Chapter Text
Turns out, Daichi didn’t have to pretend.
He and Suga got closer after that night, and understood each other more than they could imagine. Suga accepted Daichi, helping him out when his nightmares got bad, or he felt too anxious. Daichi continued to keep his distance, letting Suga be the one to take the next step.
For the first time in a long while, Daichi felt like everything really was going to be okay.
So, there they were two months later, heading towards the Tokyo Police Station hand in hand. Oikawa walked beside them, complaining about being the third wheel. It was important to Suga that Oikawa liked Daichi, considering his past, and thankfully, Daichi was Oikawa approved.
“Suga-chan, you and Dai-chan can’t be all cute when my single ass is right here.”
“Of course we can, Oikawa,” Suga beamed, and Oikawa huffed something along the lines of ‘you two aren’t even dating.’
It’s true, nothing had been made official yet, but they were both well aware of their feelings towards each other. Suga had begun to feel more comfortable doing couple-like things with him, and even started flirting with him more openly- though Daichi was sure part of the reason was to just make him flustered.
When Oikawa skipped ahead of them, Daichi wondered how that absolute man-child had actually intimidated him. He couldn’t believe it.
He looked over at a smiling Suga, who swung their hands back and forth. Their palms fit against each other the way Daichi always thought they would, and it was perfect. Suga was perfect.
Oikawa swung open the police door just as Daichi and Suga approached the steps. The brunette held the door for them, a smug look on his face. Both Daichi and Suga rolled their eyes. Daichi almost facepalmed, though, when he saw Kuroo checking out Oikawa. Suga watched them interact with sly intrigue, but Daichi just cringed due to the second hand embarrassment.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” Kuroo’s flirtatious voice darted. Oikawa smirked.
“The cat has some fine taste if he brought me in,” Oikawa sings, playfulness clear in his voice. “But the cat clearly missed the mark with you.”
Kuroo scoffed petulantly, and Oikawa giggled. He turned to Daichi with the most smug expression he’s ever seen. “You told me there were going to be hot guys, Dai-chan. Where are they?”
Kuroo scowled. “I’m right here.”
Oikawa laughed at that, like it was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard. “With that bed-head? As if.”
“Hey, how about you not insult my forensic scientist.” Another voice came up behind them, and Daichi smirked. Police captain Iwaizumi Hajime was not someone to mess around with, and other’s messing with his team was something he had zero tolerance for. Oikawa froze, but something told Daichi it wasn’t out of fear.
“I wasn’t insulting, just pointing out the obvious.” A hey! Came from Kuroo, but Oikawa didn’t even spare him a glance. “But you, you’re definitely what I was looking for.”
Iwaizumi’s ears turn red, and Daichi bursts out laughing. Seeing their usual level headed and unmovable captain shaken by a compliment was the most hilarious thing. It didn’t fit him at all. Suga laughed with him- and though they hadn’t met before, Suga could take a guess at why Daichi found it funny. Then Iwaizumi whacked Oikawa on the head, and the duo doubled over, ribs hurting. When they finally got themselves together, they introduced themselves.
“I’m Sugawara Koushi, Daichi’s friend.” Suga started, bowing. Iwaizumi eyed their hands, still clasped together, but didn’t say anything. Daichi always admired him for being able to read a room.
“I’m Oikawa Tooru, but you can call me hot stuff.” Oikawa winked at him, and Iwaizumi rolled his eyes.
“I most definitely will not be doing that. Iwaizumi Hajime.”
“Kuroo Tetsurou, and I am not ugly, that's for sure.” Kuroo pinned a nasty look at Oikawa, and Oikawa just snickered. Daichi just knew that they were a disaster waiting to happen.
They all were, really.
---------
“I swear to god, Yuu, if you don’t put that down-” Asahi’s voice called from across the table, and Daichi turned to it, Noya hiosted a chair above his head, yelling something incoherent. Oikawa was laughing both at them and at something Kuroo had said, the two becoming thick as thieves since their initial conversation- only after Kuroo made Oikawa admit that he was hot. Iwaizumi was next to him, pinching the bridge of his nose, irritation clear on his face. Daichi felt sympathetic- he had been the one to drag him into this friend group after all. But Daichi also didn’t miss the tentative looks he gave Oikawa, and the blush on his cheeks when he got caught and the latter blew him a kiss. Daichi looked to his other side, and there was Suga, laughing hysterically at Noya.
Suga’s hair changed colors under the colored lights, his face illuminated with different shades, making him look almost elusive, his beauty ethereal. Daichi knew he wasn’t, but just to make sure, he reached for Suga’s hand. When the latter turned around asking what was wrong, Daichi just stared, so incredibly lucky that this man, this angel, was real- he was there, and Daichi hoped that he wasn’t going anytime soon.
It was nearing 4 am, and the group of friends' night on the town was coming to an end. Asahi, the poor, poor man- was the designated driver for Noya, Kuroo, Oikawa and Iwaizumi who had drunk much more than four grown men should. Daichi was surprised at Iwaizumi’s recklessness, but took back the surprise when he learned Oikawa had challenged him. Iwaizumi was never one to back down from a dare. His friends pile into Asahi’s car, Asahi trying his best to wrestle Noya into a seatbelt. Kuroo was singing, though the words were hard to understand, and Oikawa’s arm draped around Iwaizumi. Daichi smiled at the way his captain leaned into the touch. The car soon sped off, leaving Suga and Daichi standing outside of the venue.
“Why didn’t you go home with Asahi?” Suga asked tentatively, and Daichi smiled when he laced their hands.
“I’m still hesitant about riding in cars,” Daichi replied simply, and Suga nodded in understanding. “Why didn’t you?”
“Well, you weren’t going, and I wanted to be with you.” Suga blushed, gripping his hand tighter. Neither of them drank much that night, so they were perfectly fine with taking the train back home without the risk of getting motion sick. “Plus, I wanted to do something.”
Daichi stared at him curiously, trying to find what Suga was planning in his eyes. All he saw was the moon, full and clear and beautiful in the way that it illuminated his irises. Daichi’s heart swelled.
They walked to the train station, caught the last train to where they lived, and slumped against each other on the seats. They were exhausted, but their hearts were so full.
-----------------
“Suga, it’s literally 5 am right now. Why are you parading me around Tokyo?”
“Maybe if you stop oogling me, you’d realize where we are.” Suga quipped back, giggling.
Daichi was guilty as charged. How could he not when someone so captivating was making their way down the abandoned streets? Well, mostly abandoned, except for miserable businessmen who had to be up at the ass-crack of dawn. Suga tugged at Daichi’s hand, a sign to move faster, and Daichi complied. The sooner he saw Suga’s surprise, the sooner they could go to bed.
“How do you still have energy?”
“I napped on the train!”
Suga pulled around a corner, and Daichi was finally starting to realize where they were. The same huge, see-through dome that had become as much of a home to him as his apartment. He could already see the leafy plants from the outside, a smile giddy on his face.
“Suga, isn’t the Aviary closed now?”
Suga winked at him. “I have clearance for nights because I forget my bag here a lot.”
Daichi didn’t think that was a good thing, but he didn’t press. They slipped around to the back, and into the door he and Suga ran out of when they encountered Aone. Daichi chuckled at the memory. It was so immature. He had forgotten what it was like to set himself loose, and not for the first time was he being reminded that Suga was the reason he finally let himself go. He couldn’t be more grateful.
Suga led him down the corridors, familiarity hitting Daichi like a wave. Aone had warmed up to him, so he let Daichi in the back to see Suga more often. He glanced at his desk, where he saw a mug he had bought for Suga perching above his filing cabinet. He smiled. He looked over at Oikawa’s desk, where Suga and him spent more time than not teasing the poor man. Well, it was mostly Suga, but Daichi liked to watch him make Oikawa pout good-naturedly. He could almost hear the “see what I have to deal with, Dai-chan?” He will always admire Suga for his clever insults.
They finally reached the big red door, and when they breached it, Daichi looked back to see the Employees Only sign he had defied for so many months.
“Wanna hear something, Daichi? Sometimes, when I feel extra lonely, I’ll sneak in here at night.” Suga looked back at him touching some of the leaves gingerly. Daichi could see why. This place is beautiful, and it’s beauty is only heightened at night. The moon filtered through the window panes, casting a soft glow on everything in the Aviary. He could see shadows flitting around, dashing from tree to tree, playing games amongst themselves. It was quiet, sans the river stream that rushed through the left side of the aviary, but that just added to the calmness of the place. Daichi thought about how Kiyoko had recommended finding a place that brought him peace, where he could go if he got in his head too much. Daichi remembered thinking that the Aviary was probably the best place to find that. He didn’t know how right he was.
“So why’d you bring me here?” Daichi asked, as Suga kept walking towards the right side of the aviary.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?” Suga chuckled and Daichi huffed, following him till they got to this big metal box.
“An elevator?”
Suga just winked, and pressed the button on the side. Daichi could guess where they were going. The suspended walkways were always something he’d like to look at from down below, watching people above awe at the birds, but he’d never been up there himself.
The doors open, and they step inside. The bright lights of the elevator took some getting used to, and when he did, Daichi saw just how tired Suga looked. His eye bags were dark on his pale skin, his mouth pressed into a thin line of smiling exhaustion. His hair looked disheveled from the nap on the train ride, and his shoulders hunched over so much he looked like he could fall. But despite his appearance, Suga was shaking in anticipation. His eyes were wide as ever, eyeing Daici with an amused look and once again Daichi was drawn to the small mole underneath.
The doors opened again, and they stepped out onto a wide platform. Daichi walked up to the rail, and his heart stuttered at just how far away they were from the ground. He turned to Suga, who beamed with pride. Just to the right of him, there were 3 thinner walkways that extended out over the Aviary. Suga chose the middle one, and started strolling down the path. Daichi followed, gripping the rail even though he knew how sturdy it was. He marveled at his surroundings. He was up among the trees, where the birds were. He saw them play their little games, but even clearer now. He could see their feathers ruffling and hear their squeaks more closely. He could see their beady black eyes, some twinking with intrigue and some with impassiveness. He took a tentative look down, and spotted the roped path to the back door he followed so often. Here he could see the other side of the aviary, and admired how the river glistened below him. It was spectacular.
Then he ran into Suga, and he almost let out a yelp. Suga snickered quietly, then pushed a finger to his lips, a sign to stay quiet for the birds.
“You scared the shit out of me,” Daichi whispered, and Suga gave a silent laugh. They stand there, watching the birds, noticing the lightened colors of the sky. The sun would be rising soon. He pulled out his phone, and gawked at the time.
“Come on Suga, it’s nearly 6. We’ve got to go home!” Daichi whispered, and took Suga’s hand so he could lead them away.
“No Daichi, just wait! Wait until the sun comes up, please.”
How could Daichi say no to eyes like that? They stayed a little longer, Daichi's eyelids getting heavier each minute that passed. He was going to have a killer headache later. The sun was peeking over the horizon, now, filling the Aviary with light the moon once provided. Suga hit his arm rather hard, and Daichi once again asked how he was not passed out right then. Suga just shushed him, and pointed to a branch of a huge tree, where beady eyes pierced them. He noticed their signature blue feathers and crowned heads.
“Cyanocitta cristata, or Blue Jays. These five were just transferred here last week, and I just had to show you them. Aren't they beautiful?”
Daichi remembered all the dreams and nightmares where blue jays had played a role, and no matter how much he wracked his mind he couldn’t figure out why. Now here they were, around Suga like they had always seemed to be. He wondered if fate was actually real. It sure felt like it.
“They’re amazing, Suga.” Daichi meant it, too. He had become a bit of a bird enthusiast as well, all thanks to Suga, and he now knows to appreciate the beauty in these creatures.
I admire them for being free, not bound to anything but their own wings.
“But you’re more amazing.” Daichi turns to him, and he touches Suga’s hand. Suga laced their fingers.
“How sappy of you, Daichi.” Suga smirked. “I bet you believe in hope now, huh?”
Daichi laughs, remembering their conversation on the bridge. His life may have not gone the way he planned it to, but he supposed he still did have hope. Afterall, he had hoped that Suga would stick with him, and there he is, right by his side. He still sees his mother sometimes, but right now she’s in Suga’s soft smile, in the leaves of the plants, in the feathers of the birds. For the first time, the memory doesn’t make him feel guilty. Instead he smiles, because he’s happy, happy that his mother’s beauty was all around him and that he got to enjoy it.
Suga squeezed his hand, and leaned closer to him. Daichi let him settle against his side, their hands laced and Suga’s cheek resting on his shoulder. Suga looks up, and once again, their faces are close and their breaths intermingle.
“I really like you, Daichi. Atsumu hurt me, really bad and you know that, but the love and regret I once felt for him are gone. They left with you, and I’m ready… I’m ready to start again, if that’s okay with you?”
Daichi stilled. He didn’t really know if this moment would have come, and he was bracing himself for when it didn’t come at all. But now it was here, and Daichi stood in a stuipdor, like a stupid teenager who just got confessed to.
Suga laughed at Daichi’s frozen form, and settled his hands on Daichi’s cheeks. He leaned closer, but Daichi got enough hold on himself to raise his hand to Suga's lips. As much as he wanted this, he needed to be assured.
“Are you sure? Because once you give me permission to fall for you, I don’t know if I could stop.” Daichi touched their noses together, patiently waiting for Suga’s response.
“Good.”
Was all Suga said before he pressed their lips together. It was soft, sweet, and Suga’s breath tasted like peppermint. It was everything. Daich snuck a tentative arm around Suga’s waist, and Suga took the liberty of running his fingers through Daichi’s hair. The sensation itself sent Daichi’s stomach into a storm of butterflies. Suga leaned into him, and Daichi squeezed his side. How long they stayed like that, Daichi didn’t know, but he certainly wasn’t tired anymore.