Chapter Text
Atsumu knows that he really shouldn’t care about Kiyoomi right now. He knows that they’ve been broken up for nearly a year now, and that he should be well on his way to moving on. And he has, kind of. He’s been on dates! And he kissed someone last weekend! That’s moving on!
But everyday that Kiyoomi comes into the practice facility looking like he had a run in with a raccoon while coming to practice, Atsumu can’t help but be worried about him. And at first, Atsumu told himself it was because they’re still teammates. Teammates worry about each other all the time. It’s no different than him checking in with Bokuto whenever it’s obvious he’s missing Akaashi a little extra. And when that excuse stopped working because Atsumu wanted to get more involved than any teammate really should, he told himself it’s because he and Kiyoomi are still friends no matter how awkward the relationship is. Friends care for each other. Atsumu cares for Suna and Aran and Kita and all the friends he’s made along the way to where he is today.
But looking at the way that Kiyoomi drags himself into the locker room, eyes dark, eye bags darker and feet literally scuffing the ground, Atsumu can’t help but care in a more than friendly way. And is that…Kiyoomi hasn’t shaved in a few days if the scruff on his jaw is anything to go by. He’s a mess. He’s been a mess for the last few weeks. And nobody on the team has any idea what the problem is. Hinata could, but Atsumu’s sure he would’ve called some kind of intervention if he knew anything specific about Kiyoomi’s state right now.
Atsumu makes a hasty decision. Admittedly, it’s probably also a bad decision, but that’s neither here nor there. Kiyoomi needs help. And Atsumu is going to give it to him. Starting with get him the hell out of here.
“Sakusa,” Atsumu says. He stumbles slightly over the syllables. It still feels strange to call his Kiyoomi by that name. The same man that he shared every first with. “C’mere,” Atsumu demands. Kiyoomi doesn’t stop his trudging towards his locker. Atsumu rolls his eyes and hooks his arm through Kiyoomi’s. He continues to walk, dragging Kiyoomi along behind him. Foster is standing outside his office as they pass it and Atsumu pulls to a stop.
“Coach,” Atsumu says to get his attention. Foster looks up and raises a brow. Atsumu points at Kiyoomi. “’m takin’ him outta here. He needs a day.”
Foster looks Kiyoomi over once and then shrugs. “Sure thing. See you both tomorrow.” Atsumu nods and starts to walk again. Kiyoomi makes a noise of surprise and starts to dig his feet into the ground.
“Wh-What?! I don’t need a day!” Kiyoomi protests. Atsumu ignores him. Kiyoomi keeps trying to fight and Atsumu almost points out that Kiyoomi not being able to break free is probably more of a sign than anything that he needs to take a day to himself. He’s deceptively strong. If he really wanted to get out of Atsumu’s flimsy grip, he should be able to do it with ease. “Miya! Let me go!”
“Ya look like shit.” Atsumu says bluntly. He shoves Kiyoomi out the front door of the building. Kiyoomi stumbles a few steps forward. Before he can regain his balance, Atsumu has his arm again and is dragging him through the parking lot. “Ya’ve been playin’ like shit and if yer not careful, yer gonna end up hurt. Yer takin’ a day.”
“You can’t just boss me around!” Kiyoomi protests again. Atsumu ignores him as he opens up the door to his car. “Miya! Cut it out! I’m fine!”
“Ya have stubble.” Atsumu says. Kiyoomi stops then. They stare at each other, standing in the open door of Atsumu’s passenger seat. Kiyoomi hates letting his beard grow out. He hates the feel of stubble even more. He would never just let it grow out because and they both know that. Not unless there was something keeping Kiyoomi from shaving. “Ya need a day.”
“Well, I don’t need you during my day.” Kiyoomi says. He rips his arm free and crosses both over his chest. Atsumu shrugs. “I can take care of myself.”
“Ya need ta talk to somebody.” Atsumu tells him. Kiyoomi rolls his eyes and his shoulders tense. Atsumu eyes Kiyoomi carefully. “Ya’ve been off fer weeks now. I’m stagin’ an intervention.”
“I’m not supposed to know about the intervention.”
“Well, yer gonna know about this one.” Atsumu says. He gestures to his car. “Get in so we can go.”
“I’m not going home with you.” Kiyoomi says. Atsumu takes a deep breath. “I’m not.”
“Alright, fine.” Atsumu gestures to his car again and Kiyoomi slowly gets in. Atsumu takes his gym bag and tosses it into the trunk before getting into the driver’s seat. “We’ll go ta a café or somethin’.”
Kiyoomi slumps in his seat and turns his knees towards the door. Atsumu doesn’t comment on the way he’s sitting. Instead, he chooses to take the long way to the nearest coffee shop. “Who says I want to talk to you?” Kiyoomi asks moodily.
“I didn’t say ya wanted ta.” Atsumu answers back in the same tone. Kiyoomi scoffs and Atsumu doesn’t need to look at him to know that Kiyoomi is rolling his eyes. “I said ya need ta talk ta someone.”
“And what gives you the power to decide that?” Kiyoomi asks. His voice has an edge to it; like he’s daring Atsumu to give the answer they both know is true. Atsumu doesn’t take the bait.
“You got in the car with me, didn’t ya?” Atsumu asks in return. Kiyoomi goes quiet after that. Atsumu hears his head thunk against the window. “Anyways, we’re goin’ ta that place ya like. Ya can get whatever ya want,” Atsumu says as he pulls into a parking spot down the street from the small café.
“It better be your treat if you’re going to kidnap me,” Kiyoomi grumbles. Atsumu hums and steps out of the car after shutting it off. Kiyoomi gets out on his own and Atsumu waits for him at the front of the car. “What are you doing?” Kiyoomi asks when Atsumu just stares at him.
Atsumu looks around the parking lot and then between the two of them. When Kiyoomi only raises a brow at him, Atsumu sighs. “Waitin’ fer ya? So we can walk together?” Atsumu says like it’s obvious.
Kiyoomi huffs and walks ahead of Atsumu. “I know my way there. I don’t need an escort.”
“It’s called bein’ polite, dick head.” Atsumu grumbles under his breath. He stays a few steps behind Kiyoomi as they make their way down the sidewalk. He can’t tell if Kiyoomi heard him or not, but he’s hoping he didn’t. He doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of the full force of his bad mood.
Atsumu waits for Kiyoomi to order before he does as well and pays. By the time he’s stuffing his change back into his wallet, Kiyoomi is already sat at a table in the back corner of the shop. Atsumu wanders over, looking over Kiyoomi while he has his guard down.
He just looks tired; like he’s sad. Atsumu has only seen him like this a few times and none of them were good at all. He can’t help but wonder what Kiyoomi is trying to get through by himself this time.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Kiyoomi says as soon as Atsumu sits down. He keeps his eyes on the window, watching the people walking by. Atsumu nods.
“That’s fine. I don’t need specifics or why’s.” Atsumu says. He laces his fingers together on the table. “I just need ta know yer takin’ care of yerself.”
Kiyoomi’s lips purse and he looks a little guilty when he shakes his head. “I guess I haven’t been,” Kiyoomi whispers. He glances at Atsumu. “You must think I’m a huge hypocrite.”
“I think,” Atsumu starts, choosing his words carefully, “that yer havin’ a hard time and need someone ta lean on.”
Kiyoomi’s eyes get that distant look that’s haunted Atsumu’s dreams for the past year. “And why should I trust you?”
Atsumu pretends like that doesn’t hurt. This isn’t about him right now. This is about getting Kiyoomi to open up and talk about whatever is bothering him. But Atsumu is still Atsumu, and he isn’t going to just let that comment slide. “I don’t remember being the one to end things between us.” Kiyoomi sucks his teeth and nods.
“I deserved that.”
“Ya did.”
They both fall silent at that. Atsumu takes a breath before speaking again. “But, I know ya. All of ya. There ain’t nothin’ ya could say that would make me think differently of ya.” Atsumu leans to the right a bit so Kiyoomi is forced to look at him. He smiles gently at Kiyoomi. “And I’m not gonna judge ya or baby ya or anythin’ like that.”
Kiyoomi shrugs and starts to pick at his fingers. He looks up when their drinks arrive and thanks the worker. He glances at Atsumu again. “I guess you’re right.”
Atsumu takes a sip of his hot chocolate. “Whenever yer ready.”
Kiyoomi hums and mixes his drink a few times before taking his first sip. Atsumu waits patiently for Kiyoomi to speak. “I…” Kiyoomi trails off and Atsumu feels a bit of panic rise in him when he sees how emotional Kiyoomi suddenly is. Kiyoomi bites on his lip and takes a shaky breath. “I started dating someone else.”
Atsumu nods. He lays his hand on the table, palm up. He’s only slightly surprised when Kiyoomi takes it and starts to pull on Atsumu’s hand. Old habits really do die hard. “And?” Atsumu prompts.
“And the bastard is cheating on me.” Kiyoomi laughs as he says it. A tear falls from his eye and he lifts his hand to wipe it away. He takes another drink of his coffee. “And I’m too much of a coward to confront him about it.”
“Oh.” Atsumu honestly wasn’t prepared for this. He really hadn’t thought that Kiyoomi was going to talk about why he’s so miserable lately. He had expected to just hear about how he’s having trouble sleeping or eating or something. Maybe that he just had a cold he couldn’t kick. And Atsumu knows they’ve been broken up for a long time, but to hear that Kiyoomi has found someone else? It makes his chest feel tight. “I-I’m sorry.”
Kiyoomi stares him down for a few seconds before breaking eye contact. “Yeah. Whatever.”
Atsumu’s face twists in confusion. “What? ‘m serious. I am sorry, ya don’t deserve that.”
“I meant…” Kiyoomi closes his mouth and shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. Anyways, new boyfriend is a dick.” Kiyoomi shrugs his shoulders and smiles ruefully down at his drink. “Just like every other guy I’ve tried to date since you.”
“Well,” Atsumu says. Kiyoomi doesn’t look up as he speaks. “I am pretty great. I just set the bar high.”
“Please, I can’t take your cocky attitude right now.” Kiyoomi says tiredly. He buries his face in his hands. Atsumu’s fingers feel cold at the loss of touch.
“Right. Sorry.” Atsumu looks around the slowly filling coffee shop. “Ya wanna get outta here?”
“And go where?” Kiyoomi asks without looking up.
“A drive.” Atsumu says. He jingles his keys. “It’s my gas, too. All ya hafta do is sit there and sulk.”
Kiyoomi looks at Atsumu between his fingers. “I do not sulk.”
Atsumu gives him a look that reads, ‘are you being serious right now?’ When Kiyoomi doesn’t budge, Atsumu rolls his eyes and stands up. “Well, ya can do whatever it is yer doin’ right now and I will waste my gas drivin’ ya around the countryside. How ‘bout that?”
“I’ll just fall asleep,” Kiyoomi mumbles as he stands up.
“Maybe that’s the point.” Atsumu hums as he and Kiyoomi fall into step on their way out. “Ya look exhausted. Yer eye bags have eye bags.” Kiyoomi fingers the skin under his eyes with a grimace. “Just relax. I was the one who took care of ya when ya had the flu last year. Ya’ve looked way worse.”
“Shut up,” Kiyoomi grumbles. He grabs onto Atsumu’s shirt as they walk down the much more crowded street. “You’re an idiot.”
“An idiot who’s about to waste his newly filled tank of gas ta put ya ta sleep.” Atsumu tells him cheekily. Kiyoomi ignores his second attempt at humor. Atsumu goes quiet, watching the sidewalk so they can walk unencumbered. He doesn’t want Kiyoomi to have any other reason to be upset and getting swept away in a crowd sounds like a recipe for disaster.
When they make it back to the car, Kiyoomi lets the bottom of Atsumu’s shirt go. They both get into the car and Atsumu starts it up. “I’ll wake ya up when we get there.”
“Get where?” Kiyoomi asks. Atsumu looks at him before reversing out of the spot. Kiyoomi’s brows are furrowed together as he tries to piece together what exactly Atsumu has planned.
“Don’t worry about it. Ya’ll like it. Promise.” Atsumu says. Kiyoomi stares at him a few more seconds before sighing and letting his seat lay back some.
“Fine.” Atsumu can’t help the smile on his face that Kiyoomi still trusts his word. Even if it’s probably more so that Kiyoomi is stuck in this car with him until Atsumu stops, it still makes Atsumu feel better about his decision to try and help him today. Seeing him almost breakdown in the coffee shop had been jarring. Who the hell knows what all is actually going on inside of Kiyoomi’s head?
Atsumu looks over to Kiyoomi at the first red light they pull up to. Kiyoomi’s already half asleep, eyes blinking slowly back at Atsumu. “Hm?” Kiyoomi hums tiredly.
Atsumu shakes his head. “Nothin’. Just checkin’ on ya.” Kiyoomi nods and yawns. He blinks a couple of more times before his eyes stay closed. Atsumu looks back to the road and waits for the light to turn green.
He just hopes that his plan to help Kiyoomi continues to help him.