Chapter Text
Tadashi Yamaguchi was a chronic people pleaser. However the question of whether he was good at it was a hard no. He worked at coffee shop full of other employees that didnt seem to care about him. It was either he was too talkative and shared too much or too distant and seemed stuck up. People always had the wrong idea about him. And maybe it wouldnt be so bad if he was good at the job, but he wasnt. Tadashi was just plainly average. He could do most things decently, but was never exceptional at any of them. The only thing he was particularly good at was being clumsy. Hed mess up drinks, tip over boxes and run into other people. Hed become used to the teasing of his other employees.
He tried to make up for this painful averageness by changing his look. He had short hair just above his shoulders with bleached underdye and piercings. Tattoos he got from the shop nearby.
He wore baggy clothes and the maximum amount of jewelry he was allowed to wear at his job. He'd paint his nails on his off days because a barista isn't allowed to because it might melt from the steam wand, but he was really the only one to see them when he spent his days alone in his apartment.
Tadashi was just short of being enough so he tried to stand out.
It was another one of those days at work with the other employees talking idly until he'd walk by. His boss, Sugawara, who the only one who would give him the time of day, asked, "Yama, do you mind taking the trash out?"
It was five minutes until he closed so he agreed, but he hated taking out the trash in the dark. Sometimes the wind would blow open the bins and crows would pick at the coffee grounds. He was afraid of crows. It was worse when it was dark and you couldn't see them. Something about being attacked by them when he was in 4th grade.
Anyways, Tadashi shuddered at the thought but replied, "Yes of course."
As he took the trash out of the building he hurriedly dragged the trash bin to the shared receptacles of the other shops. Opening the big metal doors he heard them.
The crows.
You can do this. He thought and shivered at the fear and the chilly evening. Opening the trash bin two crows flew out squawking.
"Ah!" He gasped and leapt backwards, falling on the concrete behind him. A sharp pain hitting his tailbone.
"Ugh, fuck." He cursed.
Then footsteps. He turned his head quickly at the sounds, still on the ground. There was a very tall blond fellow walking towards him.
"Are you okay?" He said. It would've been a kind gesture except for the flat tone of his voice, like he really didnt care.
He peered up at his face but it was too dark to see it clearly. "Yea, I'm fine, I just... slipped." He got up wiping his hands and jeans off, and began taking the bags of trash and coffee grounds and throwing them in the bin, ignoring the blond.
"Hey keep it open." He said, as he was also taking out the trash. Tadashi obeyed and held open the bin, itching to get back inside. Once he did he slammed the trash bin and shut the metal doors after the blonde exited, he hurried back to the shop.
Stupid crows.
As he entered the backroom the two other closers looked at him. They had their jackets on and their bags. Tadashi knew what they were going to say before they even said it.
"Hey, Yamaguchi, we have plans tonight and we dont wanna be late, do you mind closing alone?"
Yes. "Actually I-"
"Great thanks so much!" They giggled and hung their aprons, exiting the store, leaving Tadashi alone. He sighed.
Suga walked in the backroom with his coat on. He peered at his watch. "Yama, its date night for me, and Daichi is already at the restaurant. Can you lock up?"
"But it's just-"
"Awesome." He tossed the keys to Tadashi who caught them with another heavy sigh. He was really alone now.
"Fuck."
. . .
As he stored up the surplus and wiped the counters, a headache began coming on. Hed been there since the late morning and now he was closing all by himself. He didnt even bother unpacking the new shipment of ingredients and just put the whole box in the giant fridge. The door chimes and it made his head pound as he remembered he forgot to lock the door.
"Sorry we're-" he turned and saw the blond.
He flushed remembering how he fell in the alley.
"Are you closed?"
"Yes, unfortunately, but if you want something easy I can make it for you." He learned on the counter with a rag in hand.
"Thanks, I'll just take a green tea."
That was one of the easiest thing to make.
"Perfect." Tadashi turned and began getting a tea bag from storage as he had already stored them. He came back out and put in the double cup filling it hot water and tucking the paper tag in the second cup. He turned to the blond who he expected to be on his phone but he was staring right at Tadashi. He was taken aback by the level of eye contact he made. His eyes were gold, kind of pretty. Clearing his voice, "That'll be 2.50."
As the blond dug for his wallet, Tadashi looked at his face. He wore half rimmed glasses. He was attractive, he guessed, but it didnt really matter, did it? The blond pulled out a five and handed it to Tadashi, "Keep the change, and sorry I came after you closed. " again it was that flat tone that would've been otherwise nice but he just seemed uninterested. It clashed with his words harshly.
Maybe he just had a hard time showing expression, Tadashi thought.
"Thanks, and dont worry about it." He said and handed him the tea. The blond nodded and left the shop, to which Tadashi quickly locked behind him.
What a strange guy, I've never seen him around before.
He finished closing the shop and turned off the lights. Heading out with his jacket and keys in hand and began making the trek back home in the dark. He walked past the tattoo shop which was still open, probably just finishing up, and a thought occurred to him.
I should get another tattoo. He had saved up enough money. He was going to treat himself. After all it's not like he spent his extra money on going anywhere with friends, which he lacked. Making up his mind he went to his empty apartment. Taking a shower and thinking about what design he would want after his shift.
This thought stuck with him as he fell asleep.
Tadashi woke up suspiciously on his own.
That's strange.
Checking his phone for the time he noticed that is was 10 minutes until his shift.
"Shit!" He exclaimed leaping out of bed. His alarm must've not gone off. He frantically threw on his work clothes and washed his face. Brushing his teeth as he got all his things together. He rushed out the door taking the stairs two at a time and bolting down the street. There were times he was late, but his coworkers always gave him crap for it. As he turned onto the shops block he checked the time.
One minute.
Coming in front of the store he looked down at his watch again as he opened the door and ran into someone holding drinks. Some were hot.
"Awe, fuck!" He gasped as the hot beverages soaked through his shirt and he stepped back. Pulling the hot fabric away from his skin to keep it from burning him more than it already probably did. Again, he was sort of used to it.
"I'm so sorry-" he said looking up at who he ran into.
It was the blond who remarkably had nothing spilled on him. Lucky bastard.
"Are you okay?" Again with the stupid flat tone.
Like you care.
"Yea I'm fine, I'm so sorry again, I should watch where im-" Tadashi stopped when he caught his eye. Was he...
laughing?
He had his hand covering his face and was smirking behind long fingers. Like a repetitive scoffing sound was heard. Excuse me?
"Going." Tadashi finished and then peered behind the blond to see his coworkers staring.
"Sorry, I shouldnt laugh, you just look... pathetic." This time instead of a flat tone, it was tinged with mock pity. Tadashis face changed to a expression of incredulousness.
He sighed pushing past the blonde. "We'll remake those drinks for you." He shouted behind him as he rushed in the store. "On the house." He said glaring at his giggling employees. "And you should probably mop." he added staring at his orange headed employee. Shoving his way into the backroom he quickly exchanged glances with Suga who was restocking.
"Jesus, Yama, what happened?" He asked referencing his soaked shirt.
"I ran into an employee on my way in."
"Did you apologize?"
Tadashi rolled his eyes. I wish I didnt. "Yes of course I did, and we are remaking his drinks. "
"Good."
Tadashi looked through his locker for extra clothes. There were none. He sighed.
"Did you need a shirt?" Suga asked.
"Yes please."
"Okay, I have an extra for you. One second." Suga went into his locker and handed him the shirt, it was two sizes too big.
"Sorry, it's a little big. It was from a messed up order."
"Better than wet." Tadashi said as he quickly changed into the shirt. His skin slightly hot from the drinks.
What an awful start to his day. It couldnt get worse. Could it?
After his very long shift he exited the store. The sun was just setting turning the sky orange and pink. He sighed as the wind blew chilly air into his hair. Sometimes after work, when the sky was like this, Tadashi would stand in front of the store and breathe it in. He did this anytime the weather changed. When it rained, when it snowed, or the days when it first started feeling like the seasons were changing. It was November so it was cold and the leaves had already fallen. So Tadashi just let the cold air fill his lungs and let it flush his cheeks.
"Enjoy your Friday night!" He heard Suga say as the door shut.
Tadashi remembered. That's right, tattoo! He began walking down the street to the tattoo parlor, excitedly. His day was smooth other than this morning as he worked bar almost his entire shift. Meaning little to no interactions with his coworkers. As he approached the tattoo shop, the blond popped into his head. How he called him pathetic. The lingering looks he gave him with his eyes that were otherwise be warm from the color, but were always expressionless.
Who was that guy and why was he always around me at the worst moments. He must work around here.
Opening the door to the shop, the chime went off and he smelled the familiarity of ink and leather. A compliment to the usually coffee scent wafting around him.
"Yamaguchi!" A familiar voice called out to him. He looked at the counter and saw Kuroo, the shop owner. "What brings you here today? Ink or peircing?" Tadashi approached the counter and smiled for what seemed like the first time in weeks.
"Ink." He said.
"Great! Did you want Iwaizumi like usual?" Kuroo asked getting the artists designs out. He was about to answer when another artist came out from the back room.
"Oh hello, Yama!" Oikawa waved at Tadashi. "Kuroo, why dont you show him the new artist we got?"
"Oh right!" He turned to Tadashi. "We just hired a new artist from another shop. He is really good. His name is Tsukishima, do you wanna take a look?"
"Oh, uh sure." He responded.
Kuroo handed the artist design to him. "Let me know what you think? He also specializes in black and white. I can see him being your taste. He winked.
Tadashi nodded ignoring the wink. "Great thanks."
He flipped through the pages and was taken back. This was his taste. Iwaizumi always had to adjust his style a little for Tadashi, and it always ended up great, but they didnt always have the same vision.
But this. This was perfect. He flipped through the designs, getting lost in the artwork. He looked at them for several minutes until Kuroo spoke, drawing him back.
"Tsuki, he must like your work, look at how his face lit up." Kuroo laughed. Tadashi lifted his head to see the artist and was shocked to see:
The blond.
His face immediately fell as he made eye contact with Tsukishima, who's arms were crossed peering down at him.
"So, what do you think?" Kuroo asked.
Tadashi looked at Kuroo. He was torn. This guy really rubbed him the wrong way, but the art was spectacular. "These are great! I wouldnt mind getting one from him." He said while looking at Kuroo, carefully avoiding the harsh gaze of Tsukishima.
"Great." Kuroo said reproachfully, noticing the weird energy between the two. "Tsuki, do you mind doing that right now?"
The blond grabbed the design book from Tadashis hands. "Not at all." He said smirking at Tadashi when he looked back at him.
God ,what a dick. I regret saying I'd get this from you.
"Okay, I'll get the paperwork for you." Kuroo said, still suspiciously looking between the two.
Tadashi avoided his cold gaze again and could tell Tsuki was staring at him. When he did finally make eye contact with him, Tsuki looked him up and down almost like he was looking at a joke, with his eyebrows knit together.
Tadashi flushed. Why does this guy hate me?
Tadashi signed the paperwork. "Follow me." Tsuki said, and he followed him to the very far back corner of the shop. Behind him he could hear Oikawa and Kuroo chatting, "awkward..." As he entered the small space of the booth, Tsuki shut the curtain. Tadashi flinched at the sound screeching sound it made.
"I dont like being watched while I tattoo." Tsuki explained noticing the action and sitting down on the short backless stool and began prepping. He noticed how Tsukis legs were so very long sitting in the short stool. They bent harshly to accommodate. "Did you have a design in mind?"
Tadashi sat in the chair and thought. "Uh, yea. I was thinking of a snake tattoo. On my forearm."
"Okay, did you want a wrap around on just one sided."
"Depends on the design I guess."
"Ah, okay, well I have some snake ones drawn out in my sketches." He slid in the wheeled chair to the desk and grabbed his sketchbook and flipped a couple pages. "Like any of these?" Tsuki lifted the sketchbook for him to see. Tadashi leaned forward to look. Again, these were incredible, and he tried to hide his shock. He liked one of the designs where it wrapped around. The scales incredibly detailed yet simple.
"Actually, this one right here is perfect." He looked up at Tsuki as he pointed. He was really close to his face and he backed up clearing his voice.
"Great, let's get started." His cold tone responded.
He prepped in silence as Tadashi sat there thinking about this absolute asshole in front of him.
It was one thing to not have any emotion. I can look past that, but why did he laugh at the coffee shop and call me pathetic. And why did he look at me like that when I waited for paperwork. Does he not like me? Do I look weird? It is cause I spilled the drinks? I guess being clumsy does this to you.
He watched Tsukis hands as he prepped. He has really long fingers. Probably cause he is tall. He'd be attractive if he wasn't such a-
"Uh, I need you to roll up your sleeves." Tsuki looked up at him above his glasses. God.
"Oh right sorry." And why am I always apologizing to him?
"Do you always wear shirts too big for you?" Tsuki said.
"Excuse me?"
Tsuki sighed and reached up the the neckline of his shirt which had fallen off his shoulder, revealing his freckled collarbones and his flower tattoo, lifting it back onto his shoulder. He didnt even notice it fell. Tadashi blushed at the gesture.
"Right, well I try to wear the right size when there isn't coffee spilled on my shirts." He bit. He didnt mean for it to come out so mean, but it did.
"I wasnt really looking for an answer." Tsuki said prepping his skin. "I was there." He added staring up at him above his frames.
Oh my God, I would hit him if I could.
"Right." He grinded his teeth.
The air in this small room was so cold and tense, he shifted uncomfortably. As he finished the prep he asked, "Ready?" Tadashi nodded and they began. The familiar pain of the needle bit his arm and Tadashi sighed and laid his head back. Letting all his worries be taken away by the buzzing of the needle. He thought about his job. He stupid coworkers that didnt like him as much as they liked eachother. He thought about his empty apartment and how he wish he would have company once in while. Hed convinced himself he enjoyed being alone, but lately hed thought about maybe it was just a way of coping with being alone. He thought about how he should try to meet someone, but dating apps were never really his thing and he needed friends to meet people.
"Does it hurt?" Tsuki asked interrupting his thoughts.
"Huh? No." He responded opening his eyes.
"Are you sure? You were making a face. We can stop."
"No, I was just thinking. The pain is soothing. You can keep going." Why do I keep saying strange things.
"So you're a masochist."
"What! No!"
"I'm teasing relax." It would sound more like teasing if you had some emotion while talking.
Several more minutes passed and this time he watched the artist. Occasionally hed push up his glass with his long middle and ring finger. Tadashis stomach dropped every time he did. Other than that, the blond was quiet and focused.
"Are you always this quiet?" He asked. Iwaizumi would always talk to him.
"Yes, I dont enjoy small talk." That flat tone responded concentrated on the tattoo.
"I can agree there."
Tsuki did that sound again. The laughing one. It wasnt really a laugh, it sounded more like scoffing with a smirk.
"What?"
"Nothing, you just seem like the type who would talk alot."
"Maybe when I'm comfortable." But not with strangers. Especially not with you.
"So, you are uncomfortable?"
"I never said that." Tadashi tried to backtrack.
"You hinted at it. We can stop if this is too painful for you."
"Its not the tattoo that's uncomfortable." He blurted. Shit. The sound of the needle stopped. "Sorry." He said quietly. "I didnt mean for it to sound like that." His hand free hand covered his face.
"Its okay. I'm not the most friendly person." The needle started buzzing again as he continued.
"No, no- I just meant that- oh God- I-"
"Stop. I dont really care." He continued flatly. "I'm not trying to impress you." The amount of cold behind his words biting at him.
Ouch.
Tadashi laid his head back again, embarrassed. This was meant to be relaxing. He tried to relax after that looking away and biting his lip in embarrassment. Ignoring the quick glances of the artist. Instead his focused on the fingers pulling his skin taught and the dull throbbing pain of the needle. He watched those fingers. The way the thumb would pull his skin. This guys hands were soft. His thoughts began to wander and he bit his tongue to come back to reality and away from not very innocent thoughts.
He decided he was just jealous because his own hands were dry from washing his hands so often at work with the combination of the cold weather. That and the several marks that laid on his hands from burning himself on the steam wand and rinse of the espresso machine. Then he was self-conscious and decided to hide his fingers under his palm on the arm being tattoo. If the tall one noticed, he didnt act like it.
Half an hour later and he heard, "Alright, your finished." From Tsukishima.
Tadashi, opened his eyes and sat up. He looked down at his tattoo and again he was blown away with this guys work. "Wow! That looks great!" He tried to hide his gratitude, but it really was amazing. His heart filled with warmth at the sight of the art that he adored.
"Check it out in the mirror."
Tadashi got up and looked in the mirror, moving his arm around to see the snake wrap around his arm. "I just- wow..." he said quietly. He caught the eye if Tsuki in the mirror who was- smiling? It was very slight but then it disappeared when be noticed the eye contact and looked away. "Thanks so much." he said quietly.
"Of course. I'm sure I dont have to give you the lecture about the care for it, seeing as you-" he got up and walked toward Tadashi who suddenly got nervous. Tsuki reached out and moved the neckline of his shirt back to its place again on his shoulder because it had fallen down again. "already have some." He finished.
Tadashi blushed again. "Yea, thanks."
Tsuki opened the curtain for Tadashi as they moved their way up to the counter to pay.
"Oooh, can I see?" Kuroo asked. Tadashi stuck out his arm. "Wow, our new artist is amazing right?" He grabbed Tsuki by the shoulder and ruffled his hair. Tsuki pushed him away. "Shut up." He said without a teasing smile.
"Haha yea..." Tadashi said as he paid, leaving a tip as well. "Thanks for everything guys."
"Oh wait! Yama, we are going out for drinks tonight. Did you want to join us?" His heart leapt up as he thought about being invited. Then he looked at Tsuki as he stared at him waiting for an answer. He seemed interested in seeing what he would say, but at the same time, completely uninterested.
"Actually, I'm good thanks. I dont want to... impose. Ive also had a long day." He looked away remembering the spilled drinks.
"Awe, you arent imposing, we'd love for you to come. Also, thats an even better reason to wind down with a couple drinks. Besides I never see you out, you are always working too hard. Have some fun!"
Oikawa piped in, "Yes please come! You can see Iwa-chans horrible dancing!"
"Shut the fuck up, Shittykawa." He heard a smack. "Why are you always so mean to me." He heard Oikawa whine.
"Please, Yama. You just graduated, live a little." Kuroo added.
He looked back at Tsuki and then Kuroo. He felt so anxious about going. He sighed, "I'll think about it, okay?"
"Okay." Kuroo leaned on the counter, "it's the club down the street if you decide to come."
"Okay thanks." Tadashi said and nodded as he left the shop with the chimes ringing.