Chapter Twenty-Four
Practicing with the team felt awesome, Kageyama had been working on a toss that stops, but was having a hard time working out how to aim it consistently. It was still fun to get the wonky tosses over the net though, Kageyama didn't seem to be having as much fun, judging from his frustrated grunts. Hinata was just glad that his setter could almost form complete sentences now, even if they were mostly notes about his spikes followed by several curses.
"-Don't use that word, Kageyama, it's disgusting."
"Everyone shits, idiot."
"That doesn't mean you have to use that word." Kageyama just grunted, throwing another ball at him so he could throw it back. His spike went over the net, but he had to adjust his spike to manage it. "I think you're jumping too high." Kageyama muttered, picking up some of the balls to fill the empty cart between them. "How does someone jump too high, you jerk?" He snapped with a glare, but Suga-san decided to cut in before Kageyama could respond, "I think your jump did get higher, Hinata- Not that that's a bad thing!" His senpai finished quickly when his glare shifted onto the other boy.
"How'd you manage that, Shouyou?" Noya-senpai asked, interrupting Kageyama when the dark haired boy opened his mouth. Was I really jumping higher? He shrugged at the three boys that were now staring at him, "I-Kenma taught me something that's supposed to make your legs stronger. I've just being doing that." He finished lamely, tugging at his dark hair and trying not to think of the last person he said I love you to.
"What did he teach you?" Suga asked at the same time Noya demanded to know why he was hanging out with their rival team. He sighed, then leaned forward until he was balancing on his instep, "Kenma said that walking like this helps your muscles, but you might get an ingrown nail if you don't balance carefully." He finished, feeling proud for remembering his friend's words. Suga ducked down, staring at his legs intently as if he could see the muscles growing. "That's really neat, Hinata." Suga-san commented, lifting himself back up, silver hair bouncing with his ascent.
"Maybe we all should do it, then we can all jump super high!" Noya proclaimed, leaning forward until he was doing it as well. "I feel taller." He commented, wobbling uneasily. "I dunno if I can walk like this, though." Hinata just shrugged, "It's kind of hard at first, I guess." Suga-san hummed next to him, but he couldn't help but notice that the silver haired boy was a fraction taller as well. "If anything, we can just scare the enemy team off." He wasn't exactly sure how walking around on their toes would scare anyone off, It'd probably do the opposite, actually, but Suga's confident smile had convinced him not to say anything.
"Uh-What are you guys... doing?" Asahi asked, the tall ace walking towards them with a very confused face. "Shouyou is teaching us to jump higher!" Noya exclaimed, leaping up onto Asahi's back while the other boy noticed. "And how is that going?" Asahi asked, laughing quietly while attempting to balance the squirming weight on his back. "Awesome! I managed to jump onto your back easily!" The ace blinked, "But you could do that anyway..." Noya snorted, "But one day, Asahi, I'll be able to jump over you!" The ace looked very skeptical, but didn't comment further.
"Hinata?" Daichi asked walking into their small circle sometime later, "Why are all of our teammates walking on their toes?" His captain asked, looking very confused. The entire team shifted to look at him, "Why aren't you?" Noya asked, followed by Tanaka-senpai's, "Yeah, captain, why aren't you?" Daichi blinked, face turning stony, then walked away quietly, to resume sweeping. They all shared laughs after hearing Daichi mutter to himself about their strange behavior.
He had just finished changing back into his -Daichi's- uniform when Kageyama cornered him, almost glaring at him with oddly red cheeks. He blinked, before breaking into a smile, "Can I help you, Kageyama?" He asked, wondering if his setter was going to ask an actual question this time.
"You jumped out a window!" The setter boomed, deep voice echoing off the walls he was corned into. Hinata's brows rose steadily as he nodded, "I did." He confirmed, wondering if that was all Kageyama was going to say. "And your hair is black." He nodded, Very nice, Kageyama, he bit back a sarcastic response knowing that he couldn't run away when he was backed into a corner. "And your bike isn't at school." His mind blanked at that, he didn't really have a lie set up for that since nobody else had asked. "I-I lost it?" Kageyama frowned at that, but continued on with his next amazing observation. "You ran away from home." His mouth opened to snap that that wasn't true, but nothing came out. They can't know. It was bad enough that Ukai and Daichi knew, but Kageyama would just be weird with that information, he was sure of it.
"Where do you live now?" Kageyama asked, sounding almost worried. Hinata tilted his head, looking up at Kageyama's darkened face. This is weird. "Uh- around?" He wasn't sure how Daichi would feel if he went around telling people that they were living together. "You look thinner." Kageyama's voice was quieter than he'd ever heard it, "What do you care?" He snapped back, tired of being cornered by an idiot, an idiot telling him things he already knew, asking him questions he didn't want the answers to.
"You won't play at your best if you don't eat!" The taller boy retorted, raising his voice until it was ringing in his ears. "I'm fine." He muttered, trying to push stupidly strong hands off of him, but Kageyama's fingers just tightened each time he struggled. "And I have been eating." A lot actually. Kageyama's flaring nostrils meant he wasn't convinced, but he couldn't find any more energy to care, he was sweaty and Kageyama was ruining his post-practice mood.
"Whatever." Was all the response he received before he was being tugged by his wrist, and out of the empty club room, he wondered when that had happened, but didn't dwell on it considering his shoulder was starting to ache when Kageyama decided to tug him harder to make him walk faster. "Let go of me!" He screeched, tugging back on his arm, which only made Kageyama walk faster until the school gates were in view. He was about to drop onto the floor for Kageyama to drag him when suddenly the taller boy stopped. "What do we have here?" An accusing voice called, making his captured arm tingle as Kageyama's grip got harder.
"What are you doing here?" His setter hissed. Hinata looked up, that tone was reserved for- "Grand King?" He asked, voice reflecting his confusion and fear openly, he hated how weak it sounded. "Just thought I'd come pay my favorite person a visit." Kageyama growled next to him, grip tightening even harder, he wasn't sure if it was his wrist or Kageyama's teeth that was making that grinding noise. "How unfortunate that I come to find that my least favorite person dragging him against his will, very unbecoming, Tobio-chan." Grand King tutted softly, shaking his head in exasperation.
I'm Grand King's favorite? He swallowed, not sure how he felt about that. Scared. Glad? He looked up at Grand King, the taller boy winked at him, a cocky smile plastered on his perfect face. "How can this idiot be your favorite person?" Kageyama yelled, pulling up on his wrist like he was going to examine him. Ouch. He was pretty sure that Kageyama just wanted to contradict anything that Grand King said,but we're on the same team, idiot. He remained silent though, hoping that the situation would end with minimal violence and yelling. His ears had suffered enough from Kageyama's earlier yelling.
"Besides my Iwa-chan of course!" Grand King chirped, ignoring Kageyama's glare with practiced ease, he was left wondering how long that Grand King had been subject to Kageyama's menacing looks. "So if you could release my chibi-chan, I'd certainly appreciate it, Tobio-chan." Grand King's tone was friendly, but it still sent ice slithering down his spine. "Why should I? He's my teammate." Grand King's eyes narrowed at that, and he stepped forward, towering over both of them, perfect floppy hair crafting shadows over his snake eyes.
"You'll find listening to your senpai is your best option." The way Grand King's words were hissed didn't escape him, nor Kageyama it seemed, the taller boy's hand now shaking on his. With rage or fear, he couldn't figure out. "I'll even walk him home." An offer, a perfect smile, teeth shining in the dark filling his head with flashes of Tokyo. He swallowed, a lump settling in his throat when Kageyama's glare ended up in him. "You're living with Oikawa?" His setter hissed, accusing him with narrowed eyes.
"O-of course not!" He answered, tugging on his arm because he was starting to lose feeling, but Kageyama just gripped harder with his struggles. "Then why does he know where you live and I don't? Where did you run away to?" He's never known Kageyama to ask so many questions, Grand King's influence, he assumed. He just shook his head, probably should have asked Daichi. "Aw, Chibi-chan, you didn't have to run away just to live with me!" Grand King called out unhelpfully, he glared at the taller boy, then sighed. They still can't know.
He tugged his hand away, surprised when it actually came loose from Kageyama's iron grip, then backed away from the two setters. "It's none of your business, you've never cared before!" He shouted, almost at both of them. Kageyama had never asked about his life at home, and Grand King had been ignoring him since he left for Tokyo. He stormed off, forgetting his gym clothes and bento as he started walking towards Daichi's house. Hinata almost screamed when a hand landed on his shoulder, turn around on his heel and almost punched Grand King in his stupid face. "What?" He asked, voice sounding like a whisper despite the strain he put on his vocal chords.
"Where are you staying?" Grand King asked, voice softer than he could ever use with Kageyama. He scoffed, then turned around to walk away, Grand King's hand followed him and he couldn't shrug it off. "You're safe, right?" Grand King tried instead, probably realizing that he wasn't going to answer. He sighed, turned back to the taller boy, took in his earnest expression. He nodded, a small and barely there gesture. Grand King smiled, and he looked away. "No drug dens, right?" He asked after they continued walking, and his heart froze. "Wh-what do you mean?"
Grand King chuckled lightly, fingers tightening on his shoulder, "Kuroo-san told me about your medication." He swallowed hard at that, "What else did he tell you?" Grand King was silent next to him, "Is there something he should have told me?" He asked, voice light but threatening. He shook his head, "No." Tried to ignore the way his throat felt full on nothing, tried to ignore the way his eyes started to itch, the ghost flashes behind his eyelids and that menacing chuckle. Steal my best friend?
They walked slowly, but he's not sure why. I don't want him to know where Daichi lives. He sighed, pausing on the sidewalk, annoyed when Grand King knelt in front of him. "Are you okay?" He cringed at those words, those words belonged to Kenma, not him. "'m fine." He muttered, trying to shake Grand King's hands off as they cupped his cheeks. "Why are you here?" He asked when they refused to stop. Grand King laughed, something warm and uncomfortable. "I came to see you, wasn't that obvious." Obviously. He nodded, "But why are you here to see me." Grand King stopped laughing, "Your mine, my chibi-chan. Boyfriends, remember?" His heart squirmed at Grand King's tone, almost caring, but he knew that Grand King doesn't -can't- care about him; felt even worse when the only thing he could think about was Kenma when boyfriend was mentioned. I love you. He never said that Grand King, only Kenma.
"Right." He admitted, trying to keep guilt and fear and sadness from his voice. Grand King smiled brightly, teeth gleaming off the streetlights surrounding them. It would be dark soon, Daichi would be worried about him. "I should go." He tried, but Grand King's hands held onto his head. "You could stay with me." He paused, not sure how to say no without making Grand King snap. "Th-that's not a good idea- wouldn't your parents or- your team or something?" It was the same risk as staying with Daichi, but he didn't need Aoba Johsai making speculations, "And you live so far away!" Grand King just shrugged, hair tilted along with his head, "I want the world to know that you belong to me! And I live alone, the only person that comes over is Iwa-chan." He swallowed, recalling Iwa-chan's killer spike.
"I can't." Grand King frowned, snake eyes narrowing at his response. "Who're you living with, Hinata?" Grand King's fingers tightening against his face, he could feel the dig of Grand King's nails against his skin. "W-with- someone." The taller boy hummed, nothing like Kenma does, not with the intention to make his heart freeze. "I'll give you... a week." He blinked, "Decide?" He echoed, voice squeaking without meaning to. Grand King nodded, teeth shining like fangs coated in venom as he smiled. "I just want to know who my boyfriend is staying with, otherwise..." The threat was empty, but it filled him with dread. "O-Otherwise?"
Grand King leaned forward, strong fingers keeping him from leaning back, "Otherwise, something might happen." He didn't have time to ask what something was before Grand King's lips were pushing against his, the older boy's tongue pushing against his frozen lips insistently. He wanted to remind Grand King that he lived around here, that people could see them, but his protests came out like choking as Grand King's tongue flicked against his.
His feet were lifted out from under him, and then his breath was forced from his lungs as his back collided with something hard. A wall, he realized idly, trying to draw in breathe through his nose, ignoring the scent of Grand King's face, the taste of his tongue. Then they were both gone, replaced with puffs of hot air against his slick lips. "I love you, my Hinata." He gulped at the thick words, hoping that someone would stop them, but praying that nobody would see them. "You are mine, aren't you?" Grand King whispered into his neck, drawing notice that they were almost the same height while he was shoved against a wall. His mind looked over the words, the tone. Dangerous. He held back a whimper as his breathing started to get less effective, but nodded. Calm down.
"Say it." Teeth dragging over his neck with the command. He didn't think he could. You're mine now, got it? "Grand King." He gasped out, wondering why his lungs weren't cooperating despite the medication. "Say it!" Louder, harsher, two sets of teeth digging into his shoulder. Hinata whined, trying to pull away but could feel his skin burning as he did. "Hurts." He tried, pushing his hand against Grand King's shoulder. Flash of dark hair then Grand King's eyes were staring into his, hypnotizing and dark. "Say it, please." Grand King's was soft again, pleading almost. "Yours." He cried before he could shut his mouth.
Grand King growled against him, "God, the things I- you make me want to do." Wetness climbed his throat, lapping up sweat and fear, leaving behind spittle. He shuddered, a patch of ice against his too hot body. "I need you." He's not sure what that means, he's already belongs to Grand King, he's in his arms, he's lapping at his neck. "Can I have you?" He blinks, trying to find a meaning that won't come when his brain is this hot. He nods, caught up in Grand King's warmth. A better sun than me.
"Let me have you, Shouyou." His head freezes with the use of his given name, it sounds weird coming from Grand King, oddly impersonal but also invasive. "Say it." Grand King groans into his neck, biting into the flesh until he can feel the skin break. He whines loudly, hissing as something hot slides down his exposed flesh, I'm bleeding. He jerks back, trying to grab at the wound, but a strong grip sends his arm into the wall. He slides down slightly, the rough wall crackling against his back and scratching at skin where his shirt and jacket slide up. "Grand King." He hisses, a warning. His arm is released, strong hands settle against his hips, pushing him back up until their eyes are level again.
"Please, Shouyou." Grand King gasps, voice raspy and deep. Scary. "Yours." He confirms, not sure what Grand King wants him to say, too scared to wonder. "Promise?" He nods, wondering why Grand King is being so insistent, like he knows that he's been disloyal, with his confession to Kenma, their affection and shared touches. He swallows the memories down, I can't ruin them. Grand King's fingers tug against his pants, the loose material sliding until it's stuck on his knees. He shudders against the warm summer air, feeling frozen as he's exposed. "Wh-what are you?" Grand King just chuckles, "You're mine."
"We're outside!" He hisses, looking around with shaking eyes. Nobody is around, and the sky is too dark. How long have we been here? "I need you." Grand King gasps, he flinches back as teeth start grazing his throat again. "We're outside." He gasps into the sky, Grand King's head pushing against his chin, pressing rough lips and teeth until he's sure there's no skin left on his neck. Only bruises and blood and pain. "I want to fuck you." His heart, brain, and blood freeze.
"We're both boys!" He screeches, slapping at Grand King's shoulders now, trying to jerk away from hard bites and roaming hands. Grand King's chuckle sends bile racing up his throat, "Not a problem." Then hands, hot like they've been sitting in fire, roll under his thighs, over his butt. He jumps in Grand King's grasp, away from the touches. "I-I don't? We can't?" He's confused, cold and hot, burning and so, so scared. Kenma. He needs the older boy, but he's scared to think about him, betraying him, because that's what he's doing, letting Grand King see him like this.
"But you're mine, right?" Snake eyes settle on him, glaring but not, forcing him to nod. "It'll feel good, I'd never hurt you. Promise." He's not convinced, Grand King is hurting him right now, his neck is bleeding and he's shaking in fear. "You believe me, Shouyou?" He nods immediately, fearing repercussions for his hesitation. "I love you." Growled into his lips, Grand King's chest pushing against him until the wall behind him starts to burn into his skin. "Do you love me?" He nods.
"Say it."
"I love you, Grand King."
Grand King growls at the nickname, but doesn't comment. His hands roam back there again, pushing and squishing until he's squirming in pain. "Why are you-?" His question is interrupted by pain shooting up his spine. "What the fuck!" He screams, jerking away from Grand King's fingers. The older man laughs quietly into him, "Please trust me, Shouyou, it'll hurt if you don't." He's not sure if it's a threat, but he stills, his body twitching as he becomes more aware of the roaming fingers. One of them entering him. He feels sick again, but he's sure Grand King would actually hurt him if he threw up right now.
"That's disgusting." He comments, burying his head into Grand King's shoulder, scratching at the bright letters under his hands. "This is how men have sex, didn't you know that?" He did not know that,Grand King isn't a virgin. It shouldn't seem likes news, "Have you-?" He hisses, clenching around invasive thickness. Grand King sighs against his ear, "A few." He's not sure how many a few is for Grand King to want to do this against a wall, with him. "Why me?" He asks, half a whisper but he needs to talk because he'll vomit if he doesn't.
"I love you." Answered like it explains anything. My family doesn't love me, why would you? "Why?" Right into Grand King's ear, he can feel it's warmth without touching it. "You're perfect." He laughs this time, "You don't have to lie." Grand King was many things, but he hadn't lied to him before. Grand King pulls back, frowning. The dry tugging inside of him stops. "You really don't see it?" Asked like he's stupid. He scoffs, "Have you seen me?" Not that he hates himself, even if he does, he's not perfect. Could never be perfect. Loving men, being touched by them, he was a- freak. Grand King pulls away from him, out of him, he's settled onto the ground, his feet are numb and unsteady.
"I- I love you." He's heard it so many times from Grand King, but this is the first time there's feeling in it. He opens his mouth to question the words and the tone, but pauses when Grand King steps back, finally giving him a good look of the taller boy. His floppy, perfect hair is messy now, out of place, more so now that he's tugging at it with large strong hands. "How can you not see it?" An uneven voice, but Grand King's voice is always perfect, always with purpose and conviction. Tears glisten under the orange light over them, he swallows hard at that. Grand King is too perfect to cry. He steps forward, and Grand King jumps back like he's made of fire.
"How can you not see it?" It's low, seething, full of anger. "You're so-" So what? Grand King growls, lost for words like Kageyama is, "I'm so?" He says, wondering if it would have the same effect. "Amazing." He pauses, steps back against the wall. "Stop." Liar. Grand King looks up, away from him now, he gets a good look of the taller boy's face, glowing orange. Like the sun. But his chocolate eyes are soft and glistening with tears. I made him cry. There's pain twisting in his gut now.
"I'm short." He comments, reason enough for why he isn't that. Grand King looks down, "It's perfect." He shakes his head, he knew Grand King wasn't stupid, why is he doing this? "I'm bad at volleyball." As much as he hated to admit it, Grand King was so much better than he was. "You try, you get better everyday." Stupid. "I'm not smart." Grand King smiles, like he's pleased to contradict him. "I think you're smart, cute, your jump is like- what is it you say? Gwaah? You're so bright, and caring. You gave me a shot, so I know that's true." What does that mean? He's asking before he can stop, "You wouldn't give you a chance, you're The Grand King!"
Grand King just smiles, "They- They don't understand. Those guys and girls, they just- They see my face and they. They don't know me, they just want me." He's not sure what that means, but Grand King's expression is pleading, and sad, he just nods. "But you- You just. You look up at me, you see through me." He begs to differ, he can't explain anything that Grand King does, can't even begin to understand. "I've teased you, made fun of your team, I wanted to hate you-" He stops, perfect lips quivering, the blood on them doesn't take away from it. "You make me- Alive."
"I don't understand." Grand King nods, looking almost broken with his admission. Then he's offering him a hand, he takes it hesitantly. "I'm sorry." He's not sure why Grand King would apologize, "You're perfect, Grand King." He says, for his own benefit, a reminder, because Grand King already knew that. The hand around his tightens, then there's an empty laugh that makes him jerk back. "Maybe you are stupid." He scoffs, punches at Grand King's stupid arm, but the older man just laughs.
"I'm not a genius, I- I have to work hard everyday just to keep up with that idiot." Grand King is growling, so he doesn't comment on how he called Kageyama a genius and an idiot in the same sentence. "That's why you're perfect!" He chirps, ignoring the pulsing pain in his butt and neck, because Grand King isn't scary when he's being dumb. "I almost lost my leg trying to keep up. I almost ruined everything, lost everything." He almost laughs, he didn't think someone so talented would hate himself.
"I think I get it." He comments, interrupting the rambling setter next to him. Grand King looks down at him, eyes wide, "I'm sorry, Hinata." He's still not sure what for. "Why?" He asks quietly, Grand King shouldn't have to apologize, ever. Perfect people don't do that. "I almost- well, I did. I forced you- almost raped you." He swallows at the tone, the self disgust. "I let you." Grand King nods, but doesn't look convinced. "I just wanted you to myself, a sun of my own."
He scoffs, tugs at his dark bangs, "I'm not the sun." He says seriously. Grand King just chuckles, releases his hand to pet his head, he jerks away from the touch. "I caused that, didn't I?" Grand King asks quietly, shame in his tone almost palpable. "Caused what?" He just doesn't like to be touched there. "You didn't flinch the first time I touched your head, and said those things." Height, Girl troubles, daddy issues perhaps? He hadn't forgotten, would never forget. He didn't blame Grand King, Grand King was perfect.
"I'm sorry." He growls this time, "Stop apologizing!" Grand King's hand jerks away from his head, his whole body distancing away from him, he laughs at the shock on Grand King's face. "Scaredy cat!" He calls out, then Grand King is rushing towards him, but he's ducked from the grasping arms. Grand King catches him though, with his next lurch forward, long arms latching onto him and lifting him up, "Don't apologize to me." He whispers into Grand King's neck. "Except for biting me, because that kind of hurt."
Grand King just chuckles, "Sorry-Sorry, I'll never apologize again, I promise!" He chirps, then he's put back on the ground. Grand King stares at him, not with snake eyes, not with his serious face, he's smiling, open and honest and perfect. "I want you." He flinches at the words, scared again, despite Grand King's apologizes. "But- I want to do it right. No more-" He licks the blood away from his lips, blanches at the flavor. "No more hurting you." He wants to say that Grand King couldn't hurt him, he'd promised not to, but his body aches so he says nothing.
"I want it, want to touch and explore. I want to have you in every way. I want you to be mine forever but..." His intense tone trails into hesitation, "But?" He comments, getting a glare for his efforts. "But I'm scared." His brows furrow at that, "Grand King really is a scaredy cat." He comments, more to himself, getting wordless exclamation at his words. "I was scared." He admits, and Grand King stops talking, stops breathing by the looks of it. "I'm-" Watches Grand King's perfect Adam's Apple move in his throat. "I'm not sorry." There's a grin, bright teeth with no ill intentions.
"I wanted you so bad that I lost control. I didn't want to hurt you, I wanted to give you everything, so you wouldn't run- like they did." He almost vomits at that, people running from Grand King because they could or couldn't get that. "I'm sorry." Being perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be. He means it, Grand King, who works hard at volleyball and loves too strong, being used. The word slut comes to mind, insisting as he tries to push it away. "That's why I love you, Hinata."
"Grand King..." The older boy looks down, frowning, "Please don't call me that, I'm not Grand, or a King." He nods, but he doesn't mean it, Grand King would always be those things to him. "You don't scare me anymore." That's the truth, and Grand King smiles, honestly, something different, with dimples and gums showing, those are perfect and pink. "Just don't go spreading rumors, or I'll hurt you." He's seen Grand King's serves, knows what those arms can do, knows what his words can do.
"Let me walk you home." It's a request, like Grand King's confidence has faltered. He snorts, but offers the taller boy his hand, watches as the large fingers wrap around his hand, swallowing it gently. They walk away from the wall, away from where they almost- He shakes his head. He thinks he could come to love Grand King like he loves Kenma, if he stays like this, if this isn't a game.
He prays harder than he thinks he should that this isn't a game, a sick joke that Grand King is playing. "You know, Iwa-chan and I used to walk home like this." He's not sure what like this means, but he just nods, "Were you two-?" Grand King laughs, "Nope. He doesn't like me, but he likes middle blockers more." Hinata tries to think of Aoba Johsai's middle blocker, but can't think of a name. Grand King is staring at him, "Wh-what?" Grand King starts laughing, and his face explodes in color. "You mean he-" Grand King nods, he wants to die. "He's kind of scary, why would he like someone like-?" He swallows. "Iwa-chan and I have a lot in common. He was going to ask you out, I almost strangled him." Grand King is chuckling, "I even teased him about asking you out." He pouts, "That wasn't very nice." Grand King just shrugs, "The thought of sharing you, my Hinata, I wanted to hurt him. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to hurt someone. "Grand King's tone is darker now, indefinitely so.
His throat tightens, "I'm yours now, you don't have to hurt him." He means anyone, but Grand King smiles down at him. He pauses in the street, there's no more lights to light their path and Grand King's words are forcing thoughts into his head, Grand King would hurt Kenma. Kenma was smart, but Grand King was big and fast and maybe just as smart. What would he do to Kuroo? He doesn't want to think about it, the violence not bothering him as much as the thought of Kuroo does. "It's kind of empty around here." Grand King comments, pulling him from blinding light and mocking laughs.
"I-" I'm scared of the dark. He doesn't want to say it out loud, because Kuroo could appear, could show Grand King the pictures. They'd kill each other, and he'd be alone in the dark. "Come on, Hinata, gotta get you home." Grand King is tugging on his hand but his feet are stuck to the ground. "It's just the dark." That doesn't help. He swallows, his hand is sweating against Grand King's now, it feels gross. "You're not scared are you." He wants to scream, he shouldn't be. Grand King would ask, and he would know, and he can't breathe anymore.
"Hinata?" There's eyes in front of his, chocolate and red, shining in the dark. "I am." He gasps, "I'm scared." He whines, pushing against Grand King because Kenma isn't here, would never be here. "I'm stupid, scared of the dark like a kid." Grand King is silent, but his arms wrap around him, stroke at his back like Kenma does. "It's okay, Hinata." He doesn't believe it, there's too much darkness, too many corners for Kuroo to jump out of, calling him what he is, forcing him to do those things. Whore.
"Tell me where to go, I'll keep you safe." Grand King promised, but his entire body is shaking and he can't answer, Grand King has scared him for so long. Threats and words, bruises that burned him. He points in the direction of Daichi's house. Grand King grunts, throwing him up until he had a better grip, then wind is racing in his hair. His eyes clench closed when they start to itch, but tears are escaping and running down his cheeks. I'm weak, and Kenma isn't here. Grand King couldn't be strong for him, couldn't make him feel safe like Kenma could.
Grand King asks for more directions until they end up at the last house, there's lights coming from the windows, but the door is cast in darkness. Grand King puts him on the ground, even when he grabs and claws at him. He can't be alone now! "They'll probably ask questions if I stay." Grand King says, an excuse coming from his pouting lips. "I'm sorry, Hinata, please don't cry." He's being pushed towards the door, but he can't knock. Grand King walks away, not looking back at him.
He slides against the door, an immobilizing fear settles over him as he watches Grand King walk away. He's alone now, no Kenma, no Grand King. No family. He's sobbing now, hating himself for doing so, but nobody will hear, so he lets himself break down. Only once. He promises to himself. Daichi wouldn't get worried, Daichi would get mad at him for being late, for getting his shirt blood and wrinkled. His breathing isn't working like it should, lungs empty despite the choking heaves. He hits his head against the door, forcing his fear away from him. I'm not scared. His entire body screams Liar, but he needs to believe it.
His blood runs cold when the door opens, can feel shadows and Kuroo's touch ghost over him. He screams over calls of his name, continues screaming even when warm weight forces his lips closed. "Hinata!" Not-Kuroo screams into his face, his eyes snap open, and tears escape more steadily. He's being lifted, forced and manhandled through the darkness. He cries harder, then there's light, it's dim, but there. "What's wrong?" Urgently asked directly above his face. He jerks back from the tanned skin because Kuroo has tanned skin, but not that voice. "Please don't." He begs, voice hoarse for screaming, but he's ready to scream more.
"It's Daichi, please stop crying." It's too soft to be true, Daichi doesn't live in the dark. "Kuroo-" He gasps out, trying to push away that too close face. "No!" When hands land on his shoulders, curling up when they pull away. The presence leaves, and he lets his eyes close. Then his eyelids are burning, he opens them.
"It's Daichi." He nods, looks away from his captain, looking for darkness and shadows and flashing lights. His heart slows when he finds those things absent from the room, "Hinata." The thick voice of his captain draws his attention, Daichi looks mad again, mad at him. He starts shaking when his captain moves forward, flinches when arms wrap around him, swallowing him. "Not a whore." He whispers to himself, Daichi hums quietly from above him. "No, you're not." The older boy confirms, then everything is fading.