Work Text:
The assumption that Atsumu is an attention whore would not be a faulty one, but he has never understood the negative connotation behind the term.
Growing up with a twin has conditioned him to the reality that attention is a scarce commodity that begs to be monopolized. He is used to being one half of a bundle, a buy one take one deal vendors use to peddle their unwanted goods; a savings scam that delivered two headaches instead of one.
Whether it be being the second name on their shared cake, or commentators struggling through their last names in volleyball matches, Atsumu takes all these in stride. It would be unfair to blame circumstance for these little hiccups and for all the shit he gave Osamu, sharing the spotlight with him isn't half bad.
What Atsumu does is to adapt and overcome, starting from when he buys his first box of bleach from the corner store and earns an earful from his mother, to his grit on court, displaying skill and prowess worthy of distinction, not just from his brother but from the rest of world. His personality is coupled with a charm that lets him get away with saying not exactly the nicest things and his social media feed is tailored to perfection.
All in all, Atsumu would not consider himself an attention whore, rather an attention warrior to symbolize his hard-earned victory against the new millennium's struggle of being irrelevant. Not necessarily the apple of everyone's eye, but likely the most scrumptious thing in view.
But as history dictates, all powerful forces are destined to meet opposition, and economists do not support monopolies for whatever reason- Atsumu does not exactly understand, but what he does know is that it all began with a text.
"I am going to be a dad!" Bokuto's declaration resounds through the room, although his volume is purely accidental, his arms wave with his phone at hand.
Akaashi, well he's Bokuto too now, not that Atsumu has ever bothered adjusting despite their hitched status, gasps and snatches the phone from his husband. Their tears say it all, their baby is on its way.
Like a movie, the room cheers and gathers around the couple, shouting their support and sprouting questions like a lightning round of speed dating. Yes, they had finally found a surrogate after months of searching. Yes, this is the first time they're hearing of this too; and yes, they are so incredibly happy.
Atsumu isn't so fond of babies, tiny babbling messes that make noise and leave disaster in their wake, but he isn't about to snark on the parents-to-be for their personal, albeit terrible, life choices.
"Quit yer moping, I can hear yer ugly thoughts loud and clear," Osamu remarks from beside him, and Atsumu glares right back.
"I ain't even saying nothin," he would accompany this with a jab if they were several years younger, but he has a reputation to uphold so now Osamu gets away with just a nasty look.
"Didn't need to say it," his twin barks back, but they're in the same predicament, on top of an elevated platform just about to dig into some cake. "I am sure he didn't mean to, Bokuto-kun just gets excitable at times."
"I know Bokkun," Atsumu grumbles, his teammate better thank his lucky stars that he stills considers him essential to victory, because he wouldn't be opposed to opening the team to new recruits just a bit too early in the season.
"I feel like one of those brides," Osamu offers, "from those horror stories online where somebody gets engaged during their wedding. Or when the mother-in-law shows up in white, which is basically illegal."
Atsumu wrinkles his nose, "You've been spending too much time on those trashy sites, Samu." His twin shrugs and shamelessly scoops icing with his finger and into his mouth. His lack of manners is excused, no one is looking at them at the moment.
"Look at the bright side," his idiot twin snarks, "if the baby is made now, it'll be less of a big deal by this time next year." From across the room, the happy couple is thanking everyone for the well wishes.
"Whoopty-fucking-do," Atsumu swipes his fingers through the chocolate and takes an indulgent lick. He isn't jealous, no he's not, his friends just happen to have the most impeccable timing.
From above, a banner hangs, "Happy Birthday Samu & Tsumu!"
--
It is a few weeks till the end of the season and the competition is as vicious as the pressure from fans and management demanding their absolute best. And what is Atsumu if not a giver who rises to the occasion.
He knows when he performs well, when his mind is clear and his body is responsive, which in return translates to an impeccable response from his monsters. Point after point, the best toss- a gift from his fingertips towards their victory. He is the enabler, the frame to their picturesque portrait, a sturdy support.
But Atsumu is a splash of color as well, a distinct hue, figuratively because he's long solved his issues with bleach, and when he takes centerstage he expects all eyes on him.
It's his turn to serve and fans know to keep quiet, even non-believers soon follow. The whistle blows, he raises he fist upwards, and with the confidence entrusted to him by the silence he runs forward.
And then, a cry.
Atsumu pauses mid leap, a rookie mistake he'll maul over later, and his palm meets the ball in a hurry. He doesn't need to look to know that the ball will reach the other side, but the damage has been done. The still frame moves forward and the crowd buzzes once again.
They lose that point due to a mistake not his own, but the smirk his teammate throws towards him is enough to make his teeth hurt.
"Nice serve, Miya," it's not a complement.
Atsumu has half a brain to look for the offender but it would be futile amongst the crowd. Ever so rational, he calms himself down; it would be petty to remain angry at a child's innocent mistake.
"My turn to serve," Bokuto says after, he's buzzing where he stands, "gotta look extra good today, my Keiji brought Ken-kun with him." He manages to emulate a brightness so fucking brightening, which is saying something considering this guy's whole persona is being an actual beam.
"Ken-kun," Atsumu echoes, waiting for elaboration and getting none, as his spiker moves to get into position. There is a clean-up on the other side of the court hence the delay, so he shuffles listlessly for answers.
"Kentaro-kun," Hinata supplies, "their baby- the baby Bokuto-san has been talking about for months now." If Hinata had a bad bone in his body his tone would be more condescending, instead he speaks without the slightest shock that Atsumu is unaware of an apparent hot topic.
Perhaps he has gotten too good at filtering Bokuto out when he so much as mentions his husband. "The baby," he mimics numbly, "wait- what, so they named their spawn a literal combination of their names?"
The whistle is blown and a serve soars through the air like a star before landing in between two unsuspecting spikers; the cheers are instantaneous.
"Kinda lazy don't cha' think," graciously, Hinata doesn't respond, and the match continues.
He would have not noticed if he wasn't looking but there is a distinct lack of crying hereafter.
Atsumu knows when he performs his best and expects to be rewarded. So, when their win is sealed and all the fanfare ends, he opens social media and expects to be basked with praise.
Tokyo City Gymnasium Tweet @TokyoGymOfficial
We're delighted to see the #BeamTeam family in their first public appearance. Get to know the new addition to their family in the thread bellow👇
500🗨️ 6.7K⟲ 4.9K♡
⟲ retweeted by bumble bee, art comms open, airpods 📍 marked unsafe and 4.6K others
🔎NOW TRENDING
#BeamTeamBaby
#BokuAka
#VolleyDads
#BokutoKoutarou
#DaddyGoals
#BEAM WEAPON🌟🦉
#MSBYVictory
The list goes on to include variations of the couple's reveal and news coverage is the same. Their victory just a footnote in every article, much less Atsumu's splendid performance.
The baby is nothing more than a mop of grey and black covered by Akaashi's protective hands, but it trends for the whole weekend and inspires a tabloid frenzy on Daddy Goals featuring athletes with similar bad life choices.
There is a tweet about him, a clip from today's match of his unfortunate serve labeled with a caption asking which of his three signatures this fell under. It is, of course, an invitation for his haters to mock him, the downfall of netizens having too much time and too little braincells. So Atsumu adapts and circumvents the callout.
tri-wielder👅👅👅 @bettermiya
Cant wait to meet baby Kenjirou in our next practice @bokutobeam
89🗨️ 120⟲ 324♡
sunblock peddler @ninjashouyou
It's actually Kentaro-kun, Atsumu-San
146🗨️ 201⟲ 836♡i am a dad :D (real) @bokutobeam
ill bring him right ocer tsum-tsum, you'll be the best of friends!!!
86🗨️ 224⟲ 724♡work calls dni @notagkaashi🔒
You will be supervised the whole visit, Miya-san.
1🗨️ 🔒⟲ 2♡
Atsumu watches Bokuto's follower count increase dangerously closer to his and dreads the incoming storm once they make a proper face reveal. But if he's in competition for the spotlight, he might as well take a picture or two with the brat for the gram.
--
Atsumu googles, "Can babies be evil?" right after the Bokuto-Akaashi spawn yanks his hair for the fifth time today. He's already made several trips to the bathroom over the past hour to do some emergency fixing and would rather not disclose how self-conscious the disruption is making him.
There is also the burping, a few weird sounds coming from the tiny human which Atsumu found absolutely hilarious until it had escalated out his mouth and onto his new jacket.
"I swear yer extracting revenge for yer papa," he threatens, and Kentaro, who is very much his own person and is a baby, giggles in return.
"It's probably karma," Sakusa calls out, dry and unamused, "for all the times you've teased Akaashi-san." He isn't the fondest of the baby either but seems to be lurking on stand-by in case Atsumu decides to do something surreal like throw him away while no one is looking.
"Do babies inherit spite?" he wonders out loud and only gets a scoff in return. His tiny companion looks up to him with deep blue eyes and long baby lashes, unblinking and curious; the scrutiny is quite unnerving.
"I've fucked both your dads," Atsumu barks, and like a hawk, Akaashi is summoned from the kitchen.
"Atsumu-san!" Hinata intervenes before chaos erupts, "don't say things like that in front of Ken-kun!" And since he's the only one fit to be an uncle in this whole room, he takes the baby from his arms.
"It was a joke," he brings both hands up in defense, "besides, someone's gotta break it to the lil' squirt that both his dads have zero ounce of fun."
Akaashi, same beautiful eyes and long lashes, looks about ready to throw fists over the comment, which Atsumu takes as a sign that he's done well. It's always been his personal mission to poke fun at marital bliss.
Arms crossed and a frown, "I would appreciate you not slandering my husband and I in front of our son," Akaashi all but holds his tongue at suggesting that he leave the premise.
"Pardon me then," Atsumu counters, "didn't mean to strike a nerve."
Hinata bounces baby Ken-kun who lets out a delighted giggle at the motion, this momentarily distracts the room and the impending war.
At least this baby laughs unlike his grumpy father, Atsumu thinks to himself.
Hinata lifts him up and the baby smiles wider, toothless, and delighted. He can't help but find the motion kind of cute.
"I AM BACK, WHAT DID I MISS," the door slams open, and in comes the other half of the parental unit. Bokuto charges in with a comedic speed, like his trip to the store had caused him precious moments with his son. Suddenly, the scene is chaotic once again.
At least the brat manages to be quieter than his other father, Atsumu regards in disdain. Amongst all the members in this household, he might be in the running for favorite.
When he gets home, he sees that Akaashi has uploaded a photo. Hair in disarray, a large alien-colored stain on his coat, and an expression of pure disgust on his face- Atsumu pales.
The brat still manages to look like an angel in the shot, absolutely unbothered by the chaotic mess Atsumu is. He watches the likes increase to the thousands by the minute.
It's official, this is war.
--
The league ends with bang (one from Bokuto's palm towards the other side of the court), and with thankfully less whimpers (no more crying incidents since that day).
Atsumu relishes in their victory (never mind that Tobio has left Japan the season before and his spiker will soon follow), and basks in the praise and attention. His ego has been rebuilt; his metaphorical crown more prominent than ever, today he gets to reap the rewards.
It's a formal event held by the league and select sponsors, a chance to get the boys out of their sports attire and into something more respectable. Atsumu adjusts his tie for the nth time. There'll be plenty eyes on them, paparazzi, and recruiters to impress. Their team's public relations group has already warned them to play nice; he's ironed his suit twice before the big day. Atsumu ain't nervous for any courtesy calls.
"Atsumu, shall we go?"
Kita Shinsuke, absolutely regal in his navy-blue button up and grey vest, holds the door for him like he's a teenaged girl inching to go to prom.
"Kita-san," he swallows, "let's go."
It's embarrassing because he hadn't even asked, so he's unsure if Kita is here as a chaperone or a date. Somewhere between the exchange of rice and pleasantries, his brother proposes the idea that he accompany Atsumu to the event to 'make sure he doesn't make a fool of himself,' and Kita agrees.
Which is an insult to the pristine reputation he has been cultivating after netizens deemed him a baby-hater from the whole debacle. It took months of coddling babies in MSBY diapers and taking pictures with ugly kids after games to make the public forget.
"Atsumu," Kita's voice like velvet, he has elbow raised towards him, patient and expecting.
He feels like a fool, "Oh," his heart beats loudly as he takes his arm. Together they descend towards the dining area.
He's prepared beforehand, the mental list of people Atsumu absolutely needs to talk to. First, to report his attendance to their manager and scope the sponsors in the venue, then to answer questions by the paparazzi and take some pictures, and finally, spend the night engaging in small talk with anyone important enough to warrant his attention.
But Kita's hand is gentle as he leads him across the room, towards familiar faces that already seem to under a spotlight of their own.
"Tsum-tsum," Bokuto exclaims, as if they weren't just together on the court the other day, "and with Kita-san too." Akaashi's lips turn the slightest at the declaration.
"Bokkuns," he greets both, and then a grimace, "and I see ya have the demon here too." From his father's arms, Kentaro giggles.
"A beautiful baby you have," Kita supplies, absolutely meaning it too, which he loathes, "congratulations on the new addition to your family." Kentaro, an absolute judge of good character, extends his grabby hands towards his newly deemed uncle and after a quick nod from Akaashi, Kita drops his arm from Atsumu's to take the baby.
You absolute terror, Atsumu transmits via telepathy, but the baby pays no mind, absolutely enjoying the attention given to him by the date he stole.
"Well, aren't you a darling," Kita nuzzles into the small palm that has discovered his cheek, and the sight would be adorable if he wasn't so infuriated.
The look Akaashi is giving his coy, reminiscent of their petty high school rivalry on and off the court; Atsumu hates feeling defeated. "You must be getting old, Bokkun-the-second-san. Is your back already hurting from all the heavy lifting?"
Akaashi's eye twitches and the smirk disappears, which is another victory for him, but before he can retort Bokuto steps in.
"Why that's really thoughtful, Tsum. I am sure Keiji-ai would like a rest," he doesn't know where Bokuto gets his logic, instantly the man has an arm on his husband. "I think I hear our song playing, would you like to dance, my love?"
Atsumu pales at the realization and Akaashi is whisked away before he responds. The couple takes their place on the dance floor, to a tune that is definitely not their song, and now they're left to babysit.
"I opt to get em arrested for child neglect," he grumbles, but Kita doesn’t seem to mind. He absentmindedly sways to the rhythm as he entertains the baby in his arms. Kentaro looks like he's having the time of his young life; Atsumu has never been more jealous.
He is defenseless against the sight of his man being taken in by a littler man. So, to remedy the embarrassment, he offers to grab them drinks.
The walk across the room gives him time to regroup. Get it together, he chants, you've fought worse before. But no enemy has had such big eyes, or a giggle that can turn even the grumpiest of people into fans. If Atsumu can't fight for Kita's attention, then he doesn't deserve him.
He takes time deciding between wine or soda, wondering if his partner would be scandalized by the prospect of drinking in front of a baby, but not wanting to risk the calories as well. Perhaps he should grab a glass of water to mirror his feelings- washed up and outdated.
"Why hello there," blonde, dark red dress, and no one Atsumu can identify from top of mind, so he feigns pleasantries.
"Good evening," he turns on the charm, "Atsumu, from the Black Jackals," but she should know that a part of him expects.
And she delivers, with a bashful smile and an extended hand, "Of course, I am familiar. Everyone must know who this year's champions are." And with those magic words, the conversation continues.
It becomes suggestive quick. Not to be that asshole, but Atsumu knows when he's being flirted with. Within the two sentences he's uttered she manages to come a step just as close, which he mirrors but backwards. He's becoming mindful of the condensation around the soda he's holding on one hand and the wine becoming lukewarm on the other, as the conversation continues.
She's pretty, beautiful even, but Atsumu is an attention whore only towards the few he wants to be attentive of. And the apple of his eye, or the whole darn fruit salad, has been whisked away.
Suddenly, she pauses and diverts her attention towards his side. And call it instinct, or the end of a cheesy high school romance, but Atsumu just knows.
"Atsumu," velvet comes back, "you were taking quite a while."
Kita's timing is the stuff of gods. Kentaro is still in his arms, making grabby gestures towards himself this time; seems like the squirt cannot be satisfied with just one uncle.
"Oh," the woman, daughter of a sponsor, not that Atsumu will make an effort to remember, reacts. Her eyes dart from the pair to Atsumu and back. "I didn't realize you were married."
Objectively, he can see how she'd arrive to that conclusion. Baby Kentaro has Bokuto's signature black and white streaks, which coincidently matches Kita's too, and the way he reaches out towards him paints him as the other half of the pair.
He feels himself turn several shades of red, the lack of oxygen making it impossible for him to reply. But Kita speaks through actions, smoothly taking the wine from his hand and giving Kentaro in return.
"I am sorry for taking him away from you, but we best be going back," no denial, just effortless respect tucked between calm intimidation; Atsumu's heart does summersaults.
"Of course," she stutters, then bids her goodbyes. Kentaro has his tie in his mouth, chewing on the very expensive fabric that had cost him quite the pretty penny. Atsumu does not care.
"Kita-san," Atsumu says, awfully shy, "did Bokkun decide to abandon his spawn while I was away?" His stupidity is merely to gain a laugh, Kita looks beautiful when he's happy.
"I don't believe that was the intention," he takes his arm once again and this time Atsumu leans into him. "Come, let's see where they are, I am sure they miss their child an awful lot."
He sees the tiniest bit of red on the tips of Kita's ears and thanks his lucky stars for worthwhile victories.
"What do we do after?" he shyly asks. Atsumu will have to discard his tie completely once he untangles the menace from his chest, but maybe, just maybe, the brat isn't so bad.
"Then, I believe it will be our turn to dance," Kita answers surely, attention finally undivided.
--
[Atsumu]: i am definitely going to propose on that brat's birthday
[Osamu]: ???