Satellite

“Don’t scowl at me! I know it’s you!”

Kageyama looked down at Hinata and slapped his finger away from his chest.

“This is just my face! And who cares?”

Hinata put his hands on his hips and huffed. “I care! You pushed me out of my favorite spot!” He didn’t get a response from Kageyama, so he continued. “Not ONLY did you steal my favorite spot, you STOPPED PLAYING, and then you started WATCHING me. What the hell?”

Kageyama couldn’t meet Hinata’s gaze. He stared at the ground, off to the side. Oikawa watched with interest, one hand on his hip and one hand resting on Iwaizumi’s shoulder. He whispered something into Iwaizumi’s ear, which made him smack Oikawa in the forehead. Oikawa’s raised his hands to his face and ran them over his features, presumably to make sure they were all in tact.

Suga looked over at Daichi, who had his arms crossed over his shoulders. Suga could tell he was interested, but didn’t want to get involved. Asahi’s eyes were wide as saucers and he slowly backed away toward the espresso bar.

“I didn’t mean to steal your spot,” Kageyama grumbled.

“But you did!”

Kageyama looked right at Hinata. “I’m trying to apologize, dumbass!”

“Then ACTUALLY apologize! And apologize for being a creep!”

“I’m not a creep!”

“You ARE! I saw you watching me!”

It didn’t seem like anyone else wanted to intervene, but their argument was going nowhere. Suga stepped in to mediate.

“Hinata, what happened exactly? How do you know Kageyama?”

“Well, I told you that I busk at the quad, right? Everything was going really great, I earned a lot of tips, and then this guy,” Hinata pointed up at Kageyama’s face, “started playing guitar next to me, which would’ve been fine, but he’s so good that everyone tipped HIM and not me.”

Kageyama sputtered at the compliment. Hinata continued. “So I tried moving to a bunch of different spots, but that one was perfect because it was RIGHT outside of the main classroom building. When I went back to the spot to fight him,” Hinata threw a couple punches in the air, which made Kageyama cock his head, “he wasn’t there, so I sat my stuff down and started to sing. Halfway through, I looked up at saw HIM hiding behind a tree.”

Kageyama choked a little on this breath and Hinata threw his hands up in the air. Suga tried not to laugh, he really did.

“It’s not funny! It’s weird!” Hinata screeched.

Suga swallowed his laugh as best he could. “C’mon, Hinata, did he really hide behind a tree?”

Kageyama’s face turned bright red and he clenched his fists, which, unfortunately, served to confirm his guilt.

Kiyoko came out onto the porch and stood on the periphery of the group, which got Daichi’s attention and brought it away from Kageyama and Hinata. Noya and Tanaka watched menacingly from inside the cafe.

“Could you guys go inside? We still have a number of people that want to perform tonight and you’re proving to be quite the distraction,” she said calmly.

“Oh, yeah, definitely. Sorry, Kiyoko,” Daichi said. He pushed Hinata toward the door that lead back into the café. Kageyama and Iwaizumi followed closely behind, but, once inside the café, Kageyama followed Daichi and Iwaizumi made his way to the espresso bar.

Suga fell in line, but was stopped in front of the door by Oikawa. He wasn’t looking at Suga, but at the phone in his hand. He looked up and blew his bangs out of his eyes with a practiced breath.

“I really do like your face,” he said into his phone. Suga thought back to the charming Oikawa that smiled at his fangirls and took goofy selfies and the shocked Oikawa that got smacked in the face by an unamused Iwaizumi. This Oikawa seemed different.

“Thanks, I think,” Suga ran a hand through his hair. He felt self-consciousness creep up on him and smoothed his shirt. “That’s a big compliment coming from someone as handsome as yourself.”

Oikawa looked up from his phone. The lights strung up around the patio cast danced on his face and accentuated his high cheekbones. His long eyelashes cast a slight shadow on his cheeks when he blinked. “Glad you think so,” he said with a wink.

He was handsome, Suga thought, in a poster boy kind of way. His mind wandered to Daichi, whose handsomeness was deeper and fundamental, like it had sent roots into the ground. Oikawa still stood in front him, like he expected Suga to say or remember something.

“I’m sorry, this is silly, but do we know each other from somewhere else?”

A look of surprise passed over Oikawa's face. He laughed through a closed mouth, shut his eyes, and leaned his head back before making eye contact with Suga for the last time that evening.

“No, we don’t.” Oikawa stepped aside and motioned for Suga to pass into the café. “After you, Mr. Refreshing,” he said cooly.

They both headed to where Daichi sat and Iwaizumi met them halfway with two coffees in to-go cups. He handed one to Oikawa, who took it without looking and sipped it without question. Suga thought back to what Daichi had said all those months ago, about how the two of them had known each other since they were kids. Their movements seemed to complement each other perfectly.

Once they all made it to the table, Suga sat down next to Daichi, but Oikawa and Iwaizumi stayed standing. Oikawa scrunched his face at Hinata and Kageyama, who were still arguing, and looked in the direction of the door.

“Well, I think it’s time we head out,” he said with conviction.

Iwaizumi looked at him like he was insane. “We just got here, Shitty-kawa.”

“So mean, Iwa-chan.” Oikawa puffed out his cheeks and pouted. “I have very important work to do tonight.”

“Oh really?” Iwaizumi raised his eyebrows. “Like watch The X-Files for the millionth time?”

“Iwa-chan, really now, I haven’t watched that in ages,” he said haughtily.

A small, close-lipped smile spread across Iwaizumi’s face. “That’s not what Netflix said when I checked last night.”

Oikawa laughed. He held his coffee in one hand and patted Iwaizumi on the back with the other. “Don’t get too cocky, Iwa-chan. You’ll be watching it with me tonight.”

The triumphant smirk faded from Iwaizumi’s face and Suga could’ve sworn he paled a shade.

“What about Kageyama? Didn’t you guys bring him?” Daichi asked.

“He can fend for himself,” Oikawa said curtly. “Daichi, it was interesting to see you again. Hopefully next time we won’t miss your set. Can’t be too careful about our competition~” he sneered. Oikawa didn’t say anything to Suga before he turned to walk out the door. Iwaizumi nodded at them both and left.

Suga was about to open his mouth when they both heard a crash. He looked over and saw an upturned table, at least two iced coffees spilled on the floor, and two shocked café customers. Hinata was on the ground and Kageyama stood in front of him. Both of them were frozen in place with wide eyes. Suga and Daichi jumped up and rushed to the scene.

Kiyoko hurried over to the startled patrons and Noya and Tanaka bounded over to the scene with a mop and bucket. Tanaka started to mop but had to stop because he was laughing too hard. Noya jumped next to Kageyama and Hinata.

“That was AWESOME! You were like a human pinball machine! Boom boom boom, right between that guy and the table! Oh man. That should be a move!” He gasped at his own idea, “that should be your move!”

Daichi groaned and rubbed his chin. Suga held out his hand to help Hinata up off the floor.

“Alright guys, I think we’ve officially overstayed our welcome.” Daichi said with his hands on his hips. “Noya, Tanaka, I’m going home. If you’re coming, meet me out by the truck in five minutes. Hinata, Kageyama,” Daichi sighed, “if you can’t get along, I don’t think it’s a good idea for either of you to play with us next weekend.”

Hinata jumped up and stood next to Kageyama. They both started to protest so vigorously that Suga feared for the rest of the tables. It wasn’t only that, though. They had both looked so excited to play with the guys that Suga's heart broke. He had an idea.

“Daichi, Hinata’s a songwriter and Kageyama’s a guitarist. What if they wrote a song together and played it for us next weekend?” As soon as Suga floated the question, Hinata and Kageyama stopped talking and looked eagerly at Daichi. Daichi’s expression softened considerably.

“Alright. If you guys can write a song and play it for us with no major incident, we’ll go from there. Noya, Tanaka, grab Asahi and ask Yachi if she wants a ride. I’m heading out in a couple minutes. Kageyama, Hinata, do either of you need a ride?”

“NOPE!” They yelled in unison.

Daichi rubbed his hands and looked at Suga. “If you want to come over tonight, we could share a bottle of wine? Or something? Or at least let me drop you off at home?”

Suga rubbed Daichi’s shoulder and shook his head. “Can I take a raincheck on the wine? I have some things to do at home. And you know I live a couple blocks away. It's an easy walk, remember?.”

“I do, but it’s no problem, really -”

“Seriously, Daichi, I’m fine. Plus, what kind of irresponsible guy packs more people into his car than there are seat belts? Hm?” Suga challenged him with raised eyebrows. Daichi gulped.

“You have a point. Text me when you’re home, okay? Just so I know you’re safe.”

“I will.” Suga let his hand slide down Daichi’s arm and he put his palm on the side of his leg. It was stupid, but he didn’t want to let any of the heat from Daichi’s arm escape from his person.

Suga, Daichi, and Asahi, who lumbered over after Noya got him, shared a hug, and Suga waved as they walked out the door. He turned to say goodbye to Hinata and Kageyama.

“I’m about to walk home. Don’t work too hard, you two,” he said with a smiled as he ruffled Hinata’s hair.

“You do a whole lot of walking now, huh Suga? I’m jealous. I live in the next town over and have to bike or take the bus,” Hinata lamented.

Suga caught the worry in Kageyama’s eye. He ventured a guess that, since Kageyama was still in school, he lived closer than Hinata did.

“I do a lot of walking, but it’s nice. It lets me think. If you want, you can stay with me some nights this week while you and Kageyama work on your song. My apartment is small, but it’ll be fine as a temporary measure. At least you two will be closer.”

Hinata jumped up in the air and ran into Suga to give him a hug. Kageyama looked hopeful and shifted his weight on his feet. Suga smiled as he hugged Hinata back.

“Just text me if you need me. Is Yachi okay?

“I’m good!” Yachi said from behind Hinata. With all the fuss, Suga had hardly noticed her.

“Alright you crazy kids, I’m headed home. Try not to destroy the place, eh?”

Kageyama and Hinata nodded and ran to a table. Before they sat down, they pushed and shoved each other over who got to sit where. Suga turned to Yachi, who laughed nervously as she rambled about nothing in particular to Kiyoko, who leaned on the espresso bar to hear her better.

Suga left the café and walked home, deep in thought. The night had been incredible but, now that he was alone with his thoughts, Oikawa’s words ricocheted off the walls of his headspace and made it impossible for him to think of anything else. He had been used to getting comments about his looks, but they were usually bland compliments made up of generic words. It had almost looked like Oikawa recognized him from somewhere, too, which unnerved him.

When he got home, he toed off his shoes, texted Daichi, and started to scroll through his text messages. It didn’t take him long to land upon a familiar name. The realization made him so nauseous that he had to sit down. It took him a couple minutes to regain his composure and call the name on his screen. He put the phone on speaker.

“Sugawara? What a pleasant surprise!”

Suga felt his face heat up and his hands shook. “Hi Yahaba. Quick question. Remember when you said that I had a refreshing face a couple months ago? What made you say that, I mean, that exact phrase?” Yahaba had bothered him a couple times since his first phone call, and, during one of those conversations, he had mentioned something about Suga having a 'refreshing' face. He didn't think much of it at the time, but the memory reverberated in his head.

There was a pause on the line.

Hmmm, it was just a word that happened to be floating around. It suits you.

“Floating around? Who said it? Did you come up with it? You need to tell me the truth.” Suga’s heart pounded in his chest.

Another pause.

“Yahaba.”

He took a deep breath before speaking. Sugawara, darling, first you have to promise that you won’t hang up the phone. Second, you have to promise that you’ll hear me out.

“I’m not promising anything,” Suga replied quickly.

I suppose that’s fair. You know that client I keep telling you about, the golden ray of sunshine? The high roller? I might’ve shown him your picture. And given him your name. And he might’ve said that about you.

Suga’s stomach dropped. “Oikawa Tooru. Lead singer and frontman of The Court?”

He heard Yahaba clap and squeal on the other end of the phone.

However did you guess!? Did you meet him! Isn’t he wonderful? Don’t you regret packing up and quitting the industry when someone like that’s around?

Suga’s mind reeled. “You showed him my picture? You gave him my name? Without my permission?”

Oikawa held a power over him now; he could blackmail him without any repercussions. He could trick him into being arrested. He could tell everyone, shatter his beautiful life, and leave him with nothing. He was afraid.

Yahaba spoke with a quiet, measured voice. I know it was a shitty thing to do, god do I know, but please believe me. I have my reasons.

“It was really shitty. Beyond shitty.” Suga hoped the daggers in his voice traversed the line and sunk into Yahaba’s chest. “Enlighten me, please.”

Sugawara, he’s a good guy, really, and trust me when I say he doesn’t want anyone to know he sleeps with whores as much as you don’t want people to know you are one.

“Don’t use that word,” Suga hissed.

Lighten up. I used it to make a point. Oikawa doesn’t need his secrets sullying his reputation. And don’t get all and mighty on me, Sugawara. That’s what we are, what both you and I signed up for.

Suga unclenched his fists and dropped his shoulders. Suga hated the word and knew that Yahaba didn’t throw it around wantonly, but it sunk into his head and anchored there. That’s what he was, when all was said and done. Asahi had tried to tell him, over and over, that Suga’s previous job did not define him, but the words never quite reached him.

Images from the night flashed before him. Daichi’s smile and the way his arm felt under Suga’s hand. Hinata’s vibrant energy. Asahi’s voice. Noya and Tanaka’s faces as they played. The way Kiyoko watched Yachi with more interest than Suga’s ever seen from her. Suga didn’t have the courage to tell them the truth, which made his wonderful life into a complete and utter lie.

“Why would I take him on as a client now, especially when I haven’t been doing it for over half a year. And, honestly, he seemed like a pompous asshole.” Suga spit. His heart was heavy and his fingers were cold.

I want to be very clear with you. Don’t ever talk badly about Oikawa around me again. You can crap on everyone else, you can crap on me, but not him. Not everything is as it seems, Sugawara.

Suga was almost stunned silent by Yahaba’s uncharacteristic seriousness and cryptic words. Almost. He didn't back down that easily.

“If he’s so great, why me?” Suga asked.

Honestly? Because I think you’d be good for him because you actually care about people, even clients. He could use that in his life right now. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get back to bed. We all need our beauty sleep.

“Yeah, yeah. Take care, Yahaba.”

The line went dead. Suga got up from the table and slipped into bed without changing. He was overwhelmed by everything that happened that day and had a sneaking suspicion that tonight had marked a crossroads and he had chosen the wrong path. His phone vibrated a number of times, so he waited until it stopped before he grabbed it.

From: Sawamura Daichi
The boys just went down. I can’t believe how well tonight went. You’re amazing.

From: Sawamura Daichi
Did you mean what you said about the rain check? It’s been awhile since we’ve had any time to ourselves. Like months.

From: Sawamura Daichi
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I miss you. I see you all the time, like at work and band practice, which is great, but I miss you. Does that make sense?

From: Sawamura Daichi
You’re probably asleep already. Talk to you soon. Sleep well. I’m so proud of us :)

The texts weighed on him like a heavy stone pressing him to death. Instead of responding, Suga reached over to his bedside table to grab his pen and notebook. He scribbled the first words that came to mind.

    And I'm tired of making friends and I'm tired of making time,
    And I'm sick to death of love and I'm sick to death of trying.
    And it's easier for you,
    Oh, it's easier for you.

He wasn’t talking to Yahaba or Oikawa, Daichi, Noya, or Hinata. He wasn’t talking to his co-workers. He wasn’t talking to Asahi, the friend that stood by and supported him even though he knew Suga was making the wrong decision.

It was easier for him, the person he was before he met them, before he fell in love with the people around him and the version of himself that he wished he could be.

    And it's easier for you,
    Oh, it's easier for you.