Hadn't draw the others yet for the Princess Mononoke AU and that had to be fixed. I think Pidge is going to be Toki whenever I get around to drawing them.
Keith is definitely the most fun to draw in this AU but I really need to draw more Shiro. I still struggle to get the shape of his face. And man, his eyes are fabulous but easy to get wrong.
I always pictured Renee as black with pastel extensions and the Twins as being asian with dyed blond hair. No idea why. But now you can enjoy them too.
me: Iâm so excited to write this fic, itâs going to be good, I love it, Iâm so pumped
*writes it in head before sleeping, gets emotional over songs that could fit the story, elaborates background and characterisations, writes lines on phone*
also me, in front of laptop: yeah, but no, Iâve got nothing
âLow Maintenanceâ Thatâs the word people liked to use when it came to Semi. Everyone said it like it was a good thing, but Semi knew that no one actually thought that. Knew that they looked at him with eyes of disgust as they saw all of the over lapping names that Semi wore on his skin.
But he couldnât help that.
Couldnât help that he genuinely didnât require all that much from a person. That so long as they werenât a royal piece of shit he could put up with just about anyone. Sadly, next to no one can put up with him in return.
Semi was freaking out; He couldnât find his high collared school jacket and he was going to be late for school at this rate.
This was not a problem for most people, and certainly wouldnât be excepted as an excuse for a tardy slip given that they were a few months into school and summer was in full swing. Semi himself hated being hot, but he would wear a jacket anyway.
Being sweaty was a small price to pay for decency. Or at least thatâs what heâd been told by his parents, teachers, and sneering peers.
At last he found his jacket hidden under the mess of his bedding. Semi breathed a slow sound of relief and quickly slid his name-riddled arms into the sleeves. The simple barrier between him and the rest of the world instantly made Semi feel calmer. Quickly tugging on his gloves and zipping his jacket up under his chin Semi grabbed his bag and ran out the door.
Semi hated running to school, especially in summer, because he would get really hot and dizzy but he wouldnât be able to take off his jacket and then heâd feel stinky and gross the rest of the day. But the alternative was showing off the fact that there were crisscrossing soulmarks up and down his arms, hands, and neck. They were actually all over his chest, back, and legs as well but those marks were a lot easier to hide. He didnât want to see peopleâs expressions when they noticed: the quick double take, the confusion, the morbid fascination, and finally the disgust. People were not often quiet about what they thought of him. He already had to face that at school, he didnât want to on the street as well.
Most people only got one soulmark. Some people apparently never got any soulmark, but it was so rare that most thought it a myth. It was uncommon but not terribly strange to get two soulmarks. Although even people with two marks often had to constantly reassure whoever their partner was that they werenât cheating. Even more rarely, thereâd be people with what were known as âcircularâ marks; otherwise known as a series of seemingly mismatched pairs that formed a circle of people of various sizes, usually indicative of a polyamourous relationship.
It was a lingering bit of prejudice from older generations, which had seen a soulmark as a sign that you belonged by divine arrangement to that person in body and soul. It was a narrative that was shifting slowly with modernization and the insistence that there was no scientific suggestions or religious scripture that stated that was anything close to being true, but rather a traditional interpretation. There were even movements among the youth for proper soulmark education to prevent a persistent rape culture around soulmarks: that a person baring a name did not equal consent. Even so, it was a slow process, and in the mean time the wider public still believed that it was next to impossible for someone with two marks- or a mark of another person besides their partner- to be completely faithful. It was a sad reality that some had speculated actually increased cheating of partners who assumed their partner was cheating, led to more divorces and child abandonment of children not born of a truemate etc etc. Which was all very well and good for the academics and radicals to speculate about, but in the mean time the people being affected by these opinions-
â-late again, probably slept at some strangers house-â
â-shouldnât allow people like that in the school! Itâs a bad influence on the younger students-â
â-all covered up, wonder how many marks heâs got? 1,000? Ew, what if Iâm on there-â
â-not even that cute. I might not mind if he was at least hot-â
âSemiiiiiii!â Tendou crashed into him, distracting Semi gratefully from all the hurtful comments being sneered around him. They werenât even keeping their voices down- rude asses.
âGet off me.â Grumbled Semi shrugging off the arm that had been thrown around him. He honestly didnât know if he liked physical affection or not. Maybe he once had and couldnât remember. Thereâd never been an abundance of it in any event, and after he turned 13 and the names started appearing he started getting jumpy about people touching him. Both because of possible hidden motives of that person, or how it would be perceived from the outside.
âSo grumpy. But man I feel you. Canât wait till we graduate and we can have classes at a least sane hour of the day.â Tendou bemoaned, taking the rejection with practiced ease. They never seemed to mind all the gossip that surrounded Semi or what people said about the two of them hanging out. Semi was grateful for a friend like them.
âDid you eat breakfast?â asked Tendou fishing in their bag, âMy mom made a bunch of extra onigiri, you want some?â
âThatâd be great.â Semi said putting aside his grumpiness for the time being to gratefully accept the gift.
âI donât know how you always forget to eat, youâre literally hungry all the time.â Tendou said poking his side, âyouâre already so skinny, one of these days a big wind is going to blow you away.â
âJust works out that way I guess.â Semi shrugged munching the food. Around about the time he got his 11th name breakfasts and packed lunches and hot dinners had slowly given way to a bit of money left on the table for him. Which was fine, better than sitting with his family these days, but Semi often chose extra sleep over getting up early enough to go hunt down some food.
âYou need to take better care of your health Eita. It is important to watch your calorie intake to keep up you fitness.â Ushijima stated as he joined them, dutifully carrying an extra packed lunch for Semi that was sure to be packed full of protein. Heâd started during their first year when he noticed that Semi never had a lunch and the tradition had kept up all through High School.
âThank you.â Semi said flushing as always as he accepted the gift. Ushijima nodded in acknowledgment and Tendou watched Semi for a moment before throwing an arm around him again and prattling on about whatever anime theyâd watched the previous night. Ushijima responded by pointing out the flaws in the logic of the plot that they were explaining and Semi found himself snorting at his odd friends antics. He shrugged Tendouâs arm off him again and entered the school flanked by his friends.
No one dared bother him while he was with the Ace and the Guess Monster of Shiratorizawa. They even kept their whispering under control. Semi was always grateful for his friends unwavering support; they were what made school bearable.
After school and practice though it was time to go home and he silently mourned the loss of both their comfort and security. He sat in the locker room while the team packed up and stared blankly at the wall as his hair dried.
He didnât want to go to his house. It would be empty. Silent. Semi didnât want to be alone with his thoughts.
âOh heavens, I always knew you were low maintenance Eita,â His mother had laughed when heâd nervously gone to her wondering what was wrong when heâd gotten his 4th name at 13, âThis just means that your core personality needs are pretty general and common. It means you donât require a whole lot to be happy and so itâs pretty easy to find someone to fulfill such a low minimum.â
Sheâd said it like a good thing. Semi had learned better after a while: not needing much meant that people didnât give much⊠meant that he was seen by others as easily exploitable. As the number of names he had grew his motherâs smile had grown increasingly strained and sheâd stopped looking at him in the eye. Sheâd made him go to therapy, as if this was the kind of thing that could just be willed away with a change in attitude.
Things came to a head when he was almost 15 and he got the name of one of their neighbors. A very nice young man fresh out of college who just moved in with his truemate. Semi got the girlâs name too barely a week later.
âYou are a shame on our family.â His father had said with disgust. It was one of the last things heâd said to him.
âI donât want to be with him! I swear! I donât want to be with any of them! I donât know why their names keep coming, I canât help it!â Semi had tried to plead. Well actually heâd yelled. He might personally be low maintenance in terms of what he required from others, but that was not a two way street, so while he could put up with pretty much anyone almost no one could put up with him. âToo saltyâ was the reason people often gave.
âOf course you want to be with your soulmate. The name appearing on your skin is proof of that.â His mother had told him shaking her head, disappointment etched into her features, âI held my mouth before but this one has a truemate though and heâs and adult Eita, some things are just not appropriate for you to want.â
âI know that! I donât want to be with him!â Semi had repeated over and over, but it fell on deaf ears. His parents had formed a picture of him and nothing he said seemed to budge it. His father thought he was a lusty abomination and ordered him to start covering his marks: no need to ruin other peopleâs happiness. His mother thought that theyâd failed him in some essential way that he must be desperate enough that he had no standards.
Knowing that even his parents thought this of him had made Semi miserable. Theyâd never been particularly close, but theyâd still been there.Heâd been afraid theyâd throw him out. Instead they just started to pretend he didnât exist. Itâd hurt at first, but almost 3 years later heâd gotten used to it and somewhat enjoyed the freedom of having nobody care if he failed or succeeded. The lifting of both expectations and pressure.
Semi never really had been particularly popular at school. He was mildly socially oblivious and extremely awkward with people he didnât know very well. That on top of the names crisscrossing his skin pretty much insured that heâd be an outcast. At least in middle school it had. High School, by some divine miracle, was a different story.
Heâd just hit his growth spurt and was sitting on the corner of the roof hunched over- not quite used to the length of his limbs yet or what to do with them- when heâd been approached by Ushijima.
âYou were a setter in middle school.â Heâd said by way of introduction.
âUm, yes.â Semi had taken up volleyball his first year of middle school. Heâd stayed on the team after he started getting soulmarks out of pure effort and painfully acquired skill leagues above the rest of his team. People whispered that the only reason he was on the team as the main setter was that he was banging to coach. But he won them their games and so people didnât complain too loudly.
âYouâre also tall.â The other boy had stated.
âI guess.â Semi blinked owlishly at the other.
âI watched one of you games last season. Your team was moderate at best, but you are good. Not as good as Oikawa, but still quite decent and you have an odd style.â Ushijima had informed him. Later he would learn that this was very high praise.
âUm, thanks?â he hadnât been sure why Ushijima was talking to him; unlike Semi, Ushijima was quite popular at the school already despite the year having just started⊠And if heâd seen his games he would know about his soulmarks (volleyball uniforms werenât good for hiding such things).
âYou should join the volleyball team. I will be the ace and I need a setter that can properly serve to me. The current one is too proud to listen to reason just because I am a first year.â Ushijima hadnât left him in the dark for long. Swift, blunt, and cutting straight to the point. Just like Semi would later learn his spikes would be.
âYou⊠you want me to beâŠâ Semi had barely believed it.
âMy setter, yes.â Ushijima had agreed. Heâd seemed like a god in that moment. Only a first year but already he was so tall and well muscled, his features sharp and firm, his skin nice and his eyes bafflingly honest yet no less determined. Heâd meant it. He wanted Semi.
Semi had fallen a little bit in love at that moment.
The team at Shiratorizawa became a little bit like a family for Semi. Ushijima approved of him, he was decently talented, and seemed to be all that mattered to them. Semi quickly realized that they were all their own brand of misfits. It became a source of pride that together they could be strong enough to make the people who whispered behind their backs bite their tonguesâŠ
âEita.â Semi jumped glancing up. While he had been spacing out the locker room had emptied out around him till it was just Semi and Ushijima.
âSorry.â He muttered toweling off his black tipped hair and packing away his things properly.
âYou should come over to my house.â Ushijima told him, âMy mother will be pleased if you come, and you can set balls to me after we finished our homework.â
âIâŠâ Semi could his face reddening. Going to spend time at Ushijimaâs warm loving home instead of returning to the silent indifference of his house⊠it sounded beyond wonderful, âOkay.â
They spent the walk over to Ushijimaâs in amiable silence. Not awkward just a strange silent sense of togetherness.
Ushijimaâs mother was the tallest woman Semi had ever met. She had sharp, strong features, was super fit and could probably break a mans skull with her legs alone⊠She was also the biggest sweetheart Semi had ever met.
âEita!â she beamed when she saw him and gathered him up into her arms in a great bear hug that lifted Semi right off the floor. She always acted as if seeing Semi was the most delightful part of her day. And since she shared Ushijimaâs absolute inability to lie, Semi believed her.
He also had no idea what to do with a person who liked him so much.
âWakatoshi, go take you friendâs bag up to your room.â She told her son quickly handing said object to him and a quick hug of greeting.
âYes mom.â Ushijima said dutifully doing so. Tendou always teased the tall boy that he was a mamaâs boy. Semi didnât see why that was a bad thing; if he had a mom like Ushijima, heâd be a mamaâs boy too.
âEita dear, its boiling. For heavens sake take off that jacket.â The tall woman said rounding back on him.
âOh, no⊠really I-â Semi said his blood feeling icy cold.
âI insist. I wonât have you passing out from heat stroke under my watch.â She said firmly. And what could Semi do but nervously obey under such a commanding presence?
âThere. Much better now, isnât it?â she said smiling and hanging up his coat, âWow! I think thereâs even more names then last time!â
âIâŠâ Semi tried not to look like he was hiding his arms behind his back.
âYou are such a wonderful boy, that you can love so many people.â She smiled at him fondly.
âI am not with any of them.â Semi blurted, âReally, they just keep coming-â
âShhh-â She said laying a finger over his lips, âI didnât think you were. Wakatoshi says youâre very shy but a good friend. Honestly I canât picture you taking up with so many people. Not that it would lower your worth or my affection for you even if you did. And anyway, I trust my sonâs judgment; he likes you and heâs never been wrong yet about a person.â
ââŠI am not shy.â Semi said at last. He really really didnât know how to handle people who were so nice.
âQuite then.â She amended.
âI am not really that quite either.â He said thinking of all the bickering and banter he and Tendou got into.
âWell then, in that case I expect to hear a lot from you today at dinner. Come, youâre far too skinny for a boy your age whoâs active in sports. What do your parents feed you, honestly?â she chatted away leading him into the kitchen where Ushijima was already chopping meat for dinner. Ushijimaâs father was not present. Whether he was dead or divorced or just worked oversees Semi didnât know. The family never volunteered information and he never asked. Still, they were the most warm and complete feeling family heâd ever encountered.
The meal was wonderful as it always was in this household. Semi swore Ushijimaâs mom was trying to stuff him till he puked, she just kept heaping food onto his plate and chatting away. Afterwards he and Ushijima finished up their homework and played volleyball outside for a bit. When they came inside Ushijima gave him a pair of sleep clothes the family always kept for him and his designated spare toothbrush.
Semi sat clenched and unclenched his fingers in the covers of the bed. He stared at the overlapping soulmarks on his legs and arms. There were so many in some spots that you couldnât even read the characters anymore. Just blots on his skin. But Ushijima didnât care about the marks on his skin. His mom was so nice and she didnât care either. Just loved him unconditionally even though he wasnât even her kid.
That's all heâd ever really wanted.
He didnât feel like something shameful in this house. He just felt like⊠a high school volleyball player. It was a wonderful feeling. And he was good. Good enough to stand by Ushijima. Good enough that Ushijima had picked him out of all the others at the school. He knew he wasnât the Aceâs first choice. He knew Oikawa was always the one Ushijima would have preferred and he was just the second best thing. But he was still the setter for the best volleyball team in the region and that⊠that had to mean he wasnât a waste of space at least.
Semi wondered if maybe somewhere in the mess of names on his skin was âUshijima WakatoshiââŠ
He made up his mind.
âEita, what time do you want to wake up?â Ushijima asked wandering in, âMy mother wants to know so she can make breakfast.â
Too tall, Semi realized with dismay.
âI⊠doesnât matter. Whenever you are. Can you come over here for a second?â Semi asked nervously.
âAre you well Eita? You are very pale.â Ushijima frowned and ambled over and sat down next to him. Semi knew he was right; he was terrified. But he wanted⊠he wantedâŠ
Semi leaned over and clumsily planted a kiss on his Aceâs mouth and the pulled back nervously to gauge the otherâs reaction. For his part, Ushijima just frowned and looked a bit perplexed.
âWhy did you do that?â he asked, a kind of innocent bewilderment in his voice.
ââŠwanted to.â Semi admitted swallowing. What was the other boy thinking? Did he like it? Was he repulsed?
âAh, were you perhaps trying to instigate a physical encounter with me?â Ushijima tried looking very troubled at the idea.
âNo!â exclaimed Semi blushing, he really⊠he still didnât know quite what all he thought about those things. All he knew was that he liked Ushijima and this was what you were supposed to do when you liked someone.
At least according to what heâd read.
âThen⊠you are wanting a physical relationship with me?â Ushijima reasoned frowning as if this was a troubling thought.
âDoesnât have to be physical.â Semi said quickly, because in fact he might prefer- âJust⊠maybe, a relationship?â
âWe have a relationship.â Ushijima stated in confusion, âYouâre my setter.â
âWell yes, but-â
âWhy do you want to change that?â asked Ushijima looking a little lost, âIs something about that arrangement unsuitable for you?â
âNononono, I like being your setter. I really really like being your setter. I just⊠wanted to know if maybe you might want more with meâŠâ the last part came out mumbled.
Ushijima fixed him with a look that was as telling as stone.
âI see.â He said at last.
âSoâŠ.â Semi began a little hopefully.
âI think we should keep things as they are now. Our relationship is good right now. And you should not have anything distracting you from volleyball: your tosses have lost some of their speed lately.â Ushijima said standing up and continuing getting ready for bed as if nothing had happened, âI am going to tell my mother weâll get up at 6, is that alright with you?â
âYeah.â And if Semiâs voice cracked Ushijima was gracious enough not to mention it. The other boy left the room and Semi mechanically went to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
He just ended up staring into the mirror.
For all his soulmarks, the one person who had never really cared to judge him for it turned out really just⊠didnât care in general. Didnât care about Semi. Just a setter to him. And not even the setter he wanted.
But that was okay because Semi could still at least be his setter. Heâd do his best. Itâd be okay. Ushijima wanted things to stay the same and that was okay because things right now were still pretty good.
If Akaashi had expected there to be some cataclysmic change with his confession he would have been disappointed. As it was he felt.... Strangely at peace with whatever would happen.
Because he was seeing that the quiet happiness he derived from their friendship was just as special to him as the promise of a committed relationship.
Bokuto for his part was only a little skittish the first few days when he wasn't yet sure if Akaashi would abandon him if he didn't choose a relationship. Once assured  that this was not the case they returned to something of the close friendship they'd had before. But there was an underlying trust and respect there that hadn't been there before.
Exams and preparation for the preliminaries ensured that they didn't have a lot of extra time anyways. Kuroo and Kenma were equally if not more weighed down at the moment given that Kuroo was was in advanced classes and Nekoma didn't have a student manager to help elevate the laid of his captains duties. Bokuto was bummed, but Akaashi helpfully reminded him they were going to the same college so they'd be spending plenty of time together soon enough.
Privately, Akaashi had worried that he may have caused a certain amount of tension in the couple's relationship.
'Kuroo was upset.' Kenma had texted, 'but it has lead to some good conversations about what we need from one another in terms of trust and communication so it turned out alright.'
Akaashi found himself missing both of his friends and their input, but there was nothing to be done about it.
To distract Bokuto from missing their cat-like friends- and to ensure he actually studied- he and Akaashi decided to have after school study sessions at Bokutoâs house with Konoha and Komi, both of whom also would be graduating. Bokutoâs mother was good about keeping his younger siblings out from under foot and the environment was warm and playful thought still productive.
Akaashi once again realized he was the only regular on the team that was a second year. They had some good first years and the second years in reserve weren't bad necessarily. Akaashi would still have his hands full as captain next year. He couldn't help but speculate that next year might be a little lonely.
"Akaashi, don't frown so much." Konoha said reaching across the table to poke him in the forehead, "I know youâre our team's beautiful mama hen but if you worry so much you're going to get wrinkles."
"That's unlikely since I imagine I'll look like my mother when I get older. But if I do then I am blaming you lot." Akaashi said mildly flipping to the next page. He couldn't believe some of the stuff these three idiots didn't know: he was a year below them and he somehow still ended up teaching them.
Except for math. Bokuto was weirdly good at math. Trying to get him to explain his reasoning was next to impossible because it wasn't something he was really consciously doing.
"Oh yeah? What's your mom look like?" Asked Komi curiously.
"Pretty much just like me but older with longer hair." Said Akaashi underlying a passage and handing it to Komi, "here, make sure you study that: it almost certain to be on the exam."
"So essentially, she's drop dead gorgeous?" Konoha teased.
"And scary." Bokuto threw in.
"Scary?" Asked Konoha curiously. He'd only ever met Akaashi's father who was the gentlest soul in existence.
"Yeah. She's super pretty and super smart and when she looks at you its like 'uwah!' Like wow, pretty sure she can read your mind." Bokuto told the other two with the special kind of reverence he reserved only for Akaashi's mother.
"So.... Essentially, just like Akaashi?" Teased Konoha making the black haired setter roll his eyes.
"How'd your parents meet?" Asked Komi.
"College. They were neighbors that became friends and eventually decided to get married." Akaashi summarized briefly not looking up from his notes. He could tell when someone was trying to sidetrack him and he refused to give in.
âAw cute.â Laughed Konoha before waggling his eyebrows, âSo how long did they know each other before they got their soulmarks?â
âTheyâre not soulmates.â Akaashi corrected mildly. He didnât usually flash that fact around, but neither was he going to lie to his friend about it when asked straight out.
âWait what?â Bokuto asked sitting up from where heâd been sprawling slightly with his notebook, âNo way. Your parents are so perfect together there is no way theyâre not truemates.â
âTheyâre far from perfect.â said Akaashi dryly, âBut they do really love each other and are devoted people so it all works out. They both have other soulmates. My mom and herâs are friends and my dadâs is off overseas. Never really been a problem for my family.â
âDude, I think my respect for your folks just multiplied. They sound really rad.â laughed Konoha.
âI guess Iâve never thought about marrying someone who wasnât my soulmate, but I suppose it could work. Might be kind of tough though,â Mused Komi scratching at his short brown hair and staring up at the ceiling, âWould you ever follow in your parentâs footsteps Akaashi? I mean like, marry someone who wasnât your soulmate?â
Akaashi could feel Bokutoâs gaze locked onto him but he refused to look at him.
âThat depends,â said Akaashi slowly, âOn the person in question and the situation. But I am not adverse to the idea.â
âIâd be fine dating someone who wasnât my soulmate, but marrying? What if they got someone elseâs name? I think Iâd get jealous.â declared Konoha, âBut geeze, props to people who can do it. That takes some serious balls.â
âWhat about you Bokuto?â asked Komi leaning forward. Akaashi tried to tell himself he wasnât interested in the answer but-
âMaybe.â Bokuto said licking his lips a little nervously, âI think- Maybe. If it was a very special sort of person.â
Akaashi couldnât help but glance at him at that. Had to look away when his gaze met bright gold eyes. He tried to take a deep breath without it being too obvious. Akaashi was Bokutoâs soulmate so the question didnât really apply to their situation⊠but it was still a very different answer than he imagined Bokuto would have given a few months ago. It still made his heart beat a little faster.
âAh, our fearless leader strikes again.â laughed Konoha slapping their captain on the back.
âAlright thatâs quite enough you three.â Akaashi chide, âI donât want to stay up too late doing this.â
The proclamation was met with groans from all sides.
âSay Akaashi, how about we go study at your house one of these days? I really want to meet your parents now.â asked Komi.
âNo.â replied Akaashi shortly. He knew that if they did there would be no studying happening and his dad would probably just try to stuff them full of baked goods.
âAw come on!â complained Konoha.
âIf you pass your exams then maybe you can visit.â Akaashi bargained instead setting his book aside and getting to his feet to go make some tea.
âYou boyâs doing well up over there?â asked Bokutoâs mother smiling a secret smile when she saw him.
âQuite well. Theyâre all very bright once they focus.â Akaashi said honestly.
âTheyâre all going to miss you terribly once they leave. They donât know that the treasure they have in you.â she praised. Akaashi shifted a little awkwardly not used to accepting such straightforward compliments.
âThank you maâam.â he said simply bowing his head instead.
âAlways so formal. You know you neednât be after all this time. Youâre practically family.â She scolded him batting away his hands as he tried to take the teapot and instead pouring it for him.
âI am honored that you think so.â said Akaashi humbly.
âMy son thinks the world of you.â she said suddenly and some part of Akaashi realized she knew far more than she was letting on. Perhaps sheâd always known.
âI⊠am very fond of Koutarou as well.â Akaashi admitted. She looked at him long, gold eyes alert and perceptive before she beamed at him.
âI know. I am glad you two found each other.â she said handing him his tea. Akaashi felt his throat tightening a little bit but he maintained his composure and thanked her politely before leaving the kitchen to go back to their study room.
He almost ran straight into Bokuto in the hallway.
âItâs rude to eavesdrop you know Bokuto.â he scolded him. Bokuto was staring at him gold eyes that seemed utterly captivated. Like Akaashi was the only thing resting in a silent spotlight. The attention was a little terrifying. It was also a little intoxicating.
âYou called me by my first name in there.â Bokuto noted stepping a little closer.
âI did.â agreed Akaashi willing his feelings not to show on his face, âIt would be strange to use your last name in your home when it belongs to your mother and your siblings as well. It might get confusing.â
âI like it when you call me by my first name.â Bokuto decided, âYou should do it more often. Can I call you Keiji as well?â
âNo.â said Akaashi immediately.
âWhy not?â Bokuto pouted a bit.
âJust⊠because.â Akaashi replied lamely. How could he describe the way his name on bokutoâs tongue made his chest swell painfully tight and wonderful with⊠something.
âYou know.â Bokuto said suddenly thoughtful, âI used to think you didnât get embarrassed by anything. Now Iâve noticed that your ears get really really red.â
âOh?â Akaashi tried to sound nonchalant as Bokuto reached out and touched one of his ears feather-light and soft. The skin was hot under his fingers and Akaashi knew his ears were red right that moment.
âYeah. And your ears are kind of pretty and pointed. Like a fairy.â said Bokuto almost reverently.
âI donât think ears are supposed to pretty Bokuto.â Akaashi said taking a step back into his own space. If this went on he would kiss him and spill his tea everywhere.
âTheyâre on you. Of course theyâre pretty.â Bokuto blinked as if this was the most obvious fact in the world.
Akaashi had the strangest urge to punch Bokuto. Not because he was mad or offended, but because he suddenly had no idea how to handle all the emotions swirling through him. Instead he took a deep breath.
âBokuto. You canât say things like that when you know I am in love with you.â Akaashi said firmly walking past him.
âWhat if- What if maybe I want to anyway?â Bokuto asked following him.
âThen you need to make up you mind what you want along with that.â Akaashi said softly before leading the way back to their friends.
*****
Bokuto's was not a quiet existence. Akaashi wasn't sure why he somehow expected that when Bokuto made up his mind it be something... Normal. Like, you know, pulling him aside and telling him yes or no sometime after school or practice.
It was not, however picking him up and planting an enthusiastic kiss in the middle of the qualifiers against Nekoma after a particularly nice spike.
The crowd yelled its approval and Akaashi could feel his ears turning red with embarrassment along with the secret thrill of knowing what this meant.
He could see Kenma wince slightly with second hand embarrassment and Kuroo whooping triumphantly. The rest of Nekoma looked a range of smug like Yaku, outright jealous like Yamamoto, or bewildered like Lev.
âGeez, keep your pants on captain weâre in a game.â teased Konoha as Bokuto reluctantly set Akaashi back on his feet.
âCongrats you two, I think itâs safe to say weâre all jealous of you captain.â grinned Komi.
âExtremely jealous.â agreed Konoha with a mournful sigh in akaashiâs direction as the rest of the team nodded in agreement. Akaashi knew he blush was not restricted to his ears now but probably creeping down his neck as well.
âFind your own boyfriend.â Bokuto huffed at them and a secret thrill ran through Akaashi as gold eyes turned back to him, âIf thatâs alright with you that is, because âKaashi youâre the most wonderful-â
âSave it for after the game.â Akaashi said quickly.
âAfter we win this game you mean.â teased Bokuto, his eyes so bright even as they fluttered to give him another kiss that made the referee clear his throat.
âYes.â Agreed Akaashi, âAfter we win.â
*****
âCongratulations.â Kenma told him softly as they shook hands under the net after the game.
âThanks.â Said Akaashi his smile softening at the blond, âYou played well today too.â
âI suppose. There was no way we were going to bring down Bokutoâs high after a move like that though.â Kenma huffed out a small laugh which might have been amusment, âGood luck with him.â
âSee you at nationals.â Akaashi said. A promise as much as a statement. Kenma merely inclined his head. He watched his soulmate friend rejoin his team. Watched him seemingly casually drift close to Kuroo who was dragging his hand through his hair and looking a little stressed by the prospect of their next game against Nohebi. Kenma lightly touched the otherâs hand. The stress in Kurooâs shoulders seemed to drain out of him all at once as he twined their fingers together.
Akaashi had to look away: they might only be holding hands, but somehow the simplicity held and togetherness that was more intimate than fucking ever would be. He saw Bokuto beaming at their friends and knew he was thinking something similar. Knew that his own recent acceptance of mismatched pairs was contributing to his pride and happiness for the two.
Akaashi let a smile tug at his lips.
****
ââKaashi we did it!â Bokuto was practically vibrating with glee as soon as he was able to drag Akaashi off on his own.
âWe did. The team did excellent.â agreed Akaashi enjoying being pulled close to the other now that there wasnât a hundred people watching them.
âI was amazing! The ball just kept coming just right like *wham*! And you were so perfect, and we were so perfect and the team-â Bokuto prattled on happily nuzzling his cheek, âfuck, can I kiss you?â
âYesâŠâ agreed Akaashi softly allowing his own arms to settle uncertainty on Bokutoâs waist. The other boy wasted no time in cupping his face and kissing him with that same excitement, that same fire, that had been missing in the kisses heâd initiated before.
âI really like you âKaashi, I really really like you.â Bokuto told him laying more shy- yet still somewhat playful- kisses at the corner of his mouth, his cheek, near his eyes, back to his parted lips again.
âI like you too.â Akaashi stated closing his eyes and just trying to get used to the odd new feelings of enjoying the contact.
âCould hold you forever. Been thinking about what you said that time, about making our own fate, I wasnât sure but âKaashi if itâs you I think we could do it.â Bokuto was telling him.
âYeah.â Murmured Akaashi and they werenât even kissing anymore just holding one another, âYeahâŠâ
âI feel like Iâve been liking you more and more and more until it just exploded like *Whah!* and you were just so pretty and amazing I had to kiss you and let you know.â Bokuto hummed looking both bewildered and elighted by his feelings.
âIâŠâ Akaashi frowned uncertainly. He didnât want to ruin the soft happy glow they were in, but heâd promised to be honest and⊠âBokuto, about that⊠You should probably know something about me if weâre really going to try this.â
Back when heâd assumed Bokuto would just come and talk to him when he was ready heâd had a whole speech made in his head. A check list about all the things they needed to talk about before they started a relationship. But like usual with Bokuto, theyâd gone right in head first.
âIs something wrong?â Bokuto asked looking instantly concerned. Akaashi wanted to close his eyes and lean into that warmth. He forgot sometimes that bokuto would be just as quick to take care of Akaashi as the other way around. Instead he pulled back a little so he could look at the other steadily.
âIâm not quite like you Bokuto. I donât just⊠want and want until it builds up. Sometimes I like touching and kissing and stuff, most times I donât really.â Akaashi tried to explain.
âOh,â Bokuto blinked a look of understanding flickering across his face, âKinda like Kuroo.â
âA lot like Kuroo, yes.â agreed Akaashi feeling relieved.
âThen⊠is this okay, right now?â Bokuto asked uncertainly glancing at the way they were holding each other. Akaashi leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth softly making Bokuto hum out a warm content sound.
âThis is fine.â Akaashi assured him, âI just wanted to let you know so you arenât getting confused by mixed signals later.â
âYouâre the best.â Bokuto told him leaning their foreheads together his gold eyes bright and alight with⊠care, âIâll ask. Iâll try to always ask. Even about stupid stuff. I donât want to do stuff with you that youâre not into.â
âI will of course extend the same decency to you.â Akaashi promised feeling warm and for the first time like this might really work.
âI will always want you.â Bokuto laughed as if anything else was ridiculous, âYouâre Akaashi.â
âAlso,â Akaashi said carefully, because even though his heart was humming with content at the moment it still needed to be said, âI donât mind some PDA with you but I donât being on display like that with you. Itâs really embarrassing and hard to enjoy that way.â
âWas earlier no good?â Bokuto looked a little worried, âShit, Iâm so sorry âKaashi.â
âIt wasnât bad.â Akaashi told him frankly, âBut I would have preferred you waited till you could kiss me. If youâre ever not sure just ask me.â
âI will.â promised Bokuto earnestly, âI will. You and me Akaashi, no matter what soulmarks we have, weâre going to figure this out.â
Itâs what Akaashi had been trying to say for a long time, but hearing it said now with such certainty made him lose that shred of doubt he didnât know he was still clinging on to.
âYes.â Akaashi closed his eyes and leaned into him, âI think we will.â
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