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Daichi wakes up to a warmth that settles deeply in his chest and sings in his veins. He wakes up most mornings like this, with his husband wrapped safely in his arms and the pink of the rising sunset filtering through the curtains above him. It’s the thick of winter now and frost tints the windows of their house, hoping to bite into their bones and nip at their noses. Daichi finds it harder to get out of bed on days like this where he’d much rather tuck his head into Koushi’s hair and snuggle further into their beige comforter.
But, he does know that Koushi is absolutely not a morning person and his mornings are much better when his partner wakes up to coffee already brewing and a warm house. And they have plans for a Karasuno reunion that day, something Daichi didn’t want to be late for. Koushi clings to him as he tries to get up, mumbling under his breath as his fingers tighten. A pang goes through Daichi as he pulls himself away and into the chill of their home, gently kissing his forehead before walking to the kitchen.
As he puts on a pot of coffee and begins to get ready for the day, Daichi glances out the window near their front door -- it’s already snowing out. A white blanket covers their porch and Koushi’s garden, icicles hanging from the birdhouses, and snowflakes gliding in the bright winter light. It rarely snows this much in the prefecture where they live; Daichi’s sure that Koushi and a few other obvious members of Karasuno would have a field day with this.
It doesn’t look like it’ll snow much more though. The sky is shimmering with fluffy clouds, but Daichi can see the winter sun, radiant and alight, fighting to overtake the sky again. He knows he should finish getting ready and start shoveling the snow. Daichi’s always been practical like that. Koushi would probably take one look outside and want to build an army of snowmen.
After dressing, Daichi grabs two mugs -- matching presents Asahi gave them a few years back -- and pours the piping hot coffee when Koushi shuffles in. “Mmm, coffee,” Koushi murmurs, taking the offered mug with a pleased smile and sipping from it without another word.
Daichi sees him smile into the steam of the drink and his own smile forms on his face. “Good morning to you too, Kou.”
Koushi’s hair is ruffled, silver locks framing his face in a haphazard manner, and his eyes are as warm as honey. He’s wearing Daichi’s sweatshirt and it hangs low on his body. In moments when Daichi’s feeling particularly sentimental, he thinks Koushi looks like an angel. “Sorry,” Koushi breathes out a laugh. “Thank you as always for the coffee.”
Daichi takes a sip of his own drink, bitter and strong. “Make sure to get ready soon. Remember what today is?”
Koushi pauses for a moment before gasping, his lips parting slightly. “Karasuno reunion! I can’t wait to see everyone, how long has it been since we were all together? Probably a volleyball game, maybe a wedding-”
“Alright, alright,” Daichi chuckles, his eyes crinkling, “we have to leave early because of the snow, we can talk about it in the car.”
Koushi’s eyes are wide. “It snowed? Daichi, we need to build snowmen.”
Daichi called it. Koushi is already prone to being chaotic -- there’s something about winter that brings it out tenfold.
Soon, the partners are on their way, cautious of the road conditions, but mostly excited in anticipation. It really had been a while since all of them have been together. Even on occasions like volleyball games and annual reunions, it’s difficult to plan with everyone's schedules. The team, once high schoolers with nothing but drive towards volleyball and dedication towards staying on the court, now all live fulfilled, adult lives. Which, unfortunately, came with many responsibilities and obligations.
It makes something in Daichi’s heart clench thinking about it. That the team he and Koushi looked after as captain and vice captain are all grown up.
The last time they were all probably together was at their wedding.
Daichi can hear Noya yelling before they even step out of the car. He had booked a reservation at a local restaurant, one the team often went to after games in school. A place with a lot of memories for them. Immediately he and Koushi are wrapped in hugs as they walk towards the restaurant. “Captain!” He hears Hinata yell as he’s tackled. Kiyoko and Yachi are waving at them from behind him.
“It’s good to see you all,” Daichi says genuinely. One of the hardest things about graduating had been leaving this team; he isn’t sure how he would’ve gotten through it without the support of Koushi. He pats Kageyama and Tsukishima on their backs. He still can’t believe how much taller both of them are now, and they were already tall before.
His eyes move towards Koushi’s form. It won’t matter how long they’ve been together, his eyes will always find Koushi. It’s something he noticed quickly in his relationship with the other, how he’s always seeking Koushi out. How his gaze wanders till it meets Koushi’s again and something settles in him. He’s cackling mischievously with Tanaka and Noya -- Daichi will have to keep an eye on that.
They situate themselves in the restaurant, ordering so much food Daichi would be remiss to call it anything less than a banquet. He sits at the head of the table, Koushi to his right. They’re in a corner of the restaurant, some of the only customers there, with a table alight in the steady glow of hanging lamps and homey warmth coming from the kitchen beside them. An assortment of traditional Japanese food is laid out before them. The smell of spices and smoked meat tickle at Daichi’s nose.
Noya and Asahi are regaling them with tales of their travels around the world. The former seeming all too eager to mention a potentially exaggerated run in with some authorities in France, and Asahi looking as though he wanted to faint. Tsukishima looks as though he wants to roll his eyes and Yamaguchi is halfway towards giggling at their antics.
“Anything new in your lives?” Ennoshita asks them as dessert is being served. Yachi stares at them eagerly.
“We got a new wallpaper put up,” Daichi pipes up first, “and a new waffle maker. It’s pretty good.”
“My kids are crazy this year,” Koushi says, referring to the elementary school students he teaches. “I swear, I don’t know any of the new terms they use, it makes me feel so old. They have all these new games they’re trying to teach me.”
“Your kids are crazy? I wonder where they learned that from,” Daichi teases, a deadpan expression on his face. He’s heard some of the antics they’d all get up to between lessons from Koushi while they would cook dinner together.
“You both are so domestic it’s insufferable,” Tsukishima mutters before Yamaguchi wacks his shoulder.
“That’s so sweet,” Hinata gushes, a grin overtaking his face as he puts an arm around Kageyama. “When mine and Tobio’s wedding-”
“What!”
After the rush and excitement of a surprise engagement announcement and a round of drinks in celebration, they head out of the restaurant. Daichi is catching up with Kiyoko and Asahi when he feels something cold and hard hit him from behind. He turns slowly with what he’s sure is a scary look on his face.
Koushi is standing there appearing innocent enough. But Daichi knows better. And soon, a mischievous smile spreads across his husband’s face as Koushi quickly pulls out another snowball.
“Snowball fight!” Tanaka screams as Noya and Hinata yell beside him.
Daichi really should have kept a better eye on things.
They find themselves in the white fields beside the restaurant’s parking lot, forming separate hideouts in barrages of snow, and even more snowballs to go along with it. They’re fully grown adults, Daichi thinks, pelting each other with winter artillery and hiding behind forts of frost. A sort of joyous, childish laugh bubbles in his throat and Daichi can’t help but let it out when he sees he’s finally hit Koushi with a snowball straight to the face.
“I’ll get you for that, Daichi!” Koushi yells from across the field, the previous first years cheering him on. Daichi’s mind flashes back to their old volleyball games, where Koushi would teach the others all his cute cheering moves.
“I’d like to see you try,” he shouts back, rushing to hide behind the fort. Ennoshita, Kinoshita, and Narita have made an entire pyramid of snowballs and Daichi knows at this point… this is war.
He doesn’t know how long the team stays out there, laughing in the chilled fields without a care in the world. Daichi can’t feel his hands anymore, numbed to the touch by the freezing temperature. He should’ve worn an extra coat. He should’ve made sure Koushi wore an extra coat.
It happens so suddenly, Daichi feels the breath leave his lungs. Hinata is running towards a tree, dodging the snowballs Asahi is sending his way when he slips. An embankment, hidden well by the snow, just out of sight is there, and Daichi is already running forward without thinking. Koushi gets there faster though and pulls Hinata up before he can fall. It all seems to happen in a second.
And then, Koushi lets out a strangled cry.
“Kou, Kou,” Daichi says, his face dark with worry, “are you okay? Are you hurt?” He’s holding him up in his arms, pressing him close. The fog of Koushi’s breath, highlighted by the frost, brushes hot against his lips.
“I-I’m fine, I’m fine,” Koushi stutters out quickly. “I think I just landed on my ankle wrong when I pulled him back. Are you okay, Hinata?” He turns back to the younger man who still looks shaken up. The team is surrounding them now, offering support where they can.
Hinata nods quickly. “Thank you, Suga. I’m so sorry you’re hurt. I didn’t see-”
Koushi smiles at him softly. “Not your fault, you hear me.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Hinata’s eyes are wide and pleading.
“I’m fine, Hinata. Don’t worry about me.” They soon part ways after that, making sure they were okay, and Daichi promising everyone that, of course, he would take care of Koushi.
Daichi wraps an arm tighter around Koushi’s shoulders, moving his other arm to wrap underneath his knees and pick him up, holding him closer to his chest. Being next to him, the heat of his husband, is the warmest he’s felt since he awoke this morning. He would probably feel warm with romance if he wasn’t so worried.
“You don’t have to carry me,” Koushi moans, wearing a blush of embarrassment. “I can walk on my own.”
Daichi shakes his head. “Just let me take care of you.”
When they arrive home, Daichi places his husband near the couch and sets the fireplace alight. He wraps a blanket around his shoulders as he goes to make them both hot chocolate. The glow of the fireplace flickers and dances, its light basking Koushi as he stares at it, his eyes like molten gold, like home.
“Are you comfortable?” Daichi asks as Koushi takes his first sip of hot chocolate and hums softs. He’s sitting beside him on the couch. Koushi lifts the blanket around him as well.
Koushi nods. “Thank you, you don’t have to be so gentle with me.” His fingers are wrapped against the mug and he’s holding it to his face, letting the warmth glide against his cheeks. His wedding band clinks against the material.
“You’re hurt,” Daichi replies, his voice rougher than he wanted it to sound.
“I’m okay,” Koushi says, moving to hold his hand. “It’s most likely a minor sprain.”
“Still, if anything happened,” Daichi insists.
“I know… but it didn’t.”
Daichi pauses for a moment and the only thing he can hear is the crackling of the fireplace and Koushi’s steady breathing. “You really scared me, Koushi,” he says finally, a lump in his throat. “When I heard you. Don’t do that again.”
“I’m okay, I promise,” Koushi says appeasingly as they get more comfortable on the couch. At this point, Daichi knows they’ll fall asleep by the fireplace. They let the night fall over them, tender in each other’s company and the smell of chocolate. “Can we make snowmen tomorrow?”
“If you’re up for it,” Daichi responds, his eyes crinkling. “I might have to help you. We both know my snowmen always turn out better.”
“Never,” Koushi grins, his voice slurred with sleep. Daichi can tell he’s moments away from slumber. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Of course.”