Archive of Our Own

“Hurry up.”

Kiyoomi reminded Atsumu of a cat as he hissed the words at him. Claws out and ready, so strike if the alpha didn’t stop eating him out and stick it in already. Much like a cat, though, Kiyoomi was far too adorable to be intimidating, with his big doe eyes and shining curls and tiny little pout.

“Alright, alright.” Atsumu chuckled as he moved up the bed, mourning the loss of Kiyoomi’s slick on his tongue for just a minute before sinking into his cunt.

Kiyoomi visibly relaxed into it, arching his back and hiding his face in the pillow as Atsumu started to move after giving Kiyoomi just a moment to adjust. Atsumu was surprised to receive a come over text from the omega. It was just after nine on a Sunday. He was honestly already in bed—pajamas on and contacts out, ready to mindlessly scroll online until his eyes involuntarily shut and his alarm blared, alerting him it was time for Monday morning practice.

It was a booty call. Pure and simple. No denying that. But Atsumu wouldn’t even pretend that he was above it. He was up and changing into a more presentable pair of gray sweatpants before Kiyoomi could come to his senses and text Atsumu, nevermind.

“Fuck, Omi.” Atsumu groaned as he bent over the omega’s back, “Ya really needed this, huh?”

“Shut up,” Kiyoomi whined, a blush appearing on his cheeks as Atsumu turned his head.

No kissing.

That was one of Kiyoomi’s rules. The temptation was there, but Atsumu didn’t need the fussy omega to kick him out mid-thrust, so he went for Kiyoomi’s neck instead.

No marks.

He was careful not to stay in one spot too long, but Kiyoomi had such a sensitive neck that it was difficult not to. Slick was dripping down his thighs and soaking Atsumu as he kept his pace steady, his knot beginning to grow with each thrust.

“Be quiet.” Kiyoomi gasped as Atsumu snuck a hand between his thighs to swipe at his clit. “And pull out.”

“Yeah.” Atsumu huffed into his neck, the headboard smacking against the wall as he gave a particularly harsh thrust.

No knotting outside of their cycles.

In all honesty, Atsumu wasn’t sure why he put up with it. Kiyoomi’s list of rules and regulations was longer than that of the JVA. But every time he came over and fucked Kiyoomi, Atsumu forgot about all the reasons it was a bad idea, practically drunk off of the omega’s pussy and how tight and wet it was around him.

Kiyoomi bit his pillow as his orgasm hit, and Atsumu tried not to pout at being robbed of hearing his breathy moans as he came. That did him in, though. The way Kiyoomi’s cunt fluttered around his cock and soaked him even further. Atsumu stumbled as he pulled out, stroking only twice before he joined Kiyoomi, painting his cunt with his release as Atsumu let out a loud groan.

Normally, Kiyoomi was so out of it after he came that Atsumu had to move him around like a rag doll to drag him to the bath. But tonight? Kiyoomi sat up on his knees and slapped a hand across Atsumu’s mouth, taking away the nice view the alpha had of his sex and ruining the tail end of his orgasm.

“I told you to shut up.” Kiyoomi looked absolutely furious, which only served to make Atsumu’s softening cock twitch in interest.

“Shizuka is asleep! If you wake her up, I’ll kill you.”

Nevermind.

“Fuck.” Atsumu grumbled. Kiyoomi was already storming off to the bathroom to take a shower, and the alpha had no choice but to trail behind him and follow. “I’m sorry! How was I supposed to know!”

His grey sweatpants were flung at him, and Atsumu caught them one-handed before they could smack him in the face. The glare Kiyoomi sent him as he started the water was deadly.

“I thought it was Shouto’s weekend.”

The annoyance on Kiyoomi’s face was still there, but his expression softened slightly as Atsumu washed his hands in the bathroom sink and started to get dressed. Kiyoomi still stood there in all his naked glory, and Atsumu tried not to look at his body and get his alpha all excited again, knowing there wouldn’t be an encore performance tonight.

“He has an early meeting, so he dropped her off tonight.”

Kiyoomi didn’t wait for a response, as he deemed the water warm enough. He opened the shower door and stepped inside, following Atsumu’s sign that it was time to leave.

The alpha just sighed.

“See ya tomorrow, Omi.”

He was much quieter as he exited Kiyoomi’s apartment than he had been upon arrival. It made sense now that Kiyoomi stopped him from messing around in the genkan and dragged Atsumu to his bedroom, locking the door behind them. When Shizuka slept, she slept hard, but still, Atsumu should be grateful that they hadn’t accidentally woken her up.

It would have been real awkward to explain to Kiyoomi’s daughter why her Uncle Tsumu and Mommy were “wrestling naked”.

It had been a quick one, Atsumu now knowing why, and when he checked the time on his phone on the way downstairs, he realized Onigiri Miya would still be open for a few more minutes. He’d been ready to sleep before, but Atsumu felt wired now after his romp with Kiyoomi, and his alpha was annoyed at the loss of knotting. The restaurant was on the way home, so there was no harm in going to bug his twin for a bit and maybe mooch some free food off of him.

The streets were quiet as Atsumu walked through them. It was finally beginning to warm up, the harsh winter melting away into a pleasant spring. The volleyball season would be ending soon, but the upcoming games would be some of the toughest ones. Atsumu couldn’t afford to get distracted now, not with the championship tournament on the line. MSBY were defending their title from the previous two years, and Atsumu was determined to help usher the Jackals into a third win.

“Got another?”

Osamu grumbled as Atsumu walked up to him in the alleyway, holding out his pack of cigarettes and letting Atsumu take the last one. He would get serious about his meal plan and exercise routine in preparation for the tournament.

After tonight.

“Yer buying me more.”

“Sure.” Atsumu smiled at his twin as he lit the cigarette and took a drag, both of them knowing that was a lie.

They were both quiet as they smoked, Atsumu pulling his phone out when it buzzed in his pocket. A message from Kiyoomi, accompanied by a selfie of him and Shizuka, the pup wide awake and lying in the omega’s bed instead of her own.

You woke her up.
If you bring me a coffee to practice tomorrow, I might forgive you.

Atsumu chuckled as he saved the photo to his phone. He’d much rather spend a few yen on a coffee for Kiyoomi than cigarettes for his twin.

Osamu made a disgusted sound as he glanced at Atsumu’s phone and let his cigarette drop to the ground, putting it out under his shoe.

“What?” Atsumu glared at his brother, mimicking his move and snuffing out his own.

“Nothin’.” Osamu wrinkled his nose. It was never just nothing between the two of them. It only took a second for Osamu to keep talking, Atsumu following him back into the kitchen as his twin pushed open the alleyway door.

“Did ya sleep with him?”

The again was left unsaid.

“And what if I did?”

He still wanted that free onigiri, so Atsumu tried to keep his voice calm. But he could hear the judgment in Osamu’s tone. His twin glared at him again as he went to get a takeout box, packaging up the last few onigiri and handing them over to Atsumu. The alpha readily accepted them, mumbling a thanks.

Atsumu really didn’t want to talk about it, and it seemed Osamu didn’t either. He had made his thoughts on the matter well known already, telling Atsumu that he shouldn’t mess around with an omega who had a pup. Frankly, Atsumu didn’t see how it was any different from the omegas he’d slept with in the past who were childless. Kiyoomi and he were casual. It had been Kiyoomi himself who had suggested their little arrangement in the first place. They were both single, and having someone to share your cycle with during heats and ruts just made things easier and shorter. It meant less time off from volleyball and more time to focus on their games. It was practical. The two of them had been friends for years, and this wouldn’t change a thing.

“Yer an idiot.” Osamu huffed as he pushed Atsumu out the front door, locking it behind him.

His twin still had closing up to do, but Atsumu grinned at his twin and flashed his middle finger as he began his walk home. Osamu just didn’t get it. While Atsumu had enjoyed the single life—hookups in various cities during the season and the occasional short-term relationship in Osaka, his twin had only been in love with Rintarou since high school. The two of them were happy (disgustingly so, even after all of these years), but Atsumu was happy too. He didn’t want to be tied down just yet. He hadn’t slept with anyone aside from Kiyoomi in months (another one of the omega’s rules), but that didn’t bother him a bit. The sex was good, and even though it had started off as just an arrangement during their cycles, their hookups had bled into everyday life as well. Atsumu didn’t complain about that, especially on nights like tonight.

Atsumu smiled to himself as he grabbed an onigiri from the bag and took a bite. Kiyoomi and he had always had good chemistry on the court, but it had increased tenfold in the recent months. His alpha felt more in tune with Kiyoomi than ever before, and Atsumu had a good feeling about the upcoming tournament.

“Here ya go, darlin’.”

The locker slammed shut, and Kiyoomi glared at him, even as he swiped the coffee from Atsumu’s hands.

“You’re buying me lunch too.” Kiyoomi had bags under his eyes, and covered his mouth as he let out the cutest yawn. “Shizuka was up for two hours talking about that movie you took her to a few weeks ago. Two hours, Atsumu. And then she wouldn’t get up for school this morning. I had to drag her out of bed!”

“I’m real sorry, Omi.” Atsumu wasn’t that sorry, holding back a smile as Kiyoomi popped the lid off his coffee and blew on it before taking a sip. “I’ll get ya whatever ya want.”

Atsumu’s hand was resting on Kiyoomi’s lower back, nodding along and letting the omega complain as they made their way out of the locker room to begin practice. Inunaki audibly sighed as the two of them walked past him, and Atsumu caught himself just before a low growl left his throat. Instead of lashing out at his teammate, Atsumu did his best to ignore him, tightening his grasp on Kiyoomi instead.

Inunaki had run into the three of them–Kiyoomi, Shizuka, and himself–out on a walk after dinner a few weeks prior. Atsumu had thought nothing of it, Shizuka perched on his shoulders, and Kiyoomi’s arm linked around his as they stopped to chat for a few minutes. But Inunaki had accosted him in the locker room the next week.

“Are you two like…together?”

Osamu was bad enough, with his judgmental looks, but Inunaki was even worse. Atsumu didn’t understand why everyone thought it was so weird that Atsumu would spend his free time hanging out with Kiyoomi and his pup. Even before the two of them had started sleeping together, Atsumu found himself over at Kiyoomi’s place constantly. He’d never really had much experience with pups, Rintarou’s little sister, the only kid he had ever really interacted with on a regular basis, and she lived mostly to annoy them when they would hang out at the Suna residence in high school. But Shizuka wasn’t like other snot-nosed brats. Kiyoomi had raised her with manners, even if Atsumu’s influence had outdone some of those, Kiyoomi fussing at him when she repeated some bad words or fought him at bedtime because Atsumu let her stay up late to watch a movie and binge on candy and junk food when he was babysitting.

When Atsumu first joined the team, he thought Meian was unbelievably dull for turning down team invitations to go out drinking and instead going home to his omega and kids. It sounded like a nightmare, if you asked him. Who would want to go home and deal with that when you could get shitfaced and find some omega to fuck in the bar bathroom? But Atsumu saw the appeal now. He would never admit it to Meian, but spending the day taking Shizuka to the park and then going back to Kiyoomi’s place to cook the three of them dinner was just as fun, in its own way.

Kiyoomi’s ex, Shouto, had taken Shizuka on a week-long trip last summer, and Atsumu thought he might have missed her even more than the omega did while she was gone. He wasn’t sure before that he wanted to have kids of his own one day, but Atsumu hoped that if he did, they’d be just like Shizuka.

Practice went by quickly with Foster working them to the bone. They were finalizing some new plays, and Atsumu knew the team would be ready in time if they kept this up. His muscles were screaming at him by the end of the day, and he had to take a rain check on buying Kiyoomi lunch, only having time to scarf down a protein bar and some water before getting back to the court. Dinner would suffice, however. Atsumu showered quickly to catch Kiyoomi before he left to get Shizuka from school. They could walk together and surprise her; the pup was always thrilled when Atsumu tagged along to pick it up.

“Yakiniku?”

Kiyoomi was glaring down at his phone, turning his glare towards Atsumu when he burst out of the locker room.

“What?”

“Yakiniku!” Atsumu repeated himself, smiling as the two began to walk in step, pulling his bag up higher on his shoulder. “For dinner. Shizuka liked that last time. And I’m telling ya, she can help grill this time! I’ll teach her and everything, since if she learns from ya, we’re gonna be eating charcoal.”

Atsumu failed to mention that, despite Kiyoomi being terrified of letting his daughter anywhere near the grill when the three of them had eaten yakiniku before, he might have let Shizuka help cook the last time Atsumu had taken her alone.

“No.”

“Come on, Omi! She’s almost six. Samu and I were cooking at that age! Well. Samu was, at least. But it was just easier to let him do the work and steal what he cooked. Ya gotta work smarter, and not harder, ya know.”

Kiyoomi stopped for a moment, turning to him to frown, his eyebrows creasing and displacing his moles.

“Microwaving ramen is not the same thing as cooking over an open flame.” Kiyoomi huffed, and he began walking again, picking up his pace a bit. “And I can’t tonight. We already have plans.”

“Oh.” Atsumu tried not to let his smile falter, ignoring the way his stomach dropped a bit. “Another time then?”

They approached the street corner where they’d have to part ways–Atsumu’s apartment in one direction and Shizuka’s school in another. Though Kiyoomi didn’t say it, Atsumu could tell that the omega was antsy to get away before Atsumu could ask him what those plans entailed.

“Maybe hot pot.” Kiyoomi gave him a sad smile as the crosswalk signal changed. “Let’s start small.”

Atsumu waved as he watched Kiyoomi cross the street, standing there and watching the omega’s retreating form until he made it all the way across. Atsumu felt a bit deflated as he began the rest of his walk home. The plans that had motivated him through the second half of practice and had been thought about all afternoon had been dashed out in an instant. It wasn’t that big of a deal. It wasn’t like Atsumu wouldn’t see Kiyoomi tomorrow, and Shizuka on the weekend, as they already had tickets to take her to the zoo. Atsumu could still go get food by himself, but the idea was less appealing without Kiyoomi and Shizuka by his side.

Atsumu could have called up Bokuto or Osamu and invited them instead; those two were always down for a good meal, but he didn’t want to deal with the alpha’s high energy or his twin’s obnoxious nagging right now. His mood only worsened the further away from Kiyoomi he walked, Atsumu’s alpha unsettled and his scent leaking out from under his patches. People steered clear of him on the sidewalk, and Atsumu glared at them as they did.

Who cared if Kiyoomi had plans? Atsumu certainly didn’t. He didn’t care at all. And he definitely didn’t care that this was the first he was hearing about them, when usually he and Kiyoomi told each other everything.

“The fuck are ya looking at?” Atsumu growled at a passing omega who curled her nose at him as he waited at a street corner for the light to change.

Maybe his rut was coming early, Atsumu thought as he tried to reel in his scent, the omega scurrying away after he scared her. It wouldn’t surprise him, with the stress of the looming tournament beginning to get to him. Atsumu took a deep breath in a fruitless attempt to calm down, but it didn’t do much of anything to help him feel better. He didn’t have time to deal with this right now, not with all that was on the line. When he got home, he’d pop some suppressants and try to delay it until after the season ended.

Kiyoomi had been waiting for him when he exited the locker room, though, hands shoved in his pockets and a nervous frown on his face.

“Can you watch Shizuka on Saturday?”

“Of course.” Atsumu didn’t like the sour smell of Kiyoomi’s scent, and if the omega’s wrists weren’t hidden away, he would have reached out and scented him to change that. “But ain’t it Shouto’s weekend?”

The frown on his face only worsened, and Kiyoomi skirted around his question.

“Can you watch her or not?” Kiyoomi huffed, staring Atsumu dead in the eye but not really looking at him. He was more so looking through him, and Atsumu wanted to grab his chin and refocus his attention.

Ever since that day a few weeks prior, Kiyoomi had been avoiding him. Atsumu hadn’t even noticed it at first. When he got to the gym for practice the morning after Kiyoomi ditched him during dinner, the omega was already changed and warming up. And when Atsumu finished getting dressed, he went to ask Kiyoomi to stretch together, but he was already paired up with Bokuto, and Atsumu settled for stretching by himself. They didn’t always have time to stand around and chat during practice, especially with the end of the season nearing, but Kiyoomi barely spoke two words to him during water breaks. After practice ended, he practically ran out of the gym and took hours to respond to Atsumu’s text when he asked if everything was okay.

The week went on like that, and when Atsumu asked Kiyoomi what was up, the omega just said he was busy. It annoyed Atsumu a bit, but at least he had Saturday with Kiyoomi and Shizuka to look forward to. But when he woke up Saturday morning, early enough to swing by the bakery and pick up some of Shizuka’s pastries, Atsumu was met with disappointment again. Already, he was chuckling to himself at the talking to he would get from Kiyoomi about stuffing his daughter with sweets, his phone buzzing in his pocket as the bakery door swung shut behind him.

He almost ignored it as he started to make his way towards Kiyoomi’s place, and Atsumu wished he had when he pulled it out and read the message flashing on his lock screen.

Omi

I’m sorry. Something’s come up last minute–

Atsumu stood there on the sidewalk, blocking the flow of pedestrians and letting his phone screen go dark. His stomach sank, and he didn’t even want to see what else Kiyoomi had to say. He clutched the bag he was holding, the pastries getting crushed in the process. If he had been thinking properly, Atsumu would have called Kiyoomi or simply gone over to his place to find out what was wrong. But his vision felt like it was blackening, and in a fit of anger, he tossed the bag into a nearby trash can and turned his phone off.

When he saw Kiyoomi at practice again on Monday morning, Kiyoomi didn’t bring it up, and neither did Atsumu.

“Atsumu?”

In front of him, Kiyoomi was still looking expectantly at Atsumu, waiting for his response.

“Of course I can watch her. Just let me know when.”

Kiyoomi didn’t even send him his usual smile. He just nodded.

“I’ll text you.”

And then he was off.

“Uncle Tsumu.”

Atsumu’s heart wasn’t in it today. Usually, when he watched Shizuka, if Kiyoomi had a doctor’s appointment or some shopping to do, he would arrive a bit early and the three of them would hang out for a bit before Kiyoomi had to run off. Or at the very least, Kiyoomi would stay and talk to Atsumu for a minute before leaving. But this time, Atsumu had barely had time to knock on Kiyoomi’s door before the omega was breezing past him to leave. And he must have already said his goodbyes to Shizuka, because Kiyoomi didn’t even look back at her before he was out the door. Kiyoomi had moved quickly, but not before Atsumu had seen what he was wearing.

It was already late into the evening. Shizuka had had dinner and was already bathed and in her pajamas. Kiyoomi had neatly packaged up the leftovers for Atsumu and told him to help himself for dinner over text, but the singular pair of chopsticks and bowl in the sink made it obvious that Kiyoomi himself had yet to eat.

Where the fuck was Kiyoomi going, dressed like that on a Saturday night? He wasn’t usually the type of omega to wear feminine clothes, but the long black dress he had on was clinging to his skin, every curve defined through the sheer fabric. If Shizuka hadn’t been sitting in the living room, Atsumu would have grabbed Kiyoomi’s wrist and pulled him back inside, all the way to Kiyoomi’s bedroom, thrown him down on the bed and rucked that dress up and–

“Uncle Tsumu!”

Atsumu blinked, squeezing his eyes shut for a second before they refocused, glancing up at Shizuka. She had her hands on her hips, glaring down at him as he lay on the couch, her expression so Kiyoomi that there was no denying she was his daughter.

“Yeah, baby?” Atsumu sat up, moving over so she could sit next to him.

They had been playing with dolls in her room for a while before Atsumu told her he needed a minute, retreating to the living room as he told her it was time for bed, and to go brush her teeth.. Shizuka had fussed at him thoroughly for not following the storyline of the game she was trying to play, but Atsumu just couldn’t focus. His stomach was in knots, and all he could think about was Kiyoomi and what he was up to.

“I brushed my teeth.” Shizuka pouted. “You have to tuck me in now.”

Usually, Atsumu didn’t have to muster up or fake any enthusiasm with Shizuka. But tonight was a struggle. He plastered on a grin as he stood up, scooping her up and listening to her giggle as she did.

“I’ll read ya three books if ya stay in bed and don’t tell yer Ma about the ice cream I gave ya.”

“I won’t! Promise!”

With Shizuka thrown over his shoulder, Atsumu was glad she couldn’t see how the smile dropped off his face.

After he closed her bedroom door, Shizuka didn’t make a peep for the rest of the night. Kiyoomi hadn’t said when he was getting back, but as the hours ticked by, Atsumu began to feel restless. He texted Kiyoomi once just to check in and see, but the omega left him on read, which only made Atsumu’s agitation grow. It was unlike Kiyoomi to be out so late, especially without a word. Atsumu knew he was overreacting, but his alpha was anxious and worried. It was after 11 now, and he still hadn’t heard from Kiyoomi since he had left five hours earlier. Atsumu was about five minutes away from calling up Osamu and having him come over and sit in the living room, just in case Shizuka woke up, and going out to look for Kiyoomi himself when he heard the key slot into the front door.

Before the door could fully open, Atsumu was up and off the couch in the living room to greet him in the genkan. He was ready to yell at Kiyoomi and ask him where the fuck he had been when he smelled it. The scent of another alpha.

Pink was dusting Kiyoomi’s cheeks, and he let out a small gasp of surprise when he saw Atsumu standing there. He had obviously been drinking, stumbling a bit as he closed the front door behind him.

“You scared me,” Kiyoomi mumbled, backing up against the door when Atsumu took a step closer.

Those feelings of worry and anxiety were replaced with something else. Atsumu’s nose twitched, his alpha holding back a low growl, and his scent spiking. He took another step forward, Kiyoomi’s back hitting the closed door, and buried his face into the omega’s neck.

He couldn't stand it. Atsumu's pupils dilated as he pumped out his own scent, covering Kiyoomi in it to drown out the other one. His hands came to rest on Kiyoomi's hips, squeezing the flesh, the fabric of his dress rough against Atsumu's palm. His alpha was all twisted up inside–angry, concerned, fretful, possessive, horny.

"Atsumu!" Kiyoomi let out a warning growl, tugging on the back of Atsumu's neck, his scalp hurting from where the omega was pulling on his hair. "Behave yourself."

That broke the alpha out of his one-track mind. Atsumu felt himself relax, his alpha calming a bit now that Kiyoomi smelled thoroughly of him and not someone else. But he still didn't pull away. The heels Kiyoomi had on only made him taller, and the nasty glare he was sending down at Atsumu, the way his small fangs flashed at him, and the way he told Atsumu to behave. Well, all of that only made Atsumu more interested in getting Kiyoomi out of this dress.

"Sorry, Omi." Atsumu flashed him a grin, slotting a leg between Kiyoomi's and tightening his grip on the omega's hips. "I'll be good."

He was still a little angry. A little curious to find out exactly where Kiyoomi had been, and for so long, and why he smelled of someone else. But that would all just have to wait. They hadn't slept together in weeks now, and Atsumu was sorely reminded of that fact by his quickly hardening cock.

"Ya look good." Atsumu leaned in close, his breath ghosting across Kiyoomi's face as he moved his hands to grab Kiyoomi's ass. "Really good."

He didn't kiss the omega. Not when Kiyoomi had forbidden him, too. But the temptation was stronger than ever. Kiyoomi's lips parted as he let out another small gasp as Atsumu massaged his cheeks, pulling Kiyoomi forward so the omega could feel Atsumu's length against his front. Kiyoomi had been the one drinking, but Atsumu felt drunk himself, despite being sober. He could smell it as Kiyoomi's cunt began to leak, the sweet smell of his slick making Atsumu's nostrils flare. Spit pooled under his tongue, and the alpha didn't think he could even make it to Kiyoomi's bedroom. He would drop to his knees right here, kissing up Kiyoomi's legs, starting at his ankles, as he pushed the omega's dress up his thighs and pulled his panties to the side.

But before he could even move, Kiyoomi peeled Atsumu's hands off of his ass and pushed him away.

"We can't." Kiyoomi cleared his throat, adjusting his dress from where Atsumu had tugged at the fabric.

"Why not?"

Kiyoomi let out a sigh, bending over to unbuckle the straps of his shoes. Normally, Atsumu would offer to help him, but Kiyoomi had made it quite clear that he didn't want any of Atsumu's help at the moment.

"I didn't know how to tell you this before." Kiyoomi kicked his shoes to the side, not bothering to line them up like he usually did. He didn't even make a move to bring Atsumu to the living room, fingers lingering on the doorknob behind him, like he was just waiting to toss Atsumu out.

"That's a first for ya." Atsumu jeered, "Usually ya can't wait to speak whatever is on yer mind."

"There's a first time for everything, isn't there?" Kiyoomi sent him a glare, his grip on the door handle behind him tightening. "I don't want you to say a word when I tell you, okay? Just shut up and listen."

Atsumu huffed, that anger and annoyance creeping up again. But he mimicked zipping his lips, making no promise to stay quiet, but willing to hear Kiyoomi out with whatever the omega was about to tell him.

"We can't do this anymore."

A hammer swung back, hitting against the head of the nail, the tip just piercing Atsumu's thick skin.

"Shouto and I are trying to work things out.

Kiyoomi pulled his arm back and swung again, the nail digging a centimeter deeper and opening up a wound.

"Shizuka deserves both her parents."

And again.

"This doesn't change anything."

Again.

"You can still see her, and we can still hang out."

Again.

"We just can't sleep together anymore."

Again.

"We're still friends, though. Aren't we, Atsumu?"

Swallowing did nothing to alleviate the dryness in Atsumu's throat, his mouth equally parched. And it did nothing to quell the nausea creeping its way up from his stomach. His alpha, who was usually just as loud as Atsumu was, was eerily quiet, stunned to silence, just like the man himself. Kiyoomi had told Atsumu to be quiet and listen, but the omega was done talking now, and he was waiting for a response. He was looking at Atsumu so expectantly, his face twisted up and his nerves evident.

Atsumu swallowed again, forcing his throat to open and words to spill out of his mouth.

"'Course, Omi."

His cheeks ached from plastering on the fake smile for the omega's sake. But Kiyoomi visibly relaxed, smiling back at Atsumu, even as the nail Kiyoomi had driven into him dug in so deep that it disappeared completely underneath Atsumu's skin.

Atsumu didn't remember putting on his shoes or leaving Kiyoomi's apartment, the front door shutting quietly behind him as he walked down the stairs outside. He didn't remember his feet carrying him down the sidewalk, as if on autopilot, ducking into the first open izakaya he passed. Atsumu didn't remember what drink he ordered, just that it was a strong one, slamming it down and asking for another before the bartender could move on to the next customer. He didn't remember going home after getting tossed out, or how he even got there, getting louder and more belligerent the more that he drank.

Atsumu could only remember waking up in the morning with a pounding headache and wishing he could forget Kiyoomi's words instead.

Sakusa Shizuka was five years old, and Kiyoomi and her father, Shouto, had been separated for four of those years.

Atsumu was biased, but she might have been the cutest pup he had ever seen. When Kiyoomi had first introduced her to the team, coming back to surprise them at the start of practice one day when she was just a few months old, he'd glared at them until they'd masked up and washed their hands. Meian was the only one of them with children of his own, but even their captain holding her left Kiyoomi hovering and looking nervous. When Bokuto asked if he could hold her next, Kiyoomi just stared at him and didn't answer as he took her back from Meian's arms.

In all honesty, Atsumu really didn't like kids all that much. He'd probably have them one day, if his future mate really wanted them, but they were loud and unpredictable, and way too expensive and way too much work. In true Kiyoomi fashion, he'd announced his pregnancy with Shizuka with little fanfare. It had only been his first season with the Jackals, and when Kiyoomi declared that he had something to tell them, Atsumu could never have predicted what was about to follow. Truely, it had been more of an endnote to his other announcement that he would be moving in with his boyfriend Shouto and they were having a housewarming party, and that the team could come, he guessed, if they really wanted to (it didn't at all sound like Kiyoomi wanted any of them in his new apartment) and, oh, I'll be taking next season off, because we're expecting.

It wasn't until after Kiyoomi had walked out of the gym without a second glance back that the omega's words truly sank in. Atsumu had stood there in shock as the rest of the team gossiped amongst themselves, feeling strange about the whole thing. Kiyoomi and he were just starting to become friends. Still, apparently they weren't as close as Atsumu had thought, considering how it had been since Atsumu last heard from Kiyoomi, the omega had claimed that things between him and Shouto weren't that serious.

"Wow!" Bokuto clapped Atsumu on the back, breaking him out of his stupor. "We're going to be like…uncles! Isn't this exciting, Tsum-Tsum?"

Atsumu forced a smile on his face, his alpha not finding the idea exciting at all.

"Yeah, Bo. Real great."

Atsumu didn't have any interest in holding Shizuka, but then she leaned over in Kiyoomi's arms and reached out for him.

"Did you want to hold her?"

Despite asking him, Kiyoomi definitely looked like he did not want Atsumu to accept. Things had been a bit awkward between the two of them for the last year. They used to live near one another and walk to practice together some mornings, Kiyoomi still adjusting to life in Osaka and not quite knowing his way around town. But Kiyoomi had moved to another part of town when he and Shouto had gotten hitched. They were long-distance before. Shouto was still back in Tokyo, where the two of them had met, but moving down to join his omega before Shizuka's arrival. The two of them had started to hang out on the weekends. Well, it was more that Atsumu showed up at his apartment and dragged Kiyoomi out, whether the omega wanted to or not, but that had stopped since Shouto had moved. Normally, Atsumu didn't care about things like pissing off some other omega's alpha, but Kiyoomi had been the one who had gotten most upset when he showed up one day at their new place unannounced. Shouto hadn't even been around, but after the shock had melted off of Kiyoomi's face, anger replaced it. He slammed the door in Atsumu's face and told him he couldn't be there, and refused to talk to him at practice for a week after.

Atsumu didn't try that again.

Kiyoomi, being the private person that he was, didn't share photos of Shizuka on social media, and his own official MSBY account had only been posting old clips and photos while he was on leave. It struck Atsumu then that he hadn't seen Kiyoomi in months, and it also hit him just how much he'd been missing the omega.

He hadn't even realized.

Prickly, off-putting, anti-social jerk Sakusa Kiyoomi looked…cute with a pup in his arms. It softened his demeanor a bit, even if Kiyoomi still wore a deep frown on his face as Shizuka kept trying to wiggle out of his grasp.

"Sure, Omi." Atsumu grinned at the omega, taking Shizuka from his arms.

What was that story? With the grinch? Something about his heart growing ten sizes or some bullshit. Atsumu felt that when he held her. Shizuka looked like the spitting image of Kiyoomi, with curly dark hair and large black eyes. She stared at him, wide-eyed as she giggled, her chubby fists curling into the fabric of his jersey. Shizuka couldn't talk yet, but she babbled away as she rested her head on Atsumu's shoulder.

"Look. She likes me!"

Atsumu could tell that Kiyoomi was fighting back a smile, fingers twitching at his sides. Part of the omega looked extremely put off at the idea of his daughter liking Atsumu, but the other part of him looked like he was breathing a sigh of relief that the team so readily accepted her. Shizuka ended up falling asleep in his arms as they stood around talking, and not even Foster yelled at them to get back to practice. Everyone was too busy cooing over Shizuka and discussing Kiyoomi's return to the team at the start of the next season to focus on anything else. It was with great reluctance that Atsumu handed her back over when an alarm on Kiyoomi's phone went off, the omega announcing that they had an appointment to get to.

That was only the beginning of Atsumu's relationship with Shizuka. As she grew, so did their bond–as did Kiyoomi's and Atsumu's–even as the omega's relationship with Shouto fell apart.

If it had been anyone else, Atsumu might have rubbed it in their face and said I told you so. Kiyoomi had met Shouto in his final year of college, and they'd only been together for less than a year when he accidentally fell pregnant with Shizuka. The Sakusas, being the traditional family that they were, tried to pressure Kiyoomi and Shouto into mating and getting married. Still, Kiyoomi, ever cautious and overthinking, decided to wait until Shizuka was a bit older before taking any next steps. And it was a good thing that he did.

Kiyoomi wasn't a particularly emotional omega, at least not in front of Atsumu. The most he displayed on his face was annoyance, disgust, or his usual pout. But shortly after returning to the team, when Shizuka was just a year old, he was off his game. Throughout the match against the Falcons, he was consistently flubbing his serves and hitting the ball out of bounds. Even after sitting out for a few minutes to catch his breath and drink some water, Kiyoomi couldn't get it together, Foster ultimately benching him for the rest of the match. Atsumu was furious at first. He knew there wasn't an issue with his sets, as even a fucking idiot could hit them. And Kiyoomi wasn't an idiot, even if he was acting completely incompetent at that moment.

They'd won the game in the end, no thanks to the omega. And Atsumu was ready to tear into Kiyoomi as soon as they were off the court, without cameras watching their every move. But as soon as Atsumu opened his mouth, Kiyoomi burst into tears, and all the anger on his tongue quickly fizzled out.

Between choking sobs, Kiyoomi told Atsumu that he and Shouto had ended things over the weekend. Despite trying to make it work for Shizuka, they were just too different. It was too much and too soon. If it hadn't been for their daughter, they would have ended things far earlier. And that he was really sorry, but he hadn't slept all week. Shizuka was teething, and Shouto had been staying at a hotel while they both looked for new apartments. That he would be fine again next match, and that he wouldn't let down the team again.

Atsumu stood there, shell-shocked, awkwardly patting Kiyoomi's back as the prickly omega who did not like to be touched buried his face in Atsumu's neck and let Atsumu scent him. Guilt hit Atsumu as he shushed Kiyoomi and told him it was okay, all the while plotting Shouto's murder for upsetting Kiyoomi so badly.

That day, something shifted. Kiyoomi didn't bring it up again, but to his word, he hit every single one of Atsumu's sets in the next game. But it brought them closer, Kiyoomi opening the door and letting Atsumu into his world, a true friendship between the two of them beginning to blossom.

Shouto might not have been a good match for Kiyoomi, but he was a decent father to Shizuka. He took her every other weekend while Kiyoomi was traveling during away games with MSBY. It took some time, but the two of them developed a good co-parenting relationship. If not, cursing each other out while exchanging Shizuka meant good. To Atsumu's knowledge, Kiyoomi hadn't dated anyone since the breakup, and he hadn't slept with anyone aside from Atsumu himself.

There wasn't a world in which Atsumu could have ever predicted the two of them would get back together. Kiyoomi hadn't even mentioned Shouto in months, and Atsumu had no clue that the two of them were even talking again. But Atsumu supposed there must be a lot of things that he didn't know, and he wished it didn't bother him as much as it did.

Atsumu was excited for today's game. It was the last game of the regular season, and fortunately for the Jackals, their rankings were such that the outcome didn't truly matter whether they won or lost. Not that Atsumu intended to lose. Especially when they were facing off against the Rajins, and Rintarou would hold it over him for an eternity if he didn't win. Atsumu only hoped that Rintarou would be distracted by reuniting with Osamu and be off his game. Being the generous brother that he was, he had even used his connections to book the two of them dinner at that exclusive restaurant that Osamu hadn't shut up about for the last few months. And ordered them a bottle of wine and told the owners to charge their dinner to his credit card. The thought of checking his bank account filled him with dread, but Atsumu had done a completely selfless deed.

Unfortunately for him, Rintarou didn't look the least bit hungover or even tired when he strolled up to Atsumu before the match began.

"You're a rotten bastard, you know that?" Rintarou smirked as he punched Atsumu in the shoulder.

"It was worth a shot." Atsumu grinned back, adrenaline already beginning to pump through his veins.

It was still early enough that the crowd wasn't inside the arena yet, just players, staff, and a few family and friends with complimentary tickets sitting in the seats. Atsumu had spotted Shizuka and Shouto the moment the two of them had walked in, and he was trying his hardest not to look in their direction, especially when Kiyoomi wandered over to talk to them.

"Don't they look real sweet."

Rintarou nodded his head, holding back a sly grin. He called Atsumu a bastard, but Rintarou was even worse. The omega was nice to Osamu, but when it came to Atsumu? Rintarou seemed to live to torture him. He stole a glance towards Kiyoomi, and if not for Shizuka spotting him, grinning and waving in Atsumu's direction, the alpha would have sneered. Atsumu waved back at the pup, ignoring Shouto entirely when the alpha noticed him and moved closer towards Kiyoomi.

"They look like something, alright." Atsumu huffed, turning away from the scene before he threw up his breakfast.

He'd only met Shouto a handful of times, but he didn't like him at all. While Atsumu looked good with blond hair, Shouto just looked stupid. The hair color didn't suit him, and not even his tall height and decent physique could save him. He looked unbelievably dull, especially standing next to flawless Kiyoomi, and he should be grateful that their pup only took after the omega and inherited all of his traits.

"Heard your days of playing step-dad are over."

Atsumu whipped back around to Rintarou, and the omega could no longer hold back a shit stirring grin.

"Does Osamu have to fuckin' tell ya everything?" Atsumu growled. He'd kill his brother, and be sure to call the restaurant back and report the charges as credit card fraud. "And for the record, we were just fuckin'. I don't give a shit if Kiyoomi wants to get back with that loser or not. I support him and all of his decisions! Even if I think they're stupid ones."

"Right."

"And Shizuka is just…Shizuka. I ain't her fucking dad and I'm not trying to be. She's just sweet, okay? She ain't a fucking terror like her sister. And since when is it a crime to have friends? Omi's my friend. I don't see what the big deal is!"

"Sure."

Whatever else Atsumu was going to word vomit to Rintarou was cut off by Foster blowing the whistle, signaling that it was time to stop messing around and begin warmups for the game. Rintarou looked even more relaxed and in the zone than a minute ago, while Atsumu was the opposite. His blood pressure was up, and his pulse was racing, and if not for the scent patch on his neck, he was sure his outraged smell would be leaking out all over the court.

He didn't acknowledge Kiyoomi as he lined up to practice sets, angrily tossing up ball after ball whilst his teammates ran up to hit them. Atsumu was sure that Kiyoomi could sense his bad mood, but Atsumu was thankful that the omega said nothing, as he was ready to snap at the next person who spoke to him.

When the match began, Atsumu's mood only worsened. The outcome of the game didn't even matter, but Atsumu was too fired up to play it safe. He made risky plays – diving for balls that would have gone out of bounds and setting fast and high, forcing his teammates to work for it to hit his sets. The crowd was eating it up, but Atsumu could hardly hear their cheers over the blood rushing to his brain. Rintarou had dropped his smirk, but his stone-faced look only angered Atsumu further. He was up to serve next, and he knew exactly who he would aim the ball at.

Motoya was bouncing on the balls of his feet, ready to go after anything Atsumu threw his way. But the alpha had another target. The crowd grew silent as the referee blew their whistle, Atsumu taking six steps behind the line before turning around. He took a deep breath in, slowly exhaling out as he tossed the ball into the air. He wasn't looking at it as he ran up and made his approach, his eyes trained on Rintarou on the other side of the net. Atsumu jumped into the air, the ball connecting with his palm and flying across the court.

It crashed down on the floor next to Rintarou, narrowly missing the omega as his eyes widened just a hair. Atsumu landed on the court as well, blood pumping hard and fast in his veins.

Excruciating pain shot up Atsumu's leg like lightning, and the horrifically loud crunching sound it made was deafening, even compared to the horrified gasps from the crowd.

“I’m okay, Omi.” Atsumu slurred his words, trying to lift his hand to reach towards the omega, but his movements were sluggish, his limbs not quite responding with all the pain medication currently circulating through his system.

The medics had to help him off the court, and his teammates all gathered around him. A timeout was called until he was wheeled away. They were all hovering, and Atsumu couldn't focus on a single word they were saying, Bokuto talking a mile a minute, and even Inunaki looking concerned. Foster had to step in eventually and tell them to give Atsumu some space. The medics wanted to put him on a stretcher, but dignity, or foolishness, had Atsumu insistent upon staying standing until he was out of the eyes of the crowd in the stands. The hallway to the locker room had never seemed so dauntingly long. Atsumu had to fight through the pain to turn back to yell at his teammates.

"Ya better get back on the court and fucking win this game!"

Everyone listened to him, nodding their heads, a look of determination falling on their faces. All of them except Kiyoomi, that was. He followed Atsumu off the court, glaring at one of the medics until they moved aside and let Kiyoomi take their place. Atsumu wasn't in the headspace to argue with him, especially once Kiyoomi peeled back the corner of his scent patch and doused Atsumu with a calming smell.

Not even the EMTs questioned Kiyoomi, or the fact that he wasn't a family member, when he climbed into the ambulance after them. Atsumu could barely remember everything the doctors had put him through–arriving at the emergency room, an x-ray, setting the bone, applying the cast. He had tried to tough it out, but it fucking hurt, even for a strong alpha such as himself. Atsumu was just beginning to doze off when Kiyoomi started fussing over him, the two of them finally alone as the last nurse left his room, the somewhat composed look Kiyoomi had been trying to hold together cracking at last.

"No, you're not!" Kiyoomi was pouting, lacing their fingers together when he saw Atsumu struggling.

"Yer cute when yer worried." Atsumu chuckled, trying to roll over in bed to better face Kiyoomi, and promptly getting pushed back down. A flush appeared on the omega's cheeks, but his grip on Atsumu's hand tightened.

"Stop talking. You need to rest."

Atsumu closed his eyes, not wanting to be reminded of the elephant in the room. The doctors said the break was clean, and he was lucky not to need surgery. He'd been in a cast and crutches for a while, and then a boot. There would be several months of healing and physical therapy. He'd miss the rest of the season and the tournament, but if Atsumu was smart and listened to their medical advice, he'd be back on the court by the end of the year. It was a blow. Atsumu couldn't deny that. But the alpha was grateful it wasn't a career-ending injury. He didn't want to think about what he would do if it were.

"All I'm doing is restin', baby. I'm stuck here for the next few days. Remember?"

Kiyoomi hummed, scooting his chair closer so that he could rest his chin on the bed near Atsumu's shoulder. When Atsumu cracked his eyes open again, Kiyoomi was staring up at him wide-eyed, the frown on his face even worse than before. Atsumu didn't care if his leg was broken; if he had the energy to pull Kiyoomi up and move over so the omega could lie down beside him, he would. Most omegas had a sweet scent, but Kiyoomi's was more subtle and earthy. It had been a bit jarring the first time Atsumu had been around Kiyoomi without his scent patches on, but now? Atsumu could easily say it was his favorite scent in the world. If Kiyoomi hadn't been beside him, holding his hand, pumping it out continuously to keep Atsumu calm throughout the day, the alpha didn't know what he would have done.

There was a knock at the door, and Rintarou and Osamu waltzed in a moment later. Kiyoomi snatched his hand away, sitting up straight and reeling in his scent. Atsumu would usually be happy to see his brother and his mate, but they took away his only source of comfort with their arrival, and the only thing Atsumu could do was glare at them.

"What?" Atsumu snapped.

"Jeez." Rintarou chuckled. It was a more nervous laugh, not his usual snarky one, and even the usually prankster omega looked a bit worried. He approached the chair on the other side of Atsumu's bed from Kiyoomi, sitting down in it as Osamu trailed behind him and stood.

"Thought you'd be happier to see us. Especially since the Jackals won."

That did make Atsumu crack a smile, as did Osamu placing down a bag of onigiri on his bedside table.

"Hi Kiyo." Rintarou grinned at Kiyoomi, who hadn't said a word since Rintarou and his twin had entered the room. Osamu grunted out his own hello, an awkward Sakusa leaving his lips. Kiyoomi just nodded at the pair, quickly turning his eyes back towards Atsumu.

"Just this once, I'll let you gloat about it. So enjoy it while it lasts, Atsumu."

"If ya insist, Rin."

The three of them talked for a few minutes, Osamu fussing over him and asking to know everything the doctors had said, telling Atsumu he had called their mother and she was already on her way. Rintarou cracked jokes at both their expenses, poking Atsumu's cast and telling Osamu not to get too worked up, as it would take a lot more than this to stop Atsumu.

"I should go." Kiyoomi interrupted them abruptly, his chair screeching as he stood up. "Shizuka is probably worried."

Atsumu's stomach sank. He didn't want Kiyoomi to leave. Not at all.

"Will ya come visit me tomorrow?" Atsumu frowned, reaching towards Kiyoomi to hold his hand again, but the omega was too far away. "Please? Shizuka, too. So she can see that I'm alright."

"You're far from alright!" Kiyoomi snapped, clenching his fists before taking a calming breath. Atsumu hated how upset Kiyoomi was, releasing a bit of his scent to soothe him, as it was the only thing he could do while lying up in bed. "But yes, I'll come. We both will."

Kiyoomi's fingers were twitching as he stood there for a moment, lingering and looking like he wanted to say more, but refusing to do so in the present company. Kiyoomi hadn't even had time to change, still in his uniform from the game, or had time to grab his phone or bag, running out of the stadium to stay with Atsumu.

"Come on." Rintarou stood, holding his phone out, gesturing to Kiyoomi. "I'll walk you out and call Motoya. He has your things."

As the two omegas made their way towards the door, Kiyoomi glanced over his shoulder one last time. His lips moved, his mouth opening and closing once, but he didn't speak. Rintarou ushered him out, and when the door closed behind them, there was silence for a moment, until Osamu broke it.

"Atsumu."

Kiyoomi was gone, but it was hard to draw his eyes away from the doorway where he had just stood. With a sigh, Atsumu turned back towards his twin, who had taken Rintarou's seat in the omega's absence.

"Yeah?"

The look on Osamu's face was one of pure disgust. It was worse than the time he caught Atsumu stealing his last pudding back in high school. Worse than that time he caught Atsumu and some omega making out in the bathroom at the Onigiri Miya opening. Worse than any look of judgment that his twin had ever given him in their almost twenty-eight years alive on Earth.

"Yer a fucking idiot."

"Say ahh!"

Atsumu parted his lips, sticking out his tongue and holding back a gag as Shizuka shoved a toy thermometer from her pretend doctor kit into his mouth.

"You're healthy!" Shizuka screamed, saving Atsumu before he actually choked, and dropped the thermometer back into her bag to retrieve another toy. Kiyoomi would cringe and call it unsanitary, but Atsumu wouldn't tell him about it, as the omega was already stressed enough.

Atsumu had been released from the hospital that morning, and before he could even sit down on the couch and put his leg up, there was a knock on the front door. He was still getting used to the crutches, so it took him a moment to stand up and hobble over to see who was there. But a smile broke out on Atsumu's face when he saw that Shizuka and Kiyoomi were waiting on the other side.

"Where are your keys? I'm making myself a copy for next time. Do not get up again." Kiyoomi had mumbled to him once he was settled in the living room, Shizuka perched next to him as she began her thorough examination.

If Kiyoomi wanted to play nurse, Atsumu wasn't about to complain. Rintarou had to leave the day after their game against the Rajins, but Osamu had come each morning and evening before and after work. All of his teammates had stopped by to check up on him, and Atsumu had even survived an awkward visit from Foster, trying to maintain an ounce of professionalism in front of his coach while high on pain medication. Kiyoomi and Shizuka were his favorite visitors, though. Every afternoon when Shizuka got off from school, the two of them would come to see him, Shizuka having zero reservations about climbing up onto the hospital bed beside him, even as Kiyoomi fussed at her and told her to get down before she hurt Atsumu.

Kiyoomi playing chef was more concerning, however. While Shizuka kept him company in the living room, he could hear Kiyoomi in the kitchen, banging pots and pans together and preparing lunch for the three of them. More than his leg, Atsumu feared for his life at whatever monstrosity the omega was going to whip up and serve to them. He would eat it all, though, with a smile on his face to boot. Kiyoomi could not cook to save his life, and it was a wonder that Shizuka was as healthy as she was. But Atsumu appreciated the effort, his alpha rumbling and not at all opposed to having an omega fuss over them.

"Mommy said he's going to make curry," Shizuka whispered, her doctor kit abandoned as she snuggled up into Atsumu's side, worming her way under the alpha's arm. "He said it's your favorite. And he said not to tell you because it's a surprise."

Atsumu held back his laughter, smiling down at the pup.

"I'm very surprised."

"I don't want to eat curry again, though." Shizuka made a disgusted face, her little pout mimicking Kiyoomi's own. "Mommy cooked it every day for dinner this week. He said he was practicing. I'm tired of it."

The pain medication was making Atsumu more emotional than usual, squeezing Shizuka against his chest so she wouldn't see the way his bottom lip quivered just a bit. Kiyoomi survived on rice, bland chicken, and steamed vegetables. The thought of the omega going through the trouble to make something special, just for him, made Atsumu's heart swell.

"Tell ya what, Shizuka." Atsumu resting his cheek against the top of her head, "If ya eat it one more time, I'll get ya as much ice cream as ya want the next time I watch ya. Deal?"

Shizuka wiggled her way out of Atsumu's grasp, frowning as she thought over his proposition.

"And a new toy."

"And a new toy." Atsumu nodded, holding out his hand for Shizuka to shake and finalize the deal.

Kiyoomi called them a few minutes later, telling them that lunch was ready, but before Atsumu could even think about getting up, the omega appeared in front of him. He stood there with his hands on his hips, and Atsumu could tell he was holding back from telling Shizuka not to climb all over the alpha while he was healing.

"Go wash up, Shizuka. Your food is in the kitchen."

She pouted a bit, but Atsumu mouthed at her, remember our deal?, which got her smiling and running off to eat. Kiyoomi just sighed, placing Atsumu's bowl down on the coffee table, along with a napkin and chopsticks. The curry was steaming, and actually looked edible. All that practice must have paid off.

"Star treatment today." Atsumu grinned. "Can't believe yer letting me eat in here."

Even in his own apartment, Kiyoomi usually threw a fit about Atsumu eating on the couch. He sat down on the floor opposite the coffee table, glaring up at Atsumu as he scooped up a bite, blowing on it to cool it down.

"Don't get used to it," Kiyoomi warned.

While Atsumu ate, Kiyoomi just sat there and watched. Atsumu expected the worst, having been almost poisoned by Kiyoomi in the past. But his eyes opened in surprise after the first bite. It was good. Really good. Curry wasn't a particularly complicated dish, but it might be the best one the alpha had ever eaten, and not just because Kiyoomi had put in so much effort to prepare it for him. Atsumu burned his tongue a bit on the second bite, not waiting for it to cool down.

"Do you like it?" Kiyoomi was looking up at him expectantly. He was nervous–his lips downturned, fingers tapping the edge of the coffee table, and a flush on his cheeks.

Atsumu swallowed the bite still in his mouth, wishing his fucking leg wasn't in a cast, or he'd crawl over to Kiyoomi and kiss him on the mouth to wipe away the tiny frown.

"I love it."

The room was filled with Kiyoomi's scent, the tension he'd been holding in his shoulders melting away as the omega smiled. Atsumu grinned at him before going back in for more. The two of them spoke between bites as Atsumu ate–how practice had been going in his absence, how much Kiyoomi loathed the backup setter, the get-well card Shizuka had drawn for Atsumu at school that week. Shizuka finished her lunch and came back to join them, looking expectantly at the alpha, like she wanted her ice cream and new toy now. Atsumu finished up his second helping by then and distracted her by suggesting they watch a movie. Kids were fickle, and it worked for the time, Shizuka sitting in front of the couch and zoning out almost immediately. Kiyoomi moved some pillows so he could join Atsumu, with the alpha's leg now resting in his lap instead of on the cushions. Atsumu could feel himself growing tired, letting his eyes shut, his stomach full, and his heart even fuller.

He didn't want to think about volleyball, or the fact that in a few weeks, Kiyoomi would be traveling to Tokyo for the semi-finals match. Atsumu prayed that he would be well enough to travel with them, even if he had to sit on the sidelines and simply watch. He knew he would be crawling out of his skin to join Kiyoomi on the court, but he wanted to be there to cheer on his team. For now, Atsumu tried not to let that bother him. As long as Kiyoomi was by his side, he would be alright. Atsumu didn't deserve Kiyoomi, or his kindness, but he would selfishly soak it all up and bask in it for as long as he could.

The days passed, and Atsumu began weaning off the medication while his confidence and strength on his crutches grew. He was still mostly confined to his apartment. One day, he was feeling cocky, so he decided to hobble to Onigiri Miya to pick up some lunch. That had been a mistake, one he had paid for the next day–his leg screaming at him and Kiyoomi screaming even louder. The omega had berated him and told him not to push himself until the doctors gave the okay. From then on out, he stuck to taking short walks in the one-block radius around his place, or sitting inside and doing the exercises his physical therapist had instructed him to do.

Atsumu was used to the door unlocking by itself now, and Kiyoomi was deadly serious when he told Atsumu he was making a copy of his key. He didn't bother getting up from the couch, pushing his glasses up his nose as they began to slip down, mindlessly watching some reality show as Kiyoomi let himself in. He braced himself, waiting for Shizuka to jump on his stomach and leave him breathless. But instead, he got a quiet hello from Kiyoomi, the omega sighing when he saw the pile of food wrappers sitting on the coffee table.

"Where's my girl?"

Kiyoomi looked disgusted as he began to clean up Atsumu's mess before the alpha could tell him not to.

"She's with Shouto. She caught a cold at school and is feeling sick."

Atsumu ignored the way his stomach sank at even the mention of the alpha's name.

"Which is what you're going to make yourself if you lounge around eating like this!" Kiyoomi chastised him as he stormed off to the kitchen, Atsumu grabbing the crutches that had been leaning against the couch and following after him.

"Have you eaten a single real meal today?" Kiyoomi glared at the empty noodle cup on the counter, and they both knew the answer to that.

"I was havin' a lazy day!" Atsumu huffed. "What's wrong with that?"

Atsumu had slept in and changed back into pajamas after his shower. After a short trip to the konbini, he had parked himself on the couch and had not moved since. Kiyoomi looked completely unimpressed by his answer, tossing out the garbage before crossing his arms to glare.

"I didn't know ya were coming over. I woulda cleaned up first if I had."

"Mmhmm. Sure, you would have."

There were only a few dishes in the sink, but Kiyoomi turned on the water to wash them. Atsumu just sighed as he leaned against the counter, watching as Kiyoomi meticulously scrubbed each dish.

"What're ya doin' here anyway? Did ya miss me or something?"

The tips of Kiyoomi's ears turned pink.

"Not at all." Kiyoomi lied, scrubbing invisible specks of food off an already clean plate. "Shizuka has just kept me up all night with her coughing and sneezing. I just wanted a small break."

"So ya came over here to take care of me instead?" Atsumu smirked, Kiyoomi almost dropping the plate.

Kiyoomi let out a deep sigh, turning to stare at Atsumu as he placed the last dish on the drying rack and turned off the water.
"If I tell you I missed you, will you promise not to be annoying about it?"

A loud burst of laughter erupted from Atsumu, which earned him a flick of water from Kiyoomi's still-wet hands. He helped Kiyoomi finish tidying up the kitchen. That mostly involved him following Kiyoomi around as the omega swept the already clean floor and crumbled counters, but it was nice to have company. Atsumu asked about Shizuka as he did, and was relieved when Kiyoomi told him it was nothing serious, that she should be fine again come Monday.

It's not that Atsumu didn't love Shizuka, because he did. A lot. But between the doctor's appointments, his mother calling him constantly for updates, Osamu's bullying (concern) endlessly feeding him, Bokuto almost rebreaking his leg the last time he came over (crushing him in a hug and causing him to almost fall), and Shizuka's boundless energy–well. Atsumu felt like he hadn't had time to just be. And since Kiyoomi had gotten back together with Shouto, the two of them hadn't hung out alone in almost a month.

The implication weighed heavily on Atsumu, and he shoved down his alpha, who was suddenly quite interested in the idea. The last time Kiyoomi had been over here alone, before Shouto, and before his injury, Atsumu had him bent over the very counter the omega was currently cleaning. The dinner Atsumu had been making that night was completely forgotten about when Kiyoomi's eye had gone half-lidded, his mouth lingering on the spoon the alpha had held out for him to taste. The smell of slick from the omega and the rattling sound of the alpha taking a deep breath. Atsumu had flipped Kiyoomi around as he tore the spoon from his mouth before he did something stupid like replace it with his tongue.

"We should go out!" Atsumu blurted, "Let me go change and then let's go."

He didn't wait for a response from Kiyoomi as he made his way to his room, leaning against the door the second it closed. Kiyoomi had ended things between them, and his alpha and his cock needed to get with the fucking program. Sure, Atsumu could find someone else to sleep with. Even while on crutches, he was still Miya Atsumu. It's not like it would be difficult, and if anything, the leg would give him some sympathy points.

But as Atsumu hurriedly dug through his closet to find something that wasn't a pair of sweats and an old, stretched out t-shirt from high school, the idea lingering in his mind of jumping on the apps after Kiyoomi left for the evening, the worse he began to feel. He really had no interest in going back to his old ways. He didn't want to sleep with some random omega whose number he would block the next morning and pretend he'd never met to begin with if they squealed to the press. The entire idea made him nauseous, his stomach hurting just as badly as it did when he thought about Kiyoomi and Shouto. It almost felt like he'd be cheating on Kiyoomi if he did. It felt like–

Atsumu stopped, letting the shirt he had picked out fall to the floor.

Cheating on Kiyoomi? They weren't even together. They'd never been together. You couldn't cheat on someone you weren't dating.

"What the fuck." Atsumu mumbled to himself as he turned to grab another shirt from the closet, the one on the floor a lost cause.

It's not like he had feelings for Kiyoomi. Sure, Kiyoomi was perfect. The only asshole who could keep up with Atsumu and give it as good as he took it. He was rude and blunt and had an entirely negative aura about him. He took honey in his tea and two sugars in his coffee. He didn't like the beach, and he loved overcast days. He didn't like to sit in the aisle seats on the team bus, preferring to look out the window and rest his head on Atsumu's shoulder, sharing a headphone with the alpha and ignoring the rest of their teammates. He loved sour plums, and he hated sharing his fork, but he would let Atsumu take a bite from it whenever they shared a dessert. He had a mole just above his left hip bone, and he hated having to wake up early, but he looked beautiful in the morning light, his eyes fighting to stay open and snuggling back into Atsumu's chest.

He–

"Did you fucking die in here?" Kiyoomi burst through his bedroom door, glaring at Atsumu, who was just standing there, crutches under his arms and the second shirt getting wrinkled in the tight grasp of his hands. "How long does it take to get dressed?"

"I dropped my shirt," Atsumu mumbled, slowly turning towards Kiyoomi, his heart racing as realization slammed into him.

Osamu had warned Atsumu to be careful. It was foolish to mess around with Kiyoomi. One of them might get attached, and their relationship would never be the same afterwards. But Osamu's warnings were completely wrong.

It wasn't Kiyoomi who was at risk for developing feelings, but rather himself.

Atsumu didn't bother telling Osamu. He would only get an 'I told you so' from his twin if he tried. What he didn't expect was for Kiyoomi to drag him to Onigiri Miya for food.

"I'm craving umeboshi."

"Ya could go any time, ya know. Samu won't bite."

Kiyoomi's lip furled, and just like with his brother, Atsumu kept his mouth shut. The two of them had an awkward relationship, even though Osamu got along just fine with his other teammates, and they weren't afraid of going into his restaurant alone.

So here Atsumu was. This day might be turning out to be one of the worst of his life. Worse than when Osamu told him he was quitting volleyball. Worse than Kiyoomi telling him he was getting back with his ex. Worse than the day he broke his leg. He had to sit at the Onigiri Miya counter, Kiyoomi talking to him in between bites of his food, and Osamu giving him looks every time he stepped out from the kitchen to bring an order to a customer. Atsumu had to sit there and pretend everything was completely fine and normal, like he hadn't realized an hour ago that he was in love with Kiyoomi.

"You're quiet today." Kiyoomi pouted, his plate polished off while Atsumu's mostly sat untouched. "What's wrong with you?"

“Nothin’.” Atsumu cleared his throat before taking a big bite of onigiri, almost choking on it and earning himself a glare from the omega.

"You're the one who wanted to go out." Kiyoomi huffed, "So stop being weird."

"Maybe yer the one who's being weird today. I'm just tired, is all. Sorry, Omi."

Lying to Kiyoomi didn't feel good, but what was he supposed to tell him? I'm being weird cause I think I love you.

Atsumu wished he could grant Kiyoomi his wish, but that was easier said than done. All he could think about was the fact that he had had the omega. Shouto was basically out of the picture and demoted to simply being the father of Kiyoomi's pup. If Atsumu had realized his feelings just a few weeks later, he could have asked Kiyoomi out for real. Why had it taken him so long to see how good they were together? He had already spent most of his time with Kiyoomi, at volleyball, and during his days off, and Atsumu never grew tired of seeing him. Kiyoomi shared Atsumu's passion for volleyball, and whenever they were in a pinch on the court, Atsumu knew he could send the ball the omega's way, and he would find a way to make the point. His fussiness and constant nagging might annoy others, but Atsumu only found it endearing and amusing, living to annoy Kiyoomi back, the omega giving it as good as he took it. Atsumu loved his scent, was addicted to it, even, and how soft Kiyoomi was behind closed doors, snuggling up against him and insistent upon being held when they watched a movie or lay in bed after hooking up.

Kiyoomi's face softened, the look of annoyance melting away as he glanced over at Atsumu.

"You don't have to push yourself so hard. Your leg won't get better if you do. Just take it one day at a time."

Kiyoomi could be an asshole. One of the biggest ones that Atsumu knew. But when he was sweet, he was cloyingly so, which only made Atsumu's heart ache even worse for the omega. Maybe he was greedy and selfish, but he didn't want any other alpha to get this side of Kiyoomi. Atsumu wanted it reserved for him and him alone.

What the fuck could Shouto possibly offer Kiyoomi that Atsumu couldn't? The alpha had his chance, and he fucking blew it. And speak of the fucking devil, because at that moment, Kiyoomi's phone began to ring.

"Hello?"

Atsumu wouldn't make out what Shouto was saying, but the way Kiyoomi's scent soured and that frown on his face told him enough.

"I'll be home soon."

Kiyoomi turned away from him.

"Yes, with Atsumu. I told you. I–"

The barstool was pushed back, and Kiyoomi stood, making his way towards the restaurant entrance.

"Shouto, that isn't fair." Kiyoomi's voice trailed off as he walked further away. The bell above the door rang, and the omega looked no less upset as he paced back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the windows.

Atsumu felt helpless, his alpha agitated and bothered at Kiyoomi's obvious distress. He already had no appetite and abandoned the rest of his onigiri. By the time he grabbed the crutches that had been leaning against the counter and joined Kiyoomi outside, the omega was hanging up the phone.

"Are ya okay?"

Though Kiyoomi had begun to let Atsumu in after so many years of being friends and teammates, those walls could slam back up in a moment. If Kiyoomi had seemed misty-eyed, he wasn't about to let Atsumu see it. He ran a finger under his eyes, wiping away any evidence and steeling his expression before he turned to face Atsumu.

"I'm fine."

They both knew that wasn't true.

"Do ya really have to go?" Atsumu huffed. "Can't he handle Shizuka by himself for a while?"

Atsumu leaned forward on his crutches. He tried to make the words sound sympathetic, but they came out with an angry and impatient tone instead. He hated standing there and feeling useless, watching Kiyoomi tear up over some man who didn't deserve him. Kiyoomi had his flaws, but Atsumu supposed he did too. Whatever sadness and softness was still lingering on Kiyoomi's face disappeared in a snap, Kiyoomi taking a step back and glaring at Atsumu.

"Yes. I do."

"Wait–" Atsumu's heart rate sped up, panic racing through him.. "Kiyoomi, I didn't mean it like that."

Atsumu was blunt. Rude. An asshole. He knew that. People said it about him behind his back and to his face, and most of the time, he didn't care. But he didn't want Kiyoomi to look at him like that, with that disgusted, disappointed face.

I'm not angry at you.
I'm angry at Shouto.
Or maybe I'm jealous of him.
Or maybe it's both.

"Sure you didn't." Kiyoomi laughed, not even a hint of amusement in his voice. "She's my daughter, Atsumu. I trust you can make it back to your apartment by yourself."

"Omi–"

"Shizuka needs me."

"Kiyoomi–"

"Goodbye, Atsumu."

Usually, Atsumu had no issue catching up to Kiyoomi when the omega decided to walk away from him, even if that meant breaking out into a jog. But Atsumu had no hopes of reaching him now, Kiyoomi halfway down the block, and Atsumu's speed was impeded by his crutches. All he could do was stand there and watch Kiyoomi leave, feeling more foolish and idiotic by the minute.

The stadium was in an uproar. The Adler and the Jackals had been trading points back and forth, but MSBY had managed to take the first two sets. One more and they'd be moving on to the next round of the tournament. Atsumu would like to say that he was fully paying attention to the game and watching his teammates, but most of his focus was elsewhere.

"Did you see that, Uncle Tsumu?" Shizuka smiled up at him from where she was perched in Atsumu's lap, the alpha leaning in closer to hear her over the crowd. "Mommy got a point!"

"Yeah." Atsumu ruffled her hair, messing up her pigtails before smoothing them back into place. "He sure did."

"Why don't you give Miya a break, sweetheart?" Shouto tried to take the pup from Atsumu's lap, but she leaned away from him as Shouto reached for her. "Come sit with me for a while. He doesn't need you hurting his leg."

"She ain't bothering me at all." Atsumu plastered on a fake smile in Shouto's direction, the alpha's lip curling in distaste. "Ya can sit here as long as you want, sweetheart."

Shizuka was too young, her sense of smell too underdeveloped, to notice the tension between the two of them. She only snuggled in closer to Atsumu, perfectly content to sit with him instead of her actual father. Things between him and Kiyoomi were awkward again, and Atsumu knew it was all his fault. Kiyoomi still dropped off food or helped him to doctor's appointments, but he didn't linger or attempt to make conversation with Atsumu that was anything beyond surface level. Atsumu himself was acting equally awkward around him, too busy getting lost in Kiyoomi's scent or staring at his lips to form a coherent sentence. He hadn't even seen Shizuka, with Kiyoomi's visits few and brief, and practice picking back up before the tournament in Tokyo.

The omega hadn't even sat next to him on the bus on the ride up, breaking up their usual routine. Atsumu had begged Foster to let him ride along with the team and support them from the sidelines, his coach only agreeing when Atsumu said he would be there one way or another, even if that meant renting a car or taking the train. By the time he had boarded the bus, Kiyoomi had already chosen a seat next to Barnes, his headphones in and staring out the window. He didn't even acknowledge Atsumu when he walked past him to an empty seat. The alpha was stuck sitting next to Bokuto and listening to him wax poetically about Akaashi, how excited he was about coming to the game, and how he had been talking about it the entire drive up. Atsumu tried and failed to get Kiyoomi's attention. The omega was off the bus the second it parked in Tokyo, practically running before Atsumu could even pick up his crutches.

The crowd cheered again, and Atsumu's eyes moved towards the scoreboard to see that the Jackals had scored another point. A replay flashed across the screen, Bokuto and Kiyoomi going up for a block together, successfully knocking the ball onto the other side of the court.

"Look, baby!" Atsumu gently shook Shizuka, the pup clapping excitedly as she watched her mother dominate on the court. "He got another one!"

Atsumu had been planning to sit on the sidelines beside the rest of his team, but Shizuka had spotted him from the bleachers and waved him over, the alpha sitting down in the empty seat opposite her.

"Shouto."

"Miya."

Atsumu liked to think that he was mature. Or at least more mature than he had been in high school, or even his early 20s, but he couldn't help but smirk when Shizuka was quick to climb out of her seat and crawl into her lap instead. The pup talked a mile a minute, completely ignoring her father to update Atsumu on everything she had been up to since he had seen her last. Atsumu hadn't even realized how much he had missed Shizuka until she was in front of him, hanging on to every word that she said.

The Jackals scored again, putting them at match point, and Atsumu pulled Shizuka closer to his chest. Even she was quiet now, all her attention on the game. It was Kiyoomi's turn to serve, and he took his time doing so after the referee blew the whistle. The entire crowd was silent now, everyone holding their breath in anticipation, none of them more so than Atsumu.

It was a quick look. One the crowd in the stands probably wouldn't even notice. One that no one besides himself would. Kiyoomi didn't get nervous before games or during them. He was a competent player who always put everything he had into his craft. But even he looked on edge now, a small frown on his face. His eyes scanned the crowd for a moment, though the clock was ticking down before he had to serve or risk turning the ball over to the other team. His eyes stopped the moment they landed on Atsumu and Shizuka, a quick smile followed by a look of determination falling on his face.

Kiyoomi tossed the ball into the air, running up to hit it. The silent crowd quickly erupted into claps and cheers as the ball slammed down on the other side of the court, their teammates swarming Kiyoomi the second it did. MSBY had won–a no-touch ace.

Everyone was ignoring Kiyoomi's usual rule of hating to be touched as they pulled him in to hug him or slap the omega across the back. But Kiyoomi didn't tell any of them off or push them away. He ignored them entirely, all of his attention on Atsumu as Kiyoomi found him in the crowd once more.

"We won." Kiyoomi mouthed at him.

His smile was dazzlingly bright, and Atsumu couldn't help but match it.

"To us!" Bokuto raised his glass in another toast, and the rest of their teammates clinked their cups together, their loud shouts filling the rented restaurant.

Atsumu smiled into his cup as he took a sip, the alcohol strong and bitter after not indulging since his injury. He'd been on his best behavior while following all the doctor's instructions, but he didn't think it'd hurt to toast to winning with his team. Just a little. They'd smashed their way through the semifinals, and next weekend, they'd be playing in the championship game back in Osaka. If anything was cause for celebration, it was this. Even with Atsumu out of the running, the team had worked hard to cinch the win, and everyone was even more fired up after winning back-to-back games.

"Cheers," Kiyoomi mumbled after everyone else had taken a drink, bringing his own glass to his lips.

Even Kiyoomi, who wasn't a big drinker to begin with, had decided to indulge. He had been the last to arrive at the restaurant, but Atsumu had glared at Inunaki until he had moved, leaving the only open seat beside himself. Kiyoomi had only hesitated for a second before sitting down, any remaining awkwardness or tension melting away the more alcohol he consumed.

"Did you see me?"

Kiyoomi was like a leech when he did drink, wrapping his arms around Atsumu and burrowing his face in the alpha's neck after he set his glass back down on the table. His words were quiet and soft, and they tickled Atsumu's neck as the omega whispered them into his ear.

"I did the serve you taught me."

A small giggle.

"And I won."

Kiyoomi's mouth was so close to his when Atsumu turned his head to look at Kiyoomi that he prayed to every god he knew to grant him strength. Even in the dim restaurant lighting, Kiyoomi's eyes were glazed over, a small flush on his cheeks as he looked at Atsumu expectantly, awaiting an answer or praise.

"I did." Atsumu placed his hand on Kiyoomi's cheek to keep the omega a respectable distance away, even if he wanted nothing more than to lean in even closer. "Ya were amazing out there today, Omi. Ya always are."

For the rest of the evening, Kiyoomi didn't detach himself from Atsumu. Even throughout dinner and dessert, they were always touching–Kiyoomi resting his head on Atsumu's shoulder, the alpha with his arm draped across Kiyoomi's back, or their legs pushed up together under the table. While Atsumu had a room back at the hotel with the rest of the team, he parted ways with them to walk Kiyoomi to the train station, as the omega was staying with Shouto and Shizuka at his parents' house. Not many words were exchanged between them as they made their way down the sidewalk, Atsumu struggling a bit to navigate the stairs to the platform in his drunken state, but managing with Kiyoomi's help.

"Ya really were great out there today."

Kiyoomi was getting tired, his arms looped around the alpha's neck and resting some of his weight on Atsumu as they waited for his train to arrive. The station was fairly empty, with no one paying them any mind as they quietly conversed.

"Sato wasn't complete shit today. I was surprised."

Complimenting their backup setter got a small huff out of Kiyoomi, his eyes narrowing as he squeezed Atsumu's neck tighter.

"I'd rather play with you. Sato is too timid. He never sets high enough."

Atsumu risked letting most of his weight rest on one crutch, slipping his free arm around Kiyoomi's waist. He breathed in deeply as Kiyoomi's scent intensified, letting the sweet aroma fill his senses and envelop him. He wished he could stand on two feet and hold Kiyoomi entirely, but Atsumu still had another two weeks before the cast would come off.

"I'll be back soon." Atsumu reassured him, looking deep into Kiyoomi's eyes, the omega blinking slowly." And yer gonna be sick of me again soon, too. So enjoy the break while ya have it."

Kiyoomi's forehead knocked against his own, the omega not realizing his strength in his drunken state. Atsumu winced a bit, ignoring the throbbing pain as Kiyoomi spoke.

"I'm never sick of you." Kiyoomi frowned. "I miss you."

Atsumu sucked in a breath, which was a mistake because it only made him sink further into Kiyoomi's scent. The omega probably didn't even realize how many pheremones he was pumping out, his fingers digging into the scent gland on the back of Atsumu's neck, making his good leg threaten to buckle.

"I'm right here, Omi. I haven't gone anywhere."

Despite his closeness, Kiyoomi's eyes were wide open, dark voids staring directly into Atsumu's own. Kiyoomi chewed on his bottom lip, his small omega fangs visible as his gaze darted between Atsumu's eyes and lips. In his chest, Atsumu's heart was thumping against his ribs, holding on even tighter to Kiyoomi's middle to keep himself from falling.

"Atsumu."

"Yeah? What is it?"

Kiyoomi seemed to be contemplating his words, his chest rising and falling with every shallow breath that he took. His lips were parted now, the bottom one reddened from where Kiyoomi had been chewing on it. He was so close now that if Atsumu moved in the slightest, his lips would be on Kiyoomi's own.

Fuck his rules, Atsumu thought to himself, fuck Shouto. All he had to do was lean forward, shift his weight, and give in to what he had subconsciously wanted for longer than he had even realized. Atsumu didn't want to keep going like this. He didn't want to just be Kiyoomi's teammate or his friend or his fuck buddy. He wanted to be his alpha.

If an announcement had been made, Atsumu hadn't heard it. The train rushed into the station, the wind blowing on both of them as it came to a stretching halt on the platform. Kiyoomi didn't make a move to let go, and Atsumu, though he wanted nothing more than to let the train drive off without Kiyoomi on board, reluctantly removed his hand from the omega's waist. He swallowed down the spit pooling in his mouth, tightly gripping his crutch once more.

"Yer train is here."

Kiyoomi blinked, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment as he untangled himself from Atsumu. He was still a bit unsteady on his feet, but clarity showed in his eyes when he opened them once more.

"My train is here."

Atsumu waited as he boarded the train, choosing a seat by the window and staring out at the alpha. Kiyoomi, usually one to guard his emotions, had them written all over his face. His fingers were twitching on the pole his hand was wrapped around. As the train pulled out of the station, off to the next stop, Kiyoomi mouthed something at Atsumu that the alpha couldn't make out. Atsumu stood there until the next train arrived, staring out at the empty tracks, determination setting in.

After the finals, Atsumu would confess to Kiyoomi. It didn't matter to him if Kiyoomi was back with Shouto, or if he didn't feel the same way, or even if the omega rejected him and decided to transfer teams when the season ended. Atsumu wouldn't give up that easily. He would chase after Kiyoomi to the ends of the earth. More than anything else, he wanted–no, needed–to be with him.

Atsumu was surprised to hear a knock on his front door. It was just after nine, and he was honestly already ready for bed. He'd already taken out his contacts and showered, carefully covering his cast as he did so, not even bothering to throw on a shirt as he slid on a pair of sweats. The finals match was in the morning, and though he wasn't playing, he still wanted to be well rested before he made his way to the Jackals stadium to cheer for his team. After knocking out the Adlers, Atsumu wasn't worried about facing off against Falcons. He would hate to see Aran lose, but he wanted to win more than that.

Not bothering to pause the show he was watching, Atsumu made his way to the door. It was pretty late for a delivery, but sometimes Osamu swung by to bother him after work, especially to drop off food since his injury. He thought nothing of it as he opened the door, fully expecting his twin to be waiting on the other side.

"Surprised ya didn't let yerself in."

Kiyoomi didn't crack a smile at his joke, pushing past Atsumu and making his way to the living room. Seeing the omega was unexpected, even if Kiyoomi had been on Atsumu's mind all week. He had been running through a script and advising a plan on how he would confess to him after the game tomorrow, but seeing Kiyoomi tonight wasn't unwelcome in the least bit.

"It didn't feel right."

With Kiyoomi occupying the space Atsumu had been sitting on the couch in before, already underneath the blanket that he had been using, the alpha had no choice but to sit next to him. The lights were off, and the television volume was low. Kiyoomi stared blankly ahead at the screen, the reflection gleaming in his dark eyes.

"Shouto and I ended things." Kiyoomi blurted out suddenly, still not looking in Atsumu's direction.

"Oh." Atsumu reached his hand out, hesitating to place it on Kiyoomi's leg before returning it to his own lap. "I'm sorry, Omi."

"It was for the best."

The last time this had happened, Kiyoomi had been near inconsolable, but his eyes were dry, his voice unwavering as he spoke.

"I thought it was the right thing to do." Kiyoomi let out a low laugh. "For Shizuka. She deserves to have two parents. Deserves to have a family."

"She has that. She has ya. Even if ya aren't together."

Kiyoomi let the blanket fall off his shoulders, reaching out to grab Atsumu's hand as he finally turned to look at him. Even in the dark room, Atsumu could see that Kiyoomi's cheeks had pinked, glaring at Atsumu as he spoke again.

"Shut up. I know that. And I'm not done talking."

To contain a smile, Atsumu had to bite his cheek, letting Kiyoomi lace their fingers together as he moved closer to the alpha. He wasn't sure where Kiyoomi was going with this, but he couldn't deny that his alpha was pleased to see that Kiyoomi didn't seem to be upset about the breakup this time, or deny the fact that this only helped to increase his chances when he confessed tomorrow.

Carefully, avoiding the cast on his lower leg, Kiyoomi positioned himself in Atsumu's lap. He straddled his thighs and placed his hands on the alpha's shoulder, the light from the television illuminating around him as Kiyoomi blocked out the screen.

"Kiyoomi–"

He slapped a hand over Atsumu's mouth as the alpha stared up at him, the smile on his face widening under the omega's palm. The blush on Kiyoomi's face only deepened as he let his full weight rest on Atsumu's lap.

"I said to shut up."

Kiyoomi's gaze lowered, frowning as he spoke.

"I don't know if I ever truly liked Shouto. I was only attracted to him because he reminded me of someone else. Someone I thought I could never have."

Atsumu held back a growl behind his lips, his alpha upset at the idea of Kiyoomi wanting anyone else. But he waited, hope and anticipation stirring inside of him.

"But then I did have him, after years of thinking it would just be a pipedream. And I got scared. What if he didn't want the same thing as I did? So I ran back to what I knew and what was safe."

Atsumu held his breath.

"But I don't want to run anymore. I like you, Atsumu. I want you."

Only after he said the words did he remove his hand from the alpha's face, his nails digging into Atsumu's shoulder as he awaited his response.

"Omi. Kiyoomi. Baby. I can't believe ya." Atsumu's grin grew ever larger. Kiyoomi let out a small squeak when Atsumu wrapped one arm around his waist and cupped his jaw with his other hand. "Yer a jerk. Did ya know that? Yer ruining my confession right now."

Atsumu had an entire plan. He was going to wait until the game ended, after the Jackals inevitably won, and follow Kiyoomi back to the locker room once the celebrations and award ceremonies concluded. He was going to wait until Kiyoomi had showered and changed, because he knew that the omega would never forgive him if he declared his love for him while dripping in sweat and wearing a dirty jersey. He was going to ask Kiyoomi over, just the two of them, and let the rest of their teammates drink themselves into a stupor and make the news for a change. He was going to tell Kiyoomi about his feelings and ask him to leave Shouto and be with him instead.

"I was gonna tell ya the same thing tomorrow."

"Shut up." Kiyoomi huffed.

Finally, there was no more holding back. Kiyoomi leaned in, and Atsumu was there to meet him. Kissing someone for the first time was exciting and unexpected. Exploring their lips and mouth and figuring out what they liked and didn't. There was always a bit of nervousness and anticipation. Uncertainty of what it would feel like and if you would connect. But with Kiyoomi, it felt natural and easy, like they had kissed a thousand times before. Kiyoomi tilted his head as Atsumu ran his thumb along his jaw, moving his fingers to cup the back of his neck and trace along his scent gland. He wasted no time when Kiyoomi parted his lips, slipping his tongue inside and letting out a small groan when Kiyoomi easily let him in.

He had seen every part of Kiyoomi's body, but this was the one place he had never been allowed to explore. Atsumu couldn't help it when his cock hardened up quickly in his sweats, each trace of Kiyoomi's tongue against his own sending waves of heat to his stomach. Kiyoomi felt it, letting out a soft moan as he ground down on Atsumu's lap, rubbing himself against the alpha's length. His mouth tasted as sweet as he smelled, and Atsumu couldn't stop the low growl as he gripped Kiyoomi's neck and deepened their kiss. He hadn't been this excited since he was a teenager, his knot threatening to pop in his sweats from just some kissing. But everything with Kiyoomi was intoxicating. For a second, Atsumu almost forgot about the cast on his leg, ready to stand and pick the omega up to carry him to his room. He was promptly shoved back down on the couch, Kiyoomi breaking off their kiss with a gasp to chastise him.

"Don't be an idiot." Kiyoomi was panting hard, his lips swollen and red, glaring down at Atsumu as he lifted his hips to remove his pants. "Your leg is still broken."

Atsumu would have pouted if not for Kiyoomi's dripping pussy coming into view. He could see the slick glistening on the folds, Kiyoomi's cock peaking out and begging for attention. His mouth watered at the sight, but before he could make a move to touch it, Kiyoomi pushed his hands down the waistband of his sweatpants. Long fingers wrapped around his length as he pulled Atsumu's cock out, and he let out another low moan at the feeling.

Atsumu easily slid two fingers into Kiyoomi's wet hole, curling them as the omega let out a low moan. He brought his thumb up to rub Kiyoomi's clit, and Kiyoomi doubled over, his grip around Atsumu's cock loosening for a moment as he was lost in the spike of pleasure. Kiyoomi's moans only made Atsumu harder, his cock twitching and leaking at the tip. Deft fingers stroked up and down, and as happy as Atsumu would be to watch Kiyoomi come on his fingers, he wanted that tight heat around his cock instead. He pulled them out with a wet pop, resisting the urge to bring them to his mouth to lick off the slick.

"I can fuck ya just fine."

Atsumu tried to move again, ready to take over in protest, but Kiyoomi made no room for it as he lined himself up above Atsumu's cock and enveloped his length in one smooth glide.

"I know you can." Kiyoomi leaned forward, panting into Atsumu's ear as he adjusted to his size. Even with how wet the omega was, it was still a tight fit. His walls twitched around Atsumu's length, clenching down and doing nothing to help Atsumu's ability to hold back his knot. They hadn't slept together in months now, but it felt even better than the alpha had remembered.

"But let me take care of you."

Kiyoomi wasn't used to being on top, slowly moving his hips up and down as he began to ride the alpha. Atsumu's hands found his hips, wrapping his hands around them. He wanted to plant his feet on the floor and fuck up into Kiyoomi, but he resisted the urge, only helping to guide Kiyoomi as he found his rhythm. It was like the omega didn't want Atsumu to leave him for even a second, mostly grinding against him in small circles, his swollen clit rubbing against Atsumu's lower stomach with every move.

"Ah, ah, ah." Kiyoomi's moans sounded sinful in his ear, his neck still buried in Atsumu's neck, his scent only growing sweeter by the second. The front of his sweats was soaking wet.  Kiyoomi hadn't bothered to shove them any further down Atsumu's thighs than necessary, his cunt dripping with slick and making a mess all over the alpha's lap.

"That's it, Omi." Atsumu kissed all the skin he could reach, nipping at Kiyoomi's neck and sucking on his earlobe. He snuck a hand between their bodies, thumb rubbing against his clit. Another high pitched moan escaped Kiyoomi's lips, and he clenched down around Atsumu's length. "Yer doing so good."

"Knot me." The omega demanded it, and Atsumu wanted to grant his wish. But he could already feel how his fangs were elongating in his mouth, and how easily his control, which was barely hanging on by a thread as it was, would slip away.

He ripped Kiyoomi away from his neck, the omega's mouth dangerously close to his scent gland, each panting breath from Kiyoomi against it making him lose his mind. Atsumu doubled his efforts as he drew Kiyoomi back into a messy kiss. He rubbed tight little circles around his clit, using his other hand to hold tight to Kiyoomi's hip, even as he twitched and tried to pull away from the onslaught of pleasure.

Kiyoomi moaned into his mouth as his orgasm hit, slick squirting out of him as he soaked Atsumu's fingers and length. No longer able to hold back, Atsumu unloaded into Kiyoomi with a groan, biting down on Kiyoomi's lip to stop his knot from popping. Kiyoomi's orgasm went on and on, milking Atsumu's cock for every drop, his pussy clamping down around him in search of a knot.

"You didn't knot." Kiyoomi's signature pout fell back on his face the second he recovered the ability to speak again. Atsumu was still thrumming with pleasure from his release, pulling Kiyoomi in for another kiss to distract him. "Bastard."

His cock softened a bit, but Kiyoomi didn't unseat himself, easily giving in to Atsumu's kisses as he continued to chastise him between breaths. Atsumu didn't want to pull out, the weight of Kiyoomi on his lap comforting, his alpha rumbling inside as Kiyoomi let out contented little purrs. The show Atsumu had been watching had ended, another episode playing in its place, but he didn't pay it any mind as they made out. Eventually, Kiyoomi broke things off, trying to move off of Atsumu, but he refused to let the omega go.

"I need to clean up."

The blush on Kiyoomi's face was back as he moved his hips up. His cunt dripped with their shared release as Atsumu's cock slid out, twitching in interest at the sight.

"Come here." Atsumu lay down sideways, using his strength to pull Kiyoomi up his chest before the omega could escape.

"You're disgusting." Kiyoomi grimaced as he glared down at Atsumu, but that didn't stop him from letting his pussy hover above the alpha's face.

"I know." Atsumu didn't look up at Kiyoomi as he licked his lips, staring ahead at the perfect view in front of him. He pulled Kiyoomi the rest of the way down, his clit bumping against Atsumu's nose as he pushed his tongue into Kiyoomi's sex.

Two orgasms from Kiyoomi later, and one from Atsumu, the omega dropping to his knees to suck Atsumu off after the alpha got himself worked up again eating him out, the two of them finally found their way to his bedroom. Kiyoomi insisted they bathe again, but Atsumu had no objections, the omega sweetly helping him to wash his hair. His leg was broken, not his arm, and even though Atsumu was capable of doing it himself, he wasn't about to tell Kiyoomi no.

They should have gone to sleep hours ago, as Kiyoomi still had a game to play tomorrow, but neither man seemed to be able to stop talking. Even with summer quickly approaching, the temperature rising outside, Kiyoomi still ran cold. He wrapped himself in the blankets of Atsumu's bed, borrowing some of the alpha's pajamas and insisting that Atsumu wrap his arms around him and hold him as they lay together. Their legs were tangled together beneath the sheets, Kiyoomi careful not to bump into the cast, and Atsumu reached out a hand to tuck one of Kiyoomi's curls behind his ear.

"Don't be grumpy at the game tomorrow cause yer tired."

Kiyoomi tried to hide his yawn, his jaw twitching as he glared at Atsumu.

"I won't be."

"I know how ya are, Omi. Don't lie."

He couldn't resist laying a kiss against Kiyoomi's forehead, the omega furrowing his brow but leaning in to the touch.

"Bring me a coffee in the morning, then, and maybe I won't be."

Atsumu chuckled as Kiyoomi rolled over in the bed, readjusting until he was comfortable, even if that meant Atsumu's arm would quickly fall asleep from where Kiyoomi's head was positioned on top of his bicep.

"I can do that."

He laid one last kiss against the back of Kiyoomi's neck, right on top of his scent gland. Kiyoomi shivered at the touch, but relaxed further into Atsumu's arms. Atsumu himself hardly wanted to sleep, but even his eyes were growing heavy as he let them slip shut. Kiyoomi's breathing began to even out, and Atsumu dared to whisper the words that had been on the tip of his tongue for weeks.

"I love ya, Kiyoomi."

Atsumu thought Kiyoomi was asleep, but he mumbled a response, his words syrupy and slow.

"Love you, Atsumu."

A smile broke out on Atsumu's face as he buried it against Kiyoomi's curls, breathing in his scent and letting sleep wash over him. Osamu had been right to call him an idiot, but if every stupid decision Atsumu had made in the past had helped to lead him to this moment right here, Atsumu would make the same choices every time.