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The first time Tetsuya picked his nephew up from kindergarten, a man opened the door with a child under each arm, all three of them covered head to toe in primary-colored paint, and shouted, “Which one’s yours?”
Tetsuya honestly wasn’t sure, until one of them looked up and cried, “Oji-chan!”
"Hello, Shino. Ready to go?"
Tetsuya looked back up and caught the teacher staring at him curiously, until he realized Tetsuya was looking back and blushed. Tetsuya was kind of amazed he could even tell under the blue paint smeared across his face. It was pretty cute, actually.
The teacher let the kids down, shooing the other one back inside, “Don’t break anyth—” he began, but a loud crash interrupted him and he sighed. “Nevermind.”
"Thank you for taking care of Shino…?" he trailed off expectantly.
"Ah, Isashiki Jun. Or just Jun,"
"Then thank you, Jun-sensei."
"It’s noth—hey, I thought I told you to stop breaking stuff you brat!" He turned back, looking harried. "Look, I have to—"
"Of course," Tetsuya said with a small smile.
"Be good Shino," Jun said, then seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Nice to meet you, Yuuki-san. Take care of that shoulder." Then the door closed and a moment later muffled yelling filtered through.
Tetsuya blinked, bemused. “So, that’s your new teacher?”
"Yeah," Shino said dreamily. "I’m gonna marry him when I grow up."
It was crazy, but Tetsuya’s first thought was, Not if I get there first, kid. "Is he a baseball fan?"
"Yep!" Shino said proudly. "Your team’s his favorite!"
Oh really?
***
Tetsuya honestly hadn’t thought it’d be so difficult to get a date out of Jun. He didn’t go after fans like some of his colleagues, but his attraction to Jun only deepened when he saw him not covered in paint. So after a few meetings, he gathered his courage and went for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all.
Before Jun could close the door on him, Tetsuya said, “Jun-sensei, before you go back, I have a question.”
"Hmm?" he answered distractedly, head turned suspiciously toward the room.
"Will you go out with me?" Tetsuya ignored Shino’s outraged yell, totally focused on the way Jun’s neck audibly popped as he snapped his head around. Tetsuya stared, fascinated, as his adam’s apple bobbed once.
He was not expecting the door to slam in his face.
But, he thought as Shino laid into him for “trying to steal my teacher, you rotten uncle!” I probably should have.
***
He kept asking.
He figured if he was patient, he could wear the other man down. Tetsuya was patient by nature, so it was no problem.
He never counted on Jun being just as stubborn as he was patient.
***
"What about today, Jun-sensei?"
"Will you just stop?" Jun hissed, stepping into the hall and closing the door quietly behind him.
Tetsuya’s mouth quirked. “You sure that’s such a good idea?”
"They’re occupied right now," Jun said impatiently. "Why do you keep doing this?"
"Because," Tetsuya said softly, raising his hand to brush a speck of glitter from Jun’s cheek, "you never say no."
"If I did would you leave me alone?" Jun said, not backing down at all, though his face turned a bit pink.
"Of course," Tetsuya said honestly. He’d never push his affections where they weren’t wanted. "But I don’t think you want to. What are you so afraid of?"
Jun stared at him for a moment. “I’ll get Shino,” he said, retreating back into the classroom.
Still not a no, Tetsuya thought, exasperated.
Still not a yes either.
***
"Ugh, you again,” Jun said. Then he yelled back into the room. “Shino, your uncle’s here to get you!”
Tetsuya smiled. “It’s good to see you, too, Jun-sensei.”
Shino came up to the door, and Jun shoved him out. “Get out of here!” Tetsuya’s smile widened at the door suddenly in his face. He knocked again.
The door swung open violently. “What do you—”
Tetsuya leaned down and kissed Jun on the cheek. “Thanks for taking care of my nephew. By the way, how about today?”
Jun flushed scarlet, jaw twitching with how hard he ground his teeth. This time the walls shook with the force of the slam.
Tetsuya was starting to think something was wrong with him, the way that made him grin.
***
"Why do you want to go out with me?" Jun asked next time, as they waited for Shino to get ready.
Tetsuya blew out a breath. “This is going to sound crazy,” he warned.
"Try me," Jun said, leaning against the doorjamb and folding his arms.
"Okay. It’s because I think it’s only right for me to get to know the person I fell in love with."
Jun opened his mouth. Closed it. “You’re right, that does sound crazy,” he said hoarsely.
Tetsuya shrugged. “I know,” he said helplessly. “But it’s the truth. I'm in love with you.”
"You don’t even know me!" Jun flailed. He even stomped a little, in his frustration. So cute! Tetsuya thought, turning his head away.
"I know you’re cute when you blush. I know the difference between your frustrated yell and your scared yell. I know you’re a good person. And I know you’re attracted to me, even though you try to hide it."
Jun lowered his eyes. “Yuuki-san—”
"Call me Tetsuya, at least."
“Yuuki-san,” he insisted. “I-I can’t, I—”
"I’m ready!" Shino chirped.
"I have to go," Jun said, visibly relieved.
"I’ll ask again tomorrow," Tetsuya promised. "And every day after, until you say yes or tell me to stop."
This time Tetsuya walked away before the door came between them.
***
Jun was barely audible when he said, finally, “I want you to stop.”
Tetsuya took a deep breath. Released it.
"You said you’d stop if I told you to," Jun reminded him defensively. Everything about his posture was defensive, actually, like he was expecting Tetsuya to argue and had prepared for it.
"I did," Tetsuya agreed. He was having a little trouble breathing—he thought he’d always understood that this was a possibility. His heart hadn’t, apparently. It hurt. “I’ll respect your wishes.”
Jun looked up, surprised. “Thank you.”
Even Shino seemed to realized something had happened. He didn’t say a word the entire walk back to his house, but he squeezed Tetsuya’s hand tightly.
***
The season began and Tetsuya’s long convalescence came to an end. The doctor gave him the go-ahead to begin training again and he threw himself into it with a passion. It took his mind off Jun, and his busy schedule gave him the perfect excuse to stop picking up Shino from school.
It had always been a temporary arrangement, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a bit guilty about it. Just because he felt like running away, didn’t mean his brother’s family had to suffer.
But how could he face Jun when the ache in his chest hadn't receded even a little?
***
It was his day off, and Tetsuya contemplated going to the stadium anyway. His swing still felt a little off, and the first exhibition match was just around the corner. His phone rang, and Tetsuya frowned, recognizing Masashi’s number. “Hello?”
"Aniki, thank goodness. Are you busy?"
"Not now. What is it?"
"I was wondering if you had the time to go get Shino and look after him for a few hours? I’m running late, and Riko’s still in Hong Kong…"
Tetsuya winced. He could decline, say he had a meeting or something, but… he thought about Shino, having to wait at the school until his father got there and Jun having to wait with him. He told Masashi he'd do it.
When he arrived, however, it was unexpectedly difficult to walk through the doors of the school. If he was this awkward already, how would he feel when he came face-to-face with Jun for the first time in a month? He could barely imagine it.
But he was already late, so he took a deep breath and walked in. When he got to the classroom, he knocked softly, half-hoping Jun wouldn’t hear.
"It’s about—" the familiar, surly voice shouted and the door swung open. Jun’s eye’s widened almost comically, and Tetsuya had to work hard to suppress a smile despite himself. "You!" Jun blurted, then blushed.
"Sorry for keeping you," Tetsuya offered. "My brother had an emergency."
"Yeah, Shino’s the last one left. Er, he’s making a castle with blocks, I think. I’ll get him, wait here."
"Jun-sensei?" Tetsuya said impulsively. "Would you—"
“Don’t!” Jun said sharply, raggedly. “Please don’t.”
Tetsuya snapped his mouth shut. Well, that stung. “I was going to invite you to the exhibition game this Saturday,” he said quietly. “Shino mentioned something about your being a fan a while ago. So I…”
"Oh…" Jun said. Tetsuya thought he was probably imagining that he looked just the slightest bit disappointed. "I shouldn’t."
Tetsuya nodded, swallowing. He’d been naive to think awkwardness would be the biggest problem. It hurt to look at Jun.
Jun retrieved a subdued-looking Shino, and Tetsuya said, “I’ll have my sister-in-law get the tickets to you. It’s up to you whether you use them.” Then he bowed slightly, and they walked away.
He felt Jun’s eyes on him until they turned a corner.
***
Tetsuya couldn’t keep his eyes from combing the seats, even though it would have been nearly impossible to pick out a single person in the packed stadium.
"Geez, it’s just an exhibition game!" one of his team mates exclaimed.
"It’s been a long winter," another said. "Doesn’t it feel kind of nice?"
Tetsuya paid no attention, cursing himself for not memorizing the seat numbers on the tickets he’d given to Masashi.
"Who are you looking for?" the catcher said, nudging Tetsuya.
He startled, looking at the other man blankly. “No one,” Tetsuya said finally. Jun or no Jun, he had to get his head in the game.
***
They won by a decent margin, and Tetsuya was relieved that his shoulder seemed to be performing well. It still felt a bit off, but compared to before it probably always would. He was conscious of it now, in a way he hadn’t been before.
It was, he considered wryly, a pretty decent parallel to his emotional state. He’d never had any use for romantic love, too focused on his career; but now that he’d experienced it, he could no longer ignore the feelings.
The thought of living with this, even as a phantom ache, forever was unbearable.
He didn’t stick around after he showered. He took his duffle bag, and left from the side exit, praying he wouldn’t run into any of the press.
There weren’t any reporters, but there was a lone figure in a baseball hat, shoulders hunched and arms crossed protectively, leaning against the wall.
"Jun-sensei?" Tetsuya said, startled.
Jun straightened. “I, uh… Good game.”
"Thank you. What are you doing here?"
Jun flinched, and so did Tetsuya. He hadn’t meant that to sound so harsh.
"You invited me!" Jun said defensively.
"I know, I’m sorry. It’s just. I wasn’t expecting to see you."
"I wanted to thank you for the tickets," he grumbled, looking off to the side.
"Did you bring anyone?" Tetsuya knew he was fishing, but he couldn’t quite stop himself.
Jun shook his head.
They stood there for a moment.
"Ah, well, that’s all then. I should g—"
"Wait!" Tetsuya interrupted. He didn’t know what he was going to say, but he had Jun alone for the first time ever and he was loathe to give it up. "Thanks for coming. And—"
Now or never, Yuuki. At least if you know you gave it your all, you won’t have any regrets.
"And I want to know why you won’t give me a chance."
Jun stared at him. Because of the rapidly setting sun, Tetsuya couldn’t read his expression, but he knew Jun’s attention was wholly focused on him.
"You’re kidding right?"
"No," Tetsuya said patiently, "I’m not."
"You’re a famous baseball player," he ignored Tetsuya’s snort, "and I’m a kindergarten teacher. We’re both men. There’s no way it would work."
"How unexpectedly old-fashioned," Tetsuya said.
"I don’t mean—look, I don’t want to be someone’s dirty little secret. Not even yours, Yuuki-san."
Tetsuya frowned. “I don’t believe I asked you to be.”
"And what would your team mates have to say if they knew you were dating a guy? What about your manager? Your fans?" Jun said impatiently.
Tetsuya bit his lip. He couldn’t help it—if he didn’t, he’d laugh. “You don’t pay much attention to the news do you, Jun-sensei?”
"I—what?"
"Everyone knows I date men." Tetsuya scratched the back of his head—it was his turn to blush, apparently. "It was kind of big news last year. My manager at the time wanted me to date a girl for publicity, and I said no. He pushed, so I got pissed and showed up at the event with my lover. I can’t believe you didn’t know that!”
Jun stared. Then he stared some more. “You—” his voice cracked. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
"Somehow I knew you’d have a foul mouth outside of school," Tetsuya mused. He wasn’t expecting it when Jun’s hands bunched in his jersey and pushed him back against the wall.
"You are the absolute most—”
"It’s not my fault you never bothered to look me up!" Tetsuya yelped. "I thought you were supposed to be a fan!"
"Like I have time for that shit! Why didn’t you—"
"I asked you out! What did you think, we’d spend all our dates at home and I’d never let you out to see the light of day?"
Jun let him go, stricken. It was plain that that was exactly what he’d thought. “I didn’t—”
"No, now I’m annoyed. What kind of person do you think I am?”
"I don’t know—a normal one?”
"If being ashamed of the person you love is normal, then I’ll take that as a compliment," Tetsuya bit out.
Jun stepped back; blew out a breath.
"This is the last time I’ll ask, I swear—"
"Do you want to go get something to eat?" Jun interrupted. He tugged his cap down over his eyes. "My treat."
Tetsuya dropped his bag. The cap fell to ground as he swept it out of the way, and took Jun’s face in his hands, tilting his head up so he could finally, clearly see his eyes. He stared for a long moment, barely noticing when one of Jun’s hands came up to tentatively curl around his wrist. “You mean that?”
Jun hesitated. Then he nodded. He still looked wary—almost frightened, and Tetsuya could admire the kind of bravery it must have taken to ask when he wasn't certain of the reception.
He was still a little angry though.
“Six months—”
Jun shoved up on his toes and shut Tetsuya up with a kiss. Tetsuya’s hands spasmed, pulling him closer, and he released one side of Jun’s face so he could wrap it around his back, pulling him in for better contact.
Tetsuya wasn’t inexperienced by a long shot. He’d kissed his fair share of people—probably more, if he was honest.
None of those kisses had felt like this.
When he pulled away, Jun’s eyes were closed. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” he admitted, hushed.
Everything Tetsuya tried to say choked him. He gathered Jun up in his arms and hugged him tightly. He felt arms come around him and breathed out.
The ache in his chest was gone, just like that.
"Does this mean I can call you just ‘Jun’?"
Jun sniffed into his shoulder. “Do what you like.”
***
"You just wait," Shino said loudly, glaring, when Tetsuya picked him up from school the next time. "When I grow up, I’m gonna steal him back.”
Tetsuya laughed and patted his head, as Jun blushed and very obviously didn’t look at them. “You can try. Be prepared though—I don’t give up easily.”
He thought he heard Jun mutter something. He was smiling softly, though, so it probably wasn’t anything too bad.