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Tsukishima is not quite sure how he got dragged into this. Again.
The invitation was clear – everyone was to attend as a team bonding exercise, helping to build those important dynamics that were missing after the summer inter-high. Tsukishima’s phone buzzed with the follow up message – bring your swimsuit.
Ugh.
Which one of those idiots were responsible for that idea? Tsukishima wanted to blame either of the freak duo idiots, but knew that they didn’t have this mean streak in them. They were annoyingly single-minded, and this felt very… planned.
Damn you, Sugawara.
Tsukishima really doesn’t understand why Yamaguchi dragged him along, either. Tsukishima could have been coming down with a cold, or had to help his mother or brother with some important household tasks, or simply just said he wouldn’t go. He could have, but instead he was dragged out of bed by an overly-excited Yamaguchi, chattering away about how funny it will be to see Hinata and Kageyama try to drown each other in Sugawara’s pool.
Yamaguchi had a point, and that is why Tsukishima supposes he was here. Maybe he could get a front row seat to the demise of the dumbasses.
It was too good to be true.
That is why he sat on the edge of the pool, legs dipped in (as enforced by Sugawara, Tanaka, and Nishinoya, who consistently insisted on splashing his glasses with the chlorinated water). His calves sat against the edge of the pool, feet pointed down to avoid any contact with the raucous second-years competing over underwater flips. Sugawara insisted on circling the most easily scared members of the team (read: Hinata and Asahi) underwater, grabbing their legs and pulling them under the surface. The first time it happened, Tsukishima thought Hinata was actually being murdered (shame). By the tenth scream from Hinata, it was getting old. Asahi still looked like he was on the verge of a heart attack, though, and that brought some comfort to Tsukishima’s icy heart – this was in stark contrast to the ever warming skin on Tsukishima’s shoulders, which were thoroughly slathered with sunscreen.
Kageyama insisted on trying to race everyone in sight, and the King was irritatingly good at swimming too. The only person he struggled to beat was Hinata, who was likely swimming away from Sugawara in pure terror.
Daichi did a little bit with everyone – from Kageyama to a few races, to dive-bombing Asahi and scaring the life out of him. Tsukishima was dreading his eventual interaction, which came in the form of Daichi resting his head on the crossed arms propped on the edge of the pool. Tsukishima nodded his head in acknowledgement.
“I would’ve thought you would have been scaring Hinata and Kageyama,” Daichi comments, a knowing smile playing at his mouth. Daichi always had that smile when predicting things with Tsukishima, and while Tsukishima generally found him tolerable, that was the rather annoying thing about the captain. He knew just a little too much.
“I thought you wanted us to cool off on that? ‘Team-building’ and all…” Tsukishima mutter, and Daichi laughed.
“On the court, yes. But I think you’ll find that our vice-captain is today’s biggest troublemaker.”
Tsukishima smirked, “He’s at your feet.”
Daichi jumped, pushing himself to the other side of the pool and frantically looking down. When Sugawara was nowhere in sight, he sighed in relief. He gave a relenting nod to Tsukishima. “Let loose a bit more. Enjoy the water before it gets too cold.”
Tsukishima had a sudden flashback to Nekoma’s captain, and shuddered. “I’m alright.”
Daichi really yelled that time, and Tsukishima was not surprised to see Sugawara pop up and smack his hand against Daichi’s chest. Daichi looked halfway between berating Sugawara and fond, but decided to berate him when Sugawara turned back and winked at Tsukishima.
Tsukishima tuned out their bickering, with Daichi’s stern voice not surviving through Sugawara’s airy laughs. He was vaguely aware of more of Sugawara’s smacking, but ignored it in favour of Yamaguchi lifting himself out of the pool and sitting next to Tsukishima.
“You’re dripping,” Tsukishima noted, and Yamaguchi shook his head next him like a dog. Tsukishima cringed away from him, hiding his glasses from the water. He frowned. “Thanks, Yamaguchi.”
“Sorry, Tsukki!” Yamaguchi grinned, not sounding sorry in the slightest. Typical. Tsukishima glanced in Yamaguchi’s direction as he dried his glasses, and saw Yamaguchi grinning ear to ear. “You should get in the water.”
“I’d rather not be shark bait.”
“You’d be more like an electric eel,” Yamaguchi nudged Tsukishima’s arm, and Tsukishima scowled. The freckles on Yamaguchi’s legs, still slick with pool water, shone against the sunlight. His soft brown legs kicked lightly in the water, swirling ripples into the surface. Tsukishima watched them as Yamaguchi leaned against him, the water spreading to Tsukishima’s pale, skinny arm. “You should join us.”
Tsukishima frowned, “I’m good here.”
“I’m sure you are, but you should still join us. They’re not so bad.”
“Unlikely.”
“Tsukki,” Yamaguchi whined, “At least join me?”
Tsukishima’s eye twitched, only because he knew that he would once again be dragged into something he didn’t really want to do yet again. He was so weak when it came to Yamaguchi… what a pain. Tsukishima’s scowl deepened, and that’s how Yamaguchi knew that he had won. Yamaguchi slid back into the pool, moving in front of Tsukishima and tugging on his legs. Tsukishima resisted, digging his hands against the lip of the pool and refusing to move.
Unfortunately, the second years were like vultures, and soon Tsukishima was being pulled in by Yamaguchi, Tanaka, and Nishinoya – the nuisances – until his head was being dunked underneath. Tsukishima quickly pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, forcing his glasses to stay in place. If he lost them, then he’d be in a whole world of hurt.
After Nishinoya freed his head and shoulders, Tsukishima resurfaced with a gasp and offered his best glare at the second-years through the drops of water racing down his glasses. From what he could see, the two of them wore matching shit-eating grins. In that moment, Tsukishima knew he looked about as threatening as a teddy bear, and may as well give up on berating them. Somewhere deep in Tsukishima’s soul, he knew that Kageyama was two seconds away from challenging him to a race, and Sugawara was plotting to scare him.
Tsukishima turned his attention to Yamaguchi, who was grinning at him widely. Tsukishima, kicked Yamaguchi under the water, and Yamaguchi leaned towards Tsukishima with his laughter. In between giggles, Yamaguchi whispers, “See? Not so bad, is it?”
Tsukishima can feel Yamaguchi’s bare chest against his own, vibrating as he laughed. Tsukishima only moved to keep the rising heat to his entire body hidden. He cursed his pale skin – always making him flush right up as if he had hives when he was embarrassed. There was no avoiding it, especially, when Yamaguchi was just being himself – his stupidly perfect self – and Tsukishima was left in a pool party with the rest of his volleyball team, fighting the urge to drag Yamaguchi’s face towards his own and kiss him senseless.
Tsukishima knew that Yamaguchi felt it too, because that bastard moved closer to him, face inching closer to Tsukishima’s. He reached up, grabbing Tsukishima’s glasses and carefully placing them against the edge of the pool. Tsukishima squinted, barely making out the edge of the pool. “You won’t need them,” Yamaguchi said, and Tsukishima scoffed.
“I do, though,” he muttered, and Yamaguchi nudged him.
“Not for this.” Yamaguchi grinned, grabbing Tsukishima’s shoulders and pushing them both under the surface. Tsukishima’s knees buckled ever so slightly, following Yamaguchi down until they were halfway seated under the water. Tsukishima couldn’t see that far ahead of him, but he could feel Yamaguchi’s hands tugging at his waist and pulling him closer, and he could feel Yamaguchi’s nose brush his own and their lips meet under the chlorine.
Tsukishima’s instinct was to cup Yamaguchi’s cheeks, tenderly deepening the kiss under the water. Yamaguchi’s fingers dug against the small of Tsukishima’s back, and pulled himself away with an additional peck of Tsukishima’s lips. Tsukishima watched Yamaguchi go up for air, but Tsukishima stayed longer a little longer, just to see Yamaguchi’s chest for a few more seconds. Tsukishima resurfaced too, just to get a smack on the back from Sugawara. He jumped, and both Sugawara’s and Yamaguchi’s laugh resounded, and Tsukishima knew that he had just been had.
Damn you, Yamaguchi.