Work Text:
Akaashi Keiji is finishing up his shift. All his appointments are done for the night and he's counting up his tips when he sees it: his boss, Bokuto Koutarou, flirting with a customer. She's tall with long lashes and pretty blonde hair and brown eyes, obviously enchanted by Bokuto's charms.
He feels a sharp pang in his heart. Being in love with his heterosexual boss is probably the stupidest thing he's ever experienced. Especially when said boss is the biggest playboy in town, constantly choosing a good time or a party over responsibility. Akaashi, ever the hopeless romantic, ends up taking care of all Bokuto's financials, does practically anything and everything for him, just to be ignored for the first pretty girl to walk into the tattoo parlor.
Perhaps it is sad, but Akaashi cannot stop himself. Even if this is unrequited, he'll always be here to help. It's just what he does.
"Akaashiiii!!!" Bokuto's voice fills the room. "I need you for something."
Akaashi warms as he looks up. Despite the lack of emotion on his face, inside he is bursting with joy whenever he is useful to the man he loves. He nods, signaling Bokuto to continue.
"Can you come with me to this club downtown? My friend Kuroo is begging to meet you. Apparently, he wants to 'thank the man always saving my ass'... whatever that means."
Akaashi smiles slightly. That means Bokuto talks about him, even if it's just because of work. The fact that the location is a club leaves an uneasy feeling in his stomach, because he really hates crowds and drunk people, but this is Bokuto. Even though he'd much rather hang out at one of their houses like usual, he'll go downtown. Anything for him.
"Yeah, of course."
The club is about as miserable as Akaashi expects. Flashing lights, repetitive pop music, and the thick scent of alcohol. Now, he is not a heavy drinker. In fact, he hates drinking for any reason. But under Kuroo's calculating gaze and Bokuto's flirtatious behaviors with pretty girls in tight dresses, suddenly a few shots seem appealing.
"So, Akaashi, why are you always helping Bokuto?" Kuroo asks. Akaashi feels himself sink into his seat.
"He's my best friend. Best friends help each other."
"Impossible. I'm his best friend."
Akaashi just smiles and excuses himself, feeling his cheeks heat. Admittedly, he and Bokuto have never exactly discussed their closeness, but Akaashi always felt as if they were each other's most valued friendship. It is embarrassing realizing Bokuto is a social butterfly. He has plenty of friends, Akaashi being one of the less important ones. Akaashi being the one who gets him out of every slump, the one who assists him in any way he can; the one who gets nothing in return.
And as a pretty, curvy girl is dancing with Bokuto, Akaashi knows this has to stop. He looks down at himself, noticing a severe lack of cleavage and an extra tool in between in his legs. He can't give his all to someone who will never glance his way.
He orders a shot, downing it instantly.
"I think I'm bisexual."
Akaashi's head snaps up, making eye contact with his boss. A sudden feeling of hope fills his body. Does this mean... he has a chance?
"Thank you for telling me. As always, I support you in everything, Bokuto-san."
Bokuto smiles, and immediately begins to ramble. "I went out with Kuroo the other day, right, and there was this guy, and I was totally mesmerized. I'd never felt so attracted to another guy, and we totally got it on in Kuroo's car. Don't tell him!"
"I won't. That's quite a story."
"Yeah!" Like that, Bokuto runs off to take care of some customers in the front.
It is one thing for somebody to be unable to love you because of your gender. It is another for them to not love you just because you are you.
Akaashi Keiji feels his heart break, and decides it is time to get over this one-sided love.
Saturday night is a strange one. On a whim, Akaashi drove to that same club he went to with Bokuto and Kuroo. He wants to get drunker than ever before; he wants to wake up in the bed of someone whose name he can't recall. He wants to move on.
It's certainly one way to cope, and not the healthiest one at that, but he is coping, nonetheless. Pain gets boring after a while. All he wants is to fall in love with a stranger for one night and then never have to deal with them again.
"You're hot," A seductive voice says.
Everything else is a blur.
He wakes up with a sore ass and a hickey on his neck.
"Kaash, what's that?" Bokuto asks, poking the hickey.
Akaashi blushes vibrantly, smacking his hand away and covering the mark. "Nothing that matters."
The response is a large gasp. "Kaashi!!! You have a girlfriend?"
"No."
"You hooked up a girl?"
"Well... yes, I had a fling. But I thought you knew I was gay."
"Oh. Yeah, you are." There's an overwhelming silence. Bokuto has an unreadable expression on his face, with clenched fists by his side. Akaashi wonders if maybe he is being judged. Bokuto isn't like that, is he?
Weeks pass and Akaashi feelings are stubborn. They linger, never giving up no matter how unhappy he is. It doesn't help that Bokuto has been weird towards him, probably best described as avoiding, and it's painful to say the least.
So, when there's a work party and dozens of people attend, and Akaashi has had one too many, he flirts. Hard.
Daishou Suguru is an asshole and one of Bokuto's biggest rivals in the tattoo business in Tokyo. He's conniving, rotten... but according to just about anyone who has ever slept with him, a god in bed. It's petty and he knows it, but Akaashi just wants Bokuto off his mind.
"You're, like, the prettiest guy I've ever seen," Daishou says, gripping Akaashi's waist.
Akaashi leans in and whispers, "I'm even prettier naked."
"Akaashi." A booming voice interrupts them, and they both look over to find the source. It's none other than Bokuto himself. "What are you doing with him?"
Daishou laughs, replying, "Don't worry, Bo-kun. We're just having some fun. You can go back to that girl over there now."
"Akaashi, come here. I need to talk to you."
Akaashi hates that he immediately gives in. But it's what he does. He will never be able to say no to Bokuto. Thus, he apologizes to Daishou and walks away with his boss. They end up outside in an alleyway, and Akaashi can taste the tension.
"What are you doing?" Bokuto spits out, angry.
"What?"
"It's a party, stop feeling up the snake."
Akaashi laughs dryly. "So, you can go around and flirt and fuck whoever you want while I sit back filing your taxes again? You act like I am disposable, and I've had it."
"...What?"
"Is it because I'm a guy flirting with a guy? You're literally bisexual, but ever since you figured out I'm gay, you've avoided me like the plague."
"That's not-"
"And you don't even consider me a best friend according to Kuroo-"
He is cut off by Bokuto's lips smashing against his own. They kiss passionately, aggressively, as if spilling every emotion into this one moment. Despite this, there is a softness to it. The way Bokuto's hand is holding and rubbing Akaashi's cheek tenderly, the other hand carefully holding his waist in place.
A line of spit connects them as they pull apart. They're both breathing heavily, gazing into each other's eyes. Then Akaashi feels it. His chest tightens, his breaths shorten, and his heart speeds. His legs wobble and tears form.
"Why would you do this to me Bokuto?" Akaashi asks through sobs. "I have spent so long tucking these emotions away for your benefit, and you just kiss me as if I am another one of your conquests. I-I-"
The panic attack worsens, and now he can't do anything except push Bokuto away and run as fast as he can. He's going to die, he thinks. He can't breathe at all as he gets on the train and cries. He hates Bokuto, and hates himself even more.
The next morning, Akaashi wakes up to zero notifications from Bokuto.
Work on Monday is strange. For once, the roles have switched. Bokuto brings in coffee for Akaashi, helps with any of his needs and almost acts as if nothing happened. Almost. The worry laced in Bokuto's eyes says enough. The theory Akaashi has come up with is that Bokuto is sorry after his drunk decision of hitting on a coworker. But that's just a theory, since they've yet to say a word to each other.
It's close to midnight, and they're the only ones left in the parlor. That's when the conversation finally happens. The dreaded conversation.
"Is it... is it okay if I explain myself?" Bokuto says, uncharacteristically quietly.
"Be quick. I am exhausted."
"I don't think this could be very quick. Do you remember the boy I hooked up with?"
Akaashi rolls his eyes at the thought. "Yes."
"I realized days later he looked just like you. Except, not as pretty. No one's as pretty as you, Akaashi. And that really confused me, because the more I thought of it, the more confused I felt. And then, your hickey, and I remembered you were gay and... I was mad, and jealous. And I couldn't say anything to you because I realized how in love I am. But you wouldn't even spare me a glance at the party, after I was trying so hard to get your attention. Then, you were with Daishou, and I was so upset. I'm sorry, I am so, so sorry."
"You... love me?"
"I do. I only just realized it, but I think I would do anything you asked me. I love you so much, and it's weird that I just figured it out a couple weeks ago, but I know I've loved you this whole time. I think maybe I thought this was how every guy felt for guy friends. Except I don't feel this way for Kuroo, or anybody else. It's just you. It's always been you."
Akaashi is not an affectionate person by any means, so the way he hugs Bokuto without even thinking about it is frightening. He wants to be angry, knows he shouldn't be so nice after all that suffering, but he can't help it. He's spent too much time being upset to start more issues.
"I love you too. I have for a very long time," Akaashi says with a smile, and Bokuto's entire face lights up.
The way they kiss is slow, gentle, and meaningful. After all this time, the love is reciprocated.