Atsumu’s Tense.

atsumu’s tense.

or, rather, he’s stiff. so stiff that it’s starting to make him uncomfortable. but he can’t move. or, well, he doesn’t want to move. at least not before you do, anyway.

his eyelids feel heavy. but no matter how hard he tries to keep them shut, he won’t fall asleep. or, rather, he can’t fall asleep. at least not before you do. (which is starting to become a frequent excuse of his).

it doesn’t take him long to realize it’ll take a while before you fall asleep. because this is the nth time you’ve moved. the nth time you’ve muttered a soft “sorry.” the nth time he’s whispered a “‘s okay,” in return. within the hour. (or longer. he’s lost track of time).

his eyelids feel really heavy. he visibly relaxes when he finally feels sleep start to take root. relief washes over him when he realizes that this might be it. that you’ve finally fallen asleep. that he’ll finally fall asleep. he’s sure of it—

that rush of sleep leaves just as quickly as it came. his eyes snap open. he groans as he feels you shift farther (or was it closer? he couldn’t tell anymore) away from him.

he calls out your name.

there’s a beat of silence.

“yeah?” your voice is barely above a whisper, he notes. he’s not sure why it’s you’re speaking as if you’d wake him up when clearly he’s just as awake as you are. unfortunately.

“what’s wrong?”

there’s a small pause.

he hears your exhale. suddenly he thinks that, maybe, he shouldn’t have asked. but, maybe, he was just a little too tired to care too much.

“i can’t sleep.” yeah, no shit. your voice sounds bashful. he chooses to ignore the way his heart skips a beat.

he knows he shouldn’t ask. if he was a little more awake maybe he would’ve stopped himself. but even he doesn’t have time to register the “why?” that tumbles out of his lips.

“because…” your voice trails off.

because what? what could possibly keep you (and him, by extent) from falling asleep at quite possibly the most comfortable bed ever?

atsumu regrets not insisting on falling asleep before you did. maybe then he would’ve been able to sleep through your little turning spree.

he runs his hand down his face. “because?”

you gulp. there’s a minuscule pause before you open your mouth. he hears you mutter something, but he only catches the soft “something,” you say at the end.

“what?” it comes out harsher than he’d meant.

“i can’t sleep without hugging something.” your voice is shaking. he feels a small pang of guilt at how embarrassed you sounded. and maybe, if he’d been more awake, he would’ve stopped prodding. maybe he would’ve caught the hint that you didn’t wanna talk about it.

but then again, he was willing to do anything to get at least a hint of sleep.

“so?” he sounds exhausted. he doesn’t even recognize his own voice.

he can feel you glare at him. “there’s nothing for me to hug.”

he frowns. yes there was. what were you even talking about? “what about the extra pillows?”

“you gave them away—”

“no i didn’t—”

“—to bokuto and hinata.” oh. he did do that didn’t he?

he mumbles a quick “sorry.”

silence settles between the two of you.

“you could hug me if you want.” he feels you tense up.

he shouldn’t have asked. he really should’ve kept his mouth shut. what was he thinking? actually, he wasn’t thinking at all. what was wrong with him? did he get hit in the head too hard? maybe it was sakusa’s fault for spiking the ball too hard at him during practice—

“ok.”

what.

“it kinda is your fault that i can’t sleep.”

you shift a little. his heart beats faster. “it’s only fair you take responsibility and help me fall asleep.”

damn. he really put his foot in his mouth with that one.

he feels you shift again. but this time, it’s different. this time you definitely shift closer to him.

it’s a bit awkward; the position you both end up in. one of his arms is stretched behind your back, while you cling to him like a koala.

he hopes you can’t hear how fast his heart is beating.

you yawn, happy. “this is nice.”

it is. having you there nestled against him, legs all tangled together. it felt really nice. more than nice, actually.

he hears your breathing even out. he feels your body slowly slump against his.

“yeah.” he yawns.