PSL /Overflow/ Open Post

[1foxgiven]

 What it says on the tin.

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[amiyability]

[why is he just standing here and waiting for kita to give him more to do? on a normal day, atsumu would've climbed onto the bus and picked out a seat already, leaving the clean up to the first years.

yet here he is, nodding in agreement again, maybe hoping to understand what kita was talking about yesterday.]

Yeah, sure. [now he's definitely feeling osamu's gaze on him, and atsumu fights the urge to turn and scowl at him. serves his twin right. if he's gonna be ignoring atsumu, then atsumu's not telling him anything, no matter how curious he is.] Guess I can help out with that.

Skip to the school?

[1foxgiven]

Thanks.

[With that, Kita climbs onto the bus.

And unless Atsumu wants to keep talking - which would be fine - he lapses into thought.]

yes!

[amiyability]

[out of spite, atsumu takes the seat next to aran before osamu can, and doubles down on ignoring his twin. he knows they'll make up later when one of them inevitably caves, but that doesn't stop him from being petty now. it's just how he and brother operate.

conveniently, aran falls asleep on the way back to the school. it gives atsumu a chance to swap between scrolling through the text exchange from the night before and studying the back of kita's head from where he's sitting.

for all of his thinking today, he hasn't gotten any closer to understanding their captain. and perhaps that's why he doesn't even put much of a fuss when he catches kita's eyes as the team steps off the bus later.

atsumu leans down and grabs the equipment from before kita even has to open his mouth.]

[1foxgiven]

[Kita nods at the First Years to help. It's too much for one person.

While that's going on, he finishes up with the rest of the team. There's always a few notes to share. A good play. A missed opportunity. It's the advantage of watching from the sideline. Kita notices, and has the time to remember things. Giving everyone something to chew on.

There's also a word with Aran, who corrals Osamu. Taking him to eat and - hopefully - talk. Whatever's going on? The twins need more time apart.]

[amiyability]

[the way the first years give him a wide berth, casting nervous and awed looks in his direction as they scurry around with the rest of the equipment is almost enough to raise his spirits. and he spends some time teasing them, purposely brushing past one or two or returning their stares when he catches them looking. they should respect him, if they're hoping to be regulars on the team soon. he's their setter--a damn good one.

setter or not, though, he eventually ends up wandering back to kita once everything's put away. thankfully, most of the team has already left, and atsumu doesn't have to put up with their curiosity.]

Looks like we're done, cap. [he shoots kita a crooked smile.] You ready to head home?

[1foxgiven]

[Kita considers stepping in. Only for a moment. The teasing stays good-natured, so he lets it run the course. Atsumu interacting - voluntarily - Should be encouraged. Whenever possible.

Finally, everything is packed away to Kita's satisfaction. He sees the stragglers out. Atsumu is the last of them.

Not a surprise.]

Yes. We can talk on the way.

[amiyability]

[that actually stops atsumu short, mouth falling open for a second.]

We're walking together?

[as soon as the words are out of his mouth, atsumu nearly pinches himself. stupid! the captain just said as much! what's wrong with him? he's not usually so slow on the uptake.]

[1foxgiven]

Like I said - We need to discuss your eating habits.

[Lest Atsumu think he's getting out of that. Though it doesn't sound like Kita's actually cross about it?]

[amiyability]

[atsumu winces. kita doesn't sound upset, but that doesn't mean he can't cut through his blustering; he's done it before after all.]

Heh. Shoulda known you wouldn't let me off the hook that easily.

[he slings his bag over his shoulder, looking at kita expectantly.] Let's go.

[1foxgiven]

[As the afternoon sun hits, Kita takes a deep breath. The job is complete. Game won. Everything clean. No one getting lost or starting fights. There's even the strange bonus of Atsumu being agreeable. A good day. All around.

For a second, he lets himself enjoy this. The warm satisfaction that only comes from a task finished.

But - There's always another checkbox to tick.

Kita moves on.]

So. Why can't you cook?

[Again, the statement is mild. Maybe edging into a joking tone?

Hard to say.]

[amiyability]

[wow, straight to it, kita-san? not that atsumu's surprised; their captain is about as straightforward as one can get.]

Haaah... [it's an odd mix of a laugh and a sigh as atsumu tilts his head back.] Never really tried to. Like I said, Samu's the one who actually likes all that.

[he slants a look at kita.] Would you believe me if I said I wasn't interested?

[1foxgiven]

[Kita meets the look evenly. Doesn't break his stride.]

If you've never really tried, then no. I don't.

[It sounds like an excuse. And Atsumu should know that such an explanation isn't going to fly.]

Look, it doesn't have to be your favorite. But it still needs to get done.

I should really make icons at some point...

[amiyability]

[it is an excuse, of a sort. it's a practical skill, it's just...atsumu knows he wouldn't be half as reluctant if his brother weren't already so invested in the kitchen.

instead of saying so, because that seems too much like admitting a weakness he doesn't want to delve into, atsumu just shrugs with forced nonchalance.]

Yeah, maybe. Do we really need two Miya cooks, though?

Meh, I have 3 NO judgment! XD

[1foxgiven]

[That gets a sharper glance.

Kita knows a deflection when he sees one.]

We're not talking about 'two Miyas'. We're talking about you, Atsumu.

fair!!

[amiyability]

[a simple phrase like that shouldn't hit atsumu that hard, but it does. he sucks in a breath, step faltering.

then, he shakes his head.]

Are you sure about that, Kita-san? [he gives his captain a sly smile.] Samu and I, we're supposed to be a package deal.

[1foxgiven]

I said what I said.

[The air around them seems to drop a few degrees. Though Kita's pace doesn't change. Or his tone.]

Please stop acting like I'm someone you can bait.

[amiyability]

[scary, he thinks. atsumu's pretty sure he didn't imagine the chill going down his spine right now. he shivers.]

Never said you were, cap. [he finally mumbles, mouth twisting unhappily.] Just what do you want me to say here? That we don't really need something else they associate with both of us?

[1foxgiven]

Yes. Because that actually helps to know.

[Honesty? Helping? More likely than you think.

Kita's quiet for a few moments. Considering this. He doesn't have siblings, and can't even begin to imagine what being a twin is like. Growing up and told you're part of a set.]

Excuse me if this is wrong. It sounds like there's actually two problems. One is wanting to have independent interests - maybe even not stepping on Osamu's?

The second is you do need to take care of yourself.

[amiyability]

[the more kita talks, the higher atsumu's shoulders climb. is this what being dissected feels like? to be cut open and have all the vulnerable squishy bits that would normally be hidden exposed?]

Sounds about right. But I'm not gonna ask Samu for help, if that's what you're thinking. [it's mumbled, sullen. there's something in his tone that says he's not ready to talk about this, not even if kita turns that stern captain's gaze on him. he hasn't even talked to osamu about any of this, for fuck's sake. there's no doubt his twin is the one who knows him best, but their relationship's a complicated one. it'll just take more than one walk home to untangle.]

Hey. [there's that sly tone again, though kita's probably realized by now it's just atsumu putting his guard up.] If it's that important, maybe you should teach me.

[1foxgiven]

All right.

[Just - Like that.

Because the conclusion is obvious. Osamu's not an option. For whatever reason. That leaves one candidate available.

Kita was about to offer, except Atsumu got there first.]

[amiyability]

[atsumu falters on the next step. he turns stunned eyes on kita, searching for anything that might help him understand what kita's thinking.]

Wait...really? You're not pulling my leg are you?

[he'd only suggested it as a deflection, to change the subject; he hadn't expected kita to actually agree.]

[1foxgiven]

I'm not an expert, but I can show you the basics. Do you have time now?

I know we have pickled plums...

[Atsumu still hasn't agreed, technically. Maybe Kita's stacking the deck.

Just a little.]

[amiyability]

[he might be eyeing kita incredulously now, a reluctant smile pulling at his lips.]

Cap... are you tryin' to bribe me over to your house? First the sass yesterday, now this... you're gonna give everyone a heart attack if you spring them on us like this, you know.

[admittedly, the pickled plums are very tempting. he still remembers the taste of the ones kita had left for him last year, and figures kita's probably being humble about his cooking skills. like he is with everything else.]

[1foxgiven]

Huh. I guess that's what it sounds like, doesn't it.

[Aran would shove him, probably. Laugh that it's okay to want things.

Does he want this? Well. He wants to know Atsumu won't try to survive on junk food because of his pride. So... maybe? Kita shrugs. As much to Atsumu as his inner dialogue.]

Well?

[amiyability]

[that reluctant smile grows until atsumu's ducking his head in a surprisingly bashful gesture.]

Yeah, all right. I've just gotta call home and let them know.

[this isn't how he imagined his day going, but atsumu's not exactly complaining.]