Work Text:
Hinata Shoyo was no stranger to nightmares, they surrounded him quite often, especially when he was stressed or overwhelmed. And here's the thing: Hinata's dreams were almost always Lucid. He would remember the feeling of darkness, the fear and panic. He could remember for days if they got bad enough. They left him cold and afraid, unable to get the horrible images out of his mind. Tonight was no exception, as it was the day before another big tournament. Hinata had tossed and turned in his sleep, waiting for his body to succumb to the soothing sensation of sleep. His body finally dozed off after two hours of ceiling-staring as he nicknamed it.
In the dream, Hinata stood in an open stadium, the disorienting lights hitting his amber eyes harshly. The crowd booed in a strange chant that made Hinata's spine crawl. Upon further inspection, the audience were nothing but bodies and blurred faces. They booed louder. The volleyball was soaring high, it shined like the sun, every movement it made hypnotized Hinata as his gaze followed the ball.
His hands and legs throbbed with the urge to run, to jump, to Fly. But his body disobeyed, remaining still and silent as he helplessly watched the ball do what he was unable to. Disfigured blobs ran towards the ball, shouting incomprehensible things.
"You will never reach. You will never fly. You are a flightless bird trapped in a cage, little one."
Hinata looked down, his ankles and hands chained up, and he was actually trapped in a cage. Not metaphorically but straight up. He felt helpless, pulling his leg desperately, trying to form words that wouldn't come. He watched the ball once more; it had been tossed to someone else. Not him. The audience's booing only got louder, even after the team scored the point.
Hinata squinted, making out a wobbling figure that appeared to resemble Kageyama. He had appeared in front of him suddenly from outside the cage, His face was completely shadowed and incohesive. Cold and dark, Though I guess that wasn't too far off from his normal state. the figure spoke words without its mouth, the words harsh and blunt, taunting him.
"I will only toss to whoever's essential to winning,"
the crowd comes to a stop, a stillness falling over the stadium as it fades to black.
"And right now, i don't think..."
......
"Hinata?" a soft voice lulled to him, sounding far away as if his ears had been submerged under water. He was surrounded by pitch-blackness and the cold emptiness of the nightmare. He felt a hand tug on him, beckoning him from his slumber, but it received nothing more than a turn and a soft mumble.
"Hinata, wake up." The voice tried again, the same soft edge to it. Another shake.
"Shoyo." The voice finally became clear and whole.
Hinata's eyes opened slowly, blinking the sleep away and the grogginess from his brain. He squinted to the tall figure looming over him. Kageyama. Hinata rubbed his face, taking in the concerned black-haired teen. The real Kageyama. With a real face and those blue eyes that he missed.
"Are you okay?" Kageyama whispered; his voice softened again. Worry etched into his sharp features, glistening over his stormy eyes. "You were shaking in your sleep." He reluctantly reached his hand to the smaller boy's forehead, wisping Hinata's messy ginger bangs off his face.
"Tobio," Hinata sighed in relief, grasping for the hands that were placed on his forehead. "Don't worry, okay? just a bad dream is all. I'm fine!" He finished, looking up at the also relieved yet still concerned Kageyama. He scanned over Hinata's face, noting the strong glisten in his amber eyes and the reassuring smile that just never seemed to falter.
Kageyama considered this for a moment. The small hands that reached for his were trembling still, a sign that the sunset-haired boy was probably still shaken from his dream.
"Shoyo," Tobio breathed his name once more, cusping the trembling pair of hands. "You're shaking still. Do you want to... talk about it?" He looked away from the boy after saying this, his face feeling warm suddenly. Kageyama peeked slightly from his peripheral to check the tangerine's expression.
Hinata shook his head, certain his voice would break if he actually muttered the words "No," and Kageyama would never let him live it down.
Kageyama noticed the sunset-haired boys lip quiver while his head shook, and decided he would have to comfort him somehow. He's not completely a jerk.
Kageyama sighed after a long silence, ultimately deciding to cuddle up to the ginger. He held his head held low to hide his embarrassed face, wrapping the fluffy blanket around the both of them. Their faces were mere inches apart and Kageyama felt his face grow hotter than before. Hinata's eyes widened with surprise from the sudden display of affection from the other. The smaller one began to open his mouth with a playful grin,
"Not a word. I'll give you a h-hug because nightmares suck...and I'm not always an asshole. So shut it and be grateful." Kageyama stated bluntly, clearing his throat. It's clear that he's not used to showing affection to others.
Hinata rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance but smiling smugly. A moment passed between the pair before the ginger busted into uncontrolled laughter.
"Pft-sorry...! I'm...sorry!!" Hinata's voice wobbled between fits, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. He shook beneath a dumbfounded Kageyama who blinked in confusion.
"What the hell is funny, you idiot! I'm being nice here!" Kageyama whisper-shouted in embarrassment, cautious to not wake the others. He watched the shrimp rock back and forth.
"It's b-because y-your attempt to cheer me up was s-so bad that it actually worked!" Hinata laughed more like this was the funniest shit ever. His lungs rattled with effort from that sentence.
"Shh... shut up! I don't want the others to see this..." Kageyama stammered, holding up a finger to his lips to shush the boy. Thankfully everyone seemed to remain fast asleep on their futons. Thank God because this sight would certainly ruin his reputation.
"ha-ha... okay, okay. I'm done now...whew." Hinata sighed, wiping the tears from his eyes. Although it wasn't exactly what Kageyama had in mind, The ginger boy seemed a lot happier now. His smile was bright, and his sleepy eyes glistened softly in the dark.
"Good. You were about to wake everyone up, moron." Kageyama flicked the gingers head, the boy yelping from besides him. Kageyama looked down at him, grinning knowingly.
Hinata also risked a look at him, but the taller boy immediately averted his gaze. Hinata could see his face flushed a light pink, though his arms stayed wrapped tightly around the ginger. Kageyama's embrace felt warm and familiar, not to mention he smelled good. Hinata snuggled closer to Kageyama, taking in his being. He listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the rise and fall of his chest.
He was safe.
"g'night..tobio.." Hinata yawned, the words heavy on his tongue.
Hinata's eyelids felt heavy, his small body light like a feather. The ginger drifted to slumber, the world fading to the familiar blackness. It was different now; it was calm and steady and comforting.
"Goodnight, sho."
The sun and the moon drifted to sleep, all of the stars sparkling in the night sky. They were certain they'd win their tournament, because the sun will always illuminate the moon.