"Take a deep breath. Focus on the change."

"Kageyama—this is a bad idea." Hinata squirmed under the witch's scrutiny, blanket hugged tight around him more for modesty than warmth as he stood naked in the garden. "What if I lose control again? What if I get lost?"

Kageyama sighed, sitting down on a smooth stepping stone. "You're still afraid of your wolf, which is stupid. Sometimes I think you're doghearted instead of wolfhearted. Part man, part lapdog."

Heat rose to Hinata's cheeks as he gasped in indignation. "I'm not a lapdog! I'm—I'm a dangerous, scary wolf!"

"Sure." Kageyama rolled his eyes. "My point is—you're not going to overcome your fear unless you work at it. If you want to feel safe around others then you need to understand your wolf. You need to learn control and stop fearing the change. And the best way to stop fearing it is by doing it."

Hinata rubbed at his scarred arm and nudged a pebble around with his foot.

"That doesn't mean next century," Kageyama growled.

"Kageyama—"

The witch let out a low, irritated sound. "Yes?"

"You're still healing, from last time. I just… don't want to hurt you again." Hinata hugged his blanket tighter despite the sun's warmth.

Kageyama's expression softened. "I'm fine, really." He stood up and took Hinata's hand, pressing it against his chest. "Doesn't even hurt anymore. I know you're scared. I know this is all new and different, but I'm here. If you make a break for it …." The roses turned toward them, looking up at Hinata expectantly. "I'll stop you. Do you trust me?"

There was something suddenly lonely in Kageyama's blue eyes, in the way his brows knit together in worry instead of anger. It took Hinata a minute to realize that Kageyama expected him to say no. Which was stupid because of course he trusted the witch. Kageyama had seen Hinata at his worst and still hadn't turned him away. He was ruder than anyone Hinata had ever met, but he was also unexpectedly kind and understanding when it really mattered.

"Of course I trust you! What kind of a dumb question is that?"

Kageyama blinked, color rising to his cheeks at the outburst. He recovered, but not fast enough for Hinata to miss noticing it. "I trust you, too," he said under his breath. "So, don't worry, okay? Just—relax. Breathe… and remember the sensation of changing."

"The pain?" Hinata asked, uneasy.

"Pain?" Kageyama faltered. "It… hurt, last time?"

Hinata nodded.

Kageyama's expression turned stormy, and he ordered: "sit down with me."

"Okay?" Hinata joined him on the stepping stone. It wasn't really big enough for two, but he managed.

Kageyama joined him and ruffled his hair. It had become a habit lately, not that Hinata minded. It was kind of nice, actually.

"It's not supposed to hurt," he told Hinata. There was no bite to his voice this time. "It shouldn't hurt this time. If it does, just stop and tell me, okay? I'll be right here."

Hinata's fingers ghosted over the scar on his arm. Even though Kageyama was right there, he could still remember the agony that coursed through him last time, the desperation to stop the change. "Okay," he whispered, hoping he sounded brave.

He took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes, focusing at first on the sensation of Kageyama's fingers sifting through his hair. Focusing on the warmth where he leaned against him, and the soft rhythm of Kageyama's voice. The tension drained out of his shoulders, his breathing slowed to match Kageyama's.

"That's good," Kageyama murmured in quiet praise. "You're doing good."

Hinata bit his lip to stop from smiling and reminded himself to focus. Focus on the change. He wasn't supposed to focus on the pain, so he tried, instead, to remember the strange feverish chill that spread across his skin before: the lightning energy, the heightened awareness of anything and everything around him.

It started slow, this time. A shiver rolled down his spine. The hot and cold tingling slid down his shoulders, over his arms. It slipped down his stomach and thighs and worked its way down to his toes. He breathed in the garden air; it tasted sharper, cleaner. The hands that he gripped the edge of the stepping stone with softened their grip, and he dug nails into the dirt instead. His ears twitched back as he listened to the rise and fall of Kageyama's breath, the breeze ruffling through leaves and the bursts of birdsong that punctuated the air.

Kageyama's hand strayed over his head and down the back of his neck a few times; he leaned into it, tail wagging, and opened his eyes.

Kageyama looked like he was trying not to smile—and failing at that. A lopsided grin tugged at his lips. "That's it," he soothed, rubbing behind one of Hinata's ears. "Did it hurt at all?"

Hinata yawned and nuzzled closer to lean against Kageyama. He felt less guilty doing it like this. Kageyama didn't seem to mind—just like the last time, the witch seemed content to keep Hinata close and run his hands through Hinata's fur. Hinata rested his chin on Kageyama's shoulder, and his tail gave a little wag.

"I'm glad," Kageyama mumbled; he seemed to understand. "See? It's a lot better when you embrace the change. Not so scary."

Hinata licked his cheek in agreement, earning a laugh.

"Definitely part lapdog."

Hinata sneezed in disagreement. His tail vibrated with mischief as he contemplated taking revenge, and he grabbed Kageyama's prized rose-covered hat. Leaping away, he ran through the garden with it.

"Hey, bring that back! Dumbass Hinata, you better not wreck my hat!" Kageyama ran after him, expression caught between shocked rage and the threat of laughter.

Hinata ran circles around him and through the garden, starting to enjoy his newfound speed. He'd always been fast—he could win any race he ran—but now, like this, running felt like flying. Leaves whipped past him as he shot ahead. He leaped high over bushes and darted between Kageyama's legs, tail held high like a triumphant flag.

He waited until Kageyama leaned his hands on his knees, breathing hard, before he trotted over victoriously.

"You brat," Kageyama managed, grabbing his hat back.

Hinata threw back his head, emotion spilling over in a brief, singing howl. He contented himself to sniff around the garden while Kageyama caught his breath, nosing his way past blue roses. Something sweet caught his attention—sweet with a spiced edge. It was different from the blue roses, different from the peppermint or strawberries he wandered past. Determined to find the source of the mystery scent, Hinata breathed in, stepped this way and that, and followed his nose. The scent grew stronger, headier. He could almost taste it, like sugared cloves.

He ran right into the bush, got a faceful of leaves, and sat down to look up.

It was the mystery rose from before—the one Kageyama said never flowered. It was hard to tell in this form since everything seemed taller from down on all fours, but the rose looked… bigger. Emerald foliage sprawled across the earth, tipped in a dozen tightly-wound buds. There were definitely more buds than the last time. It looked ready to erupt in enough flowers to outshine the blue roses around it.

Hinata straightened with pride, sure that the rose's success was due to the fact that he fertilized it when they had worked in the garden, instead of Kageyama.

"What are you getting into?" Kageyama warned, voice low as he walked over.

Hinata looked back, tail wagging proudly. Kageyama didn't praise him this time, though. He just stared at the rosebush as if it had grown a head and started talking. He frowned down at it, before ruffling Hinata's fur.

"Tobio-chan…." A familiar sing-song voice called from past the trees, and the color drained from Kageyama's face. The roses around them turned, painstakingly slow, to face the forest. Hinata looked up in confusion—who was visiting? And who knew Kageyama well enough to call him so casually?

Kageyama didn't look like he heard the voice of an old friend. He looked like he'd heard the voice of a ghost—and he didn't call back out to whoever it was.

Instead, he leaned down and whispered to Hinata: "get inside. Now."

Hinata's tail sank. He wished he could ask him who it was, or why Kageyama looked so scared, but he couldn't. Even if he could, Kageyama bolted for the house before he could react, shutting the door as soon as Hinata darted inside after him. Hinata looked up in confusion as Kageyama locked the door. Kageyama didn't say anything, didn't offer any explanation. He leaned down and picked Hinata up instead, wincing from the effort with his still-healing wound as he ran to the bedroom.

Hinata whined, pressing his nose into the side of Kageyama's neck.

"Shh." Kageyama set him down on the bed and reached around to close the door behind him. "Stay here. And stay quiet."

Someone knocked on the front door. "Tobio-chan? I know you're in there."

Hinata's ears folded back as he struggled to remember the voice. It sounded an awful lot like… the mayor?

Kageyama stood with his back to the bedroom door, motionless other than the heaving of his chest. His eyes were too wide, too scared. Hinata slunk off of the bed to press up against his leg. He didn't know what was going on, but something was wrong, and Kageyama needed him.

"Tobio-chan, open up!" There was a pause. Kageyama still didn't move. "Open up or I'll burn this stupid house down!"

Kageyama flinched and reached down to run a shaking hand through Hinata's fur. "Stay here," he reminded Hinata, voice a mere whisper. The last thing Hinata wanted to do was stay here when Kageyama was in some kind of trouble. He didn't know why the mayor was threatening him, but he should be with Kageyama. He should protect Kageyama, and the instinct to follow nearly consumed him. His ears flattened as he whimpered. Kageyama left the bedroom and closed the door behind him, trapping Hinata inside.

He stared at the doorknob, uselessly, remembering his last failed attempt to use one in this form.

Kageyama, he prayed, be careful.

Hinata paced, uneasy, as he listened to Kageyama unlock the front door, listened to footsteps make their way across the house.

"I'll make some tea." Kageyama sounded tired. Resigned.

"Don't bother," Mayor Oikawa retorted. Hinata was finally sure—it really was the mayor. "You know what this is about, Tobio-chan."

Hinata curled up next to the door, pressing his nose into the crack underneath. He tried to see, tried to smell what was happening.

"I never know what possesses you to visit me." It was weird. Kageyama should be mad—he was being threatened, and the mayor was being rude even if Hinata didn't understand why. Kageyama would be mad if it was anyone else, so why did he sound like he'd given up already?

"The wolves! Don't play this stupid game with me—I know that you're sending them! One man dead, and now another's gone missing. There are—there are rumors of men turning into wolves, and I know you're behind it. What other monster would do such a thing?"

That earned a response. Kageyama growled, "I am not a monster. And I am not sending anything or changing anyone. I'm minding my own damn business, well outside of your stupid town."

"You can't fool me like you fool him!" Something heavy crashed to the ground and broke.

Hinata heard Kageyama let out a broken gasp, and more crashes followed.

"Get out," Kageyama whispered, sounding hoarse.

"You think you can tell me what to do?" the mayor snapped, more crashes followed. "You and your stupid plants and your stupid magic—you ruin everything, Tobio!"

"GET OUT!" Kageyama roared.

The plants in the bedroom snapped upright, trembling with tension. Hinata couldn't stand it anymore. Kageyama had told him to stay, but he was in danger. Hinata needed to help him. He needed to get out.

He glared down at his paws. He knew he had to change back, knew it was the only way to get out, and even though he still didn't trust that he could do it, he had to try. Hinata closed his eyes, took deep, long breaths despite the way his heart hammered inside his chest. He focused on remembering the feel of his hands against the teacup, of Kageyama's soft, straight hair slipping through his fingers. He tried to remember the feeling of Kageyama's arm draped around him when he woke up the morning after his first change.

Focus.

He focused on remembering the way Kageyama's name felt when he said it, on remembering the heat that crept up his cheeks whenever Kageyama teased him.

Tension drained away from him. The wood grew harder underneath his touch, the air felt suddenly cold despite the warm weather. He felt the tickle of curly bangs against his forehead. Peeking one eye open, he saw his arm underneath him, normal and human.

He didn't know if the change was complete, but it was enough—he had to get to Kageyama. He shoved on a pair of pants and burst through the door.

He didn't even recognize the house at first. Broken clay pots littered the wooden floor in jagged, colorful pieces; dirt arced away from their remains. Crumpled leaves and smashed flowers scattered among the carnage. The front door hung open, forgotten. Amid all the devastation, Kageyama knelt on the floor, head bowed low. Tears splashed against the broken pot cradled in his shaking hands.

"Kageyama…." Hinata rushed to him, pulled him into a fierce hug. "I'm here," he whispered. He still didn't understand why any of this was happening, but Kageyama needed him.

Kageyama flinched, but slowly he hugged him back. He buried his face in Hinata's shoulder, silent despite the tears that slid down Hinata's skin.

Hinata stayed just like that, hugging Kageyama so tight that he didn't have room to be scared or hurt. He brushed his hand through Kageyama's hair the same way Kageyama always did for him when he was scared. "It's going to be okay," he promised. He looked over the swath of destruction that the mayor had left. "We'll replant everything, okay? They'll be okay, I know they will."

Kageyama nodded weakly, squeezing Hinata closer.

"And next time don't lock me in the room," Hinata chided, nuzzling into Kageyama's hair to show he wasn't really mad. "I can't protect you if I'm stuck trying to open a door with paws, you know."

Finally, that earned a small, broken chuckle. Kageyama relaxed slightly, but he argued, "I'm supposed to be protecting you, idiot."

"Well," Hinata huffed, smiling. "I get to protect you, too. I am a big, scary wolf. If I barked at Oikawa he'd probably run screaming."

A ghost of a grin pulled at Kageyama's lips as he shifted to look at Hinata. "He probably would. Even though you aren't big or scary." He ruffled Hinata's hair, touch lingering behind one of his ears as he rubbed the spot.

Hinata's ears perked forward as he melted into Kageyama's touch, relaxing against him.

"You shifted back all on your own," Kageyama told him, sounding almost a little proud. "Even though you must have been scared, too."

"I couldn't stay in there, I know you said to stay, but I heard the crashes and the yelling and—" His ears flicked back worriedly. "I wanted to help you."

"You have," Kageyama breathed, hugging him a little tighter before he pulled back. He rubbed the spot behind Hinata's ear for a moment longer though. "And… you're learning fast. But….."

"But?" Hinata squinted suspiciously, waiting for the criticism he knew was coming.

"But you forgot the ears and tail."

"O-oh." Heat rose to Hinata's face and his tail twitched sheepishly behind him. "I was kind of in a hurry."

"It's cute."

Hinata yelped in embarrassment, shoving lightly at Kageyama's shoulder. "You're cute!" He reached over to mess up Kageyama's hair and darted over to the kitchen cupboard to hide his embarrassment. "A-anyway! Do you have any extra teacups? Or bowls?"

"Extra teacups? What for?" Kageyama looked up, confused. Hinata could swear he was a little pink, too.

"For the plants!" Hinata's tail gave a hopeful wag, and Kageyama made the most ridiculous face. He turned a funny shade of red and failed at hiding his smile. And, even though Hinata suspected Kageyama still felt shaken by the incident with the mayor, he was just happy to see the witch smiling again.