#kasataka

December 22nd, the last day most clubs get to practice at school clubs, before the week vacation. Shuutoku usually practices early in the day and gets out before dinner, Kaijou practices until late. So Takao decided to hop on a train to Kanagawa after practice, he had to drop by a relative’s place anyway to pick up something for his sister. 

Stretching as he climbed off his train he headed over to Kaijo, waiting at the entrance originally was his plan. But Kise caught sight of him as he was leaving and brought him back to the gym, Kasamatsu was still practicing. It was still strange that he’d been able to get along with Kise, so it felt weird being caught by the model and dragged back to the gym “Senpai!” 

Takao felt himself flinch as Kise’s loud voice cut across the otherwise silent gym, and he saw Kasamatsu’s form slip and the ball ricocheted off the rim. The brunette shook his head glancing at the sparkling blonde beside him, mentally counting down until the kick. 30 seconds maybe? 1s Kasamatsu was tense... 5s he turned his head towards the entry of the gym... 10s he realized that Kise was there, probably didn’t register the brunette with him at all... 15s Kise called out again waving dramatically... 20s Kaijo’s captain ran over towards them... 35s A jump kick to the side brought Kise to his knees and he ended up pulling Takao down with him.

Takao who had been more or less expecting it, tried to free his arm, but the rainbow crew were all a lot more muscular than they looked. So realizing there was little chance of escape he braced himself so he wouldn’t fall. So he was awkwardly standing leaning to the left with Kise clinging to his arm. Despite that he offered a sheepish smile and greeted “Yo Kasamatsu-senpai~ Sorry~ I came to visit” He offered his own smile and sparkle to keep the captain from abusing the ace anymore.

Kasamatsu felt his anger wane a bit as he finally took notice of the hawk, who was linked to the kitten whimpering on the ground. Takao petted Kise’s hair comforting the teary model with a soft “There, there. Thank you Kicchan, sorry you got kicked because of me” He helped the model up and was hugged tightly which earned a wince and Kasamatsu asked exasperatedly “...Right... So why are you here Takao...?”

The point guard who was trying to placate the model and have a conversation with his crush simultaneously was not doing a good job focusing on Kise, Kasamatsu and not being suffocated at once so he answered in his usual playful tone something he hadn’t said yet despite their random dates “Hm... Is it wrong of me to visit someone I like before they go away for Christmas?” Takao managed to escape Kise’s embrace and tried to catch his breath. Kise smiled and whispered to Takao “Have a good date Takacchi, tell me all about it later. You owe me dinner for letting me get kicked~” He headed out leaving a very confused hawk.

Takao’s eyes went wide as he turned from watching Kise disappear down the steps and found Kasamatsu was red from his ears to his neck. “Idiot... That’s how you chose to confess?!” Blinking a few times he tilted his head and grinned “Hmmmm? But Yuki-chan~ I’ve told you before that I like you. Remember back when we first met? You didn’t believe me at all~” The hawk hummed and walked over to his senpai putting his hand on Kasa’s cheek. The captain was trying to cover his face, his eyes narrowed in a glare at Takao “Tsk...Don’t get so cocky.. That was you trying to set Kise and Midorima up, that wasn’t a confession.”

“Mah, mah~ Sure I wanted to make things fun, but I really was confessing to you~ I did want to spend more time with you, but Shin-chan is super needy~ Be-sides~ You were going to turn down the food I made you anyway because you said you were full.” Takao pouted a bit and turned his eyes away “So... How could I tell you again? You avoid it every time Yuki-chan...” Takao might always be smiling and radiating happiness like Kise, but he was also actually fragile in a way that the model was not.

Still the captain sighed angrily “Tsk... Don’t get so upset over that. You made waaaay too much food. Besides you always confess like it’s a joke. Do you not trust me? How long have we been dating? Next time you better say it properly. And not in front of Kise or I won’t forgive you” His face was red and he was glaring straight into the hawk’s eyes but Kasamatsu was both happy and pissed that he got to hear those words as an early Christmas gift.

Of course, in the end, he’s just a servant, not really a partner or an equal, at least in that sort of sense. He’d slunk off with the first guy he’d seen, a guy who wasn’t at all like Takao, and if he wanted Takao’s honest opinion (not like he even looked back for a second) the guy was kind of sleazy.

“Well, he shouldn’t blame me if he ends up with herpes,” Takao mumbles. He’s just tipsy enough to think that’s funny and he giggles, falling backward and onto some other guy leaning on the bar.

“Oi, watch it,” says the other guy.

Takao blinks. “Kasamatsu-san?”

“Oh, it’s Takao,” says Kasamatsu.

He casts his eyes downward; Takao wonders if he’s wondering the one game they’d played against each other, Kasamatsu’s last—no, it’s better not to think about it, better not to think about a certain tall green-haired shooting guard and his double-double that night.

They settle into a silence, sipping their drinks.

“I’ll buy,” says Takao.

He might as well make some other miserable man a little bit happier even if he’s doomed to slink home alone tonight and dream of bandaged hands.

Kasamatsu flushes. “I…okay.”

And then he kisses Takao. It’s unexpected, but not terrible. Kasamatsu doesn’t seem all that experienced, but he’s forceful and intuitive. He tastes like gin, not Takao’s favorite flavor but better when it’s on someone else’s lips. So maybe he’ll have company tonight. He hums into the kiss and Kasamatsu just pushes back harder.

*

They make it to Takao’s apartment fairly quickly and make it to the bed almost as soon as they’re inside. Their hands are slipping against each other and they’re both horny and agitated and rougher than is strictly necessary. Kasamatsu’s a forceful top and Takao enjoys bottoming him; it’s…good. Kasamatsu may be inexperienced, but he knows the ins and outs of his own body and they’re similar enough so that what works on him works on Takao. He winds his hands through Takao’s hands as he moves in and out, sending pleasure up and down Takao’s torso. He comes first but keeps moving, considerate of Takao’s needs, too, and after he comes Takao kisses Kasamatsu appreciatively.

Kasamatsu sits up and starts to get dressed, but Takao pulls him back down.

“Please don’t go.”

“But…I…” Kasamatsu stutters.

“I want to do this again.” Takao knows he’s not being totally clear about what he wants, and it’s the sleepiness and satiation talking instead of his actual feelings.

Kasamatsu pauses.

“I think I like you,” says Takao. “So please, stay at least for now?”

There was no other way to define it. Abandoned by their true loves. One by a model, one for taking a modelling career. Takao sat at the bar ordering a drink, strong and vanilla it was one that Kise had introduced him to on one of their outings. He needed something good and strong, but when he heard a familiar voice mutter ‘Did it seriously have to be this fucking drink. Why tonight?’

Takao looked up and saw a red eyed face that he recognized though he still had tears in his eyes, making it a bit hard, which was foolish. It’d been nearly a month since he was ditched. Midorima took off in the most uncool way. Asked Takao out on a date, and broke it off. Leaving him in the middle of a plaza. By the time Takao made it back to the apartment his parents got him as a graduation gift his lover and every trace of him was gone ‘As long as I do everything I can then god will do the rest.’ That saying plagued his hours. If it weren’t for his manager he’d have stopped eating. Every day he’s forced to gorge once, but he’d stopped caring generally. He was on break from modelling for a couple weeks to get back together. He hadn’t seen Kise since it happened so he had no confidant. “K-kasamatsu?” He asked voice strained from the tears he was fighting back. As he wiped his eyes he noticed the bartender wasn’t holding up so great.

He slid the drink to the younger male before looking up. Kasamatsu had gone mostly unchanged, except for the piercings in his left ear. Heartbreaks and pain had caused the older male to change only professions. He’d been seeing a work colleague, then he was fired to save the other’s position. When Kise enrolled in his school they’d gotten together for a while, when he started talking about committing the other being a free spirit vanished into thin air saying they were to young. So he fell out of contact with the rest of his old teammates, it’d been seven years since they’d gotten together surely they didn’t need their old captain. He struggled to make the drink he’d perfected this past year, it was one of Kise’s favorites. Not many people ordered this, he slid it over then hearing a familiar slightly annoying but calming voice he couldn’t place it. His eyebrows raised when he saw a red eyed, black haired male looking as if he might break at the slightest touch “Takao?! I.. You, what?” He ran a hand through his short hair looking at him slightly wide eyed.

Takao smiled sadly “You know I think you look even hotter now then you did in high school, but you don’t seem as cheery as you used to be.” He attempted to joke but his voice quavered from the tears he held back, which Kasamatsu noticed, he walked over to the other ruffling his hair gently making him shudder. He finished talking his voice small and frail as the other ruffled his hair. “I uh came here with some work pals before… And somehow I ended up here. I didn’t know you worked here…. It’s been ages.” He plucked the cherry from his drink by the stem, pulling it off with grace in his teeth while he waited for the answer, he seductively rolled the cherry around before eating it and licking his lips. He was so much of a flirt he didn’t even realize he did it anymore, which is one of the biggest reasons he’d been broken up with.

Yukio raised an eyebrow taking his hand away, noticing the other was recoiling from the touch unlike in high school where he was a ball of affection. Someone had taught this little ball of fun pain… He clicked his tongue against his teeth. One look down the bar, no one was waiting for drinks, some were to drunk and coming onto others. He had some time, his shift was over soon. He’d bring the other out of here after, find out why he was so hurt. “Heh, you don’t seem like the sunny hawk I remember either brat. Yeah I’m working here while I finish my second degree. It’s not that bad for someone like me.” He sighed the other was still an incubus as he remembered, watching him play with the cherry then brushing the stalk around his lips. It was quite difficult to resist him. His silvery eyes showed hurt and seemed to be waiting for someone who could be by his side. Color flooded his cheeks as for a moment he imagined it could be him that filled that gap. He gripped at his earrings sending a rush of pain as he tugged on them, he coughed “Kazunari, wait here for a bit. My shift ends in fifteen, I know a good restaurant near here.” Whether he stayed or went was his choice, he had to go break up a couple starting to yell.

Takao blinked taking a little straw stirring his drink he tilted his head “Hm… I don’t?” He thought about it for a bit and chuckled “Mm with your temper I can see how it works out you being here.” He watched the other’s face flush he didn’t know why, but remembered both Kise and Moriyama mentioning he flushed easily, and the fact he was working in a gay-bar suggested that still couldn’t handle the ladies. As he sat twirling the cherry stalk in his fingers for a bit he saw the old point guard he idolized, he sipped at his drink. He couldn’t believe it he was starting to fantasize. It had been a long time since he day-dreamed. He sipped his drink when the bar assistant helping Yuki came over he ordered another drink, amazingly the helper had to ask the other who was clearly the younger how to make it. He shot a glance down the bar shaking his head as he walked him through the process of making such a complicated drink. He could have sworn he saw him smile a little.

Kasamatsu sighed ‘Why hire someone if they can’t make a single thing? Ten years my senior and can’t even make a simple blend…. And something like this forget it.’ he shot a glance down the bar there was only one person here who could shoot this and not get wasted on the first. He couldn’t help it his lips curled and he continued to make the drink. And set it down for the other to take after putting a dash of cinnamon and a cherry across the top. Fifteen minutes seemed to be dragging by.

Kazunari sat sipping his second, or maybe his third drink, waiting for Yuki-chan he blinked lips curling into a smile. How ironic, it’d been at this bar where they had their final date. And this bar was the one that was letting him move on, he hadn’t thought of another person in this way since Shin-chan shattered his heart. He stopped sipping for a bit and decided to tie his cherry stalk into a bow. He heard the stool beside him creak while someone sat, he plucked the bow from his tongue and resumed sipping his drink. He hadn’t used his ability, his hawk eye, since he left the basketball team last year. Using it now he saw the male sitting beside him was totally wasted and not his type. He was older and balding, still his hand started to reach for his backside. Takao downed his drink about to tell him off when a few things happened. While Takao was setting the glass down, he felt his scarf tugged on, he was pulled forward, catching the counter rising so he didn’t fling over it, he felt a pair of lips crash against his. He felt a rush, he was sure had nothing to do with the alcohol, he closed his eyes. This force it could only be one person, even without his bird’s eye view he knew the owner of these lips.

Yukio chose to ignore the wolf whistles and dog calls. Takao really did grab to much attention, even from across the bar he could see it. He had a minute left when he saw the guy move to grope him and Takao getting up. His heart felt like it would burst if that hawk walked out the door. So he clocked out then did something that would succeed in stopping both the attacker and the escapee. His cheeks were burning as he drew back he muttered “Dammit Kazunari, you really should remember the effect you have on people.” He went and got his things from under the bar, returning his til and clocking out when the other bartender showed up.

Takao had paid his tab to Yukio before he’d finished, he now stood shocked while the other took care of his last minute stuff. He shook it off and picked up his bag, he waited for the other away from the bar since he’d pass by to leave. Yukio came out and his face fell seeing the younger male was missing, but was surprised when he claimed his hand, Takao could see his surprise and he teased a bit like his old self “You didn’t really think I’d leave without paying you back in full did you?” His cheeks turned pink and he muttered angrily “Tch. Don’t get ahead of yourself brat.”

On the walk to the restaurant the two shared one thought ‘Even if I can’t give him all of my broken heart yet, he’s the only one who can return me to color from this black and white hell.’ Without saying it officially Takao suggested “Yuki-chan, my apartment is near by why don’t we head there. I can make dinner, it’s cheaper that way right?” To his surprise Kasamatsu shrugged “Why not, we can stop at the convenience store.” Takao had a feeling that Kasamatsu could cook but hadn’t in a while for some reason. Takao didn’t ask and Kasamatsu didn’t say anything. They picked up some simple foods, Takao figured breakfast for dinner would work. He knew that french toast, with a white chocolate drizzle, pinch of cinnamon with a Vendange Tardive to drink on the side. Takao might not know his food combinations, but comfort foods are his expertise.After cashing out they headed back to Takao’s apartment more catching up, they didn’t talk about much substance wise. Neither mentioned their love life, or high school. Takao steered clear of saying he modelled, the two were taking in each other’s boundaries for now, once inside with the meal Takao would pounce like before they could relax, he could pamper the other.

Which is exactly what he did. Kasamatsu excused his presence to the ghost and looked around curiously, he noticed there were no traces of girl’s things, yet there were a couple very beautiful photos of girls hanging among some of his photos. He didn’t have many of himself, but he obviously hated the plain walls more. He had done what he could to cover them, mirrors, posters whatever you could stick on a wall. The apartment was a two bedroom, one kitchen, one bath room. It was obvious from the photos that Midorima, Miyaji and perhaps Kise played a role in his change. He wondered about it, he saw a bunch of dvds, trading cards, and when he knocked a bag over he froze blushing, woman’s clothing? Was Takao straight?

While Kasamatsu sat pondering, Takao set down the food and put in a movie, something inspirational and not too painful for the heart. He noticed the bag knocked over and cleared it up “Ah sorry about this. I thought I put it back in the closet” He gave a small laugh “Ah Yuki-chan you’re bright red, so innocent. They don’t belong to a girl so you should relax a little” The older male raised his eyebrows as his eyes widened “Ha?” He felt his face burning “Not a female?” Takao shook his head “Sometimes for my job I have to cross-dress. I apparently make a sexy woman.” He gave a shrug and fed the other a bit of the french toast to stop the coming flood of questions “Eat, you must be starving. We have all night.” He grinned and sat eating and pouring their drinks into beautifully stemmed glasses.After a few glasses they started to feel drunk from the feeling having another right beside them that accepted them as they were. The wholeness.