Chapter Text
"Yep, it's a curse alright."
Hinata's eyes go wide, looking between Kageyama and Yamaguchi in panic. Yamaguchi has the decency to look sympathetic, at least. Kageyama just scowls at him and shakes his head.
"Idiot!" He says, cuffing Hinata on the back of the head, "What did you do to get cursed, anyway?"
Hinata just pouts at him, giving his best puppy-dog eyes. After all, it's not like he can say anything.
This morning he'd woken up with a strange mark on his neck, just a little red ring almost like a choker. He was willing to just put it off as having slept funny, until he tried to sing along to his favorite song on his morning run. He'd opened his mouth and then just... nothing.
"It doesn't seem too serious?" Yamaguchi tries. He rubs the back of his head awkwardly. "Normally I'd be able to help you, but this is a little out of my scope."
Hinata doesn't know how it can be beyond Yamaguchi's abilities but also not too serious. The look on his face must say as much, because Yamaguchi pulls out his phone in a hurry. "Here, just tilt your head back."
Yamaguchi plops down next to him on the couch to show him the picture. Its a comfortable old thing, over stuffed and covered in cat hair. He's crashed on it more than once after a late night of practice with Kageyama. Kageyama for his part gets up with a huff, tossing an agitated "I'm making tea!" over his shoulder as he leaves. Yamaguchi turns up the brightness on his phone before zooming in on the mark left on Hinata's neck. Hinata squints. Up close, instead of just a solid line like he thought, the mark is made up of a series of small, intricate runes.
He looks at Yamaguchi with confusion, and a little worry. This looks way more complicated than he'd thought.
"It's actually elvish writing." Yamaguchi explains quickly. "Not many people use it for spell-casting these days, but some of the more... traditionalist mages still do. Either that or you pissed off someone really old?"
Hinata pouts again, doing his best to drag the corners of his mouth down as far as they'll go. Yamaguchi giggles at him, ruffling his hair, and despite his situation it's hard not to break into a matching smile.
"So that's what I mean when I say it's not too serious. I know the spell, it's a pretty simple one. And if it were written in Japanese, or even English, I could break it in a snap with what I have here." He gestures vaguely to the many cabinets lining the walls of his and Kageyama's apartment. "But since I can't actually read the particulars of the spell, its too risky for me to just give it a go and hope for the best. You know?"
He doesn't know, not really. He barely scraped by in magic basics in high school, and he's pretty sure he only passed because the teacher took pity on him. He flaps his hands about in a way he hopes conveys so what do I do as Kageyama comes back in with a couple of mugs of tea. He hands over their drinks and drops himself into a chair across from them. Pulling a box of milk out of his pocket for himself he says, "You're going to have to go see that creepy jerk, aren't you?"
"Tobio," Yamaguchi chides gently, "Tsukki isn't creepy!"
"Even you think he can be a jerk, though."
"Well..."
The look on Hinata's face must speak volumes because Yamaguchi hurries to clarify. "He's an old friend of mine. And he can be a little bit-"
"Of an asshole?" Kageyama interrupts.
"Abrasive," Yamaguchi continues, shooting a look at Kageyama, "but he's not creepy! He's just into older magic stuff. Which is why he's the one who will know how to break your curse. Honestly, I think he speaks better elvish than half of the people who teach it. As long as he knows it was me who sent you, it should be fine."
Yamaguchi rises, and without his weight Hinata sinks a little further into the couch. He sips his tea as Yamaguchi takes a little red paper from one of his cabinets and starts to fold it. "I'd take you myself, but he lives on the other side of town we’re supposed to babysit for Miwa in an hour."
When Yamaguchi is done there's a little paper butterfly sitting in his hand. With his other hand he takes out his wand, the crystal focus glowing at the end as he mumbles a few words. After a moment it twitches to life, doing a loop around the room before coming to sit on the top of Hinata's head. He lifts his hand to poke at it, and it flits up to land on his finger instead.
"That will lead you to Tsukki- well, Tsukishima's place." Yamaguchi says, "And it will let him know it was me that sent you. He's really smart, so it shouldn't take him long to figure out what happened. You should be talking again by lunch!"
Okay. Hinata thinks as stands in front of the house the paper butterfly insists is this Tsukishima's. It's a little creepy.
Tsukishima's house is small, only big enough for one or two people to live in. Some of the paint on the siding is peeling, and the porch looks like it was water damaged at some point. One of the windows is cracked. The definition of a fixer upper for sure.
But the creepy part is definitely the elvish runes covering almost half of the house itself. Strings of characters wind their way around windows and doors, running along the roof line like a collar. Hinata even spots some through the grass, painted symbols continuing along the foundation.
Hinata casts a glance at the butterfly. It doesn't return his look, since it doesn't have eyes. Well, its not like there's any turning back now.
Taking a deep breath he draws himself up to his full height (which isn't much but still) and rings the doorbell before he can change his mind.
For a moment the house is still. Then the door blows open with such force that Hinata startles and jumps back out of reflex. The interior of the house is dark, but even if he could see inside Hinata is pretty sure he'd still only have eyes for the giant standing in the doorway.
The man that must be Tsukishima is even taller than Yamaguchi or Kageyama, which really should be illegal. A little heat flares up under his collar as he realizes how far back he has to tilt his head to meet Tsukishima's gaze. And then there's heat in his face for an entirely different reason.
Tsukishima's stare doesn't hold any warmth but his eyes are the color of fresh honey, or melted gold. His hair is a matching shade of blond, just maybe a few shades lighter. Oval glasses rest on high cheekbones. His lips are thin and pressed into an even thinner line as he looks Hinata up and down. Hinata tries not to stare, but he's pretty sure even without the curse he'd be a little speechless.
Now that the door is open the butterfly flies over to Tsukishima and rests on his shoulder. Tsukishima glances at it, then back at Hinata and sighs. "One of Yamaguchi's, huh? Alright, come on in. "
He turns and heads into the house before Hinata can even nod. Swallowing around the lump in his throat Hinata follows him in, not missing the way the door closes by itself behind them.
Tsukishima isn't dressed like some ancient wizard, rather the opposite actually in jeans and a loose sweater, but when Hinata walks into the living room he feels like he's walked into a page off an old text book. With the curtains drawn the only light comes from a fireplace where a bright yellow flame burns, and round lanterns dropped from the ceiling that give off a warm orange glow. A large cauldron sits off to the side of the fire, cold but obviously frequently used. A collection of rocks with holes through the middle line the mantle. The floor, a polished hardwood, shows obvious signs of magic use in scorch marks and strangely colored stains, the same he's seen on Yamaguchi's kitchen counter. In fact, it's not really a living room at all but more like-
"This is my office." Tsukishima says as he crosses the room. He picks up the butterfly, and it unfolds back into paper in his hand before he slips it away into a drawer in a large desk made from a dark wood. "I don't know how much Yamaguchi said to you but I'm not just some hobbyist."
Hinata shakes his head and hopes that's enough. Yamaguchi had just said they were friends.
Tsukishima gestures to a chair by the fire and Hinata is quick to sit down. Again Tsukishima looks him over, picking up a simple wooden wand from the desk and waving it vaguely at the ceiling to make the lights shine a little brighter. Without warning he crosses the room, crouches next to Hinata, and tilts his chin up with his slender fingers. If he’s had a voice he would have made an indignant squeak at a near stranger getting so close without asking. As it is he just gapes like a fish up at the ceiling, a shiver going down his spine as Tsukishima’s fingers trace the mark on his neck. And he only shivers because Tsukishima’s hand is cold, of course, even if the warmth on his cheeks tells him otherwise.
After a moment of quiet he hears a soft chuckle. Tsukishima pulls away, a smirk on his face as he crosses his arms loosely over his chest. “Well you must have deserved it, that much is for sure.”
Any remaining embarrassment he’d felt fades, replaced by indignation. He tries to shout in protest but of course no sound comes when he opens his mouth. Tsukishima’s smirk only grows at this, and suddenly Hinata can see why Kageyama doesn’t like him. He crosses his own arms in a huff, falling back to slouch in his seat.
“Don’t even try to deny it.” Tsukishima continues. With a shake of his head he walks to a wall of filing cabinets and starts pulling out ingredients. “Unfortunately, or fortunately for you, I know that spell work. You got cursed by the head librarian of the University of Magics library. And she only pulls out the elvish when someone has really ticked her off.”
Oh. Oooohhh. Hinata’s cheeks flame red for an entirely different reason. He wasn’t a student at the University, but he had gone there yesterday to visit Yachi. And it was entirely possible that he’d gotten distracted while looking for her. And it was entirely possible that he’d bumped into a cart full of books, sending it, and a flustered student, and his half-full milkshake, careening to the floor. He’d apologized right away of course and helped pick up the books... but not exactly quietly. Probably.
Tsukishima turns, satisfied with his ingredients, and immediately laughs, harsh and teasing, at the look on Hinata’s face. Hinata puts his hands over his eyes and slinks lower into the chair. “Obviously you’re not a student there or you would know all this all ready. You’re lucky you know Yamaguchi so he could send you to me.”
Kicking a stool over to the fire Tsukishima sits down and pulls a much smaller cauldron out of the bigger one. Hanging it on a large metal hook over the flames he starts to break the materials into rough pieces with his hands. As he works Hinata catches a whiff of cinnamon and dates. Watching through his fingers, Hinata wishes he had his voice back so he could ask what Tsukishima actually does for a living.
Taking out his wand again Tsukishima speaks softly and waves the tip over the cauldron. As it fills with water and starts to simmer, Hinata distracts himself by looking at the wand. For someone who’s home so clearly speaks of high-class magic, its surprisingly simple in design. Yamaguchi’s is more rustic than some of the fancier ones but Hinata knows it cost him a whole week’s worth of earnings when he’d finally splurged on it. Tsukishima’s looked more like something you could pick up at and school supply story for year one magic.
“What?”
Hinata jumps in his chair. Tsukishima must have caught him staring. He shakes his head quickly, then taps his wrist in what he hopes comes across as how much time left?
Tsukishima rolls his eyes at him, “Loud and impatient, huh? Yamaguchi sure knows how to pick ‘em.”
Balling his hands into fists he grits his teeth in annoyance. How could Yamaguchi be friends with someone like this! And why did Yamaguchi want to torture him by sending him here?!
A very awkward five minutes later Tsukishima wraps his hand in a rag and pulls the cauldron from the fire. Whatever he’d mixed in had thickened considerably. Now it smelled more like pond scum than the cinnamon, but it did look the consistency and color of a good teriyaki sauce, reminding him it was almost lunch time and he hadn’t had anything to eat apart from a protein bar this morning. His stomach growled and embarrassingly the sound did not escape Tsukishima’s notice.
“You don’t want to eat this.” He deadpans as he stands and goes to fetch, of all things, a normal looking kitchen sponge. “Unless you want to die.”
Hinata yelps silently, pushing his chair away from the still steaming concoction. Tsukishima sighs as he rolls up his sleeves.
“It was a joke, calm down. I haven’t even properly charmed it yet.” He says, kneeling on the floor between Hinata and the fire. Hinata uncurls slightly as Tsukishima holds his wand out and swirls it two times over the steam. Then without preamble he dips the sponge into the mix and twists towards Hinata. “Tilt your head back.”
For all his… what was the word Yamaguchi used? Abrasiveness, Tsukishima was surprisingly gentle applying the goop to his curse mark. The touch of his fingers on Hinata’s neck is feather light, tortuously delicate as he works.
After what feels like an eternity and is probably only about two minutes Tsukishima pulls away and gets back to his feet. He takes a second to gauge his work, then points his wand in Hinata’s direction. “Ready?”
Hinata nods and braces himself. Tsukishima makes a motion as if he was sticking his wand into a door and unlocking it, speaking in deep, melodic words that had to have been elvish. With a start Hinata feels a tingling sensation around his neck as the potion, and hopefully the curse mark along with it, starts to dissolve.
Except… Tsukishima is frowning at him. Now, Hinata hasn’t known Tsukishima long, but he thinks he knows a confused frown vs a ‘this is just how my face is all the time’ frown. Hinata’s heartbeat starts to quicken with anxiety as Tsukishima continues to stare at him. He wants to try and test his voice, but since he doesn’t understand magic in the least he doesn’t want to try without the go-ahead.
Finally the tingling at his neck stops. The room is quiet except for the crackling of the fire. Hinata fidgets in his chair.
“Go ahead. Say something.”
He opens his mouth. His lips purse around the words. And no sound comes out.
His heartbeat is really racing now. Hinata leaps from his chair so quickly it topples over, hands at his throat. He keeps saying words, screaming them, but still not a sounds leaves his mouth.
“Calm down, I’ll- Hey!” Tsukishima’s hand darts out to grasp his elbow, stopping Hinata in his tracks. Still with a hand to his throat he looks up at the powerful magical scholar, honey eyes meeting amber.
“I will fix this, got that?” Tsukishima says. His words come out forceful, but not worried or angry. Somehow, it settles Hinata a little to know that Tsukishima is frustrated, angry even, but not particularly concerned. “I will not be outdone by a hobbyist, human librarian who can’t even remember one elvish spell without having note cards handy!”
Hinata just nods dumbly, still in Tsukishima’s grip. Tsukishima sighs, and uses his free hand to rub the bridge of his nose, eyes pinched shut in thought. After a few more moments he mumbles something under his breath that Hinata can’t make out before looking at him again.
“Okay. Alright. Do I have your consent to preform a revealing spell? There has to be something more to this that I’m not seeing.”
When Hinata nods again Tsukishima takes a deep breath and raises his hand. “Okay. Let me just-”
The moment Tsukishima’s fingers touch the skin of his forehead the world goes white. There’s an explosion of sound and light, magic, and in an instant they’re ripped apart from each other and flung to opposite ends of the room. A few of the globe lights shatter, raining crystal down onto the carpet. Hinata’s head swims as he crashes into Tsukishima’s filing cabinets, drawers coming loose and scattering leaves and dirt and who knows what else all over him.
After just giving himself a minute to just lie on the floor he slowly pushes himself upright to take stock of the room. Unsurprisingly, it’s a total disaster. Besides the herbs he’s covered in and the broken lights, it looks like a couple of the windows had broken as well. A breeze from outside pushes the curtains into the air, dappled light scattering over the wreckage. From the opposite corner he hears a groan as a pile of books knocked from the wall shifts. Tsukishima!
Hinata tries to clamber to his feet before groaning himself as pain lances from the spot he’d hit his head.
“Ow, ow ow!”
……
Wait, he could speak again!
Ignoring the pain in his head this time Hinata scrambles to his feet and dashes over to the book pile he assumed was hiding Tsukishima. “Tsukishima! It worked, I can talk again! I don’t know what you did but I can’t believe… it… worked…”
Hinata’s words trail into silence as Tsukishima pushes himself out of the mountain of books, rubbing his head with a hand. “Yeah, so I can hear. Good for you.” Tsukishima glances at him then pauses, raising an eyebrow. “… What?”
Where Tsukishima’s hair had been short before it now fell in long, golden waves down his back. The nails on his long fingers were slightly longer, slightly sharper, and glimmered with a pearlescent shine. His eyes when he searches Hinata’s face are still the color of honey, but gaze at him now with slit pupils. But more than anything, that one thing that Hinata couldn’t take his eyes off of was-
“Hey, I said ‘what’?!” Tsukishima snarls, jerking his head. As he moves a lock of hair falls into his face and he freezes. Eyes going wide and shaking slightly, Tsukishima reaches his hand to the side of his head to touch his newly very pointed ears.
“Oh. Oh fuck.”
Hinata falls to his knees as it hits him, too shocked to stay upright. Tsukishima wasn’t just an expert on elvish magic. He was an elf.