Uses the last name Suzuki instead of Ashikaga because their sister, Miki Ashikaga is a famous pro player 😳(listen man, I just wanted to be rich leave me alone 〒▽〒)
Does vb outside of Karasuno, their sister trains them and sure they could tell their team but they lowkey are insecure about their skill so they don't.
I can probably write more...if someone wants that lol. Lmk /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
Quick summary for context: This takes place during the Goldy Pond arc, the reader and char are both 18 (that is his canon age). It’s a day that a hunt has taken place right after it, as reader was trying to calm down after the hunt and narrowly escaping death he has a panic attack and gets injured, due to the stress of constantly being in a life or death situation. Lucky for him Zack was the resident medic and ended up helping him, and this led to a heart to heart between the two. This heart to heart then allows them to get closer to one another and ending up where a...semi complicated relationship starts and lastly smut. There will be in detail explanations about the reader’s mental problems because honestly I feel like we don’t get shown enough of it. Like in detail breakdowns…so if that doesn’t make you comfortable don’t read this!! Anyways…if you’re still here…enjoy<3
Fresh bright red blood stained on the grass a few feet away, a few more seconds and that could’ve been Reader instead. Frayed and panicked nerves shot adrenaline through his whole body, the world around him that just a second ago was loud with screams filling the air and any space nearby now only carrying the soft sniffling of sobs from nearby injured or mourning kids. His knees collapsed as the edges of his vision caved in ever so slightly, breath becoming ragged. He didn’t even notice the burning sting or the way he scratched at his hands like his life was about to end. All he felt was the numb shaking fear that wracked his entire body as his heart practically beat out of his chest. He didn’t feel the salty tears running down his cheeks and falling onto his sleeves, leaving wet and fast drying trails where they had been dripping down his face. Not even noticing the way blood started to flow from the scratched raw wounds on his hand, nor the shadow that appeared above him until strong gentle hands pulled his hands away from themselves. Finally looking up to meet a scarred face and dark browned eyed boy, Zack.
Reader sat on an empty crate inside the base beside a table, next to where Zack was opening the medicine cabinet and pushing aside various bottles before grabbing the med kit and sitting in a chair across from the injured boy. He knew what he was doing, getting hurt plenty of times beforehand. Yet there was always the look of pity and or empathy in his dark eyes, past all the numbness. Anyone would be if they were trapped in an endless killing loop for years on end, just with different faces, a new crowd of unknowing innocent kids every so often. You get used to the screams, the blood, the tears, and the pain eventually. If you even make it that far anyways, some don’t last a day as unfortunate as it is.
“Fair warning, this might sting a bit.”
Reader perked up, finally coming back to reality from zoning out. He’d been building up with the bubbling feeling of guilt and shame in his chest, especially at getting found like that. A sharp hiss escaped his throat as Zack dabbed some rubbing alcohol on his fresh injuries, wiping away the blood and cleaning the wound. Reader bit his lip, meeting Zack’s eyes for a second as his eyes flicked up to him before focusing back on the job at hand. Though he felt his gentle yet firm hands squeeze his own with a silent reassurance, a comfort to the stinging pain.
“Almost done, breath for me, it’s alright.”
Zack’s words were muttered due to his concentration but his gentleness never faltered. Even in this cruel word he vowed to protect. Reader followed along, matching his breaths to the boy in front of him. His body slowly relaxing from the aftershocks of adrenaline, occupying his mind by tracing the various scars on Zack with his eyes. As Zack finished up, throwing away the dirty cotton balls he reached to the med kit for a roll of bandages as he kept one hand on Reader’s.
“Good job, now I just have to patch you up okay?”
Reader nodded, unable to hide a small hint of blush spreading across his cheeks as Zack’s thumb traced in gentle circles on his uninjured hand. He didn’t really expect such intimate gestures from Zack, he was always selfless and saving his loved ones sure but this seemed…different. Maybe he was reading it wrong, maybe the taller boy was just being extra tender because he found Reader hurting himself. Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to complain. He just sat in comfortable silence as Zack wrapped the bandages around Reader’s hand snugly.
“All done. Does it feel alright?”
Zack stood up, putting the supplies back in the med kit neatly as they were before, then going to go put it back in the cabinet.
“Yeah…it feels fine. Thank you…by the way.”
He was having a hard time getting words out of his mouth that sounded muttered and embarrassed.
There was a small pause, soft silence along with a tense weight in the air. Before Zack’s voice spoke, soft, careful but still strong in the way of saying “I see you” in a tone.
“Is it the fear of death or just the weight of our situation?”
Silence. That made Reader pause. But in a way that made him think.
“What?”
It was a quiet whisper, like a small breeze that barely moved leaves on a tree.
“Your breakdown.”
Zack paused, searching the shorter boy’s face to read his expressions. The sparkle of surprise in his eyes from just being seen. His eyes scanned Reader, noticing the small things. The way his shoulders were tense, fearing confrontation. Fearing being judged from someone who just saw you let out emotions in a way that would make most people cry and not knowing how to react to their loved one in such a way as he had seen him. He remembered the way that Reader’s tears fell down his cheeks and onto the grass. The same grass that was coated in fresh red blood only a few feet away. The way his shoulders were coiled from all the emotions bottled up inside and bursting out at once in an uncontrollable explosion. The way that his body shook, racked with fear, sadness, and a rush of adrenaline. How his legs were practically limp by how tired he was from running for so long just so he wouldn’t get caught. All through that moment he stood in front of Reader now, he understood. Zack knew how it felt, how your world goes from happiness and sunshine to being taken away from your loved ones and your family and thrown into a den of wolves disguised as a sheep field. To be fed lies and fake illusions only to face your nightmares in real life. The shock that you never quite get used to even as the years go by as you watch kid after kid get slaughtered by these gluttonous monsters. The ones that make you feel like every day in this place is like waking up to be puppets on a string for their sick games. Eventually you can learn to look at the blood on the grass, soaked in bright red and just stare. But you never get rid of the pit you feel in your stomach as the numbers rack up over time. You never know when a new face will become a new grave.
“...I guess it’s a bit of both..”
Reader spoke, a small murmur. As if he was telling a secret, one that he would’ve taken to his grave if he hadn’t been found, and Zack knew that.
“I get it, even though I’ve been here longer than you have. There’s always going to be the same drop in my stomach as I watch innocent kids die. I just learned to channel my fear to help the people I care about. Sometimes you just have to make the best of it, even if it’s hard.”
Zack spoke, not making this about him but to connect with Reader to let him know that he isn’t alone in this cruel world. Pulling up a stool from beside the table to sit in front of him, to make himself less opposing.
“Do you want the blanket or the sword?”
Zack spoke softly, taking what Reader could possibly want in mind. Not everyone wants the same thing.
“..Comfort please.”
Reader’s voice was soft, his eyes finally meeting Zack’s with relief as his eyes softened to see the taller boy hold his arms out to hug him. A faint blush creeping its way onto his face as he got up on wobbly legs still recovering from the run earlier. At least he thought that’s all it was. He pushed the growing flutter in his stomach away as he melted into the arms of the other boy. Zack’s arms wrapped around his body with a gentle but present, grounding hug. Rubbing the smaller boy’s shoulders gently in small circles to try and ease the knots that had built overtime from stress. Easing up his hold slightly as a pained whine escaped Reader.
“I know I know...”
Zack murmured out, his warm breath brushing against Reader’s ear making him shiver. Which brought a small smirk and a chuckle from the taller boy in front of him.
“It’ll feel better when I’m done, I promise.”
Reader nodded a little as his eyes closed shut, breathing in the scent of Zack. Pine and other forestry smells came through the most, with a tinge of metallic blood. He focused on it, focused on the warmth of the other body in front of him, and enveloped around him. Easing the tensions from his body whilst he tried to push aside the burning warmth within his gut that had slowly started building since he was pulled into his arms. It felt like a small bubble of just the two of them against the world. The small ministrations stopped; the knots in his shoulders were gone. But the sad feeling of Zack’s touch being gone replaced it. Zack seemed to notice, though, shifting from Reader’s shoulders to his neck. Firmly holding his head against him so he didn’t jostle the boy too much as he calmly rubbed the tension out of his neck. It was a strange sensation to Reader at first, but eventually that died down as he came to enjoy Zack’s gentle handling. He was good with his hands, that’s for sure.
As the clock ticked away, fading into the background. All the boy focused on was the calming sensation of the free massage he was getting. The way Zack’s strong, calloused, and scarred hands moved over his neck and head with professional confidence that made his heart flutter and warmth pool into his gut. Though what snapped him out of his thoughts was a surprised moan getting its way out of his throat as Zack seemed to hit a sensitive spot in his neck, making both of them pause. Reader’s face flushed red just as soon as he heard it, and Zack chuckling didn’t help.
“I seemed to have hit the sweet spot huh?”
His tone changed. It wasn’t just gentle anymore; it was deeper and filled with predatory intensity that made his heart race. Reader felt Zack’s hands go from his neck to his waist, fitting snugly around him.
“Man, that really pushed you over the edge, didn’t it? Cute.”
When Zack said that Reader only then realized the familiar tight strain in his pants and finally knew what the warmth pooling in his gut was. He was hard, pressed right against Zack’s front.
If you liked it lwk harass me to finish it because I have been putting it off 😭
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