The Man Who Ran Off With The Moon - [ Tsukkiyama Art Thief AU! ]

Always

Yamaguchi started watching the window in a different way, and Tsukishima noticed. The days that had passed had been good and tolerable, content in the kind of ease that becomes tiresome. Yamaguchi read, Kuroo worked in his study, and Tsukishima watched more nature documentaries. The malaise of boredom was sinking in, and Tsukishima had to remind himself to be grateful for how unintruded their life was. The deep gash on Yamaguchi's chest was beginning to heal nicely and his strength was coming back. He could move around the house fluidly without gripping anything for support. 

Tsukishima sat on the bed, watching as  the other man changed the dressing on the wound in the mirror. He was captivated by the deft movement of his fingers, their careful, experienced motion. 

Every single night, Tsukishima had fallen asleep thinking about the last time he had seen Yamaguchi, what the man had said to him. It hadn't been discussed between the two of them, and Tsukishima wondered if it ever would be. So much time had passed, he doubted Yamaguchi would still feel the same way, and Tsukishima himself was not entirely sure of his own feelings. He was beginning to understand, however, that they extended deeper than relief. He wanted to be as close as possible to Yamaguchi in any given moment, to hold him tight, not so that he would be unable to leave, but so that he would feel protected.

 And.. it was possible, that Tsukishima had felt that way since the day he had met him. 

The night before, Tsukishima had nearly subjected himself to a mortifying ordeal in the pursuit of some answers. He knocked softly on Kuroo's door, as Yamaguchi cooked dinner downstairs. 

"Sup?"

"I wanted to ask you, well, how-"

Tsukishima shut the door behind himself, antsy. If he said it out loud, it would make it real. His pulse quickened. Kuroo was surrounded by books on his bed, laying with his feet up against the wall, his head hanging off the end of the frame. Tsukishima frowned, "Why the fuck are you sitting like that?" 

"It's good for thinking!" 

Maybe seeking advice from Kuroo was a mistake.

"What do you want, DinoBoy?" 

Seeking advice from Kuroo was a mistake. 

"Nothing. It's nothing. Dinner will be ready soon." 

In the present, Yamaguchi smoothed a hand over his bandage, put his shirt back on, then caught Tsukishima's eye in the mirror. He smiled, and Tsukishima felt like he was glowing. He wanted to look at him smile just a bit longer, but when Yamaguchi reentered the main room, he was gazing out the window with that wistful expression on his face again. 

"Hey." 

"Tsukishima?" 

The blonde extracted a bag from the cupboard, removing sunglasses and a hat. He tossed them to Yamaguchi. "Let's go outside today. On a walk. I know you want to." Yamaguchi looked at the sunglasses, uncertain. "But what if..." Tsukishima leaned up against the window, looking at the golden spread of mid afternoon, "I have a feeling it will be ok. I have to get groceries, anyways. Come with me." 

Yamaguchi smiled softly, tucking his hair into a neat bun beneath the hat. He pulled the sunglasses low over his nose, "I guess a short trip can't hurt." 

Tsukishima sent Kuroo a text they would briefly be going out, and that Kuroo shouldn't be worried unless he didn't hear from them within an hour. He and Yamaguchi walked side by side, but Yamaguchi stopped just before he could cross the front yard's gate. 

A flash on panic ran through the long haired man. This was the first time he would be leaving the property in nearly two weeks. The security that had been built up for him here did not exist outside of this border. Tsukishima gently slipped his arm through the crook of Yamaguchi's elbow, kindly pulling him forward. Yamaguchi swallowed his nerves, allowing himself to be moved along.