Chapter Text
Wakatoshi loves the colour red.
Ever since he was little, his favourite colour has been red. It may have to do with the fact that his first volleyball was red, but, really, he's always been fascinated by the colour.
Red; symbolizing power, courage, and raw strength. The colour of passion and danger. It's exciting and bright and expressive. He thinks it's funny how a single colour can mean so many different, complex emotions.
He finds comfort in the splashes of maroon behind his eyelids before he blinks awake. Wakatoshi is the first one up, his circadian rhythm waking him before the alarm. He squints at the wall clock, eyes adjusting to the early morning light. A subdued glow coming through the curtains paints the room with a faint crimson tinge.
He lies still for a minute, the sound of birds chirping outside weaving into the silence. He slowly peels the heavy blanket off of him, rising to slip out of bed, when a hand slides across his waist and pulls him close.
Typically, Wakatoshi is a heavy sleeper, or as Tendou likes to say he 'sleeps like a log, dead to the world.' He doesn't move a muscle in his sleep, in contrast to his partner, who is constantly tossing and turning. In the mornings, Tendou is either draped across Wakatoshi or all the way over to the edge of the bed. There's no inbetween. He is also quite energetic in the mornings, already awake by the time Wakatoshi's alarm goes off, and in the kitchen getting a start on breakfast, humming songs under his breath.
But, on occasion, when he is particularly in a playful mood or just feeling lazy, Tendou likes to lay in bed and cuddle past sunrise.
Right now, Tendou seems relaxed as he leisurely twists his hand in Wakatoshi's t-shirt, burying his face into his husband's waist. He mumbles something but the words are lost into the fabric.
Wakatoshi loves when Tendou is like this. Gentle, warm, and pliant. He smiles to himself, tenderly carding his fingers through the scarlet locks. Tendou burns red in the mornings, like fire. As sunbeams creep their way across the bedsheet, falling onto Tendou's golden skin and erubescent hair, he glows.
Wakatoshi still remembers the first time he met Tendou on the first day of highschool at Shiratorizawa. While others had avoided socializing with him, a confident and loud boy, with even louder hair, had waltzed straight up to Wakatoshi, introducing himself and how much he looked forward to playing together. He chattered on, spilling bright tales with brighter eyes and Wakatoshi could only stare in wonder at him.
Wakatoshi recalls his sixth grade physics lesson on how the wavelength of the colour red is able to penetrate through fog, dust, and clouds. That was Tendou.. A red light; strong, bright, and warm. Able to get through to Wakatoshi even on his darkest days.
Wakatoshi leans down, pushing red strands out of the way so he can press a kiss to his husband’s temple. "Happy anniversary, Tendou," he says, softly.
"Happy anniversary, Wakatoshi-kun," Tendou sighs, holding Wakatoshi's hand that's still in his hair and bringing it to his mouth and kissing it gently, wedding ring glinting in the morning sunlight. Wakatoshi's mouth ticks up very slightly at the sight.
"Careful, Wakatoshi-kun. You're blinding me with that smile of yours!” Tendou trills, shielding his eyes for effect.
"Oh, sorry," Wakatoshi says, giving a curt nod.
Even though he didn’t think he’d said anything funny, Tendou laughs. A full deep laugh that comes up from his belly and makes his eyes sparkle and cheeks turn pink. He smiles at Wakatoshi, making his insides all warm and wobbly in a way only Tendou could.
It's then Wakatoshi realises, red is also the colour of love.
~