"In my Shadow" - Miya Atsumu Angst (with happy end)

Chapter 1: Twilight

Authors Note:

I'll add content warnings for every chapter that has any in the notes before. Chapter 1 is fairly safe and just touches on the overall themes of the story by introducing them.

Please read the tags carefully and should you decide to read it, ENJOY!

For everyone who prefers hearing the story there is an audiobook version at the bottom of the chapter.

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Atsumu looked up from the products before him, his eyes searching through the aisle while his hand wandered up to his neck. There was a shiver running down his spine and the hairs on his neck rose. He couldn't quite place it.

Something felt off. But when he looked around there was nothing out of place. The groceries were still neatly stacked on their respective shelves and aside from him, there was no one here. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head slightly. He was just driving himself insane at this point and–

"Have you found–"

"AHH!" Atsumu helped and dropped the pack of noodles he'd been holding.

Kita looked at him confused, raising an eyebrow at his obvious shock, while Atsumu placed a hand over his heart in a dramatic gesture and over-animatedly caught his breath.
"Don't scare me like that, Shin!"

A small chuckle resonated in Kita's chest as he stepped closer and picked up the noodles Atsumu had dropped before handing them back to the blonde.
"I just wanted to ask if you found everything."
A small gentle smile played on his lips, the likes of which used to be rare on him in high school but now Atsumu saw them almost daily and he still hadn't gotten used to them. His heart picked up speed, flustered.

"Yeah, almost. Though why did you have to sneak up on me like that? You don't usually do those things," he complained weakly.

Confusion cooked Kita's expression and his brows furrowed.
"I didn't."

"Oh..." he could have sworn someone was...
For a moment, they stared at each other puzzled but as soon as Atsumu noticed Kita's confusion turning to worry, he brushed it off with a careless gesture.
"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just driving myself insane over the upcoming game. It got a bit on edge."

"You don't usually do that."
Kita watched him closely before eyeing their surroundings like Atsumu had before.

"What? Are you suggesting that someone is watching us?" he said half-jokingly and laughed. Kita shook his head slightly.

"Of course, not. It's just not like you to be so on edge."

"Well, the game is important. Can't blame me for being a little bit nervous about it."

Kita sighed but followed Atsumu as he proceeded. The setter knew that he wasn't satisfied with his answer because it truly was out of the ordinary for him, particularly if the game no matter how important was still days away. He didn't know himself, what had ticked him off, but now with his boyfriend, he was back to normal.

The feeling was gone... almost.

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Atsumu looked gorgeous even in the most mundane of circumstances. His bleached hair glistened under the cold ceiling lights, and his smile brightened the room warmly.