Tadashi | tsukkiyama

5

chapter 5
—
❛you're sweet like cherry wine,
somethin' so divine❜
—

INSTEAD of going to the optional practice on a Saturday, Yamaguchi convinced Tsukishima to hang out with him at the park down the road from his house. Tsukishima could see the volleyball tucked under Yamaguchi's arm and was confused why he skipped practice to play. They could have done it in the gym, but for some reason he chose the park where there was a sand pit with a volleyball net set up all year round.

When they approached the net Tsukishima voiced his thoughts. "Why did you convince me skip practice when we're just gonna play anyway?"

Yamaguchi set down his volleyball and turned to Tsukishima. He said, "because I heard from Suga that Ukai was going to have us do some intense stuff. Plus I just felt like skipping for once." He shrugged nonchalantly and picked up the ball, standing in sand without his shoes on.

Tsukishima thought it over for a bit and agreed with his friend; he'd rather have a calm day then running and sweating like crazy. It was also time he skipped a practice—he'd gone to every single one of them so far and deserved this. He didn't plan to do it again either, so he was fine anyway.

They play together for a little while until Tsukishima got tired of the sand between his toes and stepped off. He stuck to being the ball retriever for Yama as he practiced his jump float serve. Tsukishima was impressed by it, now he'd gotten better since the first time he saw the serve. It was one that Tsukishima knew he wouldn't have the patience for, so he left it to Yamaguchi to have under his belt.

As Yamaguchi twisted the ball between his hands Tsukishima let his gaze observe his every movement. The way Yamaguchi stepped out of the sand, threw the ball in the air, and jumped to hit the ball to go just a little over the net. It floated above the net for a couple second and landing a foot from it.

"Nice," Tsukishima commented and threw the volleyball underhand, under the net to Yamaguchi.

It was like that for a few more servers until Yamaguchi walked over to the squatting Tsukki and stood in front of him. The blond tilted his head back to look up to Yamaguchi, and hummed.

Yamaguchi suggested, "what if we try the thing that Oikawa does? Where he sends the serve to a specific spot."

Tsukishima shrugged, sticking his hand out for help standing up. Yamaguchi pulled him up and they shoved Tsukishima's water bottle in the sand in a spot on the other side of the court. Then, Yamaguchi stood behind it and sent a thumbs up to Tsukishima who was standing before the sand. He knew he wasn't going to get it on the first try, but he gave it his best anyway. It went over Yamaguchi's head and landed behind him, but still in the sand.

Yamaguchi sent him some encouraging words and threw the ball back over so Tsukki would try again. He did and this time it was closer, but still not at the water bottle. He gave up after a few more fails and sat in the grass. Eventually he laid back and heard Yamaguchi whine about getting up.

"You try it, Yamaguchi."

They spend the whole day together. After practicing lightly, Yamaguchi had put up a front of confidence and asked Tsukishima to get food with him around dinner time. They sat across from each other and ate in silence. Afterward, they slowly walked home. The sky was a mix of oranges and pinks and Yamaguchi compared it to Tsukishima. Both were pretty and he could stare at them for long periods of time.

At one point, when it was a mutual wish to not go home yet, Tsukishima led them to Ukai's job. They felt the brunt of Ukai's scolding for skipping practice, but Tsukishima was unfazed by his yelling while Yamaguchi apologized. They walked out with popsicles and ate them. On the familiar path they take after practice each day, Tsukishima was the one to look down at their hands that were close but not touching. He joined them together with a blank look and smirked when he saw Yamaguchi's cheeks flush floridly.

At Yamaguchi's house Tsukishima suggested that they toss the ball back and forth since it was still warm outside. They threw away the wooden stick of their popsicles and set the ball back and forth on the side of the house.

At one point Tsukishima had walked closer to his green-haired friend and swatted the ball to the ground, forgetting about it. The two were close to the side of the house and Yamaguchi's back was pressed against the siding. He could feel the warmth coming from Tsukishima's body, but also from the sun that was shining slightly still. The sky was still a mix of colors, but faded and jumbled together.

With the space between the diminishing, Tsukishima spoke in a hushed tone, "you can tell me to stop whenever, Yama."

Then, with one of his hands on the side of Yamaguchi's neck and the other on his waist, Tsukishima dropped his lips onto his friend's. And even if they had popsicles after their food, Yamaguchi tasted like the cheesecake he'd eaten at dinner. His lips were lips and soft, everything Tsukishima couldn't have predicted beforehand.

Yamaguchi was still at first, caught off guard, before he brought his hands up to wrap Tsukishima's neck and pull him closer. He felt the blond smile against him, teeth hitting one another before he backed away. There was a dazed look in Tsukishima's eyes, but Yamaguchi probably had the same look too (he did). A breeze came through and ruffled Yamaguchi's hair so some piece were falling in his eyes. Tsukishima brushed them away and leaned in to kiss his server again.

This time around Yamaguchi met him in the middle and laid his hand flat on Tsukki's neck, tugging him down but also standing up on his tiptoes to be the same height at the middle blocker. A light sigh came from Tsukishima as he felt Yama tiptoe, their chests pushing against one another. Tsukishima parted his lips to kiss Yamaguchi deeper, and the freckled boy didn't have to be told expressively to get the meaning. He slipped his tongue into Tsukishima's mouth and his head went dizzy when Tsukishima slid a leg between his, effectively pressing their entire upper bodies together.

a/n: i feel like this is a good spot to stop at.