Work Text:
The lights are flashing in a dizzying pattern as he stumbles through the crowd. The music pulses and thrums through his whole body, sending his skin tingling with the vibrations. He pushes through the crowd, in a hurry.
His shoulders only sag with relief when the cool night air kisses his heated cheeks. Clubbing with Yachi and Kiyoko was fun, but the girls always picked the loudest, most nauseating clubs to spend their time in.
He pulls out a cigarette, hunching over to block the wind as he flicks on his lighter. It’s a cold night and he shivers as the wind cuts through his sweater.
He stares up at the stars, but they’re faint underneath all the pollution from the city. He feels small, alone in the world. He takes a long drag, smoke settling in his lungs. He lets it sit until it burns and when he exhales, the cloud of smoke is swept away by a slender, elegant hand coming into view.
Then, the body belonging to the hand speaks, “you should really watch where you blow that. Some of us have asthma.”
He looks up. A tall, sneering blonde is standing in front of him, waving smoke away from his face.
His curly blonde hair is tousled as if he just ran his fingers through it, and his golden eyes catch the light from the lampost above them.
“Well I didn’t know you’d be walking by, or obviously I wouldn’t have blown smoke in your face. Excuse me, your highness.”
He’s dressed like some prissy college professor and his sneer makes Tadashi roll his eyes.
He speaks again, and Tadashi tries to ignore how nice his voice is, “I didn’t say I have asthma. You should just be more careful. This is a public street.”
Tadashi rolls his eyes again and turns away. “Thank you for the scolding, professor. ”
He hears the man laugh behind him. “I’m a tattoo artist, actually. I’m flattered that you think I look smart enough to be a professor.”
Tadashi looks back at him for a long moment. A tattoo artist? In what universe? “You don’t have to lie to try to impress me. I wasn’t hitting on you.”
“Whatever you say.”
He frowns and stomps out his cigarette. Without another word, he turns and walks back into the club.
He pushes through the crowd once again, making a beeline for the bar. He needs more alcohol after that encounter. He scans the crowd on the dance floor and sees Yachi dancing against Kiyoko in a way that was definitely not appropriate for the public. He smiles at them as they catch his eye.
The rest of the night passes in a blur. Kiyoko walks a very drunk Tadashi and a very drunk Yachi back to her car. She herds them inside and presses a kiss to Yachi’s forehead. “Tadashi. Please don’t throw up in my car. I just had it cleaned.”
He grins at her. “Can’t make any promises, Shimizu.”
She just slips into the driver's side and starts the car. “Watch out for Yachi, please.”
He tucks Yachi in closer to his side. Her head lolls onto his shoulder and she falls asleep quickly.
Kiyoko pulls up to his apartment, shifts Yachi from his arms and he stumbles up the stairs. His mind is hazy and muddled with alcohol. He pushes through his door, immediately falling onto the couch as soon as the door closes behind him.
Golden eyes peer at him through the darkness and he shoots up from the couch. “‘S not funny, stop it.” His words are slurred, but there’s no reply. He groans and closes his eyes. Curse that very hot, very condescending stranger.
He rolls over onto his stomach and thinks that he should take some aspirin before falling asleep, but passes out not too long after that.
**
It’s a cool spring day, and the clouds hang low and heavy in the sky, possibly alluding to rain. He rubs a hand over his throbbing head. He definitely should have taken aspirin before falling asleep last night. Yachi is sitting across the table from him, shoveling food into her mouth. Tadashi and Kiyoko look on in awe. “The food isn’t gonna disappear, Yachi.”
She looks up at him. Kiyoko leans over to wipe the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. Yachi smiles at her before turning back to Tadashi. “You need to eat too! Are you coming out with us again tonight?”
He shakes his head. “I’m staying in tonight. I’m still looking for an artist to do my rib tattoo. If I don’t work on it now, I’ll probably pussy out altogether.”
Yachi and Kiyoko both nod, attention turning to the food in front of them.
He stares out the window, watching a couple walk by, huddled up close to each other. They seemed to be whispering to each other and he sighs wistfully as he sees a blush spread across each of their cheeks.
He leans his cheek into his palm. “I need a boyfriend.”
Both girls blink up at him.
Kiyoko replies quietly, “you’d have to actually talk to boys in order for that to happen.”
He stares at her for a long minute. “Fuck you.”
They all laugh and the rest of the meal passes before he knows it.
He walks behind Yachi and Kiyoko, envying the way they huddled together, murmuring softly to each other. He glances down at his phone and when he glances back up, he’s running into a very tall someone. They stumble back, only barely keeping their coffee cup from spilling and Tadashi frantically reaches out to steady them.
“Oh my god! Are you okay? I’m so sorry!”
He looked up and met sneering golden eyes. The stranger from the bar! “You should really watch where you’re going.”
He narrows his eyes. “It’s you! From the bar! Actually, you look much less intimidating in the daylight.”
The boy cocks an eyebrow before he replies, “you find me intimidating? Didn’t you tell me I look like a college professor?”
He laughs then. “You do! You still look like a college professor!”
“You look like you walked directly here from a Hot Topic interview. Did they hire you?”
“Don’t you have a class to teach?”
The boy laughs, his eyes turning up into crescent moons. Tadashi wants to see it again. His voice is smooth, “I told you. I’m not a college professor. I do tattoos.”
Tadashi looks him up and down once again. That’s really not the impression he gets from him, but it would be pointless to disagree when he was sober.
He reaches his hand out, grinning up into those mesmerizing golden eyes. “I’m Tadashi.”
The boy smirks. He turns away without shaking Tadashi’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Tadashi. See you around.” That quickly, he’s gone.
Tadashi stares after him, in shock. He wasn’t going to even tell Tadashi his name? He frowns and crosses his arms. Yachi appears in front of him, pulling him forward.
She’s still hungover, but her eyes are softer, warmer somehow. The Kiyoko effect. “Come on, Tadashi. I want to go home and sleep off this headache.”
When they stepped outside again, it had begun to rain lightly. Tadashi raises a hand above his head, watching the rain fall. He loves when it rains. They hurry to Kiyoko’s car and Tadashi can’t quite stop thinking about golden eyes and plush lips turned up in a sneer.
**
The next day, he sighs as he flops down on the couch. He had been hunting for a tattoo shop for his rib piece for weeks now. He was coming up short every time. He exits out of the internet browser and opens up Instagram. Right away he sees Shoyo’s post at the top. He had just gotten a new piercing! How exciting! He taps the picture, clicking over to the shop’s page.
He scrolls for a while, in awe of the skills of these tattoo artists. One of them, Akaashi, worked the exact style Tadashi wants for his rib piece!
He finds Akaashi’s personal page and scrolls through, loving his work the more he looks.
He shoots an email to Akaashi, asking for a consult and an appointment within the same week.
He receives a confirmation email not too long after and lets out a whoop as he jumps up from the couch.
He shoots off a text to Yachi and hurries to his closet to get dressed.
He runs a hand through his hair, switches out the jewelry in his tongue piercing, grabs his keys and heads out the door.
As he’s getting onto his bike, his phone vibrates. Yachi has responded with an obscene amount of emojis, conveying her excitement. She says that her and Kiyoko would be out apartment hunting today, or she’d be able to come with him.
He assures her that he’s going to be just fine and slides his helmet over his head.
The consultation goes by quickly, and Akaashi lets him know how much he’s looking forward to this piece. He and Akaashi throw around sketches until finally settling on the right one.
The next two days are a blur, and he wakes up on the morning of his tattoo appointment; thrumming with excitement.
He pulls up to the shop and smiles. He’s been waiting for days!
Forever & Always Tattoo. The big bold letters stand out to him and he smiles. Forever and always, indeed. He heads inside, flitting over to the counter. “I’m here for my appointment with Akaashi Keiji.”
The girl behind the counter smiles at him and hands him consent forms.
He moves to the stylish leather couch to fill them all out. As he glances up, a flash of blonde hair catches his eye. He looks over. The man from the bar! He was huddled over a client, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and Tadashi was practically drooling over the tattoos he could see on display.
He had an abundance of tattoos marking up both of his arms, and as he leaned over, Tadashi could see down his shirt and his chest was completely covered as well. His mouth fell open as he stared at the man.
He walks back over to the girl at the counter, hands her his filled out forms and scurries over to the man’s station. “It’s you!”
The man looks up at him, golden eyes flicking over him from head to toe. “I’m Kei Tsukishima. Can I help you?”
He crosses his arms. “Oh, so now you’ll tell me your name? Since you can get money out of it?”
The man smirks and leans back in his chair. “I’m sorry, have we met before?” His client looks up then, irritated at the interruption.
Tadashi glares. He spits out, “no, we haven’t. Sorry for interrupting you, Tsukishima.” He turns away and makes it back to the leather couch he had previously occupied. Tsukishima’s eyes don’t follow him.
He tells himself he doesn’t care. A tall, dark haired man walks out from the back of the shop. He smiles politely upon seeing Tadashi. “I’m Akaashi. You must be Tadashi, right?” He holds out a slender hand. Tadashi gapes at the tattoos all over his hands and fingers.
He shakes himself out of his daze and meets Akaashi’s hand. “Yes! I’m Tadashi Yamaguchi. We emailed a bit earlier this morning.”
Akaashi nods and motions for Tadashi to follow him back. “I just finished a final sketch I’m pretty happy with, so let me know what you think!.”
Tadashi eagerly peers over his shoulder at the art displayed on Akaashi’s tablet. Two raven skulls sit on either side, with a flock of ravens in flight between them. It was exactly what he had imagined when they were throwing ideas back and forth at the consultation. He grins. His voice bubbles out from his lips, excitement speeding him up, filling him with energy. “That’s exactly what I pictured when I was telling you about this piece!”
Akaashi smiles. His voice is soft, shy when he speaks next, “wow, that’s awesome. Let me get this all ready then. You can go ahead and sit in the chair.”
Tadashi moves to the chair he was pointed towards and tries to ignore how close he is to Tsukishima. He pulls out his phone and scrolls through Instagram mindlessly.
Akaashi walks back over. “Let’s knock this outline out, dude! I’m stoked for this piece.” Tadashi nods wordlessly. He rolls down the top of his pants and tugs up his sweater.
He breathes in deep when he sees Akaashi ready the tattoo machine. Here goes nothing. He bites back a whimper as the needle finally punctures skin. He glances over to find Tsukishima still not looking at him. He huffs. Akaashi smooths a hand over his side in a soothing motion.
Tadashi leans back, eyes moving to the ceiling above him. He zones out for a few minutes, right before Akaashi gets to a particularly sensitive spot on his ribs. He winces and looks over towards Tsukishima. He still isn’t looking at Tadashi. Tadashi watches him finish up with his client and gently lead him over to the full length mirror at the other end of the shop. He doesn’t hear what they say, but they stay there and talk for quite some time.
He hears a small huff of laughter from beside him and looks over. Akaashi has paused what he’s doing. “Should we stop here?” He motions towards Tsukishima. “Kei will be done in just a minute and he can pick up where we left off.”
He blinks a few times. He stares at Akaashi. He blinks a few more times. Then he laughs, and he can’t help but notice how fake it sounds when he replies, “no! It’s fine! Let’s keep going! It already looks sick.”
He relaxes back into the chair, sighing to himself. He was being too obvious. What did it matter if some complete stranger remembered him or not? It didn’t matter that the stranger was hot, and looking at him made Tadashi’s mind empty of all coherent thought.
He waited for Akaashi to look away before stealing yet another glance at Tsukishima. Golden eyes bore into his own. His eyes widen and he blushes. He feels trapped in that haughty gaze. Unable to look away. Why was this man so mesmerizing? It’s not like Tadashi hadn’t hooked up with men who were way hotter before today!
Tsukishima holds his gaze for another few seconds, and Tadashi tries to keep a straight face. The tattoo needle yet again brushes against a sensitive spot and Tadashi winces.
Tsukishima scoffs and turns away. Tadashi can hear a quiet laugh leave his lips. How pretentious! Rib tattoos really hurt!
The front doors burst open then and an even taller man runs through them. He’s broad and Tadashi can’t help but stare. His white hair was streaked with black and it was spiked up away from his face. He was grinning hugely. “Hey hey hey!”
The man makes a beeline towards Akaashi, face bright and open. Tsukishima calls out to him, “Bokuto-san. Come see me for a few minutes.”
Bokuto turns and skips over to Tsukishima. Tadashi watches them huddle close together as they talk and it hits him. Tsukishima has a boyfriend. Of course Tsukishima would pretend not to know his name.
Tadashi rolls his eyes and clenches his fists. What a dick.
When he feels Tsukishima’s eyes on him once again, he’s glaring up at the ceiling. Bokuto is loud and boisterous. A headache is settling right behind his eyes.
After another hour, Akaashi wipes him down and rolls his chair away. “You’re all done, man. Wanna come check it out in the mirror?”
Tadashi moves to stand up from the chair and winces as pain flashes through him. Rib tattoos hurt . He lets Akaashi help him to the mirror and his mouth falls open when he sees the outline. It’s perfect. He can’t imagine having anything else on his body. He turns to Akaashi, a grin spreading across his face. “Akaashi-san! This looks amazing! I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am!”
Akaashi smiles. They exchange contact information and Akaashi gives him a run down on how to care for the healing tattoo. Tadashi notes it all down in his phone, nodding along eagerly.
Finally, their conversation ends. Tadashi flicks a gaze to Tsukishima only to find those eyes already on him. He glares and turns around with a huff. Two can play that game, asshole. He brushes his hair back, and adjusts his clothes.
His next words are smooth, soft. “Akaashi-san, I can’t help but be straightforward here, but you have gorgeous eyes.” He smiles. Boys always liked Tadashi’s smile. “Would you like to get something to eat after work?”
Akaashi doesn’t respond before Bokuto comes bounding over, pulling Akaashi into a bear hug. “Akaashi! I waited for you! Did you see, babe?”
Akaashi gives him a tender smile and reaches up to card his fingers through Bokuto’s silver locks. “I saw, Kou. You did such a good job!” He turns back to Tadashi, linking his fingers through Bokuto’s own. “Sorry, Tadashi but me and my boyfriend have plans tonight. Thank you for the compliment. Maybe we can grab a bite some other time!”
Tadashi looks between the two men, watches them exchange tender, heated gazes and the pieces fall into place. Akaashi had a boyfriend, and they seemed to love each other very much.
He smothers a flare of envy rising up in his throat. He nods, smiling and pulling out his wallet. “No problem, Akaashi-san. Here’s what I owe you today. I hope you both have a great night.”
Before Akaashi can do more than wave goodbye, Bokuto is whisking him away out the glass doors.
Tadashi turns to find that the only people left in the shop are him and Tsukishima. Just his luck.
He laughs and it comes out louder than he intended. His nerves were rubbing him raw. He felt like an exposed electrical wire.
He hurried back to Akaashi’s station to grab his jacket and keys.
Tsukishima is sitting in his own chair, leaned over his lap and scrolling through social media.
Tadashi tilts his head to the side before asking, “are you waiting for someone?”
Tsukishima looks up at him. He blinks slowly before rising to his feet. He takes two steps forward until he’s practically in Tadashi’s face. “I’m waiting for you.”
Tadashi feels his entire face flush and he knows even his ears have gone red. He tries to sputter out a reply, “y-you were waiting for—“
“I can’t leave until you leave.” Tsukishima motions to the door lazily and smirks as Tadashi’s blush grows deeper.
Tadashi’s eyes widen and he clutches his jacket tighter to his chest. “Oh! Of course! Right, well excuse me then!” He wants the Earth to open beneath his feet and swallow him whole.
He hurries to the front door, taking big gulping breaths as the cool night air hits his face. He pulls out his cigarettes and mentally apologizes to Akaashi for being too weak to listen to his instructions. If he doesn’t have a cigarette right now, he’ll explode on the spot.
He rummages around in his pockets for his lighter and groans in frustration when he comes up empty. Where was his lighter?!
He hears footsteps behind him and spins around to see who it is. Unfortunately, he’s not all that coordinated and he watches the ground rise rapidly to meet his face.
Firm hands haul him back up and he opens his eyes. Tsukishima had caught him. He was holding Tadashi in his arms and the glow of the streetlight behind his blond hair gave the impression of a halo.
Tadashi wondered distantly if this man could possibly be an actual, real life angel. He feels heat blossom across his cheeks again.
Tsukishima puts him back on his feet and flicks his nose lightly before turning and walking away.
Tadashi stares after him, mind hazy. The chill of the night air sliced through him as his brain finally registered the lack of Tsukishima’s body heat.
He shakes himself out of his daze and calls out, “wait! Do you have a lighter on you? I don’t know where mine escaped to.”
Tsukishima turns back to him with his hands in his pockets. He’s smirking again. That infuriating smirk. That ridiculously hot smirk. “I don’t have any reason to carry a lighter on me. Smoking kills, didn’t you know?”
Tadashi frowns and crosses his arms. He knew he was being petulant when he responded. “That’s not an answer. Do you have one or not? You’re always so cryptic.”
Tsukishima laughs. He throws his head back and laughs with his belly. He takes one of his hands out of the pocket it had been hiding in. He tosses a bright green lighter to Tadashi. “You dropped that earlier today when you came into the shop.”
With those words, and that smirk. he’s gone.
***
Tadashi doesn’t recall making it home, but here he is in bed. He’s scrolling through the tattoo shop’s Instagram page. He finds a picture with all of the employees together and clicks over to Tsukishima’s page. His eyes go wide as he scrolls through Tsukishima’s work. His style was amazing! He should get some work done by Tsukishima sometime!
He shoots him a follow and almost drops his phone when a message instantly pops up.
kei.tsukishima96
Are you stalking me, pipsqueak?
yamagucci
no! of course not! i would never do that! i was just scrolling through the shop’s page and i found you! your work is really great! so i followed you!
Even if he was stalking Tsukishima, what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. He rolls over and clutches his phone close to his face.
An hour passes and Tsukishima still hasn’t replied. His eyelids are heavy and he loses the battle he was fighting with sleep.
There’s still no reply the next day and Tadashi spends the rest of his day wondering what he said wrong. Then, he reminds himself that it doesn’t matter. If he didn’t want to talk to Tadashi, that was just fine. He had been giving Tadashi the cold shoulder every time they met. So, it just wasn’t worth the trouble!
***
Weeks pass and Tadashi loses himself in work. He had gotten a job at a local concert venue and things were going really well.
Akaashi emails him about coming in to finish off his rib piece and they schedule an appointment for the following day. He falls into bed, feeling light.
A bright spring morning looms ahead of him. He grabs his helmet and rides directly to the tattoo shop after breakfast. He walks inside and frowns when he sees Tsukishima staring at him from behind the counter. He glares. “I’m here to see Akaashi.”
Akaashi walks out from the back and he gives that same polite smile to Tadashi. When his eyes fall on Tsukishima, his face turns stern. “Go back to your station, Kei. You’re not even supposed to be on the counter today.”
Tsukishima’s face turns guilty and he quickly walks back to his station. His eyes return to Tadashi, though. Tadashi feels those golden eyes on him as he lays back in the chair. Akaashi makes sure he’s comfortable before getting right to work.
He can feel Tsukishima’s eyes on him the whole time, but he refuses to look his way. He strikes up polite conversation with Akaashi and lets that carry him through the session.
Afterwards, Akaashi helps Tadashi over to the mirror again and he spends a good time just staring at the finished piece in the mirror. He can’t believe he’s got such kickass art on his body forever.
He turns to Akaashi and smiles. “This is everything and more. If I want more work done, you’ll be hearing from me!”
“No, dude thank you for letting me do this piece! I gotta rush out to meet Koutarou but hit me up if you need anything!”
He was gone before Tadashi could even reply. Tadashi glances around and notices that he’s once again alone with Tsukishima. This is the last thing he wants right now.
He rushes to the door but Tsukishima is faster. He quickly blocks the door and smirks down at Tadashi. “Can I get your phone number or are you just going to ignore me and continue Instagram stalking me?”
He glares up into honey gold eyes. He pokes a finger harshly into Tsukishima’s chest before his words slip past his lips. “Why? So you can keep on refusing to reply to my messages? No thanks, I’m not interested in feeling unwanted, Tsukishima-san.”
Tsukishima just scoffs, “what the hell are you talking about?” He pulls out his phone, and taps a few times on the screen. He hands it over to Tadashi and Tadashi sees their Instagram messages displayed clearly on the screen.
yamagucci
no! of course not! i would never do that! i was just scrolling through the shop’s page and i found you! your work is really great! so i followed you!
kei.tsukishima96
sure, I believe that.
maybe we should move this somewhere else? can I get your number, maybe?
yamaguchi?
Tadashi stares at the screen. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and quickly clicks into Instagram. Tsukishima’s messages weren’t showing on his screen!
He shoves his phone into Tsukishima’s hands. “Look!”
Tsukishima leans over to peer at his phone screen. Then he straightens up and raises an eyebrow. “You need to update your app, it looks like.”
Tadashi squints and checks the app version. Holy shit, Tsukishima was right! He blushes and hits the “update” button. Then he quickly types his phone number into Tsukishima’s phone.
He feels a warm breath against his cheeks and when he looks up, Tsukishima has leaned much closer. His voice is soft for once, “your freckles stand out when you blush, did you know that?”
His hands shake and he almost drops Tsukishima’s phone. He can feel even more heat blooming across his cheeks and creeping all the way up to his ears.
Tsukishima reaches out to cover Tadashi’s hand. “Please don’t drop my phone. I just got it.”
Tadashi doesn’t think his cheeks can get any more red and he averts his eyes just to escape what he sees in Tsukishima’s own. He murmurs, soft and quiet, “there. You have my phone number now, so can I please get past?”
Tsukishima follows him outside. “Let me walk you home. It’s late and you just got tattooed all day.”
Tadashi waves him off. “I rode my bike here. I can get home on my own,” he pauses and turns around to face Tsukishima, “thank you for the offer, Tsukishima-san.”
Tsukishima frowns. His voice is firm when he responds, “those are death traps.” He walks closer and closer until he’s once again looming over Tadashi.
Tadashi opens his mouth to snap back, but his voice comes out much softer than he intended. “It’s fine. I can handle myself, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima’s eyes widen as shock flits across his face. “Tsukki?”
Tadashi blushes. Again.
“Sorry. It just slipped out. It kind of fits you though, don’t you think?”
“You just got tattooed for hours on end. Move over and let me take you home. I’m not letting you go home alone when it’s this late.”
Tadashi just stares at him. He scoffs and tosses his helmet into the air before catching it deftly. He grins at Tsukishima and laughs, “do you even know how to ride? I promise I can handle myself, pretty boy.” He decides further reassurance is needed. “I don’t even live far.”
Tsukishima puts a large hand down on the front of the bike. He’s insistent. “Of course I know how to ride. My older brother taught me years ago when I graduated high school. I’m taking you home.”
Tadashi rolls his eyes.
Tsukishima smirks.
Tadashi glares, but Tsukishima’s smirk stays on his lips, practically begging to be kissed away.
Tadashi pulls out his spare helmet and tosses it at Tsukishima. “If you crash my bike, I’m going to wring your neck myself.”
Tsukishima just catches the helmet. He slips it over his head before hurrying over to help Tadashi onto the bike. Tadashi tries to hide his wince. Tsukishima’s brows knit together and his forehead wrinkles as he fusses over Tadashi. “Stop moving so much. I’ve got you.” He settles Tadashi onto the seat and Tadashi tries to ignore the heat of his fingertips against his skin.
Why did he choose today of all days to wear a crop top?
Tsukishima is unaware of Tadashi’s internal struggle as he slides in front and kicks off.
Tadashi tries to hold on discreetly to the back of Tsukishima’s sweater, but his hands are freezing and it’s hard to keep a tight enough grip.
Tsukishima seems to notice his struggle. At the next red light, he pulls Tadashi’s arms forward until they’re settled around his waist. He gives Tadashi’s entwined hands a pat before continuing, as if warning him from backing off.
Tadashi wants no such thing. He leans in closer to Tsukishima’s broad back. His smell envelops him and sends his heart racing. He smelled like tattoo ink and cedar wood and…was that vanilla?
He inhales discreetly. It was definitely vanilla.
He grins to himself but quickly finds his eyes drawn to Tsukishima’s face. His nose was straight; elegant almost. His lips were relaxed into a casual smile and Tadashi counted every time his eyelashes gently brushed against his cheek when Tsukishima blinked.
Tsukishima’s voice shakes him out of his thoughts. He’s glancing over his shoulder at Tadashi. “If you take a picture, it will last a lot longer.” He grins and turns his eyes forward once again. “Where do I turn?”
Instead of rising to the flirtatious challenge that had been presented to him, he meekly guides Tsukishima through quiet streets until they reach his apartment complex.
Before Tadashi can even swing his leg over, Tsukishima has dismounted and is helping him down from the bike. He shakes his hair out as he puts the helmet back into his bag and turns back towards Tsukishima. “Thanks for the ride,Tsukishima-san. I should get inside now.”
He turns to walk away and Tsukishima calls out after him. “I drove you home out of the goodness of my heart, even after you ghosted me. Don’t I get a goodnight kiss?”
Tadashi hopes he’s far enough that Tsukishima can’t see the blush blazing across his cheeks. Again. He turns and walks slowly back to Tsukishima.
Tsukishima is smirking and he wants to kiss that smirk away. He doesn’t. Instead, he raises himself up onto the tips of his toes and presses a chaste kiss to Tsukishima’s cheek.
He turns and quickly darts up the stairs to his apartment. As he opens his door, he turns his head and calls out behind him, “goodnight, Tsukki!”
A text immediately comes through on his phone.
Unknown [12:00AM]:
I meant a kiss on the lips, Yamaguchi.
Tadashi [12:00AM]:
Beggars can’t be choosers, Tsukishima-san.
Tadashi [12:01AM]:
Call me Tadashi, by the way.
Tsukki [12:01AM]:
I’ll call you Tadashi if you call me Kei.
Tsukki [12:01AM]:
Are you coming back down to give me a real kiss?
Tadashi [12:02AM]:
I bet you wish I was. Goodnight, Tsukki .
Tsukki [12:30AM]:
Just made it back home. I’ll get my kiss one way or another. Goodnight, Tadashi.
**
Tadashi walks out of the concert venue, tired after a long day of work. A month had passed since he got his tattoo and he was already itching for more. His phone buzzes in his hand.
Tsukki [5:23PM]:
I’m here.
He glances up and sees Tsukishima leaning against his bike. He grins. Tsukishima smirks back at him. “Sorry to keep you waiting! The last band that played took forever to wrap up.”
Tsukishima just shakes his head, waving him off. “It’s fine. I just got here. Hey, listen.” He runs his fingers through his messy blonde hair, and Tadashi wants to do the same. “There’s a ferris wheel down at the pier today. Wanna go?”
Tadashi smiles and crosses his arms. “As friends, Tsukki?”
He delights in the blush that blossoms across Tsukishima’s cheeks, climbing all the way to his ears.
“No, not as friends.”
“You don’t wanna be my friend, Tsukki?”
“I wouldn’t say that exactly.”
“Well then, what would you say?”
“God damn it, Tadashi. I’m asking you on a date.”
“Oh! That’s what you were asking!”
He moves closer until there are only inches between them. “If that’s what you meant, I suppose I can agree.”
Tsukishima reaches out to pinch his cheek. “Smart ass.”
Tadashi smiles. “Well, how am I gonna know what you mean if you don’t say so?”
Tsukishima rolls his eyes and gestures to the bike. “Hop on, loser.”
“It’s my bike!”
Tsukishima sighs and physically lifts him up and onto the back of the bike. “I’m the one taking you on a date, not vice versa.” He pulls Tadashi’s helmet over his head and fastens it.
Tadashi watches him closely and tries to discreetly count the freckles on his cheeks.
He doesn’t realize he’s leaned forward until he feels Tsukishima’s hand on his arm. Tsukishima’s eyes have gone dark and his pupils are blown wide. “Are you finally going to give me that kiss I’ve been waiting for, Tadashi?”
Tadashi blushes and reels back. Only Tsukishima’s hand on his arm stops him from toppling over. “Let’s go now!”
Tsukishima laughs and slides in front of him. He takes Tadashi’s hands and pulls them around his waist. “You know, I like having your arms around me like this. Make sure you hold on tight.”
He doesn’t give Tsukishima a response. He hides his face in Tsukishima’s broad shoulders. He inhales the familiar cedar wood and vanilla scent and lets it seep into his bones.
Tadashi wonders how this happened. One day he was exchanging sarcastic banter with a stranger outside a bar, and now he was on a date with that same stranger?
Well…they weren’t exactly strangers anymore.
Tsukishima had been talking to Tadashi all day every day since that first night he dropped him off after Tadashi’s tattoo.
He found himself drawn to Tsukishima. He wanted to know everything about him. He wanted to strip away his clothes and count just how many tattoos(and freckles) were hidden underneath.
He inhales and lets the air expand his lungs fully before he releases it. It was a clear day, but the wind cut harshly through his thin jacket.
Tsukishima tapped his clasped hands at the next stop light. “If you’re cold, huddle in closer. Put your hands into the pocket of my hoodie, if you need to.”
He smiles and knows Tsukishima can feel it against his back. “Your wish is my command, Tsukki.”
He unclasps his hands and slides them up under Tsukishima’s hoodie. He presses cold fingers against the warm skin of Tsukishima’s ribs. He laughs when Tsukishima lets out an indignant squawk.
“That’s not where I told you to put your hands!”
“It’s warmer than your pocket! C’mon, Tsukki!”
“You’re a menace!”
He laughs and tightens his arms. They pull up to the pier and he sees the ferris wheel looming bright and tall in front of them.
Tsukishima pats his hands. “Hands off, ice fingers. Let’s go ride that ferris wheel.”
They dismount and Tsukishima grabs his hand as they walk forward. Tadashi stares at their fingers intertwined together. He wonders if Tsukishima even notices. He tugs on his hand. “Tsukki, my hands are gonna get all gross and sweaty. You don’t have to hold on.”
Tsukishima just tightens his grip. “If you’re not going to kiss me, I’m at least going to hold your hand. You might get lost, otherwise.”
He doesn’t reply, but he moves in closer to Tsukishima’s side. Every time he glances up at Tsukishima as they walk, he’s already looking at him.
He quickly averts his eyes every time and wonders if his cheeks can get any more red.
Tsukishima leads them into one of the carriages of the ferris wheel and as he sits, he pulls Tadashi down next to him.
They’re so close that Tadashi can feel the heat of Tsukishima’s thigh against his own. He plucks his hand away from Tsukishima’s tight grasp and flits over to the window overlooking the water. “Look, Tsukki! I bet it looks beautiful when it gets to the top.”
Tsukishima stares at him. “Come and sit here. It’s dangerous if you move around too much while we’re moving.”
He blinks slowly as he stares at Tsukishima. “I live for danger, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima just laughs and moves to the bench behind Tadashi. “I’ll come to you, then. Are you going to sit back down, or are you trying to get away from me so soon?”
Tadashi sits next to Tsukishima. A healthy distance away from his distracting body heat. On the other side of the bench. His shoulder brushes the wall of the carriage.
He spreads his legs out, trying to angle his body towards Tsukishima. “I’m here. I’m not trying to get away from you. Can you imagine how terrible I’d be at getting away from you if I voluntarily got into such a small enclosed space with you?” He laughs and he can hear how nervous he is.
Tsukishima smirks and leans back, arms falling along the back of the bench. “Why are you so skittish?” He raises a perfectly sculpted blonde eyebrow. “You got a crush or something, Tadashi?”
“Isn’t this a date? Why would I have agreed to it if I didn’t…have…some sort of feelings for you?”
Tsukishima laughs at that. His eyes move to the window and he’s silent for a few minutes. The ferris wheel takes them higher and higher. Tadashi wants to move even further away. It’s too small a space for what he feels for Tsukishima.
What he feels for Tsukishima could fill at least three of these damned carriages. He doesn’t want to put it all on the table and expose himself to Tsukishima.
Tsukishima speaks then, breaking Tadashi out of his thoughts. “Is that so? You could have agreed out of pity. You could have agreed out of some sense that if you did, you could get free tattoos from me. I know what people want from me. What sort of feelings do you have for me exactly, Tadashi?”
His heart swells at the way Tadashi’s name slips off of Tsukishima’s tongue. It sounds…reverent. It sounds like it had been there and rolled off of his tongue their whole lives. He tangles his fingers together as he tries to come up with a response.
When he looks up, Tsukishima has once again moved in so close that Tadashi can feel his body heat. Invasive species: Tsukishima Kei. “I don’t do pity dates and I don’t need free tattoos.”
“So tell me, then. What sort of feelings do you have for me?”
He looks down at his hands. He takes a deep breath before looking back into Tsukishima’s eyes. “I obviously have a crush on you, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima laughs again and Tadashi wants to keep making him laugh like that. “Do you, now? You keep running away from me. I had no idea.”
Tadashi sighs and covers his face. He whines softly. “I’m not running away from you. You make me nervous!”
Tsukishima grabs his wrists and pulls his hands away from his face. He’s smiling softly at him. He’s smiling at Tadashi like Tadashi strung up the stars. “Why do I make you nervous, Tadashi?”
Tadashi tries to pull his wrists out of Tsukishima’s hand. Tsukishima uses the leverage to pull him even closer. He’s practically in his lap at this point. If he got any closer, their lips would be touching.
Tadashi doesn’t know if he’ll ever stop blushing. “Tsukki…this is why. You’re so…direct.”
“I make you nervous because I'm direct?”
“I’m not used to it! You’ve been hitting on me since that night you drove me home, and no one has hit on me for a really long time!”
“Well, I’m a direct person.”
He sighs and bows his head. “Well, you’re too direct. You’re making me blush, Tsukki.”
Tsukishima smiles at that. “The intended purpose here is to make you blush. I like when you blush, Tadashi.” Tadashi’s heart tries to beat out of his chest. He considers letting it have it’s way. He watches Tsukishima lean in closer and his eyes flutter shut as he feels his breath fan across his lips.
Kiss me. Kiss me. Please kiss me. Tadashi doesn’t know if he’s saying the words out loud but the bubble they had blown around themselves pops very suddenly. The ferris wheel came screeching to a halt. One of the attendants came to open the door and the loud screech of the metal made Tadashi jump.
He pulled away and Tsukishima released his wrists. “We’ll pick up where we left off later, hm?” He leans in close to whisper in Tadashi’s ear.
Tadashi blushes even more intensely and before he can stutter a response, Tsukishima is pulling him out and back into the fading sunlight.
Tadashi drags him to one of the game booths. You shoot metal bottles down with a gun and win prizes. Pretty straightforward. He turns to Tsukishima. He watches him walk up to the counter and strike up conversation.
He pushes his sleeves up and Tadashi can’t look away from the tattoos that are revealed.
When Tsukishima walks back to him, he only just manages to tear his eyes away. Tsukishima misses nothing, though. He smirks. “Didn’t I tell you already that if you like what you’re seeing so much, you should just take a picture? It will last you a lot longer.”
Tadashi glares and lightly hits Tsukishima’s chest. “You shut up! Win me that big plushie and maybe I’ll forgive you for making me so flustered!”
Tsukishima shrugs and returns to the teenager at the counter. Tadashi stands back to watch, expecting to watch him fail miserably.
Of course, Tsukishima Kei surprises him yet again. He doesn’t miss a single shot. He shoots down every single bottle with pinpoint accuracy. When he puts the gun down, he turns to the teenager who is standing, open mouthed, behind the counter. “I’ll take that big dinosaur plushie at the top.”
The plushie is handed over in awed silence.
When Tsukishima turns to hand him the plushie, he’s grinning. He looks so proud, so self assured. Tadashi glares but snatches the plushie from his arms. “This is mine. Thank you.”
Tsukishima raises an eyebrow. “I worked so hard to win that for you and all I get is a thank you?”
“C’mon, Tsukki. Anyone could shoot that thing and win. It’s just a carnival game.”
Tsukishima tugs Tadashi into his side. “Is that so? Go on and prove it, then.”
Tadashi shoves the large dinosaur plushie back into Tsukishima’s arms and walks over to the teenager who is looking bored once again. “I want to play a round.”
The boy sets up the targets and hands Tadashi the gun. Tsukishima steps up beside him. He decides not to tell Tsukishima that he’s never done this before. It truly can’t be that hard.
He takes aim. He fires. He misses so miserably he can’t look over at Tsukishima. Okay, so maybe it was harder than it looked. Just a little bit.
Warm hands encircle his waist and he feels Tsukishima’s breath ghost over his ear. “Your stance is all wrong. Here, let me help.” He shifts Tadashi’s hips and raises his arms just so. Tadashi doesn’t mention the fact that his fingers keep slipping under the hem of his shirt, and his hands linger too long on his waist. “Now try it, Tadashi.”
He aims again and Tsukishima moves his arms into the correct form. He shoots. The bottle topples to the ground. He grins and jumps up and down in excitement. “Tsukki! Look! I did it!”
Tsukishima gives him a soft smile and Tadashi feels his plush lips against the side of his head. “You did good, Tadashi. Keep going.”
His pulse thunders in his ears. He wonders if Tsukishima can hear the way his heartbeat picks up.
Tadashi loses miserably after that, but he’s still having fun. They walk around the carnival after that, eating good food, trying their hand at some more of the carnival games. They walk down to the pier to watch the sun set and Tadashi hugs the dinosaur plushie to his chest.
Tsukishima’s arm is slung around his shoulders and he leans into the warmth. He glances over at him. Tsukishima is already looking at him. He smiles and blushes.
“Tadashi, listen. My brother is getting married in three days. I’d really love it if you came to the wedding with me. As my date. I want you to meet him. We’re really close and…I want you to meet him.”
Tadashi stares at him. He wants to go on another date? With Tadashi? He wants Tadashi to meet his family? Tadashi’s cheeks heat for the millionth time that day. He stares back at the sky. He watches the pinks and the oranges and the purples bleed together. The clouds float lazily across the sky, unhurried in their journey. They almost look as if you could reach up and grab them.
Tsukishima waits patiently for his reply. His fingers are tracing very distractingly across the side of Tadashi’s cheek.
He sighs and leans into the touch. “Three days is a bit short notice, but since I have the day off of work anyways, I’d love to go. I love weddings.”
“Tadashi. I’m being serious. I want you to come as my date. I want to introduce you to my brother and the rest of my family as my date.”
Tadashi nods and nudges his shoulder against Tsukishima’s. “I know you’re being serious. I’m being serious too, Tsukki. I want to go with you.”
The conversation peters out after that and fades into comfortable silence. They sit there for another few minutes before Tsukishima pulls him up and drags him back to the motorcycle.
Tsukishima doesn’t press him for a kiss when he drops him off that night and as he watches him walk away and disappear into the shadows, Tadashi wishes he had.
**
Tadashi runs his fingers through his hair, tugging his tie into something more acceptable looking before deciding to do away with it altogether. He opens the first few buttons of his dress shirt and layers a few of his favorite chains around his neck. He puts on all of his favorite rings and goes back to taming his hair.
Tsukishima strolls in through the door and leans against the wall next to him. “You’ve been messing with your hair for an hour now, Tadashi. You look good enough to eat, really. We have to get going now.”
Tadashi huffs and turns around. What a mistake. Tadashi was wearing all black, but Tsukishima’s shirt jacket and pants were a deep forest green. It made his eyes pop. He had also undone a few buttons at the top and his chest tattoo peeked out at Tadashi.
Tadashi wonders if he’s drooling for real or if it’s all in his head. Tsukishima opens his mouth, one sculpted eyebrow raised. Tadashi already knows what he’s going to say.
He pulls his phone from the dresser and snaps a picture. “There! I took a picture. So don’t even say what you’re about to say right now. Let’s just go.”
He runs another hand through his hair a final time and then Tsukishima is dragging him out of the room. They’re taking Tadashi’s bike because Tsukishima wants to show off to his brother. Of course. The helmet would ruin his perfectly tousled hair. He pouts, but lets Tsukishima settle him over the back. When Tsukishima slides in front, Tadashi wraps his arms around his middle tightly. Tsukishima’s chuckle vibrates through the cheek Tadashi has on his back.
They drive off and Tadashi inhales the familiar scent coming off of Tsukishima. His body heat keeps the cool wind from chilling him too much.
When they pull up to the wedding venue, Tadashi sees a large, aging barn loom tall before them. He can see the inside decorated with string lights, chairs, tables and flowers. Tadashi bounds forward, but Tsukishima quickly tugs him back.
“If you go running off like that, how am I supposed to show you off? Stay next to me today, Tadashi. That’s all I want.”
Tadashi stops in his tracks and stares up into honey gold eyes. “I’ll stay by your side, Tsukki. I’m sorry.”
He swears Tsukishima’s eyes darken, but they’re tame again in seconds. “Let’s go see my big brother get married, huh?” He pulls Tadashi forward into the throng of family and friends. He swallows his nerves.
**
Tsukishima is spinning him in slow circles around the dancefloor and Tadashi swears he can see stars in those golden eyes. He can see entire galaxies within those depths. He lets himself get lost in that gaze. He doesn’t realize Tsukishima is pulling him closer until his breath ghosts over the shell of Tadashi’s ear. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to kiss you in front of all of these people.”
Tadashi smiles. He doesn’t try to hide the blush burning across his face and spreading to the tips of his ears. His voice is soft, but giddy when he replies, “kiss me then, Kei.”
Tsukishima gasps and pulls away slightly. His eyes are wide and Tadashi swears the entire world fades around them until it’s just Tadashi…and Kei. He had used Tsukishima’s given name. There was no going back now.
Kei cradles his face in one hand and his other comes around to tangle in the hair at the base of Tadashi’s neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do this.”
Before Tadashi can give a smart remark, Kei’s lips are on his. He melts into Tsukishima’s arms. The hand Tsukishima has in his hair tightens. His tongue sweeps across Tadashi’s bottom lip and he opens his mouth eagerly. They’re making out on the dance floor.
Tadashi feels like a livewire. He feels like he could burst into flames at any second. They pull away and Tadashi sucks in air. He knows his face is red. He knows Tsukishima will tease him.
“Tadashi. That wasn’t enough. I need more. I need you. Stay with me.” He presses another kiss to Tadashi’s lips and Tadashi bites back a giggle. “Be my boyfriend. Let’s date. I want to introduce you as my boyfriend.” He kisses Tadashi again. “Be my boyfriend.”
Tadashi grins. “It would be my pleasure, Kei.”