Work Text:
As much as Kiyoomi tries to hide it, Atsumu can always tell when he's having a bad day. It's usually the little things, like Kiyoomi is a bit more snappy than normal or he doesn't wait for Atsumu after practice is over so they can walk home together. While he doesn't like whenever Kiyoomi gets into one of his "moods", he gets it.
Well, he doesn't completely get it, but he understands enough. Sometimes you have a bad day and that's okay, even if Kiyoomi won't believe him whenever he says that.
Atsumu can tell shortly after practice begins that today is going to be a bad day. Now all he has to do is gauge exactly how bad of a day it's going to be so that he can figure out a game plan for how to make the rest of the day not so bad.
He clears his thoughts for a moment, setting the ball to Kiyoomi, who slams it down on the other side of the net.
"Nice kill, Omi-san!" Hinata calls out somewhere to Atsumu's right. Kiyoomi grunts in response and turns away. Atsumu chews on his bottom lip for a moment. Sometimes on bad days, Kiyoomi just goes completely nonverbal-he told Atsumu once that it was because on those days, he doesn't have the spare energy to give to conversations. It doesn't happen too often but it still happens enough that Atsumu is familiar with it. He’s guessing that today is more than likely one of those days.
"Hey, Tsum-Tsum, you with us?" Bokuto calls out, shaking Atsumu back into reality.
He turns and grins at his teammate. It doesn't quite reach his eyes, though, because his mind is still busy thinking about how best he can help his boyfriend through this mood later. "Course, Bokkun!"
If Bokuto notices the fakeness of his smile, he chooses to let it go and move on. After that, the rest of practice passes by fairly quickly but not nearly fast enough for Atsumu. He showers and changes quickly but by the time he's done, Kiyoomi is nowhere in sight. He lets out a quiet sigh and leaves the locker room to make the lone trek back to his and Kiyoomi's apartment.
At least he has ten more minutes to work out the rest of his plan.
When he unlocks the front door to their apartment, the first thing he notices is the silence. The second thing he notices is that none of the lights are on and the shades are drawn, dimming the room.
"Omi, I'm home," he calls softly. He toes off his shoes and steps further into the apartment, the sound of the shower running reaching him once he gets a few steps away from their bedroom. Atsumu is willing to bet that Kiyoomi has been in there since he got home and he'll probably be in there for a while so this is the perfect time to start on his plan.
When Kiyoomi steps out of the bathroom forty minutes later, Atsumu has set the table, lit a couple of candles, and started playing one of the instrumental playlists on Spotify that Kiyoomi loves. He hovers in the kitchen doorway, his eyes jumping between the table and Atsumu.
"Hey, Omi," Atsumu says softly. "Ya hungry?" Kiyoomi's shoulders move up and down minutely. His eyebrows are furrowed together and his fingers tug at the hem of his (actually Atsumu's) hoodie. Atsumu notes that he looks a little better than he did earlier but he still looks tense and more than a little frustrated. Kiyoomi's eyes are slightly red and puffy as well and Atsumu's heart clenches at the thought of his spiker crying in the shower.
"Is it okay if I touch ya, baby?" he asks. He doesn't move from where he's leaning against the counter; he doesn't want to pressure Kiyoomi or make him think that he has to let Atsumu close to him. Kiyoomi shakes his head then pauses before just barely nodding. "Ya sure, Omi? I don't wanna touch ya if ya don't want me to." Kiyoomi nods again, looking more certain this time, and makes grabby hands towards Atsumu.
Atsumu lets out a quiet laugh and walks towards Kiyoomi. The spiker tucks his face into Atsumu's neck, his arms wrapping around Atsumu in a loose grip as the blonde's arms come around Kiyoomi and one hand starts running up and down his back and the other one goes to his hair. Kiyoomi lets out a small sigh of contentment against his neck that sends shivers down Atsumu's spine.
They stay like that for a little while before Atsumu decides to speak. "Ya feelin' any better?" He feels a small nod from his boyfriend. "Are ya hungry? I made oyakodon." A moment of hesitation before another small nod. Kiyoomi reluctantly releases Atsumu and they sit down at the table. "Itadakimasu," Atsumu murmurs.
"Itadakimasu," Kiyoomi whispers hoarsely. It's the first thing he's said since they woke up this morning and while Atsumu wishes his boyfriend's voice didn't sound so wrecked, he's just glad that he's hearing him speak at all. There's a moment of silence before Atsumu starts talking softly about anything and everything. He talks about a conversation (argument) he had with his scrub of a twin brother the day before, a flower bush that he saw on his way from practice today, a hummingbird he saw that reminded him of Kiyoomi.
He isn't trying to force Kiyoomi to talk or respond to him, he's just filling the silence; trying to make it a little closer to their normal routine because he knows that's what his boyfriend prefers when he's coming down from a mood. Kiyoomi prefers for Atsumu to fill the silence like he usually does while they're eating, otherwise his anxiety kicks into overdrive and makes him think Atsumu is upset with him.
Atsumu learned that after an argument they had one night. Since then, he always makes sure to let Kiyoomi know that he's not upset with him in any way he can during his moods.
Kiyoomi eats slowly and by the time Atsumu is done, his food still looks barely touched. "Ya don't hafta eat if ya don't want to, Omi," he says quietly. Kiyoomi gives him a tiny but grateful smile. Atsumu stands and grabs both of their bowls, making sure to cover Kiyoomi's and place it in the fridge in case he gets hungry later, and washes his in the sink. He turns back to Kiyoomi and holds out a hand, a small smile stretching his lips up. "Dance with me?" he asks. He already knows the answer; this is their routine almost every time Kiyoomi has one of these days.
Kiyoomi smiles again, still small but just as genuine, and takes his hand, letting his setter pull him out of the chair and to his feet. They wander into the living room and Atsumu changes the playlist on his phone before wrapping his arms around Kiyoomi's waist, the taller man's arms circling his shoulders. Kiyoomi's forehead comes down to rest against the side of his neck as they gently sway back and forth. A few songs play before Atsumu starts singing softly along with one.
I used to hear a simple song, that was, until you came along
Atsumu's singing voice is deeper than his talking voice, not by much, but just enough to make a difference. Regardless, Kiyoomi loves it when he sings so Atsumu sings to him any chance he gets.
Now in its place is something new, I hear it when I look at you
One of his hands rubs up and down Kiyoomi's back slowly as he keeps singing along to the music.
With simple songs, I wanted more, perfection is so quick to bore. You are more beautiful by far, our flaws are who we really are
He hears soft sniffles and can feel Kiyoomi's shoulders shaking a little but he doesn't ask what's wrong, he already had a guess but this is confirmation. A few salty tears make their way down Kiyoomi's face and drip onto Atsumu's neck but he can't really find it in himself to care.
The music swells and gets a little louder but Atsumu's voice stays the same soft, low pitch. He does lean in so that Kiyoomi can hear him a little better, though.
I used to hear a simple song, that was until you came along. You took my broken melody and now I hear a symphony
Kiyoomi buries his face further in Atsumu's neck, trying hard to muffle his crying.
Now I hear a symphony
He continues swaying them side to side as Kiyoomi cries into his neck, pressing soft kisses on the side of Kiyoomi's face. It breaks his heart to hear his boyfriend cry but he knows it's a much needed outlet for the man.
They stand there for a while before Atsumu maneuvers them over to lay down on the couch, making sure to keep a firm hold on Kiyoomi the entire time. He lays down, Kiyoomi on top of him with his face still pressed into Atsumu's neck. His tears have slowed but not completely stopped yet and he hiccups out shattered breaths every so often.
The tears gradually stop and once they do, Kiyoomi's body goes limp on top of Atsumu, pressing him a little further into the couch cushions. Atsumu's hand keeps gently running along the spiker's spine while the other hand plays with his curls. It's an action that both men find soothing, Kiyoomi because he enjoys the feeling of his hair being played with (but only when it’s Atsumu) and Atsumu because he likes the repetitive motion of it.
"Ya feelin' better, Omi?" Atsumu asks softly. Kiyoomi shrugs minutely, his face still hidden in the crook of Atsumu’s neck. “Ya wanna stay out here fer a bit longer?" A small nod. "Alright, jus' tap my arm when ya wanna go ta bed." He feels a soft kiss press into his skin and he knows that Kiyoomi is thanking him.
He doesn't say anything else, just lets the soft music wash over them. He isn't going to try and convince Kiyoomi not to listen to his brain telling him that he isn't enough because he knows that it isn't what his boyfriend needs right at this moment. He doesn't need a verbal confirmation. What Kiyoomi does need is just for him to be here, to show that he loves him, that he's not going anywhere.
So Atsumu gladly lets his spiker lay on top of him as he plays with the man's curls and softly sings to him. He'll do this as many times and for as long as Kiyoomi wants him to. Kiyoomi may have bad days but Atsumu will always be there to make them just a tad bit better.