The Footprints Between Them

snow.

-flashback-

Hinata remembered the first time he met him and he remembered the last.

A quiet evening in the snow, turned into something wonderful.

For the first time in 4 years, they met again.

- now -

"Woah! Kage! It's snowing!" Hinata excitedly pressed his face into the cold glass. Kageyama pulled his collar back. "Idiot, don't do that. You'll get a cold." He studied Hinata before looking out of their apartment, watching snow brush the sky. Hinata smiled. "Happy anniversary." Kageyama scoffed and hid his face, walking away. He scuffled around some shelves as if he were looking for something. "I can't believe it's been 6 years together." There was more shuffling. "You found me on a December evening, stuck in a bush because I fell off my bike." Hinata giggled. Kageyama walked up to him and gave him a peck on his forehead. "To the first time we met." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "For the first time we kissed." It was a ring. "You've made my life better. You taught me, you showed me, and you loved me." Hinata was crying. It was a moment of pure bliss for them. "Hinata Shoyo, will you marry me?" Kageyama furrowed his brows. "Yes, yes I will." Shoyo watched as the symbol of ethereal beginnings slipped onto his finger. "I'm not good at these romantic things." Kageyama grumbled. He fixed his glasses and sat back onto the couch to continue reading his book. "Kage, I can't have a hug?" Hinata pouted. Kageyama tsked and threw his book to the side. "Come here." Hinata climbed into his lap. His shirt was soft and still smelled fresh. "You wanna go outside the lobby and make a snowman?" Hinata's face lit up. "Yeah! C'mon!" They shuffled around, getting ready to endure a colder climate. After a long haul down to the lobby, Hinata gladly dragged Kageyama to the apartment complex's soccer field. The two rolled snowballs and created the finest snowman to be created. "Voila!" Hinata smiled and hopped around like a little boy. "Idiot." Kageyama laughed. "Come here." Hinata came up to him and nuzzled his face into his cold jacket. Kageyama smiled. "Can we stay like this for a while?" Hinata nodded into his jacket. The snowflakes buried into the lovers' jackets, as time faded around them.
-
The next morning was quiet. Kageyama was in the den quietly reading his book, while Hinata was setting the apartment on fire. "Hinata, love, are you done?" Hinata pouted as Kageyama walked up and cuddled him from behind. "Do you need help?" He whispered into Hinata's neck. "Y-yeah."  Kageyama did the rest of the cooking, managing to do it while Hinata was still in his arms. "Easy." He kissed Hinata on the cheek. "Oh! Right, I have a gift for you." Hinata perked up in curiosity. "Here. Merry Christmas." Kageyama handed him a snow globe. "It reminded me of you and where we met again." Hinata smiled. "I love it." He shook the globe around. "I got something for you too." Hinata put the globe down and handed a book to Kageyama. "The Great Gatsby?" He smiled. "This is one of my favourite books." Kage's smile lit up the entire apartment. "You wanna just, drive around and get lost?" Hinata laughed. "The perfect Christmas date." We rode the elevator down to the parking garage. "Check for cars." They looked left and right. "No cars." Kageyama held Hinata's hand, circling the back of his hand. "How soon do you want the wedding?" Hinata was taken aback but smiled. "Whenever you want." Kageyama rested his head on Hinata's shoulder. "Next week then." Hinata locked eye contact with Kageyama. "Why so soon?" Kageyama looked away. "Secret reasons love." Hinata pecked his nose. "Next week then."  They walked up to their car. "You or I driving?" Kageyama outreached his hand. "I'll drive." Hinata tossed the keys to him. Kageyama drove the car out of the parking garage. "You wanna drive to the park?" Hinata smiles. "Yeah." The park is not far from their apartment complex. The car pulled into the parking lot and they parked. "After you." Kageyama kept the door open for Hinata. Hinata got out and shuffled in the snow. "Thank you sir." They laughed. Hinata outreached his hand, Kageyama took it. Snow softly kissed their cheeks as the two kissed each other.
-
Kageyama shook some of the snow off in the apartment, causing Hinata to slip a bit. "Woah there." Hinata caught onto Kageyama's arm, causing them to fall on each other. Kageyama propped himself up. "You look like a tomato." Hinata hid his face. "You can't always hide your face love." He chuckled and got up, walking to the kitchen. "I hate you, hmph." Hinata heard footsteps coming up to him. "You wanna repeat that?" Hinata sat up against the wall and shook his head. "Good." Kageyama walked away, leaving him more flustered than before. Hinata stood up and walked to the kitchen. "Is the cold food good?" Kageyama nodded. "So cold, yet so good." Hinata laughed. Kageyama put the food plate down. "I gotta go somewhere." He kissed Hinata's forehead. "Where?" Kageyama ruffled his hair. "Dinner, with a friend. Suga? Remember him?" Hinata nodded. "Come back soon!" The door shut. Hinata sighed. It wasn't bad to check with Suga to see if Kageyama was...lying right? But, where's the trust? Hinata put his phone on the kitchen counter and hopped on the couch. An hour passed by and another....and another. Hinata walked up to his phone and tried to dial Kageyama, but to no avail. Hinata slid his phone back onto the counter and slumped on the couch. The temptation of texting Suga rose and fell, but he knew that he had to trust Kageyama. Well, he does and will forever trust him. The door unlocked. "Hey Hina." Kageyama's voice was quieter. "You alright?" Hinata walked up to him. "Just going to go sleep. Love you." Hinata watched as Kageyama went into their bedroom. Out of instinct, he followed, but Kageyama was in the shower. Hinata sat on the bed, clicking his feet together, waiting for Kageyama to appear. But.

He never did.

Hinata worried, the water was hitting something, but nothing. He approached the door. "Kageyama?" Silence. "Tobio!" Another dead silence. "I'm coming in." The door was unlocked. "Kageyama, I swear-." Kageyama was slumped against the shower walls, his eyes fluttering. "Kageyama? What happened?" Hinata climbed in, letting the hot water pummel his back. Something was off, but Hinata couldn't put his finger on it. Kageyama was...lighter than usual. Hinata rushed putting clothes on him and called 911. It felt like forever. The medical team took him away while Hinata stood in the ambulance, crying while looking at his fiance.