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It was pouring outside, the rain pattering against their apartment windows. Yaku was packing his suitcase to return to Russia. Suga leaned on the doorframe, watching him. Tofu rubbed up against his boyfriend’s legs, making the other smile softly.
He stopped packing, leaning down to gently rub behind his ears. The cat purred, taking the scratches.
“I’ll be back in a few months I promise.”
The words made Suga’s heart ache. The distance was hard. It was only six hours but between Suga’s full schedule with teaching and Yaku's practice and games, mixed with when he had to travel for International games, it made things hard. They cherished this time together.
They both signed up for it, Suga pushed for Yaku to go to Russia, determined to make it work.
It was hard at first, he wouldn’t lie. They always seemed to miss one another, having trouble finding times where they were both awake, where they weren’t zombies.
They found it eventually. Around 6pm for Suga meaning it was noon for Yaku. They were able to call for an hour or two, it was nice. They’d call at night too if they were both awake and could sacrifice the sleep. It wasn’t often, but they worked with what they could.
When Yaku came back to Japan, they cherished every single second they got together, not wanting to waste any time apart. Suga would always pick Yaku up at the airport, spending a good five minutes just hugging, mumbling to one another how much they missed one another, kissing and trying not to cry.
When he had to leave, it always broke his heart open. He hated when Yaku had to leave, it drove him crazy. They would sit in silence on the drive, holding hands not wanting to say anything to make the other cry.
It never got easier having to watch him leave. Seeing him disappear into the plane, standing there alone made him want to abandon everything in Japan just to be there with him.
Part of him truly wanted that, but he knew he’d be devastated to leave Japan. He had a life, a career, his friends, and he knew Yaku wouldn't let him either.
It was still nice to dream.
“We should probably leave soon.”
Yaku looked over at Suga, his eyes glancing away, “I just have to zip it up, we’ll head out in a bit.”
Suga swallowed, pushing off the doorway and walking over to Yaku, wrapping his arms around him, “I hate this.”
Yaku wrapped his arms around Suga’s waist, tugging him close and holding him tight, “You say that every time I leave.”
“I know. It doesn’t change that I hate this. It’s not exactly a fairytale romance.”
Yaku laughed a bit, pulling back, looking at Suga, “Well I don’t think a teacher and pro volleyball player make for a good fairytale?”
Suga smiled a bit and shrugged, “I don’t know about that, you could be a pretty princess,” He joked, Yaku pinching his side, “Hey! That hurts you know!”
They laughed together, Yaku kissing Suga’s cheek, muttering, “You’d be a pretty one too.”
Suga looked into Yaku’s eyes, feeling his heart bursting and breaking, “I’m gonna miss you, Mori.”
Yaku nodded, “I’m gonna miss you too Kou. I promise to be back as soon as I can.”
“I just wish we were closer. I just want to be with you all the time,”
“Maybe you should attach to me like one of those suckerfish on sharks.”
Suga rolled his eyes, “I’m being serious here.”
Yaku nodded, “I know. I’m just teasing. I love you, Koushi. No amount of distance will change how much I love you. No amount of time away will make me stop loving you.”
Suga huffed, tears welling up, “Are you trying to make me cry on purpose?”
Yaku removed one of his arms from around Suga, putting a hand up to his cheek, “I’m serious. I’m so in love with you, it’s terminal.”
He laughed, voice catching, “Wow you’re so romantic, Mori.”
“I love you too. It’s just hard sometimes. I miss you, all the time. It reminds me of how much I love you. How long I’ve loved you.”
Yaku gently kissed Suga, holding his face. They stayed like that, kissing until Tofu came to interrupt them once more.
They pulled away from one another, looking down at the cat wedging himself between them. Suga laughed, backing up and picking Tofu up.
“How rude of you, Tofu. We were having a moment,” Yaku murmured, using a finger to scratch under his chin.
The cat meowed, purrs rumbling from him as the pair pet him, content to sit happily. They’d stay like that if they could, standing in their apartment, the sound of rain outside holding Tofu in their arms. This was what Suga wanted in heaven, to be living here with Yaku.
He pursed his lips, then setting Tofu down, “We should head out. The rain might make the drive longer, we don't want you missing your flight.”
“Okay. Let me grab my raincoat.”
Suga helped Yaku zip his suitcase, forgetting to do so. He lifted the suitcase off the bed, rolling it into the living room. Tofu stuck behind, circling around Yaku’s legs. He knew too.
Suga grabbed his wallet and keys, taking his jacket off of the hook and sliding it on. He was wearing a black turtleneck, light blue jeans and was about to slide into his white sneakers. He slid his tan jacket on, buttoning it and tying it in the middle.
He looked up hearing Yaku walking out of their bedroom, wearing a dark blue rain jacket.
“Ready to go?”
Yaku nodded, albeit begrudgingly. He walked over to the entrance of their apartment, sliding his shoes on before grabbing his suitcase and Suga’s free hand. Suga opened their apartment door, grabbing an umbrella from the holder before stepping out into the hall.
Yaku followed behind him, allowing Suga to close and lock the door behind him. It was the last time they’d be here together for a while.
Suga swallowed and then smiled at Yaku, “Let’s go.”
—
The drive was quiet, the rain and radio filling the silence in the car. Suga’s left hand holding Yaku’s right. The other was looking out the window, watching the city lights pass by as he drove. Suga squeezed his hand periodically, making sure he was still there. Suga followed the highway, gripping the wheel tightly.
He took the exit for the airport, driving into the terminal parking lot. There were a lot of cars, assuming people were trying to get in before the weather got too heavy. He wondered if the flight would be canceled, part of him hoping it was so they could have one more night.
No, that was selfish. He couldn’t wish that.
Suga parked, raising their interlocked hands and kissing the back of his hand. Yaku smiled at him fondly, squeezing his hand one last time before he moved to get out of the car. Suga turned off the car, stepping out of the car into the lot.
The wind chilled them, the parking structure not doing much to halt the wind from blowing past them.
Yaku grabbed his bag, allowing Suga to open the umbrella. They interlocked their hands once more, sharing the space under the umbrella as they walked out of the structure out into the heavy rain. Some splashed and soaked into Suga’s jeans but they were shielded with the umbrella.
As they made their way to the check-in counter outside, they stood silently. They watched as people met their loved ones outside or rushed into the airport to avoid being soaked by the rain.
“Hello, welcome, how can I assist you today?” The woman behind the counter has a soft smile, despite the weather. It seemed that the booth protected her enough, just leaving the scale wet.
“Hi, I’m checking a bag in for Flight 1789 to Moscow.”
“May I see your ticket?”
Yaku nodded, untangling their hands and taking out his passport and his plane ticket. The woman scanned it over, typing in the information.
“Okay sir, please put your bag on the scale. Are you bringing anything you’d like to declare?” She asked, handing back his passport and ticket.
“No Ma’am.” He replied, sliding both the passport and ticket back into his pocket. She nodded, entering the information before taking down the weight.
She printed out a tag, wrapping it around the handle, “You are all set. Have a safe flight!”
“Thank you,” Suga said, beating Yaku to it before he grabbed his hand again and made his way to the entrance. Before they entered the airport, Suga took down the umbrella, putting it in an umbrella bag.
They made their way through the airport, heading to the private security area. Both Yaku and Suga were asked to present their IDs, Yaku sharing his flight information as well.
“Where is his ticket information?” The security asked, looking Suga up and down.
“I’m just going with him to the gate. He’s the only one flying today. We’ve been told this is alright.”
The guard grunted, handing back their IDs and Yaku’s passport. He let them pass, Yaku smiling a fake smile before walking by, Suga behind him. There was only a small number of people, the private screening mostly for celebrities and athletes so they weren’t harassed or bombarded.
“I wonder if flights are being delayed, the rain is pretty bad,” Yaku’s voice was low but not in a whisper.
“I hope not. I’d hate for you to miss your flight. Your coach wants to meet with you tomorrow morning right?”
Yaku nodded, “Yeah he wants the team to meet up tomorrow to start pre-season training,” He paused before speaking again, “But I’m sure he’d understand if it was delayed.”
“He’d be an asshole if he didn’t,” Suga huffed, walking through the security line.
They went through security quickly, navigating the large airport, trying to find the gate Yaku would need to board at. They stopped along the way, grabbing some coffee and bagels. They then made it to the gate, sitting and waiting together, quietly talking about their time together. Suga considered visiting Moscow, but Yaku would be so busy they wouldn’t have a good amount of time together.
They’d have to wait for Yaku’s season to end or for the mid season break before they could see one another again.
Their chatter quieted down, the bustling airport loud around them.
Yaku ended up resting his head on Suga’s shoulder, closing his eyes wanting to pass the time.
Suga just kissed his head, sitting idly with him, sitting happily with him.
He willed time to slow, but knew they’d still get to the time apart soon.
–
“Flight 1789 from Tokyo to Moscow will begin boarding in 10 minutes.” A voice crackled over the intercom, Yaku lifting his head and huffing.
“I should go line up,” He said gently.
“I’ll stand with you. I plan to stay until your plane takes off.” Suga replied, standing up, going to the line with Yaku.
The rain outside hadn’t calmed at all, creating a waterfall-like view on the windows of the airport. Suga stared out, waiting for the ten minutes to pass.
At the five minute mark, he looked at Yaku. He was beautiful. His hair was pushed back, a little wet from droplets of rain that hit his hair. His cheeks and nose were a little red from the chill, his freckles more prominent. His lips were soft pink, a bit chapped but chapstick covering them.
Suga’s heart ached again. Standing here, watching Yaku in line to board the plane, Sugawara Kosushi was reminded of only one thing; that he was so deeply in love with Yaku Morisuke that he found himself dropping to one knee.
He wasn’t thinking, Yaku looking at him and his eyes going wide with shock, people around them gasping.
“Marry me.”
“Koushi what-?”
“Morisuke I’m so helplessly in love with you that I’m proposing without a ring. I’ve loved you since I first saw you. You’re not just some volleyball player, you’re not just anyone to me. You’re mine, you’re my beloved, my soulmate, my Morisuke. There is not one person out there but you for me. I don’t care about the distance. You could be all the way across the world and I’d fall in love with you more and more everyday,” He rambled, tears falling down his cheeks, “I miss you everyday we are apart, but I will always love you more and more. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want to make our love perfect, no matter how imperfect it is. I want to see you with gray hairs and wrinkles, I want to argue about little things on our porch. You are my soulmate, Morisuke. I want to marry you if you’ll have me.”
Suga was crying, tears streaming down his face, holding his breath for a response.
“Yes.” Yaku responded, tears down his face too, “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” He said, voice cracking, reaching down to drag Suga up and kissing him deeply.
When Yaku pulled back he huffed a laugh, “this is like a movie huh? You’re so corny. I love you so much Koushi. I want to see you as a grumpy old man, I love you, you’re my soulmate. My everything. I breathe for you, my love.”
“Ugh I hate you,” Suga hiccuped, kissing him again.
They laughed after they broke from the kiss, wiping one another’s faces.
“I’ll buy you a pretty ring I promise,” Suga whispered to him, putting their foreheads together.
”Flight 1789 from Tokyo to Moscow has been delayed for six hours due to weather conditions. We apologize for the delay.”
Suga laughed, voice crackly, “We have another six hours.”
Yaku smiled at him, kissing his cheek, “You promised me a pretty ring.”
“Yes I did. Let’s go get one for you.”