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Overload

Summary:

After the Shiratorizawa match, Tsukishima is one wrong sensory input from shutting down completely. Thankfully, his older brother and boyfriend and always there to assist

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

To say Tsukishima is having a good time is simply an incorrect statement. Yes, he's happy that they won against Shiratorizawa. Yes, he's actually having fun playing volleyball this time around. However, his body isn't designed for his current situation.

All of Karasuno are sitting at their usual celebratory restaurant, with his classmates all in varying degrees of consciousness. Hinata and Tanaka are basically asleep in their food, and Nishinoya isn't far off. While he looks pretty awake, Tsukishima can tell that his darling little boyfriend Yamaguchi is one pillow under his head away from sleeping for a week straight.

Despite how exhausted his body is, Tsukishima finds himself in no mood to sleep at the moment. Firstly, his right hand is still bursting with pain. The fact someone is able to spike with enough force to dislocate his finger while also breaking skin is criminal enough, but for Tsukishima to be dealing with that pain alongside every other sound and sensation is sending his already overloaded body into overdrive. He desperately wants to reach for his headphones and shut out as much of the chatter and noise from within the restaurant but he can't bring himself to do so.

Tsukishima's never cared about the fact he's autistic. He was diagnosed fairly early in his childhood and has always had the support of Akiteru, and eventually Yamaguchi, when he got himself into sensory situations he couldn't always easily escape from on his own terms. Yet it's never been something Tsukishima was open to sharing. Who is? Tsukishima has never been an open individual in the first place, let alone about something that can drastically change a person's perception of him. So unless needed, Tsukishima kept his autism to himself. It's not his teammates' business that he has particular sensory issues or get hyperfocused on specific interests. He didn't even want to tell Ukai at first, but after some prompting (polite from Yamaguchi and not-so-polite from Akiteru), Tsukishima told Ukai and it made practice a little more manageable. Hell, Ukai even gave Tsukishima some discrete earplugs that muffled the noise of his teammates while still allowing him to easily communicate, which he greatly appreciates on his harder days.

In this moment, Tsukishima wishes he had his earplugs on him. He hadn't expected this tournament to be the near death of him, let alone this match. A few days straight of matches in an uncomfortably loud stadium which ended in a five set match where he also got injured? Tsukishima feels himself moments away from shutting down. One wrong touch or sound and Tsukishima's either going to go non verbal for the rest of the day or snap at whoever set him off. 

He jumps slightly at the buzz of his phone in his pocket. He had to awkwardly reach across his body with his left hand to dig his phone out of his right pocket and check the notification. It's a message from Akiteru, short and simple.

'I'm parked outside. Bring Tadashi with you'

Without a second thought, Tsukishima keeps his phone in hand as he slings his bag over his shoulder, tapping Yamaguchi harder than he meant to with his foot and nods towards the door. Instantly understanding, Yamaguchi gathers his things and gives a hushed goodbye to their teammates as he tails behind Tsukishima out the door. 


As stated, he finds Akiteru's car parked in front of the restaurant's door. Giving himself a second to breathe, Tsukishima simply stands in the crisp evening air allowing himself to bask in the simple scent of fresh air. Glancing over at Yamaguchi, his boyfriend stands dutiful by his side, that soft, understanding smile on his face as he follows a step behind Tsukishima to Akiteru's car. Tsukishima slides himself into the back, with Yamaguchi joining him. Once their seatbelts are buckled, Akiteru starts the drive home.

Tsukishima's silently grateful for his brother's rescue. He usually hates when his brother gets too overbearing, finding it annoying and even condescending at times. He's autistic, not incompetent. Despite his extremism at times, Tsukishima knows that his brother's actions come from a place of care. Akiteru always had Tsukishima's best interests in mind, and would do anything for his brother. It's moments like these he appreciates. When Akiteru can effortlessly understand when Tsukishima needs an out and downtime. He keeps the radio turned down to an almost unhearable volume, he doesn't harangue Tsukishima about the match or his injury, and barely even acknowledges Yamaguchi when normally Akiteru pounces on Tsukishima's boyfriend the second he gets the change to.


The drive is everything Tsukishima wants it to be. Quiet. He still feels irritable. His volleyball uniform isn't his ideal choice of clothing for a high sensory day, let alone when he's tired and in pain on top of it. Once they arrive home, Akiteru unlocks the door for Tsukishima and Yamaguchi and let the younger two enter before him. Tsukishima feels himself tense slightly when his mother goes to greet him, but Tsukishima can tell from the way his mother quickly cuts herself off that Akiteru presses a finger to his lips. With his and Yamaguchi's shoes off, he takes one of Yamaguchi's hands in his good one and practically drags him up the stairs and into his room. With the door shut behind him, Tsukishima dumps his bag where he stands and sits himself on the edge of his bed with a loud, deep sigh.

Breathe. There's room to do so. Tsukishima's in control now. After running his hand through his hair, he glances up at Yamaguchi, watching as his long-time partner stands there, waiting for the okay to come closer. Tsukishima can't help but huff out an amused sigh, standing to dig through his chest of drawers and pull out a set of his favourite comfort clothes. A super nice material that was loose on his frame, but tight enough not to shift around too much. He digs out another set and hands them to Yamaguchi, who takes them with a small 'thank you' under his breath. He always gets like that when Tsukishima lets him borrow his clothes. They two change in the same room. They've shared locker rooms for years, they've seen each other in various states of undress before. Once they're both changed, Tsukishima pulls his glasses off and sets them on the bedside table, relaxing back into his pillow as he opens his arm out for Yamaguchi. Immediately knowing what his boyfriend needs, Yamaguchi lays his shorter yet wider frame on top of Tsukishima, giving him a comforting pressure that helps to soothe him. Throwing his right arm loosely around Yamaguchi's waist, Tsukishima can't help but sink his left hand into Yamaguchi's hair, finding the action just as regulating as the weight Yamaguchi supplies him with. It gives him something to do with his hands while also grounding him. After a few small shifts, Yamaguchi doesn't move a muscle, his breathing already evening out as his exhaustion catches up to him. Tsukishima finds himself slowly relaxing under Yamaguchi's weight as he finds himself coming down from his overstimulation slowly but surely. He catches himself counting the freckles that dust Yamaguchi's cheeks. He's always been fond of them. They make Yamaguchi look that extra little bit sweeter, not that he needs it. With a pleased sigh, Tsukishima lets his eyes close.

Notes:

I wrote this a little bit ago with more of a focus on Tsuki's injury but I didn't like it. I rewrote it in a few hours and ended up focusing so heavily on my headcanon of autistic Tsuki when I originally had it only be subtly implied
I hope I represented it okay! While I myself arent autistic, I have many friends and family members who are so I've used my experiences with it to try and do the struggles of it justice. If there are any major issues let me know!
Otherwise, I hope you enjoy! Any feedback/interaction is greatly appreciated