Work Text:
Tap … Ring … Click.
"… Hello?"
"Tetsu-chan! Sorry, morning practice ran a little later today so I only just got home. I'm— ugh, actually still peeling my socks off as we speak. The weather has been horrible, it's been awhile since I've felt this gross, I need a shower…"
"… Yeah, you should have showered first, stinko. What were you thinking?"
"Excuse me, I was thinking I wanted to talk to my boyfriend first, especially since I'm later than usual for our call—" The rest of Tooru's words disintegrate on his tongue when the warm snort-laughter in his ear turns into a soft, barely there yawn; one that he notices, of course he notices.
"… Tetsu-chan."
…
"Mh-hm?"
"Were you sleeping before I called?" The way Tetsurou's voice sounds; a softer, slower reverb than his usual tone… the way his words are dragging just a little... and the way his responses aren't as sharp and witty, not to mention the lag time before he even says anything… Tooru already knows the answer before he hears it.
"… No?"
"You're such a disgustingly bad liar when your brain isn't working at full capacity, Tetsu-chan." Tooru does a quick check of the time while he lets Tetsurou process the words said, eyes darting to the top right of his phone screen where the solid numbers are displayed.
It's silly how his boyfriend requires a longer time to think through words when he's sleepy. Not many people know that about Tetsurou; in fact, not many people would ever even expect that from Tetsurou. Oh no, not the guy with the quick snapbacks and big brain that randomly stores the full term for DHA in his memory bank.
So, obviously, Tooru finds that tidbit about him overwhelmingly endearing.
"You must be getting old if you were falling asleep at 10pm."
"Shut up, stop bullying me," if Tetsurou were here, or Tooru there, a hand might have blindly come at him right now. Kind of like a cat swipe. "It's been a long week, is all. I've been… m… running around a lot the past few days."
The yawning is getting more and more obvious. Tooru frowns. "You should have said something. I hope your boss is compensating you enough for all the slave work you've been doing. Anyways, I do still need to shower so— go back to sleep, Tetsu."
"… Hm… No, I can stay awhile."
"Didn't you hear me? I said I needed to shower—"
"Tooru." Just like that, with a single murmur of his name, Tooru stills. "You should bring your phone with you… and leave it outside or something. I kinda want to hear your hideous humming while you— … while you wash your hair… pft."
"Oh, you think you're so funny!" But they both know the words are imbued with the complete opposite of ire. This is how they've always worked: teasing insults, back-and-forths that make them sound like enemies sometimes… Tooru feels a sudden wave of longing flood his chest.
Because he can see the look that Tetsurou would have on his face right now. It's a memory. Hazel eyes, dimmed with exhaustion yet brightened with warmth; a curl of lips that's deliberately provocative yet so soft. Tooru might have kissed him to shut him up.
God, he misses Tetsurou.
And worse—
"I missed you." — A sleepy Tetsurou is so much more honest.
Something in Tooru's chest caves in as he lets out a trembling sigh. Thankfully, it's not audible, so he's spared from Tetsurou's keen sense of observation as he preps for his shower.
"… I missed you too."
How many months has it been since he's last seen Tetsurou?
A wisp of insecurity, age-old, curls like a tendril around his heart. Tetsurou is… annoying.
Annoyingly understanding. Annoyingly patient. Annoyingly so okay with encouraging Tooru towards chasing his dream in Argentina while he stays behind in Japan. Despite the 12-hour time difference. Despite the way that he can only see Tooru a handful of times each year. Despite the fact that Tooru thinks of himself as pretty high maintenance.
It's hardly the time to ruminate about such things.
But the longing is still there, sharp tugging against his ribs while he stands under his shower; humming tunes just like Tetsurou had requested. The longing is there as he listens to Tetsurou's resulting laughter. It's there when he steps out after a good half hour, taking his time to do his skincare, silence befalling them as Tooru realises that Tetsurou's falling asleep again.
"Huh—Tooru?"
"Shh. Go back to sleep. I'll be here."
"… Hm… Tell me how practice goes… … later."
"I will. Sleep tight, Tetsu-chan. Sweet dreams."
"…eam of you..."
Oh, how he longs for home.
Tap … Ring … Click.
"Hello?"
"Shittykawa. Are you being an idiot again?"
"Wha—Excuse me? That's so rude, Iwa-chan— you didn't even say hello! Or ask how I've been!"
"Huh? There's no need to. We never used to do that either."
"… It's called being polite, you know."
"Seems performative. Especially if I already know how you've been doing."
"Ugh, you— Did Tetsu-chan teach you that word?"
"Yeah."
Tooru feels his heart simultaneously inflate yet deflate at the response; what a strange feeling.
The mention of Tetsurou… the reminder that Tetsurou and Hajime had become close friends sometime in the past 2 years makes him feel light. His boyfriend and best friend are tied together closely enough because of work, but Tooru knows that the connection of their bond also thrums strongly because of him.
His two most important people getting along well makes him indescribably happy, even if he never vocalizes that sentiment.
He just… wishes he could be there too.
"I can literally hear you getting in your head again, Idiotkawa."
"… I was doing no such thing."
"Sure you weren't. He's been worried about you, you know."
"… Tetsu-chan?"
"Who else?"
"Oh." Guilt festers; prickly. "I… wasn't aware I was making him worry."
"You get a certain way when something's bothering you, and Tetsurou's scarily attuned to emotions— … other than his own. Of course he would notice if you've been acting weird."
"Okay, but I wasn't aware that I've even been acting weird…" Tooru mumbles, pouting when he hears a loud snort in response.
"Even I can tell that you're bothered by something. What have you been thinking about, Tooru?"
It's the drop of his first name that has Tooru's chest tightening. He's long since realised that there's no point in trying to hide anything from Hajime — not that he even wants to. He's grown. He's learnt.
Communication is key. Particularly when he's thousands of miles away.
"Nothing happened. I just… miss him. It's been harder to find time to call lately."
"And?"
"And… what? He's been busier, I mean, so have you since you both are involved with the National team now. I've also been busy, and it's not like I'm unhappy or anything, but— it just… sucks."
"… It does suck. But Tooru, you know you should tell him these things, not me."
"… I know. I know."
"Just talk to him. There's literally nothing you can't talk about with Tetsurou."
"Hajime, sometimes it sounds like you like my boyfriend more than me, your eternal best friend since you were a wee child?"
"Don't make me hit you, dumbass. I hate that you're making me say this, but I care about your happiness. Tetsurou's good for you. So say you'll call him right after this."
"I…"
"'I will'. Say it, Tooru."
"Okay, geez, I will! God, Hajime."
"Good. I've had enough of drinking with Tetsurou and listening to him mope around about you like some lovesick teenager. Swear he talks about you nonstop when he's tipsy."
Tooru's heart flutters. "And you didn't think to record that and send it to me?"
"Your personality is truly shitty, Trashykawa. Whatever. You guys are a match made in heaven. Gross."
"Just say you're jealous of our love~ I'm guessing you're not going to say 'bye' either then, are you?"
"Still seems performative. We'll be talking soon enough anyway."
"Yeah… Okay. Okay. Then I guess I'll hang up now and call Tetsu-chan…"
"Yeah. Tooru, listen," Hajime's voice comes across rough, a little bit stilted, which tells Tooru all he needs to know about how this is a genuine sincerity kind of moment. "You and Tetsurou have got a really great thing going. I know the distance sucks, but you both love each other a lot. I'm sure you'll make it work."
"… Talk to you later, Hajime."
Emotion might have bled into his voice right before he cuts the line, but it's Hajime. He would be able to hear the raw appreciation for what it is. Still, he makes sure to send off a text:
'Thank you', and feels his heart fill with courage at Hajime's react of a thumbs up, right before he dials Tetsurou.
Tap … Ring … Click!
"Tooru! Uh, sorry. I wasn't expecting you to call. Gimme a second, I need to—"
"Oh. Is this a bad time, Tetsu-chan?"
"No, no! I was just sending out an email. I'm done now."
"Sending out an email? … On a Sunday?"
"…"
"Why are you working on a Sunday, Tetsu-chan? They're your rest days."
"I… Well— Shit." Tooru's brows press together, confused. His boyfriend's acting weird. "Before I tell you, I just want it to be known that this is totally not how I wanted it to go."
Tooru blinks, confusion rising some more. "What? What are you talking about?"
"Just, you know. I'm coming. There."
"Tetsu-chan. You're not making any sense."
"I'm coming over there. To Argentina. To you, Tooru."
"… What?"
Tooru doesn't even care that his voice cracks. He's gripping his phone tightly, as if doing that would bring Tetsurou's voice closer to him. "What? You're… Tetsu."
"I just need to clear some work before I leave. It's… not going to be for long, just a week and a half, but I—"
"Shut up. I'm going to kiss you so silly when you get here. I— I can't believe this."
"You look ugly when you cry, thought I should put it out there in case—"
"I'm not crying! Stupid." Tetsurou's so annoying. So annoying incredible. Tooru squeezes his eyes shut, "When are you coming?"
"… In two weeks. I was going to tell you later today, but…"
"No buts. Whatever you're thinking, don't. I'm nothing but happy about this, Tetsurou."
"Tooru…"
"I'm sorry. Hajime—" Hajime must have known about this, that's why he said all those things. Tooru exhales, shaky. "Hajime said you were worried… I was going to call you too. I swear I was going to call you soon, Tetsu-chan."
"Hey. I know."
"There's no way you could have known."
"No, but I believed you would. We're still going to talk about it, Tooru."
"… Yeah. I promise it's nothing big. I just…"
"Miss me too much?" Annoying. Irritating. "I miss you too. That's why I'm coming over there. I want… Actually, let's save it for when we meet."
"Ha, getting all shy on me now? You can be so cute, Tetsu-chan."
Tetsurou mutters something, but Tooru knows; can see in his mind's eye his boyfriend's mildly flustered expression.
He's so irritatingly in love.
"You're not going to say 'bye' either, right?"
"That's Hajime's thing. But… I think I prefer 'see you later' anyways. I'll see you, Tooru."
Yeah. Yeah, they will. And this isn't a fairytale; Tooru knows this won't happen every time. Tetsurou can't up and leave whenever he wants and neither can he.
But. They'll make it work.
Because if there's one thing he and Tetsurou share in common, it's their persistence.
"See you soon, Tetsu-chan."
And Tooru is annoyingly; irritatingly; persistently—
in love,
with a man who reflects that love right back at him.
( "Tooru," he hears two weeks later, and looks upon the expression on Tetsurou's face: Hazel eyes, dimmed with exhaustion yet brightened with warmth; a curl of lips that's deliberately provocative yet so soft.
Tooru kisses him to shut him up. )