Until we let the spectrum in - Nationals Final - For Beautymarker

[saltinourstars]

Boom

It could be his heart.

Boom

It could be his breath.

Boom

It could be his feet hitting the ground. Or the ball. Or the crowd.

FUKURODANI 33 - KARASUNO 31

That's it.

Planting hands on his hips, Tsukki stares up at the lights. Unable to move, think, hear anything but echoing thunder. Boom. Boom. Boom

It's over. It's over. It's over.

Comments

[saltinourstars]

You're a sap, you know that?

[He complains, while STILL not letting go of Suga's hand.

There's maybe a smile flickering in.]

[beautymarker]

I’ve heard that once or twice, yeah.

[Suga grins right back at him, and the moment draws out long enough to become a Moment. He swears the fluttering in his chest has gotten downright insistent, and he knows just what it wants.

Well, Nationals are over. Why not?]

Hey, Tsukki?

[saltinourstars]

Yeah?

[This time, there's no question.

The BOOM is Tsukki's heart. Pounding against the walls. Trying to get out.

How does the whole bus not hear it?]

[beautymarker]

[On the contrary, Suga could almost swear that the bus gets even quieter. It's just the tunnel vision effect of staring into Tsukki's eyes, steeling himself to do this properly instead of stumbling into it like last time, he knows that, but...

He leans in closer, whispers the words into Tsukki's ear. Just in case.]

Will you be my boyfriend?

[No way anyone sitting behind them, eavesdropping eagerly behind their closed eyes and relaxed faces, could hear. Definitely not.]

[saltinourstars]

Boyfriend?

[ Theoretical busybodies - IF they focused - could make that out. It's a distinctive sort of word.

Tsukki closes his eyes.

The answer isn't 'No.'

But 'Yes' means a strange path. Impossible to map. He could only take one step at a time. Hope the ground will hold, not crumble away underfoot. Send him plummeting. It's such a lot of trust to give.

He squeezes Suga's hand, hard. Feeling warmth.

More light on the path.]

[beautymarker]

[Suga thinks he should be more nervous about this silence, but he's not. After all, Tsukki always needs some time to process, and the best thing to do while he does so hasn't changed. Just stay close and be patient.

When Tsukki's hand clenches around his, Suga knows what the answer will be.

His eyes slide closed too and he presses his forehead against Tsukki's, settling into the moment. There's no way he can be afraid of silence when it's this warm and soft and comfortable.]

Take your time.

[saltinourstars]

[Tsukki can feel the other boy's breath, there's so little space between them. He waits for panic. For walls to go up, for the spikes to rise. Instead, it stays quiet. Could be the growth, or the exhaustion, but he doesn't want to push away.

He sits with that.

After a few more minutes, he opens his eyes. Decision made.]

...Okay.

[beautymarker]

[And like that, with no warning, before either of them can enjoy the massive shift that just occurred in their lives, the silence is shattered by a whoop of victory.]

YEEEEESS!! I KNEW IT! ENNO, RYUU, YOU OWE ME 1000 YEN!!!

[Goddamned Nishinoya. He's been seated behind them the entire time and appeared to be dozing with his cheek resting on Asahi's arm, but apparently not.

All around them, people start to grumble and stir and peer at the source of the commotion through bleary, confused eyes, with the exception of Ennoshita and Tanaka who are already digging out their wallets.

When Suga sits back and lets go of Tsukki's hand, it's with an impressive amount of calm self-restraint. In fact, there's a beatific smile on his face. So the time has finally come, has it? They couldn't escape these two years unscathed. Ah well, what must be done will be done.

He's about to fucking murder those three.]

[saltinourstars]

[Poor Asahi starts awake at the yelling, flails, grabs at Nishinoya. Which sends both of them crashing into the aisle. In the chaos of limbs, Tanaka's wallet gets kicked out of his hand. Sending out a confetti storm of cash and candy wrappers.

It lands on top of Kageyama's head.

Tsukki can't help it.

He starts laughing.]

[beautymarker]

[It's the strangest feeling.

One moment, Suga's consumed by blind, seething rage and ready to wring necks; the next, Tsukki's laughing hysterically beside him and the worst of his anger is reduced to nothing but smoking coals.

Besides, he thinks as he looks around at the total chaos that's consumed the bus, is this really so bad? More and more people keep bursting into laughter as their exhaustion and confusion turn to helpless hysteria and Suga's not about to deny anyone their release. He can't even keep himself from joining in, though his laughter's a bit more restrained.]

Suga, what the hell's going on back there?! [That's Daichi. It appears that the adults are leaving this one to them. Okay, okay, time to grow up.]

Alright, everyone back in their seats. [There's clear reluctance in Suga's voice, but he does stand up to assert some authority.] Kageyama, give that back to Tanaka. Tanaka and Nishinoya, clean up your mess. Asahi, you're fine.

[A pause.]

Tanaka, Nishinoya, and Ennoshita - stay behind when we get back. Your departing vice-captain has some words for you.

[Then he sits down with the most long-suffering sigh - and the fondest smile. If anyone keeps acting up, Daichi will have to deal with them.]

[saltinourstars]

[Half the bus is in trouble, and Tsukki is not. Also, he has a boyfriend. Maybe this isn't such a bad end to Nationals.

Smiling brightly, he leans around Suga.]

Shoulda bet more, Nishinoya!

[No way 2000 yen is worth the lecture coming his way!]

[beautymarker]

[Oh, this feels wonderful. Someone tried to make Tsukishima the butt of a joke based on his connection to Sugawara, and Tsukki's clearly not feeling a sliver of shame. He's preening, even. For a moment there, Suga was terrified that he would just wind up driving a wedge between Tsukki and several of his teammates right when he's getting along with all of them so well -

That's when it finally sinks in.]

You... said yes.

[The chaos kind of distracted him before he could process that information. And yeah, he knew that answer was coming, but that doesn't mean his mind isn't reeling with the newly absorbed knowledge that Tsukishima Kei is his boyfriend.]

[saltinourstars]

[Nishinoya squawks, but even he's not going to piss off Suga twice. He turns to harass the other 2nd years. Bickering over whose fault/idea this was.

Smug, Tsukki settles back into the seat.]

I did.

Too late to back out now!

[He snickers, then a yawn nearly cracks his jaw in half.]

[beautymarker]

[Thank god for Tsukishima's reticence about physical affection and the caution Suga's developed as a result - if this were anyone less reserved, Suga would grab his face in both hands and kiss him on the mouth.

As it is, he just beams at Tsukki until that massive yawn snaps him out of his reverie and he settles more comfortably into his seat.]

Sleep. I've kept you up long enough.

[If Tsukki obeys that affectionate order, Suga will pull out his phone and shoot a quick text to Daichi - that technically has some relevance to to the scene at their end of the bus!]

I asked him to be my bf and he said yes
We're dating me and Tsukki are dating ahhhhhhHHHHHHHHH

[saltinourstars]

Mmph.

[Can't argue with that.

It takes only a few seconds for Tsukki to switch glasses for a sleep mask, huddle into his jacket. Sleep comes almost instantly. Another unique talent that suits him to this sport. Road trips suck much less when unconscious.

As the hours roll on, he begins leaning.

Shoulder pressing into Suga's. ]

MEANWHILE

[crowdad1]

!!!!!!!!!

Is THAT what the yelling was about?!!

[beautymarker]

Sort of
Sounds like the second years had some kind of bet going about us
When he agreed to go out with me, Noya said they owed him money
That's what triggered the chaos

NOT THE IMPORTANT PART THOUGH

[crowdad1]

Right! Sorry!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[beautymarker]

THANK YOU!!!!

He's so cute, Daichi
You don't have to agree or anything, I just need to gush
He's so so cute

[crowdad1]

I'm glad!


After all the stress I think you earned some gushing

[beautymarker]

I think you deserve to get in on whatever punishment I give those three second year idiots, got any ideas?

Oh my gosh, Daichi, you have to look back here just for a second... he's starting to tip over... .///.

[Sure enough, Tsukki's leaning more heavily against Suga now. His head would probably have flopped onto Suga's shoulder by now if he wasn't the taller of the two.]

[crowdad1]

[Daichi sneaks a glance back. Grins broadly at Suga's expression.]

DEFINITELY

just learned one from Inarizaki's Captain!

Make them clean the volleyballs
ALL of them
soap and water


and with a TOOTHBRUSH if they complain!

[beautymarker]

[Suga gently rests his own head on Tsukki's shoulder, creating a higher surface on which he can rest his own head if he's so inclined. His cheeks are red hot and the goofy smile on his face could blind a person.]

.......... Kita's terrifying
I'm so here for this

[crowdad1]

[Daichi feels so lucky. Coming out of everything to see his best friend beaming like that.]

Want me to lecture them too?

It's our last chance!

[He'd be sad about that, in most contexts. Right now it's just so fitting.]

[beautymarker]

YES you're still so much better at it than me
They'll come in thinking that I'm gonna guilt them and then you'll be there
You have to do the scary smile too