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With all the talk Hinata had done about his beloved high school captain, Meian knew that Daichi was going to be an upstanding guy, the little ball of sunshine inviting his former captain and co-captain to the Adlers and Jackals practice match being held in Higashiosaka. However, the little redhead never mentioned anything about him being absolutely stunning. Shorter than Meian, as most men tended to be, but built sturdy, with broad set shoulders and thick tan arms. However, the most appealing part of him by far was his thighs , that denim doing its damndest not to fray around his glorious leg muscles.
They were standing about, talking, getting to know one another. Hinata was excitedly chattering away, clinging onto his old friend, Kageyama as they regaled different events and matches from high school, the Adlers' setter pointing out the time Hinata threw up on the bus. However, the time was getting a little later, and everyone was starting to disperse. Meian knew it was now or never, a chance to throw himself out there and get to know the handsome officer who had come to watch the game. With a risk of being rejected, Meian cleared his throat, catching the smaller man’s eye. "You wanna grab a drink sometime, Sawamura? Have a little captain talk?"
Sugawara Koushi, the light blonde friend that had attended the practice match with Sawamura yelled from the background, the little spitfire, making sure to answer for his friend, “Yes! Yes, he does!”
Daichi blushed and scratched the back of his head. “Please ignore him, he’s kind of a troublemaker.” Well, that was an understatement. “But yes, a drink sounds very nice.”
With an endearing smile, Meian nodded. “Sure thing. Let me shower and change, and I’ll come back out and grab you. Does that work?”
Daichi loathed to admit just how nice being grabbed by the taller man sounded, so instead, he just nodded, watching as those long legs carried the tall captain toward the locker room.
Upon the invite. Daichi was worried because he thought Meian was a really cool guy, a little older and more mature than himself, not to mention a world-class athlete. What if he took Daichi somewhere fancy and upscale? He was dressed only in jeans and a half-zip, but seeing how Meian emerged from the locker room, relieved some of his tension. The older man was wearing joggers that accented his mile-long, gorgeous legs and a simple, yet fitted, MSBY hoodie. Their destination was within walking distance of the gym, the pair using the time to cool down as they meandered through the late autumn air.
It turned out, the bar was actually a hole-in-the-wall pub that was scarce of patrons at the moment. It was a perfect, quiet place to grab a drink with a special person, having all the ambiance of a carefree bar without any of the excessive background noise.
After being seated, they both order a beer, making small talk about different breweries and their favorite types of ales. Daichi found himself a bit grateful for all the times he had since gone out drinking with Coach Ukai after the man had finished up with another Karasuno training camp and needed someone to run ideas with, otherwise, he would have found himself severely lacking in the knowledge necessary to keep up this conversation. As their order arrived, Daichi figured out that Meian is incredibly easy to talk to. Despite being this wildly handsome and crazy successful man, Meian was also funny and sweet and so down to earth. Not to mention his kind smile and his warm laugh, a sound that rang through Daichi’s ears with a familiarity that sounded so much like home.
Even with the food arriving, the conversation didn’t end. The two of them talked about everything: MSBY’s current standings in the roster, the latest thrills associated with Daichi’s job, and of course crazy Hinata and Bokuto stories from when they were in high school. Meian had expressed an interest in these in particular, wanting to possess the proper ammunition for teasing the younger members of his team whenever they were being particularly obstinate. Daichi didn’t mind playing accomplice to it, the heavens knew those two were more than rambunctious enough to deserve a captain with some coercive teasing material. It was all just so relaxed and fun that Daichi kind of forgot about anyone else that happened to be at the bar, the world around them falling away. Nothing existed except for the two of them, seated at a tall pub table, knees almost touching under the hard oak surface. This was easily the best date Daichi had been on in a long ass time. He also was really thankful that Asahi had forced him to wear his ‘nice jeans’ instead of the joggers he was planning on. His butt looked very good in these, Suga and Asahi confirmed, so the man’s insistence worked in his favor. After all, Asahi knew fashion.
As they got a little tipsy, not drunk, but loose-limbed and red-cheeked, Meian reached out to push a strand of Daichi’s hair back where it had fallen out a little bit from its gelled style. The tips of his long fingers barely grazed the shell of Daichi’s ear and he knew he was doomed.
“Thanks for inviting me out, Meian-san. I am having a wonderful time.”
As those deep eyes fell partway hooded, the taller man spoke. The move was bold, but Meian would do anything not to sound nervous. He was having easily the best date of his life, and it was like he had known Daichi forever. "Me, too. And by the way,” he smiled, lopsided and charming, “you should call me Shūgo."
“Only if you call me Daichi.” The shorter brunette said; and without thinking and riding this wave of confidence that had just burst up, he slid his phone with a new contact open, awaiting the other man’s information. “Also, you can just call me.”
Now that made Meian stumble for a second, mouth hanging open a little at the invitation. Clearly, his silence seemed to startle Daichi, as he immediately defaulted to an apology, asking forgiveness for being so ‘lame’.
"No, don't apologize. I--" Shūgo swallowed thickly, "I'm just usually the forward one and the one to initiate and the fact you're the one asking is, well. Pretty refreshing.” He was also sure to add, “and flattering!" because holy shit was he basically swooning.
Daichi was a little shocked at that bit of news. “You are telling me that you aren’t used to being the one perused? When you look like that?” Gesturing to the entirety of the gorgeous creature before him, and blushing at his own amazing forwardness. “Not that that is the only reason to ask you out, it’s just…well tall, dark, and handsome is a cliche for a reason.”
"Nah," Meian shrugged, feeling a little sheepish at the generous compliments. "I mean, it's not that... it's just that a lot of guys expect me to do all the flirting, ya know? Just because I'm the bigger, older one." With palms that were sweating a little too much for his liking, he hastily added his number to his date's phone before Daichi grew a brain and rescinded his offer. "And you're handsome as hell, too, so don't go around acting like you're not."
A pang of sympathy rang through Daichi’s heart at the other man’s words, not even registering the compliment that was extended to him as well. “That’s not fair,” he said while taking his phone back and putting it in his pocket. “Everyone deserves a chance to be properly wooed.”
A new resolve flushed over Daichi, now determined to achieve a specific objective. “Are you a parking ticket?” He asked, taking one last gulp of his beer. “Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”
Unable to control it, a giggle bubbled up in Meian’s throat. God, it was cheesy, silly, and... romantic as fuck, in all honesty. God damn it, this guy was cute. "Dad jokes or cop humor, Sawamura?" Meian teased, still laughing a bit, humored and warm. Was he reduced to giggling like a schoolgirl over this?
“Little bit of both.” Daichi conceded. “There’s also a bit of hopeless romantic in there, too.” He smiled, proud of himself for making such a charming and wonderful man laugh. He had another one in him, a pick-up line that he told himself to save for someone that would really appreciate it. All signs were pointing that way for Meian, so Daichi just decided to go for it. “I uh—I never believed in love at first sight though, but that was before I saw you.”
Oh fuck. Meian could feel his heart rate pick up and a flush took to his face that had absolutely nothing to do with the amount of alcohol in his system.
"Yeah?" He felt kind of at a loss for words. Love at first sight? For him? He was just a regular guy. Daichi, however, was incredible. "I think I know the feeling."
Know the feeling? Did that mean…
“Oh?” Daichi perked up at the implication. “Does that mean there is a possibility of a second date?” The shorter brunette held his breath in anticipation. Daichi had been holding out hope for a long time to find someone like Meian to look his way and actually want to stay. He had been daydreaming of someone like this for so long.
Suga and Asahi had been encouraging him to actually get out and play the field for a little while now. He had been single for well over a year, it was time to actually move on from his last failed relationship and try again.
He hadn’t thought he would follow their advice, but seeing Meian now… well, that certainly changed things.
While Meian thought he was being too obvious with just how much fun he was having, how much he liked this guy who wandered into the gym this afternoon looking like sin on two legs, the large captain knew he had to seal the deal, to not let this one slip away: Daichi was special.
Boldly, he reached across the table and curled his larger hand around Daichi’s. It was warm and rough and safe, like coming home.
"Daichi," he began, voice thick. It was now or never. "I'd be honored to have a second date. And maybe a third and a fourth and fifth, if I'm not being too greedy."
The feeling of Meian’s hand around his own was hard for Daichi to describe, it was just perfect, and right. How was he nostalgic for a feeling he was only just now experiencing? Daichi had no idea.
“It’s not greedy,” Daichi smiled down at the intertwined hands. “It’s what I want, too.” Honestly, at this moment Shūgo could invite Daichi back to his apartment and the answer wouldn’t be just a yes, it would be an emphatic yes. The schoolgirl inside him swinging back from side to side, fists up next to her face and squealing kind of yes.
“I guess this means I should stop by more practices?” Daichi shrugged hopefully. “I’m sure Shoyo wouldn’t mind me crashing on his couch on the weekends.”
Shūgo smiled at that comment, at the innocence of it. The moment was wholesome but the heat against his palm told him that it didn't have to be for long. "You know, you're always welcome to crash at my place instead." He felt himself burn a little at the implication. "I make a hell of a breakfast spread."
“You cook?” Daichi leaned forward with a smirk marking his tan face, pearly white teeth on display.
Proudly, Shūgo nodded. “I absolutely do. And not just fry an egg or make rice. I really enjoy cooking, though I’m pretty partial to breakfast.”
Completely blown away, Daichi couldn’t help but ask, “So what the hell is wrong with you? Seriously, there has to be a catch.” The man before him practically had a neon light flickering the words ‘too good to be true’ over his head. The idea of waking up in the morning to someone like Shūgo, well it had Daichi’s stomach fluttering. It was only their first date, a date to get a drink, and he was honestly starting to fall head over heels.
“Sorry,” Daichi sighed, scratching his neck. “It’s just, I’ve dated people who weren’t half as funny, successful, and sweet as you. So you being this great is just, well…it’s kind of new.” He looked up, brown eyes bleeding with hope. “And new is good. Very good.”
Shūgo chuckled at that, using his date’s sincere voice as a reason to squeeze his hand tighter, not wanting this gorgeous, funny, endearing creature to slip away. Daichi was asking for a catch when Shūgo was wondering the same thing.
He had had his fair share of heartbreaks, men promising they didn't mind his schedule, to be faithful when he was on the road, that they could handle a demanding career such as his. However, it ultimately never was the case. Honestly, Meian had been asked to choose between his relationship and volleyball time and time again and with each ultimatum, he would wind up alone. It was tiring and left him wondering if someone like Daichi even existed.
"I travel a lot. I'm on the road, in the spotlight. Sometimes, my apartment feels like a place just to do laundry and store my stuff..." His voice trailed off. "So I get if it's a deal-breaker, ya know? No hard feelings, I swear."
Deal-breaker? The man was kidding, right?
“What I heard is you are career-driven and talented,” Daichi said as he uncurled their hands and started drawing small circles on the calluses of the big palms in front of him. “That’s actually pretty attractive.”
“With the travel stuff,” Daichi had a sly look on his face. “I already try to get to as many road games of yours as I can. So Suga and I road tripping wouldn’t change all that much. If you don’t mind a couple of broke country bumpkins following you around.”
That was the catch with Daichi. Working as an officer in Miyagi was fulfilling and it paid his bills, but it wasn’t like he could offer much more than that. Shugo was probably used to a certain lifestyle, one that Daichi had no idea how to live in because of his own humble roots.
“And as far as the storage locker you live in,” he felt himself become a bit shyer with this offering. “I um, heard that places feel a bit homier whenever you have someone to share it with.” Oh god, he wanted to slap himself. This was the very first date and he had already insinuated the possibility of Shūgo sharing his place with him. Forget moving fast, Daichi was practically going warp speed. Suga was right, he really could be an idiot for a pretty face and devilish smile.
“Forget I said that last bit.” He dropped the open palm he was holding, instead using his own hands to cover his face. “That was way too forward. I’m sorry.”
To Meian, everything about Daichi was charming and endearing and magnetic. He constantly toed the line between boyish and mature, a bit of a paradox, but still, Shūgo knew he wouldn't change it for anything.
Change him for anything.
Here they were, two men who hardly knew each other but yet felt so drawn to each other even after an evening of conversation. An evening that had been, in Shūgo’s opinion, one of the best in recent memory. Never had he felt so charmed and enamored after such a short duration. And now, Daichi was implying a future. A real future, not just something partially constructed and doomed to fail.
The tips of the smaller man's fingers stilled where they danced nonsensically across his palm, his expression morphing into sheer mortification as his big hands came to cover his face.
Say something, Shūgo! He scolded himself, scrambling for the right words.
However, when he opened his mouth, he was relieved that something actually coherent fell out. "Don't apologize," he blurted, catching Daichi by the wrist, gently tugging at it to get a good look at his handsome face.
One umber eye peered up at him, the earthy color a bit shiny from unshed tears, giving them the appearance of the wet soil after a rainstorm.
"I don't want to forget any of what you said, Daichi." He took a deep breath in, gathering the courage to put himself out there and allow himself to be truly vulnerable. "I'm getting older, and I am tired and I don't want to play games with someone. Your honesty... well, it means a lot to me. Just hearing you say something like that I--" he paused, feeling himself get a little more emotional than he intended. "I don't want to waste time. I'm all or nothing, yeah? That's kind of how us captains are." He moved his hands so he could capture both of Daichi’s, connecting them from across the table. "If we start this, we have to have a future in mind, so I think you're already getting us on the right foot, ya know?"
Daichi could feel his heart simultaneously stall and beat frantically all at once. While that was technically impossible, he felt like nothing was really impossible when he was in the presence of this man.
All or nothing . That was something that perfectly encapsulated him given he never was one to half-ass a job. Maybe it was a captain thing? But did he really count as a captain? Shūgo played professionally, he basically had a guaranteed spot on the Olympic Team. What was Daichi in comparison? He was a captain in his third year for a team that went to Nationals. Sure that carried some hometown pride, but he was no Olympian. Not even close.
But maybe that was a good thing. Shūgo seemed like he needed someone steady. Someone that would be predictable and there with a ‘welcome home’ at the end of every day. Daichi could be that, it’s what he had always wanted to be for someone else.
Every other relationship he had been in had ended because of that. Daichi had been on a different wavelength, wanting something everyone else his age seemed to have planned for themselves way down the line somewhere.
But Daichi wanted it now.
His parents were high school sweethearts, getting married at the end of their third year without any regret. In a way, he found himself constantly comparing his life, especially his romantic life, to them. When was he going to find that person? The man that would make his center of gravity change and give him some new understanding of life and his place in it. And right now, it felt like he might have just stumbled ass-backward directly into him.
“I want that,” Daichi said before clearing his throat. “A future, I mean. I want to find someone that I can build a life with, maybe even a family.”
If Shūgo wanted to get deep from the get-go, then Daichi could do that. This was one of the first times he was with a person that made him feel like the young and impressionable one; but ever the old soul, he didn’t want the other to mistake him for a child wanting just a one-night stand with the hot captain and therefore willing to say the ‘right’ things. “I want kids, a dog, the works. Not right now, I get that there are things that need to be done first in careers and whatnot. But that’s the future I want to work towards.”
Daichi pooled his courage together, building up in his gut so he could freely ask this next question. The officer was efficient and he didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, his own or Shūgo’s. The man was honest and kind, and he deserved to have the truth laid out in front of him so he could make an informed decision from the beginning. If Meian was truly tired, Daichi didn’t want to add to the exhaustion. He wanted Shugo to be happy.
“What do you want?”
The thoughtfulness that touched Daichi’s eyes as he asked that question was sincere, his words spoken without reservation.
Shūgo loved that and felt so drawn to it.
"I want a lot of things, Daichi," and Shūgo didn't miss the way the younger man shivered at the sound of his given name. "I always thought to myself, if I make the Olympic team, I'll never be happier than that- that’s the only goal. But now that the world stage is knocking on my doorstep, I know better." Bringing up one of Daichi’s hands to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss to the large knuckles. "I know I'm not anyone special, but if I'm lucky, I can still have a special life, meet someone who turns my monochrome into color. So what do I want?" He smiled before bringing the hand to his own cheek and leaning into the tender touch. "A husband, a house, a dog, some kiddos. My body will be tired soon, and I can't play forever, as much as I'd like to."
He closed his eyes and focused on the way those callouses felt against his cheek.
"But the forever I'm looking for is different now."
Whenever his hand was brought up to Shūgo’s lips and given a gentle kiss, Daichi nearly preened in the middle of the bar. His lungs were expanding and contracting with a burning purpose. This was it, this was the person he had to have been waiting for.
“You make these declarations like you are actually old.” Daichi chuckled, trying to relieve some of the tension from the serious nature of their conversation with some light humor. “I like that plan though. A new perspective on forever sounds refreshing.”
The tan brunette stood up from his seat with his shoulders set. He was shorter than Shūgo, by a lot but with the man still sitting on his stool, Daichi could stand next to him and they were perfectly level. He hadn’t liked feeling small in the past, but standing here he felt safe more than anything.
“I already thought you were special.” He said, bringing his own hands up to settle on the back of the older man’s neck so his fingers could play with Shūgo’s stray hairs. “I wouldn’t have trusted you with Shoyo or Koutarou.” Which was true, Daichi had always been protective over those he considered friends. He was just especially protective over balls of sunshine, which both of the MSBY players qualified as.
“But today, you’ve proven to be very special.” Daichi leaned down, his lips hovering over the other man’s for a moment to make sure his advance wasn’t unwanted before placing down a feather-light kiss.
It was chaste in its deliverance, but damn, if it didn't set his soul alight. It made Shugo want to chase him, chase that touch, to follow Daichi anywhere.
The hand curled in the back of his dark hair felt like a tether, the one thing holding him to reality, keeping him on the bar stool rather than simply floating away.
Could you fall in love in four hours? Some would doubt and say otherwise. But how could you deny this, the very makings of love? It’s like when a seed is planted at the beginning of spring, praying the winter snows won't revisit, just hoping that with a little tenderness and water, it will sprout forth and grow into something amazing.
Right as Daichi tried to lean away, Shūgo looped a long arm around his thick waist, pulling their bodies flush, Daichi still bent partially so their mouths could comfortably meet.
This kiss wasn't going to end; it was a seed in need of water and sunlight and love. And Shūgo would pour himself empty if it meant he got to see it grow.
Getting pulled back in for another kiss had Daichi reeling. This was not what he was expecting whenever Hinata had invited his former senpai to come and watch a practice match but thank the gods he had managed to switch his shift with another officer. The universe must have decided to smile down on him today and for that, he would be forever grateful.
“I think we are going to get kicked out if we keep this up,” Daichi whispered into the mouth that was just centimeters away from his own, not really pulling far enough away to even break the kiss by much.
He eventually found it in him to right himself but was happy to feel that sturdy arms were still wrapped around his waist to keep his legs from stumbling with all this overwhelming emotion. “Maybe we could go back to yours?” Daichi suggested, an air of hope and desire behind his words. “So we could maybe keep getting to know each other?”
The gulp that followed Daichi’s words carried an attempt at disguise but he doubted the actual success. It was very apparent that the older man made him a little nervous, but nervous in such an unbelievably good way. It also didn’t help Daichi’s case given that Shugo was an observant man. You don’t become a captain without a certain level of awareness. Daichi just hoped his own captain's awareness wasn’t so out of practice that it was failing him and all the signs he had been picking up from Shugo weren’t just him being needlessly hopeful.
Shūgo felt himself smiling into the kiss, feeling light like an excited teenager all over again. Daichi’s teasing was right- they were bound to get kicked out of this place if they made out on the stools like horny youths, and the shorter man's offer was more than tempting. How could such a broad, square-cut creature be such a little minx?
Leaning back to regard the other, he rose to his feet, their size difference nearly causing him whiplash. With a hand to the side of Daichi’s face, he thumbed gently at the peak of his cheekbone, hoping to ease his nerves. The gulp had been subtle, but audible.
"I would love to show you my place," he whispered, eyes falling lidded. Unable to resist another kiss, but still behaving (at least for now), he was sure to add, "and keep getting to know each other."