Chapter Text
Kageyama had started smoking marijuana when he was sixteen. He had first tried it at his friend’s house on some random Saturday for a study session.
“Just try it, man. It’ll change your life,” Chigaya had said, holding out the rolled paper. Kageyama had been dubious but he decided to give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? He had asked himself.
He’s smoked a joint everyday since then. The fog in his head became a welcome guest and the tingling in his face brought him ease. The weed allowed him to relax. He’d always been so wound up, craving perfection in anything and everything he’s set his eyes on, but the introduction of cannabis into his life had subsided those worries and obsessions.
His lungs had stopped burning a long time ago, each drag now only consisting of the earthy flavor of the crushed plant. The taste fills his mouth as he inhales the panacea. He lets it sit in his chest, tickling at his throat before releasing an exhale of smoke. With the joint between his thumb and forefinger, he hands it over to the person next to him on his couch.
Kageyama wouldn’t count Tsukishima Kei as a friend, per se. Rather, someone he surfs and gets high with. Daichi Sawamura, on the other hand, Kageyama would count as a friend. They’d all met at a surfing competition when Kageyama and Tsukishima were eighteen and Daichi had been twenty. While the older had taken both eighteen year olds under his wing, the two younger men butted heads at every chance they could.
“You’re waxing method isn’t the most effective,” Tsukishima liked to say whenever he and Kageyama would wax their boards in the same vicinity of each other.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion!”
They all went out surfing at least once a week and would get high afterwards, which was the only time Kageyama and Tsukishima wouldn't argue with each other. Well, they sometimes would but not to the extent to which they usually did. Correction: Kageyama and Tsukishima would get high, Daichi would just be there.
He was a police officer so he couldn’t have marijuana in his system in case he was randomly drug tested. The first time he had seen them light up a joint, he had told them, “Marijuana’s illegal in Brazil, you know. And I am a police officer.”
“Sure,” Tsukishima responded. “But, it’s decriminalized as of 2006, so your implied threat doesn’t hold any ground.”
Daichi had mumbled something about Tsukishima being a smart ass. Now, Daichi sips his coffee, complaining about work as Kageyama and Tsukishima get high at 9:30. “I swear, this job makes me doubt the future of this world.”
He had been previously talking about the increase of crime as of late. Muggings, robberies, roofies at bars. Kageyama himself had seen someone be drugged on more than one occasion. Brazil wasn’t a staple of safety. Rio de Janeiro was among one of the cities where tourism is high, yet so is illegal activity.
“You two are being safe when you got out, right?” Daichi asks them, a firm look in his eye.
“Yes, Dad,” Tsukishima retorts, taking a drag of the joint.
Daichi frowns. “I’m not joking, Tsukishima.” While Daichi’s concern is warranted, Tsukishima never goes out, so he’s not exactly the person to worry about regarding this topic.
Kageyama takes the joint back from Tsukishima’s outstretched fingers as the blonde asks, “Anyways, are you two participating in the tournament next weekend?”
“The one at Prianha Beach?” Kageyama confirms as he watches the end of the joint light up with his inhale.
“Yeah.”
Kageyama nods, letting smoke waft out from between his parted lips. “I am,” he says, wisps of white accompanying his words.
“Me too. I’m assuming you are as well, Tsukishima?” Daichi places his empty coffee mug on the table.
“Yes.”
Kageyama fills his lungs with the ashy fumes, leaning his head back to blow it upwards, watching the vapor swirl in the air before slowly dissipating into nothing. “This’ll be the first time in a while, we’ve all surfed against each other.” With Daichi’s work schedule, he missed most of the tournaments Kageyama and Tsukishima have participated in.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Daichi says as he stands from the couch. “But, as of now, I have to go to work. I’ll see you two later.”
Kageyama and Tsukishima both wave from the couch as he leaves. The familiar and welcoming sensation of heavy eyelids and lethargic muscles slowly creeps up on Kageyama. The joint is passed back and forth between them a few more times before Tsukishima remarks, “You seem different.”
Kageyama can’t tell if he’s trying to be snide or genuine. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Tsukishima’s head turns so he can look at Kageyama straight on through his glasses. “You seem less like the arrogant king I’ve known you as for the past two years.”
Through his buzz, a twinge of irritation curls in his chest. Of course Tsukishima would find a way to dampen his high. “What the hell are you talking about?”
The annoying blonde tilts his head, a contemplative look on his punchable face. “Are you seeing someone?” he asks simply, like he was asking how the weather is.
Kageyama’s mouth, which is half-open and ready to start an argument, freezes, words dying on his tongue. He stares, dumbfounded. He had not been expecting that. “Huh?”
Tsukishima arches an eyebrow at him. “Are. You. Seeing. Someone?” He enunciates each word like he’s talking to a pea-brained child.
Kageyama scowls but resorts to taking a drag of the joint to help clear his mind. He also uses the time it takes to fill his lungs with the inhaled smoke to think about his response.
He had been hanging out with Hinata frequently. They’d gone to dinner last night and are planning on going to a street party on the boardwalk later today. Not to forget they’ve also slept together – multiple times. Could their relationship be considered romantic? Or just sexual?
Kageyama’s had a boyfriend before. He dated Hoshiumi from the beginning of his second year right up to the day he got on the plane for Brazil. They didn’t end on bad terms, their paths were just diverging. But, Hoshiumi had been different than Hinata. Rather, Kageyama’s feelings for Hoshiumi were different than the ones he holds for Hinata. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense because Kageyama isn’t sure what his feelings even are for him.
He knows he enjoys spending time with him but he also enjoys spending time with Daichi and he definitely doesn’t see Daichi as anything other than a friend.
As he blows the white smoke out of his mouth, he says, “I’ve been hanging out with someone. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Tsukishima raises an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Yes. Why are you so interested?”
“I’m not. I’m just wondering when the conceited royal you usually are is going to come back.”
Kageyama grinds his teeth. It really pisses him off that Tsukishima won’t let that ridicule go. So he used to be a wave hog? He’s grown and matured; he understands and appreciates surfing etiquette now. Yet, Tsukishima seems to love to be a pain in the ass, so he refuses to let go of the deriding nickname.
He presses the stubby joint into the ashtray beside him. “Shut up.” His high is officially ruined by Tsukishima’s usual effrontery. Why Kageyama keeps smoking with him, he doesn’t know.
Tsukishima doesn’t seem to notice Kageyama’s anger — or more likely does, just doesn’t especially care — as he stretches out on the couch, still basking in his high.
Kageyama wallows in his ire, arms crossed over his chest and a glower on his face. His phone buzzes on the coffee table, only aggravating him more. Who in the world would be texting him right now?
He snatches the phone off the glass pane, glaring at the screen as he looks to see who it is.
New Message
[Hinata]: Oikawa and Iwaizumi say they want to carpool with us to the boardwalk. Is that okay?
Kageyama feels some of his irritation slip away as he unlocks his phone to type a response.
[Me]: Sure
[Me]: Is Iwaizumi over there?
When he had woken up this morning, his roommate hadn’t been up and his door had been shut. So, he just assumed he was still sleeping. Although, he should have known better when the smell of cannabis didn’t attract him like a shark to blood.
[Hinata]: Yes
[Hinata]: He and Oikawa are being really flirty and touchy, it’s super gross
[Hinata]: I’m excited for tonight tho!! :D
Kageyama smiles as he sends a “me too” back.
“You never smile when you’re texting someone. Is that your new acquaintance?” Tsukishima’s voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard to Kageyama.
Kageyama glares sideways at him. “None of your business.”
“Don’t be petulant, Kageyama. It’s not a good look for you.”
“Oh, shut up!”
“What’s his name?”
Kageyama bites his cheek to prevent a retort. After all, he’d hate to be petulant, even though he didn’t really know what it means. But, if it came out of Tsukishima’s mouth, he has no doubt it’s not a good thing to be.
He picks up a fresh joint from where three remaining ones lay on the coffee table. He lights it, letting the drug cloud his mind once more. “Hinata.”
Tsukishima extends his hand for Kageyama to pass the roll. He takes a drag. Smoke billows from between the open-mouthed, shit-eating smirk on his face. “You even smile when you say his name.”
;
The street party is a lot bigger than the previous ones Kageyama has gone to. The music is louder, the lights are brighter, the crowd is even more suffocating. Why did I agree to this? He wonders, despairingly as he follows Hinata through the masses.
The joints in his pocket are screaming at him, a seductive call for him to smoke. And he desperately wanted to. Being as he drove, he hadn’t been able to earlier, which was proving to be a mistake as every bump of a shoulder sent his mind spinning and hot flashes of irritation scratched at his chest.
“Are you okay?” Hinata touches his bicep, pulling him abruptly from his overwhelmed mind.
“Fine, why?”
“You look like a cat backed into a corner.” Hinata tilts his head, blinking up at Kageyama with bright brown eyes. “Do you want to go take a walk on the beach?”
“No, I’m fine, let’s just-”
“Come on.” Hinata ignores his protests as he grabs his hand and leads him towards the dark and empty beach. The sun had long set, leaving the water black as they walk in the sand. “You can smoke now, I think,” Hinata says after a couple moments of silence.
“What?”
“I assume you have joints on you, and we’re far enough away from the street party for it to be a problem, so you’re probably good to smoke.”
While Kageyama does draw a joint from the cigarette box he carries on him when he goes out and assumes he might need it, he also stares at Hinata with a furrow in his brow. “Why did you think I wanted to smoke?”
Hinata shrugs, kicking at the sand with his bare feet, tennis shoes hanging by the laces in his hand. His socks are shoved into one of the shoes, hanging precariously. Not that Kageyama’s are any different from where his shoes are tucked underneath his arm.
“You just looked a little uncomfortable, so I thought it might help.”
Kageyama is surprised at that, at how observant Hinata is to see Kageyama’s discomfort and what might relieve it. “Thanks.” He puts the joint in between his teeth before fishing out his lighter from his pant’s pocket. He lights it, enjoying the first feel of the drug filling his lungs.
He sighs, happily. It never gets old. He huffs on the joint, allowing the nice tingly feeling to wash over him as they walk along the beach. The sand is coarse beneath Kageyama’s toes, and the salty breeze from the water combats the humidity.
“What does it feel like? To be high?” Hinata asks from beside him.
Kageyama looks over at him. He’s peering inquisitively at the rolled paper pinched between Kageyama’s thumb and index finger. “Do you want to try it for yourself?” he offers, extending it to him.
For a moment, Kageyama thinks he’ll decline, but nimble fingers take the reefer from him. “How do I do it?” he asks, bringing the roll to his mouth.
Kageyama stops walking and Hinata follows suit. “Have you ever smoked before?” he asks.
Hinata shakes his head, the joint hanging from his teeth, awaiting Kageyama’s instructions. “Nothing? Not even a cigarette?”
Hinata ducks his head, embarrassed. He moves his hand to take the joint out of his mouth, most likely about to hand it back, but Kageyama says, “No, it’s not bad. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
Hinata’s hand drops, looking expectantly back at Kageyama. “Okay, so close your lips all the way around it. And then firmly inhale with your mouth until the smoke is at your throat, and then inhale again so it’s in your chest. And, then-”
Hinata starts coughing, face turned into his elbow. Kageyama chuckles, taking the joint back. “Good first attempt.”
“That tickles my throat,” Hinata rasps once his coughing ceases.
“Yeah, it might take some getting used to.” Kageyama takes a drag himself, holding it in his lungs for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven seconds before releasing. He offers it back to Hinata. He takes it, fingers brushing against Kageyama’s as he curls them around the reefer.
He tries again, this time with less choking. “How will I know when it hits me?” he asks when he passes it back.
“Trust me, you’ll know.”
They take about three steps before Hinata stops abruptly. Kageyama turns, eyebrow arched at what the hold up is. Hinata’s eyes are wide and he’s blinking slowly. “I think it hit me,” he says.
Yep. It definitely did. Kageyama remembers his very first high, back with Chigaya on that random Saturday. How the room blurred together and he giggled when things weren’t funny.
“How do you feel?” he asks, his own head buzzing with a high.
“I think… good?” Hinata starts walking again, albeit a lot slower. “I feel kind of weird? But, not a bad weird, just like weird.”
Kageyama laughs. With how nonspecific Hinata’s description was, he understood perfectly. “Do you want to sit down?” he asks when he notices Hinata swaying with his steps.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” He plops down, resting back on his palms with his legs splayed out in front of him. Kageyama sits next to him, tucking his legs together to sit cross-legged.
They’re facing the ocean, dark waves rippling in front of them. The wind remains easy, just gently brushing through Kageyama’s hair. He can hear the music from the boardwalk and the shouts of happy (most likely intoxicated) patrons.
“Do you ever miss Japan?” Hinata asks, plucking the joint from Kageyama’s fingers to bring it to his own mouth.
Kageyama watches the movement, amused at Hinata’s quick affection for cannabis. “Sometimes,” he answers. “My family’s back there, but I talk with them pretty regularly and I visit three times a year.”
“It’s funny that I’ve never seen you,” Hinata murmurs, his eyelids looking heavy.
Kageyama hums. “What about you? Do you miss it?”
Hinata doesn’t respond for a time and Kageyama almost thinks he’s fallen asleep. “Yeah, I get homesick quite often.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Kageyama takes back the joint that’s hanging precariously from Hinata’s limp fingers. He takes a drag. When he pulls it from his mouth, there’s only one hit left.
“You want to finish it off?” he asks Hinata, who’s watching him through his eyelashes. The lights from the street party flash behind Hinata, illuminating his dilated pupils and bloodshot sclera.
Hinata’s eyes widen in delight, but he suddenly shakes his head. “No, it’s yours. You can finish it.”
Kageyama debates doing just that, when he has another idea. “Open your mouth a little,” he says.
Hinata looks taken aback by the command. “Huh?”
A small, sly smile curls on Kageyama’s lips and that seems to be enough for Hinata as his jaw drops. Kageyama sucks in the rest of the joint, inhaling down until all that’s left is the crushed segment of where they’d been holding it.
Kageyama reaches over, taking Hinata’s chin in between his thumb, index, and middle finger. He leans towards him, using the hold on his face to move Hinata to meet him.
Their lips brush and Kageyama exhales a line of smoke into Hinata’s open mouth. Kageyama can hear Hinata’s inhale. Quick learner. Kageyama releases Hinata’s chin, pulling away. Hinata has other ideas as he closes the distance Kageyama had created, hands clutching at black hair, pulling him down so their lips meet.
The kiss takes Kageyama by surprise, stunned for a second before he reciprocates, matching Hinata’s fervor. For someone who looked like he was two blinks away from falling asleep a couple minutes ago, Hinata’s mouth was moving like he had just downed a whole pot of coffee. Fast, hard, and needy, Hinata crawls into Kageyama’s lap, lips never leaving his.
“Hinata,” Kageyama tries to murmur but the man in question is quick to silence him with his tongue. “Hinata,” he tries again, this time preventing Hinata’s lips from distracting him with a firm grip on both his shoulders.
Hinata looks confused, eyes still red and pupils still blown. “You’re a bit too high for anything tonight,” Kageyama explains, one of his hands moving to stroke up and down his flank. “Just enjoy it, okay?”
“You smoked more than me, how are you still so… sensible?” Hinata asks, slightly pouting.
“Because I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have, sweetheart. My tolerance is a lot higher than yours.”
Hinata smiles, a crimson blush spreading over his cheeks. Kageyama blinks, bemused at his reaction. “What is it?”
“You called me ‘sweetheart’,” Hinata explains, arms still thrown around Kageyama’s neck and fingers playing with the hair on Kageyama’s nape.
“Oh.” Embarrassment pricks sweat at Kageyama’s hairline. “Sorry, I-”
“Don’t be sorry.” Hinata kisses him. “I like it.”
“You do?”
Hinata nods, a sharp bob of his head, quite enthusiastic despite his sleepy facial expression.
Kageyama’s smile is small, despite his rapidly beating heart. A lingering effect of his earlier embarrassment, he tells himself.
Loud cheers and hoots of laughter can be heard from the boardwalk. Hinata’s head turns towards the sound, interested in the street party. “Do you want to head back?” Kageyama asks him.
Hinata's face brightens up at the suggestion but he ends up shaking his head. “I can tell that isn’t your scene, so we can stay here, where it’s quiet.”
Kageyama’s touched by Hinata’s care, more than he’d like to admit. “I’m fine now. Nice and relaxed. I want to go back, if you do.”
Hinata grins, hopping off of Kageyama’s lap and standing. He extends a hand to help Kageyama up. Kageyama takes it, heaving himself off the sandy ground. When they start to walk back towards the blaring music and flashing lights, Hinata doesn’t remove his hand from Kageyama’s and Kageyama doesn’t remove his from Hinata’s.
The boardwalk is just as loud and obnoxious as before, but with his high and Hinata’s hand, it’s a lot more bearable.
“Where do you think Oikawa and Iwaizumi are?” Hinata asks, shoulder pressed into Kageyama’s bicep and fingers intertwined.
“I’m not sure. I can text Iwaizumi,” he offers, hand going for his phone.
Hinata waves him off. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll find them later.” He starts to pull Kageyama sideways. “I want to watch the dancers.”
Kageyama follows, indifferent to whatever they do. Hinata bounces excitedly on his toes as the dancers sway and twirl, their vibrant, ruffly skirts and sleeves moving with them. While Kageyama might not choose to engage with it, he can’t deny that it’s beautiful to watch.
Kageyama loses track of how long they’ve been there; partially because of his high, but partially because he’s having a little fun — although he’ll never admit it. Hinata drags him along the boardwalk, stopping at multiple vendors for food. At first, Kageyama chalked his insatiable hunger up to the munchies, but now he thinks the small man has a bottomless pit for a stomach.
“How do you still have room for more food?” Kageyama asks, bewildered as Hinata eats his fifth tray.
Hinata looks up from the kibe he’d been scarfing down. “Because it’s so good,” he mumbles around the copious amounts of food stuffed in his mouth. He pushes the tray over to Kageyama’s side of the table they’re sitting at. “Wanna try some?”
“No, thank you,” he says. He’d bought two food items previously and he thinks he might vomit if he eats anymore. That’s not the case for Hinata as he takes the food back and continues like it’s his first meal in weeks.
A loud yell distracts Kageyama from his observation of Hinata’s eating habits. “Hinata! Kageyama!” Oikawa is weaving through the crowd, Iwaizumi in tow. “Where did you two go? We turned around and it was like you disappeared!” Oikawa sits next to Hinata, fleeting a gaze over his roommate before doing a double take. “Why do your eyes look like that?”
Hinata gulps down the contents he had been chewing. “I tried weed. It’s awesome,” he giggles.
Both Oikawa and Iwaizumi turn to Kageyama. “What?” he says.
“You corrupted my innocent roommate with your devil’s lettuce?” Oikawa puts a hand over his heart in mock offense before enveloping his arms around Hinata’s head. Hinata’s unbothered by Oikawa’s theatrics, instead more focused on finishing off his tray.
When the crowd starts to dissipate, the four of them decide to leave with the mass. Hinata stops at one last vendor on their way off the boardwalk. They all pile into Kageyama’s car and he drives back to Hinata’s and Oikawa’s apartment after an hour and a half in traffic.
Hinata’s asleep when Kageyama pulls into the apartment building’s parking lot.
“How much did he smoke?” Iwaizumi murmurs to Kageyama as Oikawa half picks him up bridal style and half drags him into the apartment. They’d both offered to help, but Oikawa had insisted he was able to do it himself. Which now looks like it was a lie.
The drive back home is quiet. Kageyama can feel Iwaizumi’s eyes on him from where he’s focused on the road in front of him. “What? Why are you staring at me?”
“You really like Hinata, don’t you?”
Kageyama’s thankful nothing ran out in front of him as his head swings around to look at Iwaizumi with round eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“We’ve been friends for a while, Tobio. I think I know when you’re fond of someone.”
“I-I have fun with Hinata, but it’s not like we’re going to start dating,” he stammers, a heated flush spreading across his face.
“Why not?”
Why not? Was Iwaizumi being daft on purpose? “I have to focus on surfing if I want to make it to the World Surfing Games next year. And besides, he's probably busy with beach volleyball.”
“So you two have things you do during the day? There’s something called a job that practically every single person in a relationship has.”
“Well, what about tournaments and competitions? Some of those take days, out of country ones could last weeks.”
“Work trips.”
Kageyama scowls, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, unconsciously in tune with the Spanish song playing softly from the radio. “So are you and Oikawa going to give it a shot, then?”
Iwaizumi doesn’t hesitate when he responds with, “Maybe. But this isn’t about me and Oikawa. Hinata’s the first person you’ve bothered to spend time like that with since coming to Brazil. Outside of that, you’ve only ever given the time of day to Hoshiumi. So, yes, I stand by what I said: you like Hinata.”
“I-”
“Don’t try to deny it. You’d be lying to me and yourself.”
Kageyama huffs, annoyed at his roommate. “So what if I find Hinata attractive and I like to spend time with him? That doesn’t mean I’m in love with the guy.”
Kageyama can feel Iwaizumi’s unimpressed stare burning into the side of his head. “At least not yet,” he says.
Neither of them speak for the rest of the drive.