If you could write about Hinata trying but failing miserably not to think about how nice would it be to be held by Tanaka-sempai, what with those strong arms and strong everything and that super cool personality, I would be very grateful.
Ah, yes. Half-asleep fanfiction. On a phone. Pls excuse any typos and the like. Hope this is alright, anon! I might've erred on the side of shippy in this case. This ship may be a weakness of mine. Answering from mobile so no read more today sobs.-----Hinata was very focused. It's one of his concentrated moments of focus, the kind he puts effort into. With brows furrowed and eyes intent on the subject of focus, it's the kind of focus that isn't intimidating but instead concerning for his wellbeing because to the untrained eye he kind of looks constipated. Kageyama said as much and Hinata spluttered, focus shattered as he teared his eyes away and stared at the setter with indignant offense. "Shut up!" he said by way of denying it. "Are you?" the other boy insisted."There's medicine for that," Nishinoya supplied from where he was stretching, piping up."I'm not!!" Hinata shouted, storming off when there was little defense he could offer. What was he going to say? 'I was admiring Tanaka-senpai's muscles'? Admitting that was almost worse than admitting he was constipated. Which he wasn't!"They giving you a hard time?" He hadn't even noticed that he'd wandered over to the bald second-year until Tanaka's voice broke the droning irritation in his mind. "Want me to give 'em what-for for ya?" It didn't make Hinata's situation any better when Tanaka intentionally flexed his arms, putting on a game face that proved he meant business. "Now he's the one who looks constipated," Tsukishima stage-whispered to Yamaguchi, who snickered behind his hand."You want some, Tsukishima?!" Tanaka shot back, menacing the blond and taking a step towards him. "Some of what? You have none to offer," the first-year said innocently, and it took Tanaka a moment to realize that the first-year had just made a poop joke at him."Why you!" Tsukishima was dodging volleyballs while Tanaka hurled them at him one after the other. Hinata was left alone again to stare at his senpai's movements with absentminded reverence. He'd almost hoped that the second-year was going to sling an arm over his shoulder like he sometimes did and knock him off balance. It was fine though-- he always held Hinata up, or whoever it was he had thrown his weight against. It was always comforting when Tanaka made a gesture to reassure him. It always worked. Not that Hinata needed any reassuring right now. Why would he want Tanaka to bump shoulders with him or anything like that? Surely not because he just wanted to feel his senpai's strength. That would be creepy.Hinata slouched, rubbing the back of his neck. Okay. Maybe he was creepy...What would a hug from Tanaka-senpai be like? Probably a whole ordeal of being lifted off the ground and spun around, at least for someone of Hinata's stature. Actually, if he imagined Tanaka hugging anyone, that's how it would go-- even someone tall like Tsukishima. (The mental image this called to mind, particularly Tsukishima's abject expression, had Hinata giggling to himself.) It'd feel like flying, he decided. It sounded like fun in his mind. He was sure Tanaka would do it, too, if he asked. Probably with great enthusiasm. Noya-senpai would want a turn. Maybe Tanaka would even chase down Asahi and give him one, just to prove he could lift the ace. He probably could.Hinata imagined it.Yeah. A little creepy.He admired his senpai a lot. That's all.That's what he told himself as he tugged on the hem of Tanaka's jacket after practice, when everyone else was walking ahead. Flustered, it took Hinata a few moments to muster up the brain capacity to sputter out his request. It was embarrassing to be asking his senpai for a hug. What a weird request.Tanaka had looked ready to be the big bad senpai, ready to carry out whatever dastardly deed Hinata had in mind for him-- sabotage Kageyama's running shoes? hide Tsukishima's glasses? replace Noya's hair bleach with blue dye? (No, wait, that last one was Tanaka's own plot, oops.)But he was surprised at the request he actually got. A hug? It was strange alright. But what kind of senpai would he be if he couldn't do something as simple as offer a hug if his kouhai needed one? To Hinata's surprise, there was no yelling, no proclamation of strength, no spinning or throwing him overhead or picking him up and running to prove he could."Sure thing." And Tanaka hugged him, stopped down rather than lifted Hinata up and squeezed his arms around the smaller boy's frame.For a moment Hinata didn't know how to react. This was far more affectionate that he'd bargained for. Was it-- not what he wanted?It wasn't what he'd expected. But he likes it. Tanaka's arms were strong and protective around him, like a barrier or a wall, but it was warm and soft. It took him a moment to return the embrace. "You cool?""Mhm," he nodded emphatically, standing on his toes.Tanaka picked him up for one extra squeeze, then dropped him back onto his toes. "Good. Don't tell anyone. Can't have 'em thinking I'm going soft. Especially Tsukishima.""Especially Tsukishima," Hinata agreed as they hurried to catch up to the group."Especially me what?" Tsukishima muttered suspiciously as they came up."Nothing!" Tanaka exclaimed with a conspiratorial grin at Hinata. Hinata felt his heart flip and he returned the grin, glad that they were currently between street lamps so that his senpai wouldn't notice the blush on his cheeks.Tanaka has strong arms. But now Hinata finds himself thinking about how gentle they can be, too.Damn, has he got it bad.
