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“No, that’s so stupid! I’m not doing that.” Hinata sputters.
“What, are you scared?” Tanaka grins, while Noya imitates a chicken. Hinata’s face flushes and he crosses his arms.
“Obviously not, it’s just a really stupid dare.” Hinata huffs.
“He’s not actually gonna kill you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oooh, so you are scared!”
“Am not!” Hinata stands up abruptly, eager to prove himself.
Hinata walks up to the center of the court, where Kageyama’s practicing receives with Suga. Practice is over, but Kageyama made a mistake that he’s never going to repeat. And he’s decided that he will fix that mistake today. His eyes are focused and there’s sweat dripping down his neck. But he doesn’t look like he’s anywhere near stopping. Suga on the other hand looks exhausted.
“Ah Hinata, come to switch me out?” Suga asks with a sweet smile. Clearly relieved at the thought of leaving without having to tell Kageyama he wants to stop.
“U-uh no.” Hinata looks nervously behind him, across the court, to where Noya and Tanaka are watching. And already laughing, the bastards. Well, better get it over with. He takes a deep breath.
“What do you want?” Kageyama finally asks, cold.
“You’re really pretty.” Hinata manages to spit out. Loud enough for Noya and Tanaka to hear. The two of them turn to hysterics. And Hinata rubs the back of his neck, well at least that’s over. He looks up at Kageyama, bracing himself for the yelling that’s sure to come.
Kageyama’s face is bright red. He’s dropped the volleyball and is staring slack-jawed at Hinata. Not saying a single word.
“Hahaha! Kageyama, you should see your face!” Hinata doubles over himself in laughter.
“Kageyama?” Suga’s voice gently calls out, and Kageyama wakes up, as if out of a trance.
“Idiot!” He swipes at Hinata, but Hinata just ducks, still laughing. Kageyama scowls and grabs Hinata, pulling him by the hair.
“Ow- ow- ow! Stop it, Kageyama! I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Hinata pleads, but he is still laughing, and not making much of an effort to get out of Kageyama’s grasp. Eventually he slips out, and ducks away from a second swipe from Kageyama, running to hide behind Suga.
“Messing around like this when you missed the most receives.” Kageyama taunts.
“I don’t wanna practice receives.” Hinata pouts. “I want you to set for me. Kageyama!” At this he comes out from behind Suga and makes a pleading motion towards Kageyama. Suga slowly backs away, making his escape from the situation while Kageyama’s distracted.
“Not until you receive better than a second-grader.” Kageyama scowls. They fall into their regular rhythm. Bickering and practicing, long after everyone else has gone. Hinata forgets all about the dare. They must be going at it for hours, but Hinata doesn’t feel the least bit tired. As soon as Kageyama starts setting for him it’s like Hinata’s where he’s meant to be.
It’s nearing the end of their first year. It’s going to be time to say goodbye to the third-years very soon, which makes Hinata emotional. Still, he is excited. Next year, he and Kageyama are going to be second-years! There will be a whole new team dynamic, with Enoshita as captain. Perhaps this will be the year Hinata will truly be the ace of the team. The ball hits Hinata in the face.
“Stop daydreaming!” Kageyama shouts. “You’ll never be the ace if you drop the ball like that.”
“I wasn’t thinking about being the ace!” Hinata’s cheeks color.
“Right,” Kageyama rolls his eyes “As if there’s room in your head for anything else.”
“You-you’re one to talk!” Hinata huffs. “You only ever think about volleyball. I bet you’ve never even liked a girl.”
“Yeah I have!”
“Really?” Hinata smirks. “What’s her name?”
“I- uh” Kageyama balks. Hinata laughs again. “Shut up.” Kageyama’s ears go red, and Hinata enjoys it. It doesn’t feel like often that he can make Kageyama this embarrassed. He’s so tall and imposing, its kind of cute to see him blushing and unable to make eye contact. Hinata remembers the dare.
“Such a pretty boy and no girlfriend-“ he coos, thinking it will just make Kageyama more embarrassed and really push his buttons. Kageyama’s face drops. He looks at Hinata with an expression so serious Hinata doesn’t know what to do with it.
“Don’t call me that.” Kageyama’s voice is hoarse.
“Call you what?” Hinata acts dense.
“Pretty.”
“Whaaat!” Hinata whines. “You get so offended when your nicknames are really compliments, like King.”
“You know why I don’t like that one.” Kageyama mutters.
“It’s not your fault they didn’t appreciate your sets.” Hinata says, suddenly very serious. “I will hit anything you give me!”
“That’s some ego.” Kageyama says, but the corner of his mouth is almost turned to a smile. Hinata can’t help but think it’s a shame Kageyama doesn’t smile more, it suits him so nicely whenever he does.
“I wish I had such a cool nickname, number one decoy is so lame.” Hinata whines. “Nobody would call me pretty.”
“Hn.” Kageyama’s cheeks are pink, despite Hinata not even teasing him this time.
“Kageyama!! You blush whenever you hear someone even say the word pretty?” Hinata starts laughing. “You weren’t acting like this when all the girls were talking to you on Valentines day!”
“You’re just being weird.” Kageyama pushes back. “Stop talking about stupid things. We need to clean up.”
Hinata hadn’t even noticed how late it was getting. Time spent with Kageyama always went by so fast. The sun had long set. Coach Ukai started giving them the keys and letting them lock up, but they definitely weren’t supposed to stay practicing quite so long. The front gate to the school might be locked now already.
“What have we done!” Hinata yelped as they rolled up the net and locked up the storage room, peeking out the window at the darkness outside. “My mom’s gonna be so mad.”
“Hurry up, then.” Kageyama huffs. Locking the door to the gym.
“What if there’s ghosts out there!” Hinata complains, looking distrustingly into the darkness.
“There’s no such thing as ghosts, stupid.” Kageyama’s voice is gruff, but he looks nervous. He looks left and right rather quickly, clutching the keys tightly in his fist.
They start down the path that should be familiar, but in the darkness, the trees leave big shadows. The wind rustles through the leaves, and it sounds like someone could be stalking in the bushes. Hinata grabs Kageyama’s arm and squeals. He waits for Kageyama to shove him away, but he doesn’t.
It’s nice, Hinata has to admit, having such a taller imposing friend. They have a nice balance. Hinata drags Kageyama with him when he wants to socialize. And when he’s scared, he can hide behind Kageyama’s broad shoulders. Right now, even just holding on to Kageyama’s arm makes him feel much safer.
Hinata tries the handle for the gate. Locked. Of course.
“How’d we spend so long in there! You should have stopped giving me sets, Kageyama.”
“Not my fault you kept asking for one more.” Kageyama crosses his arms.
“Now we’re gonna have to climb the fence!”
“Whatever, it’s not a big deal.” Kageyama smirks. “Are you even tall enough to climb the fence?”
“Does a pretty boy like you even know how to climb a fence?” Hinata spits back.
“Don’t say that,” Kageyama says, voice strained.
“What? You called me short.”
“That’s different. That’s just true.”
“But Kageyama! You are pretty! Everyone knows that. All the girls think you’re attractive.”
“I don’t care if the girls think I’m attractive.” Kageyama groans, rubs his face with his palms. “Can we just stop talking about this. It’s not funny.”
Hinata rolls his eyes. “Of course. The king is too good for everything the rest of us care about. Even though literally everyone thinks he’s the prettiest guy in the grade.” He turns to look at Kageyama, to tease him some more, but he finds Kageyama staring at him, eyes dark and clouded. Staring Hinata down.
“And you think it? You think I’m the prettiest guy in the grade?” Kageyama leans in really close. It seems like something in Kageyama snapped, and he’s lost any self control. He moves until Hinata’s backed up against the fence. Hinata blusters, suddenly nervous. Kageyama’s eyes have a certain fire to them, the nervous blushing guy totally gone.
“And.” Hinata tries to regain his breath. “What if I do?”
“Do you think I’m pretty, Hinata?” Kageyama leans down. Hinata can feel his breath on his lips. His heart beats so loud he can barely hear anything. If Hinata wanted, he could just tilt his head up ever so slightly and meet Kageyama’s lips. His lips which look so soft and pink, Hinata’s eyes linger on them.
“I said you are, stupid.” Hinata tries to sound like he’s not affected by this sudden change in the energy. He’s supposed to be the one teasing Kageyama. “Pretty-boy.” He pokes Kageyama in the shoulder, Kageyama doesn’t react.
“No, Hinata. Do you think I’m attractive?” Kageyama brushes his thumb across Hinata’s cheek. Hinata swallows. His skin burns where Kageyama touches it, but he leans into the touch. He doesn’t understand where any of this is coming from but if Kageyama kissed him right now, Hinata’s pretty sure he would like it. He licks his lips, but he can’t seem to speak.
“Exactly,” Kageyama sighs, and drops his hand away from Hinata’s face. Hinata almost leans to chase Kageyama’s hand, like he already misses the touch. He wants to reach out and bring Kageyama’s hand back to his cheek. “And besides. You don’t mean it, so stop saying it.” Kageyama’s voice is heavy and final, embarrassment seemingly catching up to him.
“Kageyama…” Hinata manages to spit out, breathing deep and fast and dizzying and panicked. Hinata can only imagine the fear that must be written all over his face. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing or saying, but he wants Kageyama’s eyes trained on him. “I do think you’re… can I kiss you?” Hinata doesn’t know what he’s thinking, he just knows how he feels right now.
“That’s not fucking funny.” Kageyama spits out. Features scrunched in pain, he frowns heavily and backs even further away from Hinata. Hinata curses, he’s not sure what he’s doing, but this is the wrong answer. He pushes to close the distance.
“Please. I want to kiss you.” Hinata pulls on Kageyama’s shirt. Kageyama’s face is heartbreakingly vulnerable, his eyes so big, his mouth ever so slightly open. Hinata feels like if he just follows whatever this is a little further, it will all fall into place. Kageyama’s face is inviting him to push.
“Shut up, idiot!” Kageyama shoves him, and they start fighting. Hinata grabs his shoulders and pushes as hard as he can. Kageyama grabs his forearms to pull them off of him. Hinata freezes, the position bringing their faces closer. Kageyama’s face is red. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” They’re breathing heavily.
“Maybe I don’t, but I know that I want to kiss you.” Hinata looks at Kageyama’s eyes, confidence growing. “And you’re not pushing me away.” Kageyama’s hands grip Hinata’s forearms harder. But he doesn’t say anything, and he still doesn’t move. “So maybe you also want to.”
“Maybe I want to- maybe I-“ Kageyama whispers, wonder in his eyes. “You’re so fucking stupid, Hinata.” He cradles Hinata’s face like it’s the most precious thing he’s ever held. “Tell me this isn’t a dare.” His voice guarded. His hand is shaking when he tilts Hinata’s face towards his, stops right above his lips.
“Not a dare.” Hinata can barely speak.
Kageyama closes the distance and their lips meet. Hinata feels like everything comes to a stop. Kageyama’s eyelashes tickle his cheek. For a second, mouths, closed, just pressed together feels right. Hinata’s surprised how soft Kageyama’s lips are. He tilts his head ever so slightly and starts to open his mouth, and Kageyama jumps into action.
Kageyama kisses him like he has something to prove. Like he’s trying to tell him something in the way he buries his hands in Hinata’s hair. He presses some gentle kisses to Hinata’s bottom lip. Then he gently presses up into Hinata, opening his mouth again. Hinata pants into it, trying to keep up.
Hinata has to pull away, because the room is spinning. But when he pulls away he sees Kageyama’s face. Kageyama’s half lidded eyes. The way his pupils are blown. His wet lips. Hinata blushes and hides in Kageyama’s neck, too shy to look at him. While he’s there, he decides to press a kiss under Kageyama’s jaw. Kageyama makes a helpless sound, and Hinata likes it, so he kisses him there a few more times.
Kageyama grabs his face and holds it up to his own. They’re both breathing fast. Kageyama smiles a small, soft smile. He looks so beautiful. His straight black shiny hair tussled. His high cheekbones. Those eyes, Hinata feels like an idiot for never really noticing before.
Kageyama’s breath fans on Hinata’s cheek. His eyes drag across Hinata’s face, as if appreciating every millimeter. They start at his eyes and so slowly move down to his lips.
“You’re the one that’s pretty, Hinata.” he whispers, reverently.
This time Hinata rushes to kiss Kageyama. It feels as though he needs to make up for lost time. He doesn’t want to waste anymore time doing stupid shit like talking or breathing. The force of Hinata’s kissing nearly knocks Kageyama into the fence, and suddenly they remember where they are. Hinata laughs a bit, but keeps a hand on Kageyama’s cheek to make sure he doesn’t think he’s being laughed at.
Kageyama laughs too, and it’s a pretty sound. Kageyama helps Hinata across the fence and doesn’t even comment on the fact that he couldn’t do it himself. This act of restraint earns him Hinata’s hand in his as they walk home. The night’s getting cold, and Hinata’s not entirely sure how he’s going to approach talking about all of this tomorrow. But he knows there’s no way he’s letting Kageyama slip through his fingers.
And if he lets Kageyama kiss him a few more times on the walk home, well that’s his business.