Work Text:
Tadashi has watched the librarian assistant from afar every day this semester as he sits in the back of one of the wings, pretending to study for his exams.
He does study, of course, but when he sees the tall, blond shelving returned books in his section, Tadashi can’t help but stare.
Moments like these, when the golden man pushes his cart of books and reaches to the top shelf with no effort, Tadashi likes to turn off his hearing aid and just watch as he, almost glides, through the shelves.
He’s careful not to get caught, only looking up through his soft green fringe for a few seconds each time, then flicking his eyes back down to his course work.
But today, he’s not so subtle. As the assistant pushes his cart past Tadashi’s table, he runs over Tadashi’s fallen eraser, causing the cart to come to a quick halt, sending a few books flying.
“I’m so sorry!” Tadashi says, bending to grab one of the books that fell at his feet.
“I take it this is your eraser?” The man says on deaf ears as Tadashi gathers a couple more books from the floor. He furrows his brow at the green haired boy when he doesn’t respond.
“Hey,” he says, bending to meet the boys eyes. Pools of green and amber blink up at him with wide eyes. His mouth slightly open as he gasps at the blond, so close to his face.
Tadashi notices the pink tint subtly appearing on the man’s cheeks as he sees his lips move.
Reaching up to his ear, he turns on his hearing aid, catching the last few words the man says.
“… your eraser?” He asks, his long fingers hold up Tadashi’s eraser in front of his slightly shocked face at seeing Tadashi’s heading aids as he brushes his shaggy green locks behind his ear.
“Oh, yeah sorry,” Tadashi breathes, wrapping his hand around the eraser and his fingers as he smiles, sweetly, his freckles cheeks pushing his eyes up into half moons. He sees the blond swallow, his golden eyes glimmer behind his thin, round framed glasses widening ever so slightly at the touch.
Standing and collecting the books from Tadashi, the man looks down at him in his seat.
“You’re here a lot, aren’t you?” The blond asks, placing the books back onto the cart.
Tadashi nods, blushing even more with embarrassment of being caught in the same spot day after day, realizing that the blond has been watching him too.
“What are you studying for?” The man asks, curiously, glancing down at Tadashi’s open notes and textbook.
“Computer science,” Tadashi smiles nervously, afraid he sounds like some nerd.
“Oh? Is that your major?”
“Yeah,” he smiles up at him. “I’m trying to create an app for the deaf and hard of hearing community that will generate live subtitles on demand, just by using the camera on your phone,” he explains.
The man raises his eyebrows at the full explanation to the reason behind his decision that he didn’t ask for. Tadashi mentally kicks himself for it.
“Sorry,” he says, sheepishly. Brushing his hair behind his ear, again, a nervous habit he’s picked up since getting his hearing aids fitted after the accident five years ago.
“Don’t apologize,” he says to Tadashi. “I’d like to learn more about it, someday,” he smiles down at him. “And more about you,” he stretches out the last syllable, subtly asking Tadashi his name.
“Yamaguchi Tadashi,” he blushes at the implication of his words.
“Yamaguchi Tadashi,” the man repeats. The way he says his name swirls around Tadashi’s ears, sweetly. “Tsukishima Kei,” he says, sticking his large out for Tadashi to shake.
Tadashi nervously places his small hand in his, gently grasping around his long fingers as he shakes it.
“I should get back to work, but I’ll see you around,” Tsukishima says, as he walks away, pushing his cart towards another section.
Tadashi nods as he gazes at the back of his tall body, watching him walk away. Taking in his broad shoulders under his cream colored sweater vest and white long sleeve shirt. His slim waist and long legs covered in khaki pants, stretching slightly around his hips and thick thighs.
Tadashi sighs, leaning back in his chair, unable to study anymore.
The next day, he sees that his normal section is blocked off. Standing in the middle of the isle, unsure where to go now, Tsukishima walks up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tadashi looks up at him, and smiles hello.
“Hi,” Tsukishima breathes, his heart tightening at the sight of his smile. “I read online that it’s more polite to get someone’s attention by physical contact,” he blushes.
“You researched deaf etiquette?” Tadashi giggles, flattered that he took the time to learn a little about his disability.
“Well, I- maybe, yeah,” Tsukishima mumbles, blushing, sweetly, under his frames.
“No one’s ever done that before,” Tadashi smiles up at him, again. “Thank you,” he adds, brushing his hair behind his ear.
Tsukishima nods, clearing his throat, looking over at the section Tadashi normally sits in.
“There was some water damage from the storm last night, so we cautioned it off just be safe,” he explains.
“Oh, right. I didn’t even know there was a storm until I looked out the window this morning,” he jokes, pointing to his ears as an explanation. Tsukishima huffs a laugh and nods.
“Well you can sit anywhere else in the mean time,” he says. “There’s an open table by my desk, if you want,” he points over to the help desk where he usually sits.
“Okay,” Tadashi blushes, walking over to the empty seat next to it, placing his belongings down.
“I have to go shelve some books, but I’ll be back in a few,” Tsukishima says, pushing his cart towards the other side of the library.
After pulling out his laptop, running over his code for the app, there are still so many bugs he has to fix, but he can’t seem to focus now, waiting for Tsukishima to return.
He comes back a while later with an empty cart. Tadashi watches him place the cart in its designated area through his fringe, like he’s so used to doing. He sees Tsukishima smile over at him, holding his gaze as he walks back to his desk next to Tadashi.
“Getting a lot done?” He smirks at him, nodding to his blank notebook.
“J-just running my code,” he blushes, pointing at his laptop.
Tsukishima nods slowly, smirking at him as he turns his attention to his own computer, typing and click away.
After a good while of actually working on his project and making some progress, he sees Tsukishima standing above him.
“May I?” He asks, pulling out the chair in front of him. Tadashi nods, and he slides into the seat, taking out his own notebooks. He smiles over at Tadashi, flipping the pages of his textbook as his long finger traces down the paragraphs, searching for the place he left off.
It’s a comfortable silence in the quiet library, even if Tadashi catches himself looking up through his bangs at Tsukishima every few minutes.
Not long after finishing his chapter, Tsukishima taps the top of Tadashi’s laptop to get his attention. Smiling over at him, Tsukishima whispers something to him, he couldn’t quiet hear him, but he read his lips. “Do you want to grab something to eat?” He asked. Tadashi nods, suddenly feeling the slight grumble of emptiness in his own stomach.
Gathering their things, the two quietly exit the library, out into the cool evening air and hushed murmurs of the students still wondering around this late on campus.
“Are you in the mood for anything specific?” Tsukishima bends low, turning to face Tadashi so he can read his lips.
Tadashi shakes his head, smiling up at him. It makes Tadashi’s heart skip a beat at how Tsukishima took the time to learn proper etiquette and doesn’t make it seem like it’s a big deal, treating him with the same respect he would treat anyone.
“Okay,” Tsukishima says. Tadashi watches him as he brings his fingers up to push his glasses to the bridge of his nose in thought. “There’s a bento place up the street that I like, if that works for you?”
“Okay,” Tadashi nods, following Tsukishima’s long stride.
“Hello, Tsukishima! Welcome back,” a cute little blond woman greets at the door, smiling up at Tsukishima like she’s known him for years.
“Hey, Yachi,” his voice wavers in embarrassment.
“Oh, hello,” Yachi bows slightly at Tadashi, seeing him standing behind Tsukishima. “Table for two tonight?” She asks.
Tsukishima nods, stepping aside and letting Tadashi take the lead, following Yachi to a booth in the back.
“Will it be the usual?” She asks Tsukishima as they sit.
“Oh, um, could you give us a moment to look over the menu?” He says, being courteous to Tadashi since he’s never been there.
Yachi nods and smiles at Tadashi before he heads back to her post at the front of the restaurant.
“You have a usual?” Tadashi says, lifting the menu up to cover his teasing smile.
“Shut up,” Tsukishima jokes. “I’m always here, that’s how I know Yachi, but she’s also a student,” he explains.
Tadashi nods, watching his lips as he speaks, reading his words. Tsukishima notices that he doesn’t look up from his mouth when he’s done talking, making him blush and sip at his tea, hiding from his gaze.
“Well, then I guess you should just order for me,” Tadashi smirks at him. Tsukishima almost chokes on his tea at the subtle sass of his statement, making Tadashi laugh.
“Shut up, Yamaguchi,” he coughs.
Towards the end of the meal, Yachi comes by to refill their tea and drops off the bill in front of Tsukishima.
“Thanks,” Tadashi smiles at her, his freckled cheeks pushing up his eyes into half moons again. Tsukishima feels his heart tighten as he sips his tea.
Yachi looks back at Tsukishima and raises her eyebrows at him with a small smile, quietly teasing him. He purses his lips at her as she leaves giggling to herself.
“Here,” Tadashi says, reaching into his bag for his wallet to pay for half of the meal.
“No, I’ve got it,” Tsukishima insists, placing cash into the folder, covering the entire bill.
“Oh,” Tadashi blushes, not expecting to have his meal paid for. “Thank you.” Realizing that, Tsukishima paying, this was a date. He feels the warmth in his cheeks as he looks up at Tsukishima.
“You can buy dessert,” Tsukishima smirks at him.
Leaving the restaurant, Tadashi inhales the fresh smell of rain that fell while they were dining, thinking about how this day turned out to be the best one he’s had in a really long time.
He can feel Tsukishima peering down at him, smiling at him as they walk in comfortable silence.
“Where are we going?” Tadashi laughs, realizing they never set a destination.
“Don’t know,” Tsukishima shrugs his shoulders.
They both stop walking and stare at each other, then burst into laughter.
“There’s a cafe just around the corner a few blocks down,” Tadashi says, after calming down. Tsukishima nods, still smiling.
As they walk, Tadashi has to pick up his usual casual pace to match Tsukishima’s.
“You’re very long, y’know?” Tadashi jokes, skipping a step to fall in line with him.
“That’s a weird compliment,” Tsukishima laughs, slowing his pace a step.
“How do you know it was a compliment?” Tadashi teases, making Tsukishima scoff.
“You know, you’re not as sweet as you look,” Tsukishima returns the backhanded compliment, bending down for him to read his lips, smirking.
“You think I look sweet?” Tadashi blushes, brushing his hair behind his ear, staring at Tsukishima’s mouth as he bites his lower lip, embarrassed that he let his thoughts slip. “Thank you,” Tadashi whispers, not wanting to discourage Tsukishima’s compliment.
Tsukishima nods stiffly, standing up straight, walking at this new pace, shoving his hands in his pockets, as they continue to walk in silence.
Arriving at the cafe the two gaze into the dessert case. The air is back to normal between them as they try to decide what to get.
“I’m just gonna get what I always get,” Tadashi nods to himself.
“What’s that?” Tsukishima asks, still looking inside the case, his eyes fall on one of his favorite desserts and he makes his decision in that spilt moment.
“That one,” they both say at the same time, pointing to the same slice of strawberry shortcake.
They look at each other and laugh, realizing there is only one slice left.
“You can have it,” Tadashi offers. “I get it all the time.”
“How about we share it?” Tsukishima smiles down at him.
“You sure? It’s really good, you might want it all it yourself,” Tadashi teases.
“I’m sure,” he nods.
As Tadashi pays for the cake, Tsukishima finds a secluded booth in the back of the cafe, sliding in to the far end, leaving enough room for Tadashi to sit next to him.
“Oh,” Tadashi says, noticing the space Tsukishima left for him. He slides in, setting the cake between them and hands Tsukishima a fork.
“Thanks,” Tsukishima says, blushing, as he wraps his fingers around his hand, taking the fork from Tadashi. “May I?” He asks, positioning his fork above the cake, ready to take the first bite.
“Please do,” Tadashi smiles.
Tsukishima sinks his fork into the soft layers of fluffy cake and whipped cream, slicing through a strawberry and bringing it up to his mouth. Tadashi watches as he wraps his lips around the bite, smiling at the taste.
“You’re right, I do want this all to myself,” he jokes, going in for a second bite.
“Hey! You said you’d share,” Tadashi laughs, digging in with his own fork.
They both laugh and fight over the large strawberry in the middle of the slice, settling with cutting it in half and equally sharing the piece.
“Oh,” Tadashi’s brow furrows, as his hand reaches up to his ear, removing the hearing aid and inspecting it. “Out of battery,” he frowns.
Tsukishima has a worried look on his face, now that Tadashi can’t hear him. Tsukishima smiles weakly at him, not sure what to say or do.
“Should we call it a night then?” He asks, avoiding eye contact, but making sure he can see his mouth, figuring he would want to go home and charge his hearing aids.
Tadashi frowns a little, at reading his lips wanting to end the evening, hating that his disability has ruined the mood.
“Or not, I just want you to be comfortable,” Tsukishima says, biting his lower lip, hoping he didn’t just offend him.
Tadashi draws his lips into a tight smile, turning away from Tsukishima and looking down at the empty cake plate.
It pains Tsukishima to see how hurt Tadashi looks right now. His warm green eyes, turned down and a small frown on his lips, shrinking into himself like he did something wrong. Tsukishima can’t help it, he needs to see him smile that beautifully sweet smile he’s come to know. He scoots a little closer, brushing his knee against Tadashi’s, trying to get his attention.
Tadashi quietly gasps, at the feeling of Tsukishima’s thigh against his, shyly looking down at their legs pressing together.
Tsukishima brings his hand up to lift Tadashi’s chin towards him, pleading for him to look at him in the eye.
“Can you read my lips?” He asks, slowly, noticing how Tadashi brushes his hair behind his ear, pressing his fingers behind the curve, trying to catch his words with what little hearing he has.
Tadahsi nods softly, his shaky breath on the palm of Tsukishima’s hand as he gazes at Tsukishima’s face, nervously looking down between their chest.
Tsukishima leans into the space, just close enough so Tadashi can still see his lips.
Tadashi stares at Tsukishima’s mouth, waiting to read what he has to say. He watches as Tsukishima bites his lower lip, nervously nibbling at it as his fingertips gently caress his cheek, making Tadashi gasp.
“May I, kiss you?” He finally asks, gazing at Tadashi’s face as he reads his lips.
Warm green eyes meet shimmering gold as he slowly nods, holding his breath as Tsukishima leans in closer.
Pressing their foreheads together, his nose gently nudging Tadashi’s, tilting his head back. The soft, pink, lips that Tadashi has familiarized himself with press lightly against his as his eyes flutter closed, taking his breath away. The kiss is plush and timid. Both of them nervously inching their bodies closer together.
Tsukishima brushes Tadashi’s soft green locks behind his ear, as he gently pulls him in, kissing the sweet dessert from his lips.
Slowly pulling apart, Tadashi’s eyes slowly blink open, staring into Tsukishima’s bright golden eyes. They smile at each other. Tadashi’s eyes crinkling as his pink freckled cheeks push up, the smile Tsukishima was waiting for.
After a moment, his hand still on Tadashi’s warm cheek, pulling his attention back to him, Tsukishima smirks at Tadashi, waiting for him to focus on his lips again.
“I guess you are as sweet as you look,” he teases, making Tadashi laugh as he hides his face behind Tsukishima’s fingers.