Lupine
Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu!.
Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Drama
Pairings: Hinata x Bokuto, Bokuto x Akaashi, Akaashi x Kuroo, Hinata x Kozume, Hinata x Miya Atsumu, Hinata x Miya Osamu, Hinata x Miya Atsumu x Miya Osamu, Haiba x Yaku, Kozume x Kuroo, Kuroo x Tsukishima, Kuroo x Bokuto, Kuroo x Akaashi x Bokuto
Plot: Hinata meets Akaashi.
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics
Ch 06: Allay
Bokuto perked his ears towards the front door anxiously, Hinata gazing up at him and squeezing his hand gently. Kuroo finished unlocking the door and glanced back at them, offering them both a little smile before opening the door and beckoning for them to follow, Bokuto stepping in first, Hinata right behind him.
The townhouse was much larger than Hinata had expected, his eyes widening as he looked around the interior of the foyer in awe before trailing after Bokuto down the hall. Kuroo was calling out softly through the townhouse, searching for the omega somewhere inside, Bokuto coming to a standstill at the edge of the wide living room, the skylights in the ceiling letting in soft beams of sunlight, dappling the series of hanging plants blooming just below.
"It's beautiful…" Hinata whispered, squeezing Bokuto's hand, glancing up at him and asking softly, "You lived here before?"
"No, no this is new. The apartment we shared in high school was much smaller than this." He perked his ears towards Kuroo's footsteps, adding quietly, "Tetsu mentioned their new roommates make a pretty decent amount of money. I just...I guess I didn't realize how much he meant?"
Hinata hummed, sniffing lightly, noting the scent of other omegas lingering in the air. He waited at Bokuto's side for Kuroo to return, his eyes drifting across the tall bookshelves and illuminated shelving framing the living room, where a medley of house plants were arranged in thoughtful, beautiful layers.
He perked his ears towards the shelving in wonder, marveling at each plant's unique traits, the differences in their textures, sizes, colors, and shapes. There were so many of them, so many different kinds, some Hinata had never seen before. There were creeping vines climbing along the walls and ceiling, taller potted plants with giant, curling leaves, smaller plants here and there, some with clusters of multicolored flowers, and a wide variety of pretty succulents both on the shelving and sitting across the coffee table below the skylights.
He'd never been very good at keeping plants alive, but seeing the townhouse filled with various shades of green made him want to try again. He wondered fleetingly if Akaashi might give him some advice, or perhaps point him in the right direction to get started. He'd love to have a little garden of his own.
He perked his ears towards the sound of voices, catching Kuroo's deep tone, Bokuto tightening his grip on his fingers slightly, his ears dipping back a bit. Hinata tilted his head slightly, trying to make out the conversation. He could tell something was wrong, a hint of distress souring the air, Bokuto inhaling shakily and taking a step back, backing away into the shadowed foyer.
"Maybe we shouldn't have come." Bokuto said softly, his words trembling slightly. "Maybe it...it's too much for Akaashi to handle right now. I don't want to upset him by being here…"
Hinata watched his boyfriend for a moment before glancing towards the sound of footsteps approaching, Kuroo appearing after a few moments with his ears ducked back, sighing softly as he met Bokuto's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Kou. He's really upset. I didn't really get a chance to explain everything, he just…" He gave the other Alpha an apologetic look, "He doesn't want you to be here. I'm sorry."
Hinata glanced back the way Kuroo had come from, tilting one of his ears to the side, barely able to make out the soft sounds of crying, the distress in the air further souring, Hinata's breath catching in his throat.
"I'm sorry." Bokuto said softly, Kuroo watching him with a concerned expression, "It's okay if it takes time, I should have realized coming here so suddenly would only distress him." He bit his lip, taking another step back, tugging Hinata with him lightly, "Thank you for inviting us over, we'll go ahead and-"
Hinata slipped his hand from Bokuto's, taking a step closer to Kuroo's side, his ears dipped back a bit. "Is he...is he alright? Does he always react to stress like this?"
Kuroo glanced towards Hinata, then back towards the muffled sounds emitting from the rooms beyond, humming softly and rubbing the back of his neck. "Keiji is very sensitive. He has panic attacks easily. Our roommate Sugawara usually comforts him when he's having an attack, but he isn't here right now." He glanced past Bokuto towards the front door, adding, "Sugawara and Sawamura are out having lunch with our neighbors. They'll probably be back later this afternoon, but I'm not sure exactly when. I just…" He glanced away, his ears flattening, "I have to give him space to calm down when he's like this. He doesn't like for me to be close when he's this worked up."
"Sugawara is another omega, right?" Hinata asked, Kuroo nodding, the petite ginger frowning lightly before starting forward, stripping his hoodie off overhead and letting it fall to the floor as he continued quietly across the hardwood.
"Shouyou?" Bokuto called worriedly, starting after him, Kuroo watching with a small, concerned frown but making no move to stop him. Bokuto came to a halt beside Hinata's hoodie, picking it up and watching his boyfriend curiously, the two Alpha's exchanging a glance at Hinata's silence. Kuroo sighed deeply, slowly crossing his arms over his chest, his expression indiscernible. He had a vague idea what the small omega's intentions were, but he was uncertain if Akaashi would allow Hinata close.
Hinata tilted an ear back towards the Alphas briefly as he sniffed the air, then without another word he continued past the living room and down the next hall, tracing the scent of distress to where it was most pungent, pushing open the bedroom door carefully and perking his ears towards the bed.
Akaashi was crying shakily, hiding beneath several blankets and curled in on himself, his breathing ragged and strained. His distress caused his breathing to stutter between sobs, the omega sniffing before coughing violently, shudders wracking his entire frame as he desperately tried to catch his breath. Hinata stayed where he was, watching him and reaching up to rub against the glands on either side of his neck, warming them to allow his scent to thicken and release into the air. The small omega padded closer to the bed slowly, rubbing at his wrists and palms as well, ensuring his sweet scent overwhelmed whatever traces of Bokuto clung to his skin before he reached out and touched the blankets concealing Akaashi, gingerly crawling into bed.
The other omega whined and released another wave of sour distress into the air, his ears tucked back against his dark hair as he coughed out wetly, "D-Don't touch me! Don't touch me-"
Hinata arched his brow, frowning a little, a soft, resonating purr starting in his chest as he carefully pulled up the edge of the blankets and slipped inside, not uncovering Akaashi, but joining him in the nest instead. He reached out slowly, gently smoothing his fingertips along Akaashi's arm in the dark, following the slope of his forearm to his slender wrist, then lacing their fingers together gently, Hinata's purring growing louder as he snuggled closer.
Akaashi coughed again, his breath stuttering as he let out a soft, pitiful whine and curled in on himself, Hinata pressing against him and wrapping his arm around him, tugging him closer so Akaashi's head was against his chest. He carded his fingers through his soft hair, letting the other omega listen to his purring, not trying to speak, letting his scent and warmth coax Akaashi into a state of calm, Hinata exhaling softly when he felt shaky fingertips press against his chest.
He squeezed Akaashi's fingers gently, humming softly and resting his cheek against Akaashi's crown, holding him and petting his back as the other omega's breathing jerked his frame against Hinata's, a fresh wave of distress escaping him, his crying breaking his voice.
"I d-don't-" Akaashi gasped, shaking his head, pressing his forehead against Hinata's sternum. "I-I don't w-want to s-s-see him!" He gasped and coughed roughly, his fingers tightening in Hinata's shirt as he sobbed, "I don't k-know w-what to d-d-do!"
"It's okay." Hinata whispered, squeezing his fingers again, tightening his hold on Akaashi's shoulders and continuing to purr, his entire body vibrating from the intensity of it. "You don't have to. It's okay. No one is going to force you to." Akaashi whined and coughed, sniffing and lifting up his head, Hinata drawing him closer and guiding Akaashi's face to the curve of his neck, coaxing him to relax and breathe deeply against him. "You're safe here. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise. You're safe with me."
Akaashi whined and wrapped his arm around Hinata's waist, clinging to the back of his shirt and squeezing his small fingers tightly, sobbing against his neck and breathing in his warm, sweet scent, Hinata holding him tightly, both omegas buried in the dark.
It took a while longer before Akaashi's breathing started to slow, and his sobs faded into soft hiccups, his shoulders jerking lightly as he whined and pressed his forehead to Hinata's shoulder, the smaller omega ignoring the snot and drool dampening his skin. He tilted his head ever so slightly, nosing into Akaashi's hair, nuzzling him while still purring and petting along his nape and shoulders, his other hand tracing the curve of his wrist and palm tenderly. Akaashi gasped in a few broken breaths before sighing deeply, blinking slowly and sniffing again, turning his nose to rest against Hinata's neck and breathing against his scent glands, a soft, hesitant purr starting in his own chest.
Hinata wasn't sure how much time passed, content to rest against Akaashi as he calmed down at his own pace, the older omega gradually relaxing against him and twining his legs with Hinata's, petting along his lower back absently. His purring was now a steady, soft hum, harmonizing with Hinata's stronger vocalizations, the smaller omega perking his ears up as he smiled against Akaashi's tousled hair, letting out a contented sigh.
Akaashi hummed softly, eventually mumbling against Hinata's collar, "I'm sorry for being such a mess…"
Hinata let out a soft whisper of laughter, hugging Akaashi a bit tighter against his chest. "There's nothing to say sorry for." He reassured gently, stroking between Akaashi's shoulder blades while adding softly, "I'm glad I was able to help you."
Akaashi hummed quietly at that, perking his ears up a bit and reaching out of the nest, tugging down the blankets slightly and taking in a breath of fresh air, Hinata blinking up at him as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. Akaashi met his eyes, seeing him for the first time, holding him for a moment longer before carefully withdrawing his limbs, Hinata offering him a friendly smile and giggling softly, pushing himself up a little to sit beside him.
"I'm Hinata Shouyou." He offered softly, Akaashi searching his eyes. "I'm Kou's primary."
Akaashi blinked, one of his ears tilting slightly to the side, slowly nodding his head. He hesitated for only a moment before responding, "Akaashi Keiji. I'm sorry I haven't been acting as a hospitable host." He glanced down somewhat shyly, kneading against the blankets in his lap absently. "Tetsurou said…" He met Hinata's eyes hesitantly, "...he said Bokuto came to...to speak with me?"
Hinata perked his ears up, nodding and taking one of Akaashi's hands gently. "You don't have to worry. We can save that for another time, whenever you're ready." He tilted his head slightly to the side, still holding Akaashi's eyes, then asked tentatively, "Is it okay if I give you my number?"
Akaashi blinked in surprise, tilting his ears back a bit before nodding his head, perking his ears up as he looked around the pile of blankets then eventually located his phone, sniffing lightly and offering it to Hinata, the smaller omega smiling excitedly and entering in his contact information.
"Your home is beautiful, Akaashi!" Hinata sighed dreamily, the older omega watching him in quiet surprise, taking in his bubbly nature, his bright smiles and naturally cheery demeanor. "When we came inside, and saw there were skylights?" He cast his eyes towards the ceiling of the bedroom, recalling the details, "It was so beautiful, the way the sunlight was streaming down onto everything. You have so many plants! It's like stepping into a greenhouse unexpectedly!" He offered Akaashi back his phone, squeezing his hand again and asking excitedly, "Would it be okay to ask you to give me some advice on growing things? I have a terrible green thumb, I can't even keep succulents alive and they're supposed to be super easy!" He frowned a little, ducking his ears to the side as he admitted, "Kenma got me a really cute one of my birthday last year, but I overwatered it and I guess it drowned? It got all mushy and gross."
Akaashi set his phone aside, listening to Hinata and squeezing his fingers back lightly, his expression calm and thoughtful as he spoke. "Honestly, I'm not the best person to ask about growing things. My roommate Sugawara is responsible for maintaining their wellbeing. Though I agree, they are beautiful to look at."
Hinata smiled brightly and leaned a bit closer as he gasped, "Oh gosh! That's so cool! You know, I've never really had any omega friends before, outside of school anyway…" He bit his lip, his cheeks a little rosy as he asked hesitantly, "Maybe the three of us could grab coffee sometime? There's a really cute café downtown that Kenma likes! They've got these super yummy cakes, and fruit tarts too! I'm sure you'd really like it!" He giggled and bounced a little at the thought, his honey-brown eyes shining as he asked, "Do you think Sugawara would want to come?"
Akaashi's expression softened as he offered Hinata a smile, nodding. "I'm sure Koushi would love that. Perhaps we can talk about it later this week?"
Hinata smiled and nodded excitedly, squeezing Akaashi's hand for a moment longer before letting go, climbing out of bed and stretching his arms high above his head before letting out a happy sigh, catching Akaashi's eyes once more and grinning before giving a little wave, stepping towards the bedroom door. "It was really nice to meet you, Akaashi! I'll see you later!"
"Nice to meet you too." He replied quietly, perking his ears towards the door as Hinata closed it behind him, letting out a soft breath and glancing towards his phone, turning it over and glancing down at the contact Hinata had left behind.
He'd entered in his first name, and a little sun emoji beside it.
Akaashi smiled down at the number, laughing softly, relaxing back into the nest and tugging one of his pillows closer, inhaling lightly. He could still make out Hinata's scent.
Bokuto and Kuroo glanced up as Hinata returned, Bokuto walking over to him and scooping him up easily, Hinata purring and wrapping his arms around his neck, nuzzling under his jaw. Kuroo watched them with a little smile as Bokuto gently lowered the petite omega back to the floor, Hinata perking his ears towards the dark Alpha and saying cheerily, "Akaashi said he'll ask Sugawara about a coffee date later this week! Omegas only!" He grinned as Bokuto nuzzled between his ears, petting over his Alpha's chest, still holding Kuroo's eyes as he added gently, "I think he's ready to see you now."
"Thank you, Hinata." Kuroo replied gently, watching the omega with a fond expression as Bokuto took his hand and walked with him towards the front door, Kuroo following them and exchanging quiet goodbyes before locking the door behind them.
He made his way to the bedroom, rapping his knuckles gently against the door before letting himself inside, Akaashi glancing up from his phone and smiling, perking his ears up and watching his approach.
"Hey baby…" Kuroo crooned gently, Akaashi reaching up for him, the Alpha crawling over to rest beside him, gathering the tired omega into his arms. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Akaashi sighed, closing his eyes and leaning into Kuroo's touch, the Alpha rubbing up and down his back in heavy, soothing passes, Akaashi whispering gingerly, "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you…"
"Shh…" Kuroo whispered, dipping down to kiss between his ears, "I love you, Keiji."
"Love you too." Akaashi sighed, tilting his face up and pressing his nose against the curve of Kuroo's neck and shoulder, breathing in his scent, relaxing into his gentle warmth.
Hinata held Bokuto's hand all during the drive home, Bokuto glancing down at him now and then, noticing the dreamy look across his boyfriend's eyes. When they entered the apartment, Hinata took his hand, tugging him gently into the bedroom, padding over to the bed and gathering the blankets and pillows around himself to make a little nest, Bokuto crawling into the blankets beside him.
Hinata was quiet still as he met Bokuto's eyes, leaning over him and pushing him down against the pillows, a soft purr starting in his chest as he pressed closer and trailed kisses across his nose and cheeks, drifting down his jaw, nuzzling into his neck and hiding his face there, curling up against his shoulder. Bokuto rested beside him, closing his eyes, purring deeply alongside Hinata, a soft smile across his face.
They napped together for a while, Hinata only stirring once he heard Atsumu and Osamu talking together in the living room, perking his ears towards their voices before yawning and stretching out against his boyfriend's side, humming contentedly and wrapping his arms around Bokuto's neck. The Alpha rolled onto his side, Hinata blinking up at him sleepily and arching against him as Bokuto kissed him slowly, petting along his side and cupping his hip, the omega's small fingers curling in his silvery hair.
Bokuto pulled back slowly, searching Hinata's eyes, whispering gently, "Thank you, for doing that."
Hinata just smiled and traced his fingers across Bokuto's cheek, holding his gaze for a long moment before whispering gently, "I love you."
Bokuto arched his brow, smiling gently, lacing his fingers with Hinata's. "Yeah? You love me?"
Hinata nodded slowly, petting the curve of his jaw, arching up again to kiss him slowly, Bokuto squeezing his fingers and crooning softly, his purring only growing as they shared breath.
"I love you too, Shouyou."
Hinata watched him closely, carding his fingers through his Alpha's hair, nosing at his jaw and whispering, "It's okay that I told Akaashi I'm your primary?"
Bokuto shivered at his tone, nodding his head, his expression affectionate beyond words as he whispered back, "I want that, more than anything. I love you so much."
Hinata arched his brow, laughing brightly, tears catching in his lashes as he gasped quietly, "I just...I'm a little jealous, I guess." He bit his lip, admitting softly, "Akaashi...he's beautiful! I had no idea he would be like that. He's...he's breathtaking, and I-"
Bokuto silenced him with a kiss, Hinata trembling slightly as he squeezed Bokuto's fingers, the Alpha holding him tightly and kissing him over and over again. When they parted, Hinata laughed and reached up to wipe his eyes with the heel of his palm, Bokuto kissing his cheeks and neck, crooning soft and low, Hinata letting out a shaky breath and allowing his Alpha to soothe him.
Bokuto found Hinata's hand once more, pressed his thumb against the center of Hinata's palm, kneading gently while tracing along his small fingers, watching the light reflecting in his chocolate eyes, his voice reverent as he whispered, "I love you, Shouyou. I want to be with you. Whatever happens with me and Tetsu and Keiji, nothing will change between us. Ever. I love you with my whole heart. I couldn't imagine my life without you in it."
Hinata hiccupped softly, nodding his head, wrapping his arms around Bokuto's neck while the Alpha kissed at his shoulder. "Yes, yes that's exactly it. That's exactly how I feel." He blinked away a few stray tears, warm streaks that trickled down and disappeared into his bright orange hair. "I love Atsumu and Osamu, and I love Kenma, but you-" He cupped Bokuto's face in his hands, leaning up to kiss him, "I love you, Koutarou. So much it aches." He blinked again, more tears falling down his flushed cheeks, Hinata biting his lip before whispering shakily, "I want to be bonded to you."
Bokuto's breath caught at that, his eyes widening, the Alpha perking up his ears in surprise. "You-" He was breathless, his heart racing, "You want to share a bond with me?"
Hinata nodded, biting his lip and teasing it between his teeth nervously, his cheeks growing hotter the longer he held Bokuto's eyes. "I want that. With you."
Bokuto let out a soft exhale, a blush tinging his cheeks as well, the Alpha grinning with him and laughing merrily, nodding and dipping down to kiss Hinata, the omega humming and tangling his fingers in his hair. "Yes, Shouyou. Yes." He pulled back and cupped the omega's cheek, searching his eyes. "I want to be bonded to you, too."
Hinata couldn't help his bubbly laughter, covering his face with his hand, his cheeks bright red, curling in on himself a little as Bokuto laughed heartily. He pulled Hinata into his arms, sharing in his excitement, both Alpha and omega rising to their feet atop the mattress, pillows scattering haphazardly across the floor. Hinata jumped excitedly, bouncing and coaxing Bokuto to bounce with him, the Alpha grinning and taking Hinata's hands, the omega giggling and bouncing higher as Bokuto started jumping, the two laughing together and trying not to lose their balance as they clung to one another, Atsumu calling out to them curiously as the Alpha opened the door.
"What are you two-"
Hinata grabbed a pillow and threw it at him instantly, hitting him square in the face. Osamu appeared a moment later, grinning and following after his twin as Atsumu growled and ran towards the bed, grabbing Hinata's legs and knocking him backwards, the omega cackling excitedly and grabbing another pillow to smack him with again. Osamu immediately chucked a pillow at Bokuto, the larger Alpha snorting and grinning as he grabbed a pillow in either hand, jumping down from the bed and chasing after Osamu as he darted into the living room, Osamu catching the first pillow that was throw and laughing hysterically, instantly launching a counterattack of his own. Bokuto turned and ran from him instead, laughing so hard he could barely breathe, both Alphas growling playfully as they chucked pillows back and forth, Hinata and Atsumu's combined laughter sounding from the bedroom, the entire apartment filled with boisterous laughter as the pillow fight ensued.
It wasn't much longer until the four collapsed against one another atop the messy pile of pillows that had accumulated on the bedroom floor. Osamu flopped against his twin's side dramatically, still trying to catch his breath, Hinata giggling and swatting at Atsumu playfully, Atsumu grinning and nipping at his ear, Bokuto sighing contentedly as he watched over his boyfriend, purring loudly and resting beside him. Hinata rolled away from Atsumu and cuddled up against Bokuto's chest, catching his eyes, the silver Alpha dipping down and kissing him. Hinata giggled, tugging him closer and coaxing his Alpha on top of him, Bokuto growling teasingly and shifting down to nip at his neck, the omega biting his lip and tugging at one of his ears gently.
Atsumu smiled, watching them with a soft expression, Osamu peeking over his shoulder and asking curiously, "What got you two so excited anyway? Or do you always have pillow fights when I'm not around?"
"No, this is definitely new." Atsumu mused, his eyes shifting from Bokuto to Hinata then back again, tilting one of his ears to the side, waiting for one of them to answer.
Hinata looked to Bokuto, his gaze softening as he pet his jaw, sighing sweetly and replying, "Koutarou agreed to share a bond with me."
Atsumu and Osamu both sat up a bit at that, the twins watching Hinata with a mixture of excitement and surprise, Atsumu looking to Bokuto and asking, "You're serious? You're two are bonding?"
"What? When did this happen?" Osamu smiled, leaning closer, "I had no idea you two were getting that serious!" He laughed happily, dipping his ears and cheering, "Congratulations! I'm happy for you!"
Bokuto laughed and nodded, grinning as well, looking to Hinata briefly before returning his eyes to Atsumu's. "We hadn't planned on anything. It just...happened."
Hinata hummed, blushing and looking to Atsumu as well, searching the Alpha's bronze eyes. "Atsu? Are you okay with the idea of us bonding?" He shifted up a bit, pushing himself into a sitting position, searching the Alpha's eyes. "You know Kou is open to polyamory. Bonding with Koutarou isn't going to change anything between me and my other partners. Our dynamic will stay the same."
Atsumu nodded slowly, blinking and shaking his head. "Yeah, I know that. I just…" He leaned back a bit, resting against Osamu, his twin nuzzling his shoulder lightly. "It's really sudden. I didn't think…" He arched his brow a bit, giving Hinata an incredulous look, "And for you to ask him! An omega asking an Alpha is just-" He blinked a few times, his brow arching for a moment before he released a deep breath, trying to wrap his head around the sudden announcement. "I'm happy for you, really. I just…" His voice dropped a bit, his expression soft. "I guess I thought you were more like Kenma, and you'd never really bond with anyone. We've always shared you equally, but if Bokuto is your primary, then…"
Bokuto perked his ears up at that, reaching out and placing his hand over Atsumu's, the smaller Alpha meeting his eyes. "Hey, I don't want you to feel like that. The titles don't mean Shouyou loves me more than he loves you, or Osamu, or Kenma, or anyone else he decides to partner with. The titles just mean…" He glanced towards Hinata, his expression soft. "It just means we want to share our lives together. It means Shouyou will wear my mark." He returned his eyes to Atsumu's, adding softly, "I don't expect him to change anything about himself for me, nor would I ever ask him to somehow love me more, or chose me over any of you. I care about you guys a lot, I love being able to be close with you like this. Our shared dynamic is amazing, and I love how much you care for Shouyou." He dipped his ears back a bit, leaning a bit closer to nose at Atsumu's crown. "I don't want you to feel like I'm taking him from you."
Atsumu sighed slowly, closing his eyes and nodding, relaxing into Bokuto's touch. He squeezed the other Alpha's hand, then nuzzled his jaw and pulled back, smiling and meeting Bokuto's eyes. "Yeah, yeah you're right. I know that, Kou. Thank you, for reassuring me."
Hinata crawled closer as well, touching Atsumu's shoulder and searching his eyes, leaning closer and giving him a kiss, the Alpha crooning softly and kissing him back gently. Bokuto watched them with a little smile, Osamu smiling and watching as well, perking his ears up and giving Bokuto a little wink, Bokuto blushing faintly and letting out a little chuckle.
He couldn't wait to tell Kuroo he was going to bond with Hinata.
-x-x-x-
Hinata bit his lip, giddy excitement evident in his every movement, Kozume watching him with an affectionate smile. The omega glanced back over his shoulder, searching his boyfriend's eyes for a moment longer before returning his attention to Kozume, taking a deep breath and cheering, "Koutarou and I are bonding!"
Kozume's eyes widened, his nerves tingling as Hinata's words washed over him, his heart fluttering in his chest. Behind him, he could hear Yaku and Haiba congratulating Hinata and Bokuto, but he couldn't focus on their words, couldn't make out what they were saying. Hinata was smiling so happily, his cheeks rosy and his laugher warm and bright, Kozume blinking several times and trying to focus, trying to remember to breathe. Hinata was saying something, the omega squeezing his fingers and drawing him back into the moment, his expression falling only slightly as he felt Kozume trembling beneath his touch.
He met Hinata's eyes hesitantly, the omega watching him in confusion for a moment before his ears started to dip back, and the smile fell from his face. He leaned a little closer, Kozume's chest twisting as the omega asked, "Kenma? Are you okay?"
He couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand to see the uncertainty in Hinata's eyes, hear the concern in his voice, the beta humming softly and trying to smile, trying not to let his emotions show. "I-" His voice broke suddenly, and he reached up and pressed his hand to his mouth, his expression twisting. Hinata's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat, and he squeezed Kozume's fingers, whining softly, the beta blinking away tears and shaking his head quickly, getting to his feet. He didn't look back, unable to meet Hinata's eyes, stepping away from the couch and padding quickly down the hall, closing his bedroom door behind him.
Hinata watched him go, frozen in place, his fingers trembling as he reached out for him, not understanding. He glanced towards Yaku and Haiba briefly before looking up at Bokuto, the Alpha's brow arched with concern, a sigh escaping him as he glanced down towards Hinata as well, meeting his boyfriend's eyes.
Yaku frowned, his brow knitting as he stood from his place beside Haiba, crossing the carpet and sitting down before Hinata, taking Kozume's place. He wrapped his arms around Hinata's shoulders, hugging him gently and whispering, "It's alright, Shouyou. Just give him some time."
"I don't…I don't understand." Hinata shook his head, his expression torn, his ears twisting towards Kozume's bedroom then towards Yaku again. "I don't understand why…" He swallowed thickly, blinking back tears. "I thought...I thought he'd be happy for me…"
Haiba exhaled slowly, carding his fingers through his hair, getting up from his spot as well and sitting down on carpet at Yaku and Hinata's feet, reaching up and patting the omega's knee gently, looking up into his eyes.
"You've never imagined how Kenma would feel, hearing that you've taken a primary partner?"
Hinata blinked, frowning a little. "I've never really thought about having a primary before. Bonding with someone hasn't really been...something that I've wanted until now." He glanced up at Bokuto, the Alpha watching him with a quiet smile, Hinata thinking for a moment before meeting Yaku's eyes, then Haiba's, glancing between the vulpines and asking softly, "Did I do that wrong? Should I have..." He worried his lip. "Should I have said something differently?" He ducked his ears back a bit, adding, "It wasn't as if I planned any of this intentionally without him. I just...I was swept away by my feelings, with what was happening in the moment, and I told Kou I wanted to bond with him right as it was happening. I never thought that…" He looked up and met Bokuto's eyes. "I never thought I would want to bond with Koutarou, but now that I do want to, I can't believe Kenma wouldn't be happy for us both…"
Yaku watched him quietly for a long moment before replying, "You didn't do anything wrong, Shouyou. This is all just happening very suddenly. For Kenma, this was probably like a slap to the face." He searched Hinata's eyes, adding gently, "You know why Kenma has never chosen a primary partner, don't you?"
Hinata blinked, frowning a little, his brow furrowing. "Kenma just doesn't...he doesn't like the idea of being bonded to anyone, I guess? He's never really talked to me about why before." Hinata tilted one of his ears to the side, thinking. "He's never shown any real interest in choosing anyone to be his primary. He's always been like that, since we were kids."
Bokuto dipped his ears back, understanding Yaku's meaning, frowning a little and rubbing along Hinata's back, coaxing the omega to look up at him. He held his eyes for a long moment, then asked quietly, "Shouyou...do you think it's possible he never chose anyone, because he wanted to bond with you?"
Hinata stopped breathing, blinking rapidly for a few seconds before arching his brow and inhaling a rush of air, his face twisting as he whispered, "N-No. No, he would have told me something like that. He would have told me-" He pressed his hand over his mouth, blinking away tears, looking to Yaku, then Haiba, a soft whine escaping his throat.
Inside his bedroom, Kozume was huddled against the foot of his door, his knees tucked tightly against his chest, sobbing into his arms, his ears flattened to his skull.
He'd waited too long, he'd never had the courage to say it aloud, and now Hinata was going to bond with someone else.
He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. He'd never felt anything like this.
He never knew anything in the entire world could hurt so much.
Thanks for reading! More to come!
