#//spoken as someone whose mom always pressured him to take better care of his teeth so he could get braces

[troublcmakcrs]

//i watched "the list" last night and cartman says craig has fucked up teeth, and i know cartman says a lot of nasty things that aren't really accurate, but my lil fucked-up-teeth-having-and-loving ass wants so badly for that one thing in particular to be true 💙

[yaelathewordsmith]

Shield and Spear

Look who’s finally back from the dead and got some work done Okay, new post! My favourite kids, Yams and Tsukki, getting some screentime.

(Should I actually be working on the main story)

(Probably yes but i need to get all these little things out of my head first and also it’ll help with continuity, so yay for that I guess?)

Full story with my new first year kids on FFnet and AO3, check it out!

*

“Ugh, Tsukki, did you copy all the notes we were given in chemistry?��� Tadashi asked, frowning down at the last notebook to go into his bag.

Tsukki frowned a little, pushing his chair back and standing up. “Of course. Why didn’t you?”

“Katou-san put me on the decorations committee,” Tadashi said mournfully, stowing the notebook away and getting to his feet as well. “Didn’t you notice I was late to class?”

“No. Were you?”

Tadashi rolled his eyes, heading to the door. Tsukki slung his bag over his shoulder, following him. “How hard is it to get the decorations done, anyway?”

“Well, there’s a lot of the school to decorate,” Tadashi sighed, stepping into the noisy corridor. “And anyway, when she said decorations committee, she really meant ‘committee that helps out with every prop or stall related problem any other class might have’.”

Tsukki made a non-committal sound, deftly avoiding a knot of students having a heated discussion by the stairs. “You can take the notes today, I’ll need them back by tomorrow.”

Tadashi followed suit, moving a little faster to keep up with Tsukki’s longer stride. “Sure. Hey, do you mind if we stop by a vending machine?”

“Closest one’s in the cafeteria, and it’s horribly crowded right now.”

“Well, we can use the one on the third floor.”

“I’m not climbing all the way to the third floor.”

“ . . . Okay, then what about the one outside?” Tadashi caught Tsukki’s mouth snapping open, and hastened to add, “We can use that side entrance, so we won’t get caught up in the worst of the evening rush.”

Tsukki hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Fine, but let’s make it fast. I want to get an early start on that history essay.”

“Mmhm.” Tadashi glanced at him sideways. “Don’t worry about running into Teruhashi-san, she doesn’t use that machine.”

Tsukki glared at him, eyes narrowing. “Who said anything about Teruhashi-san?”

Tadashi shrugged and looked straight ahead, trying not to smile.

“I am not trying to avoid her.”

“Okay, Tsukki.”

“I just prefer not to speak to her, if at all possible, because she’s spiteful, cruel, arrogant, and refuses to take no for an answer.”

“Oh, she is? I thought you hadn’t spoken to her much.”

“I don’t need to when it’s so obvious in the way she treats everybody. Besides, Yachi-san and her friends avoid her too.”

Tadashi couldn’t argue with that. If Yachi couldn’t manage to excuse someone’s behaviour, they were pretty much guaranteed to be the worst people in the classroom.

“That they do,” he agreed.

Tsukki snorted. “Why she decided she likes me, I’ll never know.”

A brief silence fell between them as they navigated the crowd of people heading out the doors, and when they stepped outside Tsukki, for some inscrutable reason, decided to break it with “Well, at least you made a good choice this time.”

Tadashi turned to look at him quizzically, praying this wasn’t going where he thought it was going.

Tsukki caught the glance and raised an eyebrow in return. “I mean, usually you make horrible decisions about who to crush on. At least this time it’s - “

“Okay, we really don’t have to discuss my love life!” Tadashi yelped.       

Tsukki’s other eyebrow went up, mouth twitching slightly. “You don’t have any problem discussing mine.”

“Well, but you have so many girls confessing to you, yours at least exists!”

“So what, yours is a phantom or something?”

“I - It’s - I don’t even -”

“You should just ask her out.”

Tadashi gaped at him, face burning. “Wha - no way I could -”

Thud.

It was a quiet sound, soft and muted, and Tadashi was just about to dismiss it as a stray football or tennis ball or something when he heard the muffled voices - one quieter, higher, then abruptly cut off by a deeper growl.

Tsukki’s forehead creased as he listened, eyes going cool and sharp, and after a brief moment he stepped around the corner. Tadashi followed, straining to hear better. He thought he recognized the first one, it sounded entirely too familiar. It sounded like -

Oh, damn.

His heart dropped as he peered past Tsukki and saw just who stood in the shadow of the vending machine.

One was Akiyama, with his back against the wall and a fist bunched in his shirt at the collar. The other . . . a first year Tadashi barely knew; tall, broad shouldered, sandy hair, calculating eyes. He’d seen him around in the corridors, though, and the brief glances had reminded him of nothing more than -

- lumpy face -

- always crying -

- carry our bags -

- where’s your money, wimp -

- ugly, weak, loser -

- memories he’d rather forget.

“ - you and your retard of a brother,” the boy was snarling. “If you don’t back off, Akiyama, when he comes to Karasuno I’m going to make sure life is living hell for him. And he won’t even be able to call for help, will he, when I break his hands - “

Tadashi frowned, eyes narrowing, the brief trepidation that had flashed through him now swallowed by anger.

Who the hell is this guy, and how dare he say things like that to Akiyama?

Akiyama looked up just then, meeting their gazes. His eyes widened, relief, horror, and shame flickering through them in quick succession, and he looked away instantly, shaggy hair falling over his face.

The boy caught the look and whipped around, other fist coming up. When he saw that they were older than him, he didn’t waver.

“You need something?”

Tsukki gave him a long, piercing look, one that was usually enough to unsettle anyone, even teachers. But this guy didn’t even blink.

“Is that how you talk to a senior, Goto-kun?”

Ah, right. That’s his name, Goto Soma.

He looked at Akiyama again, taking in his trembling hands, his panting breath, and felt something beyond anger, something slow and molten and furious, begin to bubble in his stomach.

Quiet Akiyama, with his shy smiles and serious eyes and careful words, should not be looking like that. He should never have to look like that.

“Apologies, senpai, but you’re interrupting something,” Goto said roughly. “I’d appreciate it if you left.”

“Sorry, but we can’t do that.”

Tadashi caught Tsukki glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, a flash of surprise crossing his face, but ignored him as he stepped forward, focusing entirely on Goto, whose gaze switched to him like a laser.

“That’s our kohai, you see, Goto-kun. And we don’t appreciate you coming anywhere near him.”

Tsukki smiled, sharp and cold. “No, we don’t.” He took a step forward too, bearing down on Goto. “So leave right now, and we might forget this ever happened.”

Goto smirked right back, looking entirely unfazed, but Tadashi caught something unsteady in his glance, and knew he was forcing himself to stand his ground. A little more pressure, then -

“Touch him again,” Tadashi said quietly, blood pounding in his ears, “and there will be two more people with us to teach you how to play nice with your classmates. And you really don’t want to meet them.”

“Yeah?” Goto shoved Akiyama back into the wall and turned to face them entirely, shoulders squared, teeth bared. “Who’re these scary people, then?”

Tadashi tilted his head slightly, never looking away. “Nishinoya Yuu -”

“ - and Tanaka Ryuunosuke.” Tsukki’s smile grew wider. “Both third years. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to find out what exactly they’ll do to you if they hear about this. But, you know, we don’t really need them. We can do plenty ourselves.”

Tadashi took the last step forward, bringing him almost nose to nose with Goto, insanely grateful for that last growth spurt that meant he was looking down on Goto from two extra inches.

“So leave. And don’t come back.”

Goto’s lips pulled back further over his teeth, eyes narrow. Tadashi held his gaze, staring him down. He was vaguely aware of Tsukki at his right shoulder, a tall, looming shadow probably ten times more intimidating than Tadashi could ever be.

But Goto never looked away from him, didn’t even spare Tsukki a glance. One fist clenched at his side as he glared back.

Then he blinked, whipped around, and was gone with one last, murderous glance thrown at Akiyama over his shoulder,

Tadashi watched him turn the corner before he relaxed, hands falling open from their own fists, and turned to Akiyama.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

He noted, vaguely, that his voice was back to sounding like it always did, that it no longer had that note of steel in it; steel he didn’t know he’d had in him.

Akiyama nodded, looking up with a weak smile. “Yeah, yeah. Just . . . winded.”

“He hurt you?” Tsukki asked, looking dispassionate as ever, yet with his eyes still unnaturally sharp.

“Uh . . . one or two punches, it wasn’t too -”

“Where?” Tadashi interrupted.

Akiyama’s hands settled on his stomach. Tadashi gave him a quizzical look, and he moved them aside with a sigh.

Tadashi smiled slightly, the buzz that was keeping his heart thrumming beginning to fade a bit.

“I’m not going to ask you to take your shirt off or anything. Just . . .” He touched Akiyama’s torso as gently as he could, murmuring a quiet apology when he winced.

“Take a couple of days off club,” Tsukki said. “We can make your excuses. Or get Serizawa or someone to do it, if you prefer.”

“Mhm. I think you’ll probably have some big bruises,” Tadashi said thoughtfully, straightening up, and placing a steadying hand on Akiyama’s hand as he did the same. “Definitely take at least two days off. You probably won’t go see a doctor, will you?”

Akiyama shook his head, hair sticking to his forehead. “I really don’t think I need - and what would I tell my mom?”

“If we see you coughing up blood, we’re dragging you there whether you want us to or not,” Tsukki said flatly.

Akiyama huffed a laugh. “Got it, Tsukki-san. Don’t worry, I’m not that stupid.”

Tadashi blinked at that. Tsukki-san? He glanced sideways at Tsukki, and had to choke back a chuckle at the shock on his face. Akiyama still seemed shaken enough that he didn’t notice he’d said anything out of the ordinary.

“Um, so -” Tadashi said quickly. “I - don’t want to pry, it’s completely fine if you don’t want to tell us why Goto was angry with you. But can I ask - was that the first time? That he - ?”

Akiyama grimaced, brushing his hair back absently. “Yeah, it was. I knew he hadn’t been happy with me for some weeks now, I never thought that he’d - ugh. It’s so ridiculous, too, what he was - there’s a girl in my class, you see, and somehow he’s decided that it’s my fault she won’t look at him. I barely even speak to her except to, I don’t know, help her out with a question or something, what can I do about it if her seat is next to mine?”

“That was the reason?” Tsukki said, disdainfully. “Goto-kun seems to be the very definition of hotheaded.”

“He’s always been like that,” Akiyama sighed, gingerly prodding at his stomach once more. “We, um, used to be in middle school together. Kohei knows him too. He was never that bad though.”

“I see.” Yamaguchi gave him a careful look, glad that he seemed calm enough, yet concerned about the way his hands were still trembling. “Well, if he comes near you again, please do tell us, okay, Akiyama-kun?”

Akiyama looked away, not answering for a moment.

“I’m sorry you had to - to step in, Yamaguchi-san, Tsukki-san. It’s not something I wanted you to - I would have - sorted it out on my own, somehow - “

“Probably,” Tsukki said, looking bored. “But I, for one, don’t mind getting chances to take idiots like that down a peg or two, and I don’t think Yamaguchi does either. It’s your choice, obviously. But we would appreciate knowing what happens with him, one way or another. Fair enough?”

Akiyama’s gaze flickered from Tsukki’s face to Tadashi’s and back before he smiled, just a little.

“Fair enough, Tsukki-san. I - thank you. Both of you.” He bowed as deeply as he could.

Tsukki’s nose wrinkled. “When exactly did the four of you pin that name on me?”

Tadashi nudged him in the side, smiling at Akiyama both apologetically and reassuringly as he inclined his head in return. “You’re welcome, Akiyama-kun. Um, be safe on your way home, okay?”

“I will, Yamaguchi-san. Thank you.”

Tadashi nodded, moving back a bit to give him space as he bent down to pick up his bag. Tsukki ignored both of them, instead stepping up to the vending machine

“Akiyama.”

Akiyama winced as he straightened up, giving Tsukki a questioning look.

Tsukki slipped a note into the machine, raising a finger to select the correct button. “Whatever he was saying about your brother -”

There was a quiet intake of breath, and Akiyama’s eyes narrowed nervously.

Tsukki gave him a brief glance. “I’m not about to ask anything you don’t want me to.” He bent to pick the carton up. “I’m just letting you know I can and will help you keep an eye on him. Next year.”

Tadashi had to bite his lip to stop himself from grinning.

Such a softie, Tsukki.

He turned to Akiyama to say the same, but paused at the look growing in his eyes, sweeping all lingering shock and fear aside - a look that was strong, and fierce, and burning.

“That’s very kind of you, Tsukki-san,” he said, voice calm and clear. “But I won’t need your help with that.”

Tsukki paused for a moment, unwrapped straw in one hand.

“Is that so?” The straw sank into the carton with a soft pop, and Tsukki turned to give Akiyama a small, quiet smile that only ever Tadashi saw, and even then saw rarely. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Akiyama smiled in return, a smile wavering at the edges but true enough.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Yamaguchi-san, Tsukki-san.”

Tsukki nodded and Tadashi waved as he left. You’d never have thought, Tadashi mused, watching him walk away, that he’d just been slammed against a wall by a guy almost twice his size. It was an innate dignity Tadashi couldn’t help being just the slightest bit jealous of.

“Aren’t you going to get your drink?”

“Ah, right, yeah. Give me a second.”

It was as they walked out of the gates, drinks in hand, that Tadashi thought to ask, “We’re going to be keeping an eye on him for a few days, aren’t we?”

Tsukki looked at him like he had dropped from the sky.

“Of course we are. The kid wouldn’t tell us even if Goto tried to throw him off the roof.”

Tadashi grinned at him.

“You’re a pretty good senpai, Tsukki.”

“Shut up, Yamaguchi.”