Chapter Text
It really shouldn’t surprise Ryuu all that much. It’s not like Tsukishima was actually made out of ice or anything, despite his highly effective cold shoulders and cool glares. He wasn’t made of pristine marble or delicate glass - cool to the touch and off limits - either.
(He just, as Yamaguchi told Ryuu once, has issues with people looking at him and talking to him and, well, breathing near him some days.)
(Most people, Yamaguchi had amended when Ryuu glanced to where Tsukishima had fallen asleep slumped against Yamaguchi’s shoulder. Most people, most days. There are always exceptions.)
There were no warning signals going off in his mind when he wrapped his arms around Tsukishima and crushed him in a hug, lifting him until his feet left the ground for the barest of seconds. (Honestly there might have been warning bells but he had gotten so used to ignoring them that they might as well have not gone off anyway.) Tsukishima had stiffened and sucked in a breath and Ryuu had been prepared to laugh and fend off any attempts Tsukishima would make at immediate revenge and then the strangest thing happened: Tsukishima relaxed and returned the hug.
Long arms wrapped around Ryuu’s shoulders and his nose was buried in the soft material of Tsukishima’s worn hoodie and his brain kind of shut off for a moment as he just basked in the warmth of Tsukishima’s chest pressing against his own with each calm breath Tsukishima took.
“Congratulations, Tsukishima,” he muttered against the warm material covering Tsukishima’s collarbone.
“Thank you,” Tsukishima replied softly. He settled his chin on the top of Ryuu’s head and sighed. “Are we going to stand here and hug all night or…?”
(Ryuu had once heard Tsukishima laugh so loudly and freely that he had started crying - Tsukishima not Ryuu though the sight had made something flutter in his stomach at the time - and he had thought that it was a shame that Tsukishima didn’t laugh much. Yamaguchi once again corrected him and told him that Tsukishima laughed a lot. Just not where and when everyone else was around. Most people most days and all that.)
(Ryuu has always been an exception to many rules but he’s never been as glad to be an exception than he is when he realizes that he’s one of Tsukishima’s exceptions.)