Home
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
Plot: Hinata is reassigned to a new household.
Ch 01: Contract
Hinata ducked his ears back as the door opened, glancing aside nervously and clasping his hands before him in a submissive pose. The beta beside him greeted the occupant of the house warmly, his smooth tenor filling Hinata's ears.
"Ah, Keiji! It's good to see you up and about! Thank you for taking the time to meet with us this morning."
"You are most welcome here." She replied softly, taking a step away from the door to allow them both inside. "Emi just settled down for a nap. I have tea waiting for us in the kitchen."
"You're too kind, thank you." Takeda stepped inside, glancing back at Hinata expectantly, and the petite omega ducked his ears back further before following after, Akaashi closing the door quietly behind them.
Hinata slipped out of his shoes, mirroring Takeda's movements, barely glancing up as they walked towards the kitchen, quietly sitting down at the table before averting his eyes once more.
"Now then." Takeda sighed, opening the file he was holding and offering it to Akaashi, the pretty beta leaning closer while tucking some of her long, dark hair away from her cheek, her dark eyes drifting across the contract. "As we discussed previously with your mate, Hinata is well versed in housework and home maintenance, and has experience tending to pups of varying ages." He looked to Hinata then, a little smile turning up his lips. "He is quiet, and obedient. I believe he will prove himself to be a valuable asset to your household."
"I see." Akaashi hummed softly, considering the beta's words, trailing her fingertips across the contract before turning her attention to the omega sitting silently beside them.
Sensing Akaashi's gaze, Hinata tensed slightly, swallowing thickly before daring to glance towards Akaashi. He ducked his ears back submissively as Akaashi inspected his features thoughtfully, the beta tilting her head slightly to the side as she held his eyes.
"Why is it that you left your previous household?" Akaashi asked, and Hinata's brow pinched, his eyes flicking to Takeda briefly before flitting away nervously, hesitant and unsure as he once again met Akaashi's eyes.
"I…" Hinata's voice trembled as he tried to find the words, his breath stuttering for a moment before he continued on. "I overstayed my welcome."
The beta beside him offered a reassuring pat on the arm, then said to Akaashi, "The home where Hinata was previously stationed no longer required his assistance. Therefore the decision was made to have Hinata's services rendered elsewhere."
"A relocation is rare in a household where an omega has been stationed for any great length of time." Akaashi tapped her fingers against the contract lightly, her eyes on Hinata again. "How long did you serve your previous patrons?"
Hinata's brow arched and he swallowed thickly, his voice trembling as he replied quietly, "Six years."
Akaashi hummed, returning her gaze to the contract, reading through the details. "Your birthday was a few weeks ago. You just turned nineteen?"
Hinata ducked his head, nodding hesitantly. Akaashi frowned a little as she watched him, leaning back a bit and letting out a soft sigh.
"It must be hard on you." Akaashi murmured gently, her expression thoughtful as she watched over Hinata. "Being displaced after spending so much time with your previous household."
Hinata perked his ears at that, glancing up and meeting Akaashi's eyes, his expression reflecting genuine surprise. He dropped his eyes again a few moments later, one of his ears tilting to the side, choosing not to respond.
Takeda observed their exchange for a long, quiet moment, then shifted in his seat and leaned towards Akaashi, offering her a pen. "I hope the services outlined in your contract are to your satisfaction?"
"Yes, everything appears to be in order." Akaashi hummed softly, accepting the pin, her eyes flitting across the text one final time before she signed her name along the dotted line, offering him back the contract.
"Wonderful!" Takeda grinned, standing from the table and offering his hand to Akaashi, who took it with a polite smile. He gave Hinata a little wave and said a cheery goodbye before turning to walk with Akaashi to the front door. They exchanged a short farewell, then Akaashi closed the door once more, turning her gaze back towards the kitchen where Hinata still sat quietly.
He didn't look up as she approached, Akaashi taking a seat across from him once more. She lifted her teacup, sipping at the warm brew quietly, then set it aside before murmuring reassuringly, "There's no need for such formalities." She tilted her head ever so slightly, waiting patiently for Hinata to meet her eyes. "Is it alright if I call you Shouyou? I'd like it if you'd call me Keiji."
Hinata nodded slowly, perking his ears slightly as he lifted his eyes, warm russet meeting midnight blue. "Yes, Keiji. Thank you for accepting me into your home. I will strive earnestly not to disappoint you."
Akaashi arched her brow, exhaling a soft breath of laughter, gesturing towards the untouched tea sitting in front of Hinata before lifting her own cup again.
"So, Shouyou? Would you tell me about yourself? How long have you-"
A soft cry sounded from down the hall, and Akaashi perked up her ears and stood from the table, leaving Hinata behind. Hinata listened closely, and a few moments later Akaashi returned with a small pup cradled in her arms, the little girl whining and hiding her face against her dame's neck while Akaashi whispered to her soothingly.
"There there, little one." Akaashi crooned softly, petting along her back gently and meeting Hinata's eyes. "This is our daughter, Emi. She's turning three this year."
Hinata nodded his understanding, his eyes wide and ears perked, his attention solely on the fussy pup in Akaashi's arms. Akaashi gauged his reaction with a little smile, then asked, "The pups you tended before, how old were they?"
"My previous household had many pups." Hinata replied softly, ducking his ears for a moment before perking them once more. "I helped with a home birth, so I have cared for infants as well as older pups."
"Ah I see," Akaashi smiled, pressing a kiss to her daughter's unruly curls, "So you do have quite a bit of experience." She shifted the pup against her chest, unfastening her blouse with one hand while cradling Emi against her shoulder. "Tetsurou and I are trying for another child. He is eager for our family to grow."
Hinata ducked his ears back slightly at mention of the Alpha, thinking back to their first brief encounter at the agency. He hadn't spoken with Kuroo directly, but he'd seemed charismatic and friendly from what Hinata had observed. Hinata could only hope his first impression was sound. Serving under a new Alpha was what he was most concerned about, his stomach twisting tightly with anxiety at the thought.
Akaashi noticed his disquiet, perking her ears slightly while asking, "Shouyou? How long has it been since your previous contract was severed?"
Hinata was surprised at the question, meeting Akaashi's eyes before replying gingerly, "A few weeks now, I suppose?" He frowned a little, casting his gaze towards the kitchen window as his fingers traced the lip of his teacup. "Honesty, I'm unsure. The days have blurred together since then."
Akaashi hummed softly, cradling her daughter against her chest as she nursed, patting her small back gently. She was quiet for a long moment, then asked gently, "During this transition, have you taken any time for yourself? To mourn?"
"Mourn…?" Hinata whispered, not meeting Akaashi's eyes.
Akaashi paused, thinking of what she wanted to say before pressing on. "Surely you must be hurting, missing the family you've unexpectedly lost?"
Hinata's ears twitched, and a wave of emotion rolled through him, tightening his chest and throat, his face flushing with heat as tears gathered in his eyes.
No one had asked him about it, how he felt, how he was dealing with it. Being forcibly removed from the place he thought would be his forever home. His feelings didn't matter. What mattered was the household. He wasn't one of them, he'd fooled himself into believing he could ever be anything more than the hired help. The outsider. The omega.
A sharp whine caught in his throat before abruptly fading, and he blinked back ears, his ears ducked back as he stared up at the ceiling.
"I'm fine." Hinata whispered, pushing back his emotions, burying them deep. It took a few moments before he could meet Akaashi's eyes, and he offered her a little smile. "I am happy to be here, to assist you however you may need." He dropped his eyes, quickly wiping away a stray tear dripping down his flushed cheek. "Please command me as you will."
Akaashi watched Hinata quietly for a long moment, and then she shifted Emi slightly and rose to her feet, stepping into the living room while calling for Hinata to follow. "Let me show you to your room, so you can get settled in."
Hinata followed after Akaashi quietly, carefully noting the layout of the house as Akaashi led him to his room. The front door opened directly into the living room area, with the kitchen to the left, along with a side door leading out into the garden. To the right was a corridor housing several different rooms, including the laundry, the nursery, a small office space, a guest bathroom and two spare bedrooms. At the end of the hallway there was a door leading into the back yard, and a large bedroom with an attached bathroom; the master suite.
"Choose whichever room you'd like, though I thought you might prefer this one. It has a little reading nook beside the window." Akaashi offered with a smile, stepping back to allow Hinata a better look, the omega perking his ears as he stepped into the first bedroom, his eyes impossibly wide.
He clasped his hands nervously, arching his brow with concern as he took in the neatly kept bed with floral comforter and matching pillows, the sizable open closet, the tall bookshelf and padded window seat looking out into the backyard. "I don't…" He paused before glancing back at Akaashi, asking worriedly, "Are you certain? This is all for me?"
Akaashi looked surprised, laughing softly and stepping closer to Hinata's side, reaching out to touch his arm gently. "You're planning on staying with us for quite some time I hope? We want you to enjoy your stay here. I hope you'll be comfortable living with us."
Hinata held Akaashi's eyes, light glinting across his irises as he swallowed thickly, and he nodded hesitantly before tucking his ears back slightly, glancing towards the reading nook again.
"It's lovely. It's…" It's too much for me. I don't deserve this. "Thank you." Hinata murmured softly, trembling beneath Akaashi's hand. "I hope I can stay for quite some time too."
Emi perked her head up, tilting her ears towards Hinata's voice, babbling softly for a moment before hiding her face against her dame's neck, Akaashi crooning softly while rubbing along her back gently.
"This one's been running a little fever off and on for the past few days." Akaashi sighed, nuzzling into her daughter's curls before stepping quietly down the hall. "I'll leave you to rest for a while, please don't hesitate to call for me if you need anything."
Hinata's eyes widened as Akaashi's voice faded, and he called after her quickly, "W-Wait! I-"
Akaashi paused at the entry to the nursery, looking back at Hinata, and he stepped closer purposefully, a worried little frown turning down his lips.
"Shouldn't I…?" He asked, his eyes shifting to Emi. "Shouldn't I be the one to tend to her? I can monitor her fever, I'll be careful. I'll make sure she's resting peacefully, I won't leave her side."
Akaashi hummed softly, her expression amused as she chuckled softly and reached out to pet between Hinata's ears. "It's alright, Shouyou. I was thinking I might take a nap as well. I will lay down with her for now." She drew back her hand slowly, searching Hinata's eyes. "If you'd like, you can take a bath, or explore the backyard. There's ripe strawberries and blackberries in the garden, if you're fond of sweets. Please help yourself."
Hinata didn't respond for a moment, then he ducked back his ears slightly and nodded. "Thank you, Keiji. I…" He squeezed his hands together, rubbing across his knuckles absently. "I am happy to assist you, however needed."
"Thank you, Shouyou." Akaashi nodded, offering the omega a gentle smile. "Tetsurou should be home in a few hours. Perhaps you could help me prepare for dinner then?"
Hinata perked his ears and nodded, taking a step back towards the bedroom, Akaashi watching him for a moment before stepping inside the nursery, closing the door partially behind her.
Hinata lingered in the hall for a long moment, listening to the sound of her voice as she whispered to her daughter, and after a few minutes everything was quiet and still. Hinata turned towards the bedroom, padding quietly inside and closing the door, ensuring not to latch it completely before stepping closer to the window, his chest aching as he looked out into the bright sunshine.
It didn't feel real, being here, being offered so much so readily, without being asked to do anything in exchange. At least, not yet. Hinata could barely wrap his mind around it, having free time to do whatever he liked. Having permission to make decisions for himself.
Carefully he crossed the carpet to stand at the edge of the bed, reaching out with shaking fingertips to touch the dainty flowers adorning the plush comforter, marveling at its softness before carefully turning down the sheets. He shifted the pillows to the side, then experimentally sat atop the mattress, inhaling shakily at finding it made no noise. No creaking of rusted springs, no telltale shift to indicate worn wood or weathered floors hidden beneath stained rugs.
He glanced towards the door, listening closely for a long moment, then once he was certain Akaashi wasn't awake he padded towards the closet, peering inside. There were several hangers clustered above a series of built-in shelves occupying the center of the closet, Hinata carefully reaching out to touch the clothes folded neatly on the center shelf. The agency would send clothes and toiletries now that his contract had been reassigned, but the garments beneath his fingertips were finer than anything he'd ever worn before, and for a moment Hinata fantasized what it might be like to wear such fabric. He didn't allow his thoughts to wander for long.
It took some time before he dared to leave his room again, but once he did so he returned to the kitchen and carefully cleaned up the teacups that had been left behind, washing the dishes quietly and setting them in the drying rack before wiping down the countertops and familiarizing himself with the contents of the cabinets and pantry.
He found a large salad bowl and carefully unlatched the side door, stepping quietly out into the garden and collecting several handfuls of strawberries and blackberries, inspecting the garden thoroughly before returning inside. He washed the berries and took the time to remove the caps from the strawberries, slicing them neatly and covering the bowl with a damp cloth before placing it on one of the open shelves in the fridge, taking note of the contents within before inspecting the freezer as well.
Satisfied with his cataloging for now, Hinata returned to the garden and tended to a few clusters of weeds he'd spotted before, cleaning away the debris and watering the garden and flowers along the fence before carefully washing his hands and feet with the hose, waiting patiently beneath the bright sun for his freckled skin to dry.
Basking in the sunlight as always felt like the highlight of his day, and he lingered for a bit longer than he perhaps should have before stepping inside and carefully latching the door behind him, perking his ears towards the hall to ensure he hadn't woken Akaashi up.
Unsure of what to do with himself now that the kitchen and garden had been tended to, Hinata busied himself with tidying up the toys strewn about the living room, listening for any sign of footsteps approaching the front door or sounds from within the nursery. He set the toys neatly beside the coffee table, then straightened the magazines and coloring books, wiping down the table and large bay windows where tiny fingerprints had smeared across the glass.
As the hours passed, Hinata became aware of a few things. The house was impossibly quiet. He'd never experienced such quiet before, so accustomed to a multitude of pups running about, playing and fighting, arguing and crying, constantly getting into whatever mischief they could at any given time.
Here, Hinata could hear the sound of the clock ticking quietly in the kitchen. He could hear the sounds of birds twittering just outside the bay windows. If he concentrated hard enough, he could hear the soft sounds of Akaashi and Emi breathing, deep and rhythmic in their sleep.
It was almost overwhelming, that strange silence. It made him feel foreign, out of place; too loud and too bright and too much of everything.
Once he was certain there was nothing left to clean save for himself, he stripped out of his clothes and began a small load of laundry, padding into the guest bathroom and quietly closing the door, turning towards the bathtub with only slight hesitation.
Akaashi had said it was alright for him to use the bath, so Hinata assumed it must be okay for him to use one of the towels atop the sink too. There was a fresh bar of soap and two small containers sitting beside the towels, and Hinata picked up the first bottle to sniff the cap, inhaling the calming floral scent of the shampoo with a quiet hum.
He drew a bath, only using a small amount of hot water, slipping into the tub with a shaky sigh before leaning back against the lip of the tub and closing his eyes briefly.
He hadn't realized he'd nodded off until there was a soft knock at the door, and he jolted awake with a start, splashing a bit of bathwater over the lip of the tub as he scrambled upright.
"Shouyou? Are you alright?"
He shivered and glanced towards the door before tugging the stopper from the drain, "I-I'm almost done! I'll be right there!"
"Take your time." Akaashi chuckled from the other side of the door, her footsteps fading away once more, and Shouyou washed himself quickly as the water drained, turning the tap on just long enough to rinse before stepping out of the tub and grabbing one of the towels.
He emerged from the bathroom quietly, peering down the hall towards the laundry room, listening to the sound of the dryer with a worried little frown. Akaashi must have changed over the laundry for him, an embarrassed blush burning hotly across his cheeks. How long had he slept?
Akaashi rounded the corner a moment later, humming as she flipped through the pages of a magazine, perking her ears towards Hinata with a smile while asking, "Did you have a nice bath?"
"Yes, thank you." He shifted from foot to foot uneasily, tightening the towel around his torso as he added quickly, "I'm sorry about the laundry, I must have dozed off."
Akaashi tilted her head slightly, then with a soft dismissive sound she smiled and shook her head. "It's quite alright, Shouyou. Please help yourself to whatever you'd like from the closet. I picked out some things I thought might be about your size."
Hinata ducked his ears back slightly, then stepped into his bedroom and closed the door behind him, careful to avoid the latch. He padded towards the closet, shivering as he toweled at his damp hair, his breath hitching as he realized Akaashi had added several things that hadn't been there before. There were several sets of clothing in various colors and patterns, and Hinata reached out to trace his fingertips along the polkadots of a short-sleeved shirt, tugging it from the pile and drawing it closer hesitantly.
"It's soft…" Hinata whispered, rubbing the fabric between his thumb and forefinger before lifting it to his cheek, nosing against the fabric and noting traces of vanilla and lilac in the fabric softener.
His face scrunched up and he pulled the fabric away, folding the shirt neatly and returning it to where it had been before, swallowing thickly and taking a step backwards to examine the contents of the closet. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. His chest was suddenly far too tight.
It took some time for him to choose something to wear, and once he'd dressed he returned to the bathroom, drying the floor and the interior of the tub, shining the chrome and wiping down the sink and mirror before hanging the towel to dry. He combed his fingers through his hair slowly, his eyes trailing down his figure, a worried little frown turning down his lips.
This is too much. It's too much. I shouldn't be wearing this. It wasn't made for me. It isn't meant for me.
He peeked out of the bathroom towards the laundry, listening to the sound of the dryer with anxiety twisting in his chest.
As soon as my clothes are dry I'll change. I'll fold them neatly and place them back where they came from. I just took a bath, so they won't be dirty.
He clasped his hands together nervously, rubbing across his knuckles over and over as he stepped towards the living room in search of Akaashi.
It's alright. Everything's alright. They won't be ruined. They won't be soiled-
"Oh, Shouyou!" Akaashi called from the kitchen in greeting, smiling as he approached. "Those overalls are cute on you! I'm glad they fit nicely, they were one of my favorite pairs from when I was younger." She reached out to pet one or the patches along the side of the bib, Hinata tucking back his ears and watching her expressions worriedly.
"I'll put them back." He murmured softly, twisting his hands, averting his eyes. "As soon as my clothes are dry, I'll put them back. I-I'll wash them, if you'd like." He swallowed thickly, his chest aching as he added quickly, "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I'll be more careful from now on."
Akaashi watched him for a long, quiet moment, one of her ears tilting to the side, then she shifted her hand to cup Hinata's cheek, and he flinched away from her hand, ducking both of his ears flat against his curls.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Shouyou." Akaashi said gently, reaching out and taking both of his hands, leaning a little closer to try and catch his eyes. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. The clothes in your room are for you. Some are hand-me-downs from my old things, yes…but they're all yours. They're meant for you. At least, until we can take a trip to the mall and do some proper shopping."
Hinata didn't look up for a long moment, but his ears shifted slightly, perking hesitantly at her words. She squeezed his hands gently, offering him a reassuring smile once he dared to meet her eyes.
"You're not mad at me?" Hinata asked, and the way his voice broke at the end twisted Akaashi's heart.
"No, dearest. No, I'm not mad at you. Why would I be?" She took a step closer, reaching up slowly this time, carefully petting across his flushed cheek. "It's alright, sweetheart. I promise you. You're safe here, do you understand? You're safe here. This place is meant to be your new home."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
Akaashi hummed softly and tugged Hinata closer, wrapping her arms around him gently, cupping the back of his head while rubbing between his shoulder blades soothingly. "There there, everything's alright. I know this is a big adjustment, and you must be going through so much right now, but I want you to know you can trust me. You can talk to me about anything you'd like, whenever you're ready. This is a safe space."
Hinata sniffed and blinked slowly as he stared past her shoulder towards the kitchen window, trembling in her arms. "I don't want to make a mistake. I don't want to do something wrong, to make you hate me-"
Akaashi drew back slightly to pet Hinata's cheek, crooning softly as she took his hand once more. "Sweetheart, it's alright to make mistakes. It's alright to ask questions. His household is new, I'm certain some things will be different than what you were used to before." She tilted her head slightly, perking her ears and searching his eyes. "You aren't going to be in any trouble for asking questions and learning, you aren't going to do anything that could possibly make me hate you, do you understand?"
Hinata held her eyes, nodding slowly, stray tears clinging to his lashes as he tried his best not to cry. "I-I understand. Thank you, Keiji."
Akaashi held him for a little while longer until she was certain he was calm, then she turned her attention to the pup sitting in her highchair at the kitchen counter nearby, coloring messily with one hand while feeding herself tiny bites of strawberries with the other.
"Emi says thank you for the yummy snack!" Akaashi teased with a smile, petting her daughter's curls as the pup babbled and tossed one of her crayons, Akaashi bending to pick it up with a little sigh. "Which reminds me," She met Hinata's eyes as she rose, offering her daughter the crayon again, "Thank you so much for tidying up while we were napping. I was so surprised to see how much you'd cleaned in that short amount of time, and you tended to the garden too!"
Hinata blushed lightly at her praise, perking his ears as he gave a little smile and nodded, wiping at his teary eyes. "I'm happy to assist you." He looked around the kitchen, then asked hesitantly, "I was uncertain what daily chores I am expected to perform, but I tidied up whatever I noticed. If there's something I missed please let me know, and I'll attend to it right away."
"Daily chores?" Akaashi looked surprised, then laughed brightly, Emi reaching out to her and tugging at her shirt expectantly. "Oh goodness, I hadn't thought to put together a list of sorts for you beforehand. I'll see about writing down a few things that would be helpful. Thank you, Shouyou. That's very considerate."
Hinata nodded and stepped closer to Akaashi's side, his eyes on Emi, and as the pup looked up at him she pouted and tugged at Akaashi's shirt again, a soft whine caught in the back of her throat.
"Now now, Miss Fussy." Akaashi sighed as she gathered her into her arms, and Emi peeked over at Hinata now and then curiously, but for the most part kept her face tucked against her dame's neck. "The primary reason Tetsurou and I were interested in finding an omega was to help with this little one while we're trying to conceive, and hopefully assist with the baby that will follow along after. I can handle most things myself, but since I recently-"
Akaashi paused, her expression falling a bit, but it was gone a moment later, replaced with a soft smile.
"Well, at any rate. Now that you're here, I am hopeful that Emi will take to you, and allow Tetsurou and I some time to ourselves now and then. She's quite attached to me, as you can see. She rarely lets anyone else hold her."
Hinata nodded, offering out one of his hands and giving the pup a smile, greeting her in a soft tone. "Hello, Emi. Hello little one. It's nice to meet you. My name is Shouyou. I think that you and I are going to be the very best of friends."
Emi pouted for a while longer, staring up at her mother then down at Hinata's hand, until finally she reached out and took one of his fingers, squeezing tightly.
"Do you like arts and crafts?" Akaashi asked, and Hinata nodded while meeting her eyes. "That's good, then why don't we try a bit of painting in the backyard while it's still sunny. Tetsu should be home any minute now, and it'll keep Emi busy while I cook."
Hinata perked his ears slightly before asking hesitantly, "It's alright if things are a bit messy?"
Akaashi laughed, nodding towards the bay windows. "Oh yes, of course. She's a messy pup, don't worry about her clothes. You'll be lucky to make it through one painting before she dumps the paints all over herself! There's a little tub out back if you need to wash before coming back inside, and you've already found the laundry. Help yourself to whatever you need. I'll call for you once dinner is ready."
Hinata nodded, a determined look across his face as Akaashi handed Emi over and stepped away, Emi immediately starting to whine and struggle against Hinata's hold.
"It's alright, Emi." Hinata crooned softly, the little pup perking her ears towards the sound of his voice, her blue eyes wide. She tilted her ears to and fro, then patted at Hinata's throat, a soft huff resembling a bark escaping her as she watched him curiously.
He crooned again, carrying her against his chest while making his way towards the windows, kneeling down beside a large toy chest and fetching the water color paints and art books from inside. He carefully balanced the paints as he rose to his feet, opening one of the large glass doors and stepping out onto the patio leading to the back yard, the sunlight warm against his shoulders as he carried Emi towards the table nearby.
"Here we are. Here, Miss Emi." He set the art books and paints aside while grabbing a booster seat and sitting down beside her, flipping open one of the art books and offering her a brush. Emi babbled excitedly as she grabbed onto it, immediately dipping the brush into green paint and tugging the book closer to slather green all across the page.
Hinata watched over her closely, ensuring she was playing happily, carefully wiping the paint from her skin any time it splattered, Emi giggling and watching him curiously before returning to her painting again.
He wasn't certain how much time passed before the doors to the patio opened, Hinata's ears flicking towards the sound of footsteps before he glanced up and realized it wasn't Akaashi that had approached.
Kuroo perked his ears as Hinata looked up at him with wide eyes, the omega recoiling away from him instinctively, Kuroo pausing his steps and letting out a deep croon, offering Hinata an apologetic smile.
"Ah, I'm sorry to have startled you, Shouyou." Kuroo turned his gaze to his daughter, taking a few steps closer to look down at her handiwork, the pup barking excitedly as she noticed her father for the first time.
"Dada!" She reached for him with messy hands, Kuroo chuckling deeply as he scooped her up, nuzzling her nose and cheeks as she smeared green paint across his bronze skin.
"There's my girl! My sweet girl, how are you, Princess? Mama tells me your fever went down again, hmm?" He pressed his cheek to her forehead, gauging her temperature, letting out a soft little snort before flashing Hinata an impish smile. "It's nice to see you again, Shouyou. Don't you look a sight! Thank you for painting with Emi, it's one of her favorite pastimes."
Hinata nodded gingerly, his nostrils flaring as he took in the Alpha's rich scent, blushing and forcing his eyes away as he swallowed thickly. Kuroo didn't seem to notice, too busy doting on his daughter to sense the omega's disquiet.
Eventually he sighed and carded his fingers through his hair while asking, "Would it be alright if I left Emi with you for a little longer? Just need a few moments to change into something comfortable. Keiji's in the kitchen, dinner's almost done."
"Of course, Alpha." Hinata dipped his ears respectfully, reaching out to take Emi from his arms. Kuroo chuckled and waved his hand dismissively in response, oversized fangs clearly visible as he grinned wide.
"Please, call me Tetsurou, or Tetsu. Our household is far from traditional. Neither of us expects you to refer to us in such archaic terms." He gave his daughter another bright smile before turning away, disappearing inside and closing the glass door with a soft click, Hinata's heart hammering against his ribcage as he tried to even his breaths.
For a moment he thought Kuroo might shout at him for allowing Emi to dirty his clothes, but he hadn't seemed to mind in the least. Hinata stared at the door for a long while, then returned his attention to Emi, settling down before the paints once more and watching over her as she began smearing blue across another page.
By the time dinner was served Hinata had cleaned up the patio table and washed up using the small tub and garden hose, carrying Emi inside quietly and making his way to the laundry room. He tended to her first, wrapping a big fluffy towel around her as she babbled and patted at his chest, ensuring her hands and feet were clean before setting her down carefully, then fetching a towel for himself.
Once he was satisfied he scooped her up and carried her to the kitchen, ducking his ears back slightly as Kuroo looked up from the kitchen table, grinning as his daughter squealed and reached for him excitedly, shifting to take her from Hinata's arms.
"Why hello my little artiste!" He crooned deeply, tickling up her sides, Emi huffing out little barks as she looked up at him, growling softly before letting out an excited shriek that quickly dissolved into laughter. Kuroo growled back at her playfully, matching her little vocalizations and nuzzling into her unruly curls, Hinata watching their exchange with wide eyes, unaccustomed to seeing an Alpha act so instinctually with a pup.
"Shouyou?" Akaashi called softly, and Hinata snapped his eyes towards the beta as she offered him a basket of fresh rolls. He rounded the table to take it from her quickly, helping her finish setting dinner upon the table.
It didn't take long to finish up, and Akaashi took her place beside Kuroo at the table, perking her ears towards Hinata and gesturing for him to take a seat beside her. He hesitated only for a moment before doing as she bid, settling into the chair beside her uneasily and ducking back his ears, his hands folded neatly atop his lap.
His eyes were on Emi, the pup babbling merrily as her father offered her little pieces of warm bread between taking bites for himself. Akaashi went about serving up the salad, pausing at Hinata's plate and asking, "Shouyou? Would you like some?"
"Yes, thank you." Hinata murmured softly, one of his ears tilting to the side as he rubbed across his knuckles, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Shouldn't I…?" He met Akaashi's eyes briefly before focusing on Emi again. "Shouldn't I be the one feeding her?"
Akaashi perked her ears in surprise, Kuroo glancing up as well. The two exchanged a look for a moment, then Akaashi asked, "Is that what your former patrons typically asked of you? To feed their little ones?"
Hinata nodded hesitantly, unsure as to why they were both watching him so strangely. "I did everything with the pups, especially the youngest."
"Can you tell us about that?" Akaashi asked, looking to Kuroo again for a moment before continuing on, "Could you perhaps give us an example of your typical duties? Your daily chores, I believe you called it?"
Hinata perked his ears a bit, then frowned a little, concentrating for a moment before he spoke. "In the morning before sunrise there was laundry, and tending to the garden. At daybreak I prepared breakfast, and packed lunches for the older pups who attended school, and helped the little ones bathe and dress, then I would clean while they played or napped for a few hours before preparing lunch. In the afternoon I would meet the school bus and take the pups to the park up the street, to burn off excess energy at the playground before taking them home."
He paused briefly to work through his mental checklist, then continued on.
"Once everyone was home there was school work to complete, and some of the pups might need to take baths or change clothes before dinner. I'd have everything prepped and ready to start cooking by the time mother came home, and I would help her with whatever she needed. Dinner was always finished just as father returned from work, and I would feed the youngest pups and tidy up whatever messes were made. Once dinner was finished, there were dishes to be cleaned and dried and put away, and then the pups were allowed to do whatever they liked during the evenings."
Hinata worried his lip between his teeth for a moment, his voice soft as he added,
"Sometimes I would read to the younger ones, or sometimes they wanted to do arts and crafts, or play games together. It was my job to tend to them, to do whatever they asked, and once it was time for bed I helped again with baths, and laundry, and getting everyone into bed. After lights-out, I would help mother with whatever she asked of me, and give her a summary of the events of the day. Father would usually read for a while, or work in his study, and mother would relax in the bath and go about her nightly routine before getting into bed. Once father went to bed too, I would finish up whatever tasks remained, and then sleep for a few hours before the next day began."
Nodding to himself absently he perked his ears up, hesitantly meeting Akaashi's eyes.
"I…I think I remembered everything. Some days were different of course, if one of the pups was home sick from school, or if mother was planning on hosting guests that upcoming weekend."
Akaashi was at a loss for words, reaching out and touching Hinata's hand lightly, leaning a little closer as she asked, "Shouyou…you mean that you did all of that every day? With no one there to help you?"
Hinata arched his brow, looking between Akaashi and Kuroo worriedly, wondering if he'd said something out of line. "I…" He ducked his ears back, one flicking to the side as a shiver coursed up his spine. "I know it sounds like alot for a sole omega to handle, but I assure you I'm perfectly capable of handling whatever chores you may assign." He glanced away briefly, feeling as if he'd forgotten something. "Oh! I tended to the yard as well. I know how to cut grass and trim bushes, I'll take care of mending the fences should anything happen-"
"What about your personal time?" Kuroo asked, clearly dumbfounded, Akaashi reaching over and taking his hand. "It sounds like you barely had time to sleep, let alone anything else. Didn't you have any time to yourself? To simply enjoy resting, or indulge in a hobby?"
"Leisure time was rewarded on special occasions." Hinata agreed with a nod, trying to remember the last time he'd experienced such. "A few years ago, mother allowed me to purchase a new sketchbook and coloring pencils for my birthday. Though…" He arched his brow, laughing softly as he ducked his ears back a bit. "They didn't last long, once the younger pups found them."
"What about your stipend?" Akaashi asked, Hinata frowning a little as he met her eyes.
"Stipend?"
Kuroo frowned and knit his brow, tightening his hold on Akaashi's hand. "Your stipend, Shouyou. Your allowance."
"The stipend your agency provides you monthly, for personal use." Akaashi clarified, tilting one of her ears to the side. "If you worked for your previous household for six years, you must have quite a bit of savings by now."
Hinata blinked slowly, still not understanding. "You mean…money?"
Kuroo huffed through his nose irritably, turning to Akaashi. "They worked him to the bone, it's obvious they took advantage of him. If he's never even heard of his stipend, that means they were taking his money-"
"Sweetheart," Akaashi said gently, squeezing Hinata's fingers, "Before, when we spoke about you wearing my old clothes, and you asked if I was mad at you…" She searched his eyes, her expression concerned. "You flinched when I tried to touch you. Were the hosts that you lived with before…" She hesitated, drawing a quiet breath. "Did your patrons strike you?"
Hinata arched his brow, glancing between Akaashi and Kuroo nervously, swallowing thickly while flattening his ears. "I…was disciplined, when I made a mistake. When mother was mad at me, or when father was disappointed."
"They hit you?" Kuroo growled, and Hinata recoiled slightly, Akaashi lifting a hand and patting Kuroo's chest soothingly before returning her attention to Hinata.
"Shouyou?" She coaxed softly, searching his eyes. "Can you tell us about how they disciplined you?"
Hinata shivered and blinked slowly, glancing aside as he replied shakily, "I…I'm not supposed to talk about it."
"Okay. That's okay." Akaashi reassured gently, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly, turning to meet Kuroo's eyes.
A heavy silence lingered in the air for a long moment, then Kuroo's deep voice thundered through Hinata's core.
"No one is ever going to hurt you, ever again."
Hinata looked up in surprise, meeting Kuroo's eyes, the Alpha frowning as he held Akaashi's hand, Emi half-asleep where she rested against his shoulder.
"You're a part of our family now." He shook his head slowly, still holding Hinata's eyes. "In this household, we do not discipline. If something happens where a discussion needs to take place between us, to clarify misunderstandings or talk about an incident that has occurred, we will come together and figure things out as a family. You are not our child by birth, but I will do everything within my power to comfort you and protect you, and ensure your needs are met, and that you feel safe and cared for."
"You should have never been put in such a position, Shouyou." Akaashi said gently, petting along the back of Hinata's hand. "Asking so much of you, knowing how young you were when it started…" Akaashi shook her head, tears gathering in her lashes, threatening to spill down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry you had to endure such hardships, Shouyou. I promise you we will never ask so much of you, or expect you to do such things. We only ask that you help however you can within reason, for I am certain whatever we may ask will be well within your capabilities. You've been running an entire household completely alone."
"The first thing I want to be certain you understand is this," Kuroo began quietly, a low rumble trapped in the back of his throat, "You are not here as a servant. You are here as a member of this household. With that being said, we hope you will agree to help us in what ways you can. In exchange, we will provide for you whatever you might desire. You are allowed to come and go as you please, you are allowed to use your stipend as you see fit. You are allowed to have personal time to pursue the things you enjoy. You are allowed to ask us for anything you might need, and you will never be reprimanded for doing so. It is our pleasure to have you here with us, and we hope that you will stay with us. Indefinitely, if everything goes according to plan."
Hinata blinked slowly, dimly aware of the hot tears dripping down his flushed cheeks. "Y-You mean, you want me to live here? Forever?"
"Yes, Shouyou." Akaashi said gently, squeezing his hand. "If that's also what you want."
"If there comes a time as you grow older that you wish to leave," Kuroo added with a low hum, "All we ask is that you speak with us candidly about your thoughts and feelings, so we may come to a consensus and assist you however we can."
Hinata pinched his brow and laughed softly, sniffing as he wiped at his cheeks. "Why would I ever want to leave?"
"Who knows." Kuroo shrugged, offering a little smile. "Maybe someday you'll fall in love."
Akaashi sighed and shook her head, patting her mate's chest affectionately. "Silly Alpha, still a hopeless romantic after all this time?"
"What's wrong with that?" Kuroo chuckled, looking down at Emi and pressing a kiss between her small ears. "I seem to recall when being a hopeless romantic worked quite well in winning someone's heart."
Akaashi swatted at his chest playfully, and Kuroo growled teasingly and leaned closer to kiss her cheek, Akaashi blushing and smiling as she was doted upon, once again meeting Hinata's eyes.
He was watching them in awe, blushing a little as he returned Akaashi's smile, asking hesitantly, "You're really sure it's okay that I stay?"
"Absolutely!" Kuroo grinned wide, Emi pouting tiredly as she hid her face against her father's shoulder, huffing softly at being disturbed. "We're so excited to have you here, Shouyou! It appears we couldn't have asked for a better match."
Akaashi hummed her agreement, her expression soft as she leaned closer, searching Hinata's teary eyes. "We're so glad to have you with us. Welcome home, Shouyou."
Thanks for reading! More to come!
