Summer Love with Tsukishima Kei
My second entry for the Honeymoon Avenue event hosted by @crybabycrisis Please go check out this cute lil event!
Notes/Warnings: None! Let me know if you need me to tag something
Word count: 922
Tsukishima Kei is private and distant and cold.
But if there’s one thing you love about your relationship with him, it’s getting him off his high horse. The moments where he lets his guard down, even if it’s just for a second, and you can see past the years to the center of the man you’ve come to love.
They’re few and far between. Practically nonexistent at the beginning of your relationship. But as time goes on, you get more. And you get addicted.
The first time you noticed was when he took you on an after-hours date to the museum he works at. He just meant for the two of you to walk through, lights dim, voices echoing through the otherwise empty building. He’d always loved the peace when he was working late nights. But you asked him to tell you about his favorite exhibits. And when he trailed off, embarrassed at how he rambled, you’d kept asking for more. And he couldn’t deny you. His heart opened, and he smiled brightly, answering every question. That date was the first time he kissed you like he meant it. He didn’t kiss you because it was the right move to make. He didn’t kiss you because it would sweep you off your feet. He kissed you because he wanted to. He kissed you because he was in love with you. He kissed you with the kind of love people can only give when they’ve opened themselves. It’s a vulnerable kind of love. It’s a hesitant love. And it was the world’s best kiss.
Since then, opening up this man has been your favorite thing. Peeling away at him, getting lost further and further as you bury yourself in him has been the best feeling. Being able to love him, the real him is the greatest privilege you’ve ever had.
Right now, you were proud to be walking with his arm around your shoulders. He held you close as you walked. It started clumsily, but now your steps were in time with one another, your boyfriend slowing down to match your pace, as you watched the night pass by.
You want to tease him for how happy he is. You’d spent almost every credit you had (and plenty of his) playing at a probably rigged booth to win him the stuffed stegosaurus he was holding in his spare hand. It was plush and about the length of his thigh. You want to tease him for being a child. For being so dopily in love with you. For not being able to hide his smile. For the tight grip, he has on his new toy.
But you can’t bring yourself to do it. Not when he’s so happy. Not when he’s so dopily in love with you. You can’t bring yourself to mock this perfect man who is so defenselessly in love with you. He’s not one for PDA, so him having his arm around you means too much for you to mock him right now. Your heart is full knowing he holds onto you with all the love and pride in his heart.
When you reach his car he pauses. You try the door, but he hasn’t unlocked the car yet. He walks around to your side, and silently cups your cheek. His eyes make you lean into the touch. He looks at you like he needs you, all intensity and passion and determination hidden behind several layers of cold insecurity. You’re the only one he lets see past it all.
“Did you have fun tonight?”
You hum a positive response, kissing his palm. He sighs at the affection before tilting your head up so you’re looking at him.
“What about you, Kei? Did you have fun tonight?”
Tsukishima smirks, “What do you think?” He slightly lifts the toy in his hand, bringing it into your periphery as neither of you take your eyes off each other. The longer he looks at you, the more his smirk turns into a genuine smile.
You giggle, “My boyfriend is the biggest dork.”
“And you love him for it.”
“Very true.”
His hand drops from your cheek to your back and he tugs you closer to him. Instinctively you rise to your toes as your hands wrap around the back of his neck playing with the overgrown locks there.
He kisses you. And it’s warm. You feel all the summer air around you but still feel goosebumps tingle your skin as his lips brush yours. He presses love and trust into your lips as he pulls you a little closer, needing you. When you pull away he presses his forehead to yours and keeps you tight in his arm.
“People will see,” you whisper, trying to mind his comfort.
You never push. You’ve drawn him out bit by bit and he feels nothing but pride being seen with you. He ignores your statement, “I love you.”
Heat blooms in your chest, starting right at your heart and spreading to every capillary in your body. He’s said it a million times to you, but you’ll never get sick of it. “I love you too, Kei.”
He kisses your forehead as he unlocks his car. He opens your door for you and says, “Wanna go for a drive? I’m not ready for tonight to be over.”
“Me neither. Let's go."
And with that, you get into his car, and he shuts the door for you.
Tsukishima Kei is private and distant and cold. Except when he’s with you.
