Work Text:
“Quando eu te encontrar de novo
Eu vou te dar um beijo solto desses intercontinentais
Quem sabe o gosto não te lembra ontem
Quando eu te levava a pé pra casa dos teus pais.”
Acontece, Jão
☀️
Hung in the ocean, Shoyo sees blue blue and blue.
He's starting to get used to this color prism, to the scent of saltwater entering his lungs, to the orange of the sunrise mixed with the blue of the vast ocean that paints itself behind the mountains, and to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. This is Brazil, the place Shoyo now calls home; the place where he's put down firm roots even in unreliable soil, where he flies even in the most unpredictable skies, with rain and a blazing sun sculpting his skin as if he were freshly-cut bronze. It is where he's been reshaping himself, growing, soaring, and learning to craft new wings from scratch, breathing in the pure air of a new, hopeful sky.
If Hinata Shoyo could choose a color to represent Brazil, at first he would say blue. Perhaps green, and also yellow; but now, standing in front of a random bar at the beginning of dusk, with the newly-fallen stars sprinkled in the sky, he only sees and thinks of red.
Red, red and red.
“É ace! Fantástico!” The volleyball game commentator chants enthusiastically. His energy matches the joyful fans in the establishment and in the stands of the Maracanãzinho stadium. “Ele só tem 19 anos! Tobio Kageyama!”
Here, right in front of Bar do Belmonte on the busy corner, Hinata Shoyo watches Kageyama Tobio in all his glory, sweaty and buzzing with fulfillment, being cheered by his teammates and the audience after his first ace of the night. The crimson cotton of his shirt is slightly damp at the collar, his grayish blue eyes shining with secret stars that Shoyo believes he is the only one capable of seeing, cheeks dusted with a cosmic pink that mirrors the stardust above him. Above them.
They are under the same sky now, so close and yet so far.
Kageyama is already there: at the top. Thriving, gleeful and beautiful. And down here is Shoyo—not yet fulfilled in himself, but still with a flame that he knows will warm him to the top someday. Until he reclaims his place on the court, up there on the ladder, his rightful place, beside his one and only.
Instead of sadness, his expression contorts with excitement, hunger, and longing for more. For a place to shelter in. For someone to belong. For the future he has been carving out in the golden soil of Brazilian beaches, blossoming until that person—his person—sees him as his equal for a lifetime and beyond.
☀️
A small smile, delicate as a petal, paints Shoyo’s lips first thing in the morning. Some messages pop up on his phone screen as a source of joy, playfulness, tenderness, and hope—a delightful mix of everything he felt most when his partner was near.
When their heartbeats became one.
[grumpy-yama (¬`‸´¬)]
I'm in Rio now
[Shoyo]
woww kageyamaaa
me too!!!
[grumpy-yama (¬`‸´¬)]
I know
Dumbass
[Shoyo]
:))
today i'm training lots, but one day i'll reach the top
reach YOU
[grumpy-yama (¬`‸´¬)]
I know
[Shoyo]
and i know you do (•̀ᴗ•́)و
oops, it's time for my daily meditation
i'll be back later
I will be back later. It's been a while since Shoyo said that directly to someone. Pedro is always asleep when he usually goes out to meditate and practice, so it's nice to have someone close to family to say things that remind him of home.
[grumpy-yama (¬`‸´¬)]
Is Flamengo your favorite beach?
[Shoyo]
hmmm i think so!
it was the first that embraced me, where i meditated and made new friends
the smell of salt water is different there
[grumpy-yama (¬`‸´¬)]
Salt water is the same everywhere
[Shoyo]
i swear it’s not!!
it fills my lungs like butterflies
ohhh!!! and the sky is bluer too
a beautiful blue
i wish you could see it with your own eyes
Wait, what's he saying? Perhaps it's ironic to want to show the ocean to the owner of the most beautiful blue eyes in existence, but Shoyo tries not to overthink it. About those irritatingly perfect eyes.
Now, he finds himself meditating on the sand on a fresh August morning, being enveloped by the comforting, salty wind. One of the first things Shoyo realized when he came to live in Brazil is that he loves the beach and everything that comes with it. From the sea and the breeze, the sun, the mountainous view, to the cityscape dotted with buildings and tree-lined streets, and even the warm sand that sticks everywhere (like, truly everywhere!). It's impossible not to fall in love with every texture of that masterpiece of nature. The beaches in Japan are also beautiful, of course, but they're not the same as here. Shoyo also loves the warm energy of the locals, the way they vow their affection with hugs and gestures, how warm and inviting they are, communicating with genuine beams, smiling with a sparkle in their eyes, celebrating at any time with homemade food, even on a random Wednesday. It's as if they're already a complete puzzle, but there's always room for one more piece to be embraced.
Honestly, Shoyo felt like a missing piece for a while. Moments of loneliness were common in his first few days here, with the language and cultural barrier pushing him away, but he never stopped pushing himself back, closer; stronger, trying to fit into this new world. He had never given up. Not when he always had people who trusted him, not when he himself always believed he could make it. And as always, there's someone who takes the number one spot when it comes to seeing the hidden abilities of Hinata Shoyo, to recognize the strength he didn't even know he possessed.
“Hinata,” just a few meters away, a voice echoes in his ears; it ricochets off the sea waves. Shoyo knows that voice well—intense, unchanging, and strong. A voice that always utters what he most needs to hear to stop crying and keep growing. A voice that has considered him strong and an equal since day one.
“Kageyama,” he answers, without looking to the side at first. His eyes remain closed, his meditative posture unchanged.
There is no answer for long seconds. Bicycles pass behind them along the Aterro do Flamengo while some people take their dogs for a walk. Dawn has already broken on the horizon and life in Rio begins to rise, loud and warm. Inside Shoyo, life blossoms naturally—his heart races, butterflies flutter uncontrollably, and a toasty, familiar sensation permeates the pores of his golden skin, melting like copper through his veins.
There's a soft rustling sound on the sand beside him, until someone finally sits down.
“You’re really here,” Kageyama’s tone is soothing, sprinkled with awe and relief. Shoyo allows himself to open his eyes slightly to make sure he's not dreaming, and comes face to face with the handsome features of his rival just centimeters away, gazing serenely at the sea before them.
“I guess I am,” he replies with a soft smile. It's still hard to believe that he's indeed here, on the other side of the world, playing at the best level of world beach volleyball.
“And you’re here,” Shoyo continues, hopeful. “Why?” His hands find the sand and grip the golden grains, aching for long, warm fingers that remind him of home.
“I'm playing in the Olympics.”
“I know that.” Of course Shoyo knows that. The whole world does. Plus, the image of Kageyama wearing the red uniform of the Japan National Team hasn't left his mind since that night. “What I meant was... Why are you here? By my side. Now...”
Kageyama swallows hard, sighing adorably as he digs his toes into the sand. “I don't know,” he answers, honestly.
“You were amazing up here,” Shoyo keeps talking. He kind of misses being able to open up to Kageyama as much as he used to. “I saw you on TV the other day. Against France.”
Kageyama simply hums.
“The killer serve came to show off here in Brazil, too?” Shoyo’s smile grows wider. “How cocky of you, Kageyama-kun!”
This time, Kageyama opens a wee grin. A small fragment of joy plays at the corner of his lips, now curved upwards.
“Dumbass,” he whispers as he turns to the side, his cheek dimples now more pronounced with his smile.
His gaze lingers over the entire length of Shoyo’s body, traveling over his exposed arms, his sand-covered thighs, and the tan lines etched around his neck and biceps. He takes his sweet time drinking in the sight of every detail of his body, as if memorizing each scar around Shoyo’s fingers, caused by seashells, memorizing each new freckle gifted by the sun to remember even when he's back home, in the house that once belonged to both of them. When Kageyama’s gaze finally meets his, Shoyo feels an electric current run down his spine and ricochet through every inch of his being.
It's warm, comforting, and also overwhelming.
It's as if he's being reborn and flourishing again, always stronger and more passionate.
The two say nothing. They simply lose themselves in each other’s gaze with the rise and fall of the waves. Shoyo’s fingers are still clinging to the sand, longing for more, for a touch and a safe embrace to truly belong. Longing for someone.
His someone even better.
“Salt water here…” Kageyama begins to speak, unblinking, blue eyes still fixed on Shoyo. “It smells different.”
The aforementioned scent mingles in the fresh wind and hits them harder, playing with their hair. Kageyama’s black strands shine in the sunlight, becoming softer as they swirl back and forth, and more than ever Shoyo wants to touch them. To touch, to hold and treasure him forever.
But he doesn't. Not now. Instead, he smiles.
“Told you!!” He giggles freely until the corners of his eyes crinkle with genuine affection. Shoyo simply loves that man so much. “We have to come back here in a few years and play together. Maybe we'll bathe in the sea afterwards, and then lie down on the sand.” He blushes as he imagines the two of them lying side by side, sweaty, pink, and shirtless, with seawater running down their exposed muscles, lost in each other’s gaze just like now.
Shoyo’s words sound like a promise, and they truly are. He knows that Kageyama can read between the lines of his heart that now lays bare before him.
“We should,” Kageyama says softly, lips slightly parted. He sounds breathless, vulnerable, and looks more beautiful than ever. The pink warmth of his cheeks is so inviting, and oh, Shoyo wants to fill them with kisses and many, many more promises.
The sand simulates thousands of stars still separating them in outer space. And that's fine because one day that distance will be overcome. Once they've reunited, no matter how many seconds, minutes, or days they spend together, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio will make the most of it, fulfilling the thousands of promises that paved their way to this point. All the promises hung in the ocean, woven to symbolize their mutual love.
☀️
Kageyama is leaving on a Friday afternoon, three days after the closing of the Olympics.
Brazil’s victory in both beach and indoor volleyball has created a huge buzz in the city, and all the national teams have decided to enjoy the festive atmosphere for a little longer.
When the festivities are over, Shoyo realizes their time in the same country, under the same sky and sun, is running out. The last time he saw Kageyama was that day at the beach, where even the brief silence that hung in the air was comforting. After who knows how long, Kageyama stood up and left Shoyo on the sand, back in his meditation; his heart and soul still full of longing and devotion. Almost three weeks later, his inner self remains the same: hopeful, but still yearning for more and more.
“You could go talk to him again,” his roommate, Pedro, suggests, sitting next to him on the sofa. They have red buckets of popcorn in their laps while watching the latest episode of Yuri on Ice. “Just to say goodbye.”
Shoyo grabs a handful of popcorn and throws it into his mouth.
“Hmm,” he hums as the salty notes fill his taste buds. “We don't really say that. That’s not how our relationship works.”
“Then, do it the way it works,” Pedro tries again. “You understand him like no one else and should know what to do.”
Shoyo sighs happily. He has shared part of his and Kageyama’s past in Karasuno with Pedro, and even though he'd revealed just fragments of their story, his friend already understands the depth of their relationship. He can even perceive something more veiled in Shoyo’s heart, all those strong, world-shattering, noisy feelings that are desperate to be released.
“I do,” Shoyo says, truthfully. “I understand Kageyama like no one else.” A certain self-centered monster crawls inside him, intense and confident.
“Good,” Pedro opens up an encouraging smile. “Boa sorte, Shoyo.”
Shoyo beams as he picks up the remote control resting on the arm of the sofa and presses the play button again. Story Maker starts playing on TV, and the episode extends with a scene of Victor and Yuri slipping gold rings onto each other’s fingers. Heat shoots into Shoyo’s cheeks and he smiles goofily behind the pillow he hugs, imagining that he might experience that someday, with a certain someone.
☀️
With the sun beating down hard on the sidewalk where he sits, Shoyo sighs pleasantly despite the heat. He's getting more and more used to the weather, and during his work break, he likes to enjoy the pleasant breeze near the palm trees on the beach. The Copacabana boardwalk is packed with tourists, per usual, and Shoyo likes to watch all of them feeling welcomed and safe in such a short time. He knows that feeling pretty much well.
A look down at his wristwatch reveals that he still has an hour left during his lunch break, and he wonders what he can do in that time. What he should do.
He fluffs the cap on top of his head, and a few slightly sweaty red curls spill out to the sides. His beach volleyball attire has prepared him for this moment, and it's in this battle armor that he ends up ordering a ride-sharing car to the airport.
His destination lies on the other side of the city, and with each passing minute sitting in the passenger seat, his heart skips many beats, hands getting more slippery and trembling. Shoyo's not a man to back down, though, and he surely doesn't want to change his mind now or ever.
Just stepping into the airport, he already notices more activity than usual. The departure lounge is in Terminal 2, near a souvenir shop, and from afar Shoyo can already spot a group of people (athletes) in white and red uniforms and black jackets with the Japan flag on their chests. Some are giving autographs in the waiting room, while others head to the bathroom. The person Shoyo is looking for most is between Hoshiumi Korai and Bokuto Kotaro, stuffing small gift bags into his suitcase.
Shoyo might as well call him now, but a silly smile blooms on his lips. He takes his sweet time appreciating Kageyama from afar, his little pout as he tries to close his overflowing suitcase, silky bangs falling over his forehead, so soft to the touch, and his skin lightly reddened by the sun. Ah, and those eyes. Those uniquely grayish blue eyes, with a powerful yet melancholic gleam, beautiful and full of longing. Shoyo so desperately wants to frame his face and gaze into those eyes all day, all night long. Forever.
“Kageyama-kun!!” He decides to call finally, with that playful, nostalgic tone from their school days.
Kageyama’s hands freeze on the zipper of his suitcase, before other two pairs of eyes land on Shoyo.
“No way!!” Hoshiumi is the first to open his mouth, wide eyes shining with wonder. “Is that Hinata Shoyo???”
“My disciple!!!!!” Bokuto cheers, arms held up above his head.
Shoyo lets out an airy laugh and scratches the back of his neck, embarrassed. The two approach and greet him, impressed by how much he has changed.
“Hi, Hoshiumi-san. Bokuto-san.”
“You've grown up, huh?” Hoshiumi compliments.
“Look way bigger and stronger already!” Bokuto beams.
“I still have a long way to go,” Shoyo mirrors his joyful grin. He rocks back and forth on his heels while answering a barrage of questions from long-time colleagues. It's good to see that they're both super interested in his life in this new land.
“So, you're here to say goodbye to us?” Hoshiumi asks.
“Maybe to ask for an autograph?” Bokuto suggests, already pulling a black permanent marker from his pocket.
Shoyo opens his mouth, but it closes without a sound coming out. He looks through the small space above their shoulders, and spots Kageyama frozen in place, now looking in their direction. Or rather, at him. At Shoyo, his gaze curious, determined. A mix of sentiments paints his face, the same emotions Shoyo has been feeling all these days that he and Kageyama have been sheltered under the same sky and stars.
“Actually… I—” He starts answering his friends but can't take his eyes off that man. It's as if a strong electric current has connected them, an unknown, stubborn, and unbreakable force.
It takes Shoyo so long to respond that Bokuto tilts his head to the side, intrigued, but still smiling. Hoshiumi also finds his silence strange, and when he turns around to look at Kageyama, his gaze travel from his teammate to Shoyo, connecting the dots. It doesn't take long for him to understand the situation and take action.
“Ah, right,” he says, mostly to himself. “Bokuto and I will let you talk to your, hmmm, rival. Right, Bokuto?” Hoshiumi gives him a light nudge, forcing a smile.
Bokuto continues to show off his impressively white teeth. “Okay!” He lightly pats Shoyo on the back and begins to leave, with Hoshiumi by his side.
Before the two are completely gone, Hoshiumi stops on his tracks to whisper in Shoyo’s ear: “Good luck. He's been waiting for this moment, too.” He mimics Bokuto’s previous movement and squeezes Shoyo’s shoulder, a comforting gesture, before joining the rest of the team.
And now there is nothing or no one between Shoyo and Kageyama.
The distance between them is short, and it will become the opposite in a few minutes, but now they are here, within arm’s reach, and Shoyo will make the most of it. He approaches with determined steps, desperate to touch, to grasp and hold. Kageyama swallows hard. It's as if his eyes can't believe what the present has in store for him. For both of them.
“Hey,” Shoyo starts, testing the waters. Their chests are almost touching, and Kageyama hasn't moved an inch since their eyes met.
“Hey,” he replies, voice barely a whisper.
“I felt I should come, so…” Shoyo giggles awkwardly. “I’m here now.” Unconsciously, Shoyo removes the cap from the top of his head, revealing his newly-cut hair. His ginger curls are longer on top, all disheveled, and shorter around the edges.
He's so nervous it's like he's sweating even on his scalp.
“You—” Kageyama blinks swiftly. His eyes follow as Shoyo runs his fingers through his unruly curls. “You came all the way here during your break just to see me,” he says to himself, still in disbelief, even with reality knocking at his door.
“I did, yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“No need to be reckless, dumbass.”
“I needed to, okay?” Shoyo exhales heavily. He tucks his cap into his fanny pack and tries not to succumb to Kageyama’s gaze, which lingers on every detail of his face, his hair, his skin, his muscles and soul. It's as if he can see all the most invisible layers of Shoyo, as if he were naked before him, and it is frightening, yes, but Shoyo only feels safe. “I need to tell you that I'm going to keep training harder and get stronger, so don't you dare stop, Kageyama!”
Kageyama’s lips press together in a straight line. His fists are clenched at his sides, and anyone passing by might think he is about to punch someone.
“Don't you dare stop striving to be the best, because it's like you're saying you couldn't wait for me, and I don't want that! I want everything and much more from you, I always have and I will continue to want it.” Shoyo swallows hard, body shaking, an exorbitant heat painting his tanned skin. “To want you… Forever.”
“To want me…” Kageyama repeats. He sounds extremely overwhelmed and dizzy, unsure what to do with the confession Shoyo had just made.
Yeah, there's no other word to describe what just happened. Shoyo just confessed. He showed the various vulnerable layers of his heart so that Kageyama can read them completely. He just said that he wants them to stay together forever in this relationship of waiting for and reaching out to each other. He confessed explicitly and without hesitation, loud and clear, that he wants Kageyama, he longs and desires him, and wants to belong to him, too.
“You want me,” Kageyama repeats yet again. His voice sounds dreamy, ethereal, and Shoyo can't help but blush furiously.
“T-that’s what I just said!!! I guess…”
“You guess???”
“Mhmmm!!!!!”
Kageyama sighs. “You gotta be more clear, dumbass.”
“What I had to say has already been said,” Shoyo states firmly. His heart is hammering against his chest, and any other intense emotion that dares to blossom within him is capable of making him explode right here and now. “And you? Aren't you saying anything?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” Kageyama deadpans, ignoring Shoyo’s big brown eyes gaping at him. “Not now. But once you’re back, I will tell you everything. Everything and more.” Then, suddenly, in contrast to the expression that hides whatever he's feeling, Kageyama reaches out to cup one of Shoyo’s cheeks—a delicate, warm touch, holding him carefully as if he could break at any moment.
Shoyo immediately closes his eyes. A long, trembling sigh escapes him as he rubs against that familiar patch of skin. Unable to hold back, he curls his calloused fingers around Kageyama’s wrist, holding on tight so he never slips away, so this moment never ends. Shoyo begins to slowly caress the length of his wrist, his arm, and opens his eyes to find Kageyama’s expression.
His lips are slightly parted, cheeks a beautiful crimson hue that extends to the tips of his ears. Shoyo wants to feel more of his warmth so badly that he reaches out, too; he touches the shell of his ear with his index finger, and runs his thumb down from his jaw all the way to the corner of his mouth.
Damn... Kageyama is so hot.
“Você é tão bonito,” Portuguese slips freely from his mouth before he can stop himself. Shoyo knows the other can't quite decipher his words, but they have an immediate effect: Kageyama exhales slowly, pleasurably, almost melting under Shoyo’s thumb.
“Hinata,” he whispers brokenly, eyelids fluttering swiftly. Up close, Shoyo can see how long and thick his eyelashes are. “Dumbass.”
Shoyo giggles fondly. He'd missed that endearing term so, so much.
Perhaps it's the way Kageyama still holds him as if he were the most precious being in the world, or the way he bathes him with affection and trust in the blue of his eyes, but Shoyo simply feels he must do something more, so he does it. Still holding the other’s face and wrist, he tiptoes and presses his lips against his person’s. The touch is brief, innocent and homely, strong enough to send lightning bolts coursing through the pores of his skin. Shoyo sighs deeply against Kageyama’s mouth, the sensation completely different from anything he's ever experienced, wanting more and more of him.
He breaks apart slightly just to peer at his reaction. Kageyama is more dazed than ever, his eyelids half-open and face completely red. His lips part naturally, striking and shiny, and Shoyo understands that he wants to savor every inch of that beautiful mouth.
Luckily for him, Kageyama seems to want the same. No, he really wants it, too. They both want this moment, and each other. That's proven by the way he approaches, lowering his head slightly so their lips can meet again, starting with a sweet peck that evolves into more. The kiss deepens as Kageyama parts his mouth to taste Shoyo’s lower lip, their pleasurable sighs escaping together in hot puffs of air that ignite matching flames within them. Having Kageyama’s warmth so close feels like a dream, so Shoyo curls an arm around his waist and gently cups his cheek, seeking more closeness, more delightful sensations; always more, more and more of him. Kageyama returns the gesture by wrapping his arms around Shoyo’s back, squeezing his back muscles and pulling him even closer, their chests now pressed together, with heartbeats intertwined like red threads of fate.
It's Shoyo’s first kiss, and he's certain it's Kageyama’s, too. He knows from the shy way their mouths brush against each other, to the awkwardness and how their teeth and noses bump here and there. He can't help but smile against his lips, and his heart does a somersault once Kageyama does the same. Yeah, Kageyama is smiling into Shoyo’s lips. He's happy to be kissing him, happy to be awkward on their first time, and it's all right. It's all right because they're doing it together. Their lack of experience is compensated for by the slow dance of their lips, which test, try and explore without haste, savoring every corner of soft skin until they plunge into a life-changing, breathtaking discovery.
It's a new form of surrendering, of devotion, with layers of blooming sentiments completely unafraid to be exposed.
Even when their lips part for a brief moment, Shoyo just can’t stay away. He rubs the tip of his nose against his person’s, kisses his jaw, his cheeks, hugs him tightly, and buries his face into his neck, breathing Kageyama in. Shoyo wants to memorize his scent even when they're far away, as a souvenir of what home truly smells like.
“You've been working so hard,” Kageyama murmurs, dazed, and pulls Shoyo’s face up to plant a kiss on his temple. The touch is so tender and full of reverence that it makes him want to cry.
“I'm trying to,” Shoyo sobs between his person’s reliable palms, his smiling lips already swollen and shiny from the passionate kiss they just shared. “I’m always trying. For me. For you…”
Kageyama’s eyes glisten with tiny shooting stars. His usually neat hair sticks everywhere which is adorable. He skates his thumbs across the pink dusting Shoyo’s cheeks and leans in for another kiss—this time more delicate, slower and sweeter, but no less breathtaking.
“I know,” he whispers into his mouth. The taste of summer, home, and something uniquely Kageyama makes Shoyo’s legs tremble. “I know,” Kageyama repeats, softly, brushing the tip of his nose against his.
Their warm breaths keep mixing in the small space between them. Shoyo remembers that they're still standing in the middle of a crowded airport, with several people rushing past them to reach the boarding gate, and Kageyama will walk through that gate any minute now. He can't waste another second. He can't help but pull his man by the nape of his neck and keep kissing him, whispering sweet nothings against that perfect mouth, sighing and melting with him to the point of uniting their bodies into one.
“Where did you learn to kiss like that?” Kageyama grumbles, his eyes unfocused.
“Hmm… With a hot guy... Tall, handsome…” Shoyo replies, smiling goofily. When Kageyama shoots him a mortal glare, he rushes to say, between giggles, “With you, of course!!”
Kageyama blushes. He intertwines his fingers through coppery curls and squeezes Shoyo’s cheek harder, giving him several kisses all over his face, whispering sweet nothings between low grumbles.
“Once I'm back,” Shoyo sighs when Kageyama kisses a spot near his neck. “You will be all mine.”
Kageyama stops with the kisses, his breath hot against Shoyo’s ear.
“I've been yours for so long,” his voice stands out with its usual sincerity, clear and beautiful.
I've been yours. I'm yours.
Kageyama is his.
“Yeah?” Shoyo beams as he strokes the dark strands of hair on Kageyama’s nape, thumb running across the pink on his cheek. Some tears start gathering in the corners of Shoyo’s eyes, but he doesn't mind at all. “And I'm yours.”
It's obvious that Kageyama doesn't even think before blurting out: “Marry me, then.”
Time seems to freeze. Shoyo stops caressing the other man’s face, his eyes wide, mouth slightly open, breathing deeply. Kageyama’s eyes also widen as he realizes what he'd just said, and before he can shout anything to mask his previous confession, Shoyo throws his head back and breaks into a laugh full of love.
“Now?” He asks between giggles, eyes crinkled adorably.
Kageyama swallows hard, stuttering with a pout, “N-Not now, dumbass! Nor today,” the crimson tone painting his face grows darker. God, he’s so freaking adorable. “But… One day.”
“One day,” Shoyo repeats, dreamily. He can already imagine a life of them playing volleyball together forever, on different teams, on the same team, taking vacations here in Brazil in a cozy beach house where they cook for each other, living in a bubble where just the two of them exist. “Sounds perfect.”
They lean in for another kiss, which becomes another sequence of long, desperate ones, mixed with their taste and low giggles. They only stop against their own will when a voice on the loudspeaker announces that boarding for the next international flight is open, which means it's Kageyama’s time to go.
For now. But one day…
Shoyo insists on accompanying him to the boarding area, carrying his suitcase despite his protests.
“I have the strength to carry them all,” Kageyama keeps grumbling under his breath, with Shoyo following him by his side.
“Yeah, but you also have a really nice, hot guy to do this for you,” Shoyo beams, cheeks flushed pink.
Kageyama doesn't respond. Instead, he glances at Shoyo from head to toe without stopping walking, and gives him a light, playful nudge. His face is still slightly flushed, lips swollen after so many kisses, and Shoyo has to be really strong not to drop Kageyama’s suitcase on the floor and jump on that man again. His man.
When the two finally reach the boarding line, the whole team is already there, staring at them with knowing looks. Hoshiumi and Bokuto are up front, and they both give Shoyo thumbs up in support. He responds with the same gesture and a scratch on the back of his neck.
“I think you should go,” Kageyama says without looking at him. He tries to reach for the bag Shoyo has slung over his shoulder, but his reach falters, not really wanting to say goodbye.
“Yeah,” Shoyo answers with a sad smile. “And you should go, too.”
Kageyama hesitates in his steps, despite already having a significant distance between him and the next person in line. Shoyo looks at him attentively and reaches out for his hand to lace their fingers together, caressing the back of Kageyama’s hand with his thumb. Kageyama gazes at the way the other man strokes him slowly, gently. His breath catches in his throat when Shoyo brings the back of his hand close to his lips, never breaking eye contact, and presses a kiss full of reverence and devotion against Kageyama’s skin.
“See you, Kageyama,” he presses yet another kiss to his knuckles. Again again and again.
It takes Kageyama a few seconds to respond, his eyes fixed on the man completely devoted to him, body and soul.
“See you,” he breathes out, hopeful and determined, pink on the cheeks. “Hinata.”
Shoyo finally hands him his other bag, smiling with hope. Before continuing down the line, Kageyama frames his face between his hands and gives him a lingering kiss—the last one for now, but the first of many in their future together.
He says nothing more as he walks away, handing over the documents to finally board the plane with his teammates. Shoyo waves his arms above his head, rocking back and forth on his heels. He can still taste Kageyama in his mouth, feel his warmth close by, and the beautiful sight of him flashing a small, genuine smile before disappearing around the corner of the hallway is enough to seal yet another promise between them.