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He loves how Bokuto counts the droplets of rain on the window, as they pitter patter against the glass. His pupils enlarged like that of a cute puppy, running a finger down the window in an attempt to catch up to the steady flow.
Akaashi watches in awe, amazed at the display of childlike wonder. Being with the older boy was like a breath of fresh air, a hot chocolate on a cold winter. He loved how Bokuto could be so pleased and enthralled in something as little as watching the rain pass by.
Akaashi wondered how it was possible for someone to live so unaware, never to be plagued by anxiety or fear.
“Do you like the rain?” Bokuto asks him suddenly, and the question startles Akaashi a bit. Bokuto does not move his eyes away from the window, like he’s afraid the rain will leave by the time he blinks. His golden irises reflect off the tainted glass.
Akaashi ponders the question for a moment, humming in consideration. He never really thought of it much, too distracted by the loud bangs of thunder and trying to find some calm in the storm.
He’s never really minded the noise when he’s with Bokuto, his ears too focused on the animated chats of the older boy and planting kisses on his forehead. Akaashi likes watching the rain with him.
Sometimes Akaashi sets his alarm earlier when the forecast tells of a storm, so that he can arrive with an umbrella at Bokuto’s house before he has the opportunity to jump in the puddles.
Its always worth it to see the expression on his face, that bright adoration was like a drug that he could never get enough of.
“...I don't mind it.” Akaashi finally answers, and he wants to add “As long as I'm with you,” But he doesn’t.
Bokuto seems to consider this, because he turns to face the raven-haired boy, finally pulling his gaze from the windowsill. Akaashi chooses to ignore the way his heart leaps in his throat.
“But you don’t like it?”
There’s a sort of sadness building up behind those yellow eyes, and Akaashi immediately regretted his answer.
“No, no! I do. I think, atleast… I like watching the rain with you.” Akaashi admits, rubbing at his neck subconsciously. He feels heat spread to his cheeks.
Keiji fiddles with his hands, noticing they’re very cold. He suddenly has the urge to take Bokuto’s in his own and steal some of the heat. But he doesn't, and he realizes that he never does or says anything he actually thinks.
“Kaashii!!” Bokuto grins madly, bouncing up and down at his spot on the couch. Akaashi is just as quickly embraced in a tight squeeze, knocking the oxygen out of his lungs. Sometimes he forgets how strong his boyfriend is.
Akaashi lets out a startled yelp, falling backwards into the couch cushions. He feels the warmth he had yearned for then, radiating off Bokuto like he’s the whole sun. And he may as well be. It's such a comforting warmth, Akaashi thinks. His Bokuto feels like smiles and endless sunny days.
They’re both giggling, limbs intertwined like pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together. Akaashi breathes in the scent of the older boy, the remnants of Bokuto's shampoo and conditioner mix. He fingers through Koutarou’s styled hair, somehow so soft and smooth. Like an owl.
“Keiji,” Bokuto breathes his name, and God, Akaashi could get used to hearing it off his tongue. Like it’s the last inhale of oxygen before he goes underwater.
Bokuto is looking up at him from his spot on the raven-haired boy’s chest, their faces mere inches apart. Those golden eyes glistening. At that moment, Akaashi thinks he may have stopped breathing altogether at the sight.
“Koutarou,” Akaashi feels himself smiling. He’s so, so happy, and warm and he feels so safe like this. In Bokuto's secure arms, his steady embrace. That toothy grin making an appearance once more.
For once, Akaashi allows himself to succumb to the feeling.
“I love you, I love you,” Bokuto’s saying, breathless once more. He says the words with such tenderness, gentle, soothing. Bokuto kisses his forehead as he whispers them over again, invisible to the world.
“I love you more,” Akaashi says, and he means every word.
“No, never.” Bokuto shakes his head, eyes wide. “That’s not possible,”
“It’s not?” Akaashi questions, smoothening the lines forming on Bokuto’s forehead. Maybe he can imagine the lines turning to wrinkles, them growing old together and bickering over the newspaper. Waking to the scent of coffee and familiarity, fields of green swaying outside the window. Akaashi would like that alot.
But Bokuto shakes his head again, much more authority than the last.
“Nope. I love you a hundred times over, ‘Kaashi. To the moon and back.”
Akaashi blinks in disbelief, a lovely shade of pink coloring his face. To the moon and back, huh. His universe, Bokuto Koutarou, loves him to the moon and back. Past all the tiny stars and planets in the solar system. A hundred times over.
Akaashi loves his boyfriend so much.
So he leans in to kiss him, to tell and show him that he does. To the moon and back, a hundred times over, forever. Bokuto makes a pleasant sound, low and deep in his throat, and it gives Akaashi the feeling he knows, and he has always known.
“I think we’re equal, then,” Akaashi pulls away after what feels like an eternity, breathless. He misses the warmth from the others lips immediately, the taste of Bokuto’s lip balm lingering on his chapped ones.
Bokuto smiles, all sunshine and rainbows and nice things. “We’re equal,” He agrees. Akaashi feels silly to have ever thought they weren’t. Feeling the sting of tears in his eye, Akaashi smiles again. It's so genuine, it always has been around Bokuto.
To the boy who taught him how to love, to himself all the way to the court. The sound of squeaking shoes and the thrill of winning. Akaashi loves it all.
Bokuto gasps suddenly, fleeing from the younger boy's grasp. Bokuto scrambles over to the tainted window, pressing a cheek against the glass. Akaashi stifled a giggle at the sight, instead wiping the stray tear from his eye.
“Look, Akaashi, Look!” Bokuto whisper-shouts, motioning for him to come see. Akaashi scoots over to the window, holding his breath. He always prepares for the worse. It's just in his nature, akaashi supposes.
But it's not at all anything he imagined. Rather, it's everything he had not imagined. It's beautiful. Breathtaking. The gray clouds have long cleared away, now replaced with the bright sun, its rays beating down against the glass.
The sky is blue and clear, hell, clearer than Akaashi’s eyesight. But the best part, a holographic rainbow spread right down the center of the scene. When Akaashi looks over at Bokuto, he sees the reflected colors in his irises. That starstruck expression never leaves his face.
Akaashi releases his breath then, a small hum escaping his lips. For a moment, he can't decide what’s prettier, the rainbow or the boy.
Once, Bokuto had told him how he really liked rainbows. When Akaashi asked why, his reply came:
“Because when I look closely, It reminds me of how when things aren't looking well, the sun will always come out eventually. When you least expect it, it will find its way up again.”
Akaashi had been caught off guard at the time, that someone like the silly ace would say something like that. It sort of frightened Akaashi when the older boy wasn’t jumping for joy or shouting hey too many times.
Looking at the scene beyond the window, Akaashi got an idea suddenly, his body jolting in the cushions. Bokuto turned his head in alarm, so fast Akaashi would think he got whiplash. The raven-haired boy quickly waved him off, pushing himself off the couch.
“Bokuto-san! I’ll be right back,” Akaashi shouted, already halfway down the hall. He scrambled through a box sitting under his bed, making an affirmative “ah-ha!” after finding the item inside.
It was a polaroid camera, an item that had been gifted to him for his 18th birthday.
Akaashi had truly been so excited. He showed an interest in photography a few months prior, and bless his mothers heart, she delivered. Akaashi spent hours going around the gym, taking photos of his team, mostly Bokuto though.
Fukurodani was seemingly surprised at this display of affection, joking that he never seemed this excited about anything. He knew he shouldn't have let it affect him, they were only teasing afterall. But even so, it made him feel confused, and a bit sad somewhere deep inside.
Akaashi tried his best to share his emotions, even going so far as to practice facial expressions in the mirror. It was silly, he knew. Nonetheless, he wanted his teammates to know he did care about them, and he felt good playing.
The camera is special, so many memories are captured in it. Moments that pass so quickly you forget to breathe them in. Pictures have always been bittersweet to Akaashi, and maybe that's why he likes taking them.
Capture this moment.
Akaashi hurries back to the living area, finding Bokuto having a staring contest with the sky once more. Akaashi hopes he hasn't missed the moment yet, already regretting his 10 seconds spent in his bedroom.
“Is it gone yet?” Akaashi asks, kneeling beside the owl-haired boy on the couch as the beige cushions sink in.
“Nope,” Bokuto replies in a daze, clearly still enthralled by the scene. “What didja grab?” Bokuto reluctantly removes his steady gaze from the condensated window. Akaashi shakes the camera to show him; a playful grin tugging on his lips.
Bokuto makes an “ooh” sound, eyes glimmering with anticipation. Akaashi gestures for him to turn around so they’re both facing the camera. The rainbow perfectly lined between the two, Akaashi can't help but feel proud of his artistic skills.
Bokuto makes silly faces, holding up peace signs. Akaashi just smiles softly, tilting his head a bit towards the boy.
Akaashi takes the photo out, whipping it back and forth to help the film process. When it's done, he looks down at the photo, the goofiness and slight shake in the lens.
Akaashi thinks it's perfect. Maybe even more perfect than Bokuto’s spikes, but he’d never tell him that. The rainbow is visible in the background, displaying just above their heads.
“Akaashi,” Bokuto gasps against Akaashi’s neck, a stuttering breath like he just realized he forgot someone's birthday.
“Huh?”
“This photo is gay!” Bokuto squeals, genuinely shocked by this revelation. Akaashi is just bewildered as to what in the world he means by this.
“Huh?”
“The rainbow, akaashi!”
Bokuto laughs, barks, so loudly it hurts Akaashi's ears. No, it's literally like “AH-HA-HA-HA” and Akaashi can't decide whether he wants to laugh or cry, truthfully.
So he does both, cracking up so hard his ribs hurt. One, for what just came out of Bokuto’s mouth, and two for that damn laugh.
Akaashi wipes at his eye with his sweater sleeve, huffing a relieved breath. He hasn't laughed like that in a long while, already feeling the ache in his belly from the uncontrolled giggles.
It’s a good feeling though, akaashi thinks. like the adrenaline from a race or the feel of a volleyball in your hand. When they think back on this memory, years down the line, akaashi hopes to remember that feeling.
“Hey, Akaashi. How bout’ one more?” Bokuto grins, a mischievous expression on his face. Before the raven-haired boy can respond though, he’s being lifted off the couch. Bridal style.
“Bokuto san-!” Akaashi gasps in surprise. His boyfriend simply shrugs, like lifting him was no big deal at all. It takes Akaashi a moment to realize Bokuto was leading them to the front door.
“Are you kicking me out of my own house, Bokuto-san?” Akaashi deadpans, gesturing to the door with his free hand. Bokuto laughs, his shoulders (and Akaashi) shaking as he does.
“Nope. I thought we could take a picture outside. You know, get a better view.” Bokuto gently dips Akaashi in his arms, carefully placing him on the floor.
Akaashi sighs in relief, wobbling a bit at first. But then he does something he did not expect, He actually giggles, like a damn highschool girl.
Horrified, Akaashi immediately puts a hand to cover his mouth, forcing down the bubbles of laughter forming in his throat. How embarrassing.
Bokuto cocks his head in confusion, probably missing the joke. Akaashi doesn't quite understand either, but something in his heart feels lighter than it has in years.
Clearing his throat, Akaashi reaches for the front door to discover the familiar owl was not behind him. Akaashi realizes Bokuto had not moved, in fact he just stood there, staring at him.
Though his expression is unreadable. That was new. Akaashi did not like being unable to read the open book that was Bokuto Koutarou.
“What?” Akaashi asks, shattering the momentary silence.
“Nothing. You, Uh, your laugh is cute.” Bokuto stumbles over his words, his face turning a shade of crimson. Oh. Oh. Whatever Akaashi was expecting, it was not that.
Akaashi coughs, feeling his own face heat up as well. “Uh, Really?” Akaashi finds himself playing with his fingers again, an anxious tendency for the boy.
“..Yeah.” Bokuto is not any better, avoiding eye contact with the setter. Akaashi realizes that this was very out of character for Bokuto, usually he just spoke his mind with no hesitation.
He must really mean it.
“Okay. Cool.” Akaashi says, voice barely above a whisper. But he really, really wants to say; I love you so much, please marry me, Thank you.
But instead, he opens the door and breathes in the crisp air, refreshing in the way it is after a rain shower in spring. Akaashi allows the breeze to touch his face and ruffle his hair.
The rainbow looks even prettier outside, the rays of color spread across the clouds. The sky was still a beautiful blue, even clearer now outside the foggy window.
Bokuto makes a low “oooh” besides him, and the younger boy does not need to look to know his eyes are sparkling. Akaashi hastily takes out his polaroid from his sweater pocket. He sneaks one of Bokuto first, cautiously taking it while the owl is still marveled by the sight.
Then, Akaashi taps on his boyfriend's shoulder, quietly deciding to keep the candid photo of him a secret.
they take the photo together, they laugh and smile together, too. Akaashi thinks he wants to do a lot of things together.
“It's perfect. Thank you,” Akaashi whispers, and he’s not sure if he’s thanking him for the photo, or so much more than that. They look at the photo, the memory, faces mere inches apart.
It's comforting, in the same way he had felt earlier and every moment with Bokuto.
Bokuto smiles, like everything is right in the world, where there are no worries but volleyball and deciding what to have for dinner.
Akaashi smiles back, deciding rainstorms weren't so bad after all. When he looks back at the photo, akaashi thinks that the sun will be present for a long while.