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Suga barely registered the way the cheers from the audience died down when they saw the downed player. All he could focus on was the way Daichi’s body was just still. From where he was standing, he couldn’t see any movement from the captain. Not the rise and fall of his chest, not the way his muscles were probably tensing from the pain. All he could focus on was the ‘1’ on his back.
For a few slow, agonizing moments, Suga was convinced Daichi was knocked out. Or worse. The way he was on his side made it all the more worrying because it couldn’t be comfortable. And if Daichi wasn’t getting up from the discomfort then something must be horribly wrong.
Eventually, after enough prompting from their teammates on the court, Daichi let out a groan and rolled onto his stomach. The movement caused a flood of relief in Suga and the release of a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.
He had to blink back tears that threatened to spill because Daichi wasn’t out. He’s moving, he’s sitting on his knees, he’s looking at everyone. Takeda-Sensei and Coach Ukai were checking on him. He was talking coherently and no one seemed particularly worried.
Still, Suga couldn’t shake the feeling of fear that had passed through him. He’s seen national team matches on TV where players could get hurt and stay down. Sometimes to the point of needing to be carried into an ambulance. He’s heard of High School matches where the same thing happened. Daichi could’ve been hurt worse if he hadn’t turned his head at the right moment.
The what-if’s brought all those horrible emotions back and Suga decided fuck it. Rules be damned. That’s his teammate that got hurt. His captain. His boyfriend . His Daichi-
And before he knew it, he bolted out of the taped area on the floor that was meant for the benched players. He heard Ennoshita call out to him, trying to reason that Daichi was fine and that he shouldn’t risk them getting some kind of penalty or violation. But Suga didn’t really care. And no one else that had been standing with him made a move to stop him.
“Daichi!” he called, grabbing everyone’s attention. Takeda-Sensei immediately reacted, making a half-hearted attempt to block Suga from the captain.
“Sugawara-kun, please-” he was cut off by Suga giving him a glare as he pushed his arm out of the way. The glare held no meaning other than ‘let me get to him’. That was as far as the organizer got in stopping him before he was on his knees in front of Daichi.
“Suga, it’s okay-” Daichi, ever trying to ease any situation, grabbed Suga by the shoulders, locking eye contact with him.
Only Suga wasn’t really looking at him. He was looking at the forming bruise on his cheek. And the broken lip that was starting to bleed. “You’re bleeding,” he whispered, Daichi’s hand being just a tad too slow to cover the wound. Instead, it landed on top of Suga’s as he gently pressed it to keep the blood from flowing too much.
Daichi still winced, the pain still fresh, as he frowned. But his thumb rubbed over the back of his hand. The most comfort he could offer with everyone staring at them. “Suga, look at me-”
“Sugawara.”
Suga broke his gaze away from the other, looking up to see Ukai crouching down next to him. The older man placed a hand on his shoulder. “You need to let us take him to the infirmary,” he said firmly, but softly. He seemed to be more aware of the tidal wave of emotions Suga was going through right now.
Suga made a quiet whimper. He wouldn’t be able to go with Daichi.
Ukai frowned just a bit. “The faster he goes, the faster he can come back, okay?”
“But…” he tried to protest, letting his eyes drift back to Daichi, who just made a gentle nod. Although, his eyes were glistening slightly. He didn’t want to leave either. He wanted to stay in the game. And Suga thought it was unfair. If he said he was fine he should be able to stay-
But then again, Daichi only knows so much about how injured he was.
Reluctantly, Suga pulled his hand back, Daichi’s blood still smeared on his palm as Takeda helped Daichi to his feet, where Kiyoko offered him a cloth to cover the blood. He was then pulled up to his own feet by Ukai, the coach leading him back to the stupid taped area where everyone else was standing.
Suga watched Ukai lead Daichi off the court to take him to the infirmary to be checked out. He absentmindedly took the cloth Kiyoko offered for his hand, squeezing it tightly as he stared at the ground.
The match had to continue, but the whole team was knocked out of sync. No one felt like continuing to play. Not when their Captain was out.
Thankfully Ennoshita was able to pull everyone together, especially Tanaka.
But even after everyone’s spirits were lifted, Suga never once stopped thinking about when the match would end so he could go check up on his boyfriend.
---
The club was mostly empty, save for Suga. They all met at the school gym after the matches were over, feeling victorious that they’re still in to win the prelims. Ukai held a discussion with them about facing the next school tomorrow before letting them go home early to rest. By now, everyone had left, Daichi having to lag behind to usher Hinata and Kageyama out of the gym (otherwise those two would stay until sunrise) and Suga staying behind for Daichi.
Suga had been overjoyed to see Daichi standing, looking fine overall at the end of their match with Wakkun. And of course, he had to make the other pay for scaring him like that. So naturally, he left the captain with a sore stomach. And then things were okay.
Or at least that’s what Suga told himself.
It hadn’t been a particularly bad injury. Daichi would just have a bruise and a sore jaw. And a missing tooth. But his head was okay. He didn’t get a concussion or any kind of head injury. He had just gotten hurt. That’s it.
He’s fine.
Suga let out a sigh as he slowly packed his jersey into his bag to be washed at home. His hands were shaking. Anytime he was left to his thoughts, his mind would go back to the still figure of Daichi on the floor. He couldn’t shake the image. It was burned into his memories.
“Ah- Suga, I thought you’d left already.” Daichi’s voice made him lift his gaze up to see the other standing at the club room door. He was smiling at him softly. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Suga forced a smile. “No, it’s okay,” he said back, zipping his bag up and leaving it on the bench to walk over to his boyfriend. “Did Hinata and Kageyama throw a tantrum at being told to go home?” he asked, gently grabbing the top part of Daichi’s jacket to mess with it, running his fingers along the fabric. Any kind of sensory to calm his nerves. Damnit Koushi he’s standing right in front of you, stop worrying-
Daichi made a low chuckle and carefully placed his hands around Suga’s waist. “They tried to. But they’re pulling the net down and storing the volleyballs now. So we might have to wait a little before we lock up.” His voice was low and soft. It put Suga more at ease.
Suga snickered softly and lifted his gaze up to meet Daichi’s eyes. “I don’t mind…” he saw the bruise on Daichi’s cheek and he had to grip Daichi’s jacket a little tighter. Only for a moment though, because then he was pressing his palm to caress the darkened skin. “Does it still hurt…?”
Daichi didn’t wince this time, only leaning into the touch with a sigh of content. “Not as much as it did before…” he mumbled, gently grabbing the back of Suga’s hand and kissing the part of his palm right under his thumb. “Suga, I’m okay, rea-” he stopped, hearing a quiet sniffle.
He looked back at his boyfriend, who was tearing up, his bottom lip quivering as he tried not to outright sob. It was silly really. But he could only hold in his emotions for so long and he hasn’t gotten a chance to speak to Daichi alone.
Daichi’s gaze somehow softened more when he saw the tears threatening to spill. “Suga…”
“It was scary…” Suga whispered. “I-I keep thinking back to that m-moment where you were j-just laying there, so still a-and I remember I was terrified because I thought you were seriously hurt-” once he started, he couldn’t stop. “-and I know we’ve only been together for a f-few months but I’ve known you forever and-” he silenced himself with a whimper when Daichi kissed his forehead gently.
Wide eyes met soft brown ones as Daichi readjusted his hold. “I’m sorry, baby,” he mumbled. “I can’t imagine how bad it must’ve looked from your angle…” A rough hand came up to brush Suga’s tears away before they reached the end of his face. “I was scared too…” he admitted quietly.
And Suga didn’t miss the way Daichi’s fingers gripped into his shirt. Of course he was scared. After a hit like that, who wouldn’t be?
So with another sniffle, Suga suddenly engulfed the taller man in a hug, burying his face in his shoulder. The first real comfort he got from his partner since that match.
The close contact already made him feel so much better. He could feel Daichi’s chest as it constricted slightly, the other doing his best not to tear up either. His breath hit Suga’s ear and he could feel the faint ba-dum of his heartbeat.
This was all he needed.
That scary image was lightyears away now. Only Daichi existed in his mind.
Daichi eventually let out a sigh and buried his face in the silky soft strands of Suga’s hair, breathing deeply.
They stood like that for a while, letting their emotions settle as they relished in the other’s presence.
Eventually, Suga pulled back to properly wipe his eyes and look up at his boyfriend with a small pout. “Don’t do that again… Okay?” he asked quietly, now cupping Daichi’s face with both hands, squishing his cheeks a little.
Daichi couldn’t help but make a short laugh at Suga’s antics. “I can’t promise that… But I’ll try to be more careful, yeah?” he offered, letting his forehead rest against Suga’s.
Suga, pleased with the answer, smiled and let his hands slide around Daichi’s neck, elbows bent as he let them rest right above Daichi’s back. He knew the other loved it when he made these cute poses and, quite frankly, he liked making them too. “Mmm fine,” he relented. “ I still think a kiss is in order, though. To make up for scaring your poor innocent boyfriend.”
Daichi quirked an eyebrow in amusement. “Innocent?” he echoed. When Suga made a huff, he snickered and leaned in. “Alright, but we gotta work on your self-description,” he teased, drawing out a giggle from the vice captain before their lips connected in a gentle kiss.
Suga let his eyes flutter closed, enjoying the feeling of Daichi loving him. After their first kiss, he’d try to sneak any in before the others saw them, simply because he was obsessed with him. Not just his personality but the way his arms were big and strong.
Despite being as active as Daichi in volleyball, his body just wasn’t the type to build muscles. But Daichi’s? Oh lord, Suga had to stop himself from swooning whenever his boyfriend changed shirts in front of him.
So yeah, a kiss was the perfect thing for Suga to enjoy his boyfriend spiritually, mentally, and physically.
Daichi broke the kiss after a few seconds but didn’t pull away, instead gazing lovingly into Suga’s eyes. “I love you,” he eventually whispered.
Suga swore the other heard the way his heart leapt in joy. A wider smile broke out on his face, the corners of his eyes turning up with his mouth. “I love you too.”
And the moment was beautiful until the two heard a sharp gasp.
Like deer caught in headlights, the third years turned their heads sharply to see a surprised Kageyama and a beyond-shocked Hinata standing in the doorway of the club room.
“Oh no-”
“OH MY GO D-”