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beea-idiot56 · 9 months

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Chapter 5 - A little help is always nice

What happens when a person who has been diagnosed with extreme anxiety and had "retired" from volleyball finds themselves coaching a team full of guys who are a little too loud for their comfort(especially the ginger)?

Slow burn? ✔️ smut?❌ they/them pronouns?✔️ forced?❌

Childe x Reader Volleyball AU Wattpad Link Prologue link(Tumblr)

A sigh escaped Y/Ns lips as they tied their shoes, ther eyes following the wood of their floor up to the shoe rack, to which a box belonged. A sense of Deja Vu filled their brain, it was only short lived, however, and they shook it off, grabbing their bag before heading out of the house that they owned. Their feet carried them down the side walk, having been nothing more then muscle memory at this point, after coaching here for nearly a year.

Coaching young children, ranging from 6 to 11, had been nothing short but a therapeutic experience for them. As they taught new children the different rules of volleyball, watching children get giddy at the thought of hitting, watching them get their first serve over, and being able to tell, even from a young age without much knowledge of the game, what each eand every person would soon become on the court.

Y/N was able to hand pick and point out the few that they could tell would be setters, or hitters, sometimes even being able to tell who would be excellent at passing. It was a joy to watch young minds and children grow to be excellent players. Sure they werent ready to step onto a court for a large game or tournament, Y/N’s class had only been an introductory into the loved sport, but it was still fun to see the progress these children would make throughout the month or two that the class lasted.

As Y/n rounded the corner and stepped up to the large recorational building they found themself glancing over the parking lot with all the cars that lined it. At this point in time, about a hour before anything really started at the complex, it was always easy to pick out when people were there and who they were. There was the large truck, owned by the front desk worker who often brought in coffee and always saved a cup for Y/N. The small Honda car, owned by the swim coach and worker. Then Y/N’s favorite car, a nice old 1961 Ford Galaxy Starliner, bright red with the leather seats and everything. Everytime Y/n saw it they found themself feeling a sense of giddy well up in their stomach at such a beautiful car. They had been yet to figure out who owns it, but they simply assumed it was one of the janitor people who worked here.

However, today they saw a new car. It wasn’t special, just a mustang with a top on it. It was bright yellow, which was the most eye catching part, even when the sun was just barely rising above the horizon. Y/N walked up to the doors, their eyes still catching onto the new car. They simply brushed it off, however, possibly there was a new worker. Archons knew they were short handed.

Y/N entered the large complex, it was not unlike many YMCA complex’s. But there was a special homeyness to it that Y/N found themself drawn too, with the plaques of different sports and their players across the wall, a little daycare for parents who dropped their kid off, and large windows spreading the entirety of the rooms. Most courts had been closed off, in favor of padded side panels, but the swim room, gym, and some of the other small rooms had not been spared from the public view. Then there were the dance rooms, each with large mirrored walls, it was two way, so people could see in, but the dancers were able to watch themselves to improve. However, in the middle of the center, and where most people walked in, was the front desk. A nice smell was wafted up to Y/N as they wandered over to the front desk, leaning their elbows on it and over to look at the person who worked there.

“Well hello there Y/N! Do you like my new candle? Its quite pleassent.” Ganyu spoke, a smile graced her face and she pulled a coffee up from under the ledge y/n was leaning on, handing it to them. They gripped onto it a smile gracing their face in return. “I do! Its so nice, whats the scent? Also thank you” y/n spoke, letting the smell overtake their senses as they took a sip from the coffee. Ah, made just as Y/n had always liked it. “Just some cinnamon and a hint of apple, apparently its supposed to smell like an orchid. Thats neither here nor there, however.” she smiled, “but you, on the other hand. You didnt tell me you had such a pretty boyfriend!”

Y/n had nearly spit out their drink as they coughed and heaved, confusion running over their features. “I wasnt aware i had one either!” they spoke, coughing slightly still.

“Hm? So that ginger who came in a few minutes ago, asked where your court was, and then flashed a wink at me, wasnt your boyfriend?” Ganyu spoke, a smile gracing her features. Y/n stared at her however, confused as to who they were speaking of. Ginger? y/n didnt know any ginger- oh. Yes. yes they did. “Youre mistaken, hes not my boyfriend. More of an,,, underling? I dont know quite how to title him. His coach asked me to help coach their setter, and as a byproduct i met him.” Y/N tried to reach for the words to explain how the two were related, but just settled for explaining it flat, rather than putting a title on it. However, that didnt stop the knowing smile that graced their colleagues face, Y/N just sighed before waving her off, pushing off the counter to walk down the hallway and to their court.

Sipping down the rest of their caffinated beverage and tossing it in the trashcan, they pushed open the doors. Dropping the bag full of volleyballs by the door, and instead picking up the keys on the hook next to the door that unlocked the utility closet with all the pieces to set up the net. They then looked back up, to see Childe, staring back at them from the wall where he was stretching his back, a large smile gracing his features.

“So youre the one with the yellow mustang” y/n sighed before waving him over as they walked over to the utility closet. In an odd sort of way, they almost weren’t surprised to see him. “Oh! How did you know?” childe spoke, bouncing over with a smile “I didnt recognize it when i walked here. Anyways, help me set up the net. If youre gonna be here youre gonna make yourself useful.” y/n sopke, pushing the door open with a loud creak. The ceiling of the closet was a little shorter than of the actual gym, but still high to contain the bars that held up the net on either side. “That was my intention!” he spoke, grabbing one edge of the bar so y/n could grab the other. Together the two dragged it out to the court through the door and childe held it as y/n beant down to pop open the covering to the hole the poles slide into. They both then slid it in and turned it to be facing the right way, the steel bars almost double the heigh of Y/n being a little difficult to manover.

They then did the same with the other pole and childe helped y/n put together the rest of the net, reaching the top hook easily with his long arms and even longer legs, and together they tightened the bottom of the net and put on the matts on either side of the bar. Afterwords y/n sighed, it definitely was easier when there was a extra pair of (tall) hands.

“Are you gonna put the antenna up?” childe asked, looking at the court outlines, but y/n jsut shook their head. “The group is a little too young, and a little to beginner to worry about antenna. Maybe if i ever coach any club teams ill care a bit more.” y/n laughed a little bitand childe nodded. “You should, youd be good at it. Youre good at coaching our team!” he spoke loudly, bringing his arm to drape it over y/ns shoulders, leaning most of his weight on them. They just sighed and shrugged a little “Nah, i dont like dealing with preteens, plus, i wouldn’t really have time. With you guys and this class.” y/n smiled a bit before ducking their head down slightly, “its alright though, i dont mind the busy work.”

y/n noted how childe nodded, the feeling of his hair brushing against their ear. He then took a step back, walking over to the bag that he had brought that was previously up against the wall.

“Set me?” he asked, y/n laughed but nodded and he came sauntering over, standing at the ten foot line. “Whats your favorite set up?” y/n asked, putting themself in the 2.5 spot, he looked at them, a little confused. “I hadnt really thought about it…” he spoke, a little sheepish grin outlining his features as he watched when y/n looked abbsolutey astounded. “What!?! Every hitter ive ever had has had a favorite set!” they spoke, a laugh etching its way into their throat. He just shrugged but y/n shook their head, “well i guess we’ll fix that right now then!” they spoke strongly, their voice determined. Childe stamered but they cut him off, “if you have a favorite set, then Kaeya can set you better and you’ll get better hit as well. Just let me do this for you goldy.” they teased him, but the bite to their words was off in a different land and the smile on their face betrayed a different emotion. Childe looked at them, wondering if they were serious but ended up giving in, nodding before tossing the ball up.

It didnt take long for kids to start to piling into the room, but nether childe or y/n payed them mind, only really caring when y/n glanced at the clock to find it was a minute before the class usually started.

“Alright, i think its time for my class to start. You can head out if you-” “Where did you get that idea from? I said it was my intent to help!” childe spoke before dashing off to put the ball in his bag, y/n just sighed, a small smile forming on their lips before they picked up their bag. Pulling it over they opened it revealing all the balls that were inside, each made specifically for beginners, what was known in the volleyball industry as “volleylights” “Can you go get the cart from over in the closet” y/n chimed as they then called over the group. Childe nodded and sprinted off to go get the cart. He realy was a ball of energy…

“Alright kids!” y/n smiled as they all came to surround them, “as youve noticed weve got a certain someone coming to join us today. However, you need not be scared, i dont think this kid could hurt a fly if he wanted” y/n giggled, the thought of childe hurting anyone seemed too far fetched for them to imagine. But that didnt stop the gasp escaping childe’s mouth as he pretended to be wounded by their words. They just shrugged as he came over, propping the car up and beginning to unfold it. “Im Tartaglia. Otherwise known as Childe, or number 11 on the Teyvats. However, the most important title being, y/n’s friend!” childe spoke, and y/n laughed a little, a strange feeling wisting their stomach tightly. “Anyways,“ y/n spoke as the group erupted into small whispers and kids greeted the player. Non of them knew him, most of these kids probably didnt want to be here, the class just being a cheap way to get kids to burn energy while moving. So knowing a player, even if he was well-known, was out of the question. “We’re gonna start today with some passing and setting drills, if we have enough time we’ll practice some hitting, and at the end we’ll do some serving?” y/n asked and the group burst out into cheers, smiling as they all hoped over to the back row, standing right where the five foot mark would be. Y/N tossed the ball to them, only for the child to turn their shoulders slightly when they went to go receive it, Y/N suppressed a grimace but corrected their behavior anyways, before moving on to the next child.

And so practice went, with childe helping y/n and the kids, y/n found themself staring at the man more than they thought they probably should. The way he radiated confidence with the kids, being patient and gentle with them, soft spoken and calm. Which was such a contrast to his normal demeanor it was almost scary, they tried to not let themslef get caught, but there had been a few times when they accidentally caught Childes eye and he looked up from the kid he was working with, just to flash a bright smile and wave.

It was moments like those that y/n found childe to be insufferable, how could he do that? Wave and be all happy like a golden retriever, how was he so confident in himself? Where could y/n find that confidence for thsmelf? It was almost unfair! They simply wanted to be confident enough to not look away shyly, with a smile plastered on their face and a giggle in their throat like they had done when they caught him staring.

Maybe y/n was being over dramatic, childe wasnt trying to, of course. y/ns social anxiety was just bad, he wasnt ‘flexing’, he was simply outgoing and didnt know social cues. That was all… but yet there was something in the way that childe so gently helped a kid who was on the verge of tears calm down when they couldnt get their serve over. It encaptured y/n.

“Hey y/n, when does this class end? Its been nearly a hour and a half” childe spoke, catching their attention. They snapped their head to the clock that hung on the wall behind a crate. Sure enough, it was well past time for the kids to be starting to pack up. “Ei ei ei, sorry about that kids and parents. Alright everyone, thank you so much for coming, remember next practice will be our last. And say thank you to childe for joining us today!” y/n spoke, waving off most the kids. A chorus of ‘thank you’s from the children ran out towards childe, he simply smiled, waving them off as well. It wasnt until everyone had left that y/n sighed, releasing a breath they hadnt realized they were holding. “Youre good with kids” childe spoke, walking up to stand beside Y/N, to which they shurgged. “So are you” they spoke, their voice slightly tired from the constant uptalk they kept with the kids “Mm, taking care of three siblings does that.” he smiled, a look was on his face that y/n hadnt seen before. Something of a longing, a sort of love. A smile found its way to y/ns and they looked away, a family man huh?

“Hm, well thank you for helping. Can i ask why though?” “Hm? Oh i just thought itd be nice to come by and see what this class was like. Venti told the team about you coaching and i thought id find out for myself. Sides, i wanted to see if you wanted to join me for lunch…” childe spoke, the question lingered in the air as he bounced back and forth on his feet, looking anywhere but y/n. To which they laughed and nodded, “Sure! Just help me put all this stuff awya and then we can go” they said, smiling a bit. It had been a while since y/n had been out and about with someone, they usually left to coop up in their house after practices. Maybe the fresh air would be nice, even though the social interaction wouldnt be. Their words got a smile out of Childe and he nodded, rushing to go put away the net, already taking off the matts.

Y/n had followed a little slower, not seeing the need to race around, but non the less the job got done quicker than it usually had and they were sooon heading out hte door, passing by the welcome desk, y/n waved. “Leaving early?” ganyu asked from the counter, a knowing smile plastered on her face, y/n gave her a eye roll but nodded, “Childe said he wanted to treat me to lunch, and it would be nice to go out every once and a while, yknow?” y/n smiled with a small shrug, they took in another wiff of the candle that was still burning on the counter. Ah, there was Ganyu, never one to put out a candle, and when she did she did so quickly, simply putting it out with her fingers. “Alright, well ill see you around! And it was lovely meeting you Childe!” she waved and y/n smiled, contiuing to walk with childe as he waved as well.

The two left the building, finding themselves infront of childes car. He popped the trunk and took the bag off of y/ns shoulder, slinging it in, to which earned a small thank you. He closed it before leaning on the yellow paint, which was not hard to not look at. “Thanks for joining me on this little lunch getaway. I thought itd be nice to get to know you a little better.” he smiled, wide and without shame. Another little flex on y/n that they had to suppress a frown from. “Of course! It would be nice to get to know you better as well!” they smiled, but the words ‘and how you are so shameless’ hung in the air, not bothering to be said by y/n or acknowledged by Childe.

A/N:

Alright, this chapter isnt super well proofread so dont mind that, i dont remember what was going through my mind haha. but the next one isnt as grammatically messed up :D Im so excited for this hehe, ive been working on chapter 7 right now and its been super fun because its a depiction of a panic attack for the most part and its been super fun to test my skills in writing that sort of stuff :0

Anyways, make sure to eat a meal, drink some water, and get ample amount of sleep :D

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