Chapter Text
Sakusa Kiyoomi was not a stranger to mental illness. He knew the signs of depression, generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and many others. After all, he may have graduated with a business degree, but his minor was psychology. That’s why when he joined the MSBY Black Jackals, he immediately was able to pick out Miya Atsumu. It had been four years since he had last seen him at nationals, and he had changed a lot.
17 year old Atsumu could not hold a candle to 22 year old Atsumu. Atsumu in his 3rd year had possessed a boyish charm, a strong attitude, unfortunately piss colored hair, and an inferiority complex that Kiyoomi could spot a mile away, even without a university education. 22 year old Atsumu was handsome with hair that no longer resembled bodily functions, focused on his team, a monster server, and hiding something.
Kiyoomi noticed it right after he and Hinata had been accepted onto the team. Atsumu had prevalent dark circles that his sportgrade concealer barely covered, well timed yawns when he thought no one else was paying attention, and perhaps the most concerning of all: how the rest of the team seemed to not notice the signs.
Maybe it was insomnia and Kiyoomi was making a mountain out of a molehill, but something wasn’t sitting right with that explanation. It wasn’t like he cared about his well being or anything, just worried about his performance on the court. They were teammates after all.
So led them to tonight. Kiyoomi and Hinata had finally been moved into the MSBY Share House, and they were all sitting in the lounge celebrating. Kiyoomi had only had one beer, but Hinata and Bokuto had busted out some tequila that Hinata had brought back from Brazil. A few of the team hadn’t drank anything at all, namely Meian and Adriah, and the rest were only a few beers deep.
Taking one last swig from his beer, Atsumu stood up, and with a stretch proclaimed, “Alrighty then, I think ‘m gonna hit the sack.” Kiyoomi was quick to notice the look Oliver and Adriah shared.
“Of course! I think the rest of us plan to stay for a little longer, so don’t let us wake you when we go to bed!” Meian replied, a smile gracing his face. As Atsumu turned and slipped out of sight down the hallway Inunaki slid his phone across the coffee table in front of them, a 3 hour timer on the screen.
Meian let out a sigh as he said “Alright, Hinata, Kiyoomi, there’s a few things you’re going to need to know.” Bokuto, who had previously been joking around with Hinata about their high alcohol tolerance suddenly seemed very sober, his golden eyes wide and searching as he put a hand on Hinata’s shoulder.
Kiyoomi blinked, sitting forward in his chair to show Meian he was listening, while Hinata looked very confused. “Listen, Atsumu has very bad nightmares that sometimes progress into night terrors. He is dealing with them the best he can, and he’s gotten a lot better with them over the years, but most nights he does wake up screaming. Sometimes we hear his door slam open and he usually runs, but it only takes a little while for him to calm down. We all have a schedule, we rotate who is up when it's most likely to happen.”
“Tonight’s my night and my excuse is I want to finish this movie.” Inunaki says as he fiddles with the TV and puts on a movie that he definitely is not interested in. Meian nods, and turning towards Kiyoomi and Hinata he begins to look a little sheepish. “He doesn’t know we do this, and we do not want to force you guys to lose sleep over this, we just wanted to give you guys a heads up about what happens in the house here.”
Kiyoomi nods, after all, he knew there was something up, he just didn’t think he would be presented the answer that quickly after having his doubts. Standing up, he places his beer bottle into the trash and says, “I won’t say anything about this to him, but I am going to bed.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was dark and Atsumu could hear faint crying. If he focused hard enough he could tell it sounded like his brother. Unfortunately he did not have the energy to waste listening to the heart wrenching sobs of his brother. He had to focus on what was stalking him. He heard its breath farther back into the forest. Its deep breaths sound vaguely like growls that scrape in its throat.
Atsumu took a deep breath and closed his eyes, exhaling shakily as quietly as he could. After what felt like hours, but could have only been minutes, his brain started to assess the situation. He was pretty athletic, and he could do a dead sprint towards where he thinks Osamu is, collecting him and the two being on their way to safety, but Atsumu doesn’t know anything about whatever is chasing him. Is it faster than him? What does it want? Is it a person and if so, who? And more importantly, Atsumu didn’t know where he was or why he was here.
“Fuck it.” he gasps lightly, taking off in the direction he heard Osamu. His brother had been beside him through everything. Every nightmare, every shitty set, every sleepless night, and every single fight. The only time Atsumu lived without Osamu was the 12 minutes and 37 seconds it took his mother to deliver him after delivering Atsumu.
After a few moments of running it caught up. Atsumu’s face was sliding across the forest floor, and he could feel his cheek skinning up. A weight pressed into his back and he lost the ability to breathe. A growl sounded from above him before it felt as though his back was being torn apart. Something wet slid down his face, and instinctively Atsumu knew it was blood. Agony soared through his veins as a wail ripped itself free from his throat.
“ATSUMU, HELP ME!” Osamu screamed from farther in the dark. Atsumu thrashed, trying to throw whatever was attacking him off but it felt like it grew several hundred pounds. The more Atsumu struggled, the heavier the oppression from his assailant felt. Tears slipped from his eyes as he clenched his teeth and continued to fight for his brother.
Suddenly he jerked upwards, unaware of where he was, a scream ripped itself out of his throat as he stumbled forwards, catching on a length of fabric as he scrambled towards a door. Throwing it open he fumbles his way down a hallway where there is a dark room with a bright light in the center.
“Atsumu?” a figure asked gently, suddenly materializing in front of him. “Atsumu.” it tried again, as a blinding realization set in. He was in the share house, Inunaki was in front of him, speaking to him. There was nothing following him, and he was safe.
“Oh, hey, sorry, what's up?” Atsumu stuttered, cursing the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Somehow it always seemed as though one of his teammates were up when the nightmares plagued him, and tonight it was Inunaki. “Well, I'm finishing up a documentary on penguins, you down to watch it with me?” The libero asked, his eyes traveling the length of Atsumu’s body, assessing him.
Nodding wordlessly he sat down on the couch, as a timer seemed to go off on Inunaki’s phone. Turning it off, Inunaki hands Atsumu a blanket before resuming the movie. After a little while of watching penguins go about their daily lives Atsumu feels himself drifting off to sleep again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kiyoomi is a light sleeper, so when the inevitable scream rip from Atsumu’s throat a couple doors down, he hears it and startles himself awake. Fumbling is heard and a door slams itself open, and feet run heavily past his door. Then after just a few moments, all is calm. As Kiyoomi finally settles back down there's a knock on his door.
Approaching the door carefully he opens it, and in the dark sees Inunaki looking towards the lounge. “Thank god you're awake Oliver, he fell asleep on the couch and I think he’s out for the night.” Reaching towards his side, Kiyoomi flips the light switch and watches Inunaki’s face flush red as he realizes he was in the wrong room.
“I think Barnes is a door down, apologies.” Kiyoomi states, hand settling lightly on his hip as he watches his libero fumble for words. “Sorry, I’m so sorry, it's dark and I wasn't paying attention, and Atsumu is passed out on the couch and I CANNOT lift him for the life of me but I definitely do not want to wake him up, uh, sorry, again.” he finishes lamely. Kiyoomi just nods as Inunaki walks to the next door and begins to knock.
Shutting his door and flipping off his light, Kiyoomi hears the hushed conversation from next door as he settles into bed. “Atsumu is asleep on the couch, will you move him back to his room? God, I just woke up Sakusa. I thought he was gonna flip out but he was really calm about it. Fuck it’s too late for this.” Inunaki rambles. “Yeah, I'll get him, don't worry.'' Oliver laughs as the pair begin to move past Kiyoomi’s door, going to retrieve Atsumu.
Kiyoomi is beginning to wonder if going pro is going to be worth ruining his sleep schedule.