Chapter Text
Akaashi wasn’t sure why he let Kenma convince him to come tonight. He told himself it was the fact that kenma promised to buy him lunch tomorrow and not the fact that he hadn’t left his house in weeks.
But now here he was in between sweaty bodies that wouldn’t stop jostling him as he tried and failed to cover his ears from the loud and honestly obnoxious sounds.
It wasn’t until the current band had finished their set that he had time to scan the audience members for Kuroo and Kenma.
Akaashi knew Kuroo was a roadie for his friend’s band that was playing tonight, but he couldn’t spot his perpetual bedhead in the crowd or Kenma’s two-toned hair that always seemed to have roots peeking through no matter how often he bleached it.
So he settled with walking through the crowd that had mellowed out slightly in between the sets as he made his way to a stool at the bar- there was no way he could stand to be at this venue any longer without a drink.
He sent Kenma a quick text to meet him at the bar then ordered a beer.
After a few minutes, Kenma slunk up to him with a pout on his face.
“I don’t like it here, it's too loud.”
Akaashi agreed but he was a little confused; Kenma was the one who asked bribed him to come with him tonight.
“Kenma weren’t you the one who invited me?”
“Well yeah… but Kuroo makes me come every time, and if I have to suffer so do you.”
“Gee thanks.” Akaashi deadpanned. But before he could ask where Kuroo was Kenma was gone.
Akaashi scanned the room once more for the couple and spotted them standing together near the stage.
Akaashi made his way towards his friends with a bored look.
That is until he glanced at the stage and nearly dropped the bear he was holding.
Jesus christ that had to be the hottest man he had ever seen.
He had a gray tank top that showcased his thick biceps, and didn’t do much to hide his abdominal muscles with the way it was fitted.
He practically lit up the entire venue with his wide grin.
He was a star.
And then it happened their eyes met.
If it was possible the man’s smile got even wider. And he started waving at Akaashi.
Akaashi swore he would faint.
Until he noticed that Kuroo and Kenma were next to him.
“BO HEY!”
Akaashi glanced at Kuroo who was now waving his arms frantically at the drummer.
Oh, so he was smiling at Kuroo. Of course, he didn’t even know Akaashi.
Kenma shot Kuroo a death glare which Kuroo actually winced at. Cute.
“Sorry ken ken I’ll be quieter.”
Kenma just nodded back at him and allowed kuroo to ruffle his hair and rest his chin on Kenma’s shoulder.
Akaashi put back on his bored expression after that temporary slip.
“Kaashi!”
Akaashi didn’t even try to refrain from rolling his eyes.
“Kenma, did you hear something. It kind of sounded like my name but I’m not sure I think it was missing a letter.”
Kenma simply shrugged.
“Ok fine fine. Akaashi.”
“Yes Kuroo? Is there something you want?”
“There is in fact something I want dear sweet pretty Akaashi.”
“Stop flirting with me, you're literally using your boyfriend as a chin rest right now.”
With that Kenma shrugged off Kuroo and glared at him.
Kuroo held his hands up in mock surrender.
“Oh Ken Ken, bugaboo, babycakes, sugar plum, baby boy you know I’m loyal to you, and only you.” Kuroo paused to make kissy faces at Kenma which got him a huff in return. “But see my dear old pal, friend, comrade, Bo is sadly single and so I wanted to introduce you tonight which is why I had Kenma bring you.”
Akaashi turned his attention from Kuroo to Kenma.
“You what? Kenma! You allowed Kuroo to do this to me?”
Kenma hid a hint of a smile in Kuroo’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry Kaashi!” Akaashi shot him a look that could curdle milk. “Akaashi whatever. Anyways don’t worry Bo’s totally hot. I saw you ogling him earlier too.”
Akaashi wanted to wipe that smug smirk off of Kuroo’s face, but he was too busy trying to hide his blush which only increased when Kuroo started cackling.
“Not funny. I was just taken back by his hair.”
“Ohoho you better not tell Bo that. He loves his hair.” Kuroo leaned in to whisper to Akaashi. “You might ruin your chance.”
Akaashi choked on his drink.
Before he could come up with something to say the band started and Akaashi swore he could feel the way the music moved throughout the audience members.
This wasn’t anything like the first band.
This was tiny rainbows reflecting off freshly fallen snow.
The sound of pencils tapping right before inspiration hit.
The feeling of kicking against the ground to propel yourself forward and gliding on your sisters skateboard.
It was amazing and the audience seemed to reflect that in the way they cheered them on.
Akaashi wanted to write about it.
It had been so long since he wrote for fun.
But this made him want to write something just for himself.
His heart synced with the beat of the drum and he watched as the drummer- Bo was his name maybe?- nodded his head and moved with the beat as he tapped out a melody worth a thousand words.
Words Akaashi knew he couldn’t capture anymore no matter how hard he tried.
His drumming was unlike anything that Akaashi had ever experienced. Better than that eureka feeling when the right word would come to him. And he allowed himself to bask in the feeling.
And that’s when the grey haired vocalist started singing.
It sounded like an angel had graced their presence.
Akaashi couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
His fingers itched for a pen for the first time in months.
He settled for staring at the drummer.
~*~
All too soon it was over.
But before he could feel disappointed he was in front of him.
The drummer.
Akaashi swore his heart would beat out of his chest but he schooled his expression and worked on making sure he didn’t suffer any more embarrassment in the hands of Kuroo tonight.
“BO!”
“HEY HEY HEY!”
“DUDE THAT WAS AMAZING.”
“WHAT DID YOU EXPECT I WAS PERFORMING AND I’M THE BEST.”
Kenma tugged on Kuroo’s sleeve and shot him a look that seemed to say ‘can we leave’
Akaashi was kind of jealous of how they could communicate without words but he tried not to dwell on it.
The drummer seemed to snap out of his testosterone fueled conversation- if you could call it a conversation with Kuroo and turned to look at Akaashi.
“HEY HEY HEY! My name’s Bokuto!”
Akaashi usually found loud people annoying.
Usually.
“Hello Bokuto-san I’m Akaashi.”
Akaashi wasn’t sure if it would be polite or not to offer his hand in a hand shake, but he observed Bokuto’s sweat soaked shirt and decided against one.
He thought it was unfair that Bokuto was still so hot covered in sweat.
“Ok Kaashi it is!”
Akaashi didn’t deem it necessary to correct him.
Kuroo did.
“Oh no Bo you can’t call him that!”
Akaashi could have swore Bokuto’s hair drooped when he turned to look at Akaashi.
“I can’t call you Kaashi?” Bokuto asked with a pout.
“No Bokuto-san it’s alright you can call me whatever you want.”
Akaashi blushed after he realized just exactly what he said.
Kuroo let out a whistle “whatever he wants huh?” Akaashi’s blush intensified “Bo your pretty privilege is showing.”
Bokuto didn’t seem to notice Kuroo’s comments, or maybe he just ignored them. Instead he turned to Akaashi with a wide eyed grin.
“So Kaashi are you coming to the after party to celebrate my awesomeness?”
“Maybe. Kenma are you going?”
“No. My social battery is at zero. Let’s go Kuroo.”
“Oh well I should probably go home too then. I wouldn’t want to impose and I would know no one.”
Akaashi thought that would be enough of a reason to not go.
But apparently Bokuto disagreed.
“What?! No way Kaashi you gotta! You know me right? Plus it’s only gonna be the rest of my band, and then some of their friends and stuff! Like 20 people tops! And my band’s super nice.”
Akaashi figured he wouldn’t be able to worm his way out of this so he gave in and agreed to join Bokuto at the after party.
~*~
He and Bokuto stood outside the doors of a generic hotel.
He wasn’t quite sure what to say.
What do you say to someone when your thoughts are put at 3x speed around them?
“Nice weather tonight?”
If Akaashi could crawl into a hole and never come out again he would.
This is what he came up with?
His entire job was writing and he came up with a conversation starter that had less spice than mashed potatoes.
Luckily Bokuto didn’t seem deterred by his blandess.
“Yeah! I love this kind of weather like it’s almost spring but not quite! I can’t wait till the sakura trees are in full bloom!”
“I agree Bokuto-san shall we head into the party then?”
Bokuto just nodded and they headed in.
It was weird it’s like the second he brought up sakura trees he seemed to deflate a bit.
Akaashi made note of that for later.
That was kind of his thing. He made notes on people. Reading them like books was easier that way for him.
He liked being able to predict what people would do.
He based his choices on what he thought would have the best outcome for him.
He didn’t like surprises; they unnerved him.