YEAR ONE.25 Perception & Insight
A brother is a friend God gave you; a friend is a brother your heart chose for you. ~Proverb
~Three Months Later, High Summer~
Morisuke Yaku drops beside the small sulking crow with the gold tuft of hair.
Noya's just been brushed off in no uncertain terms by Hinata who is, like his leveler, in a foul mood. The arguments had been slowly coloring their other normal interactions— there is an invisible tension around the two almost constantly now.
Through the hot summer months, Morisuke has gotten to know each of the beach crew fairly well, but he still puzzles over the group's most colorful level pair. They are so frighteningly in sync sometimes that they could be the same person… and others, they are so antagonistic and hostile that he honestly worries they might kill each other.
It's nothing like Suga and Daichi who strike one of the cleanest balances that he's ever seen as levelers; he can't remember any point since meeting them where they've disagreed even once. Heh, Daichi even has a pet name for Suga—something about stars or the like of which the thrush always pinks at when he says it around the others. Not that the crow is conspicuous about it; the avians don't have as good of ears as he and the other cats, so he doubts any of them have caught the former sentry leader's quiet term of affection for his leveler.
But even the petty points of contention between the owl pair look like nothing more than occasional annoyances next to the grounded redhead and his crow leveler's periodic full scale confrontations. No, the dynamics between Hinata and Kageyama run the gamut, their range in their interactions akin to the ocean's many faces. They could be as easy as quiet waves that meld the sand calmingly across the beach to as chaotic as roaring breakers that crash against unyielding rocks.
Today has been one of the latter.
It's been cyclical, the heated fights coming in tandem with every trip the redhead makes into town while the black-haired setter remains at home. Really, Morisuke had woken this morning and predicted exactly how it would go.
The redhead would steadily chatter excitedly while the brooding crow would turn silent, growing ever more sullen the brighter his leveler got. It would eventually end with Kageyama making some scathing remark that differed from his regular insults because of the weight it carried and Hinata would pull up short before firing back one of his own. It would spiral down into the singularly most uncomfortable spectator sport until the grounded avian was red-faced and fuming and his leveler was almost swaying on his feet due to the 'breaking' reaction.
The fact that it didn't seem to affect Hinata the same way had been slowly driving the russet cat insane, because he'd never seen something like this before. He'd briefly wondered if they somehow weren't actually levelers and had quickly discarded the notion; Hinata's nightly glowing trick had firmly cemented that reality into place.
There had to be something else strange about their bond, though, because while the redhead might break out into a sweat indicating a mild fever, Kageyama was prone to becoming violently sick… not that Hinata had probably ever seen it. Kageyama had gone to great lengths to conceal that detail from him and it had made Morisuke frown that much more at the strangely one-sided 'breaking' symptoms.
The black-haired setter would go pale and eventually just stop talking. The most closed off expression that outwardly conveyed nothing but disdain would slip into place, and even if Morisuke saw it for what it was— a bid to simply keep himself on his feet, Hinata wouldn't recognize the extreme discomfort of his leveler and would puff up in fury at the sudden lack of communication of any type before turning and stomping off. Kageyama never pursued the argument further nor followed after the redhead as he'd leave for Sheru Bay at that point— probably more because he couldn't than actively choosing not to. Instead, he'd wait until the kid was out of sight and earshot before promptly emptying his stomach in the nearest bush.
Their arguments had quickly extended themselves to cold shouldering each other even after Hinata had returned from his visits into Sheru Bay, and would linger until the redhead would grudgingly curl up next to an already exhausted and sleeping Kageyama. They'd wake the next morning and while it would be a little awkward with the way Kageyama would shed fried feathers as a constant reminder for the next two days, they'd slip back into some semblance of normal.
But that wasn't what had happened today.
The arguments would usually be preceded by passive aggressive remarks that escalated into full blown confrontation, but Hinata had taken a different approach this time. Since he hated when Kageyama yelled at him but couldn't bring himself to back down, his solution had been to not tell him he was going into Sheru Bay until they were leaving.
It had gone about as well as could be expected, the crow setter having been blindsided.
The argument itself had been shorter, but the words had been sharper, and even those of them who didn't know the nuances and hidden meanings behind every insult could still feel the markedly heavier weight they were hurled with. Hinata had still gone into town, his face a little more pale than usual, and still been livid when he'd returned a few hours later.
The two haven't spoken all afternoon, but Kageyama has spent much of it propped up against a wall in the front room with a blank stare in what would appear to be the sulk of the century. Morisuke knows he dry heaved for an hour after they'd left, though, and he can see the dilation in his eyes that belies the fierce fever that has yet to break, and knows that this fight… was a bad one.
Kageyama is going to lose a lot of feathers this time around. They'd already been jarring the fluidity of their uncanny connection in Volley matches; he wonders how today's argument will affect their demeanor.
The uneven distribution of breaking symptoms, though...that's really bugging the russet cat and he settles beside Noya, determined to see if he can't riddle it out. The best way to start, he supposes, is to collect as much information about the pair as he can, and what better person to ask than the crow Hinata had grown up with?
"Hey, winged libero god." He says lightly. Noya's eyes are almost the same color as his, but they convey a mild annoyance when they slide his way.
"Hey, short cat." He grumbles, and while it isn't a rebuff, it betrays his mood— and sparks a thread of irritation.
"You're shorter than I am." Morisuke mutters with a scowl.
"Yeah but Lev never says anything about my height."
"That blasted cat can eat sand."
"He already does anytime he's in back line." Noya says, a grin finally tugging at his mouth.
Morisuke shakes his head to clear it of his momentary vexation at the mention of the grey cat's incessant remarks on his height. The short crow seems a little more amenable so he should get answers now.
"Yeah… hey, can I ask you a question?"
"I can't teach you how to fly. No matter how big your dreams, you should give up on that one." Morisuke huffs through his nose in amusement.
"Actually, I was curious about the friction between Hinata and Kageyama. I know they supposedly have a high profile but I can't see Sheru Bay being a threat. Why can't Kageyama just go into town with him? It would save everyone a lot of… this."
There's a flash of annoyance again when Noya turns a bland look on him. He watches him for a long moment before looking away with a drawn out sigh.
"I forget that you haven't been around that long. I suppose no one ever really told you much about how we wound up here."
"Not really."
"Heh. Well, let me ask you something. Did you remember hearing anything about the rookery and its leadership during your stint on that boat last year?"
"The rookery? There was something about some prince going missing I think… was there something else I missed?" Morisuke asks with a thoughtful frown.
"Nope, that would be it. What do you remember about it?"
"Not much. The kid who was supposed to take over up and disappeared. Wait… you guys didn't off him or something, did you?" Noya snorts.
"Nah. That kid's still very much alive no matter how many people he pisses off. He was part of the rookery's 'first unit', their best trained combat group. Early last summer, he and the unit's top scout were attacked. The heir came through fine, but the redheaded scout ended up grounded."
Redheaded. Grounded.
Morisuke's eyes blow wide as everything aligns.
"Hinata." He breathes and Noya nods.
"Bingo."
The russet cat drags in a half suffocating breath, feeling like he's been winded. The revelation is enough to render him speechless and the one that follows on its heels leaves him plainly put— stupefied.
"Then… Kageyama…" He manages and the crow tosses him a sidelong smirk.
"I get the feeling you understand now."
He did. Oh, he did. He's been with these guys for the last three months and all this time, he's been dining, bunking, playing, and living with the rookery prince. The heir to the leadership that every sentry on the continent has been looking for.
"We honestly thought you knew. You made that comment about royalty that first day and I can't tell you how many people you put on edge." Noya says, his grin getting bigger. Morisuke runs a hand through his hair, still reeling.
"Damn. My boat put out just last month after a stopover. I should have been on it." He murmurs wryly, lamenting the death of his blissful ignorance, and Noya laughs.
"In over your head on this one, eh cat?"
"I feel like I just plunged into an abyss. Or sailed into a typhoon with sails at full mast." He murmurs.
"Don't worry, Daichi and Suga, Tanaka, Asahi, and me— we're the rest of that first unit, and we felt the same at first. It was just a matter of working out a routine. But to answer your original question… the less public exposure Kageyama has, the safer we all will be. The residents of Sheru Bay might be happily unaware of who he is, but all it takes is one person to see the light and we will have to find a new place. Kageyama just gets irrationally worked up over all of it. He can totally take things way too far."
Morisuke blinks at the tone of the crow's last remark.
"Do I detect a hint of animosity from a fellow libero?" He asks, his head canting to the side. Noya looks away, his grin disintegrating into a scowl.
"It's just frustration. Kageyama is… all wrong for Shouyou." Morisuke watches him closely, his hunch confirmed.
"You sure it wouldn't matter who it was?" He asks pointedly and the crow's brown eyes snap up to him with offence, his mouth opening before he freezes. The russet cat can see him considering that as his eyes drop once more.
"Maybe not. It just sucks. I'm his brother… and I feel like there's nothing I can do for him."
"You feel replaced." He says and the short crow's brow furrows.
"Not 'replaced'... more like not needed."
"You're wrong. He might have Kageyama, but Kageyama can never be his brother. He's still going to come to you when he has questions, still going to participate in your pranks, still going to seek your advice and confide his secrets, but you can't help him to the best of your ability if you think like that. Besides, he's freaky sharp. I'm sure he's noticed your reservations already and it probably only adds to his stress."
"Right. He can't see past the arrogant ass that's his leveler."
"Wrong again. I hadn't been here two days and he'd come up and asked me where my leveler was." Noya glances at him, his expression fogging with confusion.
"What?" He asks, completely baffled. Morisuke smiles slightly, one finger pointing toward his ears.
"Remember how the white tipping on Kageyama's wings means Hinata almost kicked it?" Noya's eyes focus on his ears for a long moment before his brows rise in surprise.
"Your ears… they're..." The small crow trails away and Morisuke smiles slightly.
"Tipped white, yes. The shrimp made that intuitive leap and surprised the crap out of me. He can be oblivious, but there's plenty he doesn't miss." Noya blinks at him.
"So… where is your leveler?"
The russet cat looks away, a twinge of sorrow hitting his gut. He should have known this question was coming.
"Cats are… a little different. We can form sort of… 'half bonds' so to speak. We get the white tipping one of two ways. The first is like Kageyama's with Hinata. Our fully bonded leveler almost dies. The second… is if a 'half bonded' leveler does die. We survive it, but it tips our ears just the same." He says quietly, finding Noya's shocked gaze.
"Your… you had a 'half bond' thing and your leveler died?"
"I did. The leveler link is strange in that it can't spur or nurture a relationship on its own… but it can be dangerous and even lethal. I escaped a death tie once because my leveler connection was half as strong as the one between Kageyama and Hinata; they won't have such a safety net. The reason levelers die together is because the link between them goes deeper than the bonds of family or friendship.
"Levelers are tied at the soul and will forever be drawn together, and I can promise you that Kageyama will walk through fire for Hinata if he has to. He's already abandoned a whole future to see him safe; it shouldn't be hard to imagine him going any distance required of him. His white tipped wings are proof. That frosted look isn't just an indication that Hinata almost died. It means that he probably would have if his leveler hadn't been there. That link can save you just as well as kill you." Noya watches him with wide eyes.
"Shouyou's alive because of Kageyama?" Yaku nods and the short crow looks away.
"No way, this is Kageyama. He's always salty and Shouyou's the complete opposite… and he's the only one who can make that kid wilt like leaves after a frost." He mutters.
"Perhaps, but Hinata isn't blameless either. He has done worse to Kageyama and the crow simply bears it."
"Shouyou has… what the heck are you talking about?" He says with a dark frown.
"You can't have missed Kageyama's scraggly molts after their fights. Losing those feathers is a delayed side effect that is excruciatingly painful because they are husked from the inside out by the 'breaking' toxins that are released when they go against each other. You accompany Hinata into town a lot, so you aren't usually around when it happens, but Kageyama gets brutally sick in the hours following their arguments. He vomits, his whole body slicks with fevered sweat, his limbs shake and he's nearly collapsed the last two times, but he holds everything together as best he can until Hinata's gone so the redhead doesn't see it. I think he's still failing pretty obviously to hide it because he looks like a grim reaper by the time it subsides, but for whatever reason, Hinata completely misses it— sharp eyes be damned." Noya blinks at him, stunned, and Morisuke glances down at the ground.
"I wouldn't look at it like Hinata no longer needs you. I would view it as having gained another brother and they both need you, because they are foolishly pushing that link to its breaking point. You and your leveler are a great example to follow."
There's an awkward silence and the russet cat glances back at the crow beside him only to be met with a blank look.
"My… what?"
Morisuke blinks, feeling like he just stepped on a pitfall.
"Your… eh, never mind that," he backpedals, "just—"
"Did you say my leveler?" Noya asks, incredulity rife in his face and voice.
Oh, boy. Now he'd done it.
He glances away in resignation of the coming disaster.
"I… yeah. I thought—"
"Who is it?" Noya asks, unconsciously leaning forward and the russet cat leans back. The crow looks like he just received one of Bokuto's or Lev's incredible hits and sent it perfectly to the setter, his excitement is almost tangible.
"I've already said too much." He says shoving the crow back, but Noya is undeterred.
"Come on, you let it slip so at least give me a hint." He cajoles, his mocha eyes bright. A slow smile curls his mouth as he gets up.
"Fine. You know who they are." He says, turning to leave.
"That's not a hint at all! If I went off that, even you could be my leveler."
"I'll give you another hint then. It's not me." He says with a grin, waving off the crow's protests as he slips away.
While he's learned some fascinating things about them, he didn't really get the chance to brainstorm through the disproportionate 'breaking' effects on Hinata and Kageyama. Noya's focus is totally shot now, and Morisuke will be fending off bids for leveler hints the entire next week, he's sure, so asking now would be pointless.
Still, with the way Hinata was pale today after their fight, the cat concludes that he's obviously not immune to the effects of a 'breaking' episode— but he's definitely not feeling the brunt of it like his leveler. Morisuke frowns.
If this happens again, he won't be staying on the sidelines, because if Hinata can't feel it, he won't know when to stop… which means he won't realize when he's toeing the line between 'dangerous' and 'lethal'.
A/N: Yay, Yaku chapter! And Noya bonus! And a level pair who can't figure their shit out- here have a dose of totally unsubtle foreshadowing... -_-
Honestly... My SO and I are legit like Daichi & Suga; we've never fought and talk out everything long before it hits that point- and we've been together 9 years, so it's not like we're still in the 'getting to know each other' phase. Wow, that makes me feel old somehow... I hope you are all bad at math, lol
Woot! 2017! So Nyx's new year's resolution was to be a better author and try to respond to all you guys' comments. I apologize if I don't hit them all but I promise to try :) Have a great night guys!