Chapter Text
Osamu rubbed his finger over his upper lip, lost in a trance. He was getting kind of annoyed with no good reason to be, considering he was sitting across from his handsome boyfriend and beautiful baby boy, enjoying a rare day off of work for Shugo. The Alpha had been meant to work a shift at the café, but it had turned out to be a slower day. He’d been slacking, flirting with Osamu when Tetsuro had finally told Shugo to just clock out and have lunch with Osamu and Koichi. Osamu couldn’t be happier, of course; Shugo was spoiling him so well and treating him to all of the best things on the café’s menu, and yet he felt his eyes constantly straying to a small table in the back corner. A lone figure was sitting there, hunched over his school books like this was a library. Osamu shouldn’t feel annoyed, it wasn’t his style, but the fact that it was Kiyoomi really irked him.
The last time they’d interacted at Atsumu’s place, Osamu had felt annoyed, too, and now he wondered if he just disliked Kiyoomi. Well, considering Tetsuro’s behavior recently, and Atsumu’s, as well, plus the rumors he’d heard, he had every right to be upset with the Alpha. Still, Osamu didn’t like feeling this way, and he certainly didn’t want to just… write Kiyoomi off, not without at least… properly speaking to him.
Osamu turned back to Shugo, his mouth opening with a thought filtering through his head, but he froze instead, surprise lighting up his features to find Shugo watching him with this knowing look on his face. Osamu flushed and then sighed, smiling softly at his boyfriend. The man knew him so well, like he could just read the Omega, and Osamu found it both extremely endearing and all the more proof that somehow, they were meant to be. He was still figuring it out, but he couldn’t deny it in moments like this. Shugo reached across the table and stroked softly at his cheek, just staring fondly.
“Shu-chan, can I have another one of your potatoes?” Koichi was asking, and Osamu watched Shugo turn as if in slow motion, smiling at the young Omega. He raised a finger to his lips as if Osamu wasn’t right there and then gave Koichi a whole scoop of his potatoes, the little boy giggling in delight. He had whipped cream on the tip of his nose from his hot cocoa, and Shugo wiped it away with a cheeky grin. Osamu couldn’t help but stare, in love with this view.
“Shugo,” he called out after a moment, heat lighting through him as pretty emerald eyes melted back to him. He chewed at his bottom lip and then leaned forward, asking, “Do you really think it’s true? That Kiyoomi…”
Shugo glanced over Osamu’s shoulder, and as if reading his mind, he suggested, “Well, darling, you should just go ask him yourself, right?”
Osamu reached out and lightly smacked at Shugo’s strong arm, accusing, “You want to know, too.”
Shugo just shrugged and grinned, saying, “I’ll watch over Ko-chan, so go talk to him. If it’ll get all of your attention back on me, I don’t mind giving up a few minutes of our time.”
Osamu sighed slowly, but then he straightened his shoulders and finally stood up. Shugo was right; it was best to just ask the person himself what was going on. Osamu walked across the café floor with his head held high, stopping only once he reached the small back table. Almost every inch was covered with either a book or his laptop or the open notepad, and it was honestly admirable; Osamu had never done all that well in school. A single cup of coffee, long gone cold, sat by a complicated-looking textbook, and Osamu had to admit that this kid was at the very least extremely book smart. It must be true that Alphas just had a knack for it.
Osamu studied Kiyoomi’s furrowed brows for a split second before tapping a nail against the hardcover of a second textbook. Black eyes like the night rushed suddenly up, and for a moment, Kiyoomi’s face totally changed, hope lighting through his stare. Osamu bit at his lip and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you disappointed I’m not Tsumu?”
To his honest surprise, Kiyoomi gave a short nod and then amended, “Not that it’s not also nice to see you… Osamu.”
Osamu raised an eyebrow and then let out a soft laugh. So familiar already, huh? If he didn’t care much for honorifics and all that proper etiquette in the first place, he might have made a little bit of a fuss about it just because it was Kiyoomi, but he let it go, instead pulling out the second chair at the table and sitting himself down. If they were on a first name basis already, he shouldn’t have to ask to take a seat, right? Still, Osamu didn’t want to be hostile and did feel a bit guilty, so he asked, “Do you have a minute?”
Kiyoomi looked down at his collection of school items, but then he surprised Osamu yet again by closing his book and laptop, shuffling them into a neat little pile. He glanced over at Shugo and Koichi, and he looked almost… jealous for a split second. When he looked back at Osamu, however, the expression was gone.
“Have you heard from Atsumu?” was the first thing Kiyoomi asked, and Osamu hummed, wondering if the Alpha had always been this blatantly obvious and Osamu had just missed it.
Osamu let out a soft laugh, his reply surprisingly kind as he said, “I think he’s too busy having fun to talk to his brother. Hasn’t Tetsu-chan heard anything?” He knew that Tetsuro and Atsumu talked almost every night, so it was more of a test for Osamu’s sake, just to see…
“He won’t really tell me anything. He’s still… annoyed.”
Osamu raised an eyebrow, tapping at the table lightly, his nails making a soft sound. Black eyes watched him, and Osamu smiled softly. “You and Tetsu-chan hit a rough patch?” he asked after a minute. “He seemed a little… lonely for a while.”
Kiyoomi pursed his lips, mumbling, “Lonely?” When he raised his eyes again, Osamu noted how serious his expression was, like there wasn’t a dishonest bone in his body. He startled, his eyes going a little wide. It was like this Kiyoomi now wasn’t the brat that Atsumu had always complained about.
“So what happened?” Osamu couldn’t help but blatantly ask. Kiyoomi didn’t even flinch, though his lips did shift down in regret after a moment. Osamu just couldn’t… figure this kid out. Atsumu had always described him as a sour little kid, but he seemed so introspective now. What had changed?
“I confessed something to Tetsuro… that he didn’t want to hear,” Kiyoomi replied slowly, and Osamu felt like he didn’t even have to ask, but he did anyways.
“What was that?”
Kiyoomi turned his gaze suddenly away, and gosh, he was almost shy as he hushed, “That I have a crush on Atsumu.”
Osamu cupped his hands over his mouth and thought, wow, Shugo had been right. He glanced over at his boyfriend, a kind gaze meeting his own for a moment. Shugo was so… observant, so smart. Osamu stuffed down the feeling of blinding pride, turning back to Kiyoomi with a soft sigh.
“You knew,” Kiyoomi said in a flat tone, not surprised or disappointed. “Tetsuro had figured it out, too.”
“I heard… from a reliable source that guessed,” Osamu hinted vaguely, though Kiyoomi’s glance over at Shugo said he could easily figure out who that was. Osamu smiled softly. He didn’t want to think badly of Kiyoomi, but from what he’d heard, the Alpha hadn’t ever acted like he was crushing on Atsumu.
Kiyoomi watched him carefully, and then he uttered, “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing to me?” Osamu asked plainly, his smile wavering for a moment. After a few more seconds, he let it drop; to his credit, Kiyoomi seemed unhurt by Osamu’s opinion of him. In fact, he looked to relax a little more when Osamu was honest. “Why did you wait so long to tell Tetsuro?”
“Because I knew he’d be upset. I was… upset with myself.” Kiyoomi paused, and suddenly he seemed nervous again as he shuffled around his cup of cold coffee. “I don’t want to keep blaming others; I haven’t been a good person for most of my life.”
Suddenly Osamu could see clearly what had gotten his nephew so upset, why it had been such a huge deal when Kiyoomi had confessed. Osamu chewed at his cheek and huffed, letting his real emotions all hang out because, if anything, he at least felt like Kiyoomi could handle them and certainly deserved a little hostility. Black eyes darted up again, and Kiyoomi seemed… relieved.
“Sorry,” he muttered once more, and Osamu stood up sharply, waving the apology off. He didn’t need those platitudes. Kiyoomi jolted forward at realizing their conversation was coming to a close, and he rushed, “I’m trying to make it up to Tetsuro! I know- I know I can’t remedy the past, but I’m trying to be a good friend now.”
Osamu paused for a moment, and then he said honestly, “I’m glad to hear that, Kiyoomi-kun. I know you’ve been around for a long while, so I’m glad…”
Kiyoomi slowly bowed his head, and there was real regret in his voice as he repeated, “I’m truly sorry.” It seemed like he was really reflecting, taking on the brunt of the blame and hurt. Osamu reached out before he could stop himself and patted softly at Kiyoomi’s hair. His black curls were incredibly thick and soft, and Osamu sighed quietly. He was handsome and obviously smart; Osamu knew that if Kiyoomi just got his act together, he might be able to make Atsumu really happy, but it wasn’t going to happen with him in this state. It was important to Osamu to see how committed and serious the kid was, though. He wasn’t about to let the Alpha anywhere near Atsumu if he was just playing around, and he doubted Tetsuro would either.
“Thanks for your honesty,” Osamu told Kiyoomi, and then he headed back to Shugo, the Alpha smiling as he watched his beloved return. Osamu couldn’t help but smile, too. He pulled his chair closer to Shugo’s this time and leaned over before sitting down only to whisper, “You were right.” He squeezed at Shugo’s neck, and the Alpha noted the serious little bit of PDA with a raised brow and a delighted smile. He didn’t even really care that he was right; he cared more that Osamu had praised him. A big hand settled on Osamu’s knee under the table, Shugo smiling as the Omega softly scolded his little boy for not eating all of his veggies.
“I’m full, Mama!” the boy giggled.
“Then how will you get as big and strong as Shu-chan?” Osamu asked, and suddenly Koichi was shoveling the rest of his salad into his mouth.
Shugo laughed and ruffled Koichi’s hair, his hand squeezing lightly at Osamu’s knee. Osamu leaned forward, covering his soft smile with a slender hand as he stared discretely at his boyfriend from underneath his fringe. Shugo just grinned, all-knowing.
Osamu was seriously in love with him…
He hoped one day that Atsumu would get to experience this feeling, too. Osamu wanted to do his part in vetting, and then, if he met the requirements, molding Kiyoomi into a perfect Alpha for his baby brother. Atsumu deserved to be happy, too, after all, and if Kiyoomi was up to the task, Osamu would make sure he was the perfect fit.
With that in mind, Osamu laid out a battle plan in his head.
-x-
“That will be all for this week. Please remember to turn in your homework assignments online by Friday night,” Kiyoomi’s law teacher called from the front of the big, auditorium-style classroom. On the chalkboard behind him was written out what their assignments were for the week, Kiyoomi slowly writing everything down and making notes. He would have a paper to write for this class in a few weeks, so he should already pick out a case he wanted to write about.
He felt like he was planning everything months in advance these days, but the meticulous organization was seriously keeping him from falling off the rails. When Atsumu had first left, Kiyoomi had thought he’d be lonely and sad all the time, but it felt like something worse than that as every day passed by with this sort of sinking feeling, like he was slowly being swallowed up by a black hole. The only things that kept him somewhat sane and grounded were schoolwork and practice, and he’d even tried to talk to his teachers about extra credit work. He didn’t want to have to face the big emptiness in his chest, or the fact that it was so damn quiet when he went over to Tetsuro’s now. These days, they both preferred to meet either at the café or the park, where Tetsuro would just sit and watch like he was looking for someone he never found. Kiyoomi felt like that, too, except his someone was thousands of miles away in a foreign country with another man.
He missed Atsumu more than he could put to words.
After he’d packed up his bag and was heading out of the classroom, Kiyoomi pulled out his phone, thinking he’d let Tetsuro know he was free. Kiyoomi should get his friend’s class and work schedule from him so he could better plan out his days in between his own classes and practices, making sure there wasn’t so much as a spare moment to breathe or think. He unlocked his phone and hovered his finger over his text messages, but another notification stopped him. There was a little red 1 above his Instagram app, and Kiyoomi literally paused to stare at it. He only followed one person on Instagram. Did he really want to look and see what the notification was for? He tugged down the list of notifications his phone stored and read, itsmiyalove posted a new photo! He must have turned on post notifications at some point during his delirium.
Kiyoomi pushed his Notification Center back up and clicked open his text messages, trying desperately to distract himself as he typed out a quick text to Tetsuro. He clutched his phone in his fist as he walked, forcing himself not to open Instagram. Don’t do it, you idiot. It’s probably nothing you want to see. Kiyoomi inhaled sharply of the air outside and noted that it was starting to lose that frigid chill, January soon coming to a close. When had Atsumu said he’d be back? A month, right? Only a month.
It had barely been a full week. Kiyoomi stumbled and then slowly turned towards the café and Tetsuro’s place.
Tetsuro’s reply was, I get out of class in about an hour, and then I’m meeting up with Shugo and Koutaro. Wanna come?
It was like Tetsuro knew he needed it. Kiyoomi decided he’d go to the library and look for that case he needed to write a paper on in the old newspapers while he waited. If it’s alright, I’d like that, he sent back.
That’s why I offered, idiot, Tetsuro wrote in reply, and Kiyoomi couldn’t help but smile. The way Tetsuro kept calling him an idiot these days was starting to make the term seem more like an endearment or a cute nickname than an insult. Kiyoomi didn’t mind it so much; he had been an idiot, and he still was. He was so book smart, but none of that had helped him any in real life. Atsumu was still in Milan, and he was still on thin ice with Tetsuro.
As Kiyoomi trudged towards the school’s vast library, he clicked out of his text messages and stared at the Instagram app, going back and forth, back and forth. Maybe it was just a selfie, and Kiyoomi could stare at it and feel that weird swell of love and sadness. Maybe it wasn’t even a photo of Atsumu and just of something of the architecture around; while it would be the safest option for his heart, Kiyoomi hoped it was the first instead. The only thing he didn’t want to see was Atsumu with Romero, proof that he was so much happier now.
He missed Atsumu so damn much. He hadn’t ever really considered how big a part the man played in his everyday. It had become so normal, and Kiyoomi had taken it all for granted. He clicked on the app before he could re-consider again, watching his newsfeed load.
He locked his phone as soon as it did, a crack shattering through his heart. Shit, he’d made a mistake. He walked a little faster as his eyes began to sting. He needed to find a silent corner between the shelves so he could hide away. He made a beeline for the law section, empty as it usually was. There was a little nook in this section that led to a small study area, and this was Kiyoomi’s favorite place. There were only three tables here and usually no one else. He breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw it was empty today, too, grabbing a seat at the table farthest away. He set his bag down, and then he sank into one of the two seats at the small table, tugging his black mask down. After sanitizing his hands and the table, he placed his elbows on top, phone between them, a hand over his eyes.
“Idiot,” he whispered to himself, and then he unlocked his phone again.
Atsumu was… breathtaking. With the light behind him from the sun, he seemed to shine, the smile on his face blinding. It made Kiyoomi’s heart seize in his chest, eyes wandering uselessly over the architecture in the back that definitely wasn’t the focal point of the photo. In fact, Kiyoomi couldn’t make himself focus on the other person in the photo at all. Atsumu looked so happy, radiant, and Kiyoomi wished more than anything that he was the one pressing a kiss to that soft, rosy cheek, to know that that smile was because of him and only… him.
Romero’s hair was combed back and his beard neatly trimmed, and even with the limited view of his face, Kiyoomi could tell he was having the time of his life, but who wouldn’t be. He could spy a strong arm around Atsumu, and the only good thing he could think up was that he was glad that the other man was keeping his most precious person safe. Black eyes drifted slowly back to Atsumu’s face, and Kiyoomi thought he might cry again. This was getting pitiful, but how else was he supposed to feel? His heart felt torn out of his chest, and he could hear it, feel it beating with so much love and desire even as he slowly died. He hated this; he’d rather lose a million games and get beat up on the court than this feeling now. It felt like someone had punched him right in the gut and was now twisting his organs all around, playing in there like it was a playground and stomping over everything. Kiyoomi felt sick, and even as his vision blurred with the waves of nausea, he kept staring at Atsumu, covering Romero’s face with a thumb.
I miss you, he typed out in the comments with his anonymous handle, knowing it would get lost in the hundreds of other comments. You look beautiful. Come back home. He erased that as soon as he wrote it, but he posted the first comment. It wasn’t even enough to describe how he felt; every little cell inside his body burst with this feeling of missing Atsumu. He missed the Omega’s scent and his laugh and the way he’d lightly touch Kiyoomi. He missed the mischievous twinkle in his golden eyes, and he even missed the heart attacks Atsumu could give him. He missed that man so, so damn much, and he wondered how he’d wasted all of those years so badly when he’d been right beside Atsumu, when Atsumu had been there and within reach; if Kiyoomi had just said the right words, maybe the Omega would be his and not… Romero’s or anyone else’s.
Kiyoomi locked his phone and slowly stuffed it deep into his bag, out of sight, and then he got up, intent on distraction via studying. He walked through the law section but then he kept going, and he wandered aimlessly until he found himself in the self-help section, amidst the psychology books and the how-to guides. He ran his fingers over the air around the spines of books he’d always scoffed at until he got to the section about relationship advice. How to be a better friend and The Psychology of Omegas (For Dumb Alphas). Kiyoomi collected an armful of these stupid books and trudged back to his little corner, and then he applied all of that book smart and everything his parents had ever drilled into him, and he studied.
-x-
“Hi, Momma,” Tetsuro hummed, smiling into his scarf as he made his way home from school. There was a bit of static, but Atsumu’s voice on the other end was so clear as he husked happily, “Hi, baby boy!”
“Still having fun?”
Atsumu giggled, saying something to, Tetsuro presumed, Romero. “Of course,” he laughed when he replied. “The most.”
“Good,” murmured Tetsuro proudly, his voice a deep rumble. Atsumu hummed again, the noise a little sadder this time. “Don’t you dare say you’re missing me,” Tetsuro teased light-heartedly, and the Omega laughed softly.
“Alright.” Then, “How’s my baby Ko-chan? How’re Osamu and Shu?”
“Everyone’s great. We all miss you. I think Shugo is ready to marry Auntie.”
Atsumu hummed in interest, and then he laughed. Tetsuro could hear Romero’s deep voice on the other end saying something.
“Well, he should,” Atsumu huffed. There was a short pause, and then Atsumu asked, suspiciously casual, “How’s Omi?”
Tetsuro rolled his eyes, wondering if his momma would ever not worry about the dummy. Even though he’d picked plenty of fights himself with the other Alpha, Atsumu didn’t seem to like it when Tetsuro and Kiyoomi didn’t get along, and the distance made it all almost worse. Tetsuro huffed in annoyance and replied, "Momma, quit worrying about that idiot. We’re fine. He’s fine.” Well, Tetsuro didn’t actually think Kiyoomi was doing fine with Atsumu gone, but it was about the same as everyone else. He wasn’t lying when he said everyone missed Atsumu. It was almost pitiful, but Atsumu was truly important to a whole lot of people, Tetsuro included.
“Let me worry about who I want,” countered Atsumu, which he quickly followed up with, “That Omi-Omi probably hasn’t even missed me one lick.”
At this, Tetsuro scoffed violently. He doubted even Atsumu actually believed that pile of bull crap.
Atsumu snorted, asking gleefully, “What? Is he cryin’? Did he cry?”
Tetsuro just laughed, his eyes roaming the street ahead of him as the small store fronts turned more residential. He was taking a detour, the new route becoming a habit he couldn’t seem to quit. With Kenma off streaming for a while and Atsumu gone, it was the only thing that gave Tetsuro some semblance of control and feeling like he was any help at all. The park that Kenma usually took his kids to had been pretty empty with the cold weather and school starting up, but Tetsuro just couldn’t shake the feeling that this was one of the places that Kenma’s stalker had found him at. Of course, part of him kept hoping he’d run into Kenma, but mostly, his blood boiled for a violent confrontation with the bastard who dared threaten the Omega. So far, though, all had been quiet.
Tetsuro ended his call with Atsumu after a few more minutes so as not to rack up a crazy phone bill, and as he walked, he checked his messages on the streaming site Kenma used. He’d been chatting with a few of the loyal fans, ones he recognized from back in the day, as well as the mods who monitored the chat and ran the discord. A few of them had noticed the weird messages, and Tetsuro had enlisted them to find out what they could about the anonymous account. So far, no one had been able to figure out who it was linked to, but one of the mods had said he had a contact at the actual site’s company. He’d sent him a message and given the guy Tetsuro’s contact info. There hadn’t been any new messages last night, but looking now, Tetsuro saw he had a message request.
He clicked it open and quickly read the message.
Hello, I heard you had an issue with an anon account in a streamer’s chat? We take bullying and cyber harassment very seriously, so what can we do to help?
It was a little dauntingly generic, but also hopeful to have a contact inside the streaming platform itself. Tetsuro sent over the username of the stalker, asking, Is there any info on this account? I believe they have another account that they use, probably a long-time watcher, while this account is a throw-away one they use to send the creepy messages.
He locked his phone and stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, hustling faster. The playground slowly came into view, empty. Tetsuro made his way in, settling down onto his usual bench for nostalgia’s sake. He wished that he knew more about Kenma, knew how to contact him or find him outside of direct messages that were mostly ignored and this playground. Tetsuro wasn’t usually one to feel hopeless or give up, but he could tell that there was resistance with Kenma, whether it was because of the fact that the Alpha was a fan or their age difference, or simply wanting to protect his kids or, more likely, his heart. Kenma felt a million miles away at times, and yet Tetsuro was more than willing to look like an idiot to chase after him; he liked the little Omega so damn much, and he couldn’t imagine that he was wrong about this feeling.
As he sat there, staring out into nothing and thinking only of Kenma, he felt his phone vibrate in his hand, and he sighed slowly, thinking it was probably Kiyoomi. When it buzzed again, however, he thought it highly unlikely. Kiyoomi usually put everything he needed to say into one text, even if it was a mile long, though that too was rare. When it buzzed a third time, Tetsuro realized someone was calling, and he yanked his phone out of his pocket, his heart suddenly in his throat. Maybe it was his location or the fact that he’d just been thinking about Kenma and the kids, but when he saw that it was an unknown number, his mind instantly went blank with fear. He scrambled to answer, standing to his feet as he pressed the device to his ear.
“Hello?!” he begged, a little too desperate. He heard a sharp screech and then a distant, “Tetsu-chan!”
Keiko! Tetsuro spun on his heel, panic coursing through him. “Keiko, what’s wrong?! Where’s your mama?”
All he could hear was shuffling, like Keiko was running, or the phone was in her pocket or under a blanket- It only freaked Tetsuro out all the more, and he was instantly moving, running with nowhere to go.
“Tell me where you are; I’m coming!”
There was a pause, and then a new voice came on, this one loud and clear and perfectly recognizable. “Who is this?”
Tetsuro froze, breathing heavy. “Kenma-” he hushed, and he heard the Omega click his tongue.
“Keiko, you can’t play with my phone and call random numbers.”
“Kenma, are you okay?” Tetsuro breathed, but he was standing up straighter again, his heart slowly beating more regularly. Damn, he’s nearly had a heart attack.
“We’re absolutely fine. I’m sorry about that; it won’t happen again-”
“No, wait-!” Tetsuro begged, and then suddenly his whole being flooded with warmth, and he had to cover his big smile. He was on the phone with Kenma! Through some sort of blessed karma, he’d gotten a call, and now he was on the phone with his beloved little Omega.
“What?” Kenma asked shortly, impatient, and Tetsuro wanted to laugh, so delighted to hear that dry, ill-tempered voice he loved so much. The real Kenma was so much more of a delight than the one Tetsuro had initially fallen for on stream, and while they were both Kenma, this one felt so much more authentic. Kenma was so damn adorable that Tetsuro thought he might just burst.
“How are you doing? Is everything okay?” Tetsuro asked, smiling softly, his voice warm. He tried to infuse his calming scent into his words, and Kenma huffed like he could tell.
Still, when he replied, he was a little less curt, almost… grateful. “We’re fine, Tetsuro. Sorry to bother you.”
“It’s seriously not a bother! I’ve missed your voice and seeing you and the kids. I’m actually at the park right now-”
“You’re an idiot,” Kenma cut in sharply, and Tetsuro couldn’t help but laugh, so damn happy.
“Yeah, I know. It’s ‘cause I really like you, and I’ve been seriously worried.”
“Well, you can stop worrying. We’re fine. I’ll be back to streaming soon.”
“Kenma,” Tetsuro breathed, pausing for a moment. He glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he checked his surroundings, more because he’d gotten used to it than actually thinking he’d see something. He realized he looked stupid just standing at the park entrance, so he headed out, making his way back home. “It’s not just about the streaming,” he said, and Kenma clicked his tongue.
“I don’t get you,” he mumbled after a little while, and Tetsuro was so ready to explain his feelings, but then Kenma spoke again, his tone curt once more as he continued, “I hired some security for me and the kids, so you don’t have to worry about us anymore. Actually, they’re here right now to install some panic buttons and cameras, so I’m hanging up. Don’t call me just because you have my number now, and if someone else suddenly ends up with my number, it’s you I’m coming to murder, you hear me?”
Tetsuro couldn’t help but laugh, relief and joy coursing through him. “Yes, cutie!”
he cheered, grinning from ear to ear. “See you later, Kenma~” he hummed, the daily tone sounding before he’d gotten it all out, but that didn’t matter to him. He clutched his phone to his ear and then pulled it back, staring at his screen and the number here. Kenma’s number. Like he was terrified it might just disappear, he quickly clicked to save it, storing it under ‘Keiko and Ken’s Mama’ just in case. He even searched for a little photo of a calico cat and applied that as the contact picture.
Tetsuro was still grinning at his phone as he walked when a rough shoulder collided with his own. It took him a second to react, his head whirling up too slow as he called, “Hey! What the fuck?” He spun around, a figure clad in a brown coat and hat quickly walking away. The guy didn’t even look his way, and Tetsuro huffed in anger at the man’s back before his eyes snapped wide, something in him shouting that that hadn’t been a normal encounter.
“Hey!” he shouted loudly, and immediately the man was running. Tetsuro was off like a bullet, chasing him. “Hey, bastard!” he yelled at the man’s back. “Are you the one-?!”
The stranger rounded a corner, but Tetsuro was just seconds behind him, having caught up quickly with his long legs. By the time he’d rounded the corner himself, though, the man was full-on running, peering back over his shoulder, throwing up his middle finger and other rude gestures.
“You son of a bitch!” Tetsuro roared. He ran faster, his lungs bursting as he inhaled ice cold air. “Fuck, get back here and face me like a fucking man, you coward!”
Another corner came up, and Tetsuro was gaining speed, but then just as suddenly, the guy was out of sight and gone. Tetsuro peeled around the building, but the stranger had dissapeared. He sprinted a little farther, but he had no clue where he was and definitely not where the man had gone to. He had no proof, either, and he wasn’t even sure what had tipped him off in the first place, but he was so sure that was the guy that was stalking Kenma. Tetsuro froze in the middle of the sidewalk, panting heavy as he pulled out his phone. He wrote down anything he could recall: brown coat, baseball cap, dark hair, shorter than him, and the scent of musty, rotting wood. It was the scent, he realized as he typed it out, that had set him off first, his instincts kicking in before he could even think.
Tetsuro slowly turned, his heart still racing. Fuck, he hated that he hadn’t caught the bastard! Had he not been fast enough? The guy had been surprisingly quick on his feet, maybe because his build was smaller. Was Tetsuro out of shape? If he’d kept up a little better with his cardio, would he have caught the stalker? He clutched at his face and marched angrily home.
He felt so damn useless right now, and with the joy from Kenma’s call fading off, he realized just how much. He was so glad, so damn glad that Kenma had gotten some security and was being proactive, but the fact that he was keeping Tetsuro so at arms length ate at him, at his pride. He knew pride wasn’t anything when it came to serious situations like this, but he was an Alpha, and that was harder to accept than it was to just say. He hung his coat and scarf up, kicking his shoes off, and while he heated up some leftovers, he opened his laptop and logged onto the streaming site. He messaged Kenma first, not mentioning too much of the incident but simply saying he’d spotted a man at the park, being suspicious. He gave the few details he had and then turned back to his other messages. The contact at the website had gotten back to him.
We rooted out his IP address, but unfortunately it doesn’t match any other users, so he might be using different devices in different locations, a VPN, or he’s simply deleted his old account. Since we scrub old data regularly due to the amount of traffic we get on the site, we wouldn’t be able to locate any old accounts using his IP address.
The only other info I was able to garner from his account is a name, though it’s likely just his initials. There’s no other info on the account since we don’t require much aside from a name to open one, and the email address he used to sign up was a throw away. We have limited his account for now, and I am talking to the higher-ups to get him banned based on the review of you and a few other viewers of Kodzuken’s streams.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Is there anything else I can do?
What was the name? Tetsuro replied back, sighing as he scrubbed at his face. Damn, another dead end. It was likely that the stalker would just make a new account if he was banned. He could ask them to keep tracking the IP address and look for any new activity, but if the guy really was using a VPN or different devices, it wouldn’t do much. Would the stalker get pissed? Maybe he’d make a mistake if he felt the pressure.
Tetsuro opened his eyes to ask the site contact if they could put a tracker on the IP address when he saw he’d gotten a reply. At first he couldn’t make sense of the response, but then it dawned on him.
The initials the stalker had used when signing up for his account.
KK.
Kenma Kozume. Kodzuken.
This man knew much more about Kenma than he should, and he was seriuosly obsessed.
-x-
Osamu batted his eyelashes at Shugo, the Alpha watching him with a sort of bemused expression. Koichi sat in Shugo’s lap, very invested in his coloring, while Osamu was trying to communicate telepathically with his boyfriend.
“It’s important,” he said again, tapping insistently at the kitchen table top with wide eyes. Shugo hummed and nodded.
Osamu had been trying to make Shugo understand for the past hour why it was super duper important that he sit Kiyoomi down for a talk. Ever since finding out that Kiyoomi did in fact have feelings for his little baby brother, Osamu had been on a mission. He had watched enough Alphas try and succeed in breaking Atsumu’s heart, and he certainly wasn’t going to let Kiyoomi even attempt anything if he was just planning to add his name to that list.
“Darling, he’s been keeping this in for years, what makes you think he’s suddenly found the courage to say something to Atsumu now?” Shugo was partly playing devil’s advocate, but for the most part, he really didn’t see why Osamu was so riled up about it. In his eyes, Kiyoomi just had a stupid crush that he was going to be stupid about no matter what.
Osamu folded his hands on the table and gave his boyfriend the best puppy dog eyes he had. “Just… help me, please? For Atsumu? Or just for me?”
Shugo actually had to look away, his expression suddenly morphing into something like frustrated guilt. “You know I can’t say no to you when you make that face,” he grumbled, and Osamu grinned, knowing very well how weak Shugo was to his pleading. Osamu stood and danced over to his boyfriend, grabbing his face and kissing his cheek.
“I love you, Shu, you’re the best,” crooned Osamu before dancing off to grab his phone. Shugo just glanced down at Koichi, sighing softly before hugging the little boy to his chest and murmuring, “Your pretty little mama is getting away with too much because he knows how much I love him.”
Koichi giggled, delighted by the news and always happy to accept hugs from the Alpha. He tilted his head back and peered up at Shugo with the same sweet smile Osamu had, the Alpha bemoaning his weaknesses. Osamu chortled as he picked up his phone, dialing Tetsuro’s number.
“Hi, Auntie,” Tetsuro hummed when he answered, Osamu’s mischievous smile melting to something fond and warm.
“Hi, Tetsu-chan! How are you?”
Koichi’s head whirled around and his eyes went big when he heard Tetsuro’s name, and Osamu couldn’t help but beam at his baby boy. Shugo rested his chin on the little boy’s head of fluffy hair and just watched it all with soft, green eyes.
“I’m fine. Hanging out with Omi,” Tetsuro replied, and then, a little more suspicious, “What’s up?”
“I can’t call my favorite nephew whenever I want?”
“I didn’t say that, but I know you’re with your favorite boyfriend, so…”
Osamu hummed, smiling fondly at Shugo, who had no clue what was being said. “True,” sang the Omega in mischief, Shugo knowing that tone anywhere and raising an eyebrow. Osamu just pranced back over to his seat and sat down, grinning as he propped his chin in his hand. “Listen, why don’t you bring Kiyoomi over to Shu’s?”
Tetsuro seemed to instantly detect something was up, while Koichi was already excitedly babbling about seeing Tetsu-chan. “Auntie, what are you planning?” the Alpha murmured.
“I just wanna ask him some questions,” Osamu chimed back, as innocent as could be. Shugo actually rolled his eyes, which had Osamu kicking him under the table. A big hand swooped down and grabbed his ankle, hefting Osamu’s leg up and pulling the foot into his crowded lap. Osamu slid down his chair a little, grinning.
“Auntie,” Tetsuro sighed, but after a moment of consideration, replied, “Alright. It’ll probably do you both good.”
“Don’t act like you don’t want me to grill him a little, Tetsuro,” Osamu hummed, to which Tetsuro just laughed, bemused.
“We’ll be over in about twenty minutes. I’ll take Ko-chan and Shugo to the park so you two can chat.”
“You can take my baby boy, but I’m gonna need my other baby~” said Osamu, poking his big toe at Shugo’s hard stomach, the man just smirking at him now.
Tetsuro just sighed and then laughed, humming his agreement. “See you in a little bit, Auntie.”
Osamu hung up and then grinned at Shugo, blowing him a kiss as thanks for always taking his side even if he didn’t fully agree with everything the Omega thought up. Shugo stroked at his foot, a silent way of relaying that he’d always have Osamu’s back, no matter what, and Osamu stared at his boyfriend for a long while, just madly in love.
“Mama, is Tetsu-chan coming over?!” Koichi was asking in excitement, Shugo bouncing him on his lap. Grey eyes slipped down to the little boy, Osamu’s expression never changing as he regarded the second love of his life.
“Yeah, baby. You wanna go to the park with him?”
Koichi just grinned, patting at the pictures he’d been drawing as he hummed, “Gonna show him my art and tell him about the airplane Shu-chan made for me…”
A big, warm hand patted at Osamu’s foot, and then Shugo lifted Koichi up and set him back down in his chair, saying, “I’ll go pack the two of you a little lunch and make us something. How does onigiri sound?”
Osamu jumped to his feet and joined Shugo in the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves with bright eyes. “I’ll help,” he hummed. A big arm wrapped around his waist, and Shugo kissed his temple before pulling out some leftover rice as well as a bit of tuna and some scraps of salmon from the restaurant, while Osamu pulled out a small jar of pickled plums from the cabinets against the wall. They crumbled both types of fish up and added some mayonnaise and seasonings to the bowls, the two pressed to each other’s sides, swaying their hips to silent music. They were still flirting with each other by the time Tetsuro arrived with a very confused and slightly concerned Kiyoomi, the former letting himself and his friend in.
“Tetsu-chan!” cried Koichi, hurtling off his chair and leaping up in boundless excitement, Tetsuro barely having time to grab the boy up. He laughed as he twirled him around, grinning smugly at Shugo, who just grinned over the top of Osamu’s head. Two pairs of eyes shifted next to Kiyoomi, who stood quite awkwardly in the small entryway. He actually jolted a little when Shugo walked over the small bento for Tetsuro and Koichi, patting the Alpha perhaps a little too hard on the back.
“Well, I’ll leave you three to it,” said Tetsuro with no further explanation to his friend as he headed out with Koichi in his arms, already having put the boy in his winter coat and boots, Koichi just waving over a broad shoulder. The door shut and the small apartment fell instantly quiet. Osamu wiped his hands clean after plating the last of the onigiri, watching a very uncertain Kiyoomi.
“Have a seat, Omi,” Shugo said, motioning to the kitchen table while Osamu set the plate of onigiri down with a satisfying and startling clink. Kiyoomi looked about as skittish as a feral cat being cornered, and Osamu couldn’t help but find it quite amusing. Kiyoomi slowly pulled his shoes off and straightened them before shuffling over to the table on socked feet. He sat down, his eyes moving from the plate of food to Osamu and then to Shugo.
“You look like you think we might murder you,” teased Osamu, his grin a little crooked, and Shugo laughed as he moved towards his bed, lounging back on it. Osamu stared at him for a second before turning his full attention back to Kiyoomi.
“So you like my brother,” he said as a way of starting the interrogation off, and suddenly, Kiyoomi seemed to both relax and grow more anxious, an amusing reaction to behold. His face went slack while his shoulders grew stiffer, and Osamu let out a dry laugh. He grabbed an onigiri and put it on one of the small plates he’d set on the table with the serving plate, taking a slow and careful bite.
“I do,” Kiyoomi replied after realizing the question wasn’t redundant, his eyes moving to Shugo for a moment.
“And what are you planning to do about that?” Osamu asked next, straight to the point.
Kiyoomi swallowed.
“Don’t lie,” offered Shugo from the bed, the other Alpha just nodding minutely. Kiyoomi’s scent seemed to be purposefully held back, and Osamu wondered if he could even recall exactly what the young Alpha smelled like.
“I don’t know yet,” was Kiyoomi’s slow reply. “Confess-”
Osamu raised his hand, stopping the brat right there. Kiyoomi pursed his lips together, thick eyebrows knitting towards each other.
“You’re going to confess to my brother, now? After… six years?”
Kiyoomi visibly swallowed, and just to mess with him, Osamu nudged the plate of onigiri towards him. Kiyoomi looked like he didn’t even dare pull his gaze away from the Omega, however.
Before Kiyoomi could answer again or even try to defend himself, Osamu waved his hand, holding his onigiri, and hummed, “Fine, I’ll give you the years before you turned 18. How old are you? Twenty?”
Kiyoomi swallowed. “Almost,” he replied, to which Shugo cleared his throat. “I’m nineteen,” Kiyoomi quickly amended.
Osamu tapped at his lip, staring straight into Kiyoomi’s pitch black eyes. He’d look more like an Alpha if he grew a bit of a spine, Osamu lamented; he wanted to see if he could make Kiyoomi bare his fangs. He just looked uncomfortable right now, certainly nothing deserving of the best Omega in the world. Osamu clicked his tongue and huffed, “So you’ve had a year and some change to confess since you turned 18, and yet here we are.”
Kiyoomi stiffened up, but he didn’t try to defend himself. “Right,” was all he murmured. His lips twisted up, and Osamu wondered if he was striking a nerve or if Kiyoomi was feeling a bit hateful towards himself. He dug deeper to find out by asking, “Is it because you’re aware that he might not think you’re up to snuff?”
This struck a cord, Kiyoomi’s eyebrows pulling tightly together as his lips pursed. Interesting… Osamu raised a slow eyebrow, and then he tapped his nail at the table.
“And you’re gonna try to convince me that you deserve to confess to my baby brother?”
“I can be better,” Kiyoomi instantly said, jolting forward. Shugo clicked his tongue, and Kiyoomi growled ever so lightly, recognizing that another Alpha was questioning his masculinity; it was probably already bad enough that an Omega was doing it, but it seemed that Kiyoomi at least knew better than to bare his fangs at another man’s mate. “I will do better,” he growled, and Osamu felt a shiver prickle across his skin for a moment. Damn, he could almost believe it, but that didn’t mean it was enough…
From his pocket, he pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper, and he spent the next minute very carefully unfolding it and spreading it out on the kitchen table. It was a numbered list, and Osamu let Kiyoomi see that. He meant to touch on every bullet point, and the list was long. Kiyoomi shifted back in his seat, and Osamu nudged the plate of onigiri towards him again. Finally, the Alpha took one, taking a slow, big bite. Osamu delighted in the way Kiyoomi’s eyes went a fraction wider, almost indescribable if Osamu hadn’t been watching very closely.
“Taste like Atsumu’s?” he hummed before immediately diving into his interrogation.
“Please give me five good reasons why you think you’d be better for Atsumu than any other Alpha.”
It was a test. The true sign of an Alpha who deserved a mate was confidence, conviction, and most of all, pride. In Osamu’s book, any Alpha even thinking of approaching his little brother had better show initiative, unction, and the simple fortitude to withstand all of Atsumu’s brutal sass. Osamu was delighted to see that Kiyoomi recognized the test put before him as he slowly squared his shoulders, swallowing down his first onigiri before replying.
“I will love Atsumu more than anyone else; I will give him my all and commit my all to him. I’ll provide above and beyond his needs for him, make sure he’s happy, and bend over backwards if I have to to give him whatever he desires.”
Osamu just nodded, tapping at his chin. It was a start. “And what if Atsumu turns you down?”
Kiyoomi paused for a moment, glancing sideways at Shugo before slowly answering, “I won’t give up. I’ve loved him for 6 years. I’m going to love him for the rest of my life. I won’t… give up.”
If Kiyoomi had worried that Osamu might want to hear that he would back down just from that and “respect” Atsumu’s decision, he showed the Alpha that the opposite was in fact true. Most importantly, Osamu could smell that it was the truth. Good. Osamu tapped some more at his chin before asking, “You’re still in college and have no job. How would you provide? Using Daddy and Mommy’s money?”
Shugo snorted from the bed, and Osamu caught the proud smile he flashed at the Omega, chuckling under his breath. Kiyoomi just stared back, stiff as a board with that same, unreadable expression. Osamu was getting under his skin, but Kiyoomi refused to show it. Was it just because Shugo was in the room? No, Osamu doubted it. Atsumu wouldn’t have let an Alpha who seriously mistreated Omegas stick around.
“You’re right,” Kiyoomi admitted to both Shugo and Osamu’s surprise. “My parents have raised me to be the best Alpha I could possibly be. I am currently studying to be a lawyer, which is an elusive career, especially if I make partner, but as of right now, I don’t have a single penny to my own name.” He clenched his fists slowly and then said with the utmost seriousness, “I would find a job now if I had to. I could find… work.”
The way Shugo was staring daggers at Kiyoomi had made him falter for a second, but the way he was watching Osamu said he meant it, earnestly. Still, it showed his naïveté, as if getting a job that would pay enough to support himself and an Omega was so easy to get with no work experience. Shugo seemed almost personally offended, and Osamu had to send him a soft smile that reassured the Alpha that Osamu trusted him to take care of him and Koichi when it came to it. Osamu had never doubted that Shugo wouldn’t break his back to provide for the two of them, while Kiyoomi… Osamu had serious doubts. Still, he knew Kiyoomi wasn’t lazy; that much was easy enough to tell from his peak physique and his volleyball track record. Osamu had heard Tetsuro brag enough about his best friend to know Kiyoomi could easily be recruited to go pro, which meant he was driven, hard-working, motivated. The question was, did these things apply to Atsumu?
Osamu tapped at his sheet of paper, black eyes watching him quite intensely. Osamu wondered if Atsumu would enjoy it if he was the one sitting here; actually, he was sure that if there was anything Atsumu liked about this brat, it was this stare. Atsumu had always been a bit of a masochist with a weakness for dumbasses.
“So let’s say Atsumu agrees, and you get him pregnant. What then?”
Kiyoomi choked as soon as Osamu mentioned pregnancy, and his grey eyes went wide as he watched the Alpha turn bright pink. Oh no, this was too much. His hands snapped up, and he asked in disbelief, “Kiyoomi, are you a virgin?”
“I love… Atsumu…” was the rushed response, and Osamu actually felt his heart go out to the Alpha across from him. Oh, this sweet, tortured brat. Had he intentionally saved himself for Atsumu, or had there just never been anyone else who appealed to him? Osamu couldn’t help but clasp his hands together, covering his slightly-ajar mouth. Oh, Atsumu would eat this kid alive if Kiyoomi ever made it that far, and for that reason alone, Osamu almost wanted to root for him. Still - “So you get Atsumu pregnant-”
“Listen, I’ll do anything,” Kiyoomi burst, a flash of anger mixed in with the embarrassment, his scent suddenly lashing out. Osamu inhaled sharply and blinked in surprise, barely noticing that Shugo was on his feet and making his way over in a flash. Kiyoomi instantly simmered back down, but Shugo pulled out a chair, sitting right next to Osamu. He wrapped an arm around his shoulders, tugging the Omega protectively to his chest. Kiyoomi pressed his back to the chair he sat in as if trying to keep as much distance between him and Shugo, and he turned his gaze back to Osamu, addressing him a little more respectfully as he continued, “I’d find a job and figure out a way to take care of Atsumu and our baby. It’s not even a question. I’m an Alpha, a man; it’s my responsibility.”
Osamu couldn’t help it, his own scent slowly melting out towards the Alpha. He could tell that Kiyoomi was starting to resent the interrogation, and with the way Shugo was on high alert now, Osamu knew it would only end badly if he kept pushing, so he sat forward and made it very clear to the younger Alpha, “Look, you seem like a good kid, and if you prove yourself worthy of my baby brother, I’ll have your back and be on your side. I’m not the bad guy. You seem really serious, and I can respect the commitment you’ve shown so far, but you have to understand-”
Kiyoomi’s demeanor shifted so instantly that it surprised even Shugo. His expression went almost soft, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he breathed out in a rush of relief. “Okay,” he said in a voice that was suddenly deep and commanding attention, and suddenly Osamu could see it. Kiyoomi had the potential, not just to be a good Alpha, but to be an excellent partner to a headstrong, stubborn Omega like Atsumu. Osamu had seriously underestimated the Alpha, but he wasn’t the only one. Shugo let out a short huff as he sank back in his own chair, his arm across the back of Osamu’s now.
“Osamu, I am dead-serious about Atsumu. There is no one and nothing I want more than him, and while I may have struggled in the past with my feelings and expressing them, I know now that I love your brother and I would do anything - anything - to prove it. He’s all I want. He’s the one and only thing aside from volleyball that I have ever truly wanted to fight for and cling to.”
Osamu raised his hands, letting out a wry laugh. “Then show me your conviction by answering the rest of my questions.”
Kiyoomi nodded and then grabbed another onigiri, ready. Osamu watched him for a moment, watched him bite down, watched his face change ever so subtly again. This time he had to hide his fond smile with his hands. Black eyes seemed to sparkle as Kiyoomi ate down his second onigiri in a few seconds flat.
“My favorite…” the Alpha hushed almost to himself once he’d swallowed, pausing only for a moment before wiping a bit of pickled plum juice away on a napkin. Osamu pressed his hands together and let out a laugh, Kiyoomi’s eyes snapping up and going wide. Shugo’s scent filled the room, warm and relaxing, a bemused chuckle reaching Osamu’s ear.
“Tell me five things you know about Atsumu. I want to see how much attention you’ve paid him.”
Kiyoomi almost laughed, a wry sound cracking out of his throat. He barely even breathed as he rattled off, rapid fire, “Atsumu loves plants but doesn’t have a green thumb at all, he’s an amazing cook but constantly doubts himself, he still loves volleyball but is scared to admit how much he misses playing, he loves reality tv, hates natto, is a night owl, and would probably cry at the first sign of a wrinkle or grey hair even though he’s so beautiful-”
“Okay,” Osamu laughed. “That’s more than five. You’re good-”
“I’ve been watching him for more than ten years, even before I did it consciously,” Kiyoomi continued, seeming almost stressed and nearly incapable of stopping himself. It was like he’d just been waiting for someone to have his back and believe him. Osamu’s eyes prickled, and he cursed quietly under his breath. He wasn’t sure who he thought was more stupid right now; Atsumu for not realizing how much this brat cared about him, or Kiyoomi himself for being such a brat in the first place and not realizing himself.
Kiyoomi inhaled sharply and said, “I grew up in a household that discouraged emotions and dreams and… useless things like that, but Atsumu taught me that those things are so, so important. If I had never met Atsumu, I don’t know that I would have ever loved anyone at all, and while Tetsuro introduced me to volleyball, it was Atsumu who made it a dream I wanted to pursue. He’s so… important to me,” Kiyoomi breathed out. “He’s the only person who’s ever made me truly proud to be an Alpha.”
Osamu sighed out slowly, and then he admitted quite candidly, “You’re going to need all of that drive if you want to actually win my brother over, so don’t you dare lose your fight halfway through. Do you understand what I’m saying? I mean I’ll kill you if you change your mind somewhere along the way, and there will be at least three people behind me if you hurt him in any way.”
Shugo shifted on his chair, his chin jutting towards Kiyoomi, but the need for posturing wasn’t necessary anymore. There was a fire in Kiyoomi’s eyes, and his scent was quiet but easy to pick out now, screaming that he was an Alpha, that this was about his pride as much as it was about his love.
With a laugh, Osamu dropped the final bomb by saying, “You have a lot of work to do. Right now, Atsumu would reject you in a second flat.”
Kiyoomi paused, and Osamu waited for the anger, but instead, the Alpha nodded, solemn and very aware. Osamu let out a soft hum.
“If you‘re determined, I’ll shape you up and make you someone Atsumu deserves. Don’t think I’m gonna go easy on you just because you made me feel bad for you. You’re way too much of a spoiled brat right now, and you need to find your spine and grow some balls.”
Shugo snorted, pressing the issue with, “You’re gonna have a serious problem if you don’t man the fuck up.” Osamu agreed completely, but he still gave his boyfriend a light warning smack across the chest. Green eyes shifted to him, and Shugo melted a second later, leaning forward to murmur an apology and kiss Osamu. The Omega purred softly, losing himself in Shugo’s affections for a minute, completely forgetting they had an audience.
His head snapped back and he flushed red once he remembered, though, clearing his throat as Kiyoomi just stared, dead silent, face impossible to read.
Osamu folded his hands and said in the warm tone he usually reserved for Koichi, “Despite all of that, I don’t think it’s impossible. My little brother may look and act tough, but he’s not; he’s really just a regular Omega like the rest of us, which means he craves love and attention from an Alpha just as much as anyone else. Do you get it?”
Kiyoomi nodded. “Show him how I feel,” he answered simply, and Osamu sighed roughly, shaking his head as he rubbed at his jaw.
“You are going to have to drown him in love. Spoil him rotten. Make a fool out of yourself proving it. Get down on your hands and knees and beg him to be yours. Do you understand?”
Kiyoomi nodded more slowly this time. Osamu smiled.
“You’re gonna take that Alpha pride you’ve got, and you’re going to show Atsumu that he’s the only one you’ll ever let step all over it, and then you’re gonna sweep him off his feet and show him how a real Alpha does it.”
Kiyoomi swallowed while Shugo scrubbed at Osamu’s back, knowing that the Omega had recognized that Shugo had done all of these things and more for Osamu himself. He had set the bar high, but he wasn’t going to apologize. After all, he owed Atsumu a big one for helping him win over Osamu in the first place. The Omega chuckled fondly, squeezing at Shugo’s thick thigh. He squealed when the Alpha pulled him into his lap and to his chest. Kiyoomi just watched it all with very serious eyes and a determined expression, and something a little bit like jealousy glittering in that stiff gaze.
Good. Perfect. Just like that, Kiyoomi.
“So, what do you think?”
Kiyoomi could only nod. He clutched his hands together, and Osamu grinned at him before standing up and moving to the other side of the table, patting at Kiyoomi’s head of curls. He giggled when he saw the Alpha fight back the urge to pull away. Shugo just stared daggers at his friend, while Osamu laughed in delight.
Oh, he was going to enjoy this quite a lot. He was going to make Kiyoomi so, so perfect for his brother, and he couldn’t wait.
-x-
Atsumu’s hand felt small in Romero’s, and he was getting so used to the feeling. The flight out of Milan had been considerably shorter than their first flight in, but Romero had still refused to let go of Atsumu the whole time. They’d chatted softly about volleyball and the things Atsumu wanted to do in Paris, while Romero had told the Omega he was excited to show off his new home. They would be staying there, just on the outskirts of Paris in a fancy little house that Romero had described as “humble”. Atsumu was sure he’d laugh at the description later. He pressed closer to Romero as they made their way through the airport in France, grinning as a few people turned and stared at them. He was getting used to the looks, too; even if people didn’t know who Romero was, he was a big man that was hard to ignore, and his pairing with someone like Atsumu made more than a few turn their heads. The Omega had thought he’d find it annoying by now, but he just felt so proud when Romero wrapped an arm possessively around his waist or gave him little kisses in the middle of a crowd. Nobody cared about PDA in Europe, and Atsumu had already seen several couples just making out in cafés or on the street, and especially in front of historical monuments for pictures. It made Atsumu feel a little better about how clingy he’d gotten, while Romero just ate it all up. In that way, they were nearly perfect together.
Paris was a lot louder than Milan had been, which surprised Atsumu; hearing loud French and random bits of English mixed with Spanish and German made his head throb, everything a mess of sounds to his poor Japanese brain. He clung to Romero as the man expertly wheeled their luggage behind them, moving through the crowd like a knife in counter-top butter, making sure Atsumu stayed with him. Outside, he hailed a cab, and finally everything was quiet. Romero showed the driver his address, and then, assuming they didn’t speak a lick of French, the man left them alone.
Romero turned to Atsumu and combed his blond hair back, smiling fondly. Time with the Alpha had flown by, and Atsumu couldn’t believe it had already been more than a week since he’d been home. His daily calls with Tetsuro and texts with Osamu kept him sane, and Romero was good at distracting the Omega, so thankfully he hadn’t felt too homesick yet. What Atsumu did feel was disconnected from his real life, feeling more like this was a really great and long dream than reality. Tetsuro didn’t talk much about his friends, and Atsumu hadn’t spoken to Alex since his last day of work. It was fine, but it settled Atsumu into this weird head space that made him think none of this was really real, Romero just a figment of his very good imagination. Romero felt real, though, and they had touched and fucked enough for Atsumu to understand this was real, but still it felt so damn odd. Atsumu wasn’t complaining, not really; he just wondered what this feeling was. He was having fun, but sometimes he felt more like he was watching a movie than experiencing it himself. He shrugged it off once more and smiled at Romero.
“I can’t wait to show you around the city,” the Alpha was murmuring even as he touched Atsumu in places that suggested they probably wouldn’t be stepping outside until tomorrow at the earliest. Atsumu giggled, reaching out and combing his own fingers through Romero’s hair, scraping nails through his facial scruff. Atsumu wasn’t used to feeling so much beard in kisses and during sex, but he’d grown to like the rough feel of it, and besides, Romero just looked so handsome like that.
“Have ya been ta Paris before?”
“Yes,” Romero hummed in his thick accent. “It’s one of my favorite places. It’s why I decided to buy a home just outside the city. I don’t get to travel during the season, but outside of that, I come here whenever I can.”
“Lucky,” Atsumu husked, smiling coyly. Seeing it, Romero pressed a bit closer, his scent suddenly a little stronger. The taxi driver tapped at the window partition between them as if to remind them not to have sex in the back of his car. Atsumu flushed and then giggled, and a moment later, Romero leaned down and captured his lips like he was enthralled. Atsumu liked that feeling the most; it was like the man couldn’t get enough of him, like Romero craved him like air. He gripped his hands into the back of Romero’s jacket and mewled sweetly, returning the kiss eagerly. Their tongues wrapped slowly around each other, and Atsumu let himself melt.
Breathing heavy, Romero husked against his cheek, “I feel like it’s been too long. I want to have you as soon as we get to my place.”
Atsumu thrilled, his own sweet pheromones mixing with Romero’s spiced scent. Atsumu liked the way it smelled, jasmine and honey mixed with rosewood. Romero chuckled softly when Atsumu pulled him back to his lips, the Alpha leaning over him, crowding him. Atsumu was already getting wet in his leggings, and he rocked himself against a thick thigh.
The taxi cab stopped almost abruptly, the grumpy driver muttering something in French. Romero paid him a hefty tip and then scooped Atsumu out, kissing him in front of a house that was anything but humble in Atsumu’s mind, and yet it somehow still fit the description Romero had given perfectly. It was certainly not as grand as his home in Japan had been, and it wasn’t huge either, but the white brick and stucco walls made it stick out from the flats and the chateaus they’d passed along the way, its big windows giving it an air of charming luxury. They stood at the end of a long, cobbled drive surrounded by trees, and that alone told Atsumu that this “humble” abode was probably worth more than he’d ever made in his life. There was a small detached garage, and Atsumu wondered if Romero already had a car in it.
The Omega peered around while Romero pulled their luggage out of the back of the cab, and soon they were alone. The air was quiet, blissful, and Atsumu was glad that they hadn’t gotten a hotel in the city. Atsumu missed the way Japan was quiet, something he’d never even realized or appreciated until now. He missed the way he’d been the loudest thing around until now.
“Come,” Romero called with a big grin as he pushed a gorgeous, leaf green door open at the side of the house. He pushed their luggage inside and then turned to see Atsumu’s reaction as they stepped into a gorgeous, modern kitchen.
It was probably as big as Atsumu’s whole living space back home, and he choked at the double stacked ovens and the giant gas stove. An itch settled in his bones, and he couldn’t help but beg, “Can we make food at home tonight?”
Romero just grinned, so ecstatic as he hummed, “We can order some groceries to be delivered and make whatever you want.”
Atsumu sidled up to the Alpha, staring into molten chocolate eyes. He pressed his hands to a solid chest, feeling the man’s beating heart beneath his palm. Romero swept Atsumu up onto the kitchen island and then kissed him deeply, strong arms around his back, a hand in his blond hair. It felt warm, like coming home ought to be, and it made Atsumu miss Tetsuro and Osamu and… Kiyoomi.
His eyebrows raised in surprise, but any thought was gone a moment later when Romero swept him up once more, asking, “Would you like a tour of the rest of the house first, or…”
The grin on his lips was delicious, and Atsumu purred. “Show me the bedroom, Nicolas~” he murmured in a seductive tone, Romero matching it with his own deep voice as he husked, “Anything for you, meu belo.”
It was all Atsumu could ask for. Romero’s footsteps were loud and solid through the house, the stairs quiet under his feet. The home looked older from the outside but had obviously been completely renovated by a previous owner or seller with big money, no expense spared. Atsumu stared over Romero’s shoulder at the giant, artsy chandelier hanging in the foyer and wondered what it must feel like to own a home with a chandelier in it. He cupped Romero’s face and thought to ask when a door whipped open behind him, and a moment later, his back was against a wall as Romero hungrily came for his lips, holding him up by his thighs. His kiss was deep, and his scent spoke of his desire, neither holding back now that they were completely alone. A tongue curled fat and hot around Atsumu’s, and he moaned as he grabbed fistfuls of soft brown hair, rocking his hips against solid abs.
“Nicolas- Nic-” he begged as Romero devoured him, a hand sliding inside Atsumu’s leggings and gripping at fat ass cheeks. The man was obsessed with Atsumu’s butt, and the Omega loved it. The room they were in quickly came to smell of their needy scents, and Romero growled, grinning.
“I don’t think I can hold back right now,” he murmured deeply, and Atsumu giggled.
“Ya say that every time,” he teased, and Romero growled again, nipping softly at Atsumu’s neck, just a breath away from his scent gland. Atsumu let heat flood him, not at all scared that the Alpha might actually bite him.
“That’s because I mean it every time,” Romero husked as he left little hickies on softly tanned skin, nuzzling his nose to the throbbing vein in Atsumu’s neck.
“Ya could be rougher, ya know,” the Omega hummed, locking his legs around the man’s hips. Romero just chuckled softly while Atsumu griped, “I’m not gonna break, and ya treat me like porcelain-”
“Atsumu,” Romero breathed in his sexy accent like the name was something exotic, his voice sending a violent shiver through the Omega at the raw sound. He slowly leaned back against the wall, drinking in the heat in Romero’s dark eyes. “It’s not that I’m afraid you’ll break. It’s that I’m desperate to treasure you, belo. My passion for you shows in my lovemaking, but if you’d really like it rough, I could try-”
Romero knew what Atsumu’s response would be before he gave it, considering they went over this almost every night. It just wasn’t fair; he knew how good he could make the Omega feel in bed, better than anyone else ever had, even if he didn’t really throw Atsumu around and handle him roughly. The Omega simmered, knowing what was waiting for him in that heated state, nodding meekly. Romero made him melt, all of his pretenses fading away. When it was just the two of them, Atsumu was allowed to be needy and whiny, to be selfish and spoiled. He’d let Romero ruin him, but it was only because of the trust that Romero had built by doing the exact opposite that made him feel so safe. If it was anyone else, Atsumu wouldn’t let his walls down for them, and this, more than anything, made Atsumu feel like he could be happy with Romero for a lifetime even if he never fell in love. He mewled meekly, and Romero chuckled, carrying Atsumu to the bed.
“I’ll give you anything you want, so tell me, belo,” the big man purred in his deep voice, and Atsumu keened back, “Just… do what ya always do…”
“Yes, my prince,” Romero husked, and damn if that didn’t make Atsumu wet. Romero slid his big hands down the backs of the Omega’s thighs, tugging his leggings down while marking up his neck. He shuffled down and then began doing the same to Atsumu’s thighs, nuzzling fondly at the erection in his tiny panties. Atsumu whined pitifully, grabbing fistfuls of soft brown hair and tugging, but Romero was not going to be swayed as he pressed kisses to Atsumu’s length, licking against the lace,
“Nicolas-” Atsumu begged shakily, shivering when the other hummed.
“What do you want, belo?” Romero asked as he slipped two fingers inside Atsumu’s panties, the crude, slick noise that sounded making Atsumu shake his hips. He wanted to be stuffed full, and it was almost good when two thick digits pushed into him, his back arching even as he wanted more, more. He rocked his hips and fucked Romero’s fingers as they began to curl inside him, and he panted, a bitch in heat.
“Nicolas, want ya. Want yer cock-” Atsumu begged, hungry lips continuing to kiss at his dick, fingers stirring him up and making his vision go white. “Ahn, please-! I wanna cum on yer cock, Nicolas. Give it ta me-!”
Romero chuckled at how demanding Atsumu could get, but he never once complained. In fact, his actions only encouraged the whining and begging all the more.
Romero surprised Atsumu this time, though, as he shifted on the bed, moving until he was suddenly over top of the Omega, his crotch and stiff cock right in Atsumu’s face. He gasped and then reached up, desperate, and Romero moaned encouragingly.
“Belo, how badly do you want it?” teased the Alpha. “Do you like my cock that much?”
“Yes, yes,” begged Atsumu, fumbling with the button and zipper on the Alpha’s jeans, tugging the pants open. He could smell Romero; his scent was so strong here, and he was so big and hot. Atsumu wrangled his boxer briefs down, exhaling heatedly when Romero’s shaft dropped down and nuzzled against his cheek. He turned his face and kissed at it, and in return, Romero tugged Atsumu’s panties down and began to kiss him, too. The Omega pressed his nose into the other man’s skin and inhaled deeply, while Romero chuckled, delighted.
“Atsumu, you’re gushing down here. It’s like a river. Are you that turned on?”
Atsumu wanted to cry. This was ridiculous; why did Romero have to make fun of him when he had to know what he did to not just Atsumu, but Omegas everywhere? Atsumu was so desperate, though, that he didn’t care how foolish he looked, thrusting his hips upward while he tugged Romero into his mouth, licking his wet tip and suckling on his stiff head. He tipped his head back, opening up his throat, and then he grabbed at Romero’s hips, at his firm ass, and slowly began tugging the man down. Hot breath washed over his sensitive crotch in rivers, and he couldn’t help but preen in delight as he felt Romero’s cock jump and twitch as it stuffed down his throat. Atsumu’s eyes fluttered shut, and he let out a long, low moan. Perfect. His lips kissed at the beginning of the man’s knot, his nose pressed into the underside of it, and Romero groaned. He hefted Atsumu’s hips up in response, sliding a thick arm under them, and got to work. Oh, Atsumu wasn’t going to last like this, but he didn’t care. He knew Romero would go until he himself was all out of stamina, which meant Atsumu always got multiple orgasms out of every sexual encounter with the man.
True to his nature, he wrecked Atsumu lovingly and perfectly, fucking the wet hole between his thick thighs until Atsumu was sobbing, oversensitive and tingling with delight, his toes curling as Romero finally came, grunting as he released his load into the condom he wore. Atsumu loved the feeling of it, and for a moment, he patted at his belly, grinning in a daze. Romero bent over and kissed him deeply, his knot kissing at Atsumu’s lips, begging to be let inside. He clenched down involuntarily, and Romero moaned, shivering through the last of his climax.
“That… was the best yet,” the Alpha praised as he sank down beside Atsumu, turning him in his arms and holding him. Atsumu let himself fit against Romero like a puzzle piece. “I think I’m falling in love with you,” Romero murmured to Atsumu’s ear, and for the first time, the words didn’t fill the Omega with dread. He just felt happy, at peace, content. He snuggled under Romero’s chin, humming softly as he pressed his hands to the man’s strong back.
“Ye’re just what I needed,” he told the Alpha, which seemed more than enough for Romero as his strong scent filled the bedroom, and Atsumu melted, drifting off to sleep. He was more tired than he’d thought. He vaguely registered Romero murmuring that they’d make dinner tomorrow.
“Sleep, belo. Just stay with me.”
“Mm,” Atsumu hummed, already drifting off, his head and body filled with that delicious scent…
Ah, he was happy.