Haikyuu!! Oneshots

Buddy (Wakatoshi Ushijima)

[Artwork is not mine! Credit to Gjnoel_]

Requested by: No One

Word Count: 3,773

Warnings and/or Pre-Notes:
- Asexuality
- Open Relationship
- Alcohol Mentioned

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     My foot slams against the wooden floor on repeat, the soft tap, tap, tap of my shoe drowned out by the sound of the volleyball being smacked back and forth. My eyes trail after the ball, watching one after the other being set just for Wakatoshi and the other spikers to slam it over the net.
     Miya is setting for my fiancé, which isn't usual and is showing. Ever since Kageyama was recruited for the national team, he's been setting for Toshi, but for some reason, he's been glued to the new guy that started this year.
     The new player is a short guy with wild hair. A bit of a tan pokes out from his clothing too, confusing me even more. I don't know any ginger that can truly tan, but I suppose the new kid on the block has bigger mysteries than that; like how I swear I've seen him before. He's probably an old rival, that's usually how I know the players that cycle in and out of Toshi's teams.
     A hand wraps around my thigh, forcefully stopping the bouncing of my leg. The annoyance of being touched dips the tip of my tongue in venom, ready to stab my thoughts into whoever thought they were allowed to touch me.
     "You have been rather stressed lately."
     The smooth and monotoned voice melts the anger from my tastebuds, a small smile sliding into place instead. A smile that widens when I tip my head backward to look up at Wakatoshi. His hair is plastered to his forehead, glued there by the sweat glistening over his skin. His eyes are squirted just a tad, barely showing the worry he's holding for me at the moment.
"Just work, Tosh," I murmur, lightly resting my hand on top of his.
My future husband falls into a squat, evening the distance between his frame and me perched in the bleacher seat I've been warming all afternoon. "It's not just work," he responds, his thumb rubbing small circles into my knee. "Your article got approved this morning. You forwarded the email."
My heart jumps a little at the knowledge that he did read the email I forwarded. I don't know why it still does or why I still doubt that he'd read it. Wakatoshi has been reading my travel articles since high school. Hell, he's been reading my acceptance and publishing notification emails for just as long. The first article I ever got published - a small thousand-word essay about my time in the Sumida Ward during one of his practice matches - hangs in his locker, torn from the first magazine my name has ever been printed in.
I shrug my shoulders, tearing my eyes away from him so they can skip around the gymnasium instead. Toshi is a loving man, the center of my world, my other half, my high school sweetheart, and my soulmate. He's everything I've ever known. Everything I've ever wanted... but there are still struggles in our relationship.
Wakatoshi is asexual. He has no sexual attraction, to anyone, including me. During the blooming period of our relationship, I was convinced he wanted nothing to do with me, that I wasn't pretty enough, that he didn't really love me, and that I had to be doing something wrong if he never seemed to want me in that way. I tried a million different things to get some reaction out of him but... nothing.
     Finally, after eight months of being together, I broke, having a complete meltdown and begging him to just tell me why he wouldn't touch me. Toshi was obviously confused, asking what the hell I was talking about. Overall, after a lengthy conversation and multiple days of research, we figured out it wasn't that he didn't find me attractive, he just doesn't feel sexual attraction.
     Since that discovery, everything has been smoother between us but occasionally it comes up again and causes some ruffling in our relationship. Toshi doesn't seem to care much, insisting he can and will fulfill my sexual needs if I want, but I feel bad asking him to do something he doesn't want. Not to mention, I can't enjoy my pleasure knowing it makes him uncomfortable.
     After about a year of us stumbling through this difference, struggling to find a balance, he recommended opening our relationship; one side of it, anyway. Again, Wakatoshi doesn't care. If anything, he encourages me to fulfill my sexual needs.
     However, there are a few rules. He wants to know who, but not what. Protection must be used; I double up just to be sure. If I do ever decide I want a child, I want it to be Wakatoshi's. A limit of one lover at a time, which is another thing I agree with. He plans a date the day after, to reconnect and to soothe any worries on either side. Lastly, have it pre-scheduled so we can plan accordingly and so he can expect when to have me back and when to give me space.
     My "buddy" - as Toshi calls it - was Tendo in high school but in recent years it's been Kageyama. Both people he knows, like he wants, and both people that don't have a want let alone the time for anything more than physical relationships. That keeps things as simple as can be for all parties involved.
     Despite my partner being understanding and supportive of me filling my needs, I still feel bad about it, like I'm cheating on him. Toshi views it differently, he insists that he knows I love him, that I'll always be his, and I'd never leave him over something as simple as sex. He also insists he knows I'd stop if he ever asked, which I would. If he ever even mumbled a no about anything - the partner, the day, the time, the situation altogether - I would stop, instantly, no questions asked.
     I love him, and want to spend eternity and whatever is after with him. It just infuriates me that I can't simply not want sex. But again, Wakatoshi says that it's a normal human need and one he doesn't expect me to stop wanting, let alone give up. Still, with my lack of asking him for assistance and my hesitation to use our open agreement, it's not uncommon that I leave my needs ignored and snuffed out long enough that they claw at me to finally indulge. I wish I could simply not want sex. It would make my life so much easier.
"I can't fix an issue I'm not aware of," he murmurs, the circles on my knee getting a little rougher as his worry grows.
"You couldn't help even if I told you what it was," I softly tease, letting my fingers skip up his arm, enjoying the way his muscles tighten under my touch.
Wakatoshi stays silent for a few moments, eyebrows scrunched together as he thinks over what I said. "Oh," he finally grumbles, the rhythm of his thumb evening out now that he's solved the mystery. "Perhaps you should have a sleepover with your buddy, then."
     "Tosh - "
     "He seems to be stressed too. He's been... angrier since Hinata's return to Japan," he rambles, climbing to his full height as he nods in agreement with himself. "Besides, it's been a few months since you've spent any time with your buddy."
"Wakato - "
"I shall go see if Kageyama's night is free," he cuts me off again, already halfway across the gym by the time I shoot out of my seat.
     By the time I catch up to him, he's already discussing nightly plans with the setter. Embarrassment etches into my skin, even more so when Kageyama's eyes snap toward me. "Hinata is coming over for a bit but he should be gone by five. After that, I don't have anything planned."
     Toshi hums, nodding in agreement again. "You shall go over at five and I will see you at nine tomorrow. Bring her to the gym for our workout session, yes?"
     "Sure," he mutters, barely sparing me another glance. He's always very disconnected, which is another reason why he works perfectly for our situation. "See you at five, Ushi-Chan," a small smile graces his lips with the reverse greeting like it always does. Over the years, I've started to believe Kageyama gets off on the idea of Wakatoshi being my partner in every way but the ways he provides me. Whether he does or not wouldn't make much of a difference though, I suppose.
     "Why'd you do that?" I hiss the question once my "buddy" is out of earshot, leaving me and Toshi alone on the edge of the gym. "You didn't have to get involved."
"Of course, I did."
"The hell do you mean 'of course you did'?"
He lets out a deep breath, moving slowly as he rests his hands on my arms, letting them slide up and down the length of my biceps. "My Darling," he whispers, leaning down so the words can caress my face. "My future wife," the three words make my heart skip, partly because of the sentiment, but also because of the slight weaver of Toshi's voice. "If I hadn't set you time with your Buddy, you would have let your frustration consume you until you snapped. I don't rather enjoy when you snap."
     A defeated sigh spills from my lips, my shoulders dropping some of their tension. Toshi is right, as usual. I would have let my needs feaster until I was an utter bitch.
     He bends down, ghosting his lips against mine before he snaps back into his straight posture, his touches completely gone from me. "I will ask for a ride from one of my fellow members. Go home and prepare for your evening."
Just like that, the soft moment is gone as soon as it's here, like most things with my life partner. Wakatoshi is sweet in his own way, but his gentle words and soft touches only happen occasionally. I don't mind, it just makes them that more special.
I'm still riding the high of his affection as I slip into the locker room, bee-lining for locker 214; our anniversary, and another omen that Toshi can be sweet on occasion. The dial turns easily, writing out my birthday before the lock pops and giving me access to the keys he locked away before practice.