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When Kiyoomi arrived home, the apartment was silent. He frowned at first and took off his shoes. Atsumu’s snickers and coat were already there. Kiyoomi knew Atsumu was already home. The Jackals' training finished around four, while Kiyoomi’s class ended around eight p.m.
At first, Kiyoomi could have believed Atsumu was still at the gym since it was Atsumu’s first season, the blond setter tends to overwork himself, trying to prove his worth. More than once, Kiyoomi had driven to the gym to bring his boyfriend home, but his belongings were there.
“Atsu?”
The silence only responded to him. Kiyoomi frowned deeper and took off his mask. He called again. “Atsu?”
He checked his phone in case he had missed one of his lover’s texts. Since Atsumu signed with the Jackals, they offered him and his partner an apartment in the Jackals' complex in Osaka, and they would have been foolish to refuse. Kiyoomi was still attending university to earn his degree, but once he finished, he was going to sign with the Jackals too.
Since they moved in, they often spent evenings in one of the players' homes, especially at Bokuto and Akaashi 's place, their upstairs neighbors.
Bokuto like Atsumu had recently signed and was eager to prove his talent and skills.
But no, Kiyoomi didn’t see any notification besides a simple text from Akaashi.
“Is Atsumu okay?”
Kiyoomi felt his guts twist. He entered the living room and saw a fox curled on their couch. The fox was sleeping and Kiyoomi couldn’t help but find him adorable.
Atsumu like his brother, his ma and his mom’s family was a shifter and shifted into a fox every time he felt strong emotions like euphoria, sadness, or was overwhelmed.
Kiyoomi gently rubbed the fox’s fur and let him sleep. An hour later Atsumu was still sleeping on the couch so Kiyoomi started preparing dinner. Kiyoomi wasn’t a very well good cook, he nearly burnt down the whole complex trying to make soup for his sick boyfriend a month ago.
Thankfully Akaashi had saved the day as always.
Atsumu’s favorite meal was curry so Kiyoomi started cooking one. Between Akaashi’s text and the fox sleeping on the couch, Kiyoomi could feel something had happened in training and wanted to cheer up his boyfriend.
He was halfway through the recipe when he felt something between his legs. Kiyoomi looked down and saw a fox passing between his legs and wrapping his tail around his ankle. Kiyoomi smiled seeing Atsumu was awake.
He turned off the electric plate and gently picked up the fox. The fox licked his cheek and buried his snout in the crook of his neck.
“Hello to you too beloved.”
Kiyoomi rubbed his nose in Atsumu’s fur. If it had been anyone else, Kiyoomi wouldn’t even have been able to touch them but this was Atsumu. Everything was different with Atsumu.
“How you’re feeling beloved?”
Atsumu rubbed his face in the crook of Kiyoomi’s neck and wrapped his tail around his wrist. Kiyoomi kept petting him and walked to their room abandoning dinner.
He slipped under the covers making sure Atsumu was safe in his arms. Kiyoomi fell asleep feeling the fox’s warmth and steady breathing.
An hour later Kiyoomi woke up feeling his stomach growl and a heavier weight on him. He opened his eyes and saw blond fluffy hair. “Beloved?”
Atsumu hummed. “Ya eat already?”
“No, I was waiting for you.”
“Ya didn’t have to.”
Kiyoomi started petting his hair. “Are you alright?”
Atsumu didn’t respond making Kiyoomi worry even more.
“Something happened in training?”
Atsumu tightened his grip around Kiyoomi’s waist. Kiyoomi saw Atsumu’s human ears turning into fox’s ears. It was funny and adorable to see Atsumu’s small human ears turning into fox’s ears but right now, it only worried Kiyoomi even more. His ears were always the first part of Atsumu’s that shifted when he was sad.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” added Kiyoomi.
“It’s stupid.”
“If it made you uncomfortable then it’s not stupid. Your feelings aren’t stupid.”
Atsumu didn’t respond and Kiyoomi started playing with one of Atsumu’s fox ears. He knew the blond liked that but only let Kiyoomi do it. Even Osamu wasn’t allowed to touch his ears, only Kiyoomi had the privilege to do.
Time passed and Kiyoomi thought Atsumu had fallen back asleep but suddenly he heard Atsumu’s tiny voice break the silence of their bedroom.
“There is a new physical therapist at the club. Coach had given me and Bokkun a special session with her since we’re both shifters. We shifted while we waited for her and Bokkun started being bored so he started flyin’ through the room. The therapist arrived and she started yelling at Bokkun. She gave him exercise but I could see it was bad for his wings and she just gave me nothing to do. Bokkun shifted back and told her his owl’s wings were sensitive and she just cut him and she- she-”
“Take your time beloved.” Kiyoomi kissed his forehead. “Take your time, nothing rush.”
“She said how shifters’ trainin’ was troublesome and too complicated. That she didn’t sign up fer that. And she looked at me and Omi there was- there was disgust in her eyes and she said fox were vicious.”
It broke Kiyoomi’s heart and tightened his hug. “I’m so sorry beloved. Foxes aren’t vicious. They’re cute and protective of their family. They’re very athletic, friendly, and also have a very good hearing which is great to learn gossip.”
Atsumu burst into laughter, making Kiyoomi smile. When Atsumu laughed, he laughed with his whole body; his laugh was cute and could enlighten a whole room.
“Thanks Omi.”
“Did you tell Coach?”
“Nah.”
“Atsu.”
“I didn’t have to. Meian and Barnes had a bad feeling about her so they stayed behind the door and when she started screaming at us, Meian told her if she couldn’t take care of the shifter then she chose the wrong job and club. Barnes took Bokkun and me and pulled us out of the room while Cap screamed at her. I just couldn’t shift back. It was too much. Barnes carried me home.”
Kiyoomi made a mental note to thank both Barnes and Meian for taking care of his lover and to text Akaashi to ask if Bokuto was okay.
“I’m glad they brought you home and Meian gave her what she deserved.”
“Apparently she’s gonna try to work fer the Adlers.”
Kiyoomi snorted. “As if Wakatoshi is going to let her touch his feathers.”
“That’s what Barnes said. Meian said he texted the coach to tell him and Cach texted back he was going to call every club to blacklist her.”
“Good.”
Kiyoomi started petting the blond hair as Atsumu buried his nose in the crook of Kiyoomi’s neck. “Omi?” He continued as Kiyoomi’s hummed. “It’s fine if I shift back?”
“Of course beloved.” He kissed his forehead again. “You don’t have to ask my permission for that. The most important is that you feel comfortable.”
Kiyomi felt Atsumu’s smile against his skin. “Thanks, Omi. I love ya so much.”
“I love you too Atsu.”
Kiyoomi felt the weight on him changing and the blond hair disappearing to let orange fur appear. He rubbed the fur at the top of the fox’s head smiling. “You’re hungry?” The fox nodded and Kiyoomi responded, back.“Then let’s go eating beloved.”
A few minutes later Kiyoomi finished preparing the curry while Atsumu was on the kitchen work table watching Kiyoomi cooking. The spiker pulled out his phone and typed a short text. Atsumu made a small noise and Kiyoomi smiled. “Don’t worry beloved, I’m just texting Akaashi to ask if Bokuto is okay. He was worried for you too.”
Atsumu rubbed his head against Kiyoomi’s hand making his lover snort. Kiyoomi was glad Atsumu had people who loved him and took care of him.
The evening passed well and after dinner, they went to the couch and Kiyoomi put the last Japan volleyball team game on TV. Atsumu was curled up on his lap warped in a plaid. Once the game was finished and the Japanese won against the Argentinian Kiyoomi turned off the TV and gently took Atsumu in his arms. The fox wasn’t too heavy and was warm and the fur was soft.
Kiyoomi fell asleep hearing Atsumu’s steady breathing and feeling his warmth and fox against him happy to know Atsumu was asleep and safe in his arms.