[Even if it's true! Even though he's still snickering into the phone, Shouyou can feel his face growing hot. Tsukishima was thinking about...that? It probably bodes well for him, that Tsukishima's interested, but Shouyou doesn't think he's ready to go that far, either.]
Should we... hang up and ask? [He's a bit reluctant to.]
my family's fine with it, too! i'll pack some stuff and head right over!!
give me your address while you're still here
[The distance between their houses is both a blessing and a curse. There's no doubt Shouyou would like to see Tsukishima sooner, but that long bike ride will give him some time to think about where he wants this to go. As Tsukishima had said earlier, they really need to talk.]
[The address is sent, the room cleaned. Extra bedding arranged on the floor.
Which takes all of... ten minutes?
Tsukki tries to find distractions. Homework. Music. None of it takes hold. Finally gives up, and ties on his sneakers. Starts walking down the road Hinata will have to turn down.]
[It's unexpected, seeing Tsukishima out on the street before he even gets to the house he's looking for. Shouyou's face lights up when he spots him, and he slows down, rolling to a stop just a few paces away.]
Tsukishima! [He hops off, too eager to be graceful about it.] You came out to wait for me?
[Tsukishima's far from the only one who's feeling unprepared for everything. No matter how enthusiastic and insistent Shouyou had been about them meeting now, it's different now that they're actually facing each other. Seeing Tsukishima actually letting his walls down and showing some of that vulnerability, it really hits Shouyou now just how much he likes him.
Carefully he leans his bike against a neighbor's wall, then steps closer to his teammate. One step at a time, until he can curl his fingers into Tsukishima's shirt.]
Tsukishima... [It's a shaky exhale, Shouyou tipping his face up to look at him.]
Warm and small and only a few centimeters from skin.]
...Yeah?
[Tsukki's answer is thick, ragged. Frayed almost to snapping. It has been hard wanting this, and the only thing harder? Believing it might be - could be - happening.]
[To anyone else, it might seem a lukewarm welcome after a phonecall like the one they'd just had. It doesn't bother Shouyou at all. After so many months of being dodged when initiating any kind of contact, the fact that Tsukishima's not shaking him off says plenty.
Shouyou beams up at him.]
I really wanna kiss you--but you already know that. [He glances around, mindful of the open street and the many houses around them.] And... we should wait until we get inside, right?
[With Tsukishima's longer strides, Shouyou practically has to jog to keep up, and this the one time he doesn't actually mind. He grabs his bike, wheeling it along as they head for Tsukishima's house.]
Yup.
[And, because he's curious, he pipes up a moment later.] What did your parents say, anyway?
[He can't imagine that Tsukishima brings people over all that often, let alone has them stay the night. Except Yamaguchi, maybe.]
[Hint very much noted and, wisely, Shouyou doesn't even try to bring it up.]
Huh. So we'll have the house to ourselves?
[There's a grin tugging at his lips now. He doesn't mind this at all. Even if he and Tsukishima aren't planning to get too carried away, the promise of extra privacy is a nice one.]
"If I'm okay with that"? [Shouyou doesn't stop short, but it's a near thing, surprised as he is. He cocks his head, looking puzzled.] Why wouldn't I be?
[The smile that crosses his lips now is slow, full of intent.]
Tsukki does not know how to process seeing that look off the court.
Let alone directed at him.
His knees seem to be dissolving. Gritting his teeth, Tsukki orders them to stay solid. No melting. Not out in public anyway, because this is... personal, and also feels too much like letting Hinata win.]
Guess that's true.
[There is a small bustle of terribly normal things. Locking up the bike, sliding off shoes.]
[Quick as that recovery is, there's something in Tsukishima's expression that tells him Tsukishima isn't as unaffected as he looks. It makes his chest tight with tension--the good kind. Because as much as he's always liked getting a reaction from the other middle blocker, there's a building anticipation in being able to do it in a new way altogether.
And anything he sees behind the barrier Tsukishima puts up will be his alone to know. That is enough to overpower any nervous flutter in his stomach as he toes his shoes off and leaves them in the genkan.]
Are we gonna go up to your room?
[The question seems so much louder, asked into the quiet of the house.]
[The answer's easy enough. After just a split second of hesitation, Shouyou drops his duffel bag onto the floor, then just sits right down on Tsukishima's bed. Problem solved.
Except Tsukishima's still standing. Shouyou rolls the fabric of his shirt between his fingers--a giveaway to his nerves, despite the apparent confidence he's been showing--before glancing up at Tsukishima questioningly.]
You're...gonna have to be closer if you want that kiss. [He finally says, voice surprisingly soft.]
[It feels like miles, crossing that space. Then all at once, Tsukki's sinking onto the bed.
Leaning in to Hinata.
It's not like there's sparks, or birdsong, or whatever else is supposed to come with a first kiss. But it is happening. Right now. Warm, solid, real. Without meaning too, his hand slides on top of Hinata's. Curling tight.
[There might not be sparks, but the first touch of Tsukishima's lips sends his heart racing anyway. It's difficult not to be nervous, when he's been thinking about this for a week straight. Though... Tsukishima's been thinking about this for far longer, apparently, and maybe that's why Shouyou isn't surprised to feel his hand shaking when it grips onto his.
He pulls back slightly, eyes blinking open.]
You're shaking, Tsukishima. [It doesn't feel right to tease him, not for this.]
[The soft expression looks good on Tsukishima. Much as Shouyou's grown fond of the smirk Tsukishima tends to wear when he's teasing someone, he likes this look just as much. Especially if he gets to keep it for himself.]
That's okay. My chest is all gyunnnn right now, too!! [Eyes practically shining, Shouyou tugs Tsukishima's hand up so he can rest it on his chest.] See? My heart's being super fast right now.
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[Even if it's true! Even though he's still snickering into the phone, Shouyou can feel his face growing hot. Tsukishima was thinking about...that? It probably bodes well for him, that Tsukishima's interested, but Shouyou doesn't think he's ready to go that far, either.]
Should we... hang up and ask? [He's a bit reluctant to.]
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At whose house?
Because - Well, my mom doesn't care when Yamaguchi's over.
[And doesn't Hinata have a whole noisy family or something? Tsukki is not ready for that.]
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[A pause.]
My family's kinda nosy. Especially my little sister.
[He says, as if he isn't just as nosy when it comes down to it.]
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I'll ask. Bye.
[Tsukki maybe hangs up too fast.
But he needs a moment to breathe. Stare up at the ceiling. Until it stops trying to swing around.
About five minutes later - ]
It's fine.
7:00 PM?
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give me your address while you're still here
[The distance between their houses is both a blessing and a curse. There's no doubt Shouyou would like to see Tsukishima sooner, but that long bike ride will give him some time to think about where he wants this to go. As Tsukishima had said earlier, they really need to talk.]
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Which takes all of... ten minutes?
Tsukki tries to find distractions. Homework. Music. None of it takes hold. Finally gives up, and ties on his sneakers. Starts walking down the road Hinata will have to turn down.]
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Tsukishima! [He hops off, too eager to be graceful about it.] You came out to wait for me?
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Oh no.
Tsukki is in No Way Prepared for that full wattage. He pulls up short. Rubbing at his neck.]
Yeah. Seems that way.
ugh I love them so much...
Carefully he leans his bike against a neighbor's wall, then steps closer to his teammate. One step at a time, until he can curl his fingers into Tsukishima's shirt.]
Tsukishima... [It's a shaky exhale, Shouyou tipping his face up to look at him.]
Never over this
Hinata's hand.
Warm and small and only a few centimeters from skin.]
...Yeah?
[Tsukki's answer is thick, ragged. Frayed almost to snapping. It has been hard wanting this, and the only thing harder? Believing it might be - could be - happening.]
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Shouyou beams up at him.]
I really wanna kiss you--but you already know that. [He glances around, mindful of the open street and the many houses around them.] And... we should wait until we get inside, right?
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[With a deep breath, Tsukki steps back.
Turns back to his house. Not quite jogging but definitely keeping up a brisk pace. Staring straight ahead.]
You ate already?
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Yup.
[And, because he's curious, he pipes up a moment later.] What did your parents say, anyway?
[He can't imagine that Tsukishima brings people over all that often, let alone has them stay the night. Except Yamaguchi, maybe.]
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[Something in that suggests a closed topic. Door slamming, chained, and the key thrown away.]
Mom said she's glad I'm making more friends.
Also... Um... she's going out tonight. I didn't know.
[Tsukki did not plan it this way. God, but what if it looks like it? Because that's just creepy.]
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Huh. So we'll have the house to ourselves?
[There's a grin tugging at his lips now. He doesn't mind this at all. Even if he and Tsukishima aren't planning to get too carried away, the promise of extra privacy is a nice one.]
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If you're okay with that? I know you biked all this way, if you need to call your parents or - something - You don't have to stay.
[In this state?
Tsukki can't even read himself. Let alone Hinata.]
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[The smile that crosses his lips now is slow, full of intent.]
I get you to myself for a while, don't I?
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Tsukki does not know how to process seeing that look off the court.
Let alone directed at him.
His knees seem to be dissolving. Gritting his teeth, Tsukki orders them to stay solid. No melting. Not out in public anyway, because this is... personal, and also feels too much like letting Hinata win.]
Guess that's true.
[There is a small bustle of terribly normal things. Locking up the bike, sliding off shoes.]
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And anything he sees behind the barrier Tsukishima puts up will be his alone to know. That is enough to overpower any nervous flutter in his stomach as he toes his shoes off and leaves them in the genkan.]
Are we gonna go up to your room?
[The question seems so much louder, asked into the quiet of the house.]
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[Because this has got to be less awkward in his room than open to the entire house. Even if it is empty.
...Until they get there, and it hits - Oh.
Right.
Only the one chair. Which is a ridiculous thing to focus on. But - What is he supposed to do with Hinata in his actual room.]
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Except Tsukishima's still standing. Shouyou rolls the fabric of his shirt between his fingers--a giveaway to his nerves, despite the apparent confidence he's been showing--before glancing up at Tsukishima questioningly.]
You're...gonna have to be closer if you want that kiss. [He finally says, voice surprisingly soft.]
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[It feels like miles, crossing that space. Then all at once, Tsukki's sinking onto the bed.
Leaning in to Hinata.
It's not like there's sparks, or birdsong, or whatever else is supposed to come with a first kiss. But it is happening. Right now. Warm, solid, real. Without meaning too, his hand slides on top of Hinata's. Curling tight.
He needs the anchor.
There's no hiding the shake in his fingers.]
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He pulls back slightly, eyes blinking open.]
You're shaking, Tsukishima. [It doesn't feel right to tease him, not for this.]
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Ever.]
Huh?
[He looks down at his hand. Stares. As if it belongs to someone else. Curled around Hinata's like that.]
Oh.
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That's okay. My chest is all gyunnnn right now, too!! [Eyes practically shining, Shouyou tugs Tsukishima's hand up so he can rest it on his chest.] See? My heart's being super fast right now.
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