warnings: established relationship, calculus, suggestive content
word count: 1k
summary: calculus sucks almost as much as being in a long distance relationship
It wasn’t like Tsukihima to miss out on your weekly study dates. Both of you valued your academic standing and were willing to put in the work to maintain them. Just because you were willing, didn’t mean you enjoyed it, which is why Tsukishima would spend almost half of his time on the phone pestering you to actually work through your math problems, rather than just complaining about the complexity.
“Y’know Y/N, you would probably be done with this first calculus problem set by now if you hadn’t spent so long trying to figure out why I couldn’t facetime you this week.”
“Well you can talk on the phone but not facetime? You gotta admit that's weird. And, I r-really like being able to see your face. It’s been so long since one of us had an opportunity to visit.”
You sounded so sad, and you were right. It had been far too long since one of you had enough free time to sneak away and visit the other at their university. “I had plans tonight for something important but I didn’t want to miss out on hearing your voice.” He hopes that confession would portray everything he didn’t need to say, that he values these phone calls just as much as you do.
“Kei, can we talk tomorrow also, I’m struggling to do this geometry integral and it would be easier if you could show me how to do it.” His lips quirk up just a bit, and he's glad you can’t see him. Your question is a little bit of a lie, you really can’t figure out this problem, but you could go to office hours tomorrow for help. You really just want to see his face. How his tongue peeks out of his lips when he’s focused, how he smiles at you when he thinks you aren’t looking, just a glance is all you need. A reminder that he’s there, even if he’s not next to you.
“Yeah I guess I can find time to tutor your ass. Are you gonna listen or try to get out of actually doing it again.” You let out a squawk, readying a defense of your character. But more importantly a brutal attack the “overstated importance of integra--”
“Hey, I have to go, I just got to my stop. I’ll talk to you later, yeah?” His voice is lighter than it normally is at this time of night. Typically riddled with exhaustion, tonight you find it with almost a teasing lilt to it. A tone reserved for compliments and adorations, and it doesn’t quite fit. You don’t have time to really say anything before he utters a whispered i love you in the form of “sweet dreams” and hangs up.
The doorbell signalling your food delivery pulls you away from your desk and text books for the first time in hours. The thought of warm italian food being the perfect thing to eat while watching a few episodes of Love Island before bed bring you immediate joy. You didn’t bother to clean up your appearance, since you ordered contactless delivery but you should have, because standing at the door is Tsukishima Kei. Your long distance boyfriend you haven't seen in months holding your take out from the place down the street.
Confusion of just seeing him here. Anger at him lying about his plans. Embarrassment about looking so ragged. You can barely comprehend the mix of emotions rushing through your body under the base one. Love for him, love that he came, and maybe a smidge of love for your favorite dish that he's holding in his hands. He must pick up on the anger flashing through your eyes because he raises his hands in defense.
“I didn’t lie to you! I said I had plans tonight. I do, surprising you here, pretty good plans if you ask me.” You can see his smirk, the one you could hear through the phone earlier and god you’ve never been happier about his condescending attitude. He expects the usual playful punch and stumbles when you throw yourself into him, hugging him close and tight. The grey fabric of his tee betraying you and showing the tears of joy sliding down your face.
“I’m here, ok?” He gives you a soft kiss on the forehead before guiding you inside, “Let me go set your food down and then I’m all yours babe, I can’t really hug you holding a bowl of pasta in one hand.”
Letting go was hard, him coming back to you, sprawling out on the couch with you underneath him made the brief distance worth it. His warmth is welcome, a heat you didn’t know you were missing until you got it back. The woodsy scent of cedarwood and sage create an intoxicating aroma that would lull you to sleep if you heart wasn’t thrumming with excitement from the mere proximity. It has been too long.
You don’t know how long you held him there. Long enough for your food to grow cold and ache to settle in your bones from the ultimately uncomfortable position. He shuffles around trying to redistribute his weight and you just groan, a little in pain and a little frustrated.
“Don’t leave me, Kei. You’re warm and boyfriend duties say you have can’t let me be cold.”
“What, don’t wanna go to your room and figure out that killer math problem? Just wanna lay on the couch all night because I know it isn’t comfortable.”
“..No, Wanna go to bed but I don’t want to waste a single minute with you.”
He gets up and before he objects,has you in his arms bridal style carrying you to your room, “You don’t have to worry about me wasting a single minute with you. You are far too important, not to mention enticing, to ignore.” The wiggle of his brow made you laugh before leaning up for a kiss.
“Calculus can wait until tomorrow. I think I’ve waited more than long enough to spend the night with you by myself.”
His voice is a whisper “Can’t argue with that,” as he lays you down on the bed and kisses you deeply, like he won’t ever get the chance again.
