Sorrow Bandaid - KageHina One-Shot

Chapter 1

The sky cried along with him as Hinata knelt on the wet pavement of Karasuno High School's parking lot. His volleyball uniform was drenched, and droplets ran down his nose, past his cheeks, and dropped from his chin. He clenched his eyes tightly, and tears mixed with the rain as his shoulders trembled. A sob was released from his throat as he swallowed a cry. He balanced on the tips of his toes as he held his knees pressed against his chest.

The rain stopped above him. He didn't notice at first, then he lifted his head in befuddlement. The distraction dragged him out of the depth of his sorrow, and his hearing returned as he heard and watched the rain still going strong. He continued to stare for a moment, as his mind tried to think through the fluid of negative feelings fogging his thoughts. He looked up.

Kageyama had one hand in the pocket of his school uniform, while the other shielded them from the weather with a transparent umbrella. The setter was frowning at the ground behind Hinata and seemed adamant to avoid looking further than the back of Hinata's shirt. Hinata sniffled and hurried to wipe his eyes and remove any evidence of crying. They both stared at the ground in silence for a while.

"I'm sorry," said Kageyama uncertainly. The silence stretched further. Hinata didn't look up at him. It felt like his body was on fire, and every nerve was alive with nerves. He wanted to shiver, shuffle, anything to get the restless, uncomfortable feeling crawling beneath his skin to go away. He wondered why Kageyama was even being so mean to him. Sure, they always had a rivalry, however this time it was much more personal. This time Kageyama went for a much deeper part of him.

The silence was heavy and uncomfortable for both parts, but Hinata wouldn't cave. A simple, two-word apology wouldn't be enough for his forgiveness. He felt overwhelmed and sensitive as his ears hyper focused on everything Kageyama did to predict his every move while his back was turned. He felt exposed and unsafe, though he ignored it in favor of giving Kageyama the cold shoulder. Hinata heard him sigh before he heard rustling of clothing as the setter moved.

Kageyama's presence dampened as he sat on his knees beside him. He ensured that not a single drop of rain hit the spiker, while he sat directly in a puddle beside him. Neither spoke, though the air between them lightened. The tension in Hinata's shoulders disappeared as Kageyama no longer loomed above him, and he felt slight satisfaction knowing that Kageyama was sitting in cold water on the muddy ground.

"Listen, Hinata," Kageyama said awkwardly and slow. He hesitated with a wince and at least looked genuinely regretful when Hinata subtly glanced at him. "I didn't mean to," he admitted shamefully, and scratched uncomfortably at his neck. Hinata listened and waited for more. Kageyama looked briefly at him and continued. "I made fun of your sexuality, which I shouldn't have done. I don't mind you being gay, and I actually," he hesitated.

"And you?" Hinata asked silent and soft, his throat unable to come out louder as if something is preventing the words from escaping. Kageyama looked around and with a paranoid look whispered in a low, anxious voice: "I think I am too."

It took a moment for Hinata to understand the words themselves and the implications of them. His mind came alive, and he lashed around to face Kageyama. "If you are, then why...?" Hinata asked in confusion, his eyebrows pinched in thought. Kageyama grimaced and when Hinata studied his body language further, he noticed Kageyama's tense form, the panic in his eyes, and the shallow, barely there breathing. "It's complicated," Kageyama said, and he left it at that, though he added, "it stays between us. A secret to the end, understood?"

Hinata didn't entirely understand. Kageyama wasn't the first person to be mean against him due to his sexuality. Far from it as he had never hidden it since his mother accepted him in middle school, however, his remark of it being unnatural had been the most hurtful he had ever experienced. He wondered if Kageyama feared those same remarks, or if those thoughts were mostly directed to himself, if he was gay too as he said.

"Okay."

Kageyama looked at him in surprise. Hinata smiled at him. A sad thing, but understanding and accepting, nonetheless. Kageyama swallowed and looked away abashed. "Thanks," he murmured.

Hinata looked at the wet ground one last time as he shivered. His body felt frozen and stiff, yet lighter than moments prior. The wound Kageyama left had been bandaged by the same person, and Hinata felt ready to go home and relax after a long day. He stood up, which caused Kageyama to uncover them from the cover of the umbrella. The spiker extended a hand towards his setter, which he accepted. Hinata grunted as he strained to pull him up but managed without stumbling.

Hinata gave him a tired, happy smile. "How about we go home to my place and warm up? I still have some things to talk with you about, and if we show up together tomorrow the team will know we've made up."

Thus, they walked the long way up themountain with Hinata pulling his bike along. Kageyama complained about walkingin the rain, and that they should've gone for his place, though he never meant anyof it. He meant it even less when he and Hinata were coddled by Mrs. Hinata,and he ended up staying the night. That evening he and Hinata had another talkabout their sexuality, and Kageyama held a boy's hand for the first time.