A designer definitely knows how to arrive fashionably late. But noone needs to know that he had spent a good half an hour digging through his ridiculously huge wardrobe, aiming for a dress-to-impress. Who? His stupid little crush, of course. Okay, it's not little. It's huge. They are huge. Both his crush and Bokuto's biceps. But heck if these pants he had found at the bottom of the fourth closet don't hug his ass perfectly.

'I'm pathetic and I hate myself.'- Keiji decides, a bottle of wine in one hand and a thin package in the other.

-"Daddy! Akaashi-san is here!"

Shou stuggles with the door-knob a little to reveal the late guest. He throws himself at the man and hugs his knees.

-"I missed you! Everyone is here already! And daddy has already seen his presents, so you gotta hurry." - Keiji looks down at the boy, perplexed.

-"Everyone?" - The boy stands upright and starts counting on his fingers.

-"There's daddy, uncle Kuroo with a scary friend, uncle Suga, uncle Tooru, Tobio, me and you. That's…-He sticks out his tongue. -"...Eight." - Akaashi shuffles his feet nervously. He is then grabbed by the hand and pulled inside by no other than Koutarou himself.

-"Akaashi! Damn it, I told you not to bring anything!" - He exclaims as his guest passes him the bottle to take off his shoes and coat.

-"It's only appropriate, Bokuto-san." - The designer answers calmly. As Shouyou ushers him towards the dining room, he is met with a row of curious stares.

-"Oya oya? Bro, you weren't bluffing, it's fucking Akaashi Keiji!" - Tetsuroo does a double take and Kei swats him on the head.

-"That's rude, Kuroo. And don't swear around the children! Nice to meet you, Akaashi-san. My name is Tsukishima Kei."- The teacher bows politely and Keiji reciprocates the gesture.

„Someone normal. Thank god." is what flows through their heads.

As Tooru comes back from his stretching walk, he leans on his cane by the doorstep and welcomes the newest guest with a shit-eating grin.

-"Oooh, look what the cats dragged in, Hello Keiji!" - Suga eyes him curiously.

-"Oikawa-san? You two know each other?" - Tooru ruffles his white hair playfully. -"We met in college, way before his times of fame and glory."-He mouths jokingly and winks at the barista. -"Nothing to get jealous about, Suga-chan."

Tobio frowns at Keiji, but Shou elbows him lightly and puts a finger on his lips knowingly.

Their wordless conversation is interrupted by Bokuto. Or rather, by a huge birtday cake on a plate he is holding. Shouyou squeals of joy, with Tobio's shy accompaniment. The 'birthday boy' settles the cake on the table as Suga rushes to fetch the plates and forks.

-"Holy shit, bruh, you're Twenty Seven! - Tetsuro exlaims as he eyes the frosting. -"Time to die, I guess."

-"Kuroo, you're barely two months older than Bokuto-san." - Kei rolls his eyes in exasperation and everyone snickers.

-"Awww, you remembered my birthday date, how cute of you, teach! Makes me wanna take you on another date!" - He weaves his arm around the professor who surprisingly, doesn't complain.

-„A date? We went to a bar a couple of times and got completely smashed, Kuroo-san. I'm not sure if that qualifies as dating." - He retorts, rubbing his temples.

-"It totally does." - Oikawa fingerguns them, but Suga effectively shuts him up with a slice of cake on a plate.

As everyone digs into the sweet goodness, it transpires that it was Koushi who made it.

-"Suga-chaan, will I get a piece of heaven like this on my birthday too? Promise me that, you have to." - Tooru practically moans and Kuroo mutters something along the lines of „It's pretty easy to please you, dude. Good for Suga, I guess." then gets brutally elbowed between the ribs by Kei.

The children quickly finish their cake and Shou immediatly challenges Tobio to a racing contest on the backyard. Tetsuro volunteers for the arbiter's role, and Kei gladly follows him to spare himself from akward questions and curious stares, as he doesn't know anyone else beside the man.

As they pretend to observe the kids running laps, not minding about the puddles (And occasionally slipping on them, getting mud all over their fancy party clothes), Tetsuro eyes the other man warily and whispers.

-"I'm going back to college. Taking economics and business management." - Tsukishima raises his eyebrows.

-"I'm...very happy for you, Kuroo-san. What brought that on?"

-"Umm, well...You." - He coughs up and glances at Kei shyly. The teacher's face is positively burning, and it's cute.

-"Would you perhaps..."- The blonde bites his lower lip nervosly. -"Would you need some calculus revision to help you with economics? I guess I could squeeze you in for some private lessons." - He is met with the other's mortified stare.

-"You have no idea how sexual that sounded just now." - Kuroo blurts out and Kei takes a little step closer.

-"Well, I'm still a teacher. You would have to pay me for tutoring somehow, wouldn't you?"

-"Tsukki, you cocky little bastard!" - He regains his composure.

Kei tilts his head a little and growls. - „I told you not to call me that."

Kutoo bites back. -"As I remember clearly, that was at the bar, before the fourth beer. After that, you didn't really mind. And you didn't mind what happened later either." - The teacher clicks his tongue, annoyed and impatient.

-"Well, I'm sobber now. Do you mind reminding me what that was? We might need to do some revision, because this will totally be on the test."

-"Gladly." - The older man whispers as he claims Kei's lips. It's slow and languid, unlike the first one, rushed, sloppy and alcohol-induced. It spreads warmth through their bodies and everything just fits. As they break the kiss, Testuro rests his forehead on Tsukishima's shoulder and moans.

-"Holy fuck, I really DO have a teacher kink."

Before Kei is able to make a snarky remark, they are forced to part at the sound of Shouyou's yelling.

-„So? Uncle Kuroo, who won?" - Both of them jog towards the couple, covered in mud. Tetsuro scratches his neck nervously and his companion comes to save the day.

-"It was a perfect tie. Congratulations. You might want to take a bath before dinner, though."

They grunt dissaprovingly, yet comply.

-"Still, I totally won." - The adults can hear Tobio exclaim end they start to bicker as they walk away. It sends Kuroo into a giggling fit.

However, it dies in his throat as he feels a hand on his chest.

-„So...Where were we, my dear student?"

'Holy shit, Kenma. I owe you a new game. Well, Fuck that, a brand new console.'

Meanwhile, Suga wanders around the table, making place for dinner Bokuto's cooking as Tooru and Keiji catch up on old times.

-"I've spotted you in the cafe a couple of times, you know? I thought you were ignoring me on purpose. But it seems I was wrong, you were just...occupied. - Oikawa's chest rumbles with laughter as Akaashi sends him his trademark deathglare. It's pretty ineffective.

-"Oh my God, you haven't gotten rid of that ugly scowl." - Tooru comments and suddenly all they can hear is Bokuto's obnoxious cackle booming from the kitchen.

-"Daddy? What's so funny?" - Shou beams as he and Tobio come through the door. Fortunately, Suga stops them before they can go past the hall.

-"Aaah, what a sight. Dirty children means happy children." - He gives out a little giggle. Oikawa loves how the corners of his eyes crinkle, accentuating that beauty spot.

-"I will still have to rinse you with a garden hose before you're even allowed inside Kou's spotless bathroom." - He puts his hands on his hips. Opinions on that matter are divided. Shou grins widely while Tobio eyes his father with an edge of mortification and betrayal.

-"Come on, Tobio-chan, it will be fun, like...playing in a fountain! And it's not like you aren't soaked to the bone already." - Oikawa abandons his spot on the couch beside Keiji and takes Tobio's hand.

As they rinse the mud off of the two little devils, Suga notices Kuroo and his friend cuddling on the bench under a huge willow. He nudges Tooru's shoulder and winks mischieviously.

-"Oikawa-san. You thinking what I'm thinking? I dare you to do it."

The physician kisses the back of his palm and bows comically.

-"Thywish is my command, oh master of evil." - He whispers, uncoiling the hose valve to 'full power' and directing the now very rapid stream towards the oblivious lovebirds.

The next few seconds involve a lot of high pitched screaming, evil cackling and squeals of joy. Tooru can't help lifting Tobio off the ground as the boy starts genuinely laughing. That's rare and needs to be savoured. And the man is determined to make it happen more often.

Then, Kuroo and Tsukishima proceed to chase them with an aim of revenge and chaos ensues.

Bokuto sees it all from the kitchen, focusing on the window rather than the beef stew. His howling laughter brings Keiji inside.

-"Bokuto-san, you're gonna cut your fingers off. Let me take care of the carrots." - He mutters. They work together and Koutarou starts humming yet another song made up on the spot, tapping the wooden spoon against every possible surface. After a while, Keiji catches himself tapping his feet to the melody.

-"I think the stew needs a few more minutes, the carrots and potatoes gotta soften a little." - Bokuto murmurs as he take a spoonful of the sauce and holds it in front of his kitchen assistant.

Akaashi reddens a little as he practically lets Bokuto feed him.

-"It's...It's good." - He coughs up.

-"G-good? Only good? Akaashi! It's my trademark dish. I'm offended." - The chef huffs, but his foul mood is quickly interrupted by the sight of Keiji licking at the remainder of the sauce of his lips.

-"It's great, Bokuto-san." - He quickly eyes the window and makes his way towards the dining room.

-"Akaashi?"

-"Wait a second." - He comes back with the package in his hands. -"You haven't seen my present yet. I want you to see it before everyone comes back." - He averts the barista's piercing gaze.

It's thin and covered in a wrapping paper with a cartoonish owl print. It's both light and very heavy in Bokuto's arms. He starts unwrapping the paper very slowly, careful not to rip the cute owls, but Keiji can't stand the itching anticipation. Both his and the birthday boy's. He passes him a knife and the other obliges.

The paper reveals a framed drawing. It's very detailed.

And it's Bokuto himself. A portrait from the V of his hips up.

With astonishingly realistic hair, blinding smile and a confident posture.

And perfectly sculpted abs.

Because the drawn Bokuto is shirtless.

Well, actually overall naked.

The real-life one chokes on his spit.

„Akaashi! That's...precise. Have you been taking sneaky pictures of me?"

„Uhh, no, Bokuto-san. I...imagined?" - Keiji answers, suddenly very anxious. -"If you don't like it..."

-"NO, NO, I mean, No, I love it. I mean, uhh…"- He scratches his head twitchily. -"I'm not a narcissist, I don't like it because it's me, I like...the idea of you drawing me? Does that even make any sense?" - He slaps his palm over his forehead in deep shame.

-"Yes it does. Would you perhaps consider posing for the next one?"

Kou stares at him, mortified.

'This man will be the death of me.'

-"You have an interesting idea on 'thoughtful' and 'not store-bought', Akaashi." - He only blurts out.

An awful smell reminds them of the stew's existence. It's now overcooked and slightly burnt at the bottom of the pot. As the chef rushes to save it, his helper flees to tuck the present away in a random room he prays the guests wouldn't enter.

Fortunately, the stew either isn't as bad as Kou hoped it would be, or his polite guests don't show any trace of disgust, forcing themselves to eat eagerly. The host prays for the former.

Almost everyone is wearing Bokuto's clothes. Tobio is wearing Shou's.

A silent declaration of war still hangs between Tetsuro, Kei, Koushi and Tooru.

The children sense it, and they enjoy it immensely.

After the meal and a lively discussion on cats, owls and crows as the best animals ever (SHOU, WHY WOULD YOU BETRAY YOUR FATHER LIKE THAT, OWLS ARE THE BESTEST, RIGHT, AKAASHI?) Everyone bids their goodbyes, promising to wash and bring back what's half of Bokuto's wardrobe as soon as possible.

Akaashi stays for a while, begged by Shouyou.

-"Your voice is pretty too, Akaashi-san. Read me a story to bed, please?" - Keiji could never resist those puppy eyes.

As they enter Shou's room, the boy searches for his favourite book. He is, however, greeted with a sigh of a frame laying on his bookshelf. The man pales as Koutarou's son picks it up.

-"Whoa, That's daddy. Akaashi, You like daddy's body?"

The designer sighs at his own misery.

'Thank God a 5 year old can't comprehend how pathetic that is.'

That's exactly when Bokuto creeps quietly from behind, determined to remind Shouyou to brush his teeth and wash his ears properly, his own toothbrush tucked between his teeth.

-"Yes, I like daddy's body. I like it very much."

Bokuto chokes, and the toothbrush falls on the floor with a loud thud.

Then Akaashi is forced to read a half-an-hour-long story about a happy little duck called Steven, but his voice is shaking and filled with mortification, so Steven's happiness isn't very convincing. Shou falls asleep nevertheless.

As they quietly leave the boy's room, Bokuto grabs his hand shyly.

Keiji braces himself for the rejection. How he tried to seduce him, inviting him over for work constantly was disgusting and inappropriate, he knows it.

But then, the man speaks up and Keiji cannot believe his fucking luck.

-"Akaashi, I know it would be difficult and bothersome, since you're famous and shit, and I understand if you didn't...but you know., if you wanted..." - The barista can feel his face burning, especially when the other puts a finger over his trembling lips and exlaims hurriedly.

-"Yes, I will date you, Bokuto-san."

Bokuto's mind registers that after a couple of seconds, and the man pumps his fist into the air, almost waking his son up with an idiotic outburst. Keiji reconsiders.

No, actually he doesn't. He is smitten with this idiot.

His idiot.

As the pair of devils is slightly intoxicated by the fine wine Akaashi had brought, they opt for a little sleepover at Suga's new place, since it's closer.

The gentle thuds of the doctor's cane lull Tobio to sleep, as he is piggyback carried by his father. It's dark outside and Tooru really wishes he could take decent pictures. As they arrive, Suga fumbles a little with the keys, suddenly strangely insecure. They speak in a hushed tone not to disturb the boy.

-"It isn't as spacious as our previous one, and it's barely decorated, but..Ah, welcome to my humble abode, I guess?"

-"Pardon the intrusion." - Oikawa murmurs as he eyes the apartment.

It's very small, but cozy, and it somehow fits Suga. He and Tobio lived here for a short amount of time, yet there are already photos hanging on the walls, something that looks like Tobio's crude drawing on the fridge and the whole flat smells like strawberries.

-"Ah, the cake, It's impressive that the scent still lingers." - Suga mentions as he gets Tobio off his back and carries the boy to his bedroom.

-"I still expect one on my birthday, you know?" - With Sugawara gone, Oikawa's nosiness gets the better of him and he wanders around, inspecting the photos. They all have cute little captions written at the bottom.

There's mostly Tobio on them. Various in age, but always either sleepy or grumpy.

My little angel, 02.06.2015 – scribbled under the sleeping Tobio.

My little hell-spawn, 09.12.2016 – scribbled under the frowning, pissed-off Tobio.

Koushi has an awful penmanship, it's barely readable. Tooru snickers.

There's also a single one with Suga in it, smiling sweetly.

Taken by the cutest wife ever, 01.01.2016 – it says. Same penmanship.

Oikawa grabs the frame and detaches the photograh from the wall, his fingers itching to crash it against the floor, the other hand gripping the cane till his knuckles go white.

Sugawara walks in on this sight. Tooru squeezing the frame, nearly cutting his fingers on the wood, dark shadow over his face. The man grips his shoulders defensively.

-"Tobio wanted it hung. I was always the one taking photos, and that's the only one of me anyone has ever taken till...recently. Until we met. I wanted to erease the caption, but it slipped my mind."

Tooru grips his cane even harder.

-"You don't have to explain yourself in front of me. It's not like I'm in a place to be jealous or anything." - He averts the other man's gaze. And frankly, the man has had enough.

-"Talk to me then, I want to stop this stupid 'back and forth'. Pushing me away, vanishing for a couple of days and not answering my messages, then dragging me back with honey-coated words. What's up with Minako?!" - He hisses.

That's when Tooru snaps. The following monologue come as equally angry hisses.

"I'm a horrible person! I warned you, okay?"- his cane falls to the ground and he wobbles slighty, not bothering to pick it up.- "It's repulsive, disgusting, I AM disgusting. The thing you mentioned the last time we met, this whole situation, especially how shitty personality your ex-wife has, it doesn't annoy me much. I'm happy, ridiculously so..." - Tooru settles his hands behind his head and laughs dryly. - "I want you to need me and only see me. I want you to forget your fucking ex and get over her as soon as possible, if any slightest trance of sentiment still lingers. I want you for myself. But you deserve better." - Oikawa meets the other's gaze. - "There you have it. The truth about one Oikawa Tooru, messed up beyond repair. It's...understandable if you want me to leave." - He stuffs his hands into his pockets, defeated.

Suga quickly closes the distance between them and Tooru closes his eyes, preparing himself for the upcoming slap to the face.

It never comes.

Well, he feels the man's cold fingers on his cheeks, but the gesture is gentle and comforting.

-"Don't leave me. Stay."

Oikawa does a double take.

-"Suga, you probably don't comprehend. I. Am. A. Monster." - his breath hitches as Koushi butts their foreheads together. They smell of sweat and wine, and neither of them minds as this point.

-"You calm Tobio's anger and push his insecurities away. He loves you. I…"- He falters. -"You can fix him, and I can fix you in the process. Just put faith in me, in us."

Tooru struggles to push Suga away, but to no avail.

He freezes at the sensation of Suga's arms wrapped around him.

-"I'll embrace them. Your demons. All of them. You're neither a monster, nor myvillain. - Tooru finally lets their eyes meet and Koushi's intense gaze sets his heart on fire.-"You're Tobio's hero. And mine too, so stay."

Oikawa's teary eyes slip past the man's hazelnut eyes, focusing on his trembling lips. He barely registers these lips moving, talking to him.

-"Make me forget anyone else, Tooru."

This does it.

-"Oh, Iwill" - He growls and brushes his lips against Suga's. Not innocently, but hungrily, fiery, passionately and demanding. He bites Suga's lower lip, deepening the kiss.

Somehow, a while later they find themselves on the couch, Oikawa's fingers digging into the barista's side, overtaking him copletely, disregarding the dull ache radiating from his bad knee. Koushi whimpers as Tooru breaks the heated kiss, visibly restraining himself. He eyes him questioningly.

-"I...don't want to rush things and fuck this up?" - He intertwines their fingers nervously.

If there has been any doubt on Sugawara's part, it's gone now.

-"I love you." - He blurts out.

Oikawa Tooru is dangerously possesive.

Oikawa Tooru heals people, yet stalls his own rehabilitation.

Oikawa Tooru is borderline, slipping between narcissism and self-loathing.

But Oikawa Tooru is a good man.

-"I love you." - He repeats firmly. -"So stay with me and Tobio, don't run away from us anymore." - Suga is thrown into the man's lap and the embrace is blissfully comforting, with hushed whispers into his ear.

-"I've taken plenty of creepy, sneaky photos of you in the cafe. Let me hang them instead of that one. And let's go see my old team's volleyball match this saturday. All three of us. I want to buy popcorn and throw it at each other to make Tobio-chan smile. And I want that strawberry cake every sunday till I get fat."

Koushi smiles. He doesn't need a direct confession like the one he just gave Tooru. Because Tooru has planned every sunday of their life already, and that means more than his silly "I love you".

'So that's how being loved truely feels like.'

They fall asleep on the couch, cuddled together, craving each other's warmth.

'Sometimes you truely must lose something to gain something.'

Slowly, step by step, they find purpose in life.
No more helpless pining.
No more alcohol-induced encounters.
No more pushing back and forth.

Because they noticed something in each other that nobody else can see.