Work Text:
The Tokyo location of Onigiri Miya is smaller than the Osaka Location—mostly because it's really fucking hard to find real estate in Tokyo in general. But it's cozy and when your customer rents out the entire restaurant for a party, it tends to be... just the right size.
Osamu unlocks the back door. Whoever decided 4am was the perfect time to start setting up deserves to be shanked, in his opinion (it was him, he decided that). His nice espresso machine is at the other store, so he has to deal with shitty gas station coffee—and with husband back in Kobe, he doesn't even have forehead kisses to make up for it.
He gets the lights on, and turns the gas for the stoves on. It takes exactly one and a quarter bags to fill three industrial sized rice cookers, and it's a good thing he does that first because the rest of the setup should be just enough time for his t-shirt to completely dry.
Haiba Lev—you know, the supermodel, yeah him—had placed a catering order for his party, but had also asked if he could have some traditional Russian dishes as well. Osamu was a little surprised, but as long as he didn't have to do too much cooking, he had nothing against it.
Lev, who looked shocked at the mere idea of making Osamu do more work, quickly assured him that he would handle that part. He agreed to come in and do the cooking himself, if Osamu could bulk order the ingredients through his vendors. It worked perfectly, and honestly, Osamu was kind of impressed with how easily Lev moved around his kitchen. Who knew that someone who did fashion shoots would be familiar with running an industrial sous-vide bath? He pulls out the prepped dishes from yesterday and sets them on the counter to start warming up.
Between the cooking, and the alcohol order—which Osamu puts away himself, since even if he did have anyone else working today, most of his employees were too young—it's a lot of work. He doesn't even notice the time until there's a knock on the door.
A slightly shorter (but no less handsome) version of Lev waves through the glass. "Niisan!" Lev calls out, running over to unlock it and let him in. "Miya-san, this is my older brother Viktor! I called him in for free labor."
Turns out he brought them more coffee, this one from a bougie cafe, with real Italian espresso—and a couple of rich, dense donuts with a featherlight glaze. Osamu decides right there and then that Haiba Lev and any of his family members are allowed to rent out his restaurant anytime.
Over the next hour, more helpers trickle in. Yamamoto Taketora from VC Kanagawa, with fucking Kodzuken trailing along behind—what kind of company did this guy keep??—a guy named Kai and his wife Mina, a shortie that Osamu's fairly certain plays for Esperanza in Div 2.
The store had already been pretty well kitted out for Pride. Osamu's only caveat was that they don't take down any of those decorations, so the rainbow barf is now happy neighbors with the, uh, cats. Lots of weird cats. Cats in party hats. Fat tigers. Halloween cats with spooky eyes. Chi from Chi's Sweet Home and Dad from Azumanga Daioh.
His next surprise comes when there's a knock on the door and Hinata Shouyou, of all people, gets let in. At this point, he's gotta say something—it's not that he's surprised that Lev has a lot of friends, he just isn't sure where the intersectionality of fashion, gaming, and volleyball is coming from.
He sends off a picture of his rainbow flag, surrounded by cutouts of Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service, Luna from Sailor Moon, and a cat doing… massage??
There's a few more randos, and then… the door gets pulled wide open for none other than sportscaster Kuroo fuckin' Tetsurou and his drop dead fucking gorgeous wife—at least, that's what Osamu assumes, since they have a baby with them, and a baby bag (also with cats on it) hanging from Kuroo's shoulders. He greets Lev first, pulling him into a warm hug.
"The press is here?" Osamu drawls. "You didn't tell me it was gonna be this big of an event, Haiba-san." Of course, Osamu and Kuroo are on shit-talking terms by now. Kuroo's practically a regular, given how often he stops by the truck while covering his brother's games.
"Oi. I have a name, you know, Onigiri Guy." Kuroo keeps an arm slung around Lev's shoulders as he smirks over at Samu.
"This is my brother-in-law!" Lev adds cheerfully.
Ok, yeah that at least makes sense...he looks back over at Kuroo's wife, who's setting the carrier down next to that Viktor guy so she can give him a hug. Now that they're all next to each other, it's obvious that the entire Haiba family is just... unfairly pretty. "So who have you brought today then, the chibi-press?"
Kuroo eagerly goes to show off his baby over the bar, who looks a bit like a wrinkly pink raisin. Kuroo gushes about how perfect she is, on and on and... Kodzuken kind of materializes at his side. "…You can tell him to shut up," he assures Osamu. "He won't if you don't tell him. Trust me."
"Eh, it's fine," Samu shrugs. "I'm used ta my brother doin' the same thing with his girls. Won't shut up… ever. I've learned ta tune 'im out and cross my fingers that they turn out much better than he did."
Across the room, Lev picks at a string at the edge of his sleeve, while looking out the window. Alisa comes up behind him. "Nervous?"
Lev shakes his head. "Of course not, it's just Yaku-san..."
She smiles, softly, and wraps her arm around his waist for a little hug. She knows how long her brother has held a torch for this guy... and part of her has wanted to tell him to let it go, try to move on, but… that's not the kind of mindset their parents had taught them to have. Hope always springs eternal! And it's not like Lev hasn't dated other people, or found them interesting, he just… never quite got over this one either. She can't help but feel like whatever she says isn't going to help. So, she just hugs her brother tight and hopes he isn't about to get his heart broken.
Lev readjusts his face and smiles. "I'm glad you guys could make it," he says, and hugs his sister back. Then his phone goes off and he jumps to his feet. "They're here!! Everyone in position!!"
Not for a jump scare, just everyone pretending to just be regular customers. Sitting casually at tables, like a typical lunch rush.
It seems the guest of honor was about to arrive.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Yaku yawns, leaning against his suitcase in the back of his brother's tiny smart car. It's not the first time he's flown home, and whether he departs in Yekaterinburg or Warsaw, it ends up being roughly the same. Over 12 hours of flight time, with nothing to do but get shit sleep and try not to be sick.
He would really like a shower and maybe a nap, but his brothers were super fucking insistent on the itinerary for some reason. Lunch first, then he could do whatever. Well, it's not like he wasn't hungry, so. It's fine.
He lets out another yawn as Minehiro pushes the door open—Shoukichi's poking him in the back, whining in the way only little brothers can manage. "Come on, Niiiiisaaaan, just a quick lunch I prooomise…"
Cute shop, he thinks, barely registering anything as he follows them in.
"Irasshaimase," the guy behind the counter greets them with a loose drawl that Yaku only belatedly recognises as a Kansai accent. "Take a seat wherever you like."
"…Domo," he mutters. Gotta rewire his customer service brain for Japan, again. He takes the empty seat at the counter next to another guy, still yawning, only for it to occur to him that a tall, really tall, silver-haired man isn't actually a normal thing to be seeing anymore.
He turns all the way and his eyes finally catch up to his brain—and he startles so badly he falls right back off the stool. "LEV?!"
Lev has a big ol' grin on his face. "Yaku-san... how nice to see you." Yeah, ok, he can barely keep his voice even. God, Yaku looks… better than he wishes he did. It's not fair that this is him after almost a full day of air travel!
Yaku meanwhile looks around the room. Rainbow shit… everyone he fucking knows in the same place… wait. What the fuck? Is this?...
Yaku's entire face goes bright fucking red. "HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" he shouts. How the hell did they know when he hasn't talked to any of them in more than a month practically.
Lev seems slightly confused. "Your brothers told me when you'd be getting in?"
"Not that… it's… how did you…" his eyes dart around to all the decorations and then land on Kuroo… Kuroo, his best friend, who has a huge fucking smirk on his face.
"Oh, Yakkun. Did you think this was a coming out party, instead of coming home?"
Lev raises an eyebrow... wait... what? Did he miss something?
Yaku looks mortified.
"Просто блять убей меня (Just fucking kill me)," he moans, in Russian.
"Но ты только что вернулся домой — ты не можешь умереть прямо сейчас. (But you just got home, you can't die yet.)" It's a knee jerk reaction for Lev to respond in the same language.
Yaku punches him in the leg.
"Wait, Yaku-san!" Hinata calls out from his place next to Kenma. "Does that mean you're gay???"
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
It wasn't, like, a huge revelation. Half the room was queer, by Osamu's estimation, and he didn't even know most of these yahoos. Kodzuken was out as nonbinary and dating a man; which was almost certainly Yamamoto given how they were sitting. Lev was a model, 'nuff said. And Hinata Shouyou…
It would actually be weirder at this point if he and Kageyama weren't dating.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Yaku, however, looks like it is a big deal. Is it partially his own fault for forgetting that it was the first week of June, you know… Pride Month? A little bit, yeah. "I… I only just figured it out myself, this is not how I wanted to come out…" he finally accepts Lev's hand to clamber back to his feet. "…But yeah. I'm gay. Hooray."
He doesn't sound all that thrilled about it, though.
Kuroo frowns, leaning forward on his elbows. "Yakkun… you know we knew, right? Like… I've known since we were first-years. Kenma figured it out the year after. I know you've been in Russia and shit, but we're your friends. We're not gonna turn on you." He stares at Yaku's face, like he's trying to figure something out.
Lev nods. "I can't say I knew right away...my gaydar is kinda weak, I thought Kenma and Kuroo were dating for years, but then he married Alisa so..." he shrugs. "But he's right, we're not going to be mean about it."
"I mean, I did too," Kuroo says, "Think I was gay." He clarifies, while Kenma makes a disgusted face in the background. Date Kuroo??? No thanks.
The lines between Kuroo's eyebrows don't get any better the longer he looks at Yaku, though. "Shit… you really didn't… fuck, man. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fucking out you."
Unfortunately, there was part of Yaku that kind of… well, he did think his high school friends might have a less than kind reaction. After all, back then, he'd been pretty insistent he liked girls, frequently pointing out when he found a girl attractive, being a typical boy. Tora knew that well enough. But, then again, Tora was with Kenma now, so maybe… maybe they were all done having that 'but I thought you liked girls' chat. Maybe he was overthinking this.
"…Great," Yaku says, voice cracking a little. "Uh… okay. Then I guess we got that out of the way. Can we just get this party started already? I'm home, assholes, and for good this time. Come on." And he holds his arms open for hugs.
Lev actually drops the envelope he's holding. "You're staying?!"
"…You didn't know? Why else would you throw me a party, idiot!" He's got Alisa and Tora and Hinata all hugging him to death, with Mina and Kai politely waiting their turn… doesn't stop him from pointing at Lev sternly though.
"Well your brothers asked if we could...t hey didn't mention... I mean..." He would have thrown a party regardless, because they asked. He picks the envelope up and sets it down on the gift table before he can drop it again.
Yaku whips around to glare at the twins, who giggle—one silently, both signing some mix of 'I don't know' and 'he's crazy'.
Ugh. Brothers.
He sighs and tries, without luck, to get free of the mob. "Yeah, after the Nationals season this year I'm… staying."
Hinata knew already—he'd mentioned it in the JNT group chat—but it's news to everyone else. Kenma has a rather suspicious look on his face.
"…You're not injured or anything, right..?"
Lev looks alarmed, probably because he hadn't even thought of that.
"No, not injured. Just... tired of missing home.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Fuck...
Listen, Osamu's as down for crashin' a party as the next asshole is, but he's also a business owner now. He can't have his brother ruining his reputation.
"Haiba-san!" Osamu doesn't necessarily want to distract from the conversation or the hugs, or the gay crisis, but... he gestures for him to come over.
Lev excuses himself and trots over. "What's up?"
Osamu sighs. "I'll take some of the blame, but, my brother, you know the one..."
"I know Atsumu-kun," Lev helpfully provides.
"Of course ya do. Anyway, I may have been texting him. He is now…" He looks down at his watch, calculates the distance from here to Ariake Arena, "about half an hour away from crashin' the party... an' he may or may not have the rest of the JNT with him."
Lev's face breaks out in a grin. "Oh! That's ok!! The more the merrier." He genuinely means it, too.
"Yer way too nice," Osamu shakes his head, "but as long as yer ok with it..." He picks up his phone again.
He really doesn't have the time, money, or shits to give to call his vendor to bring more. If Atsumu wants to party, he can suffer the consequences.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Everyone else is finally starting to eat and socialize, now that the big news (plural) is out of the way. Kenma grabs Yaku's ear and yanks on it, quite hard. "That's for not telling us."
"What, that I'm gay?"
"No, that you were coming home!" He sighs. "We knew you were gay."
"I cannot believe you knew. How?? I didn't even know, how did you—"
"Mori, my guy," Kuroo sighs, "when we talked about what girls we liked, you said 'short hair' and 'taller than me'."
"You did say that," Kai confirms ruefully.
...Oh.
Kuroo pats his shoulder in a way that can only be condescending. "It's ok... I'm just glad you were able to figure it out."
Yaku holds a fist up, but—"I need you to know, I'm staying my hand purely because you have a newborn daughter, and she doesn't need to see her father cry so early in life."
"He cries every day," Alisa informs him. "Don't worry about it!"
Lev pops back into the conversation. "What are we talking about? Tetsu's inability to look at Tasha and not bawl like a baby himself?" Will he forever take the opportunity to give his ex-captain turned brother-in-law shit? Yes, yes he will.
Tora sniffs. "Hey. I dare you to look at that baby and not cry!!!"
Lev laughs and takes said baby from his sister. He hasn't gotten a chance to hold her yet today, and it will give Alisa a chance to get some food for herself. Kuroo Natalya, Tasha or Na-chan for short, is awake now and staring at everyone with wide eyes. "It's ok, Tasha, they're just sensitive," Lev says as he kisses her little face.
Yaku's whole expression just… softens. "…You are so much prettier in real life than in the photos," he murmurs to her. "Can I…?"
Lev looks over at Alisa, who nods, then gently hands her over. "Big brother Mori activated." He winks over at Shou and Mine.
He watches as Yaku's demeanor shifts, tough exterior melting away the moment he cradles Tasha in his arms. There's something almost magical in the way his fingers gently poke at her tiny button nose and he coos at her. "You're going to be so spoiled, you know that," he whispers, voice low.
Lev thinks he might be having a cardiac emergency, that's how tight his chest feels.
Tasha hiccups and Yaku's eyes widen for just a moment, worried that he did something wrong, until the hiccup turns into a burp and then laughs.
"It seems Natalya-hime is powerful enough to vanquish even the formidable Oni-senpai," Kuroo teases.
Yaku shoots him a glare, but it's softened by the stupid soft smile he can't seem to get rid of. "Shut up." he retorts, though there's no real bite to his words. His attention is solely on Tasha, who gurgles softly, her little fingers curling around Yaku's thumb. "Look at that grip! Obviously she takes after her perfect mom."
"Can't argue with that," Kuroo says with a grin.
Lev is... going to go find a drink.
The party is, overall, going well, really well. Everything, including getting gate-crashed by the rest of the JNT (or whoever was in Tokyo early), is honestly more than Lev could have hoped for. And he doesn't care what Alisa says, even if Yaku never notices him, it will still have been worth it, because he can tell that Yaku, at least, appreciates this.
Speaking of which, Lev comes up beside Yaku, who looks happy, but a bit tired. "Хочешь сделать перерыв? (Wanna take a break in the back room?)"
Yaku nods. "…Please," he responds in the same language.
Look, he was already exhausted from the plane ride, and… he's happy, truly, he's thrilled to have everyone celebrating for him, but. It's… a lot.
He didn't exactly expect Lev to be the one to clock it. Though, maybe he's being unkind—after all, Lev is an adult, he's grown and matured.
Back in high school, he never would have expected to maintain a friendship with Lev of all people, but. When he got an offer from Tigr Ekaterinburg… it only seemed natural to stay in touch. Lev's parents helped him out more times than he could count. And even in the last two years, playing with PlusLiga… somehow, they stayed in touch.
It also didn't help that in his third year Lev had been made Captain and Yaku's little brothers (first years at the time) thought he was the best thing since pre-sliced bread, and Lev had a soft spot for them as well. He couldn't escape Haiba Lev even if he tried.
Lev takes them into the small break room.
Yaku leans against the shelves and sighs. "…I'm going to sleep so damn good tonight," he mutters, still in Russian.
Lev had been there—not physically since a lot of it was done over Zoom—the whole time Yaku was learning Russian from his Mamka. He has had a few exchanges with him since, but not exactly a full conversation. It's abundantly clear, now, how fluent he's gotten over the years... and Lev is frustrated with how hot he finds it. It shouldn't send little tingles down his spine, or make the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
"Are you staying with the twins?"
"Yeah," Yaku says ruefully. "For now. Kind of a tight squeeze, though, I have to start looking for a place." He was signed with the Adlers for the next season, so definitely somewhere in Tokyo, but.
Lev licks at his bottom lip and seems to think it over. "You could stay with me if you wanted?" It's a bad idea, a very bad idea, but. He doesn't take it back.
Yaku peers out into the room, where his brothers and the Miya twins are doing some kind of weird twin-off competitive dance. Hm.
"I might just take you up on that," he says dryly.
"I'm living in Daikanyama now," a small fashion district a little south of Shibuya. It's known for its boutiques and laid back atmosphere. "But, it's a two bedroom place, so..."
"You sure you won't mind having a roommate?"
Lev's head snaps back and forth as he shakes it. "No, I... like having someone around."
It's been a struggle since he moved out to be honest. For a while he and Alisa had shared an apartment. Then it had been him, Alisa and Tetsu, but then they got married and moved out on their own. Alisa had offered to let him stay with them in their new house, but. Living with a newlywed couple seemed… questionable, besides they had Tasha now. It's for the best. He's been struggling with not having anyone to talk to, when he was growing up his house was never empty. So it makes sense to offer, ok? He just wants company...
"Well, you've got a deal." Yaku grins at him. "One thing, though…" he steps forward, just enough to reach out and adjust Lev's tie. "Enough with the Yaku-san. Just call me Mori, everyone does."
Ok... he'll just die. He'll perish right here in the break room of Onigiri Miya. Hopefully his dead body gets moved before the teenagers have to clock in for their shifts. It's really hard to swallow and he really wishes it was because Yaku... Mori was pulling at his tie.
"Ok Mori..."
He smiles. "That's better, котик ('kotik'/kitten)." And then power-walks out of the room before he can say anything else stupid. What the fuck, Morisuke? Did Poland make you an idiot as well as gay?
"All right, party's over," Yaku declares, clapping his hands. "Well, you all can stay, but I am heading out." He points at his little brothers, who grumble and groan, but grab their things.
Back in the break room, Lev actually has to sit down... his legs just... yep he is on the floor now.
Kuroo kicks his leg a little. "You good, bro?"
"Huh... oh uh yeah..." Fuck. He is not going to survive this is he?
"C'mon, everyone's packing up. Yakkun's asking for your address, for some reason…" Kuroo lifts an eyebrow.
"Oh... yeah he might need that," Lev mumbles, not even bothering with an explanation.
Kuroo doesn't wait for one, either, just slips back out to give it, since Lev seems to still be recovering from whatever it is he's recovering from. Tora, Fukunaga and Kai had already volunteered to stay back and clean, so the guests of honor and baby daddies were free to head out. It's only when Fukunaga breaks out a broom that Lev finally manages to get himself up off the floor. It's fine, he's fine, it's all fine...
He goes to help the cleanup crew, then remembers.
By the time Lev gets home, Mori's suitcases are in the living room, his shoes and clothes are trailed down the hall, and… he's passed out asleep face-down in Lev's bed.
Lev sighs... and begins picking up the clothes. He moves the suitcases to the guest room. Not because he cares about a mess, just, he knows himself and he will trip over it in the middle of the night when he inevitably shuffles his way to the bathroom with his eyes closed. He also, unfortunately, knows he has the better mattress. It's completely understandable why Mori collapsed there, and he isn't going to move him.
His phone beeps.
Oh...he meant...well.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
When Mori finally wakes up… there's sun on his face, it has to be pretty late already. Still, this bed was insanely comfortable, and the warm weight curled around him against his back was downright blissful. He hums, stretching his legs out and down and starting to move his hands.
Lev makes a grumpy noise from behind him and baps him. Five more minutes.
Mori baps him back, five more minutes my—
Then he shoots up to a sitting position all at once. FUCK! Why is Lev in bed with him? What the fuck happened last night?!
Lev groans "Перестань двигаться... (Stop moving...)"
"Ёб тебя, проснуться! (Fuck you, wake up!)" Mori snaps back. "Why…" he remembers getting here last night. Lev wasn't back yet, but he'd sent the code. He was so fucking tired at that point, he just… he really didn't remember, other than 'find the nearest flat surface and pass out'.
He looks around. This is… Lev's room, it has to be. There's a ton of volleyball posters, mostly the JNT, but some Nekoma photos over the years. Family photos. Men's Figure Skating. His own ads, naturally. And… for some reason an awful lot of Tigr Ekaterinburg and Orzeł merch.
Lev rolls over and rubs at his eyes. "You took my bed. I need this mattress for my joints, so... we shared." Listen, he's a useless homosexual, who has it down bad for Morisuke specifically, but he's never understood why sharing a bed was such a big deal. Even as a teenager, he was always down to share a bed, a futon, a couch. Snuggling is great.
"No, it's… it's fine, I just. Forgot what happened for a minute and thought… well, never mind." Mori sighs, then flops back down and rolls into Lev's chest. He really was… quite comfortable, actually.
Lev lets out an 'oof' as he's crushed like a steamroller. "Ok..." the back and forth is enough to give him whiplash.
"You're the one who said stop moving." It's not like Mori has anything to do today really, he had planned on reconnecting with friends but that all got taken care of yesterday. National Team training camp doesn't start until July, so… he's got a few weeks off, actually.
Lev's always been an affectionate person, a touchy person. They're not teenagers anymore. They can be mature about this.
He wraps his arms around Mori and tries to close his eyes again.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
It's been almost a week. Mori has not slept in the guest bed... at all. Lev hasn't pushed it, but he also isn't sure how long he can survive like this.
Luckily, Mori's out at the moment. Lev knows he's a horrible person: an awful, horrible, disgusting person, but... he's using this time to take a hot shower—and jerk off to his roommate. To the feel of him slotted right up against his body, all compact muscle and heat. His clothes rumpled and hair disheveled and a sleepy smile on his stupidly handsome face. He knows this is so wrong, on so many levels, but he also isn't sure what else to do? It's this or cry, and honestly he might just do both.
Murphy's Law is alive and well, though, and that's why his phone rings. He has custom ringtones for everyone, so he knows exactly who it is. Maybe it's habit—he picks up when most anyone calls—or maybe he's lost his goddamn mind? Who knows. The term 'glutton for punishment' comes to mind as he picks up Mori's call on the second ring. (There are perks to being tall enough to have your head above most standard Japanese shower heads.)
He closes his eyes. "Hello?"
"Hey, I'm at the store, what do you need?"
That's the other thing. Most of the time, Mori's happy to speak Japanese, as usual. But sometimes. When he just doesn't want other people understanding, when they're alone, when he's feeling particularly thorny… he switches over to Russian. Russian isn't easy, but somehow, Mori was born to speak it. His sharp tone makes the consonants snap; he drawls on the vowels, the smirk on his face downright audible. So even something totally fucking normal like 'what do you need(from the store)' comes out sounding like 'what do you need(from my dick).' Lev wants so much from his dick, and he hates it.
He bites the side of his cheek hard enough to sting. "Uhm..." he tries to take a few inhales through his nose "I... uh... maybe just something for dinner..."
Mori hums. "…You sound distracted," he teases. "Having fun without me? Ah, domo," he switches right back to thank someone on the other end.
Lev actually has to squeeze his dick ridiculously hard to keep from coming right then and there. A pathetic little peep squeaks its way free of his throat. He should hang up.
"Sorry about that. Should I just pick something? You do sound busy. I didn't mean to interrupt you if you're working…"
"Not working, it's fine... uh whatever's good..." He lets out a small groan, and pushes his phone away and closer to the water to cover the sound.
There is a pause on the other end. "All right, see you later. Don't come too hard and black out, all right?"
Lev actually drops his fucking phone. All Mori can hear is a crash and then the call cuts out. He laughs, harder than he probably should be in the middle of the store. He had been joking, of course.
Mori's always surprised whenever he comes home by how much of a prude people can be here—and how he used to be the same way. Russia really did change him, but he thinks it's for the better. What's strange, though, is that Lev's voice lingers in his mind throughout the shopping trip and on his way home. Was he actually…? He can't help but picture it. Was he in the shower? The thought keeps replaying as he lets himself in and starts putting the groceries away. Luckily, Lev isn't at the apartment, just a note on the counter: 'Had to run out, will be back soon'
Yaku grins, his chest warming all the way through.
Well, the least he could do is have a damn good dinner waiting when he gets back.
Lev, apparently, has apology cupcakes when he gets back, and a new phone... he sets it down on the table as he goes to put the cupcakes in the fridge.
"Lev…" Yaku watches the pink flush on the backs of his ears as he moves. Cute, he thinks, but if he actually upset him he doesn't want to let it continue to be awkward. "…Sorry if that was too… if I embarrassed you. I was just joking around."
"What?! No! No you're uh, you're fine!" It's not helping his blush at all. "I should have known better than to pick up the phone."
Oh, so he was jacking off. Mori hadn't been entirely certain, but… his eyes trail down, and all the way back up. Lev is dressed nicely, but then again, he always dresses well. Today he's wearing a soft, sage green cashmere sweater and a pair of jeans that, quite frankly, make his ass look perfect.
(What are you doing? a voice in his head that sounds suspiciously like Wakatoshi says.)
Lev continues to shake his head. "It's fine, anyway there was a new cupcake place next to the phone store, so..."
"Dinner first. I made a chuchvara with pelmeni, as best I could anyway, and I've got chili oil and yogurt, and…"
Lev is staring at him, still bent over in the fridge, hands kind of frozen.
"…I didn't know what drink would go best with it and there wasn't much to choose from anyway, so I got a decently-priced sake…"
Lev stands up, closes the fridge door and just... walks away. Turns around, no looking back, completely silent as he marches to the bedroom.
"…Lev?" Mori follows him, concerned. "Lev, is something wrong…"
Lev has his head under a pillow and seems to be trying to suffocate himself. His long legs are hanging off the side.
Mori's actually legitimately worried now. He takes a seat and reaches out. "Lev? What's wrong, what can I do?"
He lets out a small, creaky, frustrated yell that sounds an inch away from tears.
"Lev??" Mori sneaks a hand under the pillow, alarmed. "Hey… hey, talk to me. What's wrong??"
He gets bit... not hard, but suddenly there are teeth around the palm of his hand. Like a badly behaved cat trying to get you to leave, but it also doesn't want to hurt you.
Mori doesn't even move his hand, just gently curls his fingers around Lev's jaw. He switches over to Russian, voice soft and lilting. "Поговори со мной, котик. Я хочу помочь. (Talk to me, kotik. I want to help.)"
Lev lets out a louder sob this time and tries to push away. "It's nothing." The lie isn't even good.
"Like fuck it's nothing, what the hell? You're upset, Lev, and we were talking, so I want to know what I did... or didn't do."
Lev lets out another whimper, then finally it explodes out of him. "Why did you have to be gay?!"
Mori snatches his hand back.
What…
What?!
"Lev," he growls, low and dangerous. "You'd better explain right the fuck now what you mean by that, because if you've been a homophobe this entire time…"
The pillow flings itself onto the ground and Lev shoots up, frantic. "No! God, I suck dick like it's a goddamn competition," he's actually crying now. "NO, it's because at least when you were 'straight' I could pretend the reason you never fucking noticed me was because you didn't like guys..."
Mori's brain screeches to an unpleasant halt.
One: Lev has sucked dick. Lev has sucked a lot of dick, apparently, and they absolutely needed to return to that item it was extremely important but—
The second part rolls through his head like a fucking bulldozer. Noticed him? Noticed… Lev. Mori never noticed him? It felt like all he's ever done is notice him. He's impossible to ignore, or escape from, even in an entirely separate country he still crawled back into Mori's head and took up space there. Did Lev think it was easy, Kuroo constantly sending photoshoots and magazine spreads his way, where he had to pretend Lev wasn't the one he was looking at?? FUCK, Wakatoshi was right, wasn't he. Fuck. It's Lev. It's always been Lev, and he's been too chickenshit to admit it.
But… how the fuck does even start saying any of that?
Lev has his head in his hands, just letting tears drip down into the space between his fingers. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, I made it weird... just ignore it, ignore me..."
Mori's face softens, and he reaches out. "Lev… how long have you liked me?" he asks, quietly.
His shoulders shake with how hard he's crying. "Since first year," he sobs pathetically. He's damned himself already, might as well just bury the body while he's at it.
Mori trails a hand up, pets the back of his neck. He's quiet for a long moment, then… "When I moved to Poland, I ended up getting closer to Ushijima Wakatoshi. And… he was the one who ended up pointing out what I should have known all along. Not only was I… not straight, but I also… Lev, why do you think I went to Russia?
"I was running away. Not very well, obviously, since I went to Russia, but… you've been haunting me ever since. You are, literally, the hottest guy I've ever known. Actually perfect. And I thought, well, everyone knows that—that's why he's a fucking model, that's his job. But Wakatoshi just looked at me and said, 'If that was all there was to it, I think you would have moved on by now.'
"And I didn't believe him! I didn't want to fucking believe him, because I was scared and ashamed and stupid. And it wasn't important, because I didn't… think I was that important to you, after all this time."
Lev shakes his head so hard his neck cracks. "I always wanted your attention, and only your attention." He wipes his cheeks with his sleeves. "My sister knows, she had to ask if the party was going to be ok because of how hung up on you I've been for the last thirteen years. I never could get up the goddamn balls to date anyone."
Mori gently tucks a lock of hair behind Lev's ear and says, just as sweetly, "but you got really good at blowjobs, huh?"
Lev sniffs and gives him a weak punch to the arm. "Yeah, because I never got past the sex part!"
Ugh. He's cute, and sweet, and… this, also, is maybe why Mori could never actually date anyone either. "…Me neither," he admits. "And after a while… I just wanted to come home."
Last year, when he came back for Worlds… they'd barely seen each other, and he tried to pretend his disappointment was for not seeing much of his brothers, but.
"And now you're back, and you're gay, it's not any better..."
"It could be." Mori drags the tip of his thumb along the corner of Lev's mouth. "If you're still interested, and don't hate me for making you wait this long… it could be."
Lev stares at him so long, Mori worries he might actually have passed out with his eyes open. Finally he lets out a long, shuddery breath. "I was jerking off to the thought of you in the shower."
Mori lets out a breath of laughter. "I'll take that as a yes then," he murmurs, then leans in to press their lips together—just intending it to be soft and sweet, to seal the deal.
But suddenly, Mori has a lot more of Lev in his lap then before. It knocks him back into the bed, and he only has a moment to laugh before Lev kisses him again. He hums into it, melting into the blankets… this, this is what he was missing from everyone else he's ever kissed.
Lev isn't slowing down, either. His hands push under Mori's shirt and yank it off, only breaking their lips apart when it has to go over his head.
Eager much? Well… Mori can't really blame him. He sits up enough for Lev to get his shirt off—then traps him with his legs around his hips. "Yours too," he orders, tugging on the hem of his tee.
It feels so good, every little thing feels so impossibly good, because he's been waiting for it, wanting it, for so long. He lets Mori pull his shirt off and returns the favor by dragging his own hands down Mori's chest, thumbs catching on his nipples as he trails his mouth along the edge of Mori''s jaw to his ear and bites at the lobe.
Mori gasps, arching into it and his own hands immediately follow—Lev's chest is perfection, okay? Everything about him is perfection. He makes a soft growl in his throat. "I'm really going to kill Kuroo, he was always sending me your centerfolds and shit." Ostensibly to show off his girlfriend, but. Mori can admit now that he barely even noticed her.
Lev laughs, low and right in his ear. "Did he? Which ones?"
"The… uh…" he can't fucking think with Lev breathing on him like this, "well, i think he's sent me every time you've ever worn a suit, because he fucking knows me too well," Yaku mutters.
Lev tugs at Yaku's nipples a little harder. "Did you see the Le Perla shoot?" It was a luxury lingerie brand, and for the shoot they had him in an open suit jacket and lace undergarments... and that was it.
Mori goes… red. Much more red than Lev was expecting. A flush starting from his cheeks and flooding down his bare chest. "…Yeah, I saw it," he mutters, voice dry.
Lev grins. "I still have the set from that one," he says, like he's just mentioning the weather.
Mori groans. Deep and long and loud. "Пиздец, Ты меня в могилу сведёшь, (Fuck, you're going to be the death of me,)" he mutters, then drags Lev down again by his hair to kiss him wet and messy.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
An hour later, Mori's standing at the stove re-heating their chuchvera, in nothing but a pair of Lev's boxers, and... still blushing, for some reason. It's not even like they fucked. They just made out and gave each other messy handjobs but somehow it felt like… more than anything he's ever done.
Lev had actually hopped in the shower (again), this time to actually get clean. He wraps his soft Turkish robe around him when he's done, though he doesn't bother belting it, and pads to the kitchen. He has to lean down to kiss the back of Mori's neck but it's worth it, totally worth it.
Mori smiles, and grabs Lev's hand before he can even think of backing away. "So, how smug are Mine and Shou going to be when we tell them we're dating?"
"Probably insufferable..." he laughs and then follows it with a sigh. "They knew, you know."
"I thought they might." Mori leans back into Lev's chest. "You've been more of a brother to them than I have, I think."
Lev shakes his head. "They would never think that! ...I don't think that." He wraps his arms around Mori's shoulders, the robe falling open to press skin to skin. "They love you more than anything."
Mori turns his head, just enough that he can brush his face against Lev's. "…And you?"
Lev kisses his cheek. "I've been in love with you for 13 years," he says, voice steady and calm.
Mori turns, winding his arms around the back of Lev's neck. "That's a long time to hold a torch. You sure you won't regret it?"
Lev shakes his head. "Never," he whispers, and closes the distance between their lips.
Никогда, ни при каких обстоятельствах. (Never, under any circumstances.)