Chapter Text
Dancing had never quite taken his liking.
From the moment he could walk with ease, his mother had insisted he’d be taught how to dance saying it was her duty to entertain, so one day, that duty would fall upon one of her children. Coming last in a long line of potential heirs, Tsukishima knew he would have little to no reach in securing the crown that laid upon his father’s head. That role was for his elder brother to secure.
Royalty had changed since the days of the war. It had been decided that to prevent the kingdoms from finding conflict over who was crowned ruler, a single heir under each capital district would be brought forth, voted upon the crown by the people. Whoever secured the title of King or Queen would become the head of the country and people’s court, the heirs that were not chosen remained simply as either Princes or Princesses with his or her majesty’s court.
It had held peace between the capital districts for centuries, seeing monarch after monarch be seated upon the throne, decided entirely by the people.
With all that in mind, Kei saw little to no reason for his mother’s wishes to make him appear desirable; his brother had already captured their district's heart. He still, however, found himself dancing among the countless other partners who had gathered for this special occasion.
“Your highness?” His feeble partner, a small Duke’s daughter, muttered as she glanced around in uncertainty, “Is dancing with me not to your liking? If you pardon me saying, you don’t seem to enjoy dancing with me.”
“Quite the contrary,” Kei began, unfazed as he stepped back to break the dance, “you are quite the excellent partner. I, however, must excuse myself.” The lie slipped smoothly from his lips, whoever his partner was- Yachi perhaps- she was pulling unbeknowingly at his patience. Kei would rather be sat in one of his long Latin lessons than to stand here and fall prey to any of her clumsy steps. It was an embarrassment. He did the duke’s daughter a favor by escorting her off of the floor, carefully weaving their way back into the crowds of onlookers. They received many looks, as expected. To expect those of high ranking to simply leave any form of partially improper motives aside would be a fool’s mistake. Kei had, however, been thinking of the most believable excuse for this disruption of their dance. As he was aware, she had just come of age, meaning he was her first official dance as a potential suitor. He’d blame his brother for this.
“My lady has hurt her foot,” Kei began, pulling a chair out as he gestured for her to sit. She seemed to pick up on the notion, “might I suggest that she is found a new pair of shoes before she continues to dance?” Those of whom stood around them, staring for any morsel of gossip, muttered and grew bored. It wasn’t big news, therefore they had no interest.
The girl gestured for her maid who had accompanied her as a chaperone, lying the best she could as she asked for a new pair of shoes to be brought to her from her room.
With the crowd's attention turned to the duke’s daughter, Kei found a swift and easy escape through the voluminous packs of lords and ladies. Despite his height, he held no real presence. He had a knack for being able to slip away without so much of a glance being thrown in his direction. If it were any other night, Kei would have simply left all together, but this particular evening required his presence. In no less than a month's time, a single heir from Sendai would be chosen to appear among the potential candidates for the throne. Seeing as it was his father who had been crowned the last successor to the throne, all eyes were on him and his brother. Well, mostly his brother; that at least gave him some freedom.
“Brother! I see you’re leaving so soon.” Akiteru in all his glory strode forth from a group of prune old ladies, an easy smile across his face. “Why not stay and enjoy the party for a little longer, I know many still wish to meet your acquaintance.”
“I wish to be left alone, Aki,” Kei began, “I have no interest in whoever or whatever you wish for me to meet tonight. I’ve seen enough.” He stopped reluctantly, steps away from the open garden doors that screamed freedom from the suffocation of the ballroom.
“Come now,” Akiteru laughed lightly, nodding politely as a couple walked passed with a smile, “Tonight is important for us both, for father. Surely you wish to have some good to your name?”
“It is not hard to see that the people obviously prefer you,” Kei countered, “You also have more of a desire for the throne. So I shall go, and leave you to capture all their hearts. With me here, it ruins your chance of having the entire vote.”
“Kei, please. Don’t be difficult.”
“Good evening, brother,” Kei nodded and left without another word. Akiteru let Kei walk away, Kei knew that his brother didn’t have the time or patience to stop him.
Away from the ballroom, the air was crisp in the dark gardens; light to his lungs unlike the thickness of flower scented perfumes that the lords and ladies liked to call fashionable. It left the lingering scent of freshly cut grass in his nose, pleasant and subtle. The heat was also soothing: a gentle warmth unlike the sweltering heat of the ballroom created by the last of the sun whilst it was still out rather than the burn of mass bodies dancing and packed into one room. Regardless of its impressive size.
Kei wandered down the paths, further until he reached the safety of the tall trees in the farther reaches of the manor's grounds. He could go on further to the lake, but this late in the evening was dangerous to go near the water. It would be too dark for anyone to see him if he were to fall in on accident.
The gardens had always been a type of refuge for Kei, a place close yet so far away from the confines of his family’s prestige and duties as second-born. A haven he had only shared with one other before. In the last slithers of light that touched the horizon, Kei had no need for the path lights to be lit to see. The path was carved deep into his memory, even in the dark.
Kei was surprised to see the small lanterns already lit the further he went down the path, even as it turned from small rocks to dirt, they all seemed alive with flame. It was strange as none of the others closer to the manor had been touched, cold and without life. Careful of his shoes, Kei tread carefully towards a small clearing in the trees where a lonely bench sat, so much as a scrape to his fine clothing and his mother would have his head. It would leave him in more trouble than he already was.
“You must wear the finest silver!” His mother had exclaimed months before the ball was announced, she had been particular on every detail, even onto what Kei would be wearing. His mother was aware he’d give little thought to his attire; he wasn’t one for the ‘lavish’ lifestyle she liked to flaunt. He wore the suit regardless, knowing better than to go against his mother’s wishes.
With a sigh, Kei checked over his shoes and the ends of his trousers. Despite the dryness of the ground, a small worry still lingered in the back of his mind. He might not have liked the idea of wearing the suit, but he was not unpresentable.
“You are immaculate,” a voice called from ahead, Kei recognised it almost immediately. He didn’t have to look up to know who had spoken, he only knew one person who would take their time to light the lanterns down this path.
“I did not know you had come tonight,” Kei said as he moved to sit beside the man who already sat on the other side of the bench. He saw no reason to announce himself properly, not when they had known each other long enough to skip the pleasantries, and because Kei was too tired to put on another princely face. “I didn’t see you enter with your parents.”
“I figured the best place to find you would be out here and not in the thick of the dancing,” the man replied, eyes gazing out across the sky, “I am surprised you took so long.”
“My brother can be blamed for that,” Kei sighed as he unbuttoned his blazer and leaned back into the bench, “he believed it was wise to match me with a Duke’s daughter.”
“...You danced with a lady?”
“You could call it that I suppose, she had two left feet.”
“But you found it enjoyable?”
“I did not,” Kei sighed as he pushed the gentle frames further up his nose, boredom taking place as exhaustion in his bones, “I am due another dance later on.”
“A potential match?”
“So it seems. I can not get away from her no matter how hard I try, I blame my brother for this also.”
“You are still against marriage I see.”
“Quite.”
“Surely a potential candidate for the throne, such as yourself, should use this time whilst they still can to find a partner,” the man sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“Then so must you, if I recall you are as much a candidate as I.”
“The difference is, my dear Kei, is that I am engaged.”
“So I have heard.”
“That’s it?” He sounded somewhat shocked by Kei’s blunt reply. Kei, however, was left unphased, what did he expect?
“That is it,” Kei replied simply as he lent his temple to his fingers, he had no interest in whoever his companion would marry in the future. Presumably they would wait until the vote was over. More of a chance for his match to be dubbed either Queen or Princess. Presumably.
“She will make a perfectly suitable wife.”
Kei noted it was a push at the topic of conversation to continue. Kei rolled his eyes gently, sighing quietly, “I’m sure you’ll make a fine couple for your district.”
“Kei-”
“What are you trying to achieve?” Kei interrupted, frowning as he stood up once more, missing how his companion had been looking at him. “What are you trying to achieve by taunting me like this?” Before the man could even answer, Kei asked swiftly, “Why are you even here?”
“You invited me, did you not?” His companion stood, seemingly taken aback and confused.
“My parents invited your parents, in turn, inviting you.”
“Ah.. that would explain your excitement to see me.”
“Don’t humor me, Kuroo, answer my questions.”
“Kuroo?” Tetsuro stepped in close, a light smirk resting upon his lips as he ran a calloused hand through his hair. Unlike usual it was pushed back and tamed in a presentable manner, most unlike his usual unruly bedhead he tended to fashion, most unlike a prince. “It has been a long time since you called me by that name.”
“It has been a long time since I saw you last. Now will you answer my questions or not?”
“You’re just as impatient.”
“Kuroo.” Kei’s patience was beginning to wear thin, he knew that Tetsuro was just starting: he had this awful ability to uphold ridiculous banter and Kei lacked the composure he needed to be able to deal with it. If Tetsuro wanted to poke him with talks of his new fiancée, he wouldn’t stand for it. He couldn’t. Not this time.
“Forgive me.” Tetsuro appeared to pick up on Kei’s discomfort from his silence alone, “That was unfair of me.”
“It was,” Kei replied sharply, unaffected by the wince he received.
“I just thought you’d have more to say,” Tetsuro admitted, he looked somewhat defeated and Kei almost had the heart to feel sorry, just for that moment. “Considering our past-”
“That was a childish fantasy, our duty is more important.”
Tetsuro laughed, it was a rich sound deep from his chest, it filled the air almost sweetly, bittersweetly.
“‘Childish’?” He mused, shocked almost at Kei’s choice of words. Kei couldn’t understand it. He felt mocked . “My dear Kei, it was many things. But not at all ‘childish’. How could you name it so?”
“I have the right mind to call you childish right now.”
“My word, Kei!”
Mindless bickering continued for some time. Remarks shot back and forth about entirely immature things: appearance, Kei’s reluctance to marry and Tetsuro’s fiancé. They stood nose to nose, red faced; perhaps it was their squabbling, the heat of the air around them, or simply because they were flustered.
They had a chance to really see each other. Too occupied with petty remarks Kei hadn’t noticed how Tetsuro had changed, he looked older, stood stronger. Despite their age Kei would have more of the mind to call him a man rather than a boy, the innocence Tetsuro had once radiated seemed depleted. Kei noted how Tetsuro was judging him just as closely.
How long had it been? Five years, maybe?
It was all stupid really, Kei knew this. They had no quarrel. What had come to pass was neither of their faults, yet Kei found some sense of freedom in this tension that had grown between them. He desired a reason to hate Tetsuro, but without one, Kei was indescribably strung on a feeling that had rooted deeply within his chest: sharp against his lungs, but soft against his tongue, urging him to mutter his truth sweetly.
“Is it so hard for you…” Kei continued after a forced breath, irritation tight in his throat, “to leave me be?”
“Yes,” Tetsuro’s answer was simple, that seemed to irritate Kei. “And I am sorry.”
“No you are not.”
“Please, Kei, let us end this nonsense.”
“And have us do what? Thus far we have only wasted our time, and I have someone waiting for me.” With that Kei turned, ignoring the defeated look across Tetsuro’s face. He was tired, and so was Tetsuro, yet he didn’t have the mind to be reasonable.
“I have waited for you…” Tetsuro began, a sigh slipping between his lips; hands upon his hips as he stared straight into the sky, “since the moment I saw you at your eighteenth, dressed up and looking like the moody prince you have always been.”