Chapter Text
It was 6:30 am and Kageyama was tired. Not that this was an unusual hour for him to be awake, quite the contrary, but regularly waking up at 6:30am didn't mean he was happy about it. His alarm went off beside him, and he moved his hand to quickly silence it. Staring up at the ceiling of his bedroom, Kageyama tried to will himself out of bed.
You need to get up. Just move.
He tried to convince himself to get up with no avail. He just lay there, listening to the birds chirp, watching as the weak orange light of early morning sunrise filtered in from the opening in his curtains. His eyes follow the stripe of light across the floor to where it landed on his dresser, illuminating the few things he has on top. A hairbrush, a stick of deodorant, a few books and one picture frame. As he watched the light slowly encroach on the picture frame, he heard a small series of noises coming from the hallway. The patter of footsteps grew louder as they approached his door. Kageyama closed his eyes and held his breath in anticipation as his door creaked open. Not moving his head, he listened to sounds of slow approaching steps reaching the bed space next to the bed. He felt the bed dip next to him as he let out a slow breath. The feeling of someone crawling up towards his face made his eyes shut tighter.
"Daddy, you have to be awake," said a small voice. Tiny hands came to rest on his cheeks, squeezing them together.
"But I am awake," he mumbled through squished cheeks. He opened his right eye to look at the small child that was sitting up next to him. "See, I'm awake."
"I'm more awake," the little girl said moving her hands from her father’s cheeks. "Both eyes," she pointed with her fingers to her eyes, "open."
"I didn't know we were competing," he said smiling and sitting up in the bed. "Look I'm sitting up now, and you're laying down. I'm more awake that you," Kageyama joked as he tickled his daughters belly. She giggled, her short black hair knotting as she twisted trying to get out of her dads grasp. "And look, I'm tickling you. Only super awake people can do that," Kageyama said as he continued to tickle her. He picked her up under her arms and brought her over to sit in his lap on top of the blankets that had pooled there.
"Only super super awake people can be tickled daddy," she said regaining her breath. She looked up at him with her big deep blue eyes that were so like his own.
"You are so right Aiko," he said leaning down to give her a kiss on the top of her head. "You win." He brushed her bangs away from in front of her face and smiled softly down at her. She looked up at him and smiled back. She inherited his blue eyes and dark hair and penchant for milk drinks, but the rest of her was pure her mother. She never struggled with her smiles being taken as sinister when they were sincere, like Kageyama had to work so hard to do. Even now as he looked at his daughter he couldn't help but worry that his smile didn't express the amount of love and happiness he wanted to show to her. But his worries were dashed away when Aiko kneeled up in his lap and threw her tiny arms around his neck.
"I love you daddy," she sighed. He sighed contentedly, wrapping his arms around her tiny body.
"I love you too, Belly," he said calling her the nickname she loved so much. He could feel her fractionally tighten her grasp on him before letting go and sitting down in his lap again.
"Breakfast now please?" She asked wiggling. He got of a hold of her and he moved his legs to get off the bed. Carrying her out of his room and down the hall into the kitchen he listened to all the things she listed as what she wanted from breakfast.
"Ok how about you pick two of those things and I make that?" Kageyama asked setting her down in her chair at their small table.
"Ok let me think," Aiko said seriously placing her arms on the table and resting her chin in her hands. Kageyama watched her tightly close her eyes in concentration.
"Whenever you're ready," Kageyama chuckled as he walked to the fridge.
"But can't I get a snack before I go in?" Aiko asked as Kageyama opened the car door and went to unbuckle her from her car seat.
"Aiko you literally just ate," Kageyama said as he struggled with the clasp release. He furrowed his brow in frustration as he pressed down on the buckle.
"Can we get snacks before we go home?" She calmly negotiated as she watched her father struggle. “Good snacks, I don’t like the ones from the store anymore.”
"Yes, ok. We will get good snacks before we go home," Kageyama said exasperated, as he pressed the clasp with as much force as he could.
"Yay!" She cried happily. She gently moved her dad’s hands aside who watched in frustration as she easily popped the buckle open. Giving him a huge toothy grin, she hopped out of the car.
"How can you always do that when I can't?" Kageyama said in awe as he grabbed her tiny backpack from inside the car.
"Because I'm magic," Aiko said swigging her arms from side to side as he watched her dad lock the car.
"Yeah ok Miss Magic, let's get you inside," he said throwing her tiny backpack over his shoulder and grabbing her little hand in his. They walked down the block to the daycare center that Aiko spends her day in. When they walked through the doors, Aiko immediately gave her dad a quick "bye daddy!" And ran off to join the other kids that were already playing inside.
"Remember when she didn't want you to leave her here?" said an ash-blonde man behind the front desk said. Kageyama turned to look him.
"Is it kind of bad that I kind of miss that?" Kageyama said ruefully turning to him, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Not at all," he laughed lightly. "But this is good, that means she's comfortable here."
"Yeah I guess so, Suga," Kageyama said looking over at him. When he turned his head to watch Aiko, he saw her running back over to him.
"Daddy! Daddy wait!" She said a little out of breath. Kageyama kneeled down to be at eye level with her. "Don't take my book bag."
"Oh, right," he said just realizing that he still had it in his shoulder. He took it off and handed it to her and watched as she slid it in her back. "Have a good day Belly," he said brushing his fingers through her short dark hair.
"You too daddy," she said smiling at him. "Draw me more pictures."
"I will try to," he said. He placed a kiss on her forehead before she turned around and ran off to play with the other kids. He watched her go before standing up and turning to Suga.
"I'll be back around 4," he said.
"Ok, we'll see you then Kageyama," Suga said pleasantly. Kageyama waved slightly as he walked out of the daycare and started down the street to work.
"Ok we're all done here," Kageyama said leaning back in his chair and taking off his latex gloves. The man lying on the table in front of him sat up trying to look at his back.
"Can I see it?" The man pointed to the fresh tattoo on his back.
"Yeah," Kageyama said pointing to the large wall to ceiling mirror next to him. The man got off the table and walked over to the mirror. Kageyama handed him a hand held mirror to see it better.
"Dude that's incredible!" The guy said looking at his reflection. "How did you get that amount of detail in the mane?" He asked amazed. Kageyama just looked up at him and gave him an awkward smile.
"I'm pretty good," Kageyama said gesturing to the giant lion's head that spanned the mans back.
"You're awesome. Thank you so much!" The man said clasping Kageyama’s hand in thanks. Kageyama shook his hand, still not used to the human reaction part of tattooing.
"Uh, um you're welcome," he said, trying to make his deep gruff voice sound as sincere as possible. "Let's go to the front," he said gesturing out of his tattooing room. Kageyama led him to the front counter.
"Yoooooooo let me see!" said a loud booming voice. Kageyama turned to see his coworker running over to him.
"Tanaka means your tattoo," Kageyama said to the man who looked a bit confused.
"Oh right," the guy said lifting his shirt to expose the new tattoo. It was still red from the raw skin and shinny from the healing cream but it still looked incredible.
"That's so amazing right!? So fucking badass," Tanaka cried looking at the guys new tattoo.
"Right!?" The guy said excitedly. "My friend recommended Kageyama after he got his shark tattoo and I have to say I'm so not disappointed." Tanaka moved his tattoo-covered finger hovering over the guys skin tracing some of the lines.
"But like, this is beautiful work, Kageyama. Did you photograph it yet?" Tanaka said examining the details.
"No, but he's making another appointment for this color work, I'll do it then," Kageyama said pulling out his phone. "Shit it's 4:15 I have to go," he said looking at the time.
"Oh yeah go, man I got this," Tanaka said waving Kageyama off.
"Thanks, I'll be back," Kageyama said grabbing his jacket and ran out of the tattoo shop. He threw on his jacket over his heavily tattooed arms and walked down the block. Grunting in frustration he tried to quicken his pace to get to the day care faster. Reaching the door he quickly threw it open and ran threw the door.
"Hey sorry I'm late," Kageyama said coming into the daycare. Suga walked over carrying a small crying child.
"Hey it's no problem, I'll get Aiko right now," Suga said smiling trying to sooth the crying kid. He walked back to the play area. Kageyama turned to the desk and signed Aiko out on clipboard then stood there awkwardly waiting. He heard to patter of feet fast approaching and looked up as saw Aiko running towards him.
“Daddy!” she squealed jumping up into his arms. He bent down to catch her, lifting her up.
“Hey Belly,” he said softly brushing her hair from her face. “Did you have a good day?” he said as he took her backpack that Suga handed him and pulled it over his shoulder.
“The best, are we getting snacks now?” she asked excitedly. He gave him a toothy grin. He heard Suga give a small incredulous huff.
“She literally just finished snack time,” he said looking a bit anxious.
“Suga I know you feed her well, she’s just always hungry,” he said reassuring the caretaker. “That’s why she’s my little Belly; always hungry,” he said smiling at Aiko who giggled.
“Bye!” Aiko said waving at Suga as Kageyama carried her out of the daycare. “Snacks daddy, we need snacks.”
“Ok we need snacks, mhm” Kageyama said walking down the block towards his work. “What kind of snacks?”
“Cookie! No, cupcakes! No, brownie!” she cried wiggling in his grasp. Kageyama smiled at her with his eyebrow raised.
“Ok, how about you pick one of those?” he said crossing the street. She played with the collar of his jacket in deep thought.
“I want to see them first,” she said seriously. She looked at Kageyama in the eye. He nodded.
“Alright, I know where we can go,” he said walking into a small bakery. When Aiko saw where he had brought her she started eagerly squirming in his grasp until he had to put her down. She immediately ran over to the display counter and pressed her face up against the glass to stare hungrily at the cookies and cupcakes and brownies inside.
“Hi how may I- oh Kageyama!” said a cheerful voice as the lanky guy walked over to that portion of the counter. Huge gangly arms came over the side of the counter and a gray haired head looked down towards where Aiko had her face pressed up against the glass.
“Lev!” Aiko cheered looking up at the face hovering above hers.
“Aiko!” Lev said happily as Aiko jumped up and down excitedly. “My favorite little costumer I missed you so muc- ouch!” he said getting cut off by a smack to the top of his head.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to lean on the counter,” said a authoritative voice behind him. Kageyama watched as the shorter but older dark haired man crossed his arms and gave Lev an expectant look.
“Sorry Daichi,” Lev said rubbing the back of his head. Daichi just shook his head and walked back over to where he was organizing the bread shelves before walking back into the back kitchen. Lev watched him walk away and as soon as he was out of earshot he leaned over the counter again to look at Aiko again. “Sorry about that Aiko, can you come around so I don’t get yelled at again?” She giggled and nodded her head and ran over to the open part of the counter as Lev walked around it.
“How does it feel to be back for the summer?” Kageyama said as Lev kneeled down so he and Aiko could look at the display. Lev turned his head to face Kageyama who was standing above him with what he hoped was a friendly smile. Though Aiko had the ability to make friends easily, he did not have that gift.
“Weird, kind of good though. I missed my mom and stuff,” Lev said shrugging. “But university was still amazing, but I don’t know, I like being back. It was only my first year, I’m sure each year it’ll get better,” he said to Kageyama.
“Lev, Lev! Is that chocolate?” Aiko asked pointing to a cupcake that was covered in sugar flowers.
“No those are vanilla, but those,” he pointed to the tray next to it with similar sugar flower decoration, “those are chocolate.”
“Oh I want that one!” she said excitedly tapping the glass. She looked back at Kageyama who knelt down next to her as Lev got up to retrieve the cupcake.
“Is a cupcake a snack?” Kageyama said knowingly to Aiko. She seemed to shrink under his gaze a bit.
“I will eat my whole dinner. Everything,” she said persuasively. She looked at him with her big blue eyes. Kageyama stared at her seriously until his glare broke and he relented smiling. He stood up to pay for the cupcake and he could hear her whisper a small “yes” as she grasped for the cupcake Lev placed on the counter.
“Here you go Belly,” Kageyama said handing his daughter the treat off the counter. She took it and started on it immediately, frosting getting all over her face.
“Nothing for you Kageyama?” Lev said closing the register. Kageyama looked at Lev who, though stood significantly taller than him, still had the air of a small child looking at an adult.
“Ah, no. I’m ok, thanks,” Kageyama said. He looked around awkwardly as his daughter devoured the cupcake next to him. “So...you’re working here for the summer and then going back to school?”
“Yeah, Hinata was totally cool about me just working the summer. I’m trying to save up to get my own apartment for next year, so Hinata said he’d give me extra shifts so I can make more money,” Lev said leaning his arm on the counter.
“Oh Hinata said that? That was really nice of him,” Kageyama said trying for an unaffected nonchalance hoping his voice seemed normal. Lev didn’t seem to notice.
“Hinata said he’d even let me man the front counter in the afternoons without him, which is why,” he gestured to himself alone at the counter, “it’s just me today,” he said smirking proudly.
“Oh so Hinata’s not here today?” Kageyama said a little deflated. He couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over to the double doors that led into the kitchen. He could hear the sounds of baking and talking but he couldn’t pick out Hinata’s voice. A little disappointed he glanced back at Lev who was handing Aiko several napkins for the frosting all over her face.
“Um no, he’s not,” he said straining to lean over the counter to wipe Aiko face. Kageyama took the napkin from him and knelt down to clean his giggling daughters face; thankful he had something to do so Lev couldn’t see the obvious disappointment in his face. “He left to run some errands but he should be- oh here he is. Hey boss!”
Kageyama felt all the hairs on his body stand up on end as he heard the bright sounds of Hinata’s voice answering Lev float into his ears. Trying to focus on cleaning Aiko, Kageyama wiped her face with a bit too much force.
“Ow daddy,” Aiko complained moving her face out of his grasp. She pouted and rubbed the part of her cheek that he rubbed too hard. She turned her head and saw Hinata walk in through the door Gleefully she jumped up and down when he walked in. “Hinata! Hinata!”
“Hey Aiko,” Hinata said sunnily walking over to her and kneeling down to her eye level. “I see you ate one my flower cupcakes,” he commented smiling as he pointed to the blue frosting that was still clinging to her hair. “I like the blue streak, very chic.”
“It was really good,” she giggled as he ruffled her hair and stood up. He looked over at Kageyama who could feel himself tensing as Hinata walked toward him.
“Hey Kageyama,” Hinata said cheerily walking past him and around the counter to the other side and through the double doors.
“He-hey,” Kageyama stuttered, stumbling awkwardly trying to turn in place. But Hinata had already gone into the kitchen. Releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding he stared blankly at the still swinging doors and they stilled in their movements. He was jarred out of his trance by a tug on the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down at his daughter and scooped her up into his arms before turning back to Lev who was smirking slightly. “I’ll um, see you later I guess. Its nice to have you back,” he said trying a short smile. “Tell um- bye,” he said shaking his head free of what he was going to say.
“Bye Lev!” Aiko called out, waving to him as Kageyama carried her out of the bakery.