Work Text:
Tooru is tired.
“Start your own company” they said, “You got to be your own boss” they said.
Well, it’s fun. But Tooru is just so tired all the time. He barely has the energy to do volleyball on the weekend. Because that’s the only time he’s free from work, a brief 3 hours on a Sunday morning. The thing about starting your own company is you never stopped working. Wakatoshi forgot to tell him that.
They just finish a match with their old high school friends they still keep in touch with, Hajime, Tendou, Mattsun, Eita and the others. When everyone went back to their home or whatever they had planned for the weekend, Wakatoshi and him went out for lunch. Hajime usually went with them but he has a date today. Ugh . Tooru hasn’t gone on a date for months now that he’s too busy with building his own company.
“You know, it’s your fault.” he pointed his chopstick into Wakatoshi’s face before picking up another sushi.
“Do explain how it’s my fault,”
Tooru has been complaining about his job the whole drive from their gymnasium to the sushi restaurant and Wakatoshi has been listening attentively. Ready to give him tips and solutions in the next second.
Here’s the thing, Tooru has known Wakatoshi since he was in diapers. When this new family moved across his house, his mom brought him over to get to know his new neighbor. Tooru can’t remember it but his mother insists that he latch on to Wakatoshi as soon as he sees him, this slightly bigger toddler who managed to walk first before Tooru. He doesn't remember any of that, but he remembers Wakatoshi for as long as he had lived.
He has been the only constant in Tooru’s life.
Of course they have their fall out. Those years in high school when he chose Aoba Josai and went with Hajime instead of Shiratorizawa. Back then Tooru was too self conscious of himself, of how he seems to be drifting further and further away from Wakatoshi and his world. So he pulls back, tries to build his own world and they clash every time they meet in a match. Their make up was ugly and tearful, Tooru in his graduation gown still, running to Wakatoshi embrace with a quiet sorry on his lips. And Wakatoshi, the always steady Wakatoshi, catches him in his arms, already forgetting about their stupid petty rivalry. Tooru opens up to him that whole day, dragging Wakatoshi to his house. They talk and talk and talk until Wakatoshi’s mom calls him.
But that was in the past. It seems so silly now that they’re all grown up. Wakatoshi with his law firm that he partnered up with Hajime and Tooru with his start-up which barely even starts.
“You,” he points an accusatory chopstick to Wakatoshi's unbothered face. “Convince me to start this stupid company.”
“It’s not stupid,” Tooru continued munching his sushi roll with too much force, “You are doing something that you love, right?” Well, it’s true.
Tooru’s company is a start-up that helps job seekers find their dream job. They’re working on personalized job portals, bringing in companies to open a job for people with less experience, helping them build their resumes and portfolio, and providing them with necessary training. They also make sure the companies have a healthy workplace.
He got the idea from his own experience. When he first graduated, he wanted to do volleyball professionally but realized he also needed to work to survive in this capitalist society. He was really struggling to find a job as a fresh grad, he was unemployed for a whole year. And when he did finally get a job, it was the most toxic workplace ever. His boss was micromanaging everything, he was given tasks outside his job description all the time. He was going to quit but he knew how hard it is to find a job so he stayed and suffered. That is, until he got fired.
He moves companies here and there but never has any luck in a healthy workplace. There’s always something so fucked up. Then he sees his juniors also struggling with finding a job. That’s when Wakatoshi told him to just make a company. And he did. With every last bit of his saving, he managed to build this company from the ground.
He had it easy now, well, a bit more easy. The first year of it was hell, he had to move in with Wakatoshi because he didn't have any money for rent. But that’s okay, at least he has enough to pay his employee a fair wage. He has a few clients now and he’s bidding in a tender for bigger projects. He’s still far away from success but at least he didn’t suffer from it. He loves what he’s doing and what he’s making.
He was just tired.
“I hate you.” he narrowed his eyes at Wakatoshi. The green eyed man just laughs and points at Tooru’s plate, “Go finish your food and we can get desserts” Wakatoshi doesn’t really like sweet food, but he always brings Tooru for some treats.
“I can’t” Tooru sighs, “I got work to do” he pouts in annoyance, he wanted those desserts.
Noticing Tooru’s glass empty, Wakatoshi poured another ocha on it. “You can always work from the cafe.” Tooru seems to consider it before resigning again. “Can’t,” he took a sip of his drink before continuing, “I didn’t bring my laptop.” he pointed to his gym back.
“We’ll grab it first then.” Wakatoshi counter. “Yeah, but it’ll be a hassle to go back and forth.” Tooru put down his chopstick, finally finished with his food. “It’ll be fine.” “Also the cafe will be crowded since it’s the weekend and I won't be able to get anything done.” Although now that Tooru thinks about it, he does have that noise canceling headphone Wakatoshi gifted him that works so well. But it’s no use anyway, he won’t he can’t split his focus between work and catching up with Wakatoshi.
“Tooru, you’re getting that dessert. Your job can wait, you’re the boss anyway.” Tooru rolls his eyes at that. “It’s because I’m the boss,” he leaned back on his chair, he’s so full. “I need to get this tender and the bidding is on Monday, I don’t have the time, Toshi.”
Wakatoshi then asks for the bills, “Tooru, you choose to build this thing so you can have a more stress-free life.You can balance it out, come on.” Tooru knows Wakatoshi is right, what’s the point of building his own company if he’s still so stressed. He deserves those desserts.
“Fine,” Tooru gave up. “But don’t talk to me while I work.”
“That’s never a problem.” Wakatoshi chuckles, because between the two of them, Tooru is the talker. Wakatoshi is always comfortable with silence when he’s with him.
After paying the bills, they go to Tooru’s apartment to grab his laptop and a few documents. Wakatoshi took the time to wash the leftover dishes on Tooru’s sink. He told him to stop but Wakatoshi won’t listen and just pushed him away to get ready. Wakatoshi knows how busy Tooru is with this tender, he barely had the time to take care of himself, let alone his dirty dishes. He’s been sending lunch to Tooru’s office for the past 2 weeks to make sure he eats and doesn’t pass out from exhaustion.
Rolling up his black sleeve, Wakatoshi was just wiping his dining table when Oikawa stepped out of his room, now changed from his gym outfit to a more casual attire. A pair of loose trousers and white shirt tucked in under his belt, curving out his body and Wakatoshi's heart skipped a beat. Tooru looks so beautiful.
He always knows his best friend is pretty but for the past few years he really can’t control his heartbeat around Tooru. He thought he moved on from this crush back in high school, but lately Wakatoshi seems to fall deeper and deeper.
Closing his bedroom door, Tooru looked up to the sight of Wakatoshi flushed cheek. “What are you trying to do? Be my house husband?” Tooru teases him. “Roll down those sleeves if you don’t want me to swoon, Toshi.” that draws a soft smile from Wakatoshi.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, come on, my house husband.” Tooru linked their arms together and dragged him out of his apartment.
Wakatoshi prays Tooru doesn’t notice the heat on his face.
☽
“Where are we going?” Tooru notices they don’t take the route they take to their usual coffee shop.
“Let’s go to that bakery up town,” Wakatoshi’s focus on driving, those damned sleeves are still roled up, exposing his big fucking veiny hands. Tooru really needs him to roll it down before he does something stupid. Like kissing his best friend or something. “Why?” he manages to ask instead.
“It’s usually not crowded on the weekend, you can focus there.”
“Oh, okay” Tooru needs to get his shit together and stop thinking about caring Wakatoshi and how he wants to kiss him. Usually, Tooru only has these intrusive thoughts of kissing, or something else, his best friend at night time. And he always feels guilty afterwards.
But lately, Tooru has been having these thoughts of his best friend that he thinks he shouldn’t have. Like he wants to wake up and see Wakatoshi first thing in the morning. Or when he goes home after a gruesome day at work, he wants to see Wakatoshi. He wants to see Wakatoshi in his kitchen, or on his couch, he wants to cuddle with him and kiss that stupid stoic face of his.
It’s not like they don’t do that. They cuddle, or Tooru forces Wakatoshi to cuddle, when they watch movies or when one of them stays over. But Tooru wants more .
Maybe it’s because he hasn’t gotten laid in months or been in any serious relationship. Yeah, it’s probably that. He just needed to get laid. As soon as he finds the time.
When they enter the bakery, there’s only 2 other couples there. Tooru gets a milk bread with chocolate fillings and cheesecake, as well as a creamy matcha latte. Wakatoshi cringes at his order and orders himself an iced americano.
“I don’t know how you manage to swallow all that sweets”
“Shut up, you’re the one that forced me to get desserts.” They walk to the back of the cafe and choose one of the seats in the garden. Tooru liked this place. It’s calm and green and serene. They only play soft lo-fi tunes from the speaker. The big trees in the garden provide shades to protect them from the sun. They barely come here because it’s quite far from where they live, but when they do, Tooru always loves it.
When the waiter brings their order, Tooru wastes no time in eating his well earned desserts. He moans in pleasure into a spoonful of his cheesecake and diving to his food again right away. “Slow down, Tooru” sitting opposite of him, Wakatoshi sips his coffee.
Tooru just growls at him and continues eating his cake. Wakatoshi can only chuckle at the sight of him. Once he finishes half of his cake, Tooru opens up his laptop. “Okay, no talking now.” He states, even though Wakatoshi has already opened up a book he brought from his car and started reading in silence.
“I said no talking, Toshi!” he protested when Wakatoshi ignored him. “I’m not talking,” “Good.” and so began his work.
Research, problems statement, more research, solutions presentation, unique selling point, what makes his company and product different, project timeline, presentation slides, proposal. Tooru’s head was about to explode, so he took a sip of his drink. He runs through the proposal his employee has made, rechecks the timeline, fixes the selling point, and writes down his notes for the pitch.
Another bite at his cake here and there. Going for his milk bread. All the while Wakatoshi sits in silence, flipping the pages of his books. He enjoys the moment for a while. Despite his crazy workload, he’s grateful for the moments he spends with his friends. With Wakatoshi, especially. He could never imagine his life without this man. High school was hell if it wasn’t for Hajime’s presence and his friends. But he always yearns for his best friend.
“Toshi,” The man looked up. Tooru's heart burst with something like love. “Move here,” he gestured to the empty seats beside him. Tooru wants to be as close to him as possible, seeking his presence like a moth to a light. Wakatoshi moved without any protest, leaning back on the chair.
Tooru lay his head on his shoulder while still working on his laptop. He just needed a shoulder to rely on, literally. “Tired?” Wakatoshi said in a low voice only they could hear. Tooru nods his head and Wakatoshi can’t help but reach out and run his fingers on Tooru’s hair. The brown haired man snuggles closer to Wakatoshi hair. They stay like that for a few moments before Wakatoshi goes back to his book.
After a few moments of silence, Tooru needed a distraction to take him away from these never ending presentation slides. He peeks at Wakatoshi’s book “Whatcha' reading?” grabbing his hands to bring the book closer to Tooru’s sight. “White Nights” he looked up briefly at Wakatoshi, shocked on his face “Since when did you read romance?”
“Since you said it’s good.” Tooru leaned his head back down on his shoulder. “Cleaning my place, taking me out for a dessert, reading the book I recommend,” It’s just like Wakatoshi to do all of that for him. The perfect best friend, boyfriend, friend. He’s just so perfect that Tooru wants to bite him sometimes. Well not really perfect, Wakatoshi could get hella stubborn too.
Tooru sighs a bit dreamily. “Anyone would be lucky to have you as their boyfriend, I almost don’t want to share you with them.” he chuckles. Wakatoshi replied in a heartbeat “Don’t share me then.”
Tooru hides his burning face on Wakatoshi's shoulder. “Shut up, you’re making it worse”, why would Wakatoshi even say that? Does he know what it does to Tooru’s weak, weak, pathetic heart?
“I just haven’t been on a date for a long time,” Tooru tries to deflect. “I just needed one good kiss and I’ll function as a normal person again.” He says more to himself “So stop trying to sweep me off my feet, Toshi!”
Wakatoshi frowned at the mention of Tooru going out with someone else. Of course Tooru has dated a few girls and boys in his life, but Wakatoshi never liked the idea of it. He tried to push it aside all the time, categorizing it as friend jealousy. Everytime Tooru has a girlfriend or boyfriend, Wakatoshi is forced to spend his time with them too. Because some of them didn't like the idea of Tooru being alone with him. Well, Wakatoshi also doesn’t like the idea of them being alone with his Tooru.
“You want to go on dates?”
“Yeah”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?” Tooru sits up then, his face so close to Wakatoshi. “Why do you want to go on dates? I can take you out.” “You’re gonna kill me?” “Tooru.”
Tooru rolls his eyes, “Because, Toshi, unlike you I have needs.” “What needs?” Now Wakatoshi is just getting on his nerves. “Like kisses and sex.” “I have that need too.” that one surprised Tooru. “You do?!” “Do you think I don’t have sex?” That image, Wakatoshi sleeping with someone else, brings another type of fire into Tooru’s heart. “Why have I never known about this?” Tooru demands, “I thought you’re ace or something because you never sleep with anyone or go on dates.” he continues, frowning.
“I sleep with people, I just don’t date”
“Why?”
“I–” Wakatoshi doesn’t have any answers. The thing is, Wakatoshi never wants to be with anyone romantically. He doesn’t fall in love, he doesn’t feel anything except lust when he needs it. And most of the time that’s the arrangement he had with his partner. He never gives it much thought. He’s just always content with his life, and Tooru. “What do you need, Tooru? I can give it to you.”
“No you can’t,”
“Why?”
“Because!” Tooru is frustrated now. Wakatoshi doesn’t get it. He wants to have a partner. Like Wakatoshi, preferably, but not as a friend. “I just needed to be kissed.” He gave up explaining to Wakatoshi.
The next thing his friend does though, stunts him. Wakatoshi grabs his face, drawing them closer, everything moves in slow motions and Tooru doesn’t know how to handle his fastening heartbeat when Wakatoshi kisses him. Fuck fuck fuck fuck.
Wakatoshi kisses like an expert, the thought of him kissing someone else before this burns Tooru’s blood. So, he held onto Wakatoshi's arm for strength and kissed him back. Wakatoshi claimed his lips like he claimed Tooru’s heart. Fierce and bold, not letting doubt get in the way. Wakatoshi tastes like coffee and smells like citrus and sandalwood and Tooru can’t get enough of it. His whole body feels like it’s been set on fire, ignited. He doesn't want it to stop. Wakatoshi lets go of his face to take a hold of his neck, pushing him closer than ever. Big fingers running through Tooru’s hair, causing him to whine.
Wakatoshi pulls away to catch his breath and Tooru can’t help the sound of protests that escape his lips. “There,” Tooru is still trying to catch his breath, pupil blown wide staring at Wakatoshi’s green eyes “Friends kiss each other all the time, right?” He said.
What the fuck?
“They don’t.” Tooru said, so fucking annoyed. Wakatoshi can’t just kiss him like that and not deal with the consequences. “They don’t?”
“They. Don’t. Waka-baka! ” Wakatoshi is silent. He can still taste the sweetness of Tooru’s lips on his and he’s hungry for more. But if they don’t kiss again?
“Why?”
Tooru looks even more angry. Wakatoshi backs away a little.
“Well, do you want me to go around kissing my friends? Do you want me to kiss Hajime?” Wakatoshi straightened up, he didn't like that image on his head.
“Fuck no,”
“That’s because friends don’t kiss each other like that.”
Wakatoshi takes a moment to let that sit with him. But now that he has a taste, he doesn't want to stop kissing Tooru. It’s like an addiction, and they’ve only kissed once.
Tooru takes on the conflict in Wakatoshi's face. Did his friends really think he can go around kissing his friends like that? Wait– “Did you kiss Tendou like that?!” “What? No!” “Then why did you say friends kiss each other all the time?”
“Because I want to kiss you again.”
Tooru is damned. Fuck it.
“Toshi, do you like me?”
“Of course,”
“Not that way,” he sighs “Do you love me?”
“Of course?” Tooru looked at him, unblinking. “Not that way.”
“Oh”
“Yeah, ‘oh’” he echoed.
Wakatoshi needs to answer him in the next 3 seconds or he will crumble down and get himself buried alive. He can’t ruin this with Wakatoshi, he can’t lose him.
“I guess, I’ve always loved you.” Wakatoshi said with confidence. Then again, “ That way.”
Now it’s Tooru’s turn to be speechless. He can’t believe this. This was never in his plan. He– okay he’s been in love with his best friends for years but he won’t admit it, not even to himself, there. It’s out now. But he never realize Wakatoshi will–
“You’re not fucking with me right?”
“Why would I do that Tooru?”
Wakatoshi is right. He would never play with Tooru’s feelings like this, Tooru knows that. Tooru knows him.
“What does that make us then?”
Wakatoshi is silent. A look of regret on his face and he’s drawing further away from Tooru. Huh?
“Tooru, I–” Now Tooru is confused. “I never meant to ruin this, us, I just–” then it dawned on him. He didn’t say it back.
And now Wakatoshi thinks he doesn’t love him like that .
Well they can’t have that now can they? Tooru won’t let it. So he stopped Wakatoshi’s words by kissing him again. Quick touch of lips that makes Wakatoshi’s heart leap from his chest.
“I love you too,” Tooru smiles softly, “ that way.”
Wakatoshi is taken aback. His heart is beating like crazy and he just wants to kiss Tooru all day.
“Be mine?” He asks.
“Already yours, Toshi.” fond smiles on his face.
☽
Tooru gets back to his work and Wakatoshi gets back to his book. After all, life still goes on. They have work to do and dreams to fulfill. But it’s different now. Not much, because Tooru has always felt like he belongs to Wakatoshi all his life, only now it’s as clear as ever.
They’ve always belonged to each other.
“I can be your house husband for real now.”
And Tooru’s laugh will echo in Wakatoshi’s ear for as long as his heart beat for his best friend.