Chapter Text
Sugawara had been spending a lot of time with Oikawa without telling his teammates. They’d been kind to him when he was helping their coach with that one practice, but that was weeks ago and he was sure it was a fluke.
Kageyama was the exception, of course. He realized living with Hinata was causing issues in their relationship and moved out and into Oikawa’s, which he found was a nuisance more often than not. Any time he wanted to go over there, Kageyama would likely be there. He knew his teammate had more of a right to frequent Oikawa’s home than he did, but it still sucked.
He knocked on the door to Oikawa’s home when he noticed Hinata’s bike outside. They really did spend too much time together. The brunet opened the door with a warm smile.
“Suga!” He shouted, pulling him into a hug.
Sugawara savored the warm touch as he rested his face on the collar of his jacket. Oikawa’s hands held him by his lower back.
“Hinata’s here,” Sugawara groaned.
“I thought you liked them?”
“I do, just not all the time.”
Oikawa laughed genuinely before pulling him away, “Kageyama made dinner. It’d be rude to kick him out now.”
Sugawara scrunched his face up at him, “You don’t know what rude is. If you do, you’ve never cared to show it before.”
Oikawa feigned offense as he pressed his hand to his chest, “Oh, dear. I’m wounded.”
The shorter playfully punched the other’s shoulder as he snorted his amusement, “Whatever.”
They stepped inside the house, and Oikawa took Sugawara’s coat and scarf for him.
“Thanks,” he smiled, then leaned in to whisper, “Do they know?”
Oikawa looked away and pretended not to hear him.
“Oh! Sounds like dinner’s done!”
Sugawara took that as a yes as he reluctantly followed him into the kitchen. Hinata sat on the island, singing quietly, and eating a bowl of what looked like red cabbage. Weird. Kageyama danced around the kitchen, humming along to the ginger’s tune. Weirder.
Sugawara watched the scene unfold in front of him. Every so often Kageyama would twirl and Hinata would toss some of whatever he was eating in his mouth, only rarely missing.
He smiled as he closed his eyes, keeping Nationals in mind. If those two were doing better on a personal level, they’d do better on a professional level.
“Ah! Suga!” Hinata whipped around and pointed a finger at him.
“Ah! Oh, no!” Kageyama said flatly. “Save us!”
Hinata glared at Kageyama before turning back to Sugawara, “You know, your hair makes you look like a ghost! Or maybe it’s the way you sneak around places without anyone noticing!”
Kageyama smacked his own forehead, listening to it. Sugawara knew that even though the words were mean, Hinata had meant no harm.
Oikawa patted his shoulder, “You’re definitely transparent like a ghost. I can see right through you!”
Sugawara’s face fell even further as he asked, “Was that meant to be endearing?”
“No, it WAS endearing,” Oikawa draped his arm around his shoulder.
Sugawara glanced anxiously at his teammates, but it was as if they weren’t seeing a thing. His eyes grew with realization.
“Have I been lured to a double date?”
“Perceptive as ever, my sweet Suga,” Oikawa beamed.
“Oh, my god.”
The three of them eyed him with shock. They watched as he descended into despair.
“Suga?” Hinata asked meekly.
Sugawara brought his hands to his face and stared ahead.
“Oh, my god. This is a nightmare…”
“Uh, Kōshi?” Oikawa moved in front of him, waving his hand across his vision.
Sugawara pushed into fight or flight and began pinching himself on the forearms.
“I have to wake up! This is a nightmare,” he laughed.
Oikawa stood straight and locked eyes with Kageyama and Hinata. They shrugged.
Sugawara’s laugh soon became hysterical, “It’s real isn't it? I really have to live through this, don’t I? Oh, my god…”
He silenced himself and sat at the table. He folded his hands in front of him and fixed his gaze on them.
“Let’s get it over with,” he mumbled.
“O…kay?” Oikawa drawled. “That’s the spirit, I guess. Because, surprise! We have more guests!”
The doorbell rang as if on cue and Oikawa ran to answer it. Hinata looked on with curiosity as Kageyama stared down to the meal he was cooking. He knew he didn’t “just want leftovers”. He refused to eat leftovers.
“Thanks so much for coming!” They heard Oikawa from the hall. “Being unable to tell the bulk of Karasuno leaves our mutual social life rather lacking.”
“Mhm,” they heard.
Sugawara saw Hinata perk up and Kageyama dropped into a scowl. Oikawa led Kenma and Kuroo into the room. Kuroo was looking around with his hands in his pockets and Kenma was staring down at his phone.
‘Classic,’ Kageyama thought.
“Oh, my god! Kenma!” Hinata jumped down from the counter and spread his arms wide.
Kenma looked up and actually offered a small smile, “Hinata? Why are you here?”
“We’re on a double date with Suga and Oikawa!” Hinata pointed. “Why are you here?”
“For the same reason, short stuff,” Kuroo said. “We weren’t expecting additional company on the first night.”
Hinata looked up at him. He was like a giant.
‘No, he’s not that impressive. He isn’t even as tall as Tsukishima,’ Hinata consoled himself.
“It’s nice to see you two, regardless,” Sugawara smiled.
“Ah, there’s the heart and soul of Karasuno,” Kuroo turned to him.
Sugawara startled and cocked his head, “What? Heart and soul?”
“Mhm,” Kuroo hummed as he walked to examine what Kageyama was cooking. “You should use some lime. Its acidity would really enhance the flavor of this.”
Kageyama side eyed him but took the advice, walking to retrieve a lime.
Kuroo leaned back on the counter and addressed Sugawara again, “Yeah. Your team relies on you. It’s clear the spirit of Karasuno is on your shoulders.”
“No,” Sugawara dismissed with a smile. “That’s Daichi.”
“I thought you’d say so,” Kuroo turned to correct Kageyama’s spatula in the pan. “But his spirit is dependent on yours, so realistically it’s all you.”
Sugawara furrowed his brow at the table. What was he getting at? And why?
“Are you suggesting I have a rival?” Oikawa smiled. “Well, I’m not known to shy away from a good competition.”
“Whaaaa?” Hinata asked. “Are you suggesting Daichi is into Suga?”
Kuroo didn’t respond but he did smirk.
“No way!” Hinata exclaimed.
“Yeah, that’s crazy talk,” Sugawara said. “Let’s drop it.”
“Okay,” Hinata said, watching him with those wide eyes of his. “Um, Kenma, I’m so excited to see you!”
“Yeah,” Kenma said. “It’s been a while.”
“I thought I’d have to wait till I kicked your butt at Nationals,” the ginger smiled.
“Ha, yeah, sure,” Kenma crossed his arms.
“How long are you here for?”
“Oh, for the week.”
“Didn’t your coach tell you we have practice games with you this week? Our whole team is here,” Kuroo said.
“No,” Sugawara said. “I guess he wanted to surprise us.”
“Yeah, yeah, volleyball, Nationals, whatever. Let’s eat,” Oikawa crossed his arms.
“Oh, right,” Kageyama smiled evilly. “You’re not going to Nationals… ‘Cause you lost. Against us.”
Oikawa put his hands on his hips and leaned forward with a deep frown, “And you’re cooking me dinner. Shut up, wench.”
Kageyama laughed and turned back to the food.
-
Later that evening they sat in a circle on the floor of the large living room. Oikawa provided them all cushions to save their butts from the hardwood floors. The fireplace was roaring and there was quiet music coming from the stereo on the far wall. Kageyama served them all tea. Oikawa had the amazing idea to play a healthy game of truth or dare, he had to set the mood.
“This is how I know you were never invited to sleepovers as a kid,” Kageyama said.
“I can’t blame you for not seeing me there, because the truth is no one invited you, Sweetieyama,” Oikawa flashed his best obviously fake smile.
“Whatever,” Kageyama dismissed. “Who’s going first?”
“Since it was Oikawa’s just wonderful idea, he should be first,” Sugawara quipped.
“Right! Cutieyama, truth or dare?”
Kageyama eyed him up, knowing whichever he chose would end in his destruction. Luckily before he could choose, Sugawara spoke.
“Be nice, Oikiwi.”
Oikawa stared at him, his hands still in the air from when he was mocking Kageyama. He placed his hands down, scowled and looked back to his protege.
“Fine. Truth or dare?”
“Truth, I guess.”
“Coward.”
Kageyama just shrugged at him.
“Okay, who tops when you guys screw?”
Hinata choked on his drink. He knew he shouldn’t have even tried it when he knew whose turn it was. Sugawara turned quickly on Oikawa.
“I said be nice!”
“How was that not nice? Rules of the game, babe.”
Sugawara huffed and turned back to the rest of the circle. Kuroo hid his laugh behind his hand and Kenma looked bored.
‘Hinata’s probably already told him everything,’ Kageyama thought sourly while side eyeing Kenma.
“You’re such a pervert. Neither of us, okay?” Kageyama said.
“What do you mean? You guys haven’t done it, yet?” Oikawa asked, genuinely surprised.
“You get one question, Shittykawa,” Kageyama said. “My turn.”
He looked around the circle, contemplating who to pick on. He really wanted to get Oikawa back but knew it’d be made fun of as a ‘weird lovers spat’. Hinata would be the obvious choice. He just couldn’t do it to Sugawara. He wanted to avoid talking to Kenma for as long as humanly possible. That left one.
“Kuroo,” he said. “Truth or dare?
“Dare, duh,” Kuroo said with a smirk.
“Okay. I dare you to call Yaku and ask him to pick you up because you peed your pants.”
They all laughed as Kuroo took out his phone and dialed.
“It was nice knowing you all,” Kuroo said as the line rang. “It was a good life.”
Just as they all assumed the call would go to voicemail, he picked up, “Kuroo?”
“Yaku,” Kuroo shifted his voice so it sounded teary, “Can you pick me up?”
“We’re with Daichi and Asahi right now. I’m a little drunk. Are you okay?”
They all looked at each other weirdly. They drank?
“No, I really screwed up man,” Kuroo faked a voice break.
“Whoa, Kuroo, what happened, man?”
“Promise you won’t laugh.”
“I promise.”
“I kinda...pissed myself,” there was only dead air from the other end of the line. “I tried to cover it up, but Oikawa noticed and told everyone. Then Kenma told me I’m too embarrassing and left me. And...Yakkun,” he pretended to break into tears. “Please come get me!”
After a moment of excruciating silence, “You’re an idiot. He did not actually break up with you over that.” Kenma looked up at Kuroo. “Also, why did you piss yourself? You forget what bathrooms are? Huh?”
Kuroo put the phone on mute, “When do I stop?”
“When he agrees to get you,” Kageyama said.
“Kuroo?”
“Listen,” he sniffed. “Please just pick me up. Everyone’s making fun of me. Even Sugawara!”
Sugawara cringed, hoping they were drunk enough to not process the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be there. He didn’t want them to know. Not yet.
“Daichi!” Yaku called on the other side of the phone. The present company snickered quietly. “Can you drive?”
“Nah, man, I’m fucked!” Daichi called.
Kageyama and Hinata stared at the phone in shock.
“Ashai?” Yaku asked.
“Uh, yeah. Why?” Asahi asked.
“Kuroo’s having a crisis.”
Kuroo rolled his eyes.
“What kind of crisis?”
“A, ‘he pissed himself and everyone’s making fun of him, including Sugawara,’ crisis.”
“Suga?” Daichi asked.
Sugawara wanted to crawl into the ocean and never come back out. The only saving grace left for him was the idea that maybe Daichi wouldn’t remember.
Yaku snickered, “Yeah, Suga.”
“Man, Suga’s the coolest,” Daichi said.
“Yes, man, Suga’s the coolest,” Yaku agreed gently.
Oikawa was bored. He took his hand from where it was supporting his head and cupped it around his mouth and yelled, “Yo! Piss pants! What are you gonna do next, cry some more or piss your pants again?”
Kuroo smiled then kicked his crying voice up a notch, “Yakkun!”
“What do you think, Asahi?” Yaku asked.
“Let’s go party with Suga!” Daichi yelled.
“What?” Yaku asked.
“Yeah! He should be here, not there,” Daichi’s voice sounded angry. “So, let’s go there and party with Suga!”
“What?” Oikawa asked.
There were various rattlings, muffled conversation and static coming from the other end of the line. After what seemed like forever of the six of them staring at Kuroo’s screen, Yaku’s voice came through clearly again.
“Okay, see you soon, Kuroo.”
The call dropped. They continued staring at the phone.
“You ruin everything,” Oikawa said to Kageyama.
“What?” Kageyama yelled incredulously.
-
They’d long since abandoned their game, anticipating new guests. Sugawara had his head in Oikawa’s lap as they scrolled through their social media, occasionally stopping to show one another something they thought the other would like. Kageyama and Hinata opted to play cards, yelling at each other for cheating quite frequently. Kuroo and Kenma sat in front of the fire, the latter playing on his hand-held gaming device and the former watching.
Soft music played from the stereo and the lights were dim. They all existed in peaceful relative quietness. This was all broken when someone attempted to break down the door with their knocking.
“Oh, who could it possibly be?” Oikawa rolled his eyes as he stood. “Nothing just goes how it’s planned around here.”
He answered the door and allowed Daichi, Asahi, Yaku and Lev inside his home. Daichi stared him down the whole way. Oikawa met his gaze steadily, being sure to be the last one staring.
Oikawa followed them down the hall into the living area, where Lev had placed the two cases of beer he was carrying. On top of the beer was a box of miscellaneous bottles of alcohol. Sugawara was where he was sitting before, looking up at Asahi as they engaged in conversation. Kenma, Kuroo and Hinata were all talking to Yaku, probably explaining their game from earlier. Kageyama was leaning against a wall near them, but not part of their conversation.
Daichi stumbled up to Asahi and Sugawara and fell into Asahi once he arrived.
‘Wow, he really is fucked up, isn’t he?’ Oikawa thought.
“There’s enough booze here to get everyone off their feet tonight, and we’re not stopping until we get there!” Lev shouted.
He distributed the alcohol to everyone. Oikawa noticed how Kageyama and Hinata glaced at their bottles nervously as he unscrewed the lid to his own. The pair hesitantly unscrewed their bottles and took a sip. Hinata’s face scrunched up as if he bit into a lemon, whereas Kageyama held the bottle away and looked at it, impressed.
Oikawa sighed to himself, knowing he was in for a long night. He just wanted to spend time with Sugawara and other people when they could just be themselves and not hide anything.
“Time to pretend,” he muttered, then downed half of his bottle.
-
An hour passed and they were properly pissed. Someone had taken over the bluetooth and hard party music blasted from the stereo. Somewhere along the way, calls were made and the rest of the present company’s teams showed up at his door.
Oikawa stared around the room at the joyous conversations and unlikely groupings of people. He never thought he’d see the day where Nekoma, Karasuno and Seijoh gathered together in a room and had a good time. He supposed parties were different.
Normally drunk meant happy. Not that night. As time passed, his emotions got muddier. Every time he tried to find Sugawara he noticed he was mysteriously vanished or preoccupied. All of his options exhausted, he approached Kageyama who seemed every bit as dejected as himself.
“Hey, walk with me?”
Kageyama’s eyes widened, but he followed when Oikawa led him up the stairs and out onto a balcony.
“Why won’t Sugawara just tell them? Is he embarrassed?” Oikawa asked, leaning over the railing. He tapped the bottle in his hand nervously as the wind shook his hair.
Kageyama stayed back a few steps and took a swig from his bottle before speaking. “Probably.”
Oikawa looked back at him, feeling his stomach drop onto the lawn.
“Not of you. Of himself.”
Oikawa cocked his head at him. He didn’t understand.
“Probably is embarrassed he’s with a boy. Hasn’t really come to terms with it, yet. It isn’t really much better, but probably easier to get over,” Kageyama shrugged.
“Oh,” Oikawa leaned back over the railing. His drunk brain told him to jump, but his body stayed firm.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Kageyama with an uncharacteristically soft smile adorning his face.
“Come inside, you could get frostbite.”
Oikawa smiled at him and nodded. They returned to the party and it was somehow livelier than before. Kageyama looked at him firmly.
“You can do this. It’s a party. Don’t worry about Suga and have some fun. It’ll do you good,” he said before walking away.
Oikawa watched him wrap his arm around Hinata and his body felt like it was on fire. Kageyama didn’t know what was good for him. He felt a lump form in his throat when he heard a voice from behind him.
“Daichi is in love with Suga,” Yaku said.
Oikawa turned and looked at the short Nekoma player, “He said that?”
“I mean, no,” Yaku said. “But look.”
Oikawa followed the trajectory of his outstretched arm. Sugawara was in the far corner of the room, back turned to him, laughing with Iwaizumi and Lev. Daichi was part of a separate conversation nearby but watched Sugawara with a longing gaze.
He walked over to the alcohol and passed by the beer, opting for something stronger. He took a smaller bottle of vodka that was still mostly full and unscrewed the cap. Yaku followed him and raised an eyebrow.
Oikawa held the bottle up to him in a toast, but kept his eyes on Sugawara, “It’s over for me tonight.”
He brought the vodka to his lips and took a swig.
Across the room Hinata had some others in his grasp as they belted, extremely out of tune, “We are the champions, my friends! And we’ll keep on fighting ‘till the end!”
He scoffed and turned, immediately running into Kuroo. The taller boy leaned in and stared at the bottle in his hand with a raised brow.
“Just going for it, are ya?”
“Yeah, well,” he glanced at Daichi, who’d joined Sugawara’s conversation.
Kuroo followed his gaze and made an O shape with his mouth upon realization.
“Well, well, well,” he said, taking the vodka from him. Oikawa tried taking it back, but Kuroo held it well above his head. “This simply won’t do, then, will it?”
Oikawa ceased trying to retrieve the alcohol from him. It was a losing battle. Kuroo surprised him by handing him the 26er he’d previously had.
“It’ll take much more for that kind of situation,” he said.
They smiled at each other dangerously as they raised their bottles of vodka to their lips and took as large a gulp as they could before their throats stung too badly. Oikawa gagged and shook his head, quickly getting over the sick feeling.
“Oh, yeah,” Kuroo said, looking back at Sugawara and Daichi laugh, “Tonight is gonna be a night.”
-
Oikawa’s vision stuttered in front of him and he could no longer walk without stumbling. He looked down at the bottle in his hand to see how much he had left, but he couldn’t focus. The bottle shifted choppily under his gaze. As if in slow motion, a hand covered his around the neck of the bottle.
He redirected his eyes upward and put all his focus on making out the face in front of him.
“Lev Haiba,” he laughed.
“I think you’ve had enough,” Lev said, taking the bottle from his hand.
Oikawa allowed him to take the vodka and noted how he hardly felt his skin against his palm as he did so.
“Is fine,” he smiled. “‘M done, ‘nyways.”
He tumbled forward, face planting into Lev’s chest. He got back up with only minimal help and patted the impossibly tall boy on the shoulder.
“Good talk,” he said into his face as he walked away.
He stood in the middle of the room and tried looking around. All he managed to do was make his surroundings spin faster. He squeezed his eyes shut and cupped his hands around his mouth.
“Who has the AUX?” He shouted.
“Here!” Yamamoto raised his hand, yelling over the rest of them.
Oikawa turned to him and pointed, “Colors! Halsey!”
After a moment the music shifted from bassy house music to an understated beat. Every note hit his body like a pile of bricks and the emotion swelled inside of him.
“Fuck yeah!” He yelled as began jumping in place.
“Your little brother never tells you but he loves you so
You said your mother only smiled on her tv show
You're only happy when your sorry head is filled with dope
I hope you make it to the day you're twenty-eight years old”
He shouted the words as he danced along. His movements were erratic but he exuded passion from every pore of his skin. He’d quickly drawn the attention of everyone in the room.
Hinata gawked at him before his face split into a smile. The ginger ran to Kenma and forced him up. It was a lot easier to get him to do things when he was drunk and Hinata intended to use that knowledge to the fullest. He pulled his friend to Oikawa and danced along with him.
“You're dripping like a saturated sunrise
You're spilling like an overflowing sink
You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece
And now i'm tearing through the pages and the ink”
Oikawa took hold of Hianta’s hands as they danced ineptly to the music. They came together and pulled apart, shouting the lyrics at the top of their lungs.
“Kageyama!” Oikawa yelled, pulling a hand free to wave him over. He smiled as the blur of black and blue approached.
“Everything is blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now i'm covered in the colors pull apart at the seams
And it's blue
And it's blue”
He wrapped his arms around Kageyama and Hinata’s shoulders as he continued jumping and screaming along. Kageyama didn’t know the words but shouted his best guess anyway. Kenma jumped along from Hinata’s other side, having much better luck getting the lyrics right.
“Everything is grey
His hair, his smoke, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
He don't know what it means
And he's blue
And he's blue”
Iwaizumi shouted along from the outside of the room, dancing his way to his setter. Once he reached Oikawa he separated him from Kageyama and Hinata to twirl him around. Oikawa beamed at his friend as he was pulled into the world’s least talented tango. He abandoned trying to remember the lyrics and fell into the moment. He allowed his trust into someone else’s hands for once. He knew Iwaizumi wouldn’t let him fall. Not in the way it mattered.
“You were a vision in the morning when the light came through
I know I've only felt religion when i've lied with you
You said you'll never be forgiven till your boys are too
And I'm still waking every morning but it's not with you”
Kuroo came behind Kenma and wrapped his arms around him, hands clasped over his clavicle. Kenma looked up and smiled. He placed his hands over the captain’s and allowed himself to be swayed to the music. Kuroo rested his chin against Kenma’s head and shut his eyes, enjoying the warmth the small boy let off.
“You were red, and you liked me because I was blue
But you touched me, and suddenly I was a lilac sky
Then you decided purple just wasn't for you”
Iwaizumi spun Oikawa around once again. He smiled as he stumbled the landing, landing harshly on the wooden floor. He leaned back on his hands, trying to steady his vision. In front of him, Daichi held Sugawara close as they danced. All at once, Oikawa’s vision sharpened and his smile was gone.
Sugawara looked up at Daichi and their hands were clasped. One of Daichi’s hands was on the small of Sugawara’s back. They swayed in perfect time with the beat. Time slowed as Oikawa saw Daichi lean in. Sugawara’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth.
“YOU!” Oikawa screamed as he pushed himself onto his feet.
Every eye in the room was on him. He stormed over to them and shoved Daichi harshly. Normally he wouldn’t stand a chance against the defenseman, but fortunately for Oikawa, he was incredibly drunk.
Daichi was unable to regain his balance and fell back onto the floor. He fixed his dangerous look on Oikawa, who stood over him. He stood up slowly and began towards the shorter boy, rolling his right sleeve up. Oikawa did not back down, but instead stared headlong into Daichi’s vicious eyes.
He lunged at Daichi right as he cocked his fist, but was quickly restrained by someone. Kuroo took a firm grasp on Karasuno’s captain and held him back before he could swing. Oikawa resisted against the weight holding him back.
When he could not break free he resorted to yelling, “What the hell is wrong with you? I will destroy you!”
“I’d like to see you try, asshole! What’s your problem?”
Oikawa froze as realization settled over him like a blanket of snow. He slowly turned to Sugawara, who held his hands over his mouth and watched with wide eyes.
“...He didn’t know,” he said slowly.
Sugawara shook his head.
“You...were going to let that happen.”
“No, Tōru, I wasn’t,” Sugawara said.
Oikawa broke free from whoever was holding him, thrashing his arm away violently before fronting on Sugawara.
“You were going to let him do that! What’s the problem, Kōshi? Why won’t you just tell them?” He studied Sugawara’s face closely, and when it was clear he wasn’t going to speak, he continued. “Since half of your fucking team is screwing each other, it’s obviously not that they’ll judge you for dating a boy!”
“Oikawa…” Sugawara started.
“No! It’s too late! If you’re embarrassed of me, if I’m not good enough, then you shouldn’t have started this! I’m never wrong about people! Never!” He backed a step away. “But, you…”
He looked Sugawara up and down and scoffed before turning and walking away. He pushed through his uninvited guests and stormed through the hall and out the door. He only made it down the steps before pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes.
He fell into himself. He kneeled on the ground and allowed the lump in his throat to grow. Tears stung his eyes and his chest felt hollow. He tore his hands away from his face and hit the ground.
“Second!” He yelled. “Always second!”
He brought his hands back to his eyes and scrubbed at them. He turned to the night sky, imploring it for answers.
“Tōru,” he heard behind him.
“Go away, cheater.”
Sugawara wrapped his jacket around Oikawa’s shoulders and pulled a hat over his head before sitting in front of him.
“You made quite the scene, huh?”
“Not enough of one, if you ask me,” Oikawa averted his gaze.
“I was about to tell him right before you assaulted him, you know.”
He looked into his hazel eyes, looking for signs of deception but found none. Sugawara sighed and grabbed his hands, holding tightly.
“You’re freezing.”
“I don’t feel cold.”
“Because you’re too drunk.”
“I don’t feel drunk.”
“Well… You are.”
Oikawa stared down at their interlocked hands. He felt shame rise through his body and tears threatened once again. He crawled forward into Sugawara’s arms and tucked his head under his chin.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know. Maybe you should say that to Daichi.”
The idea of talking to Daichi made him feel sick, whether he knew about them or not. His face grew hot and his frown grew deep.
“Maybe cool down, first,” Sugawara suggested.
“Yeah,” Oikawa nodded into his chest.
Oikawa listened to Sugawara breathe. His eyelids grew heavier with each breath, until he wasn’t sure if he was awake anymore.
“Hey,” Sugawara whispered. “Are you still up?”
“Mm,” Oikawa mumbled.
“Let’s go to bed.”
“‘S time is it?”
He heard the rustle of Sugawara’s jacket as he pulled his phone out.
“5:23.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s go to bed.”
“Yeah.”
Sugawara stood and shivered at the sudden cold from the loss of Oikawa’s body against his. He held his hands out and helped his boyfriend up and into the house. Most of the people inside were doing quiet activities at that point or passed out in peculiar places. Sugawara’s personal favorite was Hinata and Kageyama who’d fallen asleep under the table with a deck of playing cards scattered on the floor around them.
Wholesome.
He kept his arm around Oikawa, as his walking was already impaired by alcohol and only worsened by fatigue. He led him up the stairs and to the bathroom, instructing him to shower. He went to retrieve some water for them both, knowing they’d need it if they wanted to be living creatures the next day.
He ran into Daichi in the kitchen. He leaned awkwardly against the counter in front of the sink.
“Hey, uh, Suga,” he rubbed the back of his neck.
“No need, Daichi,” Sugawara smiled warmly. “All good, here.”
Daichi moved out of the way of the sink as Sugawara filled two glasses.
“I’m just really drunk, ya know,” Daichi drawled.
“Yeah, I know. We won’t talk about it anymore, okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” he said, looking at the floor.
Sugawara studied his sullen expression closely before speaking slowly.
“You know… I used to feel that way.” Daichi looked at him. “But I’m happy where I am now. You will be, too. I promise.”
They shared a fond smile and Daichi patted his shoulder before wishing him a good night.
Sugawara made his way up to Oikawa’s bedroom, water in hand, only to find the boy laying on his side, asleep in just his boxers. He stood over the bed just observing for a moment. The blanket lay at the foot of the bed, his brown hair sprawled over the satin pillowcase. Sugawara smiled as he placed the water on the bedside table then moved to turn out the light.
He crawled into the bed and nudged his way under Oikawa’s arm. He felt his no-longer-secret boyfriend’s hand slip under his arm and press him closer. He used his leg to get the blanket close enough to pull over them and settled back in.
He let the smell of Oikawa’s body wash fall over him as his muscles slowly untensed. He felt Oikawa’s hand tighten and loosen against his shirt and felt his breath behind his ear. He slipped his hand over the one that lay against his ribs and squeezed.
Oikawa hummed lowly and nustled his nose against the skin just below Sugawara’s ear.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Mm, love you, too,” Oikawa mumbled.