Chapter Text
Tooru found it extremely Easy to leave bed the next morning. Although his brain felt like a dry sponge. It had soaked up all the alcohol he drank last night and now it was too big for his skull, bursting at the seams, cracking him open. Although when he groaned and even that hurt vibrating his skull. He rolled over a bit and there’s warmth squishing under him.
“Hn, Tooru, get off.” The squishy warmth groans.
“‘M sorry ‘Tsumu.” Tooru rolls off of him, pulling the blanket as he does and wrapping it around his shoulders tightly, covering a bit of his face too. Hajime, on his other side, huffs at the cold air embracing his skin.
“Tooru, I’m gonna kill you if you do not stop moving around.” Then he pulls the blankets from Tooru, covering them both back up (Atsumu on Tooru’s other side has no blankets; he was always hot. Hajime and Tooru didn’t understand it, they just appreciated their human space-heater.) and wrapping his arms around Tooru’s waist, pulling him closer to still him.
Tooru stills then. His whole body completely stills in Hajime’s arms. He quickly pulls Hajime’s arms away, Hajime reattches them, mumbling at him to stay still, but Tooru peels him away again and hobbles out of bed, dizzy on his legs. He stands so fast he almost goes back down. Tooru speeding to the bathroom shocks Hajime out of his sleep.
“‘S’it?” Atsumu rumbles, barely cognant as Hajime is sliding away from the bed too.
“Just Tooru. It’s alright, go back to sleep.” Hajime has to sit on the edge of the bed for a moment to let his brain catch-up and wake up a little bit more then he’s standing and making his way to the bathroom. He stands at the doorway, looking at Tooru who had his head propped against the sink.
“Iwaaa.” He groans rumbly with sleep still. “I’m sick.”
Hajime sighs and he bumps his fist against his forehead. “Tooru, I already told you, you’re going—”
“No, Iwa,” Tooru complains nasily into the porcelain, “I’m actually sick. This is horrible!” Hajime sighs softly and he steps forward.
“Come here, let me feel you.” He says and he puts his hand to Tooru’s forehead. He romves his hand and Tooru just frowns at him.
“Iwaaaaa.” He whines.
“Okay, okay. There’s still time before the wedding, don’t whine.” Hajime turns and he looks at the clock above the toilet, it was still pretty early in the morning, Tobio and Shoyou planned the wedding for mid to late afternoon. “I’ll get you some medicine. You get back in bed.” Tooru frowns at him again as he walks out of the bathroom. Hajime hears a faint ‘what’s wrong, baby?’ from Atsumu in the next room.
He opens the cabinet behind the mirror and pulls out a bottle of cough medicine. Tooru has many colds and fevers. Usually he’ll wake up feeling sick and within a few hours he’ll be completely fine, or vice versa. The good thing about Tooru’s sick days was that they were never really sick days, just more like sick hours.
Hajime was still worried. Tooru only gets sick when he’s stressed or when he works too hard and with Tooru’s recent retirement, the latter wasn’t an option. Tooru had been in a bit of a funk lately. Now that he’d stripped volleyball away, he felt bare. Naked. And he hasn’t really had much to focus on. Tooru Oikawa works best when he has something to devote himself to.
The thing was, he hadn’t been able to do that. See: The Funk.
Hajime takes a deep breath before he’s stepping out of the bathroom and back into their bedroom. Tooru had done as he was told as he could be found wrapped up in Atsumu’s biceps and muscular legs, the man grappled onto Tooru like a koala. Tooru didn’t seem to mind.
Hajime set the bottle of medicine on the bed-side table and creaked open the door quietly to make his way towards the kitchen where he would heat up the kettle. He pulls Tooru’s faovrite mug down from the cabinet and he sets it on the counter. He spoons a little sugar, honey, and a pinch of dried ginger powder in the mug, along with a bag of black tea and then pours the hot water over it once it is ready.
He washes his hands in the sink then pops open the pantry cabinet and pulls out a loaf of milkbread, packaged in plastic. He takes out a few pieces and places them on a cutting board on the counter. He pulls put a pan and places it on the stove, switching it on a bit to heat up the pan. “Alright..” He wipes his hands off on his shirt and picks up the cup of tea to take to Tooru.
Hajime opens the door to the room and finds Tooru and Atsumu to still be wrapped around each other. Or rather, Atsumu wrapped around Tooru, practically on top of him while sleeping Tooru looks like a cat that doesn't want to be held. Hajime smiles to himself.
He bends down and sets the tea next to the cough medicine on the table. Tooru’s pretty pale face was smooshed against the bed and relaxed save for his scrunched eyebrows. Hajime lifts Atsumu's arm from Tooru's stomach and the man's hum rumbles in his throat.
“No.” He rumbles sternly.
“Atsumu, it's okay.” Hajime tells him, his voice somehow just as deep naturally as Atsumu's is foggy with sleep. Atsumu opens one eye, the other still closed and smooshed against Tooru's shoulder. Hajime reaches over and places his tan hand on the side of Atsumu's head, cupping the cheek and a bit of his hair. “Thanks.”
Begrudgingly, Atsumu rolls off of Tooru and into a colder, vacant space on the bed. Tooru dramatically sucks in a breath of air as if it was the first time he'd taken a breath in hours. Atsumu whacks him in the stomach and Tooru huffs in turn. “Iwa!!!” Tooru screeches. “Atsumu tried to suffocate me and now he's just tried to knock me out.”
Hajime shakes his head. He stands up from the floor and grabs the mug of tea, it was still very hot so he holds it by the bottom so Tooru can take it by the handle and not burn his hand. Tooru peers in the glass with a squiggly frown, “It looks like it's poison.”
“I promise it's not.” Hajime tugs on a strand of Tooru's messy brown hair. “Drink it. I'm making you something to eat.” As he's leaving to room to go make sure he didn't burn down the kitchen by leaving the stove on unattended, he stops, “If you drink some of that cough medicine while I'm cooking, I'll buy you some milkbread from that place you like.”
Tooru is reaching for the artificial grape flavored medicine as Hajime is leaving.
When Hajime returns to the kitchen, it is still there. Which is a good sign. Hajime presses the tip of his finger to the pan, quickly reeling it back when it stings his finger with heat. “Good.” He hums. He moves to pop open the refrigerator and pull out three eggs along with some vegetables.
Hajime smacks the eggs against the counter and cracks them into the pan, they sizzle and the edges immediately turn white. He turns then, moving the bread from the board onto the counter and setting the vegetables in its wake. Peppers, carrots, and shallots. He dices them up and sprinkles it over the eggs as they cook along with some salt and pepper. He then puts the slices of milkbread over each egg and after a few moments flips it around to reveal the eggs stuck to the bread and cook the other side.
Once it's cooked and the toast is browned a bit, he turns off the heat and places the pieces of toast onto a plate and turns off the stove. Then he grabs a few rice bowls and fills them with rice. He places everything onto a tray and carries it into the room.
When he walked into the room, Tooru was sitting up with his phone in his hands and Atsumu's sleeping head in his lap covered by the duvet. He was sniffling, Hajime wasn't sure if it was because he was crying or because he had a stuffy nose. Probably both.
Atsumu's head perks up at the smell of food, he cranes it to look up at Hajime from his place on Tooru's. Tooru's gaze follows and his smile grows on his face in real time. “You made breakfast??” He chirps.
“I told you I was.” Hajime sets the tray down on the bed side table. “You need to put something on your stomach, and protein for energy.” He hands a bowl of rice to Tooru and one to Atsumu as well who smiled a toothy smile and thanked him. He hands them both a pair of chopsticks too.
Hajime used to only have two pairs of chopsticks. One for himself and one for whatever bum was squatting in his house at the moment. That's how he felt about it. But since Tooru has been staying there and Atsumu has been coming over often. And Kiyoomi. Hajime had five pairs of chopsticks now.
A pair for himself. A pair for Tooru. A pair for Atsumu. A pair for whatever bum. And then the pair that was supposed to be for Kiyoomi.
A few weeks ago, Hajime saw a black and purple pair at the store, they were selling them for one hundred yen. Hajime loves a good deal almost as much as he loves Kiyoomi. He bought them with him in mind. Now they sit in his junk drawer, only to be opened if he has a fifth person eating in his home.
But maybe not even then.
So maybe Hajime was a little attached too.
“Eat and I'll let you decide when to tell me what's stressing you out so much.” He holds out the plate for Tooru to take a piece of toast. Tooru grabs one and chirps a quick ‘thank you for this meal’ before chomping into the toast and moaning. “Iwa-chan always makes the best use of milk bread.” He praises around a mouthful of food.
Hajime chews a bite of rice as he puts the back of his head up to Tooru's forehead. “You're feeling a little better than earlier.”
“Mh,” Tooru hums. He swallows, “It’s because Iwa-chan is such a good nurse.” Hajime smacks him on the back of his head.
“You'll be fine by later. Eat and go back to sleep.” Hajime tells him. He turns and looks at the cough medicine, the cup sits next to it, a little bit of red syrup sticking to the inside of it. He pats Tooru's head.
From: you
To: Oikawa-san!!
It is today!!
I already know youre coming but we didn’t get your rsvp???
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
Ugh
Im sick
Im still coming!!
But im sick :(
From: you
To: Oikawa-san!!
Uh oh
Are you going to be feeling better in time?????
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
Yeah of course little red
Im just that amazing
From: you
To: Oikawa-san!!
Uwaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
You are!!!!
Also
Im texting you because i wanted to tell you that i know 🌚
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
Okay…what?
From: you
To: Oikawa-san!!
That theres something going on with you guys and omi omi!!!
Tsum tsum and iwaizumi senpai act weird around him and its like “rurrrrrrr” and
omi omi acts weird back!
I just wanted to tell you that hes going to be there
Tonight
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
He is?
From: you
To: Oikawa-san
His rsvp is with everyone elses
Except yours
Because i guess youre above rsvping???
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
We are going to frame it!!
From: you
To: Oikawa-san!!
Odd but alright
Ill see you there oikawa san!! Hopefully. Get better!!!!!!!!!!
From: Oikawa-san!!
To: you
Of course i wouldn’t miss it for my life
Tooru scorns himself for saying that. He may have to give his life and then some because he wants to miss it. Two days ago Tooru Oikawa couldn’t imagine missing the opportunity to embarrass (Read; lovingly, of course.) Tobio Kageyama in front of a group of people; mutual friends, family, and such but now he is willing to fake his death so as to not have to leave the bed.
He looked over and it seems Atsumu had fallen back to sleep. They finished eating a relative ten to fifteen minutes ago and after helping clean up, Atsumu crawled back into bed next to Tooru who was sitting up with his back against the head-board and pulled him down to wrap his arms around him. Hajime left for a run shortly after. Tooru, unable to sleep, grabbed his phone while he was still able to so he could do his usual program of online shopping. Atsumu must have fallen asleep soon after that.
Tooru puts his hand on Atsumu’s waist gently, then he shakes him vigorously. “Atsu-channnnn.” He sings ghastly. “Atsu Atsu Atsu.”
“Wha?” Atsumu grumbles, his face stuffed into Tooru’s side.
“Kiyoomi is going to be there.” Atsumu hums back, not exactly the response Tooru expected. Or wanted, for the matter. “Did you hear me? Kiyoomi is going to be at the wedding.”
“Yup.” Atsumu mumbles back.
“Why aren’t you reacting?” Atsumu sighs shortly into Tooru’s warm skin then he looks up at him.
“Why can’t we just ignore it?” He mumbles and stuffs his head back into Tooru’s side, “Just forget about for tonight. Damn.”
Tooru stops. He looks at the top of Atsumu’s head in what’s almost described as disbelief.“What do you mean ‘ damn’? I didn’t know you found me so troubling, Atsu-chan.” Tooru says back straight. He pushes Atsumu away a bit and he swings his legs over the edge of the bed, standing out of it.
“Baby, I’m sorry.” Atsumu says after him, the back of his hand placed over his eyes. He turns around in bed and reaches out for him. “I’m sorry. I just dont want to do the whole Sakusa thing right now.”
There’s a beat of silence. “Why is everyone acting weird around me?” Tooru didn’t have a cheeky smile on like he usually did, it was a flat, almost cold look that embraced his pristine features. A nearly unnoticable frown.
“Huh?” It worried Atsumu a bit.
“You. You gave up on that too easy. Usually we’d argue. You’d walk away and I’d grow mushrooms on my head in the corner.” Tooru backs up, away from the bed, at the beginning of his next sentence. “And Hajime was being too nice to me earlier.”
“I apologised ‘cause I di’n’t mean to snap at ya.” Atsumu states, sitting up with creased brows. He pulls at at Tooru’s sleeve, “And ‘jime was being nice to ya ‘cause yer sick…”
“You don’t know him like I do.” Tooru sighs, he shrugs Atsumu’s arm away. Atsumu grapples on again, yanking the tall man forward some.
“I’m not gonna let ya push us away, Rue.” Atsumu pulls him more and he collapses into the bed. Atsumu lugs him up and Tooru allows himself to be pulled. (Give or take. He went ragdoll and Atsumu took the opportunity.) Atsumu pulls and tugs on Tooru until he’s completely back onto the bed then he takes Tooru’s face in his hands, cheek smooshing between them. “We’re not actin’ weird around ya, Rue. We’re worried.”
“Ha! So you admit it, you’ve been acting weird.” It’s a little muffled with his cheeks being squished between Atsumu’s calloused palms.
“No. ‘at’s not what I said.” Atsumu shakes his head. “We’re not acting weird. We’re caring for you.”
“That’s acting weird.”
Atsumu pulls Tooru’s head onto his lap, “No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I have a twin brother and three younger sisters, I can do this all day.”
“So can I.” Tooru pauses, “You really have that many siblings?”
“Hey,” Atsumu turns his head then, looking down at Tooru. “Where’s ‘jime?”
“Running.” Tooru provides. Atsumu puts the back of his head up to Tooru’s forehead then takes it away just as quickly.
“I dunno why I did that, I dunno how to tell tempertures like that.”
It was a little silly, but it made Tooru laugh nonetheless so Atsumu didn’t care. “Okay, well, I feel fine now. I think.”
“Good.” Atsumu hums. He’s running his fingers through the strands of Tooru’s hair. It stood every which way and was crazily frizzy. Atsumu thought Tooru must be casting spells in the front of the mirror to transition his hair from what it looks like now to what it usually looked like. “Hey, what’s stressing you out.”
Tooru rolled over off Atsumu’s lap and grabbed his phone, switching it on and humming an ‘I don’t know’ to avoid the conversation. Atsumu gets the memo.
There’s only a few moments that pass before the bedroom door is opening and Hajime is flooding through it. He had some basket-ball shorts and a jacket that was a little too tight around his biceps. It was zipped up, showing off the line of his thinner waist. Atsumu whistles at Hajime as he unzips said jacket and shrugs it from his shoulders.
“Shush.” Hajime hisses back. It doesn’t have much bite to it. Hajime drops the jacket somewhere in his closet. (He needs to organise it, he knows. He just hasn’t had a moment because everytime he tries, hurricane Tooru runs it through.) “How long has he been asleep?” Asks Hajime. He was referencing toward Tooru who was passed out against a bundle of the blanket folded in his pale arms.
“Not long.” Atsumu glances down at him. “Said he was feelin’ fine sometime ago but still ended up fallin’ asleep again.” Atsumu clicks his tongue. Tooru had his face smooshed against the cover in his hands, his hait flopping every now and again.
“Hm.” Hajime hums. He looks down at the watch on his wrist. “I’d let him sleep.” He turns back to his closet then and pulls off the white T-shirt that was sticky against his sweaty skin. “There’s still time before he needs to wake up.” He tosses the shirt into the hamper.
“Mkay.” Atsumu hums. “You goin’ to shower?”
“Why? You want to join?” Hajime raises an eyebrow at him.
“I mean, if yer offerin…”
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
Am I correct in assuming I will no longer be attending Kageyama and Hinata’s wedding as your date? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
I apologise for not warning you, Wakatoshi.
I wasn’t aware Tooru was going to speak with you.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
You needn’t apologise, Kiyoomi. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Although, I must ask, are you being careful? -Ushjima Wakatoshi
You are aware that Tooru is in relations with Iwaizumi Hajime, yes? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
Yes, I know. It’s a long story.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
I see. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Well, my friend, I suggest you take careful action. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Tooru was very displeased to hear that we were going to attend Kageyama and Hinata’s wedding together. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
On another note, I have grown too many tomatoes. I would like to send you some. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Seen.
Ushijima Wakatoshi was the closest thing that Sakusa Kiyoomi had to a normal friend but even he had his moments. The last time Wakatoshi ‘grew too many’ of something, Kiyoomi had ended up with seventeen cucumbers that were going to go bad soon.
Kiyoomi drops his phone onto the coffee table next to his couch and then drops his body into the cushions. He sits on the couch, hands holding up his head between his legs. He sighs into the air.
Usually, Kiyoomi would be ever so grateful for the silence that slips over his apartment, covering it sound like a blanket, drifting through like a fog. But right now, his ears are ringing, he can hear his breathing, and his thoughts are filling the room so quickly, he could drown in them shortly.
Kiyoomi didn’t know what to do.
He hadn’t stopped thinking of that night since it happened. That night, Kiyoomi wasn’t able to go back to sleep. He laid in his bed, shuffling around, tossing and turning until eventually he just abandoned it, slinking out of it restlessly. He ended up drinking some tea, taking a suspicious amount of melatonin, and watching a documentary about a Russian scientist and steroid use in sports. It wasn’t until around four AM before Kiyoomi fell asleep again.
Kiyoomi couldn’t predict what it would be like to work with Atsumu the day after he confessed his love to him. He let himself off with that one. He doesn’t think anyone else could either.
Atsumu didn’t greet him that day. Kiyoomi opted to ignore him as much as possible.
Kiyoomi grabs his phone and he’s back on his couch again, pushing away the thought of that night and those three to the back, furthest corner of his head and switching on his phone.
He can’t cancel, he knows that. It’s Shoyou’s wedding after all, he doesn’t want to cancel. Or…He wouldn’t want to if it wasn’t given the circumstances, he guesses. And he already told Wakatoshi that he wasn’t going to attend with him; although Kiyoomi felt a little bad leaving Wakatoshi high and dry like that, he felt it was the right thing to do.
Kiyoomi had given it through. In fact, Kiyoomi had given it all his thoughts because for the last week, Kiyoomi couldn’t stop thinking about it. He’d feel bad if he still went with Wakatoshi despite knowing how Tooru felt about it.
And how all three of them felt about him.
Kiyoomi realises he’s slipping into his thoughts again, he switches his phone on to escape them.
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
That’s fine. Not too many though, right?
I won’t be able to use more than 5 before they go bad.
Also, Wakatoshi. I have a favor to ask you.
From: Wakatoshi
To: You
Well, alright. I suppose I can give some to others. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Yes, of course, that would be alright, Kiyoomi. You are a dear friend of mine, I would be happy to assist you in any way possible. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
I need you to figure something out for me: If Atsumu, Oikawa, and Iwaizumi are going to the wedding together.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
I see. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Well, I’m sure I can do that. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Tooru
Are you attending the wedding with Atsumu-san and Iwaizumi-san? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: Tooru
To: you
I hate you
So much
How do u know that for starters
Also stop signing your text messages
You maniac
From: you
To: Tooru
Very well.
Are you unable to answer my question?
From: Tooru
To: you
Why do you want to know so bad 🤨
From: You
To: Tooru
I cannot tell you that.
From: Tooru
To: You
???
From: You
To: Iwaizumi Hajime
Will you be attending the wedding with Atsumu-san and Oikawa? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: Iwaizumi Hajime
To: you
Yeah
Why
From: you
To: Kiyoomi
You may call me a detective because I have detected things. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
They will be attending together. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
You are welcome. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Kiyoomi, on account of the knowledge I've acquired through social situations about social situations in my time, it goes against me to inquire this but may I ask a question about the relevance of your proposition? -Your friend, Ushijima Wakatoshi.
Kiyoomi stares down at his phone and considers the option of ignoring Wakatoshi and telling him his phone had died when Wakatoshi inquires about it when Kiyoomi sees him at the wedding this evening. However, he knows that he shouldn’t do that. He values his riendship with Wakatoshi.
Kiyoomi rereads the first few messages Wakatoshi had sent him a few times trying to string together anctedotes from the past week that condense this situation into something that seems a little easier to handle. Kiyoomi had been in a somewhat vegetative state for the past while, for lack of a better explanation of how he’s been floating by. And even more so, Kiyoomi had been more stumped than he had ever been.
The last time Kiyoomi was this lost was when he was fourteen and sitting in a mucky jail-cell in Tokyo, staring at the grey floors and rethinking every choich he’d made that had gotten him to that point in his life. And that left a mark on him that has stayed with him since.
Kiyoomi knew what he wanted now, he just didn’t know how to get it.
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
Well, alright. Go ahead.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
What is the relationship between the four of you? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
I’m not sure, Wakatoshi.
However, I know that I want to be with them.
In the same way that you are with Tendou-san.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
I see. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
I do not see. -Ushjima Wakatoshi
What does that mean? You wish to marry them? -Ushijima Wakatoshi
All of them? -Ushijma Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
Well, not marry them, no.
But yes, all of them.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
I see. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
You always see. You must have great vision, Wakatoshi.
From: Wakatoshi
To: you
I am assuming that was a joke, in which case, lol. -Ushjima Wakatoshi
This was a satisfactory conversation, Kiyoomi. I wish you the best. -Ushjima Wakatoshi
Seen.
“Okayyy.” Kiyoomi drops his phone down again and stands from his couch, tossing his head to the side to crack his stiff neck. He stops then and snatches his phone back up.
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
Actually, Wakatoshi, do you think I could ask you for one more favor?
From: Wakatoshi
To: You
If it is about what I assume it to be, I encourage you to. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
From: You
To: Wakatoshi
If at all possible, do you think you could aid me in courting Miya, Oikawa, and Iwaizumi-san?
From: Wakatoshi
To: You
Well, I suppose I could attempt to help you woo them, yes. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
I do find myself to be a bit of a ladies man. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
And I have a fiance. You want three and you have zero. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
I suppose I could offer some assistance. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Sometimes, Kiyoomi could see what Tooru is getting at.
From: you
To: Wakatoshi
Thank you…Now, what do you suppose one is to do after ignoring the person(s) they are pursuing after said person(s) professed their love on one's doorstep in the middle of the night?
From: Wakatoshi
To: You
Oh. -Ushijima Wakatoshi
Hajime and Atsumu emerge from the bathroom, hair dripping onto the towels that hang around their shoulders. Atsumu follows Haiime put, giggling and hanging from his waist, waddling trying to walk while still having himself obnoxiously tangled around Hajime.
“I'm never letting you shower with me again.” Atsumu smirks and nips at the skin on Hajime's shoulders.
“Ya don't mean that, ‘Jime.” He sings. Hajime is shrugging him away with reddened cheeks.
“You are dangerous.” The brunette points at Atsumu. Atsumu just leers playfully, still clinging to Hajime and nipping at his moist tan skin with his teeth.
“More dangerous than me?” Tooru seems to pop up out of nowhere constantly, scaring the shit out of both Hajime and Atsumu when he speaks suddenly.
“We needa get ya a bell or somethin’, damn.” Atsumu sighs, a hand over his pec where his heart should be.
“Like a collar? Atsu-chan, how perverted…”
“Nah, more like an automated voice message that alerts people when ya get within five feet of ‘em.”
“Rude.” Tooru peers at them and raises an eyebrow. He runs his finger over a group of reddening spots on Hajime's neck and tuts, clicking his tongue against his teeth. “My my, what have you two been doing, I wonder….” He wraps his arms around Hajime's neck, clasping one of his hands over his wrist. He leans in and he can feel the catch in Hajime's breath against his teeth, “Without me?” His lips move against Hajime's when he asks.
He leans in and takes Hajime's lips, pulling him in a kiss, twisting his head slightly as he attacks Hajime's mouth. Tooru pulls on Hajime’s bottom lip with his teeth, playfully tugging at it. Hajime presses his hand into the back of Tooru's head and presses their lips together again, bumping his teeth with Tooru's as he does. Tooru runs his tongue along the slip of Hajime's bottom lip, tasting blood that drools from a cut in it. Hajime parts his jaw just enough for Tooru to slip his tongue along the edge of his teeth and collide his tongue into Hajime's.
Tooru breathes into Hajime's mouth, separating from his lips quickly but coming back for a few short rough kisses against Hajime's lips. Tooru breathes for a moment, trying to slow down the beating of his heart. He turns and looks at Atsumu who's staring back at him with an irrevocable hunger. Tooru dives at him. “He tastes like you.” It's something between a growl and a whine. It's unequivocally appealing to Atsumu.
Tooru decided that he needed to get all his canoodling out prior to the wedding because (and trust him, he tried convincing Haijime) Hajime has already sworn off any slutty wedding canoodling. Tooru doesn't exactly see the reason to weddings if not the slutty part but what can be done?
Atsumu and Tooru kept each other at arm's length all morning and Hajime was a little worried they were planning to jump him. Atsumu however is convinced that Hajime has eyes in the back of his head and has thought nothing of the sort.
Nothing can be promised about Tooru though. Tooru is unpredictable.
“Gosh, I still just don't know.” Tooru stands in front of the mirror in his closet holding up two shirts and passing them back and forth in front of his chest. “HAJIME.” He screeches out the door, “COME HELP ME PICK OUT A SHIRT.” Tooru holds up a blue and dark red striped button down up to his chest. Then he moves it away and holds up a navy blue button down patterned with yellow boats over his chest. He clicks his tongue, “Oh, who am I kidding, he has no taste.”
Hajime slips through the closet door moments later. “What do you think?” Tooru is asking, switching the shirts over his chest like before. “Number one.” The stripes. “Or number two?” The boats. Hajime looks blankly at him.
Maybe both the shirts were ugly. Or maybe it was because besides what the shirts hovering over his chest was covering, nothing else was.
“So?” Tooru raises an eyebrow. Hajime crosses his arms.
“Show me again.”
“This one…or this one?”
“The stripes. It's more mature.” Hajime turns is what's basically a circle, taking in the walls filled nearly top to bottom with clothes. “How the fuck do you have so much clothes and still wear mine?”
“Yours are more comfortable and since I leave the apartment like once a week, it's foolproof really. Catch up.” Tooru quips. He tosses the shirts onto the island in the middle of the closet and moves away, towards the slacks and linens section of the closet. “Yellow would go best with the red and blue…but yellow is ugly. What do you think?” He asks, pressing a finger into his chin and looking up the shelves.
“Black would be fine.” Hajime shrugs, running his fingers idly along the rows of hanging garments.
“Uh—well, I don't want to look ‘fine’ if I want to upstage Tobio.”
“And why do you need to upstage him again?” Hajime sets the drink he was holding on the island and slides up it, sitting atop it. “Do you want to upstage his groom's tux or his after party attire?”
Tooru turns and he places his palms on the island next to Hajimes thighs and leans in. “How much do you want to bet that they are the same thing; minus the jacket?”
Hajime huffs a laugh from his nose, “No, you're probably right.”
“Ahhh,” Tooru leans back and sighs. “You give up too easily.” Tooru pauses then, stilling completely. “I just got the greatest idea.” He leaves Hajime at the island and delves into hanging suit jackets. He snatches out a grey pleated one. “Grey.” He tells Hajime, smiling almost diabolically. “But that's not it.” Tooru drops to his knees and pulls a drawer at the button of the closet floor open, pulling out a piece.
“Vest?” Hajime inquires.
“Good eye but no.” He drops the garment on the island next to Hajime, on top of the shirt and the jacket. “Close.” He traces the lines of the winding strings that traced down the back of the piece in a straight line. “It’s a corset.”
“A corset? Won’t that be uncomfortable.”
“Terribly so.” Tooru chirps, “A small price to pay to outshine the groom.”
“What if Tobio also wears one?”
“No, Tobio’s stylist is nonexistent.” Tooru shakes his head, “How about this, let’s make a bet. Tobio is going to be dressed in the most bland tuxedo you’ve ever seen in your life. Black, possibly blue. And Shoyo,” Tooru stops for a moment as he’s scavenging the floor. He pulls out a pair of loafers. “Little Red is going to be wearing a little red.” Tooru smirks, “By that I mean he will be wearing the most atrocious piece of clothing you’ve ever seen and it will most likely be red.”
“That’s very specific,” Hajime squints, “You already know what they are wearing don’t you?”
Tooru holds up his hands, “I’m just perceptive.”
“Fine.” Hajime still squints for a moment. “I’ll bet that Tobio is going to be wearing a common tuxedo but he’s going to have something more. Like, a rolex or some shit.”
Tooru hums and nods, “And, Red?”
“Blue.” Hajime says simply. “He’ll be wearing blue.”
“Hmm. So, if you’re right, what do you want?” Tooru asks. Hajime crosses his arms over his chest and he tips his head back as he thinks.
“I want—”
“How about this:” Tooru cuts Hajime off as he’s slipping into a pair of black underwear, “You can ask me for anything. One time. Whatever you want. Anything and I’ll do it with no talk back.” Tooru turns and he smirks, “This is an honor, Iwa-chan. You should take it. However,” He leers, “If I win, that means I get to ask you for anything I want and you can’t talk back.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Shittykawa.” Hajime slides around on the island. “But I dont know if I'm confident enough to risk that. Counter offer: since we’re on a similar page about Tobio, why don’t we minimise the prize and just bet on Shoyo.”
Tooru looks at Hajime through a squint, “Minimise how?”
“You can ask me for anything. Except for sex at the wedding.”
“Noo.” Tooru screeches, “That’s the only thing I want.”
Hajime scrunches his eyebrows for a moment then melts lazily into the island, knees falling apart. He turns his head to look at Tooru. “The only thing?”
“Wanted. Wanted. That...was the only thing I wanted.” Tooru follows quickly, turning away from Hajime and pulling his arms into the sleeves of his chosen button up. “Fine, I’ll accept. Only if I can bend the terms a little bit too.”
“Okay, well, what do you propose?” Hajime sits up.
“You can’t ask me anything broad. Like “Don’t be annoying” or “Stop taking my clothes”.”
“Tooru,” Hajime huffs and it ends in a smile. “If I get to ask anything of you and you can’t bitch, trust it won’t be about you wearing my clothes. In fact, I dont think clothes would be involved at all.”
Tooru gasps, “Iwa, so scandalous.” Tooru tosses his head back to crack his neck, humming as he returns. He truns away from Hajime, “Tie or no tie, do you think?”
“Hm,” Hajime hums, “You’d look dapper with a bowtie.”
“Dapper, Iwa-chan?” Tooru raises an eyebrow.
“It’d look innocent. Y’know, misleading.” Tooru laughs into the open air. “It’d go nice with your glasses.” Tooru sighs.
“I didn’t even think about my glasses. I’ll have to wear contacts.”
“Didn’t you say you hate wearing them because they burn your eyes?” Tooru waves him off,
“I’ll get used to it.”
“Just wear your glasses, nobody will even notice they’re there.” Hajime snorts, “Besides, you don’t want Tobio thinking you’re crying, right?”
“You are a smart, smart man.” Tooru smacks his lips on Hajime’s. “Thank you. Now, mahagony or taupe loafers?”
“Defintely the red.”
“What are ya’ll doin’ in here?” Atsumu asks, his voice suddenly filling the colest from where his head is peeked around the corner of the doorway. He steps in. Tooru is stepping into grey slacks as he answers,
“Hajime was helping me decide on the most show stopping outfit for the wedding.” Atsumu nods and hums.
“Well, I’ll be countin’ on it knockin’ me dead.” Atsumu smiles in the way that shows his teeth. One Tooru’s personal favorite Atsumu smiles. It’s charming. “I’m just wearing a blue suit.” He laughs, scratching at his ear. Hajime murmurs a compliment at him.
“Do you want a fun tie to wear? I have a lot of ties.”
“Mh,” Atsumu shrugs, “Why not?”
“That drawer there.”
“Thanks, baby.” Atsumu tugs the draw open and it’s filled to it’s brim with strips of colorful fabics. “Wow, ya really do have a lotta ties.” Atsumu digs through the drawer, keeping his eye out for something simple but still a little wacky. Atsumu pulls out a tie and is stopped dead in his tracks by what it is. A plain all black tie, save for the word “D A D D Y” scrawled down it.
“Little inappropriate for a wedding, Atsu-chan.” Tooru quips.
“Oh…I’m stuck between hoping that’s just a wholesome world’s best dad vibe and not something you genuinely spent money on.”
“Um,” Tooru twists to take another look at it, “Actually, I believe that was a gag gift from either Makki or Matsunn. They probably got it from Spencer’s .”
“Oh…How nice.” Atsumu breathes, he drops it back into the drawer. “Oh, how ‘bout this? Li’le simple, li’le fun.” Atsumu holds up a tie with the pattern of Van Gogh’s Starry Night on it.
Hajime twists the tie in Atsumu’s hand to look at it, he hums. “Yeah, that’ll match your colors well too, Tooru.”
“Oh, I like that. That’s nice. Put it on, Atsu-chan.” Tooru is doing up the button on his shirt.
Atsumu sets the tie on the table, “Yeah, I’ll do that in a second.”
“You don’t have to wear a tie if you don’t want to, Atsumu. Tooru doesn’t care about it.” Hajime tells him, picking up the tie and fiddling with it in his hands.
“Yeah, I don’t care what you wear, Atsu-chan.” Tooru does up the last button on his shirt, “It was just a suggestion.”
Atsumu is quiet for a moment then he sighs through his chest, “It’s not that. I just don’t know how to tie a tie.” Atsumu lets his hands drop to his side, “My deadbeat dad never put down the bottle long enough to teach me.” Atsumu didn’t mean for it to seem like he wanted Tooru and Hajime to feel sorry for him but after he said that, that’s what it sounded a bit like to him.
“Oh.” Hajime breathes.
Tooru stops what he’s doing and pulls the tie from Hajime’s hands. “Come here.” and he waves Atsumu over. Atsumu is a little awkward as he steps over to Tooru and lets the man wrap the tie around his neck. “I was eight when my father died.” Tooru shares. Atsumu stays quiet.
He fiddles with the tie, “The first time I wore a tie was at his funeral. I didn’t know how to tie it and I didn’t want to make my mother sad so I went next door and asked the boy who lived there to help.” Tooru tightens the tie around Atsumu’s neck and fixes his collar. “That’s how I met our Iwa-chan.” Tooru smiles at the memory, “Of course, Hajime didn’t know how to either. But his dad did.”
Tooru lays the tie against Atsumu's chest and pats it. “You can ask him to show you how to tie a tie when you meet him but for now, i’ll tie it for you.”
“That’s a really sweet story, Rue.” Atsumu stares down at the tie against his chest. “Wanna know how me and Hajime met?”
“How?”
“I accidentally hit him in the head with a volleyball. After that, he banned me from the locker rooms for a week and I had to go home to shower.” Atsumu doesn't mention the part where Kiyoomi ignored him all week because of it.
“Okay.” Tooru looks down at the corset he’s going to have to attempt to get on. “You guys can get out now. I want to dazzle you with my handsomeness when I’m fully dressed.” Hajime raises an eyebrow and Tooru dismisses him with a flick of his wrist. “Shoo, now. Shoo.”
“I’m going, I’m going.” Hajime hands the tie to Atsumu as he’s slipping off the island and slinking through the closet door. He wording off on some compliments to Atsumu about his suit again as he’s closing the closet door.
After many years of war and suffering, Tooru has successfully gotten the corset on and tightened. It was more of a vest than he remembered, going up to cover his shoulders like a vest, but cinching in the back like a coreset. It was the perfect shade of grey but it had more black on it than he rmemeber so he matched it with a black bowtie and traded out the mahagony loafers for black ones. This way, it matched with his glasses too. The best part, he added ruby cufflinks to his shirt, glimmering red on his wrists.
He looked positively dazzling. Of course. But he still sighed at himself in the mirror. He wished he could take it all off, drip himself in stolen clothes from Hajime’s closet and fuzzy pajama pants from his and just. Get back in bed.
But he couldn’t. Of course. And he wouldn’t. Because he loves Shoyou and Tobio and he isn’t going to let his inexplicable feelings of what he could only describe greyness get in the way of him loving his friends and definitely not in the way of him loving himself. With that thought in mind, he strips the suit jacket from his arms, tosses it over his shoulder holding the edge, and walks from the closet with a hand in his grey pocket.
Outside the closet, muddled up on the bed was Hajime, who was now lounging in the sexiest maroon suit he’d ever seen anyone wear, it was a silky fabric and he wore a black button up underneath. And Atsumu, who was in his cute little blue suit with the tie Tooru had tied for him.
“WOW.” Atsumu gapes, “Yer,” He scoffs and shakes his head, “Inexplicably hot. I—what??”
“Thank youuu.” Tooru does a little spin for him. Hajime is looking at him too, holding up a thumbs up.
“That looks a lot better than I was expecting. The corset thing looks really great on you.” Hajime offers.
“I think it would fit you, actually. It’s a little big. You should wear it sometime, Iwa.” Tooru drapes his jacket over a chair off to the side and makes his way towards the bed.
“I don’t really think it’s my style…”
“Not even for me?” Tooru turns his head, asking. He stands between Hajime’s knees and he takes a hold of Hajime’s face in his hand. Tooru brusts with laughter when he see’s the stitching of Hajime’s composure split into threads, clear as day on his facial expression. “I’m sorry.” Tooru apologises even though he wasn’t. “You look good too, Iwa-chan. I have to say—” Tooru hisses dramatically, “It’s pretty snazzy. I like the maroon.”
“Thank you, Tooru. That’s nice of you to say.”
“Isn’t it?” Tooru turns to Atsumu too then. “And you look so good in that suit. It is definitely an upgrade from black sweatpants. Not grey ones though. But close.”
“So, who all do ya think is gonna be there?” Atsumu grabs the shoulder of each of the seat in front of him and leans forward. They decided to take Hajime’s car to the venue, Tooru in the front and Atsumu in the back.
“Everyone Shoyou has ever met in his life.” Hajime responds, hands twisitng the steering wheel. Tooru looks back at Atsumu in the rearview mirror.
“Why do you ask?” He says.
“Small talk.” Atsumu shares, “Yer awfully quiet.” Tooru looks away, back at the road outside the wind-shield. Atsumu scoots over in the back seat, boots sliding against the felt of the bottom of the car. He sits behind Tooru’s seat and squeezes his hands on Tooru’s shoulder, mising up the muscles with his thumbs. “Just chill yer grill, Baby.” Atsumu chirps at him, “It’s not like Sakusa’s gonna make a scene. He probably won’t even say hello to us.”
“I don’t think anyone’s worried about him making a scene.” Hajime glances at Atsumu in the rearview mirror, “Tooru might though. We’ll see.”
“I am not going to make a scene!” Tooru crosses his arms over his chest and his leg over the other. “Okay, maybe a little one. But definitely NOT about Kiyoomi.” Tooru was the only one of the three of them to still call him Kiyoomi, Atsumu rused in his head. Hajime probably noticed it too. None of them knew why.
“‘course not, baby.” Atsumu continues to rub Tooru's shoulders.
“Besides.” Tooru continues, “How are you so sure? The last time I listened to something Atsu-chan said about Kiyoomi, I had to deal with Ushiwaka.”
“Okay, so, maaaaybe, I was a tad presumptuous.” Atsumu admits, “BUT. ‘Omi really never did bring any dates ta our team outin’s. I guess he wanted ta bring a date ta the weddin’ ‘cause it’s important or somethin’.” Atsumu slips his hands away from Tooru’s shoulders, “But I’m right about this. Omi isn’t gonna make a scene. He’s too shy!”
“Kiyoomi is not shy.” Tooru huffs, “And he doesn’t care what people think of him, either.” Tooru pushes his glasses up on his face and looks through the windsheild to the grey road passing them by. “If there was a contest for the most shameless guy in Japan. He’d come in third.”
“Who’d come in first?” Atsumu cocks a tan eyebrow.
“No.” Hajime groans and he leans forward, bumping his forehead on the steering wheel.
“What??”
“WELL. I’m glad you asked Atsu-chan. It’s Ushiwaka, obviously. I mean seriously, no one can beat him. The nerve on him. I don’t know if he gets it from his mother or his annoying little red-head fiancé but SOMEONE has told him: it’s okay to act like the world revolves around you. Which it isn’t, obviously.” Tooru’s hands fall and hit his thighs. Atsumu is naїve to think it’s over. “I mean, the dude is seriously shameless. Did you know, when I was in middle school and highschool, he’d come to my games JUST to point out what I did wrong afterwards. Talk about serious fanboy. Shameless, I swear…”
Atsumu understood in that moment why Hajime had groaned when he asked. Atsumu hits head too now, on the side of the window. Once Tooru got started on talking about Ushijima Wakatoshi, he never stopped, his hatred for the guy seemingly endless.
Atsumu guessed that if Ushijima Wakatoshi was the most shameless, then Tooru was second to him.
How ironic.
They arrive at the venue around ten or so minutes later. Six of which consisted of Atsumu humming when Tooru acknowledged him during his nearly neverending spiel about he who shall not be named, and the other four consisted of Atsumu rubbing Tooru’s shoulders until he shut up.
“Oh, I’m so excited to embarrass Tobio-chan.” Tooru vibrates as he’s twisting and unbuckling his seatbelt before Hajime could even park. “Oh and to win the bet. That too, of course.”
Hajime snorts as he backs up into a parking space. “Well, may the most perceptive win.” He gunts, unbuckling his own seat belt.
“Oh, I will.” Tooru says as he’s opening his door and stepping out.
When they’re all standing in the lot, ready to go in, Atsumu asks, “What did yall bet on?” He has his hands stuffed into his pockets as they walk.
“What Shoyou will be wearing.”
“ I said that he’s going to be wearing the ugliest suit that has ever been worn and it’s going to be red. And Iwa-chan said he’s going to be wearing blue.”
Atsumu hums, nodding. “Well, I already know what they’re wearin’.”
Tooru gasps immediately, “Don’t spoil it.”
“I’m not, I’m not.”
Hajime grabs the door and holds it open from both Tooru and Atsumu. Tooru breezes past Hajime and Atsumu follows, muttering a ‘thank ya, darlin’.’ as he goes. Hajime lets the door fall closed behind him.
The venue is huge and already bustling with guests despite the three of them arriving so early. Huge chandeliers hang from the ceiling, glistening and shining light down on everyone. Rows of cherry-red wooden booths line the floor and at the end of the aisle stands an empty altar. Everything is covered in fluffy blue flowers.
Tooru groans, “Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
“Everythings blue.” Tooru whines.
“I see happiness in my future.” Hajime chimes, patting the shoulder of Tooru and walking past him to converse with a group of people and find a seat.
Tooru sighs and melancholically takes Atsumu’s hand, “Let’s go find the grooms.” He says, tugging Atsumu along. Tooru walks through a door at the back of the venue that leads to a hall. The pop open a few doors until they find one with a person in it. A mop of blueish-blackish hair turns around to face them.
Tooru leans into Atsumu and kisses his lips saying, “This is my stop.”
“I’ll see ya.” Atsumu untangles their fingers and keeps walking down the hall to find Shoyou.
“What was that?” Tobio blinks.
“What?” Tooru turns, “Is there a ghost behind me?”
“You kissed Atsumu.”
“Ohh,” Tooru steps in the room and shuts the door behind himself. “Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I won’t be seeing him again for about another hour.” Tooru responds innocently. “Well, it’s a little bland but we can work with it.” The brunette hums, pulling at the lapels of Tobio’s suit.
“What?”
“Your tux.”
“Oh.” Tobio looks at Tooru in the mirror. “Hey!” He yells then, “Don’t try to change the subject.”
“There’s nothing more to say about it, Tobio.” Tooru tells him. Tooru moves Tobio around so that he’s facing him and he hums, taking the attire in. They were both right about Tobio. Tobio was wearing the blandest tux on earth. But he was wearing earrings in his ear, blue jewels shining at Tooru. “Sit down.” Tooru coaxes Tobio onto a stool and produces a comb from his pocket.
He stands behind Tobio, combing his black hair against the back of his neck. Tobio gives him little push back as he does this, thankfully. Once it’s all neat in the back, Tooru goes around him and kneels to see the front. “I’m proud of you.” He’s saying while parting Tobio’s hair.
It’s a little sappy, sure. But that’s what love does right? I mean, that’s what it’s always been about. Love and it’s incessance on making everyone look like a fool. But mostly Tooru, he thinks. For some reason, Tooru’s always acting a fool.
There’s a few moments that pass before the door to Tobio’s room is opening. His sister is walking through it. Tooru stands from where he’s knelt and smiles at her. “Miwa, you are just as beautiful as the last time I saw you.” Tooru takes her hand and kisses the back of it.
“You are still quite the charmer.” She smiles, “I’ve got the goods.” She holds up a black box that had many different compartments.
“I already told you, I'm not wearing makeup.”
“Too bad, shut up.” Miwa tells her brother. “Sit down.” She hisses at hime when he looks all too ready to flee the room. Begrudingly, he does so.
“Miwa-chan, how could you let him dress so blandly?”
“Ugh. Mom picked out the tux.” Miwa groaned while opening up the make-up box and sitting down on the floor in front of Tobio. “She had already bought it before I could get to him and it was too expensive not to wear.”
“Preposterous.” Tooru shakes his head, “Well, you must work your magic on him then. As he is right now, he’s making it far too easy to upstage him.”
“Well, you could upstage anyone, Tooru.”
Tooru puts a hand to his face, “Miwa-chan, I’m blushing.”
Miwa shakes her head. She has one hand on Tobio’s face and the other around a black pencil. “Look up.” She tells Tobio, before pulling on his eyelid and running the pencil gently over the waterline. Tobio immediately flinched, jumping from her hands. “Oh, you big baby.”
“It tickled!”
Shoyou’s room was only two doors away from Tobio. Opposed to Tobio, Shoyou was completely and totally freaking out. Atsumu popped open the door and he was immediately dragged into the room. His mother and Natsu were in there as well.
“What if I trip while walking down the aisle, tsum tsum?” Hinata wails while his sister is brushing out the red mop of a fluff on top of his head.
“Then everyone will think back later on, ‘dude, do yall remember at shoyous weddin’ when he fell, that was so funny. Man, that weddin’ was so fun’.” He acts out, “It’ll all be good, man, just chill.”
“What if I forget what I’m supposed to say and I have to keep asking the person to repeat it?”
“Then the guy will repeat it.” Atsumu grabs Shoyou’s shoulders and Natsu stops brushing his hair so Atsumu can shake him around. “That is not what the weddin’ is about, Sho. It’s about gettin’ married ta the guy ya love and havin’ fun while doin’ it.”
“You’re right, tsum tusm.” Shyou shakes his head vigorously backa nd forth, “You’re right, you’re right.” He repeats like a mantra.
“Shoyouuu.” Natsu groans, “You got your hair all tangled again.”
“Sorry, sorry!!”
“Shoyou is going to freak the fuck out.” Ryuunosuke cackles next to Yuu. “It’s gonna be so funny, man.”
“He totally is.” Yuu snickers. They slap each-other as they laugh. “How did Saeko nee-chan get him here?”
“They’re like dating or somethin’. I dunno, man.”
“WHATTT?” Yuu screeches, “YOURE DATING THE TINY GIANT, BIG SIS???”
Saeko snatches Yuu up with a grin and digs the palm over herhands into his skull. “Sure am, kid. Jealous?” Yuu flaps around under her arm.
“Hell yeah, I am!” He exclaims, kicking his feet around. Yuu looks over at Azumane who was sitting quietly in the booth next to Ryuunosuke, Saeko, and Yuu. They were looking a little stressed and trying to avoid any flying limbs. “I didn’t mean that.” Yuu smiles at them. He wiggles out of Saeko’s arms and plops down next to Azumane, taking one of their hands into his lap and hooking his fingers around it, still vibrating. “I’m so excited for Shoyou. I’m gonna record it.” He smiles devilishly and kicks his feet.
Hajime sat at the other side of the room, in a booth closer to the stage. These booths were bustling with family and friends, everyone wanting to sit up closer. Hajime sat, looking around taking in the sheer vastness of the venue. Shoyou knew so many people, there was many Hajime didn’t know. There was even some foreign languages being spoken, Hajime could hear something that sounded a bit similar to Spanish a few rows back.
Straight black hair catches Hajime’s eye and he stands. “Kageyama-san.” He says politely as he approaches a woman sitting in a booth across the aisle. Tobio’s mother. She turns her head to him and smiles, wrinkles crinkling around her mouth.
“Is that you, Hajime-kun?” He nods. “Ohhh, you look so grown.” She sings in awe. “Such a handsome young man.”
“Thank you.” Hajime pinches the fabric at the thighs of his pants and hikes it up so he can crouch down in front of her. Kageyama was a small, little woman in her old age. She had wrinkles creasing all over her pale skin but the Kageyama genes of her black hair still prevailed. Hajime was envious, he was pushing thirty and already greying. “You look beautiful, Kageyama-san.”
“Oh, you.” She laughs, tapping Hajime’s chest. “Such a nice young man.” She trails off. “Oh! Well, where is little Tooru? Not hanging from your hip anymore?”
Hajime chuckles and it’s a nice thing to see. “Not in a million years, Kageyama-san. He’s still good and stuck there.” Hajime tells her, “He’s with Tobio, he’s the best man.”
“Oh is he?” She asks, nodding away, “Well that’s nice.”
“Yes, it is.”
Hajime stood, excusing himself from Tobio’s mother and walking back to a booth in the front. It hurt Hajime a little to see Kageyama-san sitting all alone. He knows that if Tobio’s grandfather was still alive, he’d be sitting front row, telling jokes and infecting everyone with his bright presence.
Little by little the venue fills up, rows and rows of family and friends rushing in to see Tobio and Shoyou get married. Hajime got a little caught up in teh thought of gathering to watch people get married, having a room full of people who love you watch the most important part of your life happen.
It’s a little intimidating to him.
A few people slide into the booth next to Hajime, he sits at the far end. It’s a good enough view of the alter. Hajime looks down the long booth, directly next to him was a couple whom he didn’t know but at the end was a couple of familiar faces.
“Sawamura, Sugawara. It’s good to see you.” Hajime greets, leaning forward a bit to see them.
“Iwaizumi,” Daichi calls to him, a bit pleased. “Hey there. It’s nice to see a familiar face.” Koushi shakes his head next to him,
“Shoyou and Tobio know WAY too many people.”
“What do you guys do these days?” Hajime asks.
“I’m a teacher, and Daichi here,” Koushi slaps Daichi’s shoulder, “Runs the TMPD.”
“Ohhh, okay.” Hajime nods, “I’m an athletic trainer. I worked with MSBY and the Olympic team.”
“We know.” Koushi says, “Your name gets around.”
As Hajime hums, he realises that after so many years, he’d become quite an awkward guy. Hajime doesn’t have much time to think of that because music is filling the room, dancing along the people, and everyone is standing.
The first person to walk the aisle is Natsu, holding a bucket of flower petals and dropping them in her wake as she walks. When she reaches the altar, she stands off to the side.
Coming cascading down the aisle next are Shoyou and Kageyama, dolled up and holding hands. They stup up to the alter and split on either side, untangling their hands and standing in place. Hinata on the right, Tobio on the left. Shoyou had a smile on his face that stretched from ear to chin to ear.
Finally down the aisle was Tooru and Atsumu. Atsumu was holding onto Shoyou’s small mother and helping her to walk. They all split off onto their respective sides. Atsumu and Hinata-san behind Shoyou, and Tooru behind Tobio. Tooru’s face was a little red and puffy, Hajime tries not to laugh.
The last person to step onto the altar is Udai Tenma, otherwise known as the Tiny Giant, otherwise known as Shoyou’s literal idol and the person who made him fall in love with volleyball.
There’s almost a delayed reaction from Shoyou as Tenma steps in the middle of both groups, looking out to the crowd. It’s slowly that Shoyou is turning his head and looking at the black-haired man. Shoyou stands still and silent, staring at the man.
“You guys can sit down now—” Shoyou screeches loud enough to blow everyone in the room’s eardrums out. Tenma was told Shoyou was a fan, but he didn’t know that he was this much of a fan.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” Shoyou breathes, “It’s the Tiny Giant. The Tiny Giant is at my wedding. Oh my gosh.”
“Officiating your wedding.” The smile grows like a fungus on Tenma’s face.
“ The Tiny Giant is officiating my wedding.” Shoyou screeches. There’s some light laughter from the crowd but Shoyou doesn’t hear it. It’s just ohmygosh over and over again in his head.
“Are you marrying me or him, dumbass?” The actual groom asks.
“You, you.” Shoyou tears himself away from Tenma to look at his groom. “You.” He breaths.
“Good.” Tobio grunts.
“We are gathered here today to see Shoyou and Tobio join together in marriage.” Tenma says out to the crowd. “Marrige is a big deal, and love is even bigger. It takes commitment, sacrifice. And most importantly, trust.” Tenma takes Shoyou’s hand and links it with Tobio’s, “Are you ready?” He asks them. Shoyou nods, head bobbing up and down, his smile ever ceasing.
“Tobio, do you wanna marry Shoyou? To have and to hold and whatnot?”
Tobio looks at Tenma with a raised eyebrow, “Are you sure that’s you’re supposed to say?” He asks.
“Yes, I’m certified. Now, do you wanna marry Shoyou? To have and to hold and whatnot?” He repeats.
“Yeah, sure.” Tobio says, looking back at his groom who’s smile has somehow grown even wider. So wide, his ears were stretching up.
“And you, Shoyou, do you wanna marry Tobio? To have and to hold and whatnot?”
“Totally.”
“Okay, now. We’re gonna exchange the rings and the vows.” Tenma motions Natsu over now, she’s holding the rings on a tray. Shoyou quickly reaches for the ring he’s to put on Tobio and pulls Tobio’s hands over.
“Toby,” He starts, “When we were in highschool, I clinged to everything you said because I was so envious of you and I wanted to beat you at volleyball.” Shoyou fiddles with the ring case in his hand. “But I've forgotten it all now, except for one thing you said. ‘As long as I’m here, you're invincible.’ It's true beyond just volleyball, Tobio. You make me invincible.” Shoyou opens the ring box and pulls out the golden wedding band. He slips it on Tobio’s finger.
The tips of Tobio's ears are red and his hand shakes as he takes the other ring from Natsu. “I don't really know anything about marriage or love and stuff.” He grunts, flipping open the ring box. “But I do know that the stuff I used to hate about you; like how loud and annoying you are, and your red hair, and how you always argued with me. Al that stuff just makes me want to smile now.” Tobio takes Shoyou’s hand, “And I'm pretty sure that's what love is so that's why I'm marrying you.” He slips on the ring and joins their hands together. “So, let's be invincible forever, okay?”
“By the power vested in me by getordainedquick.com, I pronounce you husband and husband." Tenma smiles, "You can kiss now.”
Shoyou throws himself into Tobio’s arms, pressing his lips and his everything else into Tobio. They topple to the floor, Shoyou’s hand gaurding the back of Tobio’s head as they fall. Shoyou laughs onto Tobio’s lips, kissing and kissing him.
There’s cheers, and whoops, and a lot of clapping and smiles but it all fades out into the background with Shoyou in Tobio’s arms.
Tooru is standing off to the side of the altar, all but smushed into a corner with a red and wet face, tears streaming down his hot cheeks. Hajime laughs at him pitfully and stands from where he sits, sliding out of the booth. He waks over and grabs Tooru’s shoulders, pulling him next to the booths.
“It was scho SWEET.” He slurs through his cries, flinging his hands around to accentuate his words. Hajime takes Tooru’s face in his hands, wiping the tears bubbling at his eyes.
“I know, I know.” He laughs.
“Little red was all like—” Tooru sniffles, “‘I love you so much’.” He says in a high-pitched voice. “And then Tobio-chan was like ‘I love you too but in a cool way’.” Tooru throws his hands up, “How dare they do this to me?” He wips his face on his arm. “How unfair.”
“Well,” Hajime leans over the booth and picks up his jacket, “Let’s go embarrass them. People are already leaving here to go there.”
Tooru sniffles “Okay..." He looks around, “Let’s find Atsu-chan first.”
The venue for the after party is even bigger than the one for the wedding ceremony. It’s lined with tables and tables and tables all of which are filled with blue flowers and golden chairs. To the side, there’s an open space with light shining a murky blue down onto the floor. People start to fill into their seats with plates filled with mounds of meat and cake and other delicious foods made by the Onigiri Miya Catering Service.
Hinata fills his plate up with as much meat as he can before Koushi stops him, telling him he doesn’t want a stomach ache on his wedding night. Kageyama ends up doing the same, snaking more meat without Koushi seeing.
Being the best men, Atsumu and Tooru got to sit at the table with Tobio and Shoyou along with their plus ones. Or, just plus one really. Hajime. There was an open seat next to Atsumu. All three of them tried to ignore it to the best of their abilities.
Tooru stands, grabs a flute of champagne from a tray, and downs half of it as he walks up the stage. Tooru stands in front of everyone with the flute in his hand. “I’d like to make a toast to Tobio and Shoyou.” Is the very first thing he says into the microphone, a devilish smile on his lips. His voice ringing through the room makes everyone stop and turn to listen.
Tooru looks at Tobio, “When Tobio was in middle school, he followed me around like a little puppy. So lost, so helpless. I think a lot of the bad traits Tobio has, he learned from me so, I’m taking credit.”
Tooru snorts, “Um, Tobio was a perfectionist. And bossy, crude, power hungry…really I could go on all day, guys.” The crowd laughs. “And people hated him for it. He had no friends.” Tooru is quiet for a moment, “I think it all changed when he got into highschool and he met our precious little Shoyou. They are two very irregular puzzle pieces, isolated from everyone else. They effortlessly clicked together.” Tooru swallows. “So this is a toast to Tobio and to Shoyou for falling stupidly in love and making better people out of themselves.” Tooru holds up the glass, tears falling down his face silently.
The crowd clinks their glasses together and drinks while Tooru slips from the stage, delving out of the venue and into the hall. He presses himself up against the wall and tries to control his breathing. It’s all come at him so quickly. Everything. Volleyball, Kiyoomi, himself, his life and what he’s going to do with it.
He slides down the wall, letting the champagne flute onto the ground and pressing his face between his knees. His lungs are filling with air and then pushing it out just as quick, over and over and over. His heart is beating incessantly against his spine like it’s threatening to burst out and splatter against the wall. Tooru almost wishes it would.
He presses his cold hands to the side of his wet face. It’s one, two, three over and over. In, one, two, three. Out, one two, three. He pushes his head back to lay against the wall, trying to breathe through his mouth, pleading for his lungs to chill out. The floor is swirling underneath him, like it’s going down and he’s going to fall and be sucked up in it. Nausea clouds in his throat and he swears he can’t breathe. He grapples his skin, crawling at it.
He can see a black silhouette speeding up to him, crouching down and calling his name. It’s muffled. Hands press against his arms and his face. Tooru feels like he’s died, fallen into a lake and koi fish have started eating his flesh. He cries because he doesn’t want koi fish to eat him. He cries because he didn’t want to get out of bed today. He cries because he feels an overwhelming sense of dread. He made a mistake. Many mistakes.
He starts swatting away the koi fish, telling them not to eat his body. Telling them that he wasn’t dead yet, and that they couldn’t have him. The koi fish leave him and he feels like he’s won. He’s crying now because for the first time in his life, he truly feels like he won.
He wipes at his eyes, “Get away, go get,” He murmuring, “You can’t eat me.” He blinks at his tears and the world starts to flood back to him, he’s swimming back up to the surface. He can hear the lights buzzing and the crowd howling in the other room. He can smell the champagne in the flute and a cologne on the man in front of him. The man in … oh right, not koi fish.
The light swims back to him, Hajime and Atsumu crouched down at him. “Tooru?”
“Mh.” He hums. “That’s me.”
“Is it alright if I touch you a little? I just want to make sure you’re not hurt.” Hajime asks, eyebrows turned into eachother. Worry laced his face, it didn’t look good on him.
“I’m not hurt.”
“You broke the glass.” Hajime tells him. He points to the flute Tooru had been holding, it was broken into pieces on the ground.
“Oh.” Tooru turned his hand to face him, the palm was shrouded in bits of glass that came from the champagne flute. “Oh.” He says again. “It’s just a little glass.” Atsumu goes to say something to him but Hajime stops him. Whatever Atsumu was about to say, Hajime could figure it wouldn’t help.
“It’s okay.” Hajime tells Tooru, “We just have to get it out so we can clean your hand and give you a band-aid. Is that okay?” Tooru watches his hand shake under his gaze, blood painting the fragments of glass like tinted church windows.
“Well, alright.” Tooru agrees. “Quickly.” Hajime tugs Atsumu over and whispers in his ear, telling him to go and find a first-aid kit. Atsumu stands from his crouching position and steps off in search of a first aid kit. Tooru leans over and grapples on to his pants leg with his hurt hand. “Don’t leave.” He says, as though it was the obvious.
“He’ll be back, Tooru, it’s okay.” Hajime tried to gently pry Tooru’s hand away from Atsumu. He gets it off but when holds Tooru back from reaching after Atsumu again, he starts to scream.
“No! I don’t want him to leave, please!” He cries, “ Please , don’t leave me.”
Atsumu wants to turn back around and hold Tooru but Hajime is telling him to go, even through Tooru’s begging and sobbing. Atsumu bites his tongue and runs down the hall. There was a bathroom about two minutes down the hall, there should be a first aid kit there. He can still hear Tooru crying after his as he runs and it makes his throat constrict.
“He’ll be back, it’s okay. He’s going to come back.” Hajime assures, “You’re not alone.” Tooru’s hand is bleeding down his arm now, blood triling kisses down his palm and into the cloth of his shirt. “Is it okay if I see?” Hajime coaxes gently, “Your hand, is it alright?” Tooru lets Hajime take a hold of his bleeding hand. Hajime’s looking at it and he knows it to be hurting. He figures Tooru’s panic attack was a bit of an adrenaline rush.
Hajime inspected the glass, most of it was big chunks but there were some small fragments too. Those would be harder to get out and he would need to calm Tooru down a bit more before he tried. Hajime pets Tooru’s head with his free hand. “It’s okay. You’re doing so well.” He tells Tooru. “Look.” He points, turning Tooru’s head. Atsumu was there, first-aid kit in hand and rushing down the hall. “He’s coming back.”
Atsumu is practically sliding across the floor every time his feet hit it, he has to brace for impact when he comes to a stop near Hajime and Tooru, but Hajime holds and arm out and Atsumu just runs into that. Eh, it was better than falling on top of them. Hajime takes the first-aid kit from Atsumu and cracks it open.
There wasn’t any running alcohol, but there was a bottle of antiseptic spray and for now that would work. “Tooru, I’m going to spray this onto your hand, it might sting a little.” Tooru didn’t care what would sting, he was grasping onto Atsumu and sobbing. It hurt Hajime to see. Hajime had known Tooru all his life, he had seen Tooru at his worst—like this, but Atsumu never had.
Hajime sprays the antiseptic all over Tooru’s hand. Tooru is only sniffling when he detaches himself from Atsumu and turns to look at his hand in Hajime’s grasp, “That stings.” He sniffles.
“I know, it’s going to hurt but I’m gonna make it better, okay?" Hajime rummages around the first-aid kit and picks up the only tweezers that were in it, they weren’t the best but they’d work for the moment. “I’m gonna start pulling it out.” Hajime starts pulling the glass out piece by piece, he started with the big pieces, they’d bleed the most but they’d hurt the least.
By the time he got to the little shards, Tooru was wiggling about and complaining but Hajime had managed. After they got Tooru’s hand clean from the glass, Hajime took him to the restroom to wash his hand off and bandage it up while Atsumu cleaned up the broken glass from the hall.
“I’m fine, now, Iwa, really.” Tooru tries to assure while holding his bandaged hand. They’d entered the venue again now and Hajime was collecting their things. “I don’t want to go home yet.”
“I still think we should go to the hospital, Tooru.”
“I’ll be fine for another few hours. I haven’t even made a scene or done anything to embarrass Tobio yet, Iwa-chan.” I haven’t seen Kiyoomi , he doesn’t say. Hajime sighs and he rolls his head on his neck, cracking.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Yay!” Tooru chirps, he goes to walk off but Hajime catches him at the wrist.
“No more alcohol.”
“Oh, come onnn. It’s just champagne.”
“Fine.” After that, Tooru hops off and finds himself slipping into the crowd of people, conversing, hugging, laughing. Tooru was pretty infectious, everyone wanted to be around him and vise versa.
Hajime sat at the table alone, eating food from Tooru’s forgotten plate and watching Atsumu and Tooru play around, shifting into the crowd; so he feels he’s one of the first to see it.
Shiny black curls, whisping behind a body dressed in a black suit, pressed tight against skin. It’s running up the stage where the band is currently playing music. The man slips in and takes the microphone from the singer, the band fizzles out.
“Um, hello.” He’s saying into the microphone, mask covering half his face. “Sorry.” He says, mostly to the band, partly to the crowd of people that were enjoying the music the band was playing. Hajime is straightening out in his seat, brain screaming shitshitshit at him. “Sorry. Hey. Sorry to interrupt but I have something really important to say.” Hajime stands so quickly his chair slips over and crashes into the floor, metal twanging against marble. Everyone, including Kiyoomi, on the stage, stares at him.
“Sorry. Um.” Kiyoomi starts. The crowd looks back at him. “There were some people who asked me to be with them tonight.” He begins, “And they’re pretty important to me. And um, I know the delivery leaves something to be desired, but I want you guys to know,” Kiyoomi takes a breath, “I love you, too.” He lifts his hand and then lets it drop again, “So that’s why I’m up here. Making a fool out of myself. Because I wanted you guys to know that I'm serious.”
“So if you still want me,” Kiyoomi swallows and he shrugs, “Have me.”
Atsumu’s already running toward the stage when he hears those words. Right now, it feels like someones stuffed their hand down his throat and it one by one, pulling up rocks from his stomach and out of his mouth. Kiyoomi hands the mic back off to the singer and stumbles off the stage, ready to meet Atsumu half way. He jumps off the last step and into Atsumu’s arms, sighing when Atsumu squeezes him tightly in a hug like every god in the sky intended him to.
“I love you.” Kiyoomi whispers to him, wrapping his arms around Atsumu’s neck and cradling his head in his large hand.
“Good. That’s real good, Omi.” Atsumu breaths.
Kiyoomi lets out of huff as there is weight running up into his back and one arm is wrapped around his waist, a face pushing itself into his back, between his shoulders. He tenses when he hears sniffling, even if he loved them, he wasn’t about to let them cry on his clothes. The worry is assuaged however when the one behind him lets go and back away a little.
Kiyoomi’s feet touch the ground again when Atsumu lets him down but he’s quickly lifted short after with large arms wrapping around him, spinning him once and then setting him down again. “Really?” In the first thing Hajime asks.
“ReAllY?” Tooru mocks, “Of course, really. I knew Kusa-chan loved us. I’m just so good.” Tooru wraps his arm around Kiyoomi again, placing his head on his shoulder and smiling at Hajime. “You are really, right, though?”
Kiyoomi pulls Tooru away and takes his hands, grabbing the left one carefully when he notices the bandages. “Of course. I said that, didn’t I?” Kiyoomi turns Tooru’s hand in his palm, “What happened?”
“Some glass, no biggie.” Tooru stops then, smiling and he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. “You’re holding my hands.” Tooru notes.
“I am, yes. I happened to notice.”
“Well, you don’t have to do that.” Tooru tells Kiyoomi, slipping their hands apart. “We can go at your pace.” Kiyoomi’s face twists and his shoulders sag from their usual place where they stood scrunched up so far they rubbed against his ears.
Kiyoomi slaps his hands on either side of Tooru’s face, squishing the cheeks between his palm, and pulls him, wide-eyed and all, into a kiss. It ends almost as quickly as it started but, hey, a win is a win. When Kiyoomi lets him go, red at the tips of his ears, Tooru is still wide-eyed and still. “I don't really believe in such trivial things but…that was my first kiss.”
Tooru turns, crouches down wrapping his arms around his knees and screeches into the void of his thighs then stands again and turns back towards them. “You gave me your first kiss? Little ol’ me?”
“Yeah, I guess I did. You're never going to allow me to live it down huh?”
“No.” Kiyoomi was Naїve to think he would.