Thread by @VivaLaBratLife

#UshiAtsu hurt/comfort prompt!

Atsumu stared at the phone in his hands.

The screen had blacked out a while ago. He wouldn't be able to tell anyone how long if they asked, but he couldn't seem to stop staring.

He knew his empty glass still sat on the bar counter, waiting for him to do something about it. He could ask for it to be filled again, but a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Osamu told him that was probably not a good idea.

He nearly fell out of his stool when a hand, seemingly out of nowhere, touched his lower back.

A very broad, familiar hand.

"Wakatoshi," he faced the man, surprise clear on his face.

Said man gestured to the stool beside Atsumu, and sat down once he got a nod from the blond.

"Hello, Atsumu."

Atsumu instantly felt self-conscious of his state. He knew he looked disheveled at the very least.

Breaking up his third attempt of a relationship in a year will do that to someone.

Trying to ignore knowing he had a greasy hair in front of Wakatoshi of all people, he set his phone down to give the man his full attention.

"I didn't know ya were in Osaka."

It wasn't an accusation, and Wakatoshi didn't take it as one.

"Sakusa suggested I come see you. Since we haven't properly talked in a few days, I thought it would be wise to take his advice."

Great. Even Sakusa was pitying him now. Calling in reinforcement and everything.

He wondered at what point his teammate reached the conclusion Wakatoshi was the person to call for Atsumu-related emergencies.

They had gotten close during the Olympics to the surprise of, well, everyone. But what surprised Atsumu more was how close they managed to stay since.

He must talk a lot about his chats with Wakatoshi if even Sakusa caught on to it.

Or maybe Wakatoshi had mentioned him too.

Wasn't that a nice thought.

"Sorry I haven't been answerin', but ya really didn't hafta trouble yerself coming 'ere."

If he was trying to make himself small before, he was attempting to merge himself with the wood of the counter now.

Wakatoshi's eyebrows pinched in concern.

"Of course not. But I wanted to." He explained. "And you know there is no reason for apologies, Atsumu."

He waved off a bartender who offered him a drink, before continuing. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Atsumu took a deep breath. Well, no point in avoiding this conversation now.

"Daisuke and I broke up."

Wakatoshi showed no reaction to the statement, waiting for him to continue.

"It wasn't- It was mutual, I guess. I brought up if we should keep whatever we had goin' after he said something about how I kept ignoring him again, and he agreed there was no point."

He scoffed and jerked his chin at his phone. "I was just scrollin' through stupid Instagram,

and ya know what I saw? He posted a stories with the quote 'Treat people how you want to be treated, it's that simple.' Fuckin' ridiculous, right?"

Wakatoshi ignored the rhetorical question, and kept listening.

"I mean, thas what people always expect. They give ya what they want, hoping you'll magically understand thas exactly what yer supposed to do. An' when ya don't, they get upset. Suddenly yer the bad guy. The big ass jerk who couldn't treat 'em right.

But that can't make sense, can it? This implies that everyone feels the same way, and would be fuckin' satisfied with the same things." He knew he was rambling, but felt himself unable to stop.

"I don't," he admitted. "I don't want the same things people always want from me, and 'm starting to think maybe I ain't cut out for this. Maybe I should just- maybe I shouldn't try anymore."

"That's foolish," Wakatoshi finally interrupted him.

"Is it?" Atsumu held his gaze. "'M tired of history always repeating itself, Toshi. I don't see any reason ta keep trying."

The man in front of him shook his head. "Not everyone is going to hurt you, Atsumu."

Atsumu gave him a humorless laugh. "Maybe they should, maybe I hurt them first. Maybe I just don't know how ta do this."

He felt his eyes starting to fill, and looked down to avoid Wakatoshi's gaze.

"Do what, love?"

The blond nodded, still staring at the counter.

He felt a light touch on his face. Wakatoshi gently turning him so they were looking at each other once more.

"Atsumu, you know that's true. What you said before, you were right. That saying is ridiculous, as you put it.

Love is about understanding, and giving. Not expecting, and taking. There was no place for you to give your love freely in that equation, and you deserve more than that."

He stated all of that with a sterm tone, leaving no room for doubt.

Atsumu closed his eyes.

He felt a single tear straying past his closed lids.

Wakatoshi was still cupping his face, and used his thumb to brush it away. The gentleness of the gesture burned Atsumu's skin.

After a moment of silence in that oddly vulnerable position for a public setting, Wakatoshi spoke again.

"You are a breaker of rules, Atsumu," he said with reverence. "People are supposed to look unflattering when they cry, and yet here you stand."

Atsumu opened his eyes in shock. He couldn't have heard that right.

Wakatoshi continued. "Your way of loving is as unique as everything else there is to you, and anyone would be lucky to be on the receiving end of it."

"Toshi-" Atsumu gulped. "Wakatoshi, what are you saying?"

His searching gaze was met with fierce certainty.

"I'm saying I'm tired of witnessing people not appreciating you, Atsumu. I would like to treat you as you deserve, if you'll have me."

(twt limit brb)

Atsumu started to slowly shake his head. He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.

He placed a hand on top of Wakatoshi's, guiding it away from his face before reluctantly letting it go.

"I can't," he shakily said.

"I can take disappointing them, Toshi. But not you. Never you."

He could feel his throat closing up, and he could swear his heart was screaming at him with how hard it was beating against his chest.

Wakatoshi looked at him like he was assessing the next best strategy at a game.

"Atsumu," he started. "You never tried to gain my affections, and you conquered them anyway. How could I ever be disappointed, when anything more than what we already have could only be a gift?"

Atsumu had no response to that.

When Wakatoshi leaned closer to him, he could only try to control his breathing.

"I pride myself in making good choices, Atsumu. And I think choosing to love you might be my best one yet. So," he shifted in his seat. "What do you say?"

Atsumu took those words in.

He had never had so much to lose before. But he'd never had this much to win either.

"Yes."

~fin

i adoooore them. hope you like it, dean! ❤️