Work Text:
“Can you teach me how to kiss?”
It’s in the middle of writing his solution at his Math homework when Tobio’s thoughts suddenly fill themselves with a conversation he’s heard from a few of his classmates. He’s heard about kissing before, on the lips of Oikawa himself when he sees him clutch Iwaizumi’s arm, pondering about his next conquest at his last days of middle school. He’s heard it from Hinata himself when he asks Yachi about her latest shoujo manga collections, and from Akaashi, accidentally, when he eavesdrops on his conversation with Kuroo about Kenma, hoping to hear about volleyball strategies but disappointedly finding out about Kuroo’s secret crush on the setter instead. And now he drops it, blurts it out unexpectedly, his eyebrows furrowing at Tsukishima’s taken aback figure.
Tsukishima pushes his glasses up awkwardly. “Where the hell did you even get that idea from?”
“I don’t know,” admits Tobio, biting his lip as he flips the next page of his notebook. “I just hear people talking about kisses. Is it normal if I don’t really know anything about it?”
Tsukishima sighs. “It’s normal, and don’t you dare suggest the same thing again. It’s disgusting.”
Tobio pouts petulantly. “Fine.” He puffs his cheeks and mutters, “I was just asking anyway.”
Contrary to what people say, Tobio isn’t as oblivious as some think he is. The moment his heart starts beating wildly, faster than usual, Tobio doesn’t waste time in telling both Hinata and Yachi about his predicament – and with Suga’s added comments on the side, he comes to the conclusion that he really likes Tsukishima Kei. Showing the middle blocker though is harder, he muses. Tobio isn’t sure how to properly say it. He’s not used to speaking about his feelings, always relying on other people to observe him and guess. They usually guess right, though handling him on his volatile moods is a different story altogether.
But Tsukishima knows how to deal with his demotivation on studying, and that’s one of the things Tobio likes about him.
“Are you done, King?”
Tobio huffs. “Stop calling me that.”
Tsukishima smirks. “Why should I?”
“It’s annoying!” he grumbles.
“All the more reason to say it.” Tsukishima flicks his forehead, ignoring the glare Tobio sends him while he rubs the sore spot on his reddened skin. “You better fix your things. It’s already late. I’d rather go home earlier.”
Tobio grunts in response.
The darkening sky outside starts pouring the moment Tobio steps outside, and he groans, glaring at the droplets falling down from the sky. It’s dumb that he’s forgotten his own umbrella at his house, and to his luck, at the day when there’s rain. He’s about to yell a few curses, mouth opening in scalding anger, when someone nudges his shoulder. Tobio turns, about to yell at Tsukishima, when he sees the middle blocker holding an umbrella, prompting him to keep his mouth shut.
“What?” Tsukishima sends him an ugly grin. “You think I’m sharing this with you?”
Tobio grits his teeth. “Bastard,” he spits out, turning around to stomp away. “I’ll just wait this out,” he resignedly adds. A hand on his shoulder stops him from moving.
“I guess I don’t mind sharing for now then,” says a small voice behind him.
Tobio turns, mouth gaping in disbelief. “Huh?”
Tsukishima rolls his eyes, though his cheeks are pink and his ears are almost at the same shade. “I said what I said, Your Highness.”
“Oh.” Oh. So this is why Tobio’s heart is suddenly racing, his chest clenching tightly, gripping at him with intensity. Tobio bites his lip hesitantly. “Alright,” he says. “But don’t you dare get me wet in the rain, dumbass.”
Tsukishima snorts. “You better wish your luck hasn’t run out.”
And Tobio ends up cursing the middle blocker, lifting him by the collar later, his cheeks red and pants wet. There’s a swooping in his stomach when he hears Tsukishima laugh, amusement filling his voice. He ignores this, knowing why he’s feeling this way, and proceeds at yelling at Tsukishima, pretending not to notice the shoe pressing on his to stop him from getting even more wet at the rain around them.
***
“Kageyama, you’re giving that to Tsukishima?!” yells Hinata in outrage. “Why not give it to me?!”
Tobio scrunches his nose and hands the plate on Tsukishima’s side, ignoring the surprised look sent back to him by the middle blocker and leaning across the table to bonk Hinata in the head. “Ow!” Hinata rubs his head and glares at him. “This is so unfair! I’m your best friend, what the hell?”
Tobio scoffs. “It’s not like I wanted to do that. It’s payment for the tutoring sessions, dumbass.”
Hinata squints at him suspiciously. “Payment, huh? When did you even get close with him?”
Tsukishima snorts. “Me and King aren’t close, idiot.”
Hinata cackles. “Oh wait, I remember something. Oi, Tsukishima, I saw you with a girl a few days ago. Don’t tell me you’re courting her.”
Yamaguchi chokes on his drink. “What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me this, Tsukki?”
“So what if I am?” challenges Tsukishima, lifting an eyebrow. “Besides, it’s not like it’s your business or anything.”
Oh. It’s a new feeling, that pang in his chest, that pang that sends a wave of discomfort in his body. Tobio flinches suddenly at the sensation, standing up to excuse himself out of the cafeteria, his feet walking quickly away from the three before he acts even stranger in front of them. It’s a sensation that Tobio can’t name yet, and he doesn’t like it, he decides as he goes to the vending machine, punching buttons hurriedly and grasping his milk carton with a shaky hand.
“Oi, Kageyama!”
Tobio almost loses grip of his milk carton and growls at Hinata. “Don’t surprise me, dumbass!”
Hinata makes a face. “Don’t dump all your jealousy on me.”
“Huh?!”
“You can’t fool me, Yamayama-kun.” Hinata sighs and pockets his hands. “You like Tsukishima, don’t you?”
It takes him exactly ten seconds before he finally relents.
“Yeah,” he admits.
Hinata hums thoughtfully. “I think you should go for it.”
“He already likes someone else,” grumbles Tobio, wincing at another pang hitting his chest.
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, he’s courting her, isn’t he?”
Hinata shrugs. “I don’t know much. But he always looks bored when he’s with her. They don’t even spend that much time together. He’s always with you.”
Tobio scoffs. “It’s because I always ask him to tutor me on homework.”
Hinata groans mournfully. “Ugh, you’re not getting the point, Kageyama. He doesn’t even agree to me when I ask! If Yachi wasn’t there, I would fail! He always agrees at your requests and he always stares at you when you’re not looking.”
Tobio grapples with hesitation, his frown widening.
“Look.” Hinata grabs him by the shoulder. “You should just confess and tell him about your feelings. Or do something, I don’t know, anything. Ask him to teach you something. Then, let him know about your feelings after. Just don’t give up so easily!”
Tobio growls. “Who said anything about giving up, dumbass?!”
Hinata grins. “There you go. Back to yourself now?”
“I guess so.” Tobio sighs. “I just don’t know how to tell him.”
“You can kiss him. What? Why are you looking at me like that? It’s the easiest option.” Hinata shrugs. “If you can’t tell him, a kiss is pretty much the nearest thing to a confession.”
“I don’t kiss anyone without consent, idiot!” Tobio averts his eyes. “Besides, I don’t even know how to do it.”
“Oh, I have an idea! Hear me out!”
“Is that safe?” asks Tobio reluctantly.
“Definitely! I think this will definitely work!”
***
“Can you teach me how to kiss?”
It’s been the third time this week since Tobio has uttered these words and Tsukishima isn’t budging at all.
“Why the fuck would I do that?” Tsukishima scrunches his nose. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just want to learn how!”
“Then ask someone else!”
“Fine!”
And he does mean it this time. Tobio is tired and contrary to his expectations, Hinata’s advice seems to be not working. It’s not like Tsukishima has a girlfriend to decline his request – he recently found out from Hinata that the girl is actually Yamaguchi’s crush, and that he’s helping her court Yamaguchi, as weird as the middle blocker helping someone court his best friend sounds. There’s only one explanation to this. Tsukishima Kei doesn’t like him.
“I’ll just ask someone else instead,” mutters Tobio.
There’s an awkward silence that ensues as Tobio does his homework and by the time he finishes it, there are only little words spoken, unnerving Tobio a bit more. He grumpily puts the textbooks and notebooks back at his bag, about to sling his bag and turn away to leave when a hand reaches at his forearm, encasing it with his palm, pulling him back.
“Did you mean it?” asks Tsukishima, eyes averted at his side. “You asking someone else?”
Tobio frowns. “Of course. You don’t want to teach me, right?”
Tsukishima gulps, chewing his lips nervously. “I don’t mind doing it.”
“Huh?”
Tsukishima sighs, taking his bag away from his grasp and plopping it on his bed sheet before turning his gaze back to Tobio. “I can teach you. How to kiss, I mean.” He bites his bottom lip, and Tobio’s heart lurches at the sight. “If you actually want to.”
“I want to,” blurts out Tobio, his cheeks warming, as rose-red as Tsukishima’s reddening ones. “How do you do it?”
Tsukishima rubs his neck sheepishly. “I’ve only seen it in movies. But I think we need to tilt our heads.”
Tobio tilts his head. “Like this?” he asks guilelessly.
Tsukishima huffs a laugh. “That’s too much. Just a little, I mean.”
“Oh.” Tobio shifts his head a bit. “Like this?”
“Yeah.” Tsukishima averts his eyes and gulps again. “I guess so.”
Another silence starts, with Tobio waiting for something to happen, tapping his fingers impatiently at his thigh. Tsukishima turns his gaze back towards him, pushing his chest slightly to his surprise. His back hits the wall, body nestled comfortably at the hard wood while he watches Tsukishima step forward, pressing his hands at Tobio’s hips. “You can wrap your hands around my neck,” he whispers, prompting Tobio to shudder, his hands following on their own accord, gently carding at the hair on the nape of Tsukishima’s neck.
“What’s next?” mumbles Tobio, his heartbeats increasing at an alarming pace, and it’s warm and giddy.
Tsukishima leans his face towards Tobio and lets out a heavy breath, tickling Tobio’s cheeks. “Then we kiss.”
“Oh.” Tobio gulps. “Okay.”
Soft. The lips on Tobio’s mouth are soft and gentle, moving slowly. He’s frozen, unsure on what to do. Tsukishima pulls away, eyeing him warily. “Does that feel good?” he asks.
Tobio nods, licking his lips. “It does.” He pulls Tsukishima’s head nearer. “It feels really good,” he reaffirms, huffing slightly, breathlessly tugging at the strands on the blonde’s hair.
“Good.” Tsukishima brushes his lips at him. “Try moving your lips with mine.”
Tobio closes his eyes. “Okay.”
He tries it, moving his lips, kissing Tsukishima’s upper lip, then his lower lip, reveling at the softness of the skin, the warmth, everything. He gasps when something wet brushes at his bottom lip and pulls away.
“What’s that?” he pants, looking at Tsukishima with wide eyes.
Tsukishima turns visibly red. “That was my tongue,” he replies, wincing.
Tobio’s breath hitches and he feels like he’s about to combust. “Oh. That was your tongue,” he says dumbly. Then another, “Oh.”
Tsukishima averts his eyes. “You didn’t like it?”
Tobio shakes his head. “I think I like it? Can you do that again? What’s next after that?”
It takes a few times, with hands gripping Tobio’s hips tightly, tongue teasingly brushing on his lips before he finally realizes what’s next and pulls away.
“I think I know what’s next now,” he says, looking at Tsukishima determinedly. “Can we try that again?”
Tsukishima looks at him for a few moments. “Sure,” he replies, leaning forward to press his lips at Tobio’s swollen ones. The moment Tobio feels tongue brushing at his bottom lip, he slowly parts his mouth and Tsukishima stumbles at the foreign feeling, eyes wide at Tobio, his mouth gaping.
“What the hell – ”
Tobio looks at him worriedly. “Is that wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” Tsukishima shakes his head and presses his forehead at Tobio’s shoulder. “Not really. I was just surprised.”
“Oh.” Tobio pouts. “Can we go back to kissing now?”
Tsukishima chokes out a laugh. “Alright, Your Highness, since you said so.”
It’s warm and hot, and Tobio almost loses his footing, pulling Tsukishima’s body towards him, relishing at the tongue languidly exploring his mouth. There’s a press at his teeth, at the roof of his mouth, at his tongue, prompting a moan out of Tobio. There’s a bite at his bottom lip, nipping at it teasingly, a swipe at the roof of his mouth again, and he falls. Gasping, he lets out a moan, the kiss turning more passionate and messier, and suddenly, it’s fast and wet and he feels hot and about to lose his breath away. There’s a desperation akin to the tight clenching in his chest, and there’s something else, tongues tangling with each other, lips pressing hard against lips, rendering him dizzy and light-headed. He pulls away, panting, breathless, so in love.
“Fuck,” mutters Tsukishima before pulling him once again, into another messy tangle of breaths and warmth, mouth encapsulating his. Tobio slumps his head at the wall, pressing his body against Tsukishima’s sturdy frame, losing himself at the taste of mint and strawberries, of Tsukishima Kei, at the scent of vanilla chapstick and sweat, at the passionate kiss that grapples with the restlessness inside his chest.
Tobio pulls away again to breathe some air. “Huh,” he mumbles. “That was nice.”
Tsukishima pants, eyeing him with a strange glint in his gaze. Tobio likes to think it’s his feelings being reciprocated.
“King – ”
“I don’t think it’s enough yet,” he blurts out.
Tsukishima furrows his eyebrows. “What?”
Tobio gulps and juts his bottom lip. “The lesson. Kissing. Us kissing. It’s not enough yet.” He sneaks a glance at Tsukishima’s face. “Can you teach me more?”
Tsukishima flushes, licking his lips. “I don’t know.”
Tobio frowns. “I really want to learn more.”
“I don’t like casual kissing, King,” says Tsukishima, tone suddenly cold and distant, stepping back as he removes his hands at Tobio’s hips.
Tobio feels the panic rise out of his chest and grabs Tsukishima’s wrist, pulling him back and biting his lip. “Uh, I – ” he chokes out nervously. He tightens his grasp on Tsukishima’s wrist, his lips wobbling. “I feel something. Here.” He points at his chest and gazes at Tsukishima’s curious golden irises. “When we kiss and when we talk. When I see you. I feel something. I want to learn how to kiss better. And I enjoy doing it with you. Do you hate that?” he mumbles.
Tobio widens his eyes when Tsukishima steps forward and asks, “You’re serious?”
He nods furiously. “Very much.”
“You want me to teach you how to kiss more?”
“Yeah. I want to.”
Tsukishima grips his chin and tilts his head up. “You want to practice like this often?”
“Always,” corrects Tobio. “Everyday. All the time.”
Tsukishima’s lip wobbles and he knocks his forehead with Tobio’s. “You like me?”
Tobio’s cheeks warm. “Yeah,” he admits, voice small. “How about you? Do you like me?”
The answer comes when a warm mouth meets his.