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Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu!

Warnings: Angst, Self Harm, Hurt/Comfort, Verbal/Physical Abuse

Pairings: Kuroo x Akaashi, Hinata x Akaashi, Akaashi x Hinata x Kuroo, Sugawara x Sawamura, Hinata x Kageyama, Hinata x Kozume

Plot: Kozume spends time with Hinata.


Ch 09: Abrade

Kuroo carefully rested a bouquet of white lilies before an ornate marble headstone, kneeling down beside the grave to brush stray leaves and petals away from the nameplates.

"Morning, Bunny." He whispered fondly, tracing his fingertips over the raised lettering, his chest twisting with emotion. "I brought lilies for you today. They're called regal, or royal lilies. They're pretty little things, the blossoms are white and pink. I hope you like them." He closed his eyes, simply breathing for several moments before he began to speak again. "I missed you a lot this week."

He rested his hand against the sunkissed marble, savoring the warmth beneath his palm.

"I've started traveling again, private security detail for out of town venues. This beta kid's been assigned as my partner, y'know…since Kou's not around anymore." He nodded lightly, smiling as his gaze drifted over the nameplates, continuing on softly, "Kenma's proving himself to be a good partner. Smart, considerate, trustworthy. I'm hoping he'll become friends with Shouyou. Sho deserves to have a good friend."

He traced over the decorative flowers etched into the marble encircling his loved one's names; first Clove, then Aspen, and lastly Willow. Her little footprints were imprinted into the stone beside her birth and death dates, little more than a year spanning between them.

"Hey baby girl." Kuroo whispered, his brow pinched as he breathed through the pain in his chest, his voice hitching a bit as tears flooded his vision, threatening to overflow. "Daddy loves you." He reached out to rest his other palm over Aspen's nameplate, smiling as a soft peal of laughter escaped with his breath. "Daddy loves you both so much. I'll visit again soon, okay? I promise."

He stood from the grave, breathing shakily and tilting his face up to the sun, closing his eyes and letting himself feel for a few raw moments before turning away, stepping quietly towards the path nearby. A pair of songbirds twittered loudly as they flew by overhead, chirping while flitting between flowering branches of dogwood before chasing one another across the sky.

He walked the path slowly, hands resting in his pockets, his gaze drifting across the cemetery towards the mostly unoccupied parking lot beside the small church. It was beautiful here, nostalgic and bittersweet.

He'd been thinking about what Akaashi had mentioned before, wondering if it was time to tell Hinata everything that had happened in his past. Akaashi was right to say Clove wouldn't have wanted Kuroo to keep them a secret, and Hinata was a part of their family now. He deserved to know, but even thinking about speaking aloud the circumstances surrounding that night tore at Kuroo's heart.

Suddenly his phone began buzzing insistently, and he retrieved the device from his pocket to accept the incoming call. "Hey sweetheart, I was just-" He stopped in his tracks, frowning as he asked worriedly, "Keiji? What's wrong?"

He listened quietly, his face twisting as he began walking again, quickly crossing the parking lot to reach his car.

"I'm on my way, I'm leaving right now. I'll be home within an hour."

Akaashi nodded and cupped the phone against her cheek, sniffing and exhaling a trembling breath as she turned her eyes towards the closest bedroom door. "Oh Tetsurou, what should I do? I don't know what to do-"

"Put him in our bed." Kuroo's voice rumbled softly as he spoke, a protective, angry growl resonating in his words. "Comfort him as best you can. Ask Koushi to stay with you both until I'm home."

Akaashi hummed a soft sound of agreement, slow tears dripping down her flushed cheeks. "I want to rip that girl to pieces-"

"I'll handle it." Kuroo crooned, asking after a brief pause, "Is Kenma still with you? Let me speak with him."

Akaashi hesitated only a moment before stepping away, Kozume perking his ears up as she stepped into the living room, Emi babbling excitedly while offering Kozume another colorful block from her box. Akaashi offered Kozume her phone, and he took it while accepting yet another block from Emi. "Tetsurou. I'm here."

"I want the security footage." Kuroo growled, his tone dangerous as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, heat prickling across his skin. "I need to see it for myself."

"Understood." Kozume met Akaashi's eyes with a calm expression, offering her a reassuring little smile. "I'll see you soon."

Akaashi accepted back the phone, sniffing quietly, wiping at her cheeks as she returned to the hall. "I'll ask Koushi about moving Shouyou. I think being surrounded by our scents might be a good idea, too. Especially yours."

"I love you, Keiji." Kuroo rumbled in a soft, adoring tone. "I'll be with you soon, baby. I promise."

Akaashi nodded and ducked her head, whispering back with a hitch of breath, "I love you too."

Sugawara glanced up as Akaashi opened the bedroom door, the beta hesitantly padding closer while wiping away stray tears before carefully taking a place beside them. The distraught omega wasn't speaking, half-buried beneath several blankets and pillows, a makeshift nest they'd thrown together upon arriving home.

Sugawara was rubbing Hinata's upper arm and shoulder soothingly through the layers of fabric separating them, perking his ears towards Akaashi as he asked, "Tetsu's coming home?"

Akaashi nodded, sniffing quietly and reaching out to rest her hand over Hinata's crown, petting his disheveled curls gently. "He suggested moving Shouyou to our bed?"

Sugawara nodded, humming softly while looking down at the omega between them. "I think that may be beneficial as well. Given the shock he's experienced, and the fact that his distress isn't readily receding…"

They both worked together to coax Hinata from the nest, holding his arms to steady him while guiding him the short distance down the hall. As they entered the master bedroom Akaashi stepped towards the bed, quickly rearranging the comforter and pillows before assisting Sugawara with helping Hinata back into bed.

While Sugawara stayed at Hinata's side, holding his hand and whispering gentle reassurances, Akaashi busied herself with gathering pillows and blankets from Hinata's room and the hallway closet, adding to the nest in the master bedroom. Sugawara and Akaashi ensured Hinata was resting as comfortably as possible before they both climbed into bed as well, cuddling the omega between them, scenting him and speaking to him gently all the while.

Hinata was dozing lightly between them once they'd finished, Sugawara and Akaashi sharing soft touches and happy, relieved smiles, the beta and omega holding hands over Hinata's waist.

"Thank you." Akaashi whispered. "For being a part of our lives. For being my friend."

"Thank you for being mine." Sugawara squeezed Akaashi's fingers, his expression tender beyond words. "I am happy to be here. I'm glad we were able to calm Shouyou."

An hour passed slowly by, the household quiet save for Emi's cheerful babbling over the baby monitor as she played with her toys in the living room. Eventually Akaashi perked her ears as Emi began giggling excitedly, and a few moments later she heard Kuroo's voice as well, her chest twisting with warmth.

"There's my sweet girl. Where's Mommy, hmm?"

"Mamah! Mah!"

Sugawara perked up as well, sitting up as Kuroo's footsteps drew closer, the Alpha stepping into the bedroom with Emi in his arms, giving Sugawara a grateful smile before meeting Akaashi's eyes.

Akaashi looked to Sugawara, then down at Hinata, watching the omega's slow, even breathing as he dozed. "He seems to be doing better now…"

Sugawara hummed his agreement, slipping out of bed and taking Emi from Kuroo's arms, allowing the Alpha to go to Akaashi and embrace her tightly, the beta hugging his neck and hiding her face against his shoulder.

"I didn't mean to cut your visit short," Akaashi whispered, her voice slightly muffled, "I'm sorry-"

"You did nothing wrong." Kuroo murmured gently, rubbing up and down Akaashi's back in slow, heavy passes. "I'm glad you called. I want to be here with you and Shouyou."

Sugawara turned to look down the hall, saying, "I think I just heard a knock at the front door?"

Kuroo hugged Akaashi for a moment longer before drawing away, meeting her eyes. "Kenma went to retrieve a copy of the security footage."

Akaashi's eyes widened, and hand-in-hand they made their way back down the hall to the living room, Sugawara following after them with Emi propped against his hip, Kuroo stepping forward to open the door and allow Kozume inside.

Together they gathered around the kitchen table, Kozume taking a few moments to set up his laptop and open the appropriate software before selecting the security footage files, starting the playback with multiple camera angles playing in tandem.

"Here's the fountain." He pointed to the bottom left, then dragged his finger up to the top right. "Here's Shouyou at the food court, making his way there." He waited a few moments before pointing again to a different angle. "Here's the group of girls, they reach the fountain before Shouyou does. As you can see, he avoids them purposefully. They're on opposite sides of the fountain, then this girl approaches him and instigates the altercation."

"I know her!" Akaashi gasped, her eyes wide as she leaned closer, "That's the girl that Toru fired, the one that accused Shouyou of theft!"

Kuroo clicked his tongue against his teeth, baring his fangs. "I want her details." He turned to meet Kozume's eyes. "Send this to Iwaizumi."

"I forwarded him a copy before leaving the mall." Kozume gave a little nod. "He said he would contact us when he had more information."

Akaashi reached out to take Kozume's mouse in hand, clicking one of the camera angles and sliding the bar back to rewind the footage, watching the playback with a little frown. "Look, Tetsu. Look at this."

Kuroo leaned closer, watching the angle Akaashi was pointing to, narrowing his eyes as he realized what she'd found. He shifted the laptop closer, typing a few quick commands, bringing up a set of new angles and resuming the security footage from there.

"That's Tobio." Akaashi shook her head, pressing her hand to her mouth.

They watched as Stephi and her group of friends approached a clothing shop, all of the other girls stepping inside while Stephi lingered near the entrance, smiling and laughing as she chatted with Kageyama.

After a few moments Stephi reached out and wrapped her arms around Kageyama's neck, carding her fingers through his hair and tilting her head with obvious flirtation. The Alpha seemed amused, allowing her to do as she liked, and gradually Kageyama shifted to hold her waist, the two chatting for a little while longer before he tugged her in closer for a kiss.

Kuroo exhaled an exasperated sigh, drawing away from the table to pace back and forth before the kitchen windows, staring out into the garden as he formulated next steps.

Akaashi watched the footage over and over, Sugawara stepping closer to watch as well, his brow pinched with concern.

"Shouyou's going to be heartbroken." Akaashi whispered, slowly shaking her head. "I can't believe-" She turned away from the laptop, leaning against the table, chewing her bottom lip. "Maybe we shouldn't tell him. He's already so upset…"

"I understand your concern." Sugawara said softly, Emi reaching out for Akaashi with a peal of laughter and a bright smile. The beta gathered her daughter into her arms, hugging her gently, patting her small back as she held Sugawara's eyes. "Focus your energy on soothing Shouyou. It may be best to allow him to think you simply wish for him to remain with you during his heat, without mentioning anything further for now."

"His phone was ruined in the water." Akaashi perked her ears slightly as she looked to Kozume. "I know I asked for your help in recovering Shouyou's data…" She hesitated before asking, "Could you block Tobio's contact? I don't want Shouyou speaking with him for now, not until we decide what to do."

Kozume nodded his agreement, considering quietly for a moment before offering, "Would you like me to stay a while?" Kuroo glanced up at that, Akaashi perking her ears. "Perhaps I could offer Shouyou companionship, and distract him from the events that have transpired."

Akaashi and Kuroo shared a glance, then Akaashi returned her gaze to Kozume, tilting an ear to the side. "Are you certain that's something you're comfortable with, Kenma? Shouyou's heat may arrive unexpectedly, we wouldn't want to put you in an awkward position, or make you uncomfortable in any way."

Kuroo stepped closer to Kozume's side, resting a hand on his shoulder. "That's a lot to offer, given the circumstances…"

"Honestly, I'd be happy to." Kozume held Kuroo's eyes for a moment before looking to Akaashi. "After everything that happened today, wouldn't it be beneficial for Shouyou, and the two of you as well, if he had a friend to lean on?"

Sugawara took a step forward, reaching for Kozume's mouse, adjusting the playback momentarily before stepping back and gesturing towards the screen. "This moment is meaningful."

Kuroo and Akaashi watched as Kozume appeared out of the crowd, wrapping his blazer around Hinata's drenched frame before scooping him up into his arms.

"Although Shouyou may not remember everything given his state of shock, this moment has undoubtedly tied the two of them together." Sugawara crossed his arms casually while continuing on, "It's likely that Shouyou has imprinted on Kenma, which often happens when an omega is comforted during a traumatic event. He will instinctually recognize Kenma as safe, subconsciously or otherwise."

Sugawara looked between Kuroo and Akaashi before focusing on Kozume once more.

"Kenma's scent, voice, even simply his presence, may calm and soothe Shouyou inexplicably if an imprint exists. As a beta, he may also be able to comfort Shouyou through his heat, if they do become friends and deepen their bond."

Akaashi turned to her husband, thinking about everything that had happened, considering what would be best for their household, and bring Hinata the most comfort. Once she was confident in her decision, she looked up at Kuroo with a determined little frown.

"Shouyou needs a trustworthy friend."

"I know." Kuroo crooned softly, his expression smoothing a bit.

Akaashi turned her eyes to Kozume, "You're sure?"

Kozume offered her a smile, his expression relaxed and calm. "I'm sure."

"Alright then." Akaashi offered Kozume a thankful smile before looking to her husband with a quiet sigh. "What are you thinking?"

Kuroo shrugged lightly, searching her eyes with an impish smile. "We do have a spare bedroom."

"We do." She agreed, patting Kuroo's chest gently while Emi reached out to tug at her father's shirt. Akaashi met Kozume's eyes, and Kozume understood what it was they were both implying.

"I'll pack a bag." He stepped around the table, heading for the front door, Akaashi calling after him.

"Spaghetti for dinner?" She asked, Kozume pausing at the door and meeting her eyes with a smile.

"That sounds wonderful."

He gave a little wave, then stepped out and closed the door behind him, Akaashi and Kuroo exchanging a loving gaze before sharing a kiss, Sugawara watching them with a pleased smile.

"Alright then, I'm heading out as well. Daichi and I have dinner reservations." Sugawara padded over to the couch, collecting his bag and coat, Akaashi and Kuroo walking him to the door to say goodbye.

Sugawara shared a hug with Akaashi and Emi before hugging Kuroo as well, the Alpha whispering his thanks as the omega pulled away.

"Call me if you need anything, day or night." Sugawara insisted, waving as he walked along the driveway to his car, Kuroo and Akaashi lingering in the doorway as they watched him depart.

"I'll make some space in the spare bedroom for Kenma's things, then get started on dinner." Akaashi murmured, Kuroo humming as he gathered Emi into his arms, the pup exclaiming loudly while patting excitedly at his chest.

"Ah ba! Bah baa!"

"I know! Kenma's coming to stay with us, huh? Are you excited?"

She perked her little ears and watched her father with a wide smile, giggling and patting insistently while continuing on. "Dah ba, babah daa!"

"I think so too, spaghetti night is one of my favorites!"

Akaashi laughed softly at their banter, smiling to herself as she padded down the hall to check on Hinata, peeking into the master bedroom to see he was still resting peacefully.

She leaned against the doorframe, watching over him for a while, then she made her way to the spare bedroom to begin rearranging the closet, gentle warmth and adoration brimming in her heart.

-x-

Hinata rubbed at his eyes tiredly as he settled down at the table, Akaashi combing her fingers through his hair sweetly before taking a seat beside him. Emi was sitting in her high chair between Akaashi and Kuroo, babbling merrily as her father offered up small pieces of garlic bread, Kozume watching from across the table with a little smile.

Hinata blinked slowly as he reached for his glass, taking a few sips and inspecting Kozume with something between curiosity and caution, Akaashi reaching over to rub Hinata's forearm as she offered gently, "You remember Tetsu mentioning before that he was paired with a new partner at work?"

Hinata nodded gingerly, his ears tilting towards Akaashi's voice. "That's how…he knew me?"

Akaashi nodded and patted his arm gently, watching Hinata's expressions closely as she spoke. "It's alright if you don't remember much about what happened, darling. Koushi told us right away that's perfectly normal, nothing to worry about."

She squeezed his hand gently before reaching for the salad bowl, serving Hinata a small portion before serving herself, offering the bowl to Kuroo while continuing on.

"Many omegas who experience trauma in their lives have debilitating responses to stress, which can cause them to experience heightened states of shock and acute distress." She offered Hinata a piece of garlic bread, the omega accepting it with murmured thanks and taking a small bite. "Not remembering all the details clearly is your mind's way of protecting you. Does that make sense?"

Hinata nodded slowly, pausing before taking another bite. "That's why I can't remember much about my previous household, the details just sort of all blur together."

"That's right, dear heart." Akaashi watched him with a tender expression, a sad little smile turning up her lips. "I'm so sorry you had to go through so much, Shouyou. I never thought anything like today would ever happen, now that you're in our care…" She shook her head, sighing quietly, Kuroo crooning softly as he addressed them both.

"I've been thinking about that." He held Akaashi's eyes for a moment before shifting his gaze to Hinata. "Given our professions, and Kenma's willingness to assist our household as needed…" He and Kozume shared a glance before the Alpha began to speak again. "From now on, whenever Shouyou goes out and about, I'd like for Kenma to accompany him."

Hinata perked his ears in surprise, looking between Kuroo and Akaashi. "What does…what does that mean?"

"It means that," Kuroo continued on, "Kenma will be your shadow. He will be with you, wherever you go, when Keiji and I are not with you."

Hinata frowned a little, unsure how to respond. Akaashi leaned closer, taking his hand and pressing it between hers gently. "Shouyou, this isn't a punishment. This is to protect you. Tetsurou and I, we never want anyone to hurt you ever again." She looked to Kozume then, offering him a smile. "I cannot tell you enough how grateful we are that you were there to help Shouyou today. Thank you, Kenma. Thank you so much."

Kozume bowed his head slightly, perking his ears towards Hinata as the omega hesitantly met his eyes. "I've heard a lot about you. I hope that you'll speak openly with me regarding any concerns you may have, so that the bonds between us may strengthen and grow."

"We're happy to have you with us." Akaashi said gently, her expression soft. "Thank you for being here."

"Thank you for hosting." Kozume replied with a small smile, Kuroo crooning his approval and offering Emi a spaghetti noodle, the pup grabbing it and ripping it in two before unceremoniously shoving a piece into her mouth.

Hinata was quiet for the most part, listening to their conversation while eating a few bites of salad and pasta now and then, still feeling exhausted and somewhat overwhelmed. Kozume's voice was soft and deep, every movement fluid and calm. Watching him talk and eat was strangely soothing in some way, and before Hinata realized it he'd started to doze off, Akaashi reaching out to tap him awake before helping him to his feet, ushering him towards the hall.

"I'll draw you a bath." She offered quietly, stepping into the bathroom and turning on the tap, setting a large fluffy towel atop the counter before returning to Hinata's side. She lingered a moment, kissing his forehead and cupping his cheek, searching his eyes as she whispered, "I love you, Shouyou. I love you so very, very much."

"I love you too." Hinata whispered back, hugging her and resting against her shoulder for a moment before she nudged him towards the bathtub, closing the door quietly behind her.

Hinata stripped and carefully stepped into the tub, sinking down into the steaming water and reclining back against the smooth porcelain, his eyelashes fluttering as he tried to keep himself awake. He managed to rouse himself long enough to wash properly before rinsing and stepping out of the tub, toweling himself dry while yawning quietly, nearly drifting off while still on his feet.

He wrapped his towel around his torso before stepping out into the hall, perking his ears towards the master bedroom. He could hear Kuroo and Akaashi speaking together quietly, though he couldn't make out what was being discussed.

Just as he turned to enter his room he nearly bumped into Kozume, the beta steadying him with a warm palm cupping his elbow, his eyes never leaving Hinata's. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

Hinata blushed brightly, tugging his towel a little tighter around his chest while exhaling shakily. "N-No umm, I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

Kozume held Hinata's eyes for what felt like a small eternity before he finally gave a little nod and drew back his hand. Hinata stepped past him and ducked into his bedroom, closing the door quickly and pressing his back against it as he tried to calm his racing heart.

The way Kozume had looked at him in that moment had made him feel something. He wasn't certain what it was exactly, but his face and the back of his neck felt impossibly hot, and there was a fluttering, twisting sensation trapped in his stomach and chest.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, padding closer to the closet and opening one of the doors, grabbing a pair of striped shorts and a tank top to sleep in. Akaashi had arranged his pillows and blankets into a makeshift nest, and Hinata studied it for a moment before switching a few things around, then he grabbed his book and Iris from the window seat before climbing into bed.

It felt strange, not texting Kageyama or Nishinoya before bed. He frowned a little, furrowing his brow, thinking of Yamaguchi. He'd wanted to text him, become friends with him, but his phone had been ruined during his unexpected tumble into the fountain.

Akaashi had reassured him at dinner that they would provide him with a replacement, and it seemed that Kozume was tech savvy, already working on recovering what data he could from the drowned device.

Hinata worried his lip for a moment, thinking about the quiet beta occupying the spare bedroom, wondering what it would be like to have Kozume with him wherever he went from now on. Was it only temporary? How long was Kozume staying with them? Did that mean when Kuroo and Kozume were away on work assignments, Hinata wouldn't be able to leave the house without Akaashi?

This isn't a punishment.

This is to protect you.

Hinata closed his eyes, taking another deep breath and sinking further into his nest, opening his book and tucking Iris under his chin, allowing his mind to be distracted by other thoughts.

He fell asleep before finishing the next chapter, still grasping his book lightly as he began to dream.

-x-x-x-

Hinata fussed with his hair for a moment longer before taking a step back, twisting this way and that to inspect his outfit. He smiled and smoothed his fingers over the tiny stars and hearts sewn into his romper, tracing them for a moment before adjusting his choker, the pastel yellow ribbon a perfect match to his dainty ribbon sandals.

It had been a few days since Kozume had come to stay with them, and now that Hinata was feeling better they were setting out on their first excursion together to visit the library.

Today was also the day his new phone was scheduled for delivery. They were expecting a call when the device was ready for pickup, and Kozume had already agreed to help Hinata with setting it up.

Hinata gathered his cardigan and satchel, retrieving his book from the bedside table and double checking he had everything he needed before turning to open the bedroom door. He hugged his book against his chest, making his way to the kitchen and taking a few snacks from the pantry, shoving an applesauce pouch, a fruit cup, and a package of teddy grahams into his bag before heading for the front door.

Kozume was waiting for him as he stepped outside, Hinata locking the door behind them and greeting Kozume with a hesitant little smile. "Hi, umm…" He held Kozume's gaze for a moment before glancing away, shifting from foot to foot. "Sorry to make you wait. I was trying to decide on an outfit."

Kozume watched him quietly, assessing his demeanor, thinking for a moment before offering, "No need to apologize. I am here as your companion. I hope you'll begin to feel more comfortable around me after we've spent some time together."

Hinata blushed lightly, giving a little nod, his ears dipping momentarily before perking up again. He lifted his book and flipped to the page where he'd left off, intent on distracting himself by reading. Kozume waited a moment before starting to walk towards the metro, and Hinata trailed after his steps, Kozume settling into a slow, steady pace so they were walking side by side.

Despite his every effort, Hinata found himself unable to focus on reading with Kozume walking so close beside him, and with a little frown he tucked the novel into his satchel and focused on their path instead. An awkward silence fell between them, until Kozume glanced over and caught his eyes.

"Is there something I can do to help you feel less anxious?" Kozume asked, holding Hinata's gaze. "I meant what I said before, though I understand we're strangers, and these things take time." He smiled, perking his ears slightly, his tawny hair shifting around his cheeks and falling across his eyes. "I'd like for us to become friends. Would you like that too?"

Hinata nodded, searching Kozume's eyes in turn, trying to understand what it was he was feeling. He liked making friends, and Kozume seemed genuinely nice. Akaashi and Kuroo trusted him to be alone with Hinata, to watch over him and to protect him if need be. Hinata could let his guard down, he could trust Kozume.

So why did he feel so weird around him? Embarrassed and fluttery, strangely restless and warm?

"Sho?" Kozume called softly, drawing Hinata back into the present moment, and a hot blush crept across Hinata's face as he realized the beta was offering out his hand for Hinata to take.

Hinata wet his lips, then reached out and took Kozume's hand, shivering at the warmth that spread through him at Kozume's simple touch.

What is this?

Hinata watched Kozume as the beta started walking again, the omega's heart fluttering as he noticed the way the sunlight cast a golden glow around Kozume's crown.

He's so pretty.

Hinata pulled his eyes away, flexing his fingers against Kozume's lightly, the beta squeezing his hand gently in response. It did something to him, something he didn't have a name for. It reminded him of the way he felt after detoxing, when first experiencing Kuroo's scent uninhibited, or the way it felt when he'd touched himself that night with Kageyama on the phone.

I don't understand why he's doing all of this, why he's being so nice to me. What does he want from me? Does he really just want to be friends?

Kozume could feel Hinata watching him, and he tilted an ear towards the omega with a little smile. "Would you like to play a game?"

Hinata perked his ears slightly, asking, "What kind of game?"

"It's called Twenty Questions, but really you can ask as many as you'd like." One of his ears twitched lightly, the beta looking ahead as they neared the train platform. "We take turns asking one another questions. You can ask anything at all, anything you're curious about, the only rule is you have to answer truthfully." He met Hinata's eyes, the sunlight cast across his face turning his tawny irises brilliant gold. "Do you want to start?"

Hinata stared at Kozume breathlessly for a long moment, then he remembered he'd been asked a question, and so he stammered out quickly, "O-Oh! I guess I could ask…" He picked the first question that popped into his head. "How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-three." Kozume replied, crossing the platform just as the overhead speaker announced the next train's estimated arrival in less than five minutes. "Then, for my question I'll ask…" He considered for a moment, tilting his head slightly before continuing on, "What book were you reading?"

Hinata perked his ears, opening his satchel and retrieving the novel, offering it to Kozume with a smile. "It's this elvish fantasy series I found at the library, it's really good! Have you heard of it before?"

"I haven't," Kozume admitted softly, "Though I do enjoy fiction, especially fantasy and sci-fi."

Kozume offered the novel back with a smile, their fingertips brushing as Hinata took the book from him and pressed it over his heart. "Alright, your turn."

"Where do you live?" Hinata asked, and Kozume looked towards the city in the distance, nodding towards the tall buildings gleaming beneath the sunlight.

"In the heart of downtown. It's busy there, noisy all the time, but there's always something to do." He shrugged a little, meeting Hinata's eyes. "I was lucky enough to find an affordable apartment, and it's close to the agency. All things considered, I can't complain that much."

Hinata nodded his understanding, waiting for Kozume's next question, the beta thinking for a moment before asking,

"Is your favorite color yellow?"

Hinata blinked twice, then followed Kozume's gaze to his outfit, the omega laughing brightly and shaking his head. He twisted a little as he inspected the bows tied at his ankles, bending down to adjust the ribbons criss-crossing up his freckled legs. "If I had to pick, I'd say blue is probably my favorite color! Though yellow is definitely one of my favorites, especially during spring and summertime."

"You dress to match the seasons?" Kozume teased gently, perking his ears towards the metro as it approached the platform, reaching out to take Hinata's hand. "Very trendy. Which season is your favorite?"

"Oh gosh! That's like asking for your favorite food!" They stepped into the car and found seats side by side, Kozume still holding his hand as Hinata continued on, "I mean, those sorts of things change all the time! I think it depends on my mood, really. Some days I crave warm, sunny weather. Other days I wish it was cool and rainy, or the leaves were all changing colors!"

"I understand." Kozume nodded, rubbing his thumb back and forth across the back of Hinata's hand, Hinata watching him with a light blush staining his cheeks. "Then I suppose I should ask, what's your current favorite food?"

Hinata gasped aloud, smiling wide, tightened his hold on Kozume's hand as he replied, "What did I just say!"

"I know, I know." Kozume chuckled, returning Hinata's smile. "If you had to pick?"

Hinata bit his lip, glancing out the window and watching the trees passing by. "Maybe…pancakes? Keiji and I made pancakes together last weekend, we mixed in a bunch of different ingredients to see how they'd taste." He tapped his fingers against the glass lightly as he listed off ingredients, "I had blueberries and chocolate chips in mine, Keiji had apple and cinnamon, and we also made peanut butter pancakes with banana and strawberries for Emi!"

"Those all sound really good." Kozume hummed softly, smiling as he traced over Hinata's knuckles, his fingertips flitting across the omega's wrist and palm. "What about music? What sort of music do you like?"

"I like lots of different…" Hinata started, then he paused with a little frown. "Hey, wait! It's my turn! You asked like three questions in a row!"

Kozume chuckled and ducked his head, sighing exaggeratedly. "Alright, your turn then."

Hinata grinned and giggled softly, bumping their shoulders together lightly as he shifted in his seat. "How big is your family? Do you have any siblings?"

Kozume's expression fell a bit, and his gaze drifted to the side before focusing on Hinata again. "There's another rule to this game, something I forgot to mention before." He smiled gently, a hint of longing in his tone. "If someone asks a question you aren't comfortable answering, you may say so at any time, and that person in turn will choose a different question for you to answer instead."

Hinata's eyes widened a bit, and he ducked his ears while asking worriedly, "I'm sorry, was that question intrusive? I didn't mean to pry-"

"That's alright, Shouyou. I'm not upset." He patted Hinata's hand reassuringly, "Maybe the next time we play this game we'll be better friends, and I'll feel more comfortable answering personal questions. Is there something else you'd like to ask?"

Hinata worried his lip for a moment, then asked curiously, "Do you like working security? It sounds like it could be dangerous sometimes…"

Kozume exhaled a soft breath of laughter, humming and nodding a bit. "I can understand why some people might think that. I went through several specialized training classes and received multiple certifications to become a security officer. Then there were additional training classes over several months to qualify for private sector."

He gazed out the window, tilting his head back to rest against the glass.

"We learned defensive techniques first, then hand-to-hand combat and weapons training. How to de-escalate tense situations as safely as possible, how to disarm and detain while waiting for the proper authorities to arrive."

Hinata nodded slowly, watching Kozume with interest while asking, "Have you ever had to deal with anything dangerous?"

"A few times, but most of our agency's security work tends to revolve around crowd management and handling minor altercations." Kozume met Hinata's eyes, a little smile turning up his lips. "Before I was partnered with Tetsurou, I worked a handful of venues with another group of guards who weren't very…" He considered his phrasing before continuing, "…friendly. The group was primarily young Alphas, greenhorns wanting to assert their authority instead of implementing their de-escalation training. There's a lot of toxic masculinity in security work, especially between hot-headed Alphas vying to be top dog."

Hinata nodded slowly, his eyes wide. "You're so calm and soft-spoken, you must be good at de-escalating. It's hard to imagine you ever acting like an Alpha…"

Kozume chuckled, shrugging lightly. "Not all Alphas are toxic, of course. Tetsurou is very calm in tense situations, he never does anything that might be seen as aggressive or an abuse of authority. He's a great example of how Alphas in security should act." Kozume grinned and patted Hinata's hand, clearly amused. "You should have seen him at the afterparty, handling drunk clients, comforting crying girls, breaking apart arguments before they could escalate further."

Kozume perked his ears as the overhead announced their stop, waiting for the car to begin to slow before standing up and turning towards the opening doors, offering out his hand.

"Everyone loves Tetsu." Kozume sighed affectionately, Hinata taking his hand and following just after his steps as the beta guided them through the station crowd. "He's so good with people, charismatic and considerate, genuinely kind." Kozume glanced over his shoulder to meet Hinata's eyes. "I'm glad to be his partner."

Hinata smiled and tightened his hold on Kozume's hand, and once they were away from the crowd they fell into step side-by-side, leaving the station behind and crossing the street towards the library.

Hinata's excitement was obvious, the omega bouncing on his heels as Kozume pulled open one of the large double-doors, Hinata whispering a soft thank you before stepping inside. He glanced towards the front registers, waving to Azumane before heading towards the fantasy section in search of Nishinoya, Kozume following after him quietly.

He found the beta after a bit of searching, Nishinoya perking his ears and setting aside the books he was shelving, watching Hinata's approach with wide eyes. "Shouyou! You're here!"

"I'm sorry I couldn't text you, my phone is broken!" Hinata apologized, opening his arms for a hug, embracing Nishinoya for several moments before drawing back to meet his eyes. "I really missed talking to you, I finished my book! I came to see you, and pick up the next novel in the series."

Nishinoya tilted his head slightly, watching Hinata curiously, "Your phone is broken?"

Hinata nodded, looking past Nishinoya to the rows of bookshelves leading towards the back of the library. "Is Tobio here? I haven't seen him in almost a week! We were meeting up at the mall a few days ago, but then…"

Nishinoya frowned a little, ducking his ears back. "Sho, I didn't…I mean, I didn't know. You just disappeared all of a sudden…" He took Hinata's hand, his brow pinched with concern. "None of us knew what had happened, and then Tobio said…"

Kozume stepped closer, listening quietly, Nishinoya noticing him for the first time. Hinata looked to Kozume briefly before turning to Nishinoya once more. "It's okay, he's a friend."

"Kozume Kenma." The older beta nodded lightly, offering Nishinoya a calm, friendly smile. "It's nice to meet one of Shouyou's friends. He's mentioned you fondly."

Nishinoya ducked his head politely, then refocused on Hinata, continuing on worriedly. "I…I'm really sorry, Shouyou. I feel like I made a mistake, like I'm a bad friend…"

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked, petting back and forth over Nishinoya's knuckles gently. "You're not a bad friend, Yuu. Why would you think that?"

Nishinoya worried his bottom lip for a moment, then said sadly, "I feel like it's my fault. I'm the one who gave Kageyama your number. If I hadn't, then maybe…" He shook his head, dropping his gaze to the floor. "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but Tobio…" He sighed shakily, unable to meet Hinata's eyes. "He got back with his ex-girlfriend a few days ago. He said that you talked to Tsukishima, and then suddenly stopped responding to his texts. We all thought that meant you'd dumped him-"

"What?" Hinata blinked slowly, shaking his head, trying to understand. "Tobio thinks…we broke up?"

"Yeah." Nishinoya nodded, sniffing and glancing up hesitantly, tears shimmering in his lashes. "I was really sad, I thought that…since you weren't texting me either, that you didn't want to be friends anymore…"

Hinata frowned and hugged Nishinoya again, and the beta clung to him, sniffing quietly, exhaling a shuddering breath.

"We're still friends…right? Even if you're not dating Tobio anymore?"

"Of course we're friends!" Hinata hugged Nishinoya tightly, rubbing his back while staring off towards the rows of bookshelves. "Nothing will change that."

Nishinoya hugged him for a while longer before pulling away, sniffing while rubbing at his ruddy cheeks, smiling as he wiped away the last of his tears. "I'm off work in about an hour, do you want to meet at the café? We could have brunch! Or do you umm…" He shifted his gaze to Kozume, perking his ears curiously, "Do you already have plans?"

Hinata looked to Kozume as well, and Kozume smiled while humming his agreement. "Brunch sounds lovely." He nodded towards the shelves surrounding them, asking, "Shall we browse for a while? I was thinking about reading the first book of your elvish series, so we can talk about it more."

Hinata's face lit up, and Nishinoya smiled wide, the two exchanging an excited glance before they both started speaking at once.

"Oh it's such a good series!"

"The main character is the best!"

"The childhood best friend is my absolute favorite!"

"Their banter is so funny!"

"I also love the villains, they're horrible but still so cool!"

"You've gotta read it!"

Nishinoya beckoned them to follow as he started down the aisle, leading them to the section where the entire series was on display.

"You're in luck! The first volume is checked in!" He took it from the shelf, offering it to Kozume with a bright smile. "I love recommending this author, I can't wait for the next book in this series to be released!" He took another volume from the shelf and offered it to Hinata, grinning excitedly. "Wait until you start this next one, there's so much drama in the first few chapters!"

"Well after that ending, I can imagine!" Hinata bounced on his feels, Nishinoya giggling and bouncing excitedly as well.

"Text me when you get to chapter-" Nishinoya's movements stilled, and he frowned a little. "Oh, that's right…your phone…"

"I'm getting a new one today!" Hinata reassured with a smile, "We're just waiting for the store to call, once it's available for pickup!"

Nishinoya nodded, perking his ears while asking, "Do you need my number again?"

Hinata looked to Kozume, who perked his ears a bit, then took his phone from his pocket and offered it to Nishinoya with a friendly smile. "Go ahead and text yourself from my phone, just in case."

As Nishinoya did so, Kozume met Hinata's eyes, offering a reassuring smile.

"I've been working on recovering data from your old device, but it's possible that some data may be corrupted or lost. If that's the case, we'll add in contacts manually during your setup."

Hinata nodded his understanding, and Nishinoya handed Kozume back his phone a moment later. "Okay! I still have some shelving and organizing to do before the end of my shift, so I'll see you at the front entrance in an hour?"

"Sounds good." Kozume nodded, Hinata grinning and waving as Nishinoya returned to the aisle he'd been shelving before, the omega turning to look up at Kozume with a smile.

"Thank you so much, Kenma!" He took the beta's hand, tugging lightly. "I'm excited for you to start reading this series! I hope you like it…"

His voice trailed off as his eyes fell on a pair of Alphas walking by, Tanaka and Kageyama chatting back and forth while carrying boxes towards the front, Hinata's breath hitching as he let go of Kozume's hand.

Kozume followed his gaze, and as Hinata took a step to follow after them Kozume grabbed his wrist gently, halting his steps.

"Wait, Shouyou."

Hinata met Kozume's eyes, the beta watching him with a calm, concerned expression. He took a step closer, turning Hinata towards him slightly, holding both of Hinata's hands and searching his eyes, trying to find the right words to say.

"Kenma?" Hinata asked in a breathless, confused tone. "Why did you…?"

Kozume was quiet for a long moment, then he leaned a little closer to bump their foreheads together lightly, squeezing Hinata's fingers before tracing over his wrist and palm.

"I need you to trust me." Kozume said softly, Hinata blushing lightly while holding his eyes. "Can you do that? Can you trust me to protect you?"

"I…I don't…" Hinata fell quiet after a moment, his chest fluttering lightly, his stomach twisting with anxiety. "I trust you Kenma, but I don't understand…" He glanced towards the front registers, biting his lip absently. "I need to talk to Tobio, he doesn't know about what happened. He thinks we broke up-"

"Do you love him?" Kozume asked softly, and Hinata's eyes widened, a bright blush burning across his entire face.

"Love him? I-" Hinata shook his head, trying to clear his jumbled thoughts. "He has everything confused, he thinks all these things that aren't true-"

Kozume watched him quietly, then reached out and wrapped his arms around Hinata gently, hugging him while whispering, "I understand wanting to speak with him, to clear up any misunderstandings, but think of what Nishinoya told us before…"

Hinata's eyes widened a bit, and he flattened his ears against his curls, his stomach flip-flopping uneasily. "Yuu said that Tobio…" Hinata perked his ears towards the sound of Kageyama and Tanaka's voices, the Alphas laughing and shoving one another playfully as they walked towards the back of the library together. "Tobio got back together with his ex-girlfriend? That means…"

Hinata curled his fingers in the fabric of Kozume's shirt, the beta rubbing up and down his back gently.

"…we really are broken up?"

Kozume hummed quietly, hugging Hinata and nosing between his ears, murmuring against his bright curls. "I'm sorry, Shouyou." He pulled back slightly, searching Hinata's eyes. "Are you alright? Should we find somewhere quiet to decompress?"

Hinata nodded slowly, trying to understand what he was feeling. Kageyama was his boyfriend…right? That meant Kageyama was supposed to care about him, but when Hinata hadn't texted him back, Kageyama had replaced him just like that?

Do you love him?

Kozume watched over him quietly, smoothing his palm along Hinata's forearm before cupping his elbow, coaxing him towards a large window looking out into the rose garden, the beta and omega sitting together at one of the small tables bathed in sunshine.

Kozume kept a close eye on Hinata while petting over his knuckles, stroking his thumb back and forth across the back of Hinata's hand. Hinata stared out into the garden, watching the bees buzzing between the flowers, colorful butterflies drifting here and there.

Hinata wasn't certain how much time passed before he eventually met eyes with Kozume, asking in little more than a whisper, "I'm supposed to be sad, right? Aren't people sad once they break up?"

Kozume considered for a moment, then replied softly, "Breakups are different for everyone. There are many things to consider; the length of the relationship, how emotionally involved you were, whether your breakup was amicable or not."

Kozume squeezed Hinata's hand gently, lacing their fingers and nodding while continuing on.

"While it is typical to feel sad or upset, or sometimes even angry after ending a relationship with someone, whatever emotions you're feeling right now are valid." He tilted his head slightly, offering with a little smile, "There are also times when breaking up can feel good in certain ways, as if a pressing weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Leaving an unhealthy relationship may bring feelings of tranquility or relief, easing tension and anxiety." He squeezed Hinata's fingers, his expression soft. "The quiet calm after a storm."

Hinata held Kozume's eyes for a long moment, then he squeezed the beta's hand, returning his smile shyly.

"Thank you for saying that." Hinata whispered, leaning against Kozume's side, hesitating only a moment before resting his cheek against the beta's shoulder with a little sigh. "Sometimes I wondered if he really liked me." Hinata admitted softly, turning his face to hide against Kozume's shoulder, his voice slightly muffled as he confided, "We never really did any of the things I've read about in my favorite stories. All Tobio ever wanted to do when we were together was fool around and have sex all the time."

Kozume nosed between Hinata's ears, inhaling against his curls before sighing quietly. "What do your books talk about?" He asked, Hinata humming quietly while peeking up from his shoulder.

"All sorts of things." He frowned a little, furrowing his brow in thought. "Going to the movies together, hanging out with one another's friends, sharing all your favorite things…" He met Kozume's eyes. "Honestly I think you know me better than Tobio, after playing that game on the train…"

Kozume smiled, chuckling softly, pressing a kiss to Hinata's forehead before asking, "Would you like to play again while we wait for Nishinoya?"

Hinata perked his ears, the sadness in his expression fading as he smiled, nodding while hugging Kozume's arm. "I'd like that! Whose turn was it?"

"I'll go first." Kozume said, thinking for a moment before asking, "What's your favorite flower?"

Hinata's eyes widened a bit, and he considered for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the garden. "Oh wow, I've never thought about that before. I like all flowers really, but I guess I'd have to pick…" He smiled as he met Kozume's eyes. "Roses! I know that's really simple, but in my books people are always giving their loved ones big beautiful bouquets of roses!"

Kozume hummed his agreement, perking his ears as he looked towards the garden as well. "They are beautiful, aren't they? I'm fond of roses myself." He looked to Hinata again, asking, "Which roses are your favorites? I like deep crimson, bright red, and pure white."

Hinata thought for a moment before replying, "I think yellow roses are nice. Sunset roses too…and pink! Pink roses are super pretty!" He blushed a little, giggling shyly, "Though I guess that's kind of girly…"

"Just because something's pink, that doesn't mean only girls can enjoy it." Kozume patted Hinata's hand, and Hinata hugged Kozume's arm a little tighter, watching the beta with a happy little smile.

"You're really nice, Kenma."

Kozume chuckled at that, his expression relaxed and warm. "I think you're really nice too, Shouyou." He reached up to card his fingers through Hinata's curls, rubbing at the curve of his ear. "Thank you for trusting me. I'm looking forward to the two of us becoming better friends."

Hinata grinned excitedly and nodded, leaning into Kozume's touch. "Yeah! I'm looking forward to it too!"

-x-x-x-

Kuroo greeted Sawamura and Iwaizumi as they stepped into the conference room, Akaashi perking her ears towards the Alphas with a friendly smile.

"Thank you both for coming." Sawamura began, offering Kuroo a thick file before taking a seat. Iwaizumi set a small stack of paperwork and several files atop the table as well then settled down beside Sawamura, sighing heavily and reclining back in his seat. "I believe that with the information I have compiled, along with Hajime's most recent discovery, we have more than enough evidence to proceed."

He folded his hands atop the table, watching Kuroo and Akaashi with an even expression.

"Once this begins, there's no turning back." He paused, then asked candidly, "Are you both certain you wish to continue?"

"We are." Kuroo growled softly, Akaashi nodding her agreement as she took her husband's hand.

"We want justice for Shouyou." She frowned a little, determination shining in her eyes. "We cannot allow this to happen again. The abuse and neglect, it must stop."

"I couldn't agree more." Sawamura snorted softly, giving a succinct nod. "With that being said, as we take this to court it is likely that Shouyou will be called upon to testify against his former household."

Akaashi and Kuroo exchanged a glance, the beta nodding slowly. "We have discussed that. I genuinely believe that, given the time that has elapsed, and the progress Shouyou has made, he will be able to endure the hardships of trial, should he be called to testify."

"We will be right beside him at every step." Kuroo rumbled, nodding as well. "Shouyou is strong, he can handle this. He can help us win this trial." He met Akaashi's eyes, holding her gaze for a long quiet moment before adding softly, "I know this may be a lot to ask of him, but we will be there to catch him if he stumbles, and no matter what happens we won't let him fall."

Sawamura offered them both an understanding smile, his expression cool and collected. "Very good. I will formally submit our complaint, and once a judge has been assigned the court will petition Shouyou's former patrons to appear for trial. In the meantime…"

He turned towards Iwaizumi, the other Alpha sighing as he sat up a bit, gesturing to the pile of paperwork, Kuroo retrieving one of the folders and opening it with a frown.

"I found the information you requested on Stephi easily enough, but what I didn't expect to find was a connection leading back to Shouyou's agency." He shook his head, carding his fingers through his hair, exhaling a tired sigh. "It's a clusterfuck if you don't know what you're looking for, so I'll summarize as best I can."

He gestured as he spoke, drawing lines across the tabletop with his finger. "First we have Stephi, which leads us to Kageyama, and then to Kageyama's guardian, a woman by the name of Ono Minaho."

Akaashi leaned closer to watch as Kuroo flipped through the contents of the folder, pausing on a series of images that looked like they'd been pulled from security cameras. There were several pictures of Kageyama and a pretty dark-haired woman walking together, sometimes with Stephi, other times with different girls.

Akaashi recognized one of the girls immediately, gasping softly as she rested her fingertips against the image. It was a zoomed-in angle of Kageyama holding hands with a petite blonde girl, her features slightly pixelated but still easily identifiable. "Hitoka…?"

She met Iwaizumi's eyes, her stomach twisting with anxiety.

"What is this? Why are all of these different girls with Tobio and his aunt?"

Iwaizumi held Akaashi's eyes, answering in a strained tone, "It's not something we can prove, not without gathering testimonials, but from what I've seen…" He rubbed at his temple, his expression pained. "It looks like Minaho is involved with the same agency that Shouyou is contracted through."

"These girls," Sawamura continued calmly, watching Kuroo and Akaashi's reactions carefully as he spoke, "They're primarily omegas who have been under contract since they were very young, and are notably submissive and obedient." He paused for a moment before pressing on, "It appears that these girls are being systematically assigned to households that have undesirable reputations, none of which have been officially investigated. Any reports of abuse or misconduct are repeatedly dismissed. Our current investigation is the first to successfully make it this far, likely due to our combined efforts and expertise."

"Hitoka is contracted through Shouyou's agency?" Akaashi traced her fingers over Yachi's picture, asking worriedly, "Her patrons…are they abusing her?"

"I can look into that." Iwaizumi offered, Akaashi giving a slight nod.

"Would you, please? She's a sweet girl." She looked up and met Kuroo's eyes. "She's one of Shouyou's friends."

A deep growl rumbled in Kuroo's chest, and he leaned in closer to nose at Akaashi's cheek, huffing softly while glaring down at the file. "I knew that brat was bad news. We have to keep Shouyou away from him-"

Akaashi's phone buzzed, and she quickly unlocked her screen to read Kozume's incoming texts, quiet for several moments before a relieved smile curved up her lips.

She turned her phone so Kuroo could see the messages Kozume had sent, along with a few snapshots of Hinata and Nishinoya at the library and café, then a picture with all three of them together, making silly faces and holding up peace signs.

"Something tells me that won't be a problem," Akaashi murmured fondly, "Now that Kenma and Shouyou are starting to become friends."


Thanks for reading! More to come!