Chapter III

For the taking

"If anything happens to him I'll make sure you wish you were never born, Daiki," the ice cold threat was whispered against his ear though the phone, making the fine hairs on his neck and arms stand on end.

"I know," Aomine replied, swallowing thickly.

A satisfied hum came through the line before light chuckles had the tanned teen feeling nauseous and antsy. "And remember; if you touch him I'll rip your fingers off," with the final warning Haruki ended the call, leaving Aomine wondering exactly how he would be able to feel Ryouta on a training camp full of guys anyway. Really, he should be more bothered about having his life and limbs endangered, but if he let the menacing promises dominate his life he would never have stepped outside of his house again, it happened too often. Though that didn't mean he took them any less seriously. The mark of a burn from boiling hot water on his left hip was proof that the threats were real enough.

Ryouta, who had been blissfully unaware of his brother's cruel words while chatting with Kuroko a few seats over, returned to his place next to Aomine after seeing he had finished his call. "Who was it Daikicchi?" he asked, smiling brightly.

"My mom," revealing that the psychopathic blonde had contacted him without notifying his twin was definitely not something Aomine wanted to do. The explanation seemed acceptable though because the blonde settled back into his seat and hummed a happy tune. Blue eyes glanced over, seemingly judgemental but really interested in the way pink lips would move slightly and the pale throat would vibrate with the melody. He didn't recognize the song, but even if he did he wouldn't have much mind over to think about it, far too busy imagining how good it would feel to feel the tremors through his own lips while marking the white skin with red, wet marks.

Haruki might forbid him to touch, but at least his mind was free.

"I'm really excited, I can't sit still," beaming, Ryouta turned his face to the one next to him, grinning with exhilaration. It would be the first time he had gone on an overnight trip without his twin, and also the very first training camp. Aomine would've smiled brightly as well, but instead he settled with a smirk and flicked the blonde's forehead, making him yelp out.

"Don't go getting to happy, it'll be hard," a protest was about to come from the other's mouth when he continued, "I don't know if a pretty boy like you will be able to handle it."

"Daikicchi!" mocking offence, Ryouta shoved the ace playfully and did a dramatic hand movement while faking an insulted expression, "you're always so mean to me!"

"Well I'm not mean to anyone else at least," Aomine snickered.

"No then you're just an asshole," rolling his eyes, the fair haired boy's brow raised in remembrance before he grabbed his bag off the floor and rummaged through it. He scoffed at the not so hurtful comment about using a handbag despite being a male and pulled out a bag of sweets. "Susu-nee gave me these, she told me to share them with Daikicchi," he smiled at the notion of his older sister.

"Susumi is home?" a blue brow quirked, the last time he had heard of the busty woman she had been too busy with her new job as an editor to visit her family.

"She came home yesterday for the weekend because she has a few days off, and since she couldn't see you she sent her sentiments this way," Ryouta tore the plastic bag open, offering the fruity contents to the bluenette. Gratefully, Aomine reached and grabbed a few of the wrapped candies and frowned when he noticed he had gotten one with kiwi flavour.

"Ryouta, switch with me," he said upon seeing the blonde was unwrapping a strawberry flavoured sweet.

"Huh, no wa—Daikicchi!" an indignant whine left the copycat when Aomine leaned over and took the candy with his teeth. Had he been just a little braver he'd have chanced a lick, but if Haruki found out he'd be forced into a room with murderous bees. Though Ryouta pouted at him non-the-less, brows drawing together and finger poking at his midsection grumpily, "strawberry is my favourite…"

"Here, have this instead," Aomine unwrapped the treat he didn't want and propped it against the blonde's mouth. Surprised amber eyes stared in cross to look at the light green candy before pink lips smiled and opened slightly to let the little cube past them. It wasn't entirely on purpose, but not purely accidental either, that the tanned finger pushed a little too long, feeling the flick of a wet tongue against the tip. Quickly drawing back, the ace hoped that the other would think nothing of it and not notify his brother about it. Really, it was hard to know if anything would be relayed because Ryouta had the habit of telling every minor detail and answer all questions he could ever be asked.

"Susu-nee said she wanted to see you when we get home on Sunday," obviously not bothered with what had happened Ryouta took out his phone and unlocked it to browse the pictures on his phone. After a moment he showed the screen to his seatmate, displaying a charming picture of his older sister waving with the youngest of the siblings—the girl Miku who was currently eleven years old—in her lap.

"Her boobs have gotten bigger," Aomine noted dully, knowing he teased the other with his comment.

"Pervert," Ryouta rolled his eyes before grabbing another candy to plop into his mouth.

"Sweets…" suddenly a looming shadow was over them together with a craving air. Murasakibara had turned around in his seat in front of them and was now staring longingly into the large bag of sweets, eyes lit up with yearning.

"Atsushi it's bad for your teeth to eat so many sweets. You two too, don't eat too much so you get motion sickness," Akashi said from beside the purple haired center, red locks only barely visible over the back of his seat.

"But sweets…" lilac eyes turned down with sadness.

"I-it's fine Murasakicchi, you can have some! Just remember to brush your teeth afterwards ok?" Ryouta said with slight panic at the miserable expression. At his words the tall boy lit up though, one large hand reaching forward to grab a handful of candies, and since his hand was rather big the handful was almost half the bags content.

"Thank you Ki-chin," Murasakibara said and sat back down, offering Akashi whatever flavour he liked, but the captain refused it until he saw that his rejection made the other unhappy. Accepting a grape candy fixed that though.

From that point on the trip was calm and quiet despite Midorima having to share his seat with Kuroko (which he claimed would bring him bad luck for the rest of the weekend), so Ryouta was soon nodding off, somnolence overcoming him.

"Did you even sleep last night?" Aomine asked with a hopeless sigh.

Amber eyes avoided blue irises sheepishly, "ehe, I was too excited so I didn't get a lot of it…"

"You're an idiot. Come on, rest here," the bluenette motioned to his shoulder, earning an appreciative leer.

"Thank you, Daikicchi," leaning over, Ryouta set his cheek against the offered support and closed his eyes, soon snoozing calmly. Aomine sat and listened to the soothing breaths, taking note of when the blonde started dropping due to his relaxed state and propped him up better against himself. Then blue eyes scanned the seats around them noting that most others were sleeping as well or were too busy with some other activity to pay attention to them. Taking this as a chance, Aomine gently nuzzled the fair locks tickling his face, enjoying the soft feeling and timid scent of berries and sunshine.

It had been a long time since he could share this kind of closeness with the other, and it made his heart soar with happiness. Never were they alone or unbothered, always having someone watching or guarding. They used to fall asleep like this in their younger days, when everything between them was innocent. After a long day of playing they'd sit down against a tree or on a bench, telling each other they would just regain a little energy before going home but instead falling asleep in an instant. Then their mothers would call for them, scolding them that they shouldn't sleep outside, being greeted by the angry twin brother when they returned home. But they wouldn't care, only smiling mischievously at each other with a promise to meet the next day as well. In the morning they'd get a reminder to get home before dinnertime; sometimes keeping the curfew, sometimes not.

For a second Aomine let his fingers graze the other's, briefly wondering when he fell in love. Ever since he was young he had loved breasts, but despite that he never felt anything for anyone but Ryouta, not even his older sister who had more than enough rack to satisfy his bosom-mania and also a face that was in the league of her little brothers'. Going by all logic he should've fallen for her instead, but as nature would have it he was head over heels for her youngest male sibling instead. So here he was, lulled off into a light slumber by the pleasant smell of his love's hair as they headed off to an entire weekend without the disturbance of the older brother.

Aomine slept for almost an hour, leaning against the blonde with an open mouth—snoring—before he felt his phone vibrate in remind of a text against his leg. Frowning at the harsh light coming through the window, blue eyes tried to adjust enough to look at the lit screen when he pulled his phone out, but it proved more difficult than he thought. After a few seconds of blinking though he could make out the sender as "Haruki" and the topic "Make sure no one can see".

Blinking again, confused at the weird order Aomine quickly checked if anyone behind him was peering over the seat, then made sure the blonde leaning on him was also asleep. Reluctantly he opened the message, scrolling down past the text of multiple warnings of letting absolutely no one look. What greeted him almost made him drop the device.

Drawing a sharp breath, Aomine stared wide eyed at the screen, hands shaking and lips quivering. Attached to the message was a picture; a picture of Ryouta with his pink lips wrapped around a cock Aomine presumed was his brother's. The image was taken from above, about eye length away, and it showed how glowing amber eyes would lustfully and ashamedly look up against the lens. A dark blush covered pale cheeks and a tender hand was brushing away some of his bangs. His form was entirely naked apart from the shirt of their school uniform hanging by his elbows as one of his hands reached to his backside, seemingly preparing himself to be fucked.

Aomine tried to breathe, to remember how his lunges was supposed to expand with oxygen, but they were at a complete stop—despite his heart beating at a frightening rate. He couldn't even bring his finger to click the image away, he just sat and stared blankly, not knowing what he felt. Numbness was all there was, anger didn't boil in the pit of his stomach, nausea wasn't turning his balance onto a rollercoaster and sadness wasn't there to have him choking back tears. He wasn't believing what he was seeing. It didn't make sense that such a picture would be sent to him, and he had never expected—hoped maybe, but not expected—to see the blonde sleeping against him in such a position. What was even more unbelievable was that Haruki had willingly shared such a thing with him.

When his vision was narrowing down into a field of black a sharp, loud breath finally made its way into his body and he collected himself to close his phone all together.

Haruki had taken this picture for the sole purpose of sending it to Aomine.

Suddenly Aomine was in the middle of a current of emotions. The anger wasn't in the deepest parts of his abdomen, it was raging through his entire body, making his skin burn and breathing to deepen considerably. The bastard had no fucking right to do this. It wasn't fair, not to the once receiving the image nor the one portrayed. Ryouta had probably let that photo be taken with complete trust in his brother that it was solely for his eyes, but Haruki betrayed such faith for his own sick game of infusing loathing and animosity into Aomine. It was such an unnecessary thing, he knew the twins were having a relationship; he didn't want nor did he need to see such a grim reminder again!

Glancing down, Aomine's blue eyes fixed on Ryouta's face, peacefully relaxed and mouth slightly open to breathe quietly. He probably wouldn't be sleeping so peacefully if he knew what had been done to him. Fucking around with the feelings Aomine had for the other was one thing, but making use of unyielding trust to do it? For caring so damn much about his little brother Haruki had a nasty way of making sure no one touched him. And truth be told it wasn't having the desired effect at all.

'I'd treat you so much better,' Aomine thought miserably, a sad frown appearing on his face, tears of frustration burning behind his eyes but not being allowed the light of day. Tentatively, his hand came up to brush through fair strands, making Ryouta smile in his sleep. The gentle expression only fuelled the gloom and jealousy the tanned boy felt, wishing no one else could see it; that it was an exclusive thing for him. But it wasn't meant to be so, at least not until Haruki had let his wretched grip loosen.

Upon arriving Ryouta had been promptly woken up, disoriented and drowsy, yet grinning at everything and everyone for no particular reason. He hadn't seemed to notice Aomine's sullen mood either, jumping out the bus as soon as the door opened. Surely he was too excited about the camp and activities that were going to commence to notice that there was something seriously wrong. But that was all for the better; worrying him would lead to pointless dispute because the actual issue would never come out in the open.

"Everyone, gather around!" the coach called, tapping a clipboard he held in his hand against his leg, "hurry up we don't have all weekend." Once the club members had gathered around him he assigned them all into groups that would share room, letting the generation of miracles be in one and the same together with Momoi per her request. She said it was because it was lonely staying in a room on her own, but really, she just wanted an excuse to stay close to her crush that lacks presence. The rest of the team didn't mind too much, except Midorima who said it would surely bring misfortune seeing as she was a Taurus and that she would clash with the ones having a zodiac sign affiliated with air. She argued that she wasn't the only one with an earth sign but was blown off by the comment "Aomine is trouble whatever sign he is".

Tired of an argument over such a puny matter the coach told them to be quiet and grab their things to go to the hotel. The trip there was rather peaceful with Ryouta chatting away in a heap of excited expectations with the manager and Kuroko, not noticing the intense blue eyed stare fixed on him on the way.

Once at the traditionally styled hotel they all received information about the general area and the favourable properties of the towns hot springs before going to their respective rooms to change and fix the sleeping arrangements (they were all convinced they'd be too tired after training to properly make their futons). Momoi excused herself from the room to let them all undress without her there, even if none would be really bothered.

"Kise-kun, what is that?" Kuroko suddenly said and poked a red spot on the back of Ryouta's neck as he hunched down without his shirt on. Aomine, who had been temporarily distracted with making his bed, snapped his head to look at the blonde, not immediately seeing what his shadow had referred to before slender fingers came up to feel the irritated mark. None of the others noticed, but the ace's lips turned downward in an angry frown as a dark blush bloomed on the twin's cheeks.

"I-I don't know, maybe it's a bugbite!" laughing uncertainly Ryouta hurried to pull his loose tank top on, effectively covering the bruise that couldn't be anything but a kiss mark, judging by his reaction.

Was Haruki stupid or something? What the fuck was there to be gained from having a palpable mark like that placed on his twin when it was fucking obvious there was no girlfriend that could have made it?

The fury that had subsided slightly within Aomine suddenly came rushing back full-force as he grabbed his phone and prepared a new message. There was no need to involve Ryouta like this; he hadn't done anything wrong! Exposing him to others would just hurt him in the end, and Aomine really didn't want that.

(10.56 AM) What the fuck are you trying to do with that picture? And did you really have to leave a fucking love bite on him?!

"Let's go everyone, it's time to meet up," Akashi called, pushing up the door to their room to head outside. They all followed obediently, although Aomine stayed at the back a bit away from the others as he cursed and growled under his breath. Again no one cared about his mood; those who noticed assumed he was grumpy because he had to wake up so early before. Only red, attentive eyes seemed to understand something was up, but the owner thought it would be better to address the issue later. For now, they had to make their coach happy.

Too be continued

So, the third chapter is here! I'm sorry it's so short, but I have a lot in school right now so instead of making the second part of this chapter and delaying the release even more, I decided to split it. Which means this chapter is embarrassingly short but well, I did promise quick releases. Though I cannot promise I can get the next chapter up until I finish school, I'll try since part of the next chapter is already typed out!

This part of the story will be focusing a lot on Aomine and Ryouta's relationship since I haven't given it much light up until now because Haruki has been cockblocking. Somehow he still manages to do it when he's not even in the same region but what did you expect from a psychopathic older brother?

If you liked this chapter please let me know, your words make my very typer-happy~