Work Text:
Hinata looks out the window of the plane at the airport. Tsukki’s in there. Already missing me I bet. His stomach sinks. Two years. That’s his contract length for training in Brazil. Two years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things. He and Tsukishima had only been together for one, without having told anyone just yet. That one year isn’t nearly as long as he’d like.
Being on the same team, dating was ill advised as a break up would ruin team chemistry. He knew that. Tsukishima knew that. Their feelings started during their second year. Or at least, they did with Hinata. After first year’s nationals, Tsukishima's pride and desire to achieve matched Hinata’s and he was growing to respect the guy he hated most on his team.
He found it less intimidating to ask his fellow middle blocker for help with studying during their second year so that he could make it to training camp without getting in trouble with the teachers. That time spent with Tsukishima was actually somewhat nice. As if, something had softened about the guy. The next year, Tsukki actually offered the help without Hinata asking, much to his surprise.
That’s when it happened. Tsukki sat closer this time, and it made Hinata way more nervous. He struggled to think, and he wasn’t taking in what Tsukki was teaching him almost at all. This of course ticked Tsukki off, to which he snapped and asked what was wrong. Hinata confessed, it was because of how close they were sitting. His heart wouldn’t stop racing and his stomach was twisted into knots.
It was silent for a few moments then, before the most smug smile he’d seen on Tsukki's face in so long spread across those lips that Hinata thought about almost every night since he realized he had a crush at all. “You like me, don’t you pipsqueak?” Hinata immediately bristled, yelling and throwing his arms around in defense. When Tsukki laughed, a soft sound that made Hinata freeze instantly and turn beet red, he knew it was all over for him. That’s wraps. His life was over. Tsukishima was going to tell everyone and make fun of him for sure.
However, Tsukishima leaned over and straightened Hinata’s books, picking up a paper of notes that had been knocked off. “You know, I had been wondering if you were acting differently towards me because you still hated me, or if it was something else.” With those things settled, Hinata watched as the guy looked him right in the eyes, wearing that smile that seemed to warm somewhere deep in Hinata’s chest, “I’m glad it was the ‘something else’” A pause, Hinata’s breath caught in his throat, “Because I like you too.”
It was hard to study after that. Hinata was basically bouncing with energy the rest of the session, and Tsukki had to keep correcting him to focus on the studies. The level of patience it must have taken was surely Tsukki’s first act of love. After it, they spent time talking about what it meant in regards to practice and school. It was then they decided that keeping it secret was best, but they never decided when to come forward about it. So for now, it’s their favorite secret, held between the sun and the moon.
The plane takes off and Hinata sits wondering if this was the right choice. Tsukishima has spent a month talking him through the choice. Pros and cons, what it meant for his future, all he’d learn underneath the coach there. Yes there is the distance. The language barrier. The struggle of assimilating to a new culture. It will be really hard. The pay off though? There is no point of down playing it.
Never once did Tsukki mention the relationship as a con. When Hinata asked, Tsukki just smirked and said there would be no change. “You’ll shine just as bright, even if you’re thousands of miles away. I used to think I was your shadow. Now, I just bask in the warmth of your glow.” That alone gave Hinata the strength to continue on. I’ll shine the brightest you’ve ever seen. Just you wait, Tsukki.
One plane ride, an hour of security and bag checks, then meeting with Coach Lucio, he hitches a ride from him to his apartment. The first week was rough. He frequently got turned around in Rio de Janeiro streets, said the wrong or silliest things to locals who gave him odd looks, and struggled to find a job or make a friend.
It didn’t take much longer for him to find a rhythm. In the morning, call Tsukki and say good morning, even though it was night time over there. Day time, delivery job. Evening time, practice. At night, say hi to his roommate and call Tsukki to end his day. Repeat. Days off, he explores, or spends some extra time at the beaches trying to get the hang of the strong winds and propelling his tiny body around in the sand. It feels good. He feels like he is getting somewhere.
That is, until his uphill roller coaster takes a sharp downhill that leaves him crying in the corner of his room that evening. It starts with work. He has gotten mixed around for the first time in months, and is frantically asking locals for directions. He ends up chewed out by the customer, and then later chewed out by his boss.
That leaves him in a sour mood for the rest of his shift, which is worsened by the way the sky is starting to cloud over into a deep grey. However, on bad days, he already has a pick me up in his back pocket. There is a very homey restaurant a few blocks from his work, and after a year of visiting every so often, they knew him well at this point. The cheers he gets when walking inside make him feel like he has a family away from home.
The inside is decorated top to bottom with bright colors and local art and the main dining hall already filled with customers. He wastes no time chatting up the staff after placing his order, pausing as they run food out or take a call for another order. However, when he reaches for his wallet, he find there is in fact NO wallet where it should be. Hinata froze. He pats one pocket of his jacket, then another. Then his pants pockets. Nothing. Again and again there was nothing.
All the color fades from his face. He is one hundred percent sure he put it in pocket this morning before work. Sheepishly, he waves a hand apologetically to the girl at the counter. “Must have left my wallet at home… Um... I’ll be back!” He turns and leaves, his stomach starting to twist into knots.
He’s racing down the side streets, taking all the short cuts he can in a rush. The first drop of rain smacks against his face, and is followed by more. Many more. His foot catches on a loose brick in an alleyway, causing him to topple over.
At his speed, his collision is anything but gentle. Hinata catches himself with his knee first, sliding against the now slick pavement. OUCH! He winces, slowly pushing himself back up. Red. Blood drips down his fresh wound. Great, now he has to take care of that too. He can’t show back up with blood racing down his knee and still look like a somewhat normal human being.
When he gets home, he steps inside with a huff, dripping water into the entryway. It had quickly started pouring his last portion of his run home and now he's soaked through and through. Hinata shoots his roommate a glance, but Pedro doesn’t even raise his head to greet him. So, he doesn’t greet the guy either. He’s not in the mood for pleasantries right now anyway. Besides, he has more pressing matters. First, getting out of these soaked clothes, taking care of his wound, and finally and most importantly, his missing wallet.
After a change of clothes and some first aid, he begins his search. Top to bottom. Hinata has torn his whole room apart. Moved the bed, lifted the mattress, took all his clothes out of the dresser. It’s not here. Why? Where is it? One last ditch attempt, he walks to the living room.
“Pedro?” He peeks around the wall.
“Busy.”
“Just real quick. Um.. Did you see my wallet anywhere?”
“No. Now leave me alone.”
“B-But I lost it! All my money and my ID was in it, as well as bank cards!” Hinata presses.
Pedro huffs and turns his head finally to look at Hinata, “That’s neither my problem, nor do I care. Figure it out. Rent is due by the end of the week and I already have my portion.”
Ouch. Hinata goes silent and nods, “Right… Sorry for bothering.” He says, defeated. With his shoulders hunched over, he looks like a kicked puppy as he shuffles back to his room. If Pedro hasn’t seen it, and his work hasn’t called him saying he left it, and it’s not in his room…
That makes him think back to how he swore he remembers slipping it into his jacket pocket this morning. So, that meant, he either dropped it somewhere or someone took it. Hinata doesn’t remember taking it out to buy anything during his deliveries. So likely, in his rush to get to that one house earlier today, someone pick-pocketed him.
At this point, he isn’t sure what to do. He’s forgotten all about the food he’s missing out on. What is the point of it anyway? Not like he can pay for it either. He falls back onto his bed and tries to think through his next steps. His journey doesn’t end here. He has a little under a year left here, and then he’ll be back to- TSUKKI!
He unlocks his phone and clicks on Tsukki’s name so fast. Ring. Ring. Ring. And then the sound of the call connecting. It is seven in the evening for Hinata, which meant it is seven in the morning for Tsukki. He’s thankful his boyfriend is an early bird.
“What’s up pipsqueak? This is earlier than normal. Everything alright over in Brazil?”
Silence. For a second too long. He is taking in the sound of Tsukki’s voice. Something about it is just so comforting right now. Then, he finally speaks. “Tsukki…” Hinata groans, rolling over to his side with his phone pressed to his ear, “I… I’ve just had the worst day. It’s been terrible. I don’t know what I’m going to do!” A loud crack of thunder. The lights flicker.
“I had trouble finding out where to go for a delivery today! The customer was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO mad. And when I got back to the shop, my boss yelled at me! Which like, I understand. The customer probably called and complained on my way back and I missed out on deliveries with how long it took and-”
“Sho-... I-”
Hinata’s eyebrows furrow, “Tsukki? Wait… Can you hear me?”
“Breaking up-”
“Tsukki? TSUKKI?”
“You-” Another crack of thunder. So loud, the building shakes. Wait, that sounds like it hit almost right outside. His power cuts out, and shortly after, the call disconnects. No service.
Hinata is frozen there for a moment, what did he just say? Out of all of the things that could happen. Is Tsukki actually breaking up with me? The guy did sound more tense on their calls lately. Was he pulling away this whole time? Was the distance too much? Hinata is NOT of rational mind. Worst case after worst case scenario has been punching him one after another today. Why not one more to place the cherry on top of the worst case scenario cake!
That wass it. The straw that broke the camel’s back. Hinata curls into a ball in his sheets, wearing the hoodie Tsukki had given him before the plane trip, and just cries. He doesn’t know how long he cried for. He fell asleep partway through it. The day has just been so exhausting, it did a number on that stamina and energy he’s known so well for.
He awakens the next morning with a headache from being dehydrated due to crying his eyes out for what was likely hours. The first thing he does is grab his phone. No signal. He wants to throw it. He considers it seriously too, his grip tightening on it. No. No point of breaking something over how he’s feeling. He wants to… move on from this. Time to get started, best not to sulk inside all day. That fixes nothing.
After a morning shower and a rather large breakfast to make up for not eating the night before, Hinata decides to go out. He walks the streets first, letting the noise of the inner city dull the thoughts and worries racing in his mind. His eyes feel unfocused. He just walks, and walks, and walks. Alleyways, through brush, waving at people who give him a passing glance, until his mind snaps back to clarity as his feet sink into sand.
The beach. He has walked the whole way here without even realizing. Even his absent mind longs for volleyball, because across from him, are three people readying to play. There’s one looking around, like something is missing. His feet move before he can think, and the closer he gets to the person looking around, the more he recognizes that perfect brown hair and model-like features. It seems like the person recognizes him too.
“Chibi-chan?” - “Great King?
Hinata seems to light up. A familiar face right now is exactly what he needed. The two talk a bit, catching up and explaining their circumstances for ending up here. It has Hinata smiling and even laughing a bit again.
“That’s all great and everything, but… You look terrible right now Chibi-chan.” Oikawa raises an eyebrow out of pity, “Everything alright?”
Hinata’s face sobers up again, “Well, it’s going to sound a bit crazy but I had a terrible day yesterday.” He takes a deep breath, and explains everything in dramatic detail to Oikawa who matches his energy with all the theatrics, “And after all that, I called Tsukki to tell him about my terrible day and the phone was acting weird but… I heard him say he wants to break up! Before I could try to ask about it, the power went out and I lost cell service!”
The expression of shock on Oikawa’s face registers and Hinata realizes that, OOPSIE! He just spilled his secret relationship to one of the biggest yappers he’s met, aside from himself. His eyes widen and he’s about to start freaking out, but Oikawa tilts his head down and pinches his nose, waving Hinata to calm down before the yelling even starts.
“Hold on hold on hold on! Setting aside that INSANE news you just dumped like it is just common knowledge. Which, I know for SURE it isn’t because I absolutely would have heard about a relationship between BEAN POLE and SHRIMPY by now. Don’t you think that those words were just a coincidence that you misinterpreted?” He says, looking back up finally with a slightly irritated expression, “There was a big storm last night. The beach is a mess next to the ocean and a lot of power lines were knocked down from trees falling. Tsukki, probably being unable to hear you, was likely trying to inform you that the call was breaking up and that he couldn’t hear or understand you.”
Oh my god. Hinata’s eyes shoot open. OH MY GOD! TSUKKI! “THIS IS WHY YOU’RE THE GREAT KING!” He yells, jumping to hug Oikawa. The amount of relief he feels in that moment allows him to ignore Oikawa’s angry squawking to let him go.
“You can say that again.” A pause, “Go ahead.” Oikawa upturns his head, a smug smile spreading across his lips.
“GREAT KING! GREAT KING” Hinata cheers, jumping up and down right in front of the taller.
“Exactly.” He laughs, patting Hinata’s head, “Have you tried calling him? I think the phone lines are back up and running by now. I got a text earlier.”
“WHAT?! AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?” He exclaims, but before Oikawa can mention that he didn’t have a chance, Hinata’s running off with his cell phone in hand.
Ring ring ring. It’s three in the afternoon. That meant, three am for Tsukishima. Hinata frowns. There’s no way he’d be awake. Click- “Hinata? HIN-”
“TSUKKI!” Hinata yells, the tears already coming. “Tsukki I-”
“Hinata, what happened? Yesterday, you sounded so upset, and then the call started breaking up and disconnected before you got to explain. You sounded like you were about to cry. I called over and over after, and every hour after… I was so worried.”
His boyfriend sounds tired. Beyond tired even. Hinata sobs, crouching down to the ground as he begins to lose control, “I called to tell you about my day -hic- because it was just terrible and and and I -sob- Uhg, you started cutting out and-” His voice cracks, “all I heard was ‘breaking up’ and ‘you.’”
Hinata’s shaking, his lip wobbling as he tries to bite it down to hold it still.
“Hinata no I-”
“I-I know… I know you wouldn’t but… I wasn’t thinking right and everything just piled up and-”
“Listen to me.” Tsukki interrupts, sounding more alert now and frighteningly calm. There’s a small pause and his voice softens. “I love you. I haven’t stopped loving you. And I don’t plan to.”
A loud sob. Hinata couldn’t hold it back. The other end of the line goes quiet. Patiently waiting, like he has been this whole past year. Hinata’s voice raises in pitch, and through little whimpers he whispers, “I love you too.”
It took a while for Hinata to calm down. He was just letting everything out at this point. When the sobs stop and the trembles lessen till none remain, he finally recounts his day to the sleepy boy on the other line. He sits in the sand, warm under afternoon sun, as they go back and forth about how unlucky yesterday was. Tsukki’s sharp mind is already putting together a plan to help his boyfriend out, and Hinata’s not about to decline.
After a week, things had sorted himself out. Temporary wallet, new ID applied for with the use of a passport, a couple calls to the bank to get new cards mailed out. Loose cash was a bust, but Tsukki had wired Hinata some money for rent to get buy. He didn’t know what he’d do without his boyfriend.
Thankfully, he doesn’t have to even imagine it. Today’s the day. Hinata’s been vibrating in his plane seat the whole ride. Connecting flights, layovers, sucky airport cafeteria food. It doesn’t matter. Nothing is bringing down his mood. He steps off the plane in Tokyo, head held high. He takes a deep breath, and then yells at the top of his lungs, “HEEEEEEELLOOOOOOO TOOOOOOOOKYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
The other passengers walk around him, passing bewildered glances. He doesn’t even notice them. He starts racing to the terminal, checking into the airport. He texted Tsukishima when he landed. So now, there’s supposed to be- A tall blonde male stands with phone in hand and headphones around his neck at the entrance to one of the gates. Hinata’s bolts.
He slips through people with ease, his balance having improved immensely from playing volleyball in the sand. “TsssuuuUUUUUUUKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!” With his run up, and his momentum, he should have taken the guy down easily. However, Tsukki had already planned for this exact thing. He braces himself, one foot planted firmly behind himself to catch the middle blocker flying through the air, arms wrapping around waist.
Alas, it was to no avail. They both still topple over, but at least Tsukki has lessened the force at which they fall with an “oof” escaping the taller. With his glasses now crooked on his face in a silly manner, Tsukki smiles and leans up to press a small kiss to Hinata’s cheek, “Welcome home.” Then, he tilts his head to behind them, where stands a welcome party with signs.
All of the old Karasuno team, including his old coach, as well as good friends, Kenma, Bokuto, Akaashi, Aone, and more. They stand there, signs and party poppers forgotten in hands, with a mixture of surprised expressions. Hinata’s face colors a dark shade of red, “Wh-what! Wait! Tsukki I-”
He’s just smirking up at his now very flustered boyfriend, “Surprise!”
A day later, Oikawa posts a picture on twitter he took of Hinata and him when they hung out in Brazil, “I was the first to know by the way! 😛”