like, just glance over.” She’s adjusted her gaze down at the table now, faking casual disinterest. Badly.

Stiles raises his eyebrows at her.

“This dude just walked in, he’s so your type,” she hisses. “C’mon, look! I’m telling you, six feet two inches of ‘yes, please, give it to me’ muscles, with some salt-and-pepper scruff icing. Unff.”

“Eh,” Stiles says, tipping his weight forward to hunch over the table. It’s not that he isn’t interested, exactly, but this is a cop bar and he doesn’t want to shit where he eats. Metaphorically.

“No, really,” Amanda insists. “He's… oh my God, he’s looking over here. He’s looking at you. Oh my God, Stiles, he’s coming over here!”

“No, he isn’t,” Stiles scoffs. He’s filled out a bit from high school and he’s finally competent at styling his hair, but he’s not that hot. Only Amanda’s sitting straight like a rod, eyes fixed on a point behind him that’s about where a six foot two man’s eyes would be.

“Stiles?”

He turns then, shooting to his feet before his brain’s quite caught up, because that voice is familiar like the back of his own hand.

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HEYY EVERYPONY!! okay so i may or may not have been working on a lil gravity falls fic which may or may not be abt Bill + my oc in a lil found family sorta thing

Aaaaand it may or may not be up right now on ao3

Sooooo to get more readers, imma post some images from the fic + the name!!