heleanor | 【ＲＰ】ＯｐｅｎＰｏｓｔ

[And then he'll have Tsukishima's approval for sweeping Yamaguchi off his feet. Cunning plan: completed by way of cake.]

Just make it clear to him it won't be a date when you take him here. Right, Yama-chan?

[Or Oikawa might get jealous.]

Huh!? [Well, so much for finally finding a safe subject—Yamaguchi's hackles raise again in terror, as surely as if Oikawa had dumped him in a pit with a lion. ]

A date!? With Tsukki??

Th-That's completely out of the question, Oikawa-san!

[Nnnnot, that Yamaguchi hasn't. Thought about it. Maybe a lot. Since, maybe, fifth grade. So long as Yamaguchi ignores THAT, he's pretty much, definitely sure that he's completely and totally straight. Really!! ~~until oikawa comes along and ruins things at least WHOOPS~~]

[Oikawa sighs in relief. Sure, he's not completely convinced because he's been in the same room as the two of them, but Yamaguchi's stuttering denial means he's at least pretending not to be interested which is good enough for Oikawa's purposes.]

Aaaah, I'm glad! I thought you might have decided that he'd make a better date than I am. He is taller than I am after all. [Which is the most attractive trait for any volleyball player's prospective dates to have, obviously.]

Geh?? [Yamaguchi doesn't even know which part of that to argue first; it all just kinda makes him want to crawl under the sickly pink tablecloth arranged before them and hide from Oikawa's observations for the next half hour or so.]

That's not...I don't want...! [Luckily for him, the waitress decides to have mercy on his soul by choosing that exactly moment to appear before their table, asking politely what the two boys like to order (since they seem to be done looking at the menus).]

[Yamaguchi doesn't want... what? Oikawa would love to know the rest of that sentence but he can't be too mad at the waitress, he's really looking forward to their food.

He orders his bread and a vanilla milkshake because his pallet is diverse and interesting and they are delicious no matter how many times Iwaizumi laughed at him for getting the most boring thing on the menu.]

Are you going to get the shortcake, Yama-chan?

[Yamaguchi doesn't trust himself to speak, and instead nods jerkily to Oikawa's suggestion that he order the cake. He's actually pretty grateful the other boy spoke up, because Yamaguchi doesn't know what might have come out of his mouth if he'd attempted to say something normal to the waitress.

The moment of tongue-tying anxiety passes, as the young woman writes down their orders and takes her leave again. Oikawa and Yamaguchi are left once more to their conversation, so it's up to him to start it on a less awkward foot.]

You got, um...bread and vanilla?

[He links his fingers together under the table. Maybe he's a little concious of his food choices. Maybe. He just doesn't like anything too rich or unexpected. Which is also why he drags other people out for food so often, if he can take things from their plates he can have a bite to test it without chaining himself to an entire dish.]

A vanilla milkshake, yes.

Oh, you didn't get anything to drink, Yama-chan! You'll have to have some of mine or you'll get thirsty.

[Yamaguchi blinks. He was expecting more questions, but Oikawa's concern actually makes sense. A food like shortcake can be pretty rich on its own, after all.]

Ah, I didn't think of that. Could you give me some of yours, Oikawa-san? [Well, he did just offer, but Yamaguchi feels better making sure. And of course he'll share the cake!] No need to worry, I don't want to drink a lot!

[God damn it, Yamaguchi. Stop making Oikawa find you legitimately cute. This is supposed to be for his entertainment. His concern has got Oikawa thinking about things like indirect kisses which he is far above being embarrassed by.]

If we run out we can always get another to share, I don't mind splitting it with you. [He thinks he might be blushing, just a little, barely noticeable.] After you've had a taste you might not be able to restrain yourself!

You don't? [He might take better notice of that blush, but even if he saw it now he'd probably think he was imagining it surrounded by all the pink in the room.] Okay! I haven't had one in ages.

[He tends to stick to treats he likes, or ones that Tsukishima likes—but there's something simple and appealing about ice cream shakes.]

You've been missing out, Yama-chan!

But then you've been missing out on great dates with me as well, so it's only natural that things would change all at once.

[Did that sound forced? He thinks it might have but the only way to get back into his pattern of teasing Yamaguchi is to do it.]

!?

[Yamaguchi didn't realize how much more embarrassing that word would definitely, unequivocally be to hear in person, rather than sent as a text message.]

Oikawa-san! You really don't have to call it that!!

[Oikawa pouts and tries not to laugh. He imagined Yamaguchi's face at him calling this meeting a date but it's so much better in person.]

But what if I want to?

Eh?! [HOW RED DO WE HAVE TO BE IN THE FACE BEFORE THE SURROUNDING DECOR TAKES MERCY AND ASSIMILATES US INTO THE RESTAURANT]

[LET'S FIND OUT!]

It's not every day I get to go on a date with someone I like as much as you!

[Yamaguchi buries his face in his hands to hide the blush that's probably reaching nuclear levels on his face by now.]

Aughh. [The pitiful, strangled noise is muffled by his hands.]

Yama-chan! If you do that I can't see your pretty face. [Or assess how red he is. At this point it's starting to seem like it could be a health condition.]

Don't call me that... [his voice is a low mumble, still hiding partially behind his hands. only one eye peeks between his fingers to look wearily at Oikawa to check whether he's laughing or not.]

[He's not, just looking faintly amused as he thinks most people would be when their date is the same color as their surroundings.]

Pretty? Ah, I guess I should have said handsome, shouldn't I?

No! [Oops, that was a little loud—as quickly as he emerged, Yamaguchi ducks back behind his hands with his face so red he might start losing oxygen where the blood's diverted from the rest of his body.] I don't really think I'm either of those, Oikawa-san...

I think you are.

[Oikawa's hands itch to pull Yamaguchi's away from his face entirely but he links them together again instead. If he touches Yamaguchi he will catch fire.]

So does it matter if you mistakenly don't?

Edited 2015-02-01 00:54 (UTC)

[Yamaguchi can only stay silent in response, for a painfully awkward moment. He doesn't know why Oikawa's words are affecting him so badly, when he's worked hard since elementary school to stop caring so much what people think, and focus on what makes him happy. To have some pride. But, it's almost possible to believe Oikawa really means what he's saying at this point, after having repeated it so many times without an ulterior motive Yamaguchi can find. Surely that kind of investment wouldn't be necessary, if this were some kind of joke? Or an act of boredom or pity? Oikawa did take all the trouble of inviting Yamaguchi here, and he was the one who reached out first...

Obviously, Yamaguchi can't reciprocate, he tells himself. It's hard to think while being stared at, but Yamaguchi still tries his best to sort his jumbled thoughts out. Oikawa's a guy; Yamaguchi doesn't like guys...well, yes, there's Tsukishima, but those feelings are so tangled up and confusing that Yamaguchi always thought his best friend was only some kind of Big Exception. Yamaguchi knows he definitely likes girls. And he honestly never thought his pursuing anyone would be much of an issue, as he'd never been desirable enough to stand a chance with a cute girl anyway that he liked. Even Yamaguchi can only get his hopes up so many times when a girl approaches him in class, only to ask stuff about Tsukishima. It's not fun to think about, but at least he knows what to think about it when it happens. Liking a girl from afar has never so confusing and embarrassing as he feels now, sitting across from Oikawa at the restaurant.

Speaking of which, Oikawa said something to him, didn't he? It's rude to ignore him. Yamaguchi knows he can't respond out loud, because if he tries to talk he's afraid his voice will choke up. Instead he just jerks his shoulders in a shrug, keeping his face firmly buried in his hands as he tries to think of some way out of this mess he's landed in. Could he actually feel that way about Oikawa Tooru of all people?]

[Oikawa sighs but figures pushing Yamaguchi to relax would have the opposite effect. Yamaguchi getting all flustered over him might be cute, but it's bad for Yamaguchi's health. It's bad for Oikawa's too when it gets this bad.

Their waitress returns with their food and Oikawa's milkshake in tow. She doesn't seem overly bothered by Yamaguchi's embarrassment, maybe she can't see him through all the pink and thinks he's taken off to the bathroom. Or maybe she just has enough sense to let him die in peace. Either way, she nods at Oikawa who says a quick thanks before she disappears.

Oikawa nudges his milkshake closer to Yamaguchi, they did agree to share it, after all.]

Yama-chan, you should stay hydrated.

[Finally, finally Yamaguchi allows his fingers to separate a bit over his face so he can see through them. If his eyes look a little bleary to Oikawa once uncovered, it's probably just a trick of the light caused by the room's painfully uniform color scheme. He swallows before he speaks.]

H...Hydrated?

[He smiles a bit too wide at getting to see Yamaguchi's face again.]

Hydrated! [He pushes his milkshake further towards Yamaguchi.] You need to take care of yourself.

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