Overflow / PSL 2

[saltinourstars]

Continued nonsense

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[beautymarker]

[Kenzo's not even really bothered by a lot of the things they say - yes, they're intended as insults and that's not acceptable, but he knows they're not actually bad things so they don't hit him where it hurts.

He just wants to be left alone.]

Kiiiind of? I'm in music club, but - [But he's out of this world gifted, which means he can't exactly meet any of the other members where they're at.] - I just do arrangements for them, so. It's not really like being in the club.

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Better than nothing. I know it's a pain, but the more time you can spend around a group, the better.

Otherwise those guys pick you off easier.

[Tsukki's treating this as a strategy discussion more than anything else. Imagine him telling someone to spend more time in a club.

Last year he would not have believed it.]

[beautymarker]

[I know it's a pain - that causes Kenzo's lips to twitch again. He doesn't know very much about Tsukishima so it's a surprise (and a pleasant one) to find out that he might be socially uncomfortable as well. Maybe that's why he likes Koushi... it's always easy being around him.

Kenzo nods thoughtfully to let Tsukishima know he's listening and taking on the advice.]

Oh... [They're almost at Karasuno, and Kenzo's stomach plummets when he realizes he and Tsukishima will probably have to part ways here. He's still got a faint buzz of panic in the back of his mind after being cornered and trapped earlier and the last thing he wants is to be out in public alone. He stops in his tracks and balls his hands into fists in front of him, obviously working himself up to say something that he fears will cross some kind of line.]

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[Loners recognize loners.

Tsukki picks up the mood change immediately. Stopping to look at Kenzo.]

What?

[beautymarker]

[He takes a deep breath. A second one.

He looks up, but not all the way up to meet Tsukishima's gaze. Just enough to be holding his head high instead of staring at his hands.]

I know - I know I've already troubled you a lot, but -

[There's a ringing in his ears. Encroaching panic. He doesn't want to ask this, but the alternative is so much worse. He's trapped again.]

- could you please walk with me to my house, Tsukishima? [The words all spill out in a rush and he punctuates them with a deep, respectful bow.]

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Your house? I was already planning that.

[Tsukki hears his name. Spots a familiar figure approaching, with two identical bags.

"Tsukki! Where did you go?!" exclaims Yamaguchi. Handing his friend the red one. Then turns a surprised smile to Kenzo.

"Um, hi!"]

[beautymarker]

[He was already planning that? Without being asked?

... Tsukishima is the best!!]

Oh, tha -

[New person alert! Kenzo freezes with both hands defensively clutching the crossbody strap of his schoolbag, eyes massive and face pale. This is... definitely someone else from the volleyball team. Kenzo knows his face from pictures, and he may even have been at the house once? But being taken by surprise has his mind too scrambled to place him properly.

He looks from Yamaguchi back to Tsukishima, and if anyone will recognize the look on Kenzo's face, Yamaguchi will - written all over his features is complete awe at the fact that the coolest dude he's ever met, maybe the coolest dude in the world, is somehow in his corner.]

[saltinourstars]

It's Suga's brother. I'm just walking him home.

["Lucky!" Yamaguchi exclaims. Recognizing instantly the kind of hero-worship blooming. Who can blame the kid? Leaning over, he stage-whispers to Kenzo.

"Usually he walks me, but I'll let you borrow him!"

Tsukki feels his ears catch fire. What? Is it so weird to be doing someone a favor?]

Oh be quiet, Yamaguchi.

[beautymarker]

[Ah... Yamaguchi. That's right. He's more lively than Tsukishima, but not in an intimidating way. Just friendly. Kenzo gives him a shallow bow, almost-smiling at him.]

Thanks, Yamaguchi-san.

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Are you done?

[Yamaguchi pops back up. Clearly not bothered by the grumbles. In fact, he beams wider.

"Yup! Bye Kenzo, call me later Tsukki!"

With that he heads towards the rest of the 1st Years. Two of them (guess who) bicker, voices loud in the twilight.

Tsukki grunts, digs through the duffel. Jacket first. Pulled on with a sigh of relief. Much better, after just running around in a t-shirt. Then come the headphones. On autopilot, he slides them over his ears. Familiar weight spreading calm through his whole body. Except, right - Kenzo.

Instead, Tsukki settles them around his neck.]

All right, let's go.

[beautymarker]

[The other two team members are equally terrifying to Kenzo, even though he's never met them directly - as far as he's concerned, the sunshiny top-volume brightness of Hinata is just as scary as the dark scowling doom and gloom of Kageyama.

The younger manager is cute, though...

Kenzo's ready to walk the rest of the way in silence when Tsukishima puts on his headphones, not all that bothered by what others might consider rudeness, but then he takes the off again and Kenzo thinks - ah, he should probably make conversation. There is one thing weighing on his mind.]

Tsukishima - are you going to tell Koushi-nii about what happened?

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[The question kicks up a roil of emotion. Tsukki yanks it back. So well-practiced you'd have to be Yamaguchi to tell anything happened at all.

He keeps looking ahead. Voice mild.]

That depends.

Are you going to?

[beautymarker]

[Kenzo watches his feet for a few steps, brooding over the question. He can tell that Tsukishima thinks Koushi should know.]

He’s got a lot going on right now. His whole future is riding on this entrance exam. I don’t want to worry him.

[That’s not quite a no.]

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Oh?

So you're going to lie to him?

Because lying makes it worse. Trust me.

[It's probably not fair, putting it that way. Tsukki doesn't care. He's not letting Suga and Kenzo get ripped open like he was.]

[beautymarker]

[Kenzo flinches at that word, lie, his shoulders hunching even further inward. There's no point in clarifying that he'll just tell Koushi after the fact, is there? If Tsukishima's this particular about lying by omission, it won't help.]

Um. [His voice is a bit tremulous.] It's not just that. The... things I get... called...

[He's very carefully avoided that part, aside from saying that he doesn't consider any of it personally insulting, because Tsukishima managed to miss the worst of it. But truth be told, he doesn't want to tell either of them about that part.]

I - I can leave that part out, right?

[saltinourstars]

[You tell yourself it's a lie for now and it's so, so easy to grow. Just leave things alone. Especially if everyone's happy with it.]

Geeze.

No.

No, Suga wouldn't make you repeat that. He'll believe you.

[Kenzo's voice is all over the place. Giving away how bad the names were - are. Tsukki grits his teeth. He can guess what words were involved.

Maybe he should have pushed those kids down the stairs.]

[beautymarker]

[Kenzo nods, letting out a little sigh of relief. Although he feels the need to add again, just to make sure that Tsukishima knows his feelings as well:]

It's not - I'm not insulted. If it was just words, I wouldn't care. Except - making it into an insult, that's not -

[No, this was a bad idea. He needs to be quiet now.]

- sorry. Um. I promise I'll tell Koushi about being chased down and trapped in the supply closet.

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Okay.

[Kenzo needs more. He needs Sugawara. Someone good at this sort of thing. Instead, he's stuck with a guy whose expertise is making people scream and rage-quit.

A thought edges in - What would Akiteru say?

Internally groaning, Tsukki takes a stab at Being Mature and Supportive.]

...It sounds like it's bothering you.

[Obviously it bothered him! The kid was chased into a broom closet!]

[beautymarker]

[Squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists, Kenzo takes a deep breath and just spits out the part that's eating at him, real venom rising in his tone.]

I hate that people who are just - that just make each other happy get used as the worst thing anyone could call you. I want to make them stop but I'm...

[He's insulted on his brother's behalf (and Tsukishima's) but a fraction of their size and strength. That's the part that gets to him, and that's why he's struggling with what to tell Koushi.]

... you know. I'm me. I just have to avoid it and wait it out, and they get to keep being awful about people who are - better at being people than they are!!

[That was. Some actual rage. Looks like Tsukishima's actually quite good at pulling emotions out of Kenzo that he would normally force down because he feels powerless to do anything about them.]>/small>

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They suck.

[Maybe Tsukki should try to calm down that rage. Watch his language.

He chooses neither.

Kenzo's talking about slurs. Aimed at him, at people he cares about, and the correct response is to be angry. So Tsukki keeps going. Biting off each word.]

They're sad, miserable assholes with sad, miserable lives who won't bother to be anything else.

It's pathetic how small that is.

[beautymarker]

[For a moment, tears shine in Kenzo's eyes as he looks up at Tsukishima, but they're not bad tears. He just happens to be a happy crier sometimes, like his big bro.

He ducks his head and blinks them away, but a shy little laugh bubbles up and he's smiling when he looks forward again.]

I... I don't need to make a scene and get hurt because of things said by people that pathetic. [That's the miracle of what Tsukishima just said - it's a way out of standing up to them, the morally correct action that would get him utterly pummeled. He can feel okay about it now.] Someone tougher will hurt them back one day and they'll learn.

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[Morals. Great, in theory. Until you're trying not to get punched by middle school bullies.]

Exactly. So pathetic!

Don't wait around for people like that to learn.

They aren't worth your time.

[Tsukki's smirk loosens into a smile, when Kenzo laughs. Glad that something in this awful day could help.]

[beautymarker]

[And he stays smiling, too! A subtle grin stays on his lips as he trots along beside Tsukishima, his posture newly straight and proud.]

I can see why my brother likes you. You're really cool.

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[Tsukki shrugs. Glad he's so much taller. It'll be hard to spot the ears going red.

Earnest compliments - his one weakness!]

If you say so!

[beautymarker]

[As they close in on the Sugawara residence, Kenzo's surprised to see his brother and Daichi approaching from the other direction. His stomach twists up with dread and he almost turns and runs away, but - that'd make him a disappointment to Koushi and Tsukishima in one fell swoop, a thought he just can't bear.

Suga looks equally surprised to see his brother and boyfriend walking together, a sight he finds charming until worries start to creep in about how this would even happen. Even if they ran into each other, Suga can't see either of them starting up a conversation out of the blue, never mind one that would lead them all the way here.

Thankfully, Daichi seems to read the room pretty quickly and splits from the group to carry on home right after greeting Tsukishima and Kenzo. There's a smile on Suga's face when he addresses both of them, but it's probably not quite bright enough to fool either of them.]

Well hello, you two! I didn't expect to see two of my favorite people right at my door at this time of the evening, but I can't complain.