Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter One: Kageyama

Tobio Kageyama doesn’t like being a Beta.

It isn’t something he can change, of course. And he understands there are benefits and crutches to every secondary gender. Yet the thought of being an Alpha or an Omega instead percolates in his mind far too often. 

He remembers the day he presented. 

It had been a boring, rainy Saturday morning when the first stirrings of sickness settled low in his stomach. He sought out his mother in the living room, fever making his skin flush and vision hazy. She’d taken one look at him and sent him right back to bed. 

The pain had been minimal, but constant. And his room smelled . Not exactly a bad scent, but pungent nonetheless. When his mother had entered his room with homemade soup in her hands she’d paused. The Omega woman had sniffed the air and smiled softly.

“Looks like my baby boy’s a grown up Beta now!”

It was the worst news Tobio could have received.

Two days later and he was back at Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High. This time he had a small, inconspicuous Beta Patch over the scent gland in his neck. All students were required to wear Scent Patches once they had presented. Their scents were too new and overpowering. They wouldn’t be allowed to go ‘patch free’ until High School, and that was only if they’d presented early enough. 

He’d planned for being either an Alpha or an Omega. The two secondary genders made up 80% of the population. His father was an Alpha and his mother came from a long line of Omegas. His sister was an Alpha, even! So it hardly seemed productive to prepare for a Beta lifestyle. 

Betas were nothing. 

Tobio doesn’t know any Betas personally, and he never really notices them in public. That’s the whole thing, though. Betas are easy to ignore. It’s built into their very biology. 

Alpha and Omega scents are incredible and full of delightful pheromones. The strong, earthy scents of Alphas are meant to entice and make you pay attention. The softer, sweet Omega scents are inviting and cause you to melt. 

Betas? They’re…. clean . Fresh. They’re meant to create relaxing atmospheres. No need to keep your guard up or posture for a Beta. They don’t have those delicious pheromones that drive Alphas and Omegas wild for each other. And for good reason.

With only a 2% successful conception rate, Betas are basically infertile.

It wasn’t as if Tobio really wanted kids. He’d never given it much thought before he presented. Perhaps that should have been his first clue as to what his secondary gender would be. The biological push to procreate wasn’t in him. 

Some scientists suggest that Betas are nature’s strange form of population control. Tobio doesn’t care about the reason, but being looked at as ‘defective’ certainly doesn’t sit right with him either.

Whatever, it’s not a big deal, he thinks to himself. If he truly wants children then he’ll adopt. 

What he cares about is volleyball. And how being a Beta will affect his future athletic career. 

Alphas are valued for their physical strength, aggression, and spectacular stamina in the world of sports. Omegas were faster, with reflexes and instincts that were often a deadly combination. Betas had their place in sports too. There were plenty of successful Beta athletes. Biology didn’t give them that little ‘edge’, though. So Betas were often overlooked in favor of their Alpha and Omega counterparts. Especially when it came to recruitment. 

Tobio is a great setter, he knows that. But with every year that passes he will have to get better, stand out more. He has to be at the top of his game so that no one will question his usefulness as a Beta. They’ll just want him . 

-----

When Tobio enters the Karasuno Beta locker room he realizes he’s run out of Beta Patches. The last patch is stuck to his neck, and it’ll become ineffective in a few minutes. He’d meant to go to his locker and change it, only to be greeted with an empty box.

Dark ocean eyes glare at the box and he shuts his locker shut with a little more force than necessary. 

Alright, no patches then.

They weren’t required of him anymore, but Tobio has gotten used to the process. Maybe he just likes that added air of ambiguity. No scent means he could be anything, after all. An Alpha or an Omega; strangers on the street wouldn’t be able to tell. 

But his team knows he’s a Beta. He’s the only one, actually. 

Tobio sighs and slowly removes his patch. It doesn’t matter. And Beta Patches were stupidly expensive anyway. 

With his mind made up, Tobio leaves the locker room and heads into the gym. He doesn’t get two steps in before a small, admittedly powerful force pushes into him.

The Beta releases a huffed breath as the familiar arms of Hinata wrap around him. The spitfire Alpha practically clings to his back, smiling brightly and radiating too much hyper energy.

“Kageyama! I passed my history quiz! Yachi is gonna be so proud of me and-” Hinata stops his excited words short. His eyes grow wide, pupils dilating ever so slightly. 

Suddenly, the Alpha buries his face into the crook of Tobio’s neck and shoulder. Without a hint of shame, Hinata takes a deep sniff, the breath against his skin making the Beta shiver unexpectedly.

Heat flares over Tobio’s face. Scenting is perfectly normal, but he hasn’t experienced it much himself due to the patches. And Betas don’t do a lot of scenting anyway, since their sense of smell isn’t as powerful as an Alpha’s or Omega’s. 

None of that seemed to matter to Hinata in that moment. The Alpha keeps breathing his scent in and groaning so softly Tobio almost doesn’t hear it. 

“Kageyama you smell really good. Did you use a new soap or something?”

The tips of his ears burn.

Tobio crosses his arms over his chest and refuses to look at his best friend. Leave it to Hinata to say weird, embarrassing things right before practice.

“No, don’t be stupid.”

Hinata whines, before finally moving and letting his chin rest against Tobio’s neck. His brow furrows, the barest hint of a growl leaving his lips. “What is it then? It smells like….the first snow. And kinda fruity. Maybe berries? It’s just so fresh and nice.”

The Alpha tries to inhale Tobio’s scent again, but the Beta quickly pushes Hinata off of him and scurries away. 

Hinata yelps as his back meets the floor. Tobio grins at the display and barely stops himself from laughing. Instead, he rolls his eyes and offers his hand to the other.

“Stop being dumb, we need to practice,” Tobio says.

“Yeah, yeah,” the Alpha concedes and takes the offered hand.

As Tobio pulls Hinata to his feet, he stares up at him with big, searching eyes. Hinata tilts his head to the side, like he’s looking for something that isn’t there.

The barest hints of cinnamon and ash reach Tobio’s nose. Hinata’s scent is more than familiar to him, but the Alpha really lets it go when he’s excited.

“Oh!” Hinata exclaims, snapping his fingers. “I know what it is.”

“What?”

Without warning, the Alpha points directly at Tobio. Or rather, his neck. Which Tobio quickly covers with the palm of his hand, as if that would do anything. 

“You’re not wearing a patch. That’s your scent! You should have gotten rid of that forever ago.”

Tobio’s eyes narrow and he forces himself to put his hand to his side. Nonchalance is key, and he doesn’t need Hinata making this a bigger deal than it already is.

“Why? It’s just my scent,” Tobio mutters.

Hinata exhales dramatically. “ Because you have a nice scent! Makes me feel like I’m floating. It’s kinda yummy, actually.” The Alpha laughs as he speaks the last part, hand coming up to scratch the back of his head. 

Tobio wants to either bash his head into the floor or run away. “Yummy?” he mimics, glaring at the other. “I’m not a snack.”

“Could’ve fooled me! Anyway, this is great. Now you can join the cuddle piles.”

The Beta is already regretting his choices. He knows scenting and ‘cuddling’ is good for the team dynamic, but he hasn’t been expected to participate as of yet. 

Without the patch, he’s basically saying he’s down to join in. It would be a lot to adjust too. Part of him wonders, and fears, that he’ll be rejected from the activity. A Beta isn’t truly needed for the experience, he’s heard. 

Tobio lets his shoulders sag, tired before practice has even begun. 

“Whatever,” he murmurs “You’re way too excited about this.” He wishes his face would stop feeling so hot, but it’s hard to calm down when Hinata keeps looking at him like that . Like he’s two seconds away from jumping onto Tobio again. 

“Am not! Just for that, you’ve gotta give me all your serves today.” Hinata sticks his tongue out for good measure and walks further into the gym to join their teammates.

“Not gonna happen!” Tobio barks out, quickly catching up to him.

Internally, he tells himself to calm down. Hinata is probably exceptionally sensitive to smell. Or he’s a weird Alpha. He’s certainly not normal, and Tobio shouldn’t expect the same reaction or recognition from anyone. No matter how much it just made his stomach flutter. 

He’s just a Beta, after all.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two: Daichi & Suga

“Kageyama, stay behind for a minute.”

The Beta freezes at the sound of Daichi’s command. Ocean eyes glance back behind him. Suga and Daichi are standing next to the wall of the Beta Locker room, gentle smiles on their faces. This should have been reassuring, but the nagging feeling that he is in trouble persists.

Practice had been...interesting.

He can’t figure out why, but the team had seemed a little off today. Too many missed plays and a distinct lack of attention. They were dazed and sluggish. The Coach had yelled at everyone at least once. Except himself, now that Tobio thinks about it. 

Maybe there’s a bug going around. Tobio hopes not. He hates being sick, and missing practice will just hinder their progress. 

Tobio walks over to his seniors. Daichi and Suga both tense as he approaches. He narrows his eyes, confused. Does he smell bad? He just finished showering, damp hair lightly curling on his skin. 

“What is it?” he asks. Nerves flutter in his stomach. 

Suga steps forward and reaches out to gently grasp Tobio’s arm. The touch is soft, and he can catch hints of the Omega’s scent this close. Subtle, sweet scents of lilacs and warm vanilla. The scent vaguely registers in Tobio’s mind, but it’s the same type of reaction he’d have to walking past a fresh bakery. Pleasant, but not enough to drive him wild like he sees Alphas do sometimes. 

“You don’t have your patch on anymore,” Suga supplies. 

Tobio nods his head and gives a small shrug of his shoulders. “I ran out. Should I go buy more?”

“No.”

The response is spoken so quickly by both the Alpha and Omega that it gives Tobio whiplash. 

“Oh,” he mumbles. His neck starts to flush, but he isn’t sure why. 

Daichi comes up to his other side. The Alpha leans forward and slowly rests his hand on Tobio’s heated skin. His thumb brushes over the scent gland on his neck, the touch light but deliberate. The sensation instantly makes Tobio give a full body shudder. He releases a breath, the surge of warmth that travels down his spine unexpected. 

Blue eyes widen and he gazes over at Daichi, perplexed. Instinctively though, he tilts his neck to the side to give the Pack Alpha better access if he so desires. The reaction is so instant that he doesn’t realize his movement. 

Regardless, it seems to please Daichi. The Alpha smiles fondly at him, which only makes the butterflies in Tobio’s stomach worse. Or better. He can’t really tell. 

Suga trails his fingers up and down over the Beta’s arm. The vanilla scent is getting stronger, but he doesn’t know why. Perhaps it’s an Omega thing that Tobio doesn’t understand or something. 

“We like your scent.” Suga chuckles with his soothing words. Those fingers dance over to his shoulder, squeezing briefly.

“‘We’?” Tobio asks. 

“Uh-huh. The whole team does. Isn’t that right, Daichi?”

The Alpha hums his reply, voice a low purr. That hand hasn’t left his skin, and Tobio is beginning to feel strangely heated.

“I’ll have to give them a talk if they can’t keep it more together.”

Tobio furrows his brow and turns slightly to face Daichi. “What’s wrong with them? Are they getting sick?”

Suga snickers and pulls closer to him. The Omega’s chin rests on the crook of Tobio’s shoulder and neck. Arms circle around his waist, and Tobio thinks his mind goes blank for a few seconds at the contact.

“They’re just being silly. But Daichi will whip them into shape if necessary, don’t worry.” Suga buries his face into Tobio’s shoulder and inhales deeply. The Beta swears he can feel Suga melt into him, arms tightening their grip but the rest of the Omega going boneless all the same. 

“I get it, though,” Daichi mutters. His hand curls and rests around Tobio’s neck. The weight is solid and kind of nice. The Beta leans into the warmth and barely refrains from closing his eyes.

Tobio never got to do much bonding with his pack at Kitagawa. Half of them hadn’t presented yet and the need for scenting, bonding, and touching wasn’t strictly necessary. Now though, he thinks he’s starting to see the appeal. 

It’s nice. Makes him feel a little fuzzy, but not too heavy like he imagines it is for an Alpha or Omega. Hinata has told him it’s like bathing in scents full of comfort, heat, and a deep pleasure. 

“We weren’t prepared for your scent.” The Alpha steps closer. “It’s incredibly inviting. I can see why you used the patches until now. Kitagawa would have eaten you alive.”

That throws Tobio for a loop. He glares, though there’s no malice to it. Just confusion.

“That doesn’t make sense,” he mutters. “It’s just a Beta scent.”

Tobio can’t exactly smell his own scent. But it can’t be better than the musky, whiskey-like scent from Daichi or the floral scent from Suga. 

Daichi scoffs, yet doesn’t lose his smile. “Trust me Kageyama, there’s no ‘just’ about it. Did you really not see how everyone was reacting to you today?”

Cold guilt slithers into Tobio’s veins. He shuffles his feet, face flushing with shame. “Today was...my fault?”

Suga’s arms around him squeeze tighter. The Omega quickly nuzzles his face against the side of Tobio’s neck, soft trilling sounds tickling his ears. 

“No. Kageyama, honey, no. Nothing’s your fault,” Suga coos at him. 

The endearment makes his heart clench. He feels how red he’s becoming, mouth opening and closing with words he can’t process. This type of thing (coddling) is normal for Pack Omegas, but he’s never experienced it for himself.

Daichi’s eyes soften. The Alpha’s hands move to cup his face, making sure that Tobio’s gaze remains on him. 

“This happens sometimes with teams. They’ll get used to it.” 

Tobio still doesn’t look convinced. That’s fine, Daichi and Suga knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.

“Now that you aren’t using patches, does this mean you want to bond with the pack more?” Daichi questions. 

The Beta bites his lips absentmindedly but doesn’t look away from his Alpha’s face. “I do, but I don’t...I don’t know how.”

The admittance feels odd, but there’s a certain relief attached to it as well. If there’s anyone Tobio can confide in about this, it should be his Pack Alpha and Omega, shouldn’t it? He moves just a little bit more into Daichi’s hand, blue irises shifting to the side.

“Every time I hear about pack bonding or scenting it’s with Alphas and Omegas. I didn’t think Betas could even join.” Bitterness laces his next words so abruptly he doesn’t have time to think them through. “No one ever mentions Betas.”

Suga growls.

The sound makes the hairs on Tobio’s skin stick up. It’s an angry noise that doesn’t fit the Omega. Or at least what he’s seen of him.

Daichi doesn’t growl, but his lips do slip into a frown. 

“Junior High education at its finest,” the Alpha grumbles and rolls his eyes.

“Kageyama, of course Betas are involved in pack bonding.” Suga brushes his soft lips against Tobio’s cheek. The Beta stops the whimper that desperately wants to release from his throat. He swallows thickly, but enjoys that contact all the same.

 “Yes it’s rare, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen! We would never purposefully keep you out of it, either. What did they teach you in that school? You’re a part of the pack, Kageyama. You’re our Beta.”

Suga’s words make their way into Tobio’s mind, lovingly caressing parts of him he didn’t even know he’s buried deep. His lips tremble, and he has to look away from both of them before he does something embarrassing.

Blue eyes stare pointedly at the floor, yet the edges of his mouth curves into a small, hidden smile. 

Beta’s can’t purposefully control their scents, but their bodies still react accordingly. His scent must have shifted, because both Daichi and Suga gasp. 

The Omega practically whines into his shoulder. Daichi cradles Tobio’s face with both of his hands. Tobio doesn’t have time to process it all before warm lips are pressing against his forehead. The Alpha groans low in his throat and Tobio can feel the vibration in his chest.

“Oh Kageyama,” Daichi utters. “You’ll fit in just fine. You belong with us. Got it?”

The mere thought of disagreeing is impossible.

Tobio nods his head shakily. His skin feels hot and sensitive. But, somehow, the two pack leaders seem to be more overwhelmed than he is. Like no matter how much they touch him it’s not enough. 

When they eventually separate and they allow him to go home, Tobio still feels the lingering kisses and hands on his flesh. 

His face burns. His limbs feel like jello. And he can’t seem to walk normally all the way home. All this just from a little touching?

Hints of vanilla and whiskey cling to him well into the night. 

If it’s like this (intense, potent, magnificent) with just Daichi and Suga, Tobio can’t imagine how it’ll be with the rest of the team. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 3 : Tsukishima

Tobio’s teammates are not the only ones who react to his Beta Patch being gone. His classmates also comment on the development. Alphas and Omegas he hardly talked to before suddenly chat him up much more.

They get closer to him. Brush their hands over his arm and sometimes the back of his neck. The touches are so quick and strangely casual that the Beta doesn’t have time to say anything about them. 

Is that normal? He’s never received this type of attention until now. 

Then there’s the scents. As a Beta, Tobio isn’t nearly as sensitive to scents. But even he can tell that the Alphas and Omegas that talk to him... exude their scents more when around him. He’s not sure of the purpose, though. Or if all of them are aware they’re doing it. 

The scents are pleasant in their own way, but they’re still a lot to deal with. 

An Alpha girl and Omega boy are crowding around his desk one day at the beginning of lunch. Strong citrus and sweet almonds ghost over his senses as they talk to him. Their scents compliment each other well, and vaguely Tobio realizes they must be a couple. 

The Omega boy is talking about the latest math homework, but Tobio can’t keep up. He’s staring at Tobio with bright eyes and smiling so sweetly that he’s a little entranced. The Alpha girl is silent, but her long fingers are playing with the ends of his hair. Occasionally she scratches just a bit into his scalp and all Tobio can do is shiver. 

Tobio doesn’t necessarily want to leave the conversation. They’re being perfectly friendly. Yet some part of it feels wrong .

A voice loudly clears their throat and the spell is broken. 

The pair look behind them, and Tobio glances up at a familiar head of blonde hair and rectangle glasses.

“He’s already spoken for,” Tsukishima says, tone flat but scarily steady. His harsh gaze flickers between the Alpha and Omega. The couple stares back at the taller Alpha for several seconds until they slowly slip away without another word.

Tobio blinks, confusion evident on his face. What had just happened?

Before the Beta can comment on Tsukishima’s odd behavior, the Alpha places something on his desk. Ocean eyes narrow and then widen in recognition.

“This is your favorite, right?” The Alpha asks.

Tobio nods his head numbly and reaches out for the small carton of milk. He’d been planning on going to get one from the vending machine that day, but apparently Tsukishima has beaten him to it.

“Um...thank you?” Tobio ventures. 

That seems to be enough of a response for Tsukishima. The Alpha turns and leaves the classroom before Tobio has a chance to stop him. A million questions rush through the Beta’s mind.

Why would Tsukishima give him this? He’s never been the generous type. Not to mention he’s pretty sure the Alpha hates him. It doesn’t make any sense.

Things only get weirder as the week progresses.

Tsukishima keeps giving Tobio things. Or food, he should say. They’re only little snacks. Some chips, candy, or his favorite milk. But it’s all stuff that Tobio likes. How does Tsukishima know what he likes? He can’t remember ever telling him. 

The Alpha will put them in his hands without a word. Tobio barely has enough time to thank or question him before he’s walking away. It makes Tobio’s head spin. 

It may be his imagination, but the Beta swears that Tsukishima is standing closer to him now too. It’s not like Hinata, who will climb on Tobio’s back without a care or hug him too tightly for too long. 

Tsukishima’s new approach is...subtle. 

He doesn’t have any issue getting in Tobio’s face or standing directly beside him. Tobio can feel the Alpha’s warmth. His scent is a nice mixture of cypress and almost sweet firewood. There are one or two moments where Tobio thinks Tsukishima is going to just go for it and place his head on the Beta’s shoulder. He’ll lean towards him like he wants to, but thinks better of it at the last second.

Or perhaps Tobio’s overthinking it. 

Tsukishima is an Alpha, he would never intentionally act that way to Tobio. Maybe an Omega, but not Tobio. It doesn’t mean anything, he tells himself.

Tobio has to repeat that mantra in his head when Tsukishima places a bag of chips in his lap. The Beta is sitting outside with Hinata, Yamaguchi, and Tsukishima for lunch. Once again, the tall Alpha doesn’t say anything about it and promptly leaves to use the restroom.

Ocean eyes watch Tsukishima’s retreating back. He grasps the chips in his hands, lips frowning even if his stomach bubbles in a happiness he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

“Aw, you took it. That’s great!”

Yamaguchi’s earnest voice startles Tobio from his thoughts. He turns to the Omega, his brow furrowing. The look surprises Yamaguchi, but he quickly smiles through the awkwardness that is building up.

“I mean, I guess I thought you’d be more opposed to it. But hey, this is a way better outcome.”

“What are you talking about?” Tobio asks. Now he’s really concerned.

The Omega pauses. He glances at the chips and Tobio’s face almost comically. Yamaguchi bites his lip and offers, “Tsukki’s gifts. You’re...you know, accepting them? Accepting him?

Tobio is sitting up from the grass before he has time to really think about it. A blind anger surfaces onto his skin, flushing and embarrassed. 

He walks away from his friends, mortification setting in with every step. Yamaguchi and Hinata call after him in confusion but they don’t follow. Not like that would stop Tobio from his mission at that moment. 

The Beta was furious.

Everything clicks into place. He’s heard of food or small trinkets being given to Omegas by Alphas who liked them or were simply a part of the pack. Hell, he’s seen Tanaka and Daichi give treats to Suga. And sometimes Kinoshita and Narita will give Ennoshita his favorite drinks right before practice. 

That’s something done for Omegas . 

And Tobio has been accepting these gestures without a second thought. 

The Beta is halfway between the restrooms and their lunch spot when he meets with Tsukishima. They’re both in the middle of the open, grassy field when Tobio stands his ground in front of the other. 

“Stop treating me like an Omega!”

Tsukishima has the audacity to raise a thin eyebrow at him. “Is that what you think I’m doing, King?”

The condescending tone is normal for the Alpha, but Tobio still bristles at it all the same. He balls his hands into fists at his sides. They shake with restrained tension.

“The snacks. The milk. It’s...Alphas do that stuff for an Omega. Not a Beta,” Tobio reasons. 

Shame settles low in his gut. He hates the way his voice tapers off into something softer. He doesn’t need a reminder of his ‘place’, but it seems like Tsukishima does. That, or the Alpha is purposefully messing with him. Tobio can’t tell and that makes the situation even worse.

The Alpha considers the other for a moment and groans. He’s obviously annoyed, but Tobio couldn’t care less. He stands tall and waits for Tsukishima to admit his deception. 

“Alphas do this for the Pack , Kageyama. Not just Omegas.”

Tobio flinches at the use of his name. He can’t remember the last time Tsukishima has addressed him with his real name. It was always ‘King’ or even ‘Majesty’. 

Suddenly his skin is flushing for an entirely different reason.

The Beta let’s his mouth hang open. He tries to speak, but the words just won’t come out. Tsukishima doesn’t wait for him before he’s talking again.

“You’re not only our Beta, King. I’m your Alpha. You need to know that I can provide for you. Not just on the court.”

Tobio tries to wrap his head around it all. He’s never considered someone being his... anything . Yes, when he decided to engage with the Pack more he understood on some level that he was the team’s Beta. 

But he never realized it went both ways.

Tsukishima is narrowing his eyes at him, yet it’s not the same glare he’s used too. The Alpha rakes a hand through his own hair and then slowly reaches forward. A large hand grabs onto Tobio’s clenched fist and drags it up to Tsukishima’s face. The Beta stumbles a bit as Tsukishima pulls him closer. 

“We’re easing you into all this. I didn’t think the gifts would be that burdensome to you.”

There’s an apology deep down in those words somewhere. It’s lost on him though, when Tsukishima gently brushes his cheek against the inside of his wrist. The scent gland under his skin tingles wonderfully and Tobio can’t help but sigh at the contact.

Tsukishima’s skin is warm. He nuzzles Tobio’s wrist with such soft reverence that it takes his breath away. 

Everything feels lighter.

Heat blooms onto Tobio’s face. It rushes from his chest to the tips of his fingers. He wouldn’t exactly call it ‘hazy’ or ‘fuzzy’ like he knows it can be between Alphas and Omegas. Tobio is still clear headed in many respects, but it feels good . 

The Beta leans into the touch. A gentle gasp leaves his lips as Tsukishima presses a kiss directly onto his wrist. The Alpha lingers there, and gives another kiss for good measure.

Tsukishima gazes at him behind half lidded eyes. They seem to shine with something Tobio can’t quite comprehend, but wants too. 

Tobio tilts his head to the side ever so slightly. The reveal of his neck is instinctive and unintentional, and Tsukishima knows that. Maybe one day it wouldn’t be. Maybe Tobio would let him mark him like a proper Pack Alpha in the future. But if the Beta’s reactions to his gifts are any indicator, that day isn’t today.

So for now the Alpha ignores it. 

“I…,” Tobio starts to say. He pauses and wets his lips, searching for the right words. “I don’t mind the gifts.”

Tsukishima slowly lets go of Tobio’s hand. The Beta stops himself from cradling it into his chest. Or breathing in the scent that Tsukishima left. The Alpha would never let him live it down if he did and he’s already feeling incredibly vulnerable.

“Alright,” Tsukishima murmurs. A not quite smile quirks at the edges of his lips, but Tobio thinks he might just be seeing things. 

“Then we’re off to a good start."

A few days later Tobio leaves a small box on Tsukishima’s desk. It isn’t wrapped prettily or tied with a bow and one of the edges is a little smushed. That doesn’t stop the small, strawberry shortcake inside from being absolutely delicious.

During practice, Tsukishima comes up behind Tobio. He doesn’t grab him or brush his hands against his arms, but the distance is practically nonexistent between them.

Tobio can feel the Alpha’s warm breath on the back of his neck. The firewood scent is even sweeter than usual and he can’t help but think ‘wow, is that because of me?’

“Who would have thought that my Beta is so considerate,” Tsukishima growls lowly in his ear. 

Tobio blames his red face on practice and refuses to admit otherwise.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four: Kindaichi 

The excitement and nervousness during the Interhigh games is palpable between everyone. Asahi looks paler than usual. Noya is rambling so fast Tobio can hardly understand him. And Hinata appears to be conflicted with bouncing energy and the visceral need to throw up. 

It’s not surprising when the orange haired Alpha races to the restroom and leaves the team. It is, however, concerning how long he takes.

“Kageyama, can you go bring back Hinata?” Suga asks him.

 The Pack is stretching together, but Tobio feels too restless to do any more. His limbs are loose, warm, and ready to take on Aoba Johsai with everything he’s got. 

There’s thirty minutes until their game, and Tobio would rather take the time to focus his mind and breath. But if someone needs to grab Hinata and help get his head into the game then Tobio is probably the best choice.

“Yeah, I got it.” The Beta slowly raises himself from the floor and stretches out his back for good measure. Suga’s grateful smile and slight vanilla scent is enough to push away any grouchy thoughts. 

Tobio checks the two nearest bathrooms without success. His worry and agitation increase. Surely Hinata couldn’t have gotten into trouble before the game had even started?

Eventually he decides to try the more secluded bathrooms near the locker rooms. He’s half way down the empty hallway when the hair on the back of his neck stands up. The Beta catches the barest whiff of sea salt before his world is jostled around.

Cold stone meets his clothed back. His mind whirls at the sudden change in his surroundings, dizzy but now painfully alert. Two large arms are placed on either side of his head, boxing him in and making him feel unexpectedly small . 

Ocean eyes widen and stare back into darker ones. 

“Kindaichi…” Tobio murmurs. His voice barely counts as a whisper, mouth hanging open as he continues to gaze up at his former teammate. 

The spiky haired Alpha is panting lightly, the pupil almost overtaking his eyes. He leans in close and Tobio tries to back up instinctively but the wall doesn’t let him go any further. 

Kindaichi lowers his head into the crook of Tobio’s neck and shoulder. He breathes in deeply, body shuddering as he lets out the smallest of groans. 

With the Alpha this close, Tobio can fully take in his scent. He’d never had the opportunity before, what with their required Patches in junior high. Oddly enough, Tobio doesn’t find it unpleasant. The smell of sea salt is stronger now, with underlying hints of birch and something subtly sweet.

Tobio’s curiosity of the combination stills him more than anything else. He jumps though, when the barest brush of Kindaichi’s lips finds the skin of his neck. The Alpha is dangerously close to his scent gland. 

The Beta presses his hands up against Kindaichi’s chest and attempts to push him away. Kindaichi doesn’t move and only crowds him more. Tobio isn’t a frail thing, but his former teammate has a small height advantage over him. Plus Alpha muscle is no joke, as much as he hates to admit it.

“You smell fantastic,” Kindaichi finally says. His voice is lower than Tobio’s ever heard it. There’s a tense, raspiness that makes his skin burn. 

Tobio averts his eyes off to the side, unintentionally exposing more of his neck in the process. Kindaichi takes the invitation and nuzzles against him. Warmth spreads across Tobio’s chest, and maybe it would feel really good if he wasn’t so damn confused. 

“What are you doing?” Tobio manages to voice. His tone is on the edge of panic.

Kindaichi eyes him and his gaze freezes Tobio in place. He looks hazy, his face flushed and vulnerable. 

“I’m just surprised. I’ve never smelled a Beta before and it’s...it’s,” Kindaichi pauses and wets his lips. “To think your scent’s been like this the whole time. How the hell is that fair?”

The Beta narrows his eyes. Kindaichi isn’t making any sense and he keeps pushing him further into the wall. The sensation of being trapped is not welcomed by Tobio and he hisses back, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re acting like I did something wrong.”

Kindaichi sighs against him. He sags slightly, and Tobio has no choice but to awkwardly wrap his arms around the other.

 “I thought you’d be an Alpha, you know,” Kindaichi mumbles into his neck,  The warm breath and vibrations make Tobio shiver. “But if we’re being honest I kinda always hoped you’d be an Omega.”

Anger, venomous and sharp, quickly races into Tobio’s veins. The Beta pushes back again with more strength. This time the Alpha does step away, but the distance is minimal. 

“I didn’t ask for your honesty!” Tobio seethes. His face is red with embarrassment and shame that he thought he’d started to bury. Of course Kindaichi would want him to be an Omega. Anything was better than what he actually was, right?

Tobio tries to turn and make a retreat. Before he has the chance a hand is on his face. Kindaichi’s warm, lightly calloused hand cradles his jaw firmly but without the harshness one might expect. 

Instead, the Alpha is gentle as he moves Tobio to look at him. The unguarded softness in Kindaichi’s eyes takes his breath away. 

“Don’t you ever wonder what might have happened if things had been different?” 

The question throws Tobio for a loop. His mind goes in a million directions of what that could possibly mean. 

“Like, what if we hadn’t had the patches in junior high?” Kindaichi offers. “Or if you’d been an Omega. Maybe the two of us...maybe we could have…”

The Alpha doesn’t finish his sentence, and the unspoken ‘what if’ dangles in the air teasingly between them. It’s the strangest sort of taunt and Tobio doesn’t know which parts he’s so upset about. 

Kindaichi is simultaneously stuck in the past and mourning their present. 

Tobio wants to feel that hot rage again because it’s easier, but he can’t. The melancholy in Kindaichi’s features has transferred to his own. He can’t fight the idea of ‘what if’ and it’s suffocating.

The hand still cupping his face tilts it just a bit and Kindaichi is taking up all of vision. Tobio watches in a daze as the Alpha leans down to him. The scent of sea salt tickles his nose and he feels the barest breath of the other against his lips. 

“Let go of him, Turnip head!”

Kindaichi grunts as a fast, orange blur rams into his side. The warmth that the Alpha had created disappears and Tobio gasps in a deep breath. His mind starts to clear almost immediately, and the Beta shakes his head for good measure.

Tobio looks over to where Kindaichi and Hinata are now having what can only be described as a stand off. Both Alpha’s have their heads held high, fists clenched, and teeth bared. They’re posturing, Tobio realizes. 

“Stay out of this, brat. It’s none of your business!” Kindaichi growls out.

“You had your disgusting hands all over our Beta. Of course it’s my business!”

The scents that gather into the air burn that back of Tobio’s throat. It won’t be long before a coach or another Alpha smells them too, and that would only spell trouble for their teams. Fighting isn’t tolerated during games. 

Tobio rolls his eyes and moves in between the both of them. His hands reach out to create more distance. Ocean eyes become electric in their intensity.

“Knock it off. You guys are going to get us kicked out.”

Hinata clams up faster than he’s ever seen. The Alpha gapes at him and a blush blooms onto his cheeks. Kindaichi is in the same boat, but has the mind to furrow his brows rather than stare at Tobio like a fish.

“Stop using your scent like that,” Kindaichi retorts.

Tobio raises an eyebrow. As a Beta he can’t control his scent, so he isn’t exactly sure what Kindaichi means. Confusion is evident on his face, and that lack of acknowledgement seems to deplete something in the Alpha. 

Kindaichi’s shoulders relax and he pats his own face before shaking his head. “Ugh, fine, whatever,” he grumbles and turns his gaze away from the two teammates.

Hinata sticks his tongue out at the other Alpha, but the glare Tobio sends him instantly makes him stand up straighter. 

Tobio walks past him and the Alpha quickly follows behind. Hinata sputters on about how the pack isn’t going to like this, and that maybe it’ll even pump them up more. The Beta only half listens to the rant as he can feel eyes watching him heatedly.

Although it pains him, Tobio stops. 

He doesn’t have to look back to know Kindaichi is still there. The tensions between them have been awkward even without dynamics coming into play. And Tobio doesn’t know if this will help or hurt but if Kindaichi is allowed to get troubling things off his chest then so is he.

“Sometimes.”

The word is spoken softly, yet it echoes in the empty hallway. 

“What?” Kindaichi croaks. Like even the thought of speaking causes him discomfort.

Tobio shuffles his feet. He looks down at the tile floor, heat gracing the features of his face. The Beta already wishes he could take it back, but he doesn’t think his feelings deserve that treatment.

“You asked if I ever wondered about things being different. My answer is ‘sometimes’.”

An intake of breath from his former Alpha teammate reaches Tobio’s ears. He doesn’t bother looking back to see Kindaichi’s face. Or maybe it’s that he can’t . 

Hinata stares up at him, perplexed but somehow knowing. The Beta’s hands clench at his sides and without another word he continues to walk away.

Kindaichi doesn’t try to follow them.

Hinata is vehemently by his side. Although he would never tell him, Tobio is grateful. 

For the first time in a while, Tobio is excited about what the future holds for him. With his Pack, he doesn’t have to wonder. He just gets to experience, indulge, and enjoy.

And that is worth more to Tobio than all the ‘what ifs’ in the world. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Nishinoya & Tanaka 

Hinata is and always will be a blabbermouth.

When they return to the team after the incident with Kindaichi, Tobio assumes they will keep the information to themselves. It isn’t a big deal, he thinks. And they’d basically stopped anything from happening. 

He should have known better. 

Hinata practically bounces to the rest of the pack and spills the details of what occurred. Tobio expects his team to be mildly concerned at best, but he’s wrong on that front as well.

Everyone looks pissed.

The tension inside the locker room is near suffocating. It’s such a sudden change that Tobio has to awkwardly shuffle his legs just to stop his muscles from clenching up. A brutal mixture of scents overwhelms the room. It’s so strong that even Tobio feels his nose tickle and he has to place a hand over the lower half of his face. 

Tsukishima is glaring at the door. His body says he’s half a second away from dashing out of the locker room. Yamaguchi instantly has his hands wrapped around the Alpha’s arm. He’s saying something in a quick, hushed whisper but it doesn’t suppress the heat in Tsukishima’s eyes.  

Tanaka, Nishinoya, and Hinata have formed an odd, Alpha circle. Their hands are clenched into fists, fire radiating off of their forms. The strongest scents are coming from those three. Tobio’s never seen them look so...fierce, even for a game. 

Before Tobio has time to ponder the reactions of his pack, he feels a large, warm hand gently turn his head. The now stronger scent of honeyed whiskey greets him and he already knows that Daichi is the one who’s touching him before he actually sees him.

The Alpha cradles his jaw as he slowly tilts Tobio’s head side to side. It’s a little weird, and the Beta doesn’t understand it but he lets his captain continue anyway.

“Anything, Daichi?” Suga asks next to him. He’s trailing his fingertips over Tobio’s arm in a soothing gesture. 

Daichi grunts his response and shakes his head. His hand shifts from Tobio’s jaw to his neck until he reaches his scent gland. Rough fingers trace over the skin and the Beta shivers immediately. It doesn’t feel wrong like it did with Kindaichi, though. He’s not panicked. 

“Nothing visible. A new scent is there, but it’s mild. It’ll disappear by the time the game starts.”

Slow realization dawns on Tobio. Daichi is checking for marks . Like a bite or maybe even a scratch. 

Suga breathes out a sigh of relief. Daichi slips his hand away from Tobio’s neck but doesn’t leave his side. Both the Alpha and Omega seem less tense, yet there’s definitely worry on their faces. 

“I’m fine,” Tobio blurts out. He brushes his hand over his own scent gland. “He didn’t do anything.”

Daichi doesn’t look convinced. None of them do. 

The nervousness for the game has shifted into a new, keen determination. Tobio is just as riled up, but he knows it’s not for the same reasons as his pack. This has added another personal layer and when they leave to go to the court their eyes seem to glow with alert resolution.

They have to win this game.

They have to. 

---------

When they start to warm up on the court, Tobio hopes that’s the last of the weirdness. He wants to focus on volleyball. Not scents, marks, pushy Alphas, or coddling Omegas. Surely everyone will get their heads in the game now.

Thankfully the teams are kept to their sides during the warm up. The Beta purposefully doesn’t look at anyone from Aoba Johsai, especially Kindaichi. 

Hinata accidentally fumbles when one of their volleyballs is tossed to him. It swiftly rolls toward the net. Tobio goes to retrieve it without a second thought. 

When he reaches down to pick up the ball, he notices a pair of shoes on the other side of the net. He stands up straight and is greeted with an all too familiar face. 

Kunimi. 

“Kageyama,” he greets, curt. 

Tobio bites the inside of his mouth before uttering a quick, “Kunimi.”

The Omega’s eyes are dark, blank, and a little glazed over. He’s staring at Tobio without a hint of shame. The Beta shifts his gaze at the intensity. He intends to turn around and go back to his pack, but Kunimi moves first.

Kunimi ducks under the net and Tobio finds himself freezing. The Omega is quick and Tobio doesn’t have time to retaliate before the other is in his face. 

Tobio catches subtle hints of sweet, salted caramel. Kunimi raises a hand to balance on the curve of Tobio’s hip as he presses forward. The Beta stands there, stunned, when the first whispers of breath dance along his neck.

Kunimi takes in a deep breath and releases the softest of whines. 

“Back off!”

Two sets of arms are pulling Tobio backwards. He almost loses his balance at the sudden change in gravity, but fast reflexes keep him upright. The hands don’t stay on him long, yet the power in them is undeniable. 

Tanaka and Nishinoya are both standing between him and Kunimi. Their stances are open, hands out and ready to pounce. The poses are overly aggressive and obvious. But that’s nothing compared to the sounds the two Alphas let out.

They’re growling. 

The low, rumbling growls shoot electricity into Tobio’s spine. His instincts don’t tell him to submit like they would if he were an Omega, but it does leave him on edge.

What’s more overwhelming than that, however, is the surge of warmth he feels. His chest blossoms with heat, dark blue eyes widening. His face flushes and he barely refrains from putting his hands over his mouth.

They’re protecting him.

Guarding him. 

Daring the enemy to try and take what’s theirs’. 

Kunimi instantly blinks and cowers. He backs up and quickly goes back under the net. His eyes go between the Alphas and Tobio behind them. The Omega seems...surprised. Like he just woke up and wasn’t sure why he was there. 

“I...I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he tries but bites his lip and turns away at the last second. 

“Tell your pack to get it together and back off our Beta,” Nishinoya spits out. “This is the second time this has happened.”

“There won’t be a third,” Tanaka seethes. He takes another step forward, growling loudly. Kunimi flinches at the sound. The Omega glares with as much venom as he can muster. Still, he seems to know when he’s beaten in this case.

Kunimi spares Tobio one last glance before he jogs back over to his own pack. The players of Aoba Johsai huddle around him until he’s out of view. 

Tanaka and Nishinoya both turn to the Beta. Their shoulders are still ridged, yet they’ve lowered their hands and their stances are not quite in ‘attack mode’ anymore.

Tanaka places a hand on Tobio’s shoulder and grips it tight. “You okay?” he asks.

Tobio nods his head. He’s unsure of words right now. He can’t stop his stomach from feeling fluttery. His skin is hot and his limbs are locked up, but it’s not altogether unpleasant. 

“Yeah,” the Beta mumbles. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“They’ve got some nerve,” Nishinoya cuts in. The Alpha crosses his arms over his chest. He looks like he’s seconds away from ripping into someone. 

They need something, Tobio realizes.

The Alphas.. .his Alphas, are distressed. They were protecting him and now they’re unbalanced and anxious. It isn’t a good way to start the game and Tobio wants to do something about it. He wants them at their best. 

Maybe he can help?

He isn’t sure what, but something inside of him gently nudges him forward.

The Beta goes to Tanaka first. Tobio doesn’t think about it before he’s nuzzling the Alpha’s cheek with his own. He can smell spicy saffron and the mildest hints of melon. Being this close, the scent is stronger. It’s nice, Tobio thinks. It fits Tanaka well. 

Tanaka stiffens at first, but returns the gesture after a second or two of hesitance. He places both of his hands on Tobio’s arms. His grip isn’t tight of pushing. Like he’s just happy to have Tobio near him. 

After a moment, Tobio detaches from Tanaka and turns to go to Nishinoya. The Alpha doesn’t waste any time and wraps his arms around Tobio’s waist. It makes bending down a little harder, but Tobio manages to brush their foreheads together.

Nishinoya purrs . Tobio hears the same sound from Tanaka at his side too. The smaller Alpha nuzzles his nose against Tobio’s, grinning brightly. 

Something like cedarwood and citrus invades the Beta's senses. It’s sharp, but not overpowering. Nishinoya pulls Tobio closer and boldly gives him a quick wink. 

The blush that graces Tobio’s cheeks burns.

“Aw, you do like us,” Nishinoya teases. 

Tanaka pats Tobio’s head, messing up his hair before placing an arm around his shoulder. “‘Course he does! We’re his awesome upperclassmen. How could he not?”

Tobio pouts and rolls his eyes. He stands up straighter and Nishinoya lets his arms fall away. He still stays close, though, and bumps their shoulders together. 

“...Thanks,” Tobio mutters, gaze turning to the floor. “For, you know, doing that. Kunimi’s never acted that way before.”

Nishinoya and Tanaka both hum, like they’re some sort of wise sages. It irks Tobio to no end, but he doesn’t comment. They calmer now, though. Whatever he’s done has worked.

Tobio’s chest swells with unexpected pride at that.

“Guess he wasn’t prepared to get that up close and personal with your scent,” Tanaka suggests.

The Beta clenches his jaw. Again, this nonsense with his scent. He can’t exactly smell himself so he doesn’t get it.

“It’s not like I’m in heat or a rut. It shouldn’t be an issue,” Tobio bites out. 

Nishinoya shrugs his shoulders beside him. “I don’t know how to describe it, but your scent makes me feel...clean. Fresh? Like, it draws me in and clears me up at the same time. That’s just how Beta scents are.”

Tanaka laughs at the incredulous face Tobio makes. “He’s right. Kinda addictive,” the Alpha adds. “It’s fruity too. Makes me want to eat you up.”

Tobio scowls, but feels his skin flush all the same. “Please don’t.”

Before the two Alphas can embarrass him any further, Daichi calls them all back to the pack. Tobio is grateful for the interruption and shakes his head to clear his mind. 

When they line up in their first formation for the start of the game, Tobio can’t help but look around at his former teammates across the net.  

Kindaichi’s eyes are focused, but his back is curved slightly. Like he wants to to hide himself. Kunimi is sitting on the bench and decidedly not looking at him. Iwaizumi pupils are dilated, confusion washing over his features in a way that makes Tobio feel guilty for some reason.

It’s Oikawa’s reaction that really unnerves him, though.

The Alpha is staring him down. His gaze is hard, piercing, and more dominating than Tobio had prepared for. It’s like he can see every inch Tobio moves, every small breath and fear that swirls in his mind.

Tanka caress his arm briefly and Tobio looks away. His teammate gives him a toothy, honest smile. The encouragement is small, but lights up a blazing fire inside him. 

He can sense and smell each one of his teammates. Maybe he’ll never know the truly intimate and overwhelming scents of them like he would if he were an Alpha or Omega. But it’s enough. It’s exactly what he needs to be.

The Beta takes a long, slow breath and gazes back at the Aoba Johsai pack head on.

He will support his pack and be supported in return.

They can do this.

They can win.

Together. 

Chapter Text

Chapter  6: Oikawa  

Karasuno loses.

They play with everything they have. Sweat, strength, and heart envelope them with a fire and a burning desire for victory. Tobio gives it his all, and it still isn’t enough. 

The defeat is thick and heavy in his chest. What’s worse is the haunted silence that settles between all of them. Their movements are stiff as they leave the court. Tobio vaguely hears the cheering for Aoba Johsai on the opposite side, but he can’t bring himself to look back. 

When they gather up their stuff, Tobio takes a moment to slip away. He knows he probably shouldn’t. He should be with his pack and experience the grief with them. But he needs a moment to himself. He needs it. 

The world around him is numb as walks outside toward the back of the gym. It’s quiet and away from the crowds of supporters and other players. 

Dark, ocean eyes scan the trees and vibrant grass but he doesn’t really see it. He hardly registers the cold brick at his back. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t notice the other until he’s nearly upon him.

“Tobio-chan.”

The Beta turns his head sharply toward that familiar voice. Oikawa stands beside him, and although there isn’t much height difference between them Tobio feels very crowded in. The Alpha is leaning on his side against the wall. His stance is relaxed, casual, with hints of smugness in that infuriating smile.

It’s too much for Tobio to deal with right now.

“What do you want?” Tobio asks as he looks away. Staring at Oikawa and his deep, chocolate eyes isn’t a good idea. They see through him in ways Tobio still can’t comprehend.

Oikawa chuckles. It grates on Tobio’s ears. 

“Such hostility, Tobio-chan! Just because you lost doesn’t mean you have to be so rude.” Oikawa inclines his head, the barest tinges of warm breath ghosting near the side of Tobio’s face. “And to your favorite senpai no less.”

It’s the last straw.

Tobio doesn’t appreciate being kicked while he’s down. He glares with a pained venom and pushes himself off the wall. 

“Leave me alone,” he seethes through gritted teeth. 

He takes two steps before a firm grip is around his wrist. Tobio instinctively tries to pull back, but there’s an iron strength in Oikawa’s hand. The very hands that beat him only minutes ago. 

A response dies in Tobio’s mouth when Oikawa presses his wrist against his nose. The Alpha inhales directly over his scent gland. The awkward angle is lost on Tobio as he watches in frozen confusion. 

Oikawa’s lips barely brush over the skin of his wrist. He’s breathing in Tobio’s scent with such confidence. Like it’s completely normal and natural to do so. 

The Alpha sighs softly, eyes fluttering and half lidded. He’s enjoying it. Tobio sees a small shiver run through Oikawa’s form, but that’s nothing compared to his own reaction. Heat washes over his body instantly. Yet the pit of his stomach is bitterly cold. He bites at his lips, swallowing down the groan that threatens to leave them. 

“You were an enigma for a long time, you know,” Oikawa murmurs, lips still happily trailing over his wrist. 

Tobio furrows his brow. He’s stopped trying to pull his hand away, but his posture is still ridged and cautious. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Oikawa eyes him, the intensity of his gaze taking the air from Tobio’s lungs. 

“No one could tell what you would be,” Oikawa continues. “You had this raw, budding athleticism of an Alpha. Then you followed me around and ached to please like an Omega. It was strange, but now it makes sense. You’re neither.”

The Alpha gently lowers Tobio’s hand. The second Oikawa’s grip loosens, the Beta swiftly places his hand to his chest like he’s been burned. 

Oikawa closes the small distance between them with sure, easy steps. Tobio forces himself not to back up like he wants too. He lifts his head up high, yet the shudders that go down his arms steal away any leverage he might have. 

The Alpha takes a hold of the zipper at the front of Tobio’s jacket. Dark irises follow the movement of the zipper as he gingerly drags it down. 

All of Oikawa’s movements are very fluid but powerful. He pushes the jacket off of Tobio’s left shoulder. Fingers glide across the fabric of his shirt teasingly before they pull that to the side as well. 

Tobio’s bare neck and a portion of his shoulder is revealed to Oikawa’s poignant gaze. He hears the other hum and for some reason that makes a flush spread across his face. 

“Kindaichi was telling the truth,” Oikawa mumbles.

The Beta narrows his eyes, anxious guilt circling in his chest. “What did he say?”

“That you weren’t marked. I didn’t believe him. Huh, looks like I was wrong.”

If Tobio’s face had been red before it was burning now. The Beta flinches at the words, but Oikawa’s grasp on his shoulder keeps him from moving. 

Marks are a new, weird topic for Tobio.

He knows that both Suga and Ennoshita have bite marks on their necks almost constantly. Sometimes he can see them during practice when their shirts slip to the side. They're both older and have been a part of the pack longer so it’s to be expected. He’s even seen some on Daichi and Tanaka, but it’s not as often as the pack Omegas. 

As a first year, Tobio’s bond with the pack is still fresh. Maybe it wouldn’t have been too surprising if he’d been marked, but given how hesitant he was the opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet. 

And if Tobio’s being honest, he assumed he wouldn’t have to worry about it. He’s never seen a Beta marked, so he thought they just...didn’t. 

If Oikawa’s reaction is anything to go by, then that’s clearly not the case.

“That’s none of your business.” Tobio wishes his words would sound even half as strong as he wants them too. 

Oikawa curves his lips into a small, semblance of a smirk. His thumb boldly strokes the crook of his neck and shoulder where his scent gland resides. It tingles pleasantly and Tobio forces his knees not to buckle at the touch. 

“You may have a new pack now, Tobio-chan, but I think we can both agree that I’m your first Alpha.”

The Beta really wants to argue back. Yet the words stick in his throat. No matter how awful things had ended at Kitagawa, that didn’t stop Tobio from deeply admiring the other.

Oikawa inspires him as a setter, a leader, and (though he didn’t want to admit it) a person. That doesn’t simply disappear because they aren’t on the same team anymore. It doesn’t take away the hours he’s watched Oikawa serve and climb to heights he dreamed of even today. 

It hurts, but Tobio knows that he’s right. Oikawa is his first Alpha, regardless of whether Tobio had presented at the time or not. 

“I should be the first to mark you.”

Perhaps Tobio knew where this was headed, but it’s still a shock to hear the Alpha say it so bluntly. 

Dark blue eyes widen and stare at Oikawa. Questions, alarm, and disastrous hope swirl within those orbs. The idea of Oikawa marking him, paying attention to him, is incredibly conflicting.

He shouldn’t.

But he wants to. 

Tobio thinks of Karasuno. It would be wrong, wouldn’t it? A betrayal. It’s not like he couldn’t be marked outside of the pack, like with a significant other or something. But they would still need to talk about it. He’d have to get the pack’s approval so no feelings get hurt or instincts run wild. 

Tobio doesn’t think he’ll get that option. 

Oikawa isn’t asking outright, yet the Beta thinks that if he truly tried to fight it then the Alpha would let him go. He might be angry, but he’d accept it. 

This is Tobio’s only chance. Oikawa won’t ask for Karasuno’s permission, and he won’t approach Tobio again like this. 

How fitting that Oikawa would offer this when Tobio is at his lowest.

Trembling, the Beta shuts his eyes and tilts his head slightly to the side to give better, obvious access. Tobio can’t muster up the courage to verbally agree, yet he knows that this will be more than enough of an invitation.

Plus, he doesn’t want to see Oikawa’s triumphant smile.

Oikawa sucks in a shallow, quick breath at the display. Like he’s surprised. That shock only lasts about a second or two though, and then he’s in Tobio’s space.

The scent of overwhelming amber and the mildest hint of jasmine invade Tobio’s senses. It’s annoyingly enticing and even makes the edges of the Beta’s mind a little hazy. Oikawa is the epitome of Alpha in that moment. Tobio’s never felt so wanting and helpless. 

Hot breath tickles Tobio’s neck. The wet heat of Oikawa’s tongue glides over his skin. The sensation is so unexpectedly nice that Tobio gasps. 

A smirk dances on Oikawa’s lips. The Alpha licks over where his scent gland is again, slow and languid and teasing. Tobio clenches his jaw when kisses are added to the mix. It’s spitefully intimate.

When Oikawa finally bites down, Tobio hisses. 

Pain and warm, liquid pleasure race through him. It’s not nearly as harsh as the Beta thought it would be, but it’s purposeful. Oikawa doesn’t play with kitten-like nibbles or a quick knick of his teeth. No, the Alpha uses the right amount of force to bruise exactly how he wants. 

Oikawa groans into his neck. The vibrations make Tobio keen, body shaking with addictive electricity. It’s too much, but he doesn’t want the Alpha to leave him for an instant. The press of a warm body, the wetness of Oikawa’s mouth, the way his scent gland practically sings in delight. 

This is what he’s been missing all this time?

A horrid thought enters his blissed out mind. If Oikawa hadn’t approached him, would he ever know this feeling? His pack has never talked about marking him. And while he knows that’s more than likely because they want to make sure he’s comfortable, Tobio can’t help but nervously wonder if it’s because they don’t want to.

Oikawa wanted him enough to do it. So why haven’t they?

Stinging tears gather at the corner of Tobio’s eyes. He refuses to let them fall, but he can’t stop them from forming. 

With a final lick over the now surely bruised area, Oikawa removes his teeth from Tobio’s neck. The Beta still doesn’t open his eyes. He can’t. He just can’t.

Long, lightly calloused fingers cradle the sides of his head. Thumbs wipe away the tears until they are nothing more than a memory. Tobio shivers and moans softly; his neck pulses with remnants of hurt and delicious longing. It feels so good and he hates it already. 

“Oh Tobio. My pretty, little Beta.”

Ocean eyes open to the sight of Oikawa smiling at him softly. For some reason, that makes it worse. Tobio’s heart clenches and he wishes the Alpha was back at his neck, marking him over and over again. 

“I’m not yours,” Tobio whispers, voice hoarse and so very fragile.

Oikawa keeps smiling at him. He chuckles and tilts his head like Tobio just said something funny. Those fingers skim over his cheeks one more time before the other pulls away. 

“I’ll see you around, Tobio-chan. After we win nationals.”

The Alpha leaves him then. The chill of the air caresses Tobio’s bare skin, and yet he still experiences more heat than anything.

Minutes pass before Tobio is able to rearrange his shirt and jacket. He zips his jacket as far as it will go. It completely hides his neck, but he wonders how long until Oikawa’s scent will fade away. He can’t tell how strong it would be to an Omega or Alpha now that Oikawa has left.

He’s just a Beta, after all.

When Tobio’s on the bus, Hinata sits next to him silently. The anguish and tension of the pack hasn’t expired, and won’t for a while. 

Tobio refuses to meet anyone’s eye. They take it as sadness from the loss, and he’s grateful for the assumption. So he stares out the window, once again not really seeing much of anything. His mind is spinning. 

As they drive, Tobio suddenly feels Hinata’s pink search out and curl around his own. The action is subtle, and the Beta briefly glances at the Alpha in surprise. Hinata is turned away from him, though. Yet their pinkies are still linked together.

It’s such a small comfort. Tobio soaks it up and doesn’t try to pull away.

Something inside him roars to comfort the Alpha. To comfort the entire pack. To be comforted by them. 

But Tobio doesn’t know how to do that.

And as he looks back out the window he sourly thinks, maybe he doesn’t deserve to. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: The Pack 

Daichi calls a ‘Pack Day’ soon after their loss to Aoba Johsai. While the Pack has spent time together before, they’ve never had an official Pack Day. It’s required, but if Tobio truly wants to he can probably get out of it.

Hinata never gives him the chance.

The Alpha appears at Tobio’s front door early in the morning and practically drags him outside. He rants about Tobio avoiding him and not answering his texts. Which, yeah, that is true. Tobio can’t deny that, and it’s not like he wants to make Hinata upset.

It’s just that every time he’s with someone in the Pack he feels choked with guilt.

When they arrive at Daichi’s house, Tobio pulls his jacket tighter to himself. He’s got it zipped up all the way to his neck and does not bother taking it off when they get inside. 

The mark under his jacket throbs. It doesn’t hurt anymore, but the bite has bruised brilliantly. If the Pack sees it, there will be no doubt as to what it is. Tobio had traced the darkened, red skin with his fingertips while he looked in the mirror. It was sensitive, and Tobio hated how the strange swell of pride surfaced when he saw it. Those feelings were always quickly overwhelmed with sharp regret.

Now he’s with the Pack and trying not to squirm anytime someone gets vaguely close to him. 

A plethora of pillows and blankets are strewn across the living room floor. Tobio can see some sort of action movie playing on the television, though the volume isn’t turned up very high. It seems to mostly be background noise to the warm, cozy atmosphere that is being created.

Half of the team is lying down on the floor, partially touching one another and talking. Others are on the couch, a mess of tangled limbs and laughter. Snacks and drinks have been set up on the coffee table. Tobio shifts his eyes away, and he feels even worse for not having brought anything. To be fair, he hadn’t intended to be there.

Tobio catches sight of Nishinoya and Asahi on the floor near the coffee table. Asahi is deciding between snacks, unsure and humming softly. Nishinoya is pressed against the Omega’s back. The Alpha nuzzles the back of Asahi’s neck before nipping playfully. Asahi laughs, soft and breathy, and bats the other away from him. That doesn’t deter Nishinoya for long, who simply wraps his arms around the Omega’s waist. Asahi rolls his eyes and returns his attention to the snacks.

A new mark blooms just under the collar of Asahi’s shirt. By the end of the Pack Day, he may have more. 

The Beta feels the blood drain from his face. He bites his lips at the display and quickly moves away from Hinata.

“Getting water,” he mumbles to his friend. Tobio doesn’t wait for Hinata’s response and swiftly goes into the kitchen. 

Tobio braces his hands on the sink counter and hunches over. He oddly feels sick, skin hot and yet so clammy. He shouldn’t be here, he thinks to himself. The day will be filled with scenting, cuddling, and adding new marks. It’s supposed to help the Pack bond as they prepare for more training and practices. They’ll be closer. 

He doesn’t deserve to do that anymore, if he ever did.

“Kageyama, what’s wrong?”

Vanilla and lilac tease his senses when Tobio hears Suga’s voice. He turns around and locks eyes with the Omega. Mild concern is laced over those features, and Tobio has to look away.

“Nothing, I was just getting water,” the Beta mutters. 

Suga raises an eyebrow. “Then where’s your cup?”

Tobio flinches. Denial is on the tip of his tongue, but his throat feels too dry to speak. Water really would be good, actually. 

The Omega walks up to him. He lightly places a hand on Tobio’s arm and gives it a small squeeze. That warm, genuine smile is on Suga’s lips and Tobio feels his stomach turn into nervous jelly. 

“You look like you want to run away,” Suga says. “You have since you got here.”

Tobio glances to the side. He puts a hand on the back of his neck without thinking, rubbing briefly before he winces at the shock that results from the mark. It’s a subtle thing, but Suga’s eyes zero in on his neck.

“Did you strain yourself?” The Omega narrows his eyes before they soften again. “You should have told me! I’m good with my hands. Here, I can work out any knots for you.”

Suga reaches out and brushes his fingers against his neck. The touch is gentle, but doesn’t last long as Tobio hurriedly pulls back. He can’t go far, but the quick retaliation makes even Suga recoil. 

“Don’t-” Tobio starts to say but stops cold.

The Omega’s eyes widen. His mouth hangs open slightly before he closes it. The two stare at each other for a moment and then Suga steps towards Tobio again.

“Kageyama, can you please remove your jacket for me?” Suga smiles at him once more, so soft and inviting that it hurts Tobio’s chest. “Please?”

Tobio knew he shouldn’t have come. If he refuses he’ll just look guiltier than he already is. Maybe if it’s Suga the betrayal won’t feel as brutal. Maybe he won’t tell anyone and just kick Tobio out so he won’t have to go through a full on Pack argument.

The Beta’s fingers tremble as he reaches up and slowly unzips his jacket. He puts the jacket on the counter. For good measure, Tobio pulls his shirt slightly to the side to reveal the red, obvious mark on his scent gland. His eyes go directly to the tile floor so he doesn’t see Suga’s face when the Omega gasps.

Here it comes. The anger. The hatred. Tobio thought he had prepared for it but he’s still not ready. He squeezes his eyes shut and just hopes that Suga will get it over with quickly.

“Oh baby, who did this to you?”

Suga’s voice is watery, and somehow that’s a thousand times worse. 

Tobio opens his eyes and watches Sugar close the small distance between them. The Omega lightly strokes the tender skin of his neck, brows furrowed and brown irises glassy. He’s frowning, but he doesn’t seem furious.

He’s sad.

The Beta shivers as Suga touches him. It’s barely anything, but it makes Tobio shake all the same. 

“I’m...I’m sorry, I-”

“Ssh, it’s alright,” Suga shushes him. He bends over and places the smallest of kisses on the edge of Tobio’s shoulder. “I’m going to get Daichi. Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”

Tobio desperately wants to believe that. The back of his mind is riddled with doubts and harsh, haunting words. Yet he remains frozen to his spot in the kitchen as he waits and watches Suga leave. 

Suga doesn’t take long to bring Daichi into the kitchen. The Alpha instantly gazes at the mark and comes up to Tobio with much more heat than Suga had.

“What happened, Kageyama?” Daichi’s voice is softer than he expected. It’s firm, but not harsh or scathing like Tobio feared.

The Beta still shifts his dark, ocean eyes away from the two. He can’t look at them as he answers, “I let Oikawa mark me.”

Daichi’s eyes harden, but his stance doesn’t suggest violence. He’s calm, if a bit intense. “Come on, look at me Kageyama. When did he do this?”

Tobio shuffles his feet a bit before finally obeying and looking at his two seniors. Suga is still openly concerned and close, gripping one of Daichi’s arms. Daichi is crowded on Tobio’s side.

Rough fingers gently touch the mark. Tobio bites the inside of his cheek to keep from whimpering. He’s too warm, yet moving away never crosses his mind. 

“After we lost. He found me and...he said he should give me my first mark.”

Daichi growls, low and rumbling. It makes Tobio tense and he looks back down at the floor. The scent of whiskey strengthens to the point that even Tobio notices it. Suga shakes a little, and vaguely Tobio wonders if he would be doing the same if scents could affect him like that.

“It’s my fault,” Tobio whispers. “I let him. I should have said no. But I just...he was there and...and he used to mean a lot to me and I...I…”

The Beta can tell he’s rambling and he’s sure it doesn’t make any sense. Still, Tobio can’t get a handle on his words. He wishes he could explain it, but truthfully he doesn’t understand what he’d been thinking at the time.

“This isn’t your fault, Kageyama.”

Daichi speaks with such assurance that Tobio feels the slightest bit of tension in his shoulders melt away. The Beta glances at the pair, confusion crossing his features.

The Alpha cups the back of Tobio’s neck with his warm hand. His dark eyes bore into Tobio, fierce and strong. “Every single one of us were on the verge of breaking down after that loss. Oikawa shouldn’t have come to you when you were in that kind of emotional state. And he knows that.”

“But I still let him,” Tobio tries to protest. “I shouldn’t have.”

Daichi sighs and rubs over the Beta’s neck soothingly. “I wish you had talked to us first. Or that Oikawa had asked the Pack properly. But I can’t get too angry. You didn’t have a mark, and that’s on us not you.”

Tobio clenches his jaw. Putting blame on his pack doesn’t feel right, and he shakes his head. “No, it’s not. I know that you guys probably didn’t plan on marking me. So I can’t expect you to-”

“Wait,” Suga cuts him off. “You think we don’t want to mark you?”

The Beta blinks. He alternates his gaze between the two. Suddenly his face feels hotter, and he wets his lips before answering, “Well, yeah. Why would you?”

Daichi places his hands on either side of Tobio’s face. He pulls him closer and Tobio can’t even hope to shy away from that dark gaze.

“Because you’re our Beta. Of course we want to mark you.”

The words brush over Tobio’s ears like a sweet caress. He fidgets, feeling a flush spread across his skin. 

“But...but you haven’t,” he ventures.

Suga takes Tobio’s hand and intertwines their fingers. “We were waiting until you felt more comfortable. But now it’s obvious that we waited too long.”

The Omega looks over at Daichi and glares. “I told you we should have done it sooner.”

Daichi scoffs, but has the decency to seem a little chastised. Just what type of conversations have they had about him, Tobio wonders.

Exhaling a long breath, the Alpha slowly removes his hands from Tobio’s face. He takes the Beta’s other hand instead, giving it a firm squeeze. 

“Suga’s right, as usual. I’m sorry we didn’t make our intentions clear, Kageyama,” Daichi explains. “We want to mark you. You’re a part of this pack, and I apologize if you ever thought otherwise.”

Tobio feels like he’s being laid bare before them. He’s too vulnerable, too open and raw. And yet he doesn’t want to turn away like he might have before. Daichi’s words settle over him with such calm and honesty that he can’t help but lean into their touches.

“You’re not mad at me?” he asks.

“No, not at you,” Suga answers for both of them.

Daichi shoots him an easy grin. “This day is for bonding. Why not let the Pack show you exactly where you belong, huh?”

Tobio isn’t sure what all that entails. The option to refuse tickles at the back of his mind, but he pushes it down. He wants to bond with the Pack. He wants to show them that he can be enough if they let him.

“Okay,” he agrees, nodding his head minutely. “What do I have to do?”

Daichi slowly pulls him towards the kitchen exit. Tobio’s limbs feel like jello but he continues to follow anyway. 

“Just enjoy it.”

When they get into the living room, Tobio is immediately reminded that he left his jacket back in the kitchen. Oikawa’s mark is out there for all to see. Tanaka is the first to react. He gasps and quickly growls out. Nishinoya untangles himself from Asahi and follows the other Alpha’s example.

Yamaguchi is mumbling under his breath, quiet and fast. Tsukishima stands from his place on the floor and it seems like he’s going to boldly go up to them. 

Daichi puts a hand out to everyone, like a sign to cease fire.

“Everyone calm down.” His tone is sturdy and absolute. He hasn’t let go of Tobio’s hand once.

Tanaka and Nishinoya stop growling, but they’re shaking. “Who did that, Daichi?” Tanaka asks, his voice more of a grumble. “You told us he wasn’t ready. So who did it?”

Tobio wants to hide away, but he also doesn’t want Daichi doing this alone.

“Oikawa did,” the Beta announces. 

Hinata inhales a sharp breath. Everyone flinches or narrows their eyes. Tsukishima is outright glaring, and Yamaguchi wraps both arms around him quickly and nuzzles his neck, murmuring whispered words against his skin. 

“That slimy bastard!” Nishinoya curses.

Tanaka’s eyes are filled with fire. He bares his teeth, like he’s going to find Oikawa at that very moment and teach him a lesson.

“Keep it together, Tanaka,” Daichi warns. “Right now I want us to focus on strengthening our bond with Kageyama. You can’t do that if you run off to fight Oikawa.”

The other Alpha pauses at Daichi’s words. Tanaka slowly deflates, but there’s still a heated energy about him. He’s fuming, yet contained. 

Daichi accepts that and looks back at Tobio. He gives the Beta a quick wink before addressing the rest of the Pack.

“Now then, as a Pack it’s our job to make sure everyone feels welcomed here. Our Beta doesn’t.”

Tobio wants to protest. He opens his mouth to do so, but he’s suddenly being gently guided to the floor. 

“We’re going to change that.”

Daichi sits down amid a vast array of soft pillows and blankets. He pulls Tobio into him until the Beta is sitting on his lap. His back is flushed against Daichi’s warm chest. The Alpha places his chin in the crook of Tobio’s neck and shoulder. He breathes in deeply, his lips brushing against the beginnings of the mark.

Tobio keens at the tingling sensation and promptly covers his mouth with his hands. He can smell dark, strong whiskey as Daichi continues to nuzzle and scent him. Like he’s trying to cover Oikawa’s mark with his scent alone. 

The Alpha puts his own wrist in front of Tobio’s face. Blue eyes widen, perplexed. Daichi chuckles, and the sound vibrates on Tobio’s skin.

“You can scent me too, Kageyama. Go ahead.”

It’s a strange permission Tobio didn’t realize he wanted. He swallows thickly and takes Daichi’s hand. Gingerly, he rubs his nose over the Alpha’s wrist. The whiskey scent is more concentrated there. It’s nice, and Tobio continues to rub against the warm skin. He doesn’t purr like Suga or Ennoshita might, but he still likes Daichi’s scent regardless.

Tobio feels one of his arms being pulled away from him. Suga gazes at him with a knowing, almost impish smile. He makes sure Tobio watches him as he slides his cheek across the Beta’s wrist. 

Suga’s scent comes to him in waves, soothing and so delicious. And yet, it’s Suga who groans without shame. He nuzzles Tobio’s wrist, kissing and worshiping his skin so much it makes Tobio blush.

“I love your scent,” Suga proclaims. “It’s so unique. I feel...stronger. I just want you closer all the time.”

Tobio doesn’t understand how that’s possible, yet he can’t find it in himself to argue. Especially when Daichi keeps scenting him, holding him tightly around his waist. The scents of his Alpha and Omega leaders overwhelms even him. They just smell so good, they feel so warm.

Tobio can’t detect the pheromones in their scents like he would if he weren’t a Beta. He doesn’t get that ‘rush’ of happy hormones. But it still feels amazing being close to them. He’s not being  owned by his instincts. He just likes them. 

And they like him.

When Daichi and Suga eventually part from him, he isn’t left alone for long. Hinata practically jumps him. The small Alpha pushes Tobio to the floor, pillows cushioning his fall. 

“You should have told me about the mark,” Hinata says from above him. He’s trying to glare, but it doesn’t look right on his face. Still, Tobio can tell the Alpha is upset. His stomach flutters at the sight, and he kind of wants to tilt his head and expose his neck for some reason. Pride keeps him from doing so, but Tobio doesn’t back talk like he might have in the past.

“I’m sorry,” he offers instead.

Those two words make Hinata’s eyes shine. He loses the tension in his shoulders and slowly lowers himself onto Tobio. The Beta wraps his arms around the other and Hinata does the same.

Hinata brushes their cheeks together, rumbling low in his throat and sighing. Out of everyone, Tobio is most familiar with Hinata’s scent of cinnamon and ash. It makes Tobio think of fire, of light itself.

That’s exactly what Hinata is to him. His light.

He’s never going to tell him that though. That would be too humiliating.

Instead, he let’s Hinata hold him and rub against him as much as he wants. The physical contact is pleasant, and if he could he would spend the rest of the day in Hinata’s arms. 

That won’t work with the rest of the pack, though. 

Throughout the day, Tobio is always with someone.

Yamaguchi ushers him to the couch at some point. The Omega curls around him and they hold hands through the entire movie. It’s some sort of fantasy film that Tobio doesn’t really pay attention to. Instead, he focuses on the strength in Yamaguchi’s fingers, the softness of his skin, and his subtle scent of whipped cream and baked apples. 

Eventually Nishinoya drags him to the floor again. Tobio is placed in between Nishinoya and Asahi. The Omega shyly sits in front of him and asks Tobio to braid his hair. The Beta can’t help but flush brightly at the request, but he accepts it quickly. 

Asahi’s hair is soft and thick. Tobio smells strawberries, tart and not overly sweet. The Omega’s scent is nice, and Tobio finds himself leaning forward to get a better whiff of it sometimes. 

Although Tobio’s hair is short, Nishinoya still plays with it. He rakes his fingers through the black locks, gentle and thorough. The touch causes Tobio to sigh openly and nuzzle into the caresses. Nishinoya smirks and mutters words of praise into his ear. Tobio is glad the Alpha is being quiet in that instance, otherwise he might just combust on the floor in embarrassment if everyone else heard him. 

Later, Tanaka and Ennoshita bring him over to the snacks. They take turns feeding each other, laughing and teasing all the while. They both look hungry , even after they eat the food. Ennoshita rubs against his neck every so often. His scent is so sweet, like cotton candy almost. It’s unexpected from the usually calm Omega, but the more Tobio is around him the more he realizes how well it fits.

Tanaka doesn’t hold back as he nuzzles Tobio like no tomorrow. He breathes in the Beta’s scent before putting a piece of candy or fruit near Tobio’s mouth. The Beta accepts the food always. Tanaka growls, obviously pleased. It makes Tobio think that maybe he shouldn’t indulge the Alpha so much. Yet he doesn’t reject the other once.

Both Daichi and Suga come up to him intermittently. Their affection is quick but purposeful. They kiss his cheeks or the inside of his wrist before going to someone else. It’s like a little reminder that they’re still there. Still happy that Tobio’s around and wanting him to be.

By the time the sun has gone down, all the noisy energy of the team has simmered off into comfortable silence. 

They’ve put in several movies today, but the current one is Tobio’s favorite. It’s a sports film about an underdog team that become champions. The sport is tennis rather than volleyball, but the Beta enjoys it nonetheless.

Tsukishima has his arms wrapped around Tobio’s waist. He’s lying down behind him, pulling the Beta in. The Alpha is warm, his scent of cypress and sweet firewood overtaking everything else. Tobio nuzzles into the pillow he’s resting on and yawns softly. Tsukishima is better than a blanket, and it seems like the Alpha doesn’t plan to stop spooning him anytime soon. He could fall asleep like this.

Little snores and sighs from the Pack start to sound off through the living room. Tobio thinks he might follow their examples soon, but he wants to finish the movie first.

Tobio tenses when he feels lips gently kiss over the mark. Tsukishima continues, careful and reverent. The slide of tongue over his flesh makes Tobio moan quietly. He angles his head and gives the Alpha better access, even though worry flows in his veins.

“Don’t worry, I won’t mark you,” Tsukishima promises, giving his neck another kiss. “We won’t do anything until that mark fades. But once it does, anyone here would give you a new mark in a heartbeat. If that’s what you want.”

The Beta curls in on himself slightly. Tsukishima follows and moves to nibble on Tobio’s ear. He licks at the shell before speaking, barely above a whisper, “I hope you’ll choose me.”

In hindsight, Tobio knows that it should probably be Daichi that gives him the next mark. Tsukishima wouldn’t be bad either, though. Of course, Hinata might pout if he does.

Somehow he knows that no matter who he picks everyone will accept it. And just because he has one mark from the team doesn’t mean he can’t get another. And another. And another. 

One day, it’ll be a common thing between them. 

He can see Tsukishima giving him a quick mark between classes. Or Hinata dragging him over to the side and nibbling on him a little before practice. Maybe Tobio will even scent Yamaguchi during lunch.

These things are all possible for him, Tobio realizes.

He can have these wonderful things meant for the Pack because he’s a part of it.

Lack of pheromones be damned, Tobio feels hazy and warm and unbearably safe. 

He snuggles closer against Tsukishima. “If you’re lucky,” he mumbles and closes his eyes, smiling. Tobio hears the Alpha hum behind him and the hold on him tightens. 

Sleep slowly takes Tobio away, but before it does he has one last thought circling his mind.

He’s exactly where he belongs. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: Kuroo

Although it’s by his own design, practicing by himself is starting to take its toll on Tobio. The Tokyo training camp is hard, exhilarating, and makes all of them confront their weaknesses head on. Everyone is improving, but it’s not without blood, sweat, and the occasional tears.

When he’s alone serving at night his eyes instinctively look for Hinata at every turn, only to be greeted with empty air. Sometimes Tobio tilts his head without thinking, expecting the familiar scent of whiskey or a brush of Tsukishima’s lips. It’s embarrassing when he comprehends what he’s doing, and he quickly shakes his head to get back into the right mental space. 

There are plenty of moments where Tobio is with the team, of course. The bonds between the pack grow stronger each and every day. Yet Tobio knows he has to be alone on nights like this if he wants to be adaptable. If he wants to be what Hinata needs. 

And so, even if Hinata shoots a pout his way every now and then it’s worth it. 

Besides, the team seems to be more...affectionate than before. Not just with Tobio either. 

The Beta had noticed a bright, new mark adorning Yamaguchi’s neck when Tobio and Hinata had finally arrived. Given how many new players they meet, it would be foolish not to have every Omega marked in some way. Not that that would stop courting out right, but any Alpha (or other Omega) would have to go to the Pack directly for permission. 

According to Hinata, the pheromones in the gym are nearly suffocating. It would explain why Suga seems clingier than usual. Or why Daichi comes up to everyone and scents them at least once a day before practice begins. 

Sometimes Tobio will catch Ennoshita’s eyes going hazy, or Tanaka growling under his breath and fidgeting. 

Oddly enough, Tobio has never been more grateful to be a Beta. He can’t imagine being so distracted when he needs to concentrate. Especially when it comes to volleyball.

That doesn’t mean his mind is completely focused, however. Now that the notion of ‘marking’ is plainly on the table, he can’t stop thinking about it. 

Daichi should probably be the first on the team to mark him. Tobio isn’t upset by this decision. He likes and admires Daichi, not just as an Alpha but as his Captain. After a first mark by the Pack though, Daichi informed him that marking would usually be the responsibility of the Alphas (or Omegas, sometimes) in his year. 

Tsukishima vs. Hinata

Tobio already has a headache at the mere thought of it all. If they want to keep up their bonds as a Pack, eventually he’ll let both Alphas mark him without issue. But he just knows they’re going to argue about who goes ‘first’. 

Regardless of that impending skirmish, what really bothers Tobio is an unexpected realization.

He can’t mark any of his teammates back.

As a Beta, his teeth are dull. He doesn’t have the necessary canines that create the specific and universally understood ‘mark’. The closest thing he could do would be the equivalent of a hickey, but he knows it’s not the same. It wouldn’t be acknowledged as a mark. It would only be looked at as something intimate. Not Pack related.  

On top of that, Tobio doesn’t actually have the desire to mark his Pack like they do for him. He wants to be close to them, but his mouth has never ‘tingled’ with the urge to mark skin and bury his nose against someone else's scent gland (Hinata’s description, not his).

So when Yamaguchi comes up and rubs against him slightly, Tobio allows it. When Tsukishima nips at the back of his neck, surprising and playful, Tobio lets him. When Hinata wraps his arms around his waist from behind and holds him without words for several minutes, Tobio allows him to indulge.

Until Tobio understands all that he can offer the Pack, this is the best he can do. 

These are the thoughts that circulate in Tobio’s mind as he leaves the Beta locker room. His hair is still damp from the showers, clinging to the back of his neck. The smell of food is heavenly as he enters the cafeteria where everyone else is.

His muscles are sore and he knows he’s going to fall asleep immediately tonight. He must be more sluggish than he notices, because one moment he’s walking straight and the next he’s falling to the side.

The cold, tile floor that he braces for never makes impact. Instead two large, warm and steady hands have a firm grip on his side and arm. The strength in those arms pull him to a more gravity appropriate position, and Tobio finds himself suddenly being balanced on a thick thigh, his back leaning against a heated, broad chest. 

“Woah there, careful now,” is murmured into his ear.

Tobio blinks as the mildly familiar, low rasp of a voice. The Beta blinks rapidly and turns his head until he catches narrowed, hazel eyes. A mess of thick, black hair covers a portion of the Alpha’s face and Tobio can’t help the small frown that forms on his lips.

“Uh...thanks,” Tobio mutters. 

Of all the people to be caught by, of course it was the Captain of Nekoma, Kuroo Tetsuro. Tobio doesn’t know the other very well, but from what he’s seen the man is an incredible middle blocker. Yet he is also too laid back, and that ever present smirk always makes it seem like he’s scheming something. The Beta respects him well enough, but trust him? Absolutely not.

The Beta squirms on Kuroo’s lap. The Alpha’s grasp is solid though, and it doesn’t appear that Tobio is going anywhere anytime soon. 

Tobio sighs softly and stops his attempts. It’s not exactly an uncomfortable position. This close, he can finally catch hints of Kuroo’s scent. It’s quite strong, even for an Alpha. Bitter almonds and soft, worn leather. The strange combination throws Tobio’s mind for a loop, but he doesn’t dislike it. Somehow, even though they haven’t interacted a lot, Tobio thinks the scent fits Kuroo well.

“You're Kageyama, right?” Kuroo asks him. 

“Yeah,” Tobio answers wearily.

The Alpha chuckles. “Thought so. We didn’t get the chance to talk much last time our teams came together. But I’ve heard about you. You’re some sort of genius.”

Tobio doesn’t like where this was going. The ‘genius’ thing feels more like an insult to him lately. He shrugs his shoulders, hoping that his cold behavior will be enough for Kuroo to let him go. 

No such luck.

“Tsukki talks about you sometimes,’ Kuroo's drawls. Tobio stiffens instantly. “Calls you ‘King’. Quite a nickname you got there.”

“I didn’t pick it,” Tobio bites back.

“Right, right. He did forget to mention one important thing about you, though.”

Tobio raises an eyebrow. He turns away from Kuroo, jaw clenching as he tries to look bored and not affected by the heat of Kuroo’s muscles and skin. “What’s that?”

Warm lips brush directly over the skin of his neck and shoulder. His nerves practically keen at the attention, a flush decorating his cheeks and the back of his neck. He arches his back just slightly at the contact, not even thinking about the implications or how it pushes his neck closer to Kuroo’s mouth.

There’s thankfully not even a hint of teeth. Just Kuroo’s soft lips and warm breath. Tobio hears the Alpha inhale and groan gently, the sound vibrating on his skin.

“You’re a Beta.”

Tobio’s eyes widen and he looks around the table at the other Nekoma Pack. No one is paying any attention to them. Like this behavior is normal for Kuroo, or maybe the Pack in general. 

He bites his lips and spit outs, “Why does that matter?”

Kuroo hums. The Alpha wraps an arm more securely around Tobio’s waist and moves him until he’s in a better position. Tobio doesn’t want to admit how comfortable it is, or how good Kuroo smells this close. His face is too warm even though the other has barely done anything. 

“Betas are fascinating to me,” Kuroo supplies. His voice is gruff now, and it shoots strange sparks up Tobio’s spine.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

Kuroo tilts his head, hazel irises curious as a teasing smile settles on his lips. “How so, little Beta?”

‘Little’ isn’t a word Tobio would use to describe himself, but he ignores that for now. 

“Betas are just...there. We’re boring.”

It hurts to say, but Tobio doesn’t know how to describe how he feels otherwise. Kuroo frowns at the response and gently places his chin in the crook of Tobio’s neck and shoulder.

“Now that’s mean,” the Alpha says. “Betas are essential for society. And damn do they smell nice .”

Tobio refuses to admit that his face begins to hurt from how red it is. Instead, he turns his head a bit to the side to avoid looking at Kuroo altogether. This doesn’t deter the Alpha in the slightest.

“Take you, for instance.” Kuroo sniffs at his neck again and Tobio shivers before he can stop himself. 

“Kinda sweet, but more fresh than anything. Like tart berries and that first day of winter, you know? It’s addictive.”

Tobio shifts on Kuroo’s lap and lets his eyes slide to the table. “I can’t exactly smell myself,” he mumbles. 

Kuroo laughs, loud but so warm it creates butterflies in Tobio’s stomach. The Alpha tightens his grips on the Beta’s waist. Tobio is starting to not mind it as much.

“Your loss, my gain. Well, more your Pack’s gain but whatever.”

His Pack.

Tobio tenses up automatically. If any of the Pack sees him like this it’ll be Kuroo's head for sure. 

“You should let me go,” Tobio suggests.

Kuroo leans up to his ear and whispers, “Do you really want me to?”

Tobio doesn’t know how to answer that. He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. His lips are dry, and he wets them before answering in a voice that feels too small. “It could get bad.”

“Hm, probably.” Kuroo maneuvers Tobio until the Beta is resting against his chest more. “You know, we had a Beta on our team last year.”

That gets Tobio’s attention. He glances back at the Alpha, not taking note of how close their faces are now. 

“Really? How...how did that work?”

Kuroo smirks. “Like a dream.”

Tobio’s ocean eyes widened. A light shines in them at this information, hope and intrigue swirling inside.

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Kuroo slowly lets a hand brush through the hair at the back of Tobio’s neck. It’s a subtle movement, and Tobio leans into the touch without a second thought. He’s too interested in what the Alpha has to say.

“Betas can have alluring scents, like yours. But that same scent can also disengage all those wild hormones Alphas and Omegas deal with. You just have to know how to use it.”

Tobio’s brows furrow. Memories linger in his mind. Disengage. Calming. Hormones. Somehow it all feels familiar.

He thinks back to Kindaichi’s comments about his scent during the confrontation with Hinata. Or when he scented Tanaka and Nishioya and they seemed to melt at the contact. Tobio hadn’t been thinking about his actions at the time, he’d just done it.

Perhaps there was more to it than he understood.

“Our Beta,” Kuroo continues, “really kept our Pack level headed. He gave us structure. I bet you do the same. Or you will, at least.”

Tobio stares at the Alpha, perplexed and far too open. Vulnerable, even.

Kuroo's smiles at the display as his fingers brush across Tobio’s neck. “You know, Betas are kinda like setters. They guide and support their Pack. They may not be the leaders, but if you have one in your Pack they’re incredibly important.”

Betas were like setters.

It’s such a ridiculous idea that Tobio immediately grabs onto it.

He’s been struggling with what it means to be a setter, a team player, and a Beta all at once. What if the answer is that they’re more connected than he could ever imagine?

Support. Guide. Important.

The more he thinks about it, the more right it feels.

Tobio can’t stop the smile from gracing his lips. It’s small and subtle, but Kuroo inhales a sharp breath anyways. 

“Oh, you’re pretty,” Kuroo admits. His hand leaves Tobio’s waist and instead cups the side of the Beta’s face. 

Tobio freezes at the contact, but his face blooms a brilliant, warm red. Kuroo leans forward, and Tobio has the startling realization that the Alpha is acting like he wants to kiss him.

Would that be such a bad thing?

Another hand rushes between their faces before anything can come to fruition.

The scent of warm, sweet whiskey greets both of them. Tobio looks up to see Daichi standing next to them. The Alpha’s eyes are narrowed into a glare that is directed at Kuroo. The other Alpha doesn’t cower away, but he doesn’t lift up his head in challenge either.

“Release him, Kuroo.”

The order is stern and strong. It makes Tobio’s spine straighten. The haze of warm and strange want leaves him and he shuffles out of Kuroo’s arms instantly. Kuroo doesn’t try to pull him back, though his hands linger and graze along Tobio’s skin purposefully.

Kuroo lifts his hands behind his head. It’s as much of a ‘surrender’ posture as he’s going to give.

“Easy Sawamura,” Kuroo says, tone a slow drag. “We were just talking.”

“You can talk without touching him.”

Kuroo cocks his head, leering at Tobio briefly. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Daichi takes a step forward and the Beta grabs onto his arm without thinking. 

“It’s okay Daichi.” Tobio tries to soothe the Alpha, who tenses but doesn’t move. “Let’s go back to the Pack.”

The Beta hesitates before bending down and brushing his cheek against Daichi’s shoulders. He swears he can feel the muscles relax in the Alpha’s back. Although Tobio doesn’t see it, Kuroo smirks openly at the display, eyes flashing in interest.

It takes a moment more before Daichi finally sighs and looks away from Kuroo. He turns to place his hand in the dip of Tobio’s back and ushers them away from the Nekoma table. 

“This is your only warning,” Daichi hurls back at Kuroo before they’re out of earshot. The other Alpha barks a laugh, but doesn’t say anything.

When Tobio is with the rest of Karasuno that night, he can’t stop the giddy feelings that swim in his stomach and just under his skin. The interaction with Kuroo had been weird, and perhaps even a little dangerous, but it had also been productive.

He is learning to see the positive in being a Beta.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s more good than he originally thought. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: Bokuto

Somehow, Tobio gets roped into late night practice sessions with a surprising group of Alphas. Practicing with Tsukishima and Hinata is normal by now, but the addition of Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi takes some getting used to. 

Their styles are all different and challenging, and it keeps Tobio on his toes. The sheer power or trickery they possess makes butterflies flutter in his stomach. He’s having fun . Even though it’s not a game, the amount of technique he’s learning is monumental. 

Every day that passes brings them one step closer to nationals. And now he’s starting to believe they could actually do it. 

Kuroo keeps sending him strange looks that Tobio doesn’t really understand, but he hasn’t been alone with the Alpha since the incident in the cafeteria. He’s polite enough though, and Tobio can’t say he minds the weird glances as long as they get to keep playing.

Bokuto’s energy is similar to Hinata’s but the Alpha is so much bigger that Tobio can’t help but stare at times. 

What’s more, the Alpha likes his attention. 

Bokuto bounces on his feet whenever he sees Tobio gazing at him. He’s so free with his emotions and expressions that the Beta can only look on silently and maybe mumble a reply every once and a while.

While Bokuto mostly focuses on giving Tsukishima and Hinata advice, he’s rather...forthcoming with his compliments to Tobio.

“Your serve is AWESOME!”

“How’d you do that so quick? Did you even have time to think about it?!”

“Dude, you’re seriously graceful. It’s freaking cool. You sure you’re not an Omega?”

That last one kind of stung, but given the earnest look on Bokuto’s face Tobio knows he hadn’t meant anything bad by it. 

One night when they’re practicing, Tobio is feeling the exhaustion steadily lace up in his bones. He was already tired from his own private sessions. He feels hot, sweaty, and can barely keep his eyes open.

As such, when Bokuto approaches him during a quick break he flinches at the looming, excited Alpha presence.

“Kageyama! You’re doing so good, but you’re also kinda slow tonight. Something up?” the Alpha asks, voice booming. 

Tobio rushes his fingers through his slightly damp locks and sighs. His hair is getting longer, and he makes a vague reminder in his mind to get a haircut soon.  

“I’m just tired, I guess,” he offers. 

Bokuto hums, lips a straight line before he suddenly perks up. He snaps his fingers for good measure and races to his bag in the corner. Tobio thinks that’s the end of the conversation and is content to sit against the wall until they start again.

The peace is short lived though, as Bokuto crouches by his side a few seconds later. 

“Here! This will keep that hair out of your eyes. You gotta see properly as a setter, man.”

The Beta eyes the plain, black headband with slight suspicion. It looks clean enough, but it had been in Bokuto’s bag. Still, it would be rude to refuse the well meaning gift and Tobio doesn’t want to risk the Alpha being hurt by turning him down. It’s just a headband anyway.

“Thank you,” he murmurs and takes the headband.

It takes a few tries, but Tobio eventually manages to push his hair back and place the headband around his skull. His vision is a bit clearer without his black locks in the way. If he didn’t hate how much pressure these things put on his head after a while he’d probably wear them more. 

Tobio turns to ask when he needs to return the headband and freezes. Bokuto is still crouching next to him, but his muscles have tensed up. Bright, golden eyes are gazing at him with such intensity it makes Tobio feel self conscious. 

The Alpha wets his lips, slow and deliberate and a flush blooms on the back of Tobio’s neck. 

“What?” the Beta asks hesitantly.

Bokuto tilts his head to the side. A smile curves over his lips that Tobio doesn’t recognize. It’s not like Kuroo’s smirks but it’s similar enough. 

“Nothing. You’re just really pretty.”

Tobio’s face burns, quick and unexpected. The Beta glances away from Bokuto instantly. He can’t look at the Alpha now, and part of him wants to run out of the gym. Another, stranger part of him wants to hear more. 

“I mean, I already knew that,” Bokuto continues. Wow, had his voice always been so low and gruff? “But this lets me see your eyes better. Damn, are you wearing contacts? No way they’re this beautiful.”

Bokuto was one to talk, Tobio wants to say. But he remains silent. His throat is dry and he’s worried about what sounds he might make if he dares to open his mouth. 

Thankfully, Kuroo calls them back over to begin another round. Tobio practically sprints over to the net and purposefully does not look at Bokuto more than necessary. 

Pretty.

First Kuroo and now Bokuto. Had these Alphas lost their minds? 

Akaashi was pretty. Suga was pretty. Even Asahi, who was often mistaken for an Alpha, was pretty. 

But Tobio? Pretty? The idea was so ridiculous that he dashes it away as soon as it starts to form. He can’t get distracted now. They are here to practice, that’s it.

Avoiding Bokuto proves to be impossible.

For one, Tobio likes the Alpha. His personality is a little much, but Bokuto seems to be a generally good person and an amazing volleyball player. Not to mention their teams face off in practice matches several times. 

It’s outside of the practices that Bokuto seems determined to shadow the Beta.

First, it’s a water bottle. Bokuto hands it to him like he’s unsure if Tobio (or maybe someone else) is going to bite his head off. Tobio accepts the water easily enough with a muttered thanks before he drinks half of it in one gulp. Water was water, after all. The smile that graces the Alpha’s lips is infectious, and Tobio barely refrains from giving one of his own. 

Then Bokuto starts handing him little snacks. They’re protein bars mostly, but every so often it’ll be a bag of chips or even some sort of candy. 

Tobio doesn’t mind the food. In fact, he’s grateful. He doesn’t always think about food when he’s focused on practice and these little gifts help him remember to eat.

It’s only when Kuroo makes a teasing comment that Tobio realizes the implications of what Bokuto is doing.

“Jeez, Bokuto. I know you’re excited but have a little class would you? Sawamura’s gonna be pissed if he sees you courting their Beta before asking them. You sly dog.”

Tobio nearly drops the water bottle Bokuto has just given him. 

Courting.

Bokuto is courting him?

But that’s impossible. He’s a Beta. Courting is reserved for Alphas and Omegas. 

Tobio opens his mouth to tell Kuroo that he’s wrong, but the furious blush that flares over Bokuto’s cheeks is confirmation enough. The words die in Tobio’s throat. He reaches out to Bokuto, water bottle still in his hand. 

Looking back on it, Tobio realizes that it might have looked like he was returning the water bottle and effectively rejecting the Alpha’s advances. That’s the only reason he can come up with as he watches Bokuto suddenly run away out of the gym. 

The Beta barely hears Kuroo say something about ‘sensitive’ and ‘idiot’ before he’s sprinting out of the gym as well.

He doesn’t know why he follows after Bokuto. He doesn’t necessarily want the Alpha to court him. But, if he’s being honest, he’s not completely against it either. He’s just never thought about it.

Still, he knows that having Bokuto upset doesn’t sit well with him. The Alpha has been nothing but kind to him. 

Tobio finds Bokuto sitting on the ground and leaning against the side of the gym outside. His face is buried in his face, knees drawn up to his chest. The vulnerable position is so startling to Tobio that he can’t help but stare for a few moments. It doesn’t suit Bokuto at all. 

Eventually, Tobio walks up to the other with easy, ginger sets. The Beta pauses, feet awkwardly shuffling before he finally sits down next to the other boy.

“...Are you okay?” Tobio asks.

“Don’t look at me. You shouldn’t see me like this.”

It’s an overdramatic response, yet the hurt in Bokuto’s voice sounds raw and real. Tobio shifts, unsure of how to proceed. He wants Bokuto to be his usual happy, peppy self. He wants to go back to the gym and play with the Alpha more. But there are rules and ways to go about this that Tobio doesn’t know. 

He’s a Beta.

He should be able to destress the situation, shouldn’t he? Guide and support, just like a setter.

Taking a quiet, deep breath through his nose, Tobio slowly rests the side of his face against Bokuto’s shoulder. The position is a little odd, but it arches Tobio’s neck so his scent gland is revealed more. His scent (which is apparently calming?) can reach Bokuto faster this way. 

Tobio doesn’t want to nuzzle this foreign Alpha; he’s not Pack, after all. But surely it wouldn’t be bad to do at least this much. 

Bokuto stiffens beside him before his muscles slowly release their tension. The Alpha melts into the touch and Tobio hears him groan softly. 

This close, Tobio can smell the Alpha’s unique scent of caraway spice and ginger. It tickles the Beta’s nose, but is exceedingly pleasant all the same. Bokuto draws people in, gives people energy and confidence, so it wouldn’t be far fetched for his scent to have a similar effect. 

“I don’t know much about courting,” Tobio admits softly. “I’m not good at this. I’m...still learning a lot about myself and I don’t understand everything. But I liked the snacks and the drinks. So thank you, Bokuto. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Tobio means it. He’s incredibly happy that Bokuto would want to do nice things for him. 

Bokuto is silent, but his scent increases with Tobio’s words. The Alpha is warm and comfortable. They stay like that for several minutes, yet the lack of talking somehow isn’t as tense as before. It’s nice; being near each other and letting their scents wrap around them.

“Okay,” Bokuto whispers. He lifts up his head and turns to fully face the Beta. Tobio looks up at him questioningly. There’s a seriousness to Bokuto’s face that he hasn’t seen before, but he doesn’t shy away from it either, too curious.

The Alpha cradles the back of Tobio’s head with a large, heated hand. The action makes Tobio crane his neck upward slightly and he blinks as lips come to press against his forehead. Bokuto’s kiss is warm and lingering; it sends tingles through Tobio’s skin and the Beta flutters his eyes closed at the contact. 

Bokuto inhales sharply and murmurs a curse that Tobio nearly misses. When the Alpha pulls away from him, he’s smiling gently. His eyes are shining again, and Tobio thinks that’s a much better look on him than the despair or embarrassment of before.

“When you figure things out, maybe give me a call?”

Tobio feels dazed, and it has nothing to do with their scents. He stiffly nods his head. The bright smile that graces Bokuto’s face is almost blinding. 

“Sweet!” the Alpha exclaims as he practically jumps up. He pulls Tobio with him, who trips a bit at the fast movements. 

They walk back to the gym and Tobio can’t help but notice the pep in Bokuto’s step. His eyes shift to the side, a small, shy smile curling on his lips. He’d done that. He’d made Bokuto that happy, even if he didn’t really get everything.

Later, Kuroo comes up to him just before dinner. His leer is lazy and far too interested, but Tobio doesn’t back away from him. 

“So, Bo told me what you did,” the Alpha starts.

Tobio flinches slightly, yet he tries to cover the action with a shrug of his shoulders. “He seemed upset. I just wanted to help.”

Kuroo hums. Maybe it would have seemed ‘thoughtful’ from someone else, but Tobio’s starting to understand Kuroo better. He’s teasing him, as usual. 

“How noble. You know, when I told you the things you could do as a Beta that was for your Pack. Not other Alphas. You gotta be careful.”

Tobio raises an eyebrow. What is Kuroo insinuating? “I don’t know what you mean.”

Kuroo lifts his shoulders in a slow, graceful shrug. His smirk is sharp and oddly makes Tobio’s legs feel weak. That smell of leather is so strong and Tobio likes it more and more every day.

“Bokuto’s harmless, but other Alphas are different. They may think you’re offering something that you aren’t. Not saying you can’t be with Alphas or Omegas outside of the Pack, but since Betas can’t control their scents it’s harder for us to understand the signals.”

Some of this made sense, Tobio supposes. His scent is subtle, but always active. He can’t enhance or subdue it like an Alpha or Omega. 

“I didn’t mean-” Tobio begins, but Kuroo holds up a hand and stops him.

“I’m not trying to put the blame on you, little Beta.” The Alpha’s face softens then, and somehow that makes Tobio’s chest clench more than any other look he’s observed on the other. “Like I said, I just want you to be careful. Protect yourself.”

Tobio feels the words leave his lips before he ever decides them in his mind. It’s so quick, so sure, that it must be a deep truth that his instincts knew about rather than him.

“My Pack will protect me.”

Ocean eyes widen as they gaze up at hazel irises. Kuroo seems mesmerized by him, eyes half lidded and curious. Tobio can’t look away and he can’t even comprehend taking back the words. 

He means them. Completely and utterly.

“Damn right they will,” Kuroo mutters. He comes up to Tobio and places an arm over his shoulder, leading them to their teams. 

The Beta enjoys the weight of Kuroo’s arm and the heat he radiates. It’s comforting and if Tobio leans into it a bit Kuroo doesn’t comment.

The training camp is offering him a plethora of knowledge and experience. He expected to learn new tricks, techniques, and increase his endurance. While he’s done all of that, Tobio is slowly coming to realize he’s gaining so much more. 

Maybe being a Beta isn’t so bad. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: Akaashi 

When the Training Camp finally comes to a close, no one is expecting the plethora of grilled meat as their reward. The smells of juicy beef and tender pork permeate the outside area. Everyone is clamoring for their plates, some not even bothering with even that much. 

Tobio wants to say he’s more graceful than Bokuto or other rowdy players, but he’s a growing boy and his stomach is growling from a tiring practice game. 

The Alphas and Omegas around him chomp down on their food and he’s quick to follow their lead. The thin, sliced beef is coated in the perfect amount of salty seasoning and semi-sweet sauce. He can’t help but groan in appreciation before he puts another slice in his mouth.

Maybe he’s going a little too fast or he just doesn’t realize the amount of meat he’s eating, but soon Tobio’s throat constricts. The Beta grips onto the outside of his throat, trying to cough and failing spectacularly.

Tears gather up at the corners of his eyes. Tobio briefly panics and starts to look around for help, embarrassing as that might be.

He doesn’t have to wait long though, when a cup of cold water is pushed into his hands.

Tobio grasps the cup and downs half of the water inside in a single gulp. Instantly his throat loosens and he can once again breathe properly. The Beta gasps in a lungful of air, hand clutching the front of his white t-shirt.

“Are you alright?” a smooth, lowered voice asks him.

Tobio straightens and opens his mouth to thank his savior. Dark, ocean eyes widen as Akaashi comes into view. He’s not sure why, but the Omega is the last person he expected.

Akaashi has been nothing if not civil to him during the training camp. Tobio has certainly learned a thing or two from the setter and their late night practices, but he hasn’t had time to truly get to know the other. 

Still, he’s enjoyable and Tobio finds himself offering the smallest of smiles.

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks.”

Akaashi doesn’t smile back. Instead, his eyes widen, pupils seeming to dilate.

Tobio looks down at the cup and wonders if he’d done something wrong to receive such a reaction. Was this Akaashi’s cup? Did he want it back? Then why had he given it to him in the first place?

The Omega normally has such an unbothered, almost ethereal aura about him. It’s not as comforting or friendly as Suga, yet Tobio can’t deny the similar quality.

Even after practice, sweaty and tired, Akaashi is beautiful. 

Sleepy, dark eyes and just as dark hair that sweeps over a perfectly crafted face. Tobio usually isn’t one to stare at Omegas (or Alphas for that matter), but even he understands that Akaashi is incredibly pretty. 

It’s one of the reasons Tobio couldn’t understand why Bokuto and Kuroo would call him pretty. How can he be when Akaashi is right there?

Tobio is so deep in his thoughts he doesn’t notice the soft inhale from the Omega next to him.

He is, however, acutely aware of the hands that gently stroke the skin of his face. Those long, lightly calloused fingers cradle his jaw with a solid strength. They’re soft, but the power in those fingers is so evident that it makes Tobio freeze. 

The scent of heavenly rose and brown sugar tickles his senses. It’s a calming scent, and if he were an Alpha perhaps it would even make his mouth water. 

His face flushes as Akaashi steps closer to him. Tobio can feel the heat of the other, even if their bodies are barely touching. There’s something so pleasant and sure about the Omega’s form. Like he could tell Tobio to do anything and he would blindingly obey. A simple caress, a whispered word, and the Beta would be on his knees. 

Akaashi swipes his thumb over the corner of Tobio’s mouth. The Beta can feel the remainders of wetness across his flesh. He must have spilled a little water after he drank so quickly. 

The action is subtle, but Tobio trembles.

Red tinges the Omega’s cheeks. Dark irises continue to stare at him, traveling from his lips until their eyes lock. 

Tobio can’t decipher the look Akaashi is giving him. It’s like a haze has been placed over the Omega’s stunning features, yet Tobio doesn’t dare dream of responding. The hands on his face are so warm, and his lids lower, head bowing. 

It feels good . 

Tobio releases a tiny, barely there whine. He denies the sound to himself immediately, yet his mouth remains slightly open, skin blooming red. 

Akaashi takes another step forward. His head leans like he’s about to place his mouth against Tobio’s exposed neck. 

His center of gravity shifts as he’s suddenly pulled back. A firm and familiar hand is wrapped around his arm, and the scent of lilacs blissfully greets him. 

Suga smiles at both of them. There’s a strange, new edge to it though that makes the Beta shiver. It’s sharper than he’s seen before, but already he can tell that that new quality isn’t directed at him.

“Akaashi,” Suga murmurs. “That's too much.”

Those wonderful hands leave Tobio’s face as if they’ve been burned.

The other Omega shifts his gaze between the two of them. His face darkens, and a light shines in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. A realization, maybe.

Akaashi places his hands by his sides and bows his head. “I...I apologize. My mind was not where it should have been. Please forgive me, Kageyama.”

Confusion surfaces over Tobio’s features. He tilts his head to the side, eyes narrowing as he tries to comprehend what Akaashi is saying sorry for.

“Um, it’s okay,” the Beta eventually replies. 

Suga still hasn’t let go of his arm. The warmth that builds between them is delightful. Again, the differences with Akaashi and Suga send a shock through Tobio’s system. 

Akaashi levels his eyes at Suga for a brief moment before turning away from them. The other Omega’s head is lowered, like he’s ashamed. This just perplexes the Beta even more. 

“What was that about?” 

Suga glances up at him, smile softening. He reaches up to brush his hands through Tobio’s hair, the dark strands soft and lovely.

“You probably couldn’t tell, but Akaashi was releasing his scent. It was really strong and had more pheromones than is appropriate. Like he was trying to entice you.”

Tobio flinches at the words. The blush that graces over his face is so intense it nearly hurts.

Akaashi. Trying to entice him. 

“Why would he do that?” Tobio risks asking. 

Suga chuckles before he starts to lead the Beta back towards where more of Karasuno’s players are seated. 

“I don’t think he was conscious of it,” the Omega supplies, humming. “He probably thought you were cute and it just sort of happened. I had trouble with that too when I was younger so he might still be working on it."

Trouble with releasing scents.

The concept is still very new to Tobio. He would never be able to control his own, subtle scent. So it still blows his mind a bit that others (usually older Alphas and Omegas) can alter their scents when they wish to. 

This isn’t the case during heats or ruts, of course. But then again, Tobio hadn’t thought he would need to know that information for the future so he refrained from learning it.

Maybe he should be rethinking that decision.

When Karasuno leaves the next morning, Tobio can’t help feeling an ache in his chest. It’s a strangely bittersweet moment. The goodbyes between their rivals and friends are filled with excitement, longing, and hope for the future. 

He won’t forget Kuroo’s wise words or his infuriating leers. Tobio’s mind still goes to Bokuto and the new number he has saved in his phone. Even the memory of Akaashi’s dark eyes, pools of sweet promises he doesn’t fully understand, won’t leave him alone. 

The Beta has gained so much in such little time.

New friends.

New questions.

And, perhaps most surprising of all, a new confidence.

Back in the van, Tobio leans against the window and watches the captains say proper goodbyes to one another. Hinata sits next to him, shooting him a quick smile.

Without even thinking about it, Tobio angles his head to open up the space between his neck and shoulder slightly. Hinata’s eyes glance at the position for only a second before he lays his head down in the space.

Something inside Tobio practically keens in happiness. 

Hinata’s cinnamon and ash filled scent helps his muscles relax. He closes his eyes and braces his head on the glass of the window. 

The interaction with other packs had taught Tobio a lifetime of lessons. It would take time to sort through everything, but he was sure of one thing.

Karasuno was ready.

And so was he. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: Terushima 

“Are you sure about this, Kageyama?”

Tobio feels his chest tighten at Daichi’s words. His eyes flutter close, and he has to tell himself that Daichi isn’t asking for any horrible reasons. The Captain’s not attempting to get out of Tobio’s request, he’s just being considerate.

Regrets were unacceptable, and Tobio would never want to put that kind of guilt on Daichi in a million years.

The Beta takes a deep, steadying breath before he opens his eyes and gives the Alpha a small nod.

“I’m sure,” Tobio answers. His voice is soft, but solid. Confident even as his body feels almost too warm. “It should be you, Daichi. I want it to be.”

Tobio has been debating the pros and cons of having a mark during the Spring Preliminary or not. On one hand, not having one wouldn’t create any drastic change. He’s gone this far without a mark, so why would he start now?

But it feels...right. The timing is right. 

He wants to connect with the Pack as much as possible as they start their battle for Nationals. 

And maybe, must maybe, he wants to rub it in Oikawa’s face. 

Daichi has supported him from the beginning. He’s reliable, kind, and an Alpha he truly looks up too. Besides, the great thing about having a Pack is that this mark won’t be his only one. He has a whole team that cares for him and would be happy to give him another mark, should he ask. 

Tobio’s mind briefly flashes to Hinata and Tsukishima. They’ll accept Daichi’s mark without question, but it might get a little tense whenever he goes to either of them for his next one.

Ugh, at this point he’ll have to make a schedule or something.

That’s a problem for another day, though. For now, he focuses on the Alpha before him. 

The Beta is sitting on one of the benches in the Beta locker rooms. Tobio thought about going to the Alpha locker room, but this offered more privacy. 

Without another word, Tobio lifts and angles his head slightly to the side. His neck is exposed, scent deep and unhidden. 

Daichi is silent as he steps up to him. Large, strong hands brush over the skin, right over his scent gland. It makes little tingles shoot through Tobio’s shoulder and neck, and he trembles softly before he gets a hold of himself.

He hears the Alpha chuckle low in his throat. The sound sends heat flaring through Tobio’s cheeks and he can’t watch as Daichi descends upon him.

The first hint of teeth reminds him of Oikawa. It’s not the exact same, but the wet warmth and sharpness of it all are now something he’s experienced. That’s where the similarities end, however. 

Daichi is unbearably, wonderfully , gentle. 

That sensation of teeth sinking into his flesh creates a burst of pleasure that surges through him. A small, shallow breath is released from his lips. He whines before he can help it, and Tobio swears he can feel Daichi smiling against his shoulder. 

The biting part itself is done quickly. Like it’s not the main event somehow. Instead, Daichi makes a point of licking his skin soothingly afterwards. 

Tobio places a hand over his mouth to stop the noises that threaten to spill between his lips. He’s shaking, but it feels so good he doesn’t even care.

Daichi pulls away and observes the mark carefully. He kept the bruising to a minimum, yet there’s not a single doubt as to what it is.

A mark from his Pack Alpha. His Captain, his friend. 

One that Tobio wanted and asked for.

“You did good, Kageyama,” Daichi whispers to him. The Alpha nuzzles the side of his face and kisses his temple, lingering and so very, very warm.

Tobio can’t reply, but he smiles up at the other and somehow he knows that’s enough. 

---------

The excited energy that radiates from Johzenji High is simultaneously impressive and annoying. 

In many ways, they remind Tobio of Hinata if the Alpha were more unhinged. A Pack full of Alphas, apparently. Given how crucial the Omegas are for Karasuno, Tobio can’t imagine how that dynamic works all the time. 

Tobio makes sure to keep close to Tanaka and Hinata at first. High energy is great, but they need to have clear minds for this game. The Beta can tell the scents of the opposing Alphas might influence Karasuno if they’re not careful. 

So, Tobio doesn’t hesitate to offer his neck for Hinata to rub against while they’re warming up. The shorter Alpha eagerly accepts, eyes zeroing in on the new mark. They stare at each other for a tense moment before Hinata smiles at him, wide and honest.

“Looks good,” he comments. There’s a dark sharpness to Hinata’s eyes that Tobio can’t decipher, but he doesn’t think it’s bad. 

“Me next?"

Tobio rolls his eyes and scoffs, even as his face grows hot. “If you’re lucky.”

It’s not a ‘no’ and they both know that.

Tanaka is a bit fidgety towards the end of the warm up. The Alpha is closer to the net (and the other Alphas) than Tobio is strictly comfortable with, and he quickly moves to create some distance. 

Thankfully, Tanaka moves near Suga when Tobio gives him a look. Good, they need to save and craft that energy so they can play at their best. What Tobio’s scent can’t do, Suga’s will pick up the slack.

The Beta lets his lips quirk upwards to the side, and he fully intends to go back to the group. That is, until he hears a low, long whistle sound in his direction.

“Hey there, little Beta.”

Ocean eyes widen in surprise, and Tobio quickly turns around behind him towards the voice.

Again with the ‘little’ thing. Tobio nearly wants to laugh at the term, but it wasn’t the first time he’s heard it and won’t be the last. By now he doesn’t think it has anything to do with his actual stature and more with his dynamic. 

An Alpha with bright, dyed hair and a self-assured smile greet him. 

Tobio is taken back by the boldness in the Alpha’s features and stance. His hands easily rest on his hips, chest puffed and out. The strength in his legs is eye catching, and even though the Alpha is shorter than him the posturing certainly makes Tobio feel small. 

‘Little’, indeed.

Deep, brown eyes slowly trail up and down his form. It’s intentional, and Tobio oddly wants to cover himself or cross his arms over his chest. He barely refrains from doing so, and instead forces his hands to simply clench into fists at his sides.

“What?” Tobio asks, voice lightly laced with venom.

“Nothing much. I just haven’t met many Betas at games. I wanted to get a good look at you.”

The Alpha has the gall to lick his lips, pink tongue tracing slow and deliberate. A hint of silver peaks out, and Tobio realizes the other has some sort of tongue piercing.

Oh. That’s...kind of cool, now that he thinks about it.

So perplexed at the jewelry, Tobio doesn’t notice when the Alpha takes another step closer to the net. 

“Name’s Terushima. You?”

The casual question throws the Beta for a moment. He flounders before offering out a muttered, “Kageyama.”

“Cute,” The Alpha, Terushima, responds. 

Tobio narrows his eyes in confusion. How is his name cute? He doesn’t have time to truly consider that peculiar compliment though, as Terushima is sending him a positively inappropriate smirk his way. 

“Man, I bet you get it all the time.”

Tobio raises an eyebrow. He’s scowling, but the anger behind it isn’t there. He’s more curious and confused than anything.

“‘It’?” he repeats. “What are you talking about?”

Terushima shrugs his shoulders. “You know ‘it’. By the looks of that mark, your Pack treats you real nice.”

The blush blooms on Tobio’s face so furiously that he has to suck in a shaking, audible gasp.

At their age, hormones and pheromones are rampant within a Pack. It wouldn’t be a bold assumption to think that they might be more...intimate with one another. The practice was accepted, as long as it didn’t interfere with club duties and or create fights within the Pack. But that was still generally saved for the older pack members, such as Suga and Daichi. 

To insinuate that Tobio would be a part of such activities was conflictingly ludicrous and strangely flattering. 

“It’s a Pack mark not...not...well, that’s none of your business,” Tobio hisses back. There’s not as much bite to his words as he would like, though. He feels almost feverish, the skin of his neck prickling and red.

Terushima’s eyes soften, that smirk morphing into something a little smoother and just as dangerous. 

“Must be nice being a Beta,” he coos. “You can go at it all you want and not worry about babies or anything.”

He’s not exactly wrong. The Beta will never really have to fear pregnancy with himself or his partners. Still, that has always seemed like a negative thing. Yet Terushima appears to view it in a much more attractive light. 

The Alpha reaches forward and grasps onto the next with a loose grip. He’s staring at Tobio intensely, like the net is the only thing holding him back from doing something very, very unwise.

“That’s hot. You know, it doesn’t get enough hype but Beta porn is the best. I’m sure you’ve watched it, so you get what I’m talking about.”

No, Tobio hasn’t. He didn’t even know there was such a thing. 

If his face gets any redder he’ll combust on the spot. 

Terushima takes his stunned silence as an invitation to continue.

“The prep is my favorite part. Omegas have slick, which is sexy and all, but there’s something about having to get someone ready that is such a turn on. A little fingering with lube and the Betas go wild.”

The Alpha glances down at the floor for only a moment before he dips down under the net. He takes a deep breath and groans without shame as he catches Tobio’s scent. There’s a good, few feet of distance between them still but it feels like nothing when Terushima leers at him.

“If you’re interested, I could show you my technique after the game. What do you say?”

Something inside of Tobio rages at the mere suggestion. 

Yet another smaller, more curious part of him is shamefully intrigued.

Never once has he considered that Betas could be desired in such a way. That they would purposefully be sought out because they’re Betas, not in spite of it. He understands that his Pack cares for him, but he didn’t necessarily think that would be the case for the rest of society. Until now. 

People like Betas. They desire them. 

There’s, apparently, an entire porn category for them.

Tobio is disgusted at the idea, yet he would be lying if he said he doesn’t also feel a tiny bit flattered, as ridiculous as that is. 

“I-” Tobi starts and stops, wetting his lips and swallowing thickly at the dryness in his throat. 

Terushima appears gleeful at the reaction and limits the distance they have. His scent is strong lemon and sandalwood. It’s just as vibrant as the Alpha it belongs too, and doesn’t help Tobio in the slightest.

“You’re not lying, right?” the Beta finally mutters. 

Terushima ticks his head to the side, brown eyes blinking. “What do you mean, gorgeous?”

The endearment nearly makes Tobio keen unexpectedly, but he’s able to rein in it quickly. But only barely.

“I mean if that ‘Beta porn’ thing actually exists. You’re not just messing with me?”

The Alpha grins at him. The sharp points of his teeth and the slither of silver make the blood rush throughout Tobio’s body. It’s enough to make him dizzy, and he’s not sure why he likes it but he does.

“Oh I’ll show you, little Beta. We can try as many things as you want. I promise it’ll feel good, too.”

Tobio can feel the heated eyes on the back of his neck before he ever registers the grasp on his shoulder. Familiar, sweet firewood invades his senses. He freezes, like he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t, when Tsukishima speaks gruffly.

“Try it and you’ll be limping back to your Pack.”

The calmness in Tsukishima’s tone is terrifying. It’s cold, sure, and thankfully not directed at him.

Terushima flinches as he looks up at the other Alpha. That’s fair, Tsukishima is much taller than him. Plus his presence and scent is almost suffocating, even to Tobio. 

“Ooh, you’re scary,” Terushima says, forced laughter tumbling from his lips. 

“I can get scarier.”

Tobio grabs onto Tsukishima’s wrist. The Alpha is by his side, but he might as well have been standing in front of him like a shield given his posturing. 

“Hey, don’t start a fight,” Tobio whispers under his breath. Daichi would have their heads if things went south. 

“I’m not starting anything,” Tsukishima easily replies as he glances at the Beta from the corner of his eye. “But I’ll gladly finish it.”

He means it. 

Tobio’s gaze alternates between the two Alphas. He tries to calm down, let his scent relax them in some way. But he’s too flustered, and he doesn’t think it helps much at all in this situation.

Terushima tears his eyes away from Tsukishima and sends a smirk over to the Beta. 

“Possessive Pack you’ve got here, Kageyama. If you still want to fool around after this let me know. Just don’t bring your guard dog.”

Before either of the Karasuno players can reply, Terushima is ducking under the net and heading back to his team. The shit eating grin on the Alpha’s lips makes Tobio’s stomach flip for some reason that he doesn’t want to acknowledge. 

Especially since Tsukishima looks like he’s two seconds away from going after the other.

Tobio doesn’t waste time and quickly moves to stand in front of the Alpha. Tsukishima’s eyes are narrowed, brow furrowed and face lightly pink. It’s baffling to see him this way, and Tobio doesn’t know what to make of it. Or why his chest constricts.

“You have to get your head in the game,” Tobio mumbles. He still has a hand on Tsukishima’s wrist, and he wonders if the Alpha would even let him remove it now.

“I know that.”

Tsukishima’s gaze lands on the crook of his neck and shoulder. The fresh mark can be seen peeking out of Tobio’s uniform. 

“It seems one mark isn’t enough.”

Tobio flinches, his other hand immediately coming up to cover the still sensitive mark. 

The Beta pauses before slowly lifting his shoulders up and down. “He’s just a weird Alpha. Don’t let him get into your head.”

“You let him into yours,” Tsukishima counters. 

Tobio glares, but he can’t exactly deny the accusation either. Maybe he could explain it, at the very least. 

“He told me there’s Beta porn.” His cheeks flush tremendously as he says the words. It’s awkward, and Tobio would rather walk away from the conversation, but he needs Tsukishima to understand. 

“I didn’t know that stuff existed. I didn’t know people could feel that for Betas.”

“Feel what, King?”

Tobio bites at his lip. He doesn’t want to say it, to admit to the inadequacy he still harbors, even if it’s getting better. 

Regardless, he forces his lips to move and he gently utters, “Desire.”

The responding sigh from Tsukishima is hoarse and exhausted, it makes Tobio wince. Hands are cupping the back of his neck and jaw within seconds. It’s a light touch, something Tobio can easily escape if he wants too. Yet that Alpha’s gaze, open and shining and far too intense, pin him down. 

“You don’t need some punk Alpha to show you that, King. You just need your Pack.”

The idea of protesting doesn’t even enter Tobio’s mind, but he’s still unprepared for the shift in gravity as Tsukishima leads them back over to the rest of Karasuno. The hand at the back of his neck is still in place, warm and heavy. It makes Tobio’s eyelids lower slightly, and for the first time in his life he thinks he might feel those pheromones everyone is always talking about. Just a little bit.

Tsukishima bends to whisper in his ear, the heat from his breath making Tobio shiver. “All you have to do is ask. We’d be happy to show you. Thoroughly.”

The Alpha squeezes Tobio’s neck briefly before letting him go. His fingers, calloused and lovely, linger and the Beta can’t help but quiver at the touch.

Tobio surveys his Pack. They’re happily warming up, excited and ready for their game. His mind tries to comprehend what Tsukishima suggested. 

His Pack would want him...in that way? 

The idea is so shocking, he misses when Coach Ukai calls them over for a pep talk. 

Tobio eventually joins, yet now he’s the one who is struggling to get his head in the game. He feels numb, but overwhelmed at the same time. What’s worse, he can’t stop a small smile from dancing on his lips. 

For the sake of the game he’ll push these thoughts to the side.

Afterwards? Well, who knows. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: Iwaizumi 

The elation and excitement of winning against Aoba Johsai vibrates throughout Tobio’s form. He’s bombarded with scents and warm hands wrapping around him, hitting him on the back, or noses nuzzling into his neck. 

At first, the joy is overwhelming.

Long hours of grueling practice and communication have finally paid off. Tobio truly believed they could succeed, but hoping and actually experiencing such a victory are completely different things. 

It’s the sight of Oikawa’s tears that startle him back into a cold reality.

If there’s a winner, there’s a loser.

He vaguely hears Hinata rambling and jumping at his side as he watches the retreating backs of the Aoba Johsai team. Those had been his own teammates, once upon a time. Friends, even.

Now they were rivals. And he’d defeated them.

Bitter guilt tickles the back of his throat.

The feeling swirls inside him and grips him tighter than Tobio expected. He’s not unhappy that Karasuno won, of course. He got what he wanted, what they all deserved. 

Yet…

When they entered the gym, Oikawa had stared him down. The look in the Alpha’s eyes was so convoluted and strange, Tobio hadn’t been able to understand it. He had practically felt Oikawa burning a hole into the mark on his neck. The older setter’s muscles had been taut, supple eyes so narrowed and harsh it made the Beta flinch at first. 

Rage, surprise, and maybe even a little sadness. 

Oikawa looked hurt, but Tobio had no idea why. 

When Tobio returns to the Beta locker room, he can’t get the Alpha’s expression off of his mind. If Aoba Johsai had won instead, would Oikawa still look at him like that? Or would it have changed?

Tobio sits on the bench, elbows resting on his knees. Exhaustion is beginning to settle into his bones now that the adrenaline has worn off. 

Sometimes, Tobio wishes Oikawa had beaten Ushijima a long time ago. Maybe this incessant rivalry would have never also been directed at him, then. Tobio could have gone to Aoba Johsai too. They could have been Pack. Oikawa would have never looked at him like that if he’d been on the same team. 

If only.

Tobio runs his fingers through his hair and exhales softly. It’s pointless to think about, he knows. Plus, what of Karasuno? He certainly can’t imagine not being with them now. 

So lost in his thoughts, Tobio almost misses the knocking on the locker room door.

The Beta lifts up his head and hesitates before calling out that it’s open.

Olive green irises catch his attention instantly. He knows that painfully familiar head of spiky brown hair and a near permanent, stern expression. Fondness and admiration instantly fill his chest, even as that same guilt threatens to claw at him even more.

“Iwaizumi.”

The older Alpha enters the room with an odd shyness. Like he’s not sure if he’s allowed to be there. He’s probably not since this is a ‘Betas Only’ locker room, Tobio realizes, but that hadn’t stopped Daichi and it’s obviously not stopping Iwaizumi now. 

Iwaizumi’s eyes are red around the edges. He’d been crying earlier with the rest of the team.

“Hey Kageyama,” Iwaizumi greets. His voice is low and honey-warm, but there’s a gravelly edge to it that Tobio knows too well. 

“What are you doing here?”

The sigh Iwaizumi releases is stuttered. He walks further into the locker room until he’s standing before the bench that Tobio is sitting on. 

“I wanted to apologize.”

It’s not anywhere near what Tobio was preparing for.

Confusion graces over the Beta’s delicate features. His brows furrow, and Tobio opens his mouth to respond, but his mind can’t grasp the situation. 

The Alpha appears uncomfortable. He’s shifting his stance and placing his hands in his pockets, gripping on the inside. It’s odd, he’s never seen Iwaizumi like this before. 

Maybe it’s to appear unthreatening, but Tobio has never thought of Iwaizumi that way like he has other Alphas. He’s too...soft. Too genuine. 

“What do you mean?” Tobio finally asks. “You didn’t do anything.”

Iwaizumi shrugs his tense shoulders. He glances at the wall as he mutters, “That’s the problem.”

Now Tobio is even more confused.

It must show on his face, because Iwaizumi grits his teeth. The Alpha curls his hands into his spiky hair, gripping and pulling in frustration before continuing. 

“I’m also here to apologize for Oikawa too. Even though he should be the one doing this, he’s not...in a good place right now.” Iwaizumi’s eyes seem distant. A haze washes over them that takes Tobio’s breath away.

No, Oikawa wouldn’t be able to talk to Tobio so soon..

That was asking too much from either of them.

“It may not mean much, but he is sorry.”

Tobio laces his fingers together in his lap, hands starting to shake. “Sorry for what?”

Iwaizumi gazes down at the Beta’s neck. It’s pointed and obvious, and Tobio feels his face heat up before the Alpha even answers.

“The mark,” Iwaizumi clarifies. “Well, not the mark itself. He’s wanted to do that for a while. But the way it happened...I think he regrets it.”

How long was a while? That was definitely news to Tobio.

The Beta raises his head, ocean eyes searching for answers in the features of Iwaizumi’s honest face. Yet the Alpha seems to be holding back, rigid and five seconds away from fleeing the room altogether.

Tobio presses on. “And he just told you this? He said he regrets it?”

“Not exactly. He’s never that open,” Iwaizumi says. “But I’ve been by his side for years. I can tell.”

It’s not the information Tobio wants. Part of him practically preened at the idea of Oikawa sending Iwaizumi to apologize, to be one step closer to apologizing himself.

But that isn’t going to happen. That isn’t how they work.

Tobio settles his gaze on the floor. He feels too vulnerable now, even if he was the one who had just won out there on the court. 

“If he didn’t ask you to tell me this then why are you?” he asks, voice breathier and not nearly as steady as he would like.

The silence that enters between them is enough to make Tobio briefly look up. He almost gasps at the resulting softness in Iwaizumi’s eyes. The heartache that he can’t comprehend but thinks is for him. 

“I don’t know if he’ll ever have the courage to say this himself, but you deserve to hear it.”

His movements are slow, and Iwaizumi eventually sits down on the bench next to Tobio. His hands are close to the Beta’s outer thighs, teasing him with their potential warmth.

“I can’t accept your apology,” Tobio utters, wetting his lips and trying to gain back the strength he’s suddenly lost. “Not on his behalf. I know you’re just trying to help but I can’t. I can’t Iwaizumi. He has to do it himself.”

The barest hints of a smile quirk up at the corners of Iwaizumi’s mouth. It’s a bittersweet smile, and makes Tobio freeze. 

“I figured. But I had to try for him. And for you.”

Iwaizumi’s hands twitch just slightly, like he wants to reach out to Tobio. His gaze eventually lands back on Tobio’s face. It’s intense, but somehow more considerate than one might expect of an Alpha. 

It’s yielding.

“You don’t have to accept my apology either, but I’m still going to give it to you.”

Tobio shakes his head. Whatever guilt Iwaizumi has is misplaced. He had never been anything other than kind to Tobio in the past. 

“Iwaizumi, you don’t-”

“I should have done more at Kitagawa.”

The air is so thick around them. Tobio’s hands have stopped shaking, and he wants to place them over Iwaizumi’s own but refrains. 

He needs to hear this, even if he doesn’t strictly want to.

“You did,” Tobio counters. “You were always nice to me. And you even stopped Oikawa that one time.”

Nearly being hit by Oikawa wasn’t one of Tobio’s most pleasant memories. He hadn’t truly realized the situation until weeks later, either. Naive had been his middle name back then, and Tobio was still ashamed of it. 

Iwaizumi shook his head once. Resolute.

“It shouldn’t have come to that,” he murmured, gruff and tone shredded. “I could have done something sooner. Called out Oikawa more. Hell, maybe helped you guys talk it out before it got as bad as it did. But I didn’t, and I should have.”

Tobio’s life has been full of ‘what ifs’ for the past year.

He never thought Iwaizumi was going through it too.

The urge, the need , to comfort his former teammate is so strong Tobio almost leans into him. He wants to offer his neck, caress the side of his face. Something, anything.

But there are lines in front of them that hadn’t been present before. And it seems that neither know which ones they can and can’t cross.

“That wasn’t your job,” Tobio tries.

“Yes it was. As my underclassman you were my responsibility, whether you accept that or not.”

The Beta moves his hand but stops, the limb hovering in the air between them. Iwaizumi doesn’t try to erase the distance. He barely dares to breathe. 

“It’s not like you could have controlled Oikawa. He’s his own person. And I shouldn’t have pushed him so much. If I had known how much he hated me...If I-”

This time, Iwaizumi cuts him off physically. It’s swift but gentle as the Alphas rests two fingers against Tobio’s lips. The touch is feather-light. Like Iwaizumi is fearful to press anymore forward. 

Still, the action stops Tobio immediately.

“Don’t, Tobio.”

The Beta’s skin burns at his name. He tenses, muscles clenching and heart fluttering. 

“None of that was your fault. You were just a kid. You still are.”

Tobio wants to tell Iwaizumi that he was a kid as well, but he doesn’t think the Alpha will accept that. There was a guilt, a burden, circulating Iwaizumi’s veins that Tobio had never known about. The weight of it must have been tremendous.

He wants to lighten it.

Gingerly, Tobio grasps onto Iwaizumi’s wrist and removes the fingers on his mouth. Iwaizumi lets his hand fall, taking it back and holding it in his lap. 

Even though his smile isn’t the best, Tobio still attempts to give Iwaizumi one. 

He can’t tell if the small, subtle gasp that the Alpha inhales is bad or good, but he tries not to dwell on it.

“If you want my forgiveness, Iwaizumi, then you have it. You always have,” Tobio offers. “I don’t blame you. Actually, I’ve always really respected you. You kinda inspire me. So don’t say these things anymore.”

Tobio mentally goes over his words and sees how they might be taken as a demand. He doesn’t want that. He would never demand anything of Iwaizumi. 

“Please?” he adds, voice more of a whisper.

If he’s being honest, Tobio isn’t so sure Iwaizumi will take such a response. He hopes he will, but things are up in the air now and the future is very uncertain. None of them know where they stand, and they’re quickly losing their balance.

Iwaizumi leans forward. Their eyes meet, and even though Tobio is taller he feels incredibly small with the Alpha’s attention on him.

“Can I hold you?”

The question throws Tobio for a second.

He blinks rapidly, wondering if he’s heard the other right. But the Alpha is steady and waiting for his reply. There’s that same nervousness in the bob of Iwaizumi’s throat, yet he’s still determined. 

If Tobio says ‘no’ then Iwaizumi will leave without a fight. It’s a comforting realization, and maybe that’s why the Beta finds himself partially opening his arms first.

“Yeah,” Tobio mumbles. “Yeah, you can.”

Iwaizumi’s arms are just as warm as he thought they would be. The Alpha is all muscle and heat. Tobio feels consumed in his grasp. Those arms wrap around him and pull him flush against Iwaizumi’s solid chest. 

Tobio doesn’t melt instantly. It’s a more gradual process, his muscles losing their tension and softening in the embrace.

This close, the Beta can smell the Alpha’s sharp scent of cognac and cloves. It’s earthy, and makes the back of his throat burn wonderfully. 

They shuffle a bit before they both find a comfortable hold. Iwaizumi has one arm at Tobio’s waist, the other cupping the back of his neck. Tobio lets his own arms fit snugly around the Alpha’s chest. Again, the warmth of his back, his entire body really, is somehow shocking. 

Iwaizumi is breathing in his scent deeply. His lips brush against his neck once or twice, yet it doesn’t seem intentional. Tobio shivers all the same.

Tobio isn’t sure he’s ever had a hug like this. 

It feels raw and tender. 

They don’t speak anymore. Words would only ruin whatever this was with them. 

Minutes pass by, the melody of their steady breathing filling the room. It’s so quiet, Tobio couldn’t possibly miss the small, soft sniffle that he hears.

A tiny hiccup arrives next. Then the stuttering breath that tries to be held back. It doesn’t succeed, and Tobio feels Iwaizumi’s back tremble in his hands. 

The sensation of warm, wet tears slides down Tobio’s neck and into his shirt. Like a dam, Iwaizumi can’t seem to stop the crying when it fully starts and overflows. 

Tobio’s hold on the Alpha tightens. Iwaizumi starts rocking both of them, as if Tobio’s the one that needs it. He goes with the motion, and tilts his head to whisper against the older boy’s ear.

“It’s okay, Iwaizumi.”

The sobbing increases. It’s not a wail or a whimper, but something strangely in between. Guttural. 

Iwaizumi grips Tobio with such strength, he wonders if he’ll bruise. But he doesn’t have the heart to say anything else or pull away. 

When the Beta begins to nuzzle the side of Iwaizumi’s head, he stops halfway. A part of Iwaizumi’s hair is lightly damp. That’s strange, it hadn’t been before. 

Tobio narrows his eyes, but he’s also shaking, trying to make sense of it all. That’s when he feels that same wetness fall over the skin of his cheeks.

Oh, he’s crying too.

His body doesn’t heave and twitch like Iwaizumi’s does. Instead, the tears silently continued down his face. Tobio can’t stop them. He doesn’t know how. 

The Beta buries his face in Iwaizumi’s shoulder immediately. It isn’t long before the other notices the damp spot on his shirt, or the soft, barely there hiccups that escape Tobio’s lips a few times.

Tobio can’t figure out why he’s crying. Is it for Iwaizumi? For himself? For everything that had soured between them without them wanting it to? 

Iwaizumi lifts his head away from Tobio’s neck. Before the Beta can try to excuse his reaction, the Alpha cradles his face in his calloused hands. They’re bigger than Tobio’s, powerful and steady even with the tears that still flow down Iwaizumi’s face.

He doesn’t want Iwaizumi to see him like this, but the other’s gaze is nothing but fond. 

Accepting.

Tobio thinks the Alpha is going to wipe his tears away, yet he does something else. Iwaizumi pauses for only a moment before he traces his lips against the corner of Tobio’s eyes.

The kisses are sweet, gentle, and numerous.

Iwaizumi kisses his tears away completely. Tobio lets his eyes flutter close, whimpers releasing from his lips with every touch.

The little smacking sounds create sparks in his spine and the tips of his fingers. He’s too hot, but he can’t pull away from that source of heat. Occasionally, Iwaizumi lets his tongue lightly brush over his skin, swiping away the tears and then kissing him once more. 

Iwaizumi calms down as he kisses over Tobio’s face. The cries die off, and Tobio sneaks a peak at the other with half lidded eyes. 

Tears are still gathered at the edges of Iwaizumi’s irises without falling.

He’s sturdier now. Relieved. 

“I wish you’d came to Aoba Johsai,” Iwaizumi croaks out.

Tobio almost laughs at the irony. Hadn’t he been thinking the same thing earlier?

The Alpha is still kissing at his cheeks as he continues. “We would have worked things out. We could have healed together.”

“No, we wouldn’t have.”

That makes Iwaizumi stop.

The lack of kisses brings some clarity to Tobio’s mushy mind. He’s still flushed, yet his tears have ceased. 

He pulls back, but doesn’t leave his arms completely. Instead, Tobio lets his arms hang off of Iwaizumi’s shoulders. Briefly, he wonders if this is a position they would have engaged in a lot more had he gone to Aoba Johsai. He dashes the thought as soon as it surfaces.

“Whatever would have happened, I don’t think it would have been good,” Tobio explains.

Iwaizumi lets his lips linger at the Beta’s jaw, wet and full of heat. “Why do you think that?”

There’s a plethora of reasons. Oikawa’s pride and determination. Tobio’s ignorance and insecurities. And, sadly enough, Iwaizumi’s conflicting loyalty.

There’s only one resounding reason that Tobio feels comfortable enough admitting.

“I had to be at Karasuno to grow.”

It’s true. Even if he hadn’t known it at the time, even if he’d only recently made this discovery, the truth bleeds into him with quiet revelry. 

“I had to go away. I had to leave you. All of you.”

Tobio wants to say he’s sorry, but Iwaizumi won’t accept that. In fact, the shifting brightness in the Alpha’s eyes tells him all he needs to know. He understands. He may not like it, but he understands. 

They stay wrapped in each other's arms for longer than they probably should. When Iwaizumi eventually detangles himself from the Beta, Tobio feels the loss of heat and companionship immediately. It’s jarring, but necessary. 

Iwaizumi kisses the top of his head once before leaving. The quiet of the room is suffocating. Tobio isn’t bothered by it. 

He feels tired, wrecked really, and uniquely euphoric. It was a reconciliation he had never hoped to have and it had been granted to him anyway. 

Tobio lies down on the bench. His fingers reach up to lightly trace over his face, over the places Iwaizumi had kissed. 

When Hinata knocks on the locker room door and tells him it’s time to go, he’s sluggish and sleepy. Hinata raises an eyebrow at him, but Tobio won’t explain. 

That moment would forever be Tobio and Iwaizumi’s. And he has enough respect for his former teammate to make sure it stays that way. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: Hanamaki & Matsukawa

When Tanaka says he’s going to take his underclassmen out for ice cream, Tobio almost declines. He’s exhausted, drained, and just wants to see the inside of his eyelids. But Hinata’s face lights up like the stars outside when he hears the words ‘ice cream’, and Tobio is dragged away before he can say no.

He won’t forgive Tsukishima or Yamaguchi for their subtle, sneaky getaway.

Tobio feels dead on his feet as they enter the ice cream parlor. The line is horrendously long, and the Beta might or might not be two seconds away from just sitting on the tile floor. 

Tanaka slaps him on the back, laughing loudly when Tobio stumbles forward. 

“Buck up, buttercup! This is a celebration. Don’t look so dead!”

Dark, ocean eyes glare half-heartedly. Any venom he could muster is swept away by his tired stance. Tanaka seems to notice the lack of reply and moves his hand to ruffle Tobio’s soft, black locks. 

“That out of it, huh?” he asks.

Tobio shrugs, giving a noncommittal grunt. 

The Alpha places his hand on the middle of Tobio’s back and lightly pushes him out of line. Eyes wide, he looks back at Tanaka with a disconcerting expression. The older boy merely waves him away and proclaims, “Go get us a table and put your head down or something. No use fainting in line!”

Relief surges through Tobio’s form. He nods his head, lips lifting into a brief, sluggish smile.

As he searches for a table, the Beta realizes he hasn’t said what flavor he wants. He supposes Hinata will pick for him; he can trust the small Alpha with that much. 

Tobio is making his way through the maze of tables and chairs when a large hand is suddenly in front of him. His reflexes must be slower, because his chest briefly brushes against the hand before he quickly steps back. 

Sleepy eyes blink at the obstruction, and Tobio turns towards the table that the hand is occupied by. 

Exhaustion all but fades into nothingness at the sight that greets him.

Two Aoba Johsai members are sitting at a table, gazing at him with a casual intensity that makes his muscle clench. 

He recognizes them, and they had definitely played against each other only hours ago, but can’t think of their names. A surprising guilt settles in his stomach at that.

“Um,” Tobio starts, wetting his now dry lips.

They’re both older, he can tell. Seniors. One has lighter hair and thin eyebrows that are scrunched in a way that is somehow both judgmental and playful. The other is taller with darker features, and a strange calm that makes Tobio feel small, even though he’s the one standing up.

“Karasuno’s setter. Fancy meeting you here,” the lighter one says.

The hand keeping him from moving away from their table belongs to the taller one. Before Tobio can respond, that same hand is grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him into the booth they’re sitting at.

“Why don’t you sit with us.”

Tobio is gently manhandled into sitting between the two. The booths are big, but their thighs still squish together slightly. Heat spreads through Tobio’s clothed legs. How could they be so warm even through their pants?

This close, he’s able to get a strong whiff of their dual scents.

The lighter of the two is an Omega, he notices first. Sweet honeysuckle and mint caress his senses, making his tense body disengage just a bit. It’s oddly complimented by the other’s own scent; bitter coffee and mandarin orange. Alpha, through and through. 

Normally those two scents wouldn’t go together, but somehow it works.

Tobio blinks away the daze that threatens to overwhelm him. If’ he’d been an Alpha he might have postured in response, or sighed and relaxed fully like an Omega. But that’s not in his biology, so for now all he does is sit with a (in his opinion) healthy amount of caution.

“Oh, how rude! We forgot to introduce ourselves,” the Omega drawls. 

The Alpha places an arm over the top of the booth, right behind Tobio’s head. “I’m Matsukawa. That one over there is Hanamaki.”

The low timber of the Alpha’s voice, so close and open, nearly makes Tobio shiver. He flinches when fingers trail over the top of his clothed thigh, drawing absentminded patterns in the fabric of his pants.

Matsukawa scoffs, rolling his eyes at Hanamaki’s behavior. “Don’t mind him. He gets touchy after a game. Ignore him long enough and he’ll get bored.”

Tobio notices that the Alpha doesn’t try to stop the Omega. If anything, he appears mildly interested.

“You’re Kageyama, right?” Hanamaki asks. His fingers don’t cease their weird drawing for a second. 

The Beta slowly nods his head. “Yeah. Why?”

“Just making sure. Oikawa has been talking about you a lot lately.”

Cold spreads throughout his core. He knew that Oikawa probably spoke about him to Iwaizumi, or even his former Kitagawa teammates. But what could Oikawa have possibly said about him to these strangers? 

His throat feels dry and tight, and swallowing seems to be a thing of the past.

“Oh,” Tobio croaks out. “What did he...what did he say?”

He could have screamed at his own words. Knowing will only make it worse. Surely it’s all awful, horrible things. Why is he torturing himself?

Tobio feels the Alpha shrug beside him. “Conflicting things, mostly. We can’t tell if he wants to throttle you or kiss you.”

“Hm, maybe both. With all that talk we wanted to see the famous ‘Tobio-chan’ for ourselves. This felt like the perfect opportunity.” Hanamaki’s smile is too mischievous as he leans forward.

The Beta narrows his eyes. A light flickers over the irises, mystified and surreally hopeful all at once. Tobio clenches his hands into fists in his lap and looks down.

“I don’t know what you mean. He hates me.”

It’s simple, isn’t it? Oikawa feels nothing but disdain for him. Why else would he mock him for years or mark him when he was at his lowest? 

‘Kiss him’? Tobio wants to laugh. Bitterly.

Tobio feels his head being lifted by long, lightly calloused fingers. The Omega tips up his chin, gazes locking on one another. Tobio can’t get over that interesting smile, or how sweet the air around him becomes.

“You don’t mark someone that you hate,‘Tobio-chan’. And you certainly don’t get upset when you see another’s mark replacing yours.”

The Beta doesn’t want to hear it. Hanamaki’s words are too soft, too knowing and tempting. 

Tobio swallows thickly. He wonders if the Omega can feel it. Hanamaki’s eyes seem to dance, and those long fingers move to gently rest over Tobio’s throat. It is such a casual touch that he doesn’t even try to tell him to remove his hand. 

Matsukawa breathes hotly against his ear, causing Tobio to tremble. “Oikawa goes on and on about your ‘dumb face’ and ‘pretty eyes’. And we’ve already seen your skills on the court.”

The Alpha pauses, and his gaze switches over to Hanamaki. 

“But you know what he definitely got right, Makki? His scent.”

With no hesitation, Matsukawa bends down and inhales against Tobio’s neck. The Beta can feel those lips teasingly touch his skin and he freezes. His face blooms with warmth. Especially when Hanamaki moves closer to him too.

The Omega sniffs at him as well on the other side of his neck. They both breathe in his scent for several tense moments before pulling back. 

“Oh, that’s delicious.”

A haze captures Hanamaki’s eyes. He sighs and places his elbow on the table, resting his hand on an open palm as he continues to stare at Tobio.

Matsukawa doesn’t remove his arm from behind the Beta’s head, but he’s more languid than before. And, if Tobio didn’t know any better, he’d say his body is subtly turning in towards him. Like he is shielding Tobio, or blocking him. 

Or crowding him.

When the Alpha growls so low in his throat that it’s almost a hum, Tobio squirms.

Hanamaki laughs, airy and unhindered. “Careful, you big bad Alpha. We don’t want to piss off his pack too much.”

That brings Tobio back to reality.

He twists his head slightly to look back at the line near the front. Tanaka and Hinata are still waiting, laughing and talking excitedly with their hands going everywhere. They haven’t noticed them yet, and honestly Tobio is grateful. He doesn’t want to deal with the over the top response he just knows they’ll have.

“Are they your Alpha and Omega? Which one marked you?” Hanamaki asks.

Tobio turns back to the two. His brow furrows, and he inclines his head slightly to the side in question. 

“Neither,” he says. “My Captain did. And they’re both Alphas.”

“Our mistake. So they’re not yours then.”

The way Matsukawa phrases it doesn’t sound right. Tobio quickly corrects them. “They’re a part of my pack.”

“But you’re not dating them.” Hanamaki states it so matter-of-fact, and yet that sounds wrong too. 

They’re not dating, but they’re...something? The beginnings of something? Tobio isn’t sure. He simultaneously gains confidence and confusion every day with his Pack. 

Tobio lowers his eyes to the table. His mind is a plethora of words, scents, and questions he can’t quite grasp. Hanamaki inches closer to him while he’s spiraling, his fingers petting the skin of neck once again. 

“You can’t fault us for assuming. It’s a pretty common sight.”

That gets Tobio’s attention. He glances back at the Omega, perplexed. “What is?”

“An Alpha, Beta, and Omega pairing, of course.”

He says it like Tobio should know. Like he should already be a part of something like that.

“Wait,” the Beta says. “You mean like...romantically?” 

Hanamaki raises a thin eyebrow, looking unconvinced but also intrigued. “Of course romantically. Think about it. It’s kind of like a mini pack. You’ve got all the roles wrapped up together. Sounds pretty great to me.”

Tobio has only recently entertained the idea of a Beta being with an Alpha, or even an Omega. For the longest time he has always assumed Betas would, naturally, just end up with other Betas. That if he were to be with someone else it would be a rare, weird thing. 

But an Alpha and an Omega? At the same time?

It seems greedy. 

And wonderful. 

Heat engulfs his chest so quickly he nearly gasps. 

“I didn’t know that was possible,” Tobio admits, like he’s trying to convince himself. “I thought Betas only went with other Betas.”

Both Matsukawa and Hanamaki look at him strangely. As if they’re trying to figure him out but just can’t. The Alpha scratches at his scalp and exhales before placing his arm fully around Tobio’s shoulder. He pulls him closer, the warmth of him unexpectedly pleasant.

“You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.”

“Be nice,” Hanamaki jokingly chastises. “He’s obviously been denied a proper education. We should teach him.”

The Alpha hums, and tightens his hold over Tobio. “Don’t say that with a smirk on your face. It sounds dirty.”

“Look who’s talking,” the Omega counters. 

Matsukawa just shrugs, and Tobio feels like he’s the focus of the conversation but invisible all the same. 

Hanamaki takes Tobio’s hand then and begins to play with it. He drags his nails along his palm, caressing and teasing his fingers. The Beta burns, but doesn’t stop him.

“It’s true that Betas being with other Betas is the usual. But an Alpha, Beta, Omega throuple is becoming just as normal now. They say Betas do better in that kind of relationship. Or with a whole Pack, if they can make it last."

The idea of a romantic Pack wasn’t unheard of. In fact, they’d been gaining in popularity over the years. But they were also looked at as slightly juvenile, or temporary. It was hard to keep a Pack together if they had formed in high school or even college. They tended to naturally break up when everyone went their separate ways. Often, the Pack members would go into smaller couples with each other. 

Little by little, though, romantic Packs were returning. And staying together. Tobio has heard that even offices or work Packs were forming more. Adults were trying to go back to natural Pack settings.

Tobio knew romantic Packs existed, he just hadn’t given much thought to his own pack. Or rather, he hadn’t looked that far into the future yet. There was still so much he was unsure about.

“I don’t know if I could do that.” The bluntness surprises even Tobio, but he can’t stop the words as they continue to come out. “That’s so many people. What if I screwed up? They’d all hate me. It’s a lot of pressure.”

Hanamaki stares at him for a moment, before an almost sad smile graces his lips. He brings up Tobio’s hand and kisses the back of it. Tobio’s mouth hangs open at the action, but he doesn’t get time to dwell on it before the Omega is speaking again.

“Aw ‘Tobio-chan’, all relationships have some sort of pressure. But you’d thrive in that kind of pairing. You’re made for it.”

He is? Tobio doesn’t know about that. Most of the time, he doesn’t feel like he is made for anyone or anything except for volleyball. Yet Hanamaki says it was such confidence, even though they barely know each other.

Matsukawa lets his hand wander over Tobio’s shirt, playing with the material and sometimes brushing over the Beta’s bare collarbones. “You know, Makki and I have talked about adding a Beta to our relationship. Can you imagine being our Beta?”

Tobio sputters, no actual words coming out of his mouth. He can’t form them. His face is too hot and his lips aren’t working properly anymore it seems. 

Hanamaki practically purrs. He uses his grip on Tobio’s hands to guide the Beta into cupping his face. His skin is soft, and Tobio shivers at the sensation and sudden onslaught of increased scents around him. 

“We’re both pretty possessive,” the Omega supplies. “We’d mark you up all the time. Man, your neck would never heal. You’d be so gorgeous like that.”

The Alpha chuckles at his side, the tips of his fingers barely going past the collar of Tobio’s shirt. A small, stuttered whimper escapes Tobio’s mouth at the contact, but he quickly shuts it down. Not soon enough, if their grins are anything to go by.

“Makki likes to dress people up. He’d have a field day with you. And I’d get to show you both off to the world.”

“If the outfits weren’t meant for ‘private time’, that is,” Hanamaki adds.

The knowing smirk on Matsukawa’s face just makes Tobio redder. “And sometimes even then.”

Hanamaki places another delicate kiss on the inside of the Beta’s wrist. The Alpha nips at the shell of Tobio’s ear, and he can’t help but keen at the boldness of it all. Tobio feels trapped, overwhelmed, yet not completing hating it either. 

It’s so good and too much, and maybe it shows on his face because they both slowly pull away. 

“But you’re a little young for us right now,” the Omega grumbles. And truly sounds upset, which throws Tobio even more.

Matsukawa gets up from the booth. His hands linger, petting over Tobio’s hair and skin before he’s detached himself all the way. Hanamaki does the same as he moves over the Beta. The Omega pauses, like he’s contemplating sitting in Tobio’s lap. Tobio almost thinks he’s going too, but Hanamaki must decide against it when he joins his Alpha outside the booth.

Instantly, the Alpha wraps his arms around Hanamaki’s waist and brings him in close. They look really good together, Tobio notes.

His mind conjures the image of him being between them. Hanamaki’s hand would be on his waist, like he was parading his significant others around to purposefully make everyone jealous. Matsukawa’s dominance would be causal, but unquestionable. He’d place an arm over Tobio’s shoulders and tilt Tobio’s chin up whenever he wanted a kiss. 

The Beta blinks the fantasy out of his mind.

That’s far too dangerous.

“Hey, if you’re around and unattached in a few years don’t be afraid to hit us up,” Hanamaki suggests. 

Matsukawa smiles at his Omega, so fond and open. That gaze lifts to Tobio. And while it isn’t the same, it feels just as genuine.

“Have a good night, Kageyama. If Oikawa screws it up, keep us in mind.”

With that, the couple leaves him in a state of awe and perpetual bewilderment. He’s so warm, but it’s nicer than he expected. He wants to bath in this warmth, be devoured by it. And that thought excites and terrifies him.

When Tanaka and Hinata finally get to the table his blush has calmed down. Tobio softly thanks them for the two scoops of vanilla ice cream that they give him. He watches as they both aggressively shove their own ice cream into their mouths. Normally he’d probably have the same vigor, but the energy has been zapped out of him and he eats his dessert slowly.

It gives him time to think.

Tobio doesn’t know what he wants. Or, rather, he didn’t know that he could want anything. 

The limits he had thought he was shackled too are disappearing. His Pack cares for him, and others have shown interest in him that wasn’t strictly platonic. 

He thinks of Kuroo’s unapologetic leers and surprisingly wise advice. Bokuto was so enthusiastic and honest. Akaashi made him weak to his knees and he didn’t even mind. Kindaichi would always be his ‘what if’, but that could maybe become a ‘when’ if they tried. Iwaizumi gave him closure and comfort he had never dreamed of receiving. And Oikawa...Oikawa shattered him in ways he loved, loathed, and craved. 

He thinks of his Pack. 

Daichi marked him, gently and proudly. Hinata has been scenting and holding him for weeks now. Tanaka and Nishinoya are more territorial of him than ever before. Suga calls him ‘honey’ and ‘baby’ like it’s his name. Tsukishima feeds him and gazes at him like he’d want nothing more than to eat him up with a spoon. 

Tobio leans his head back against the booth. He listens to Hinata and Tanaka avidly chat. He’s tired, and puzzled, but it’s not as bothersome anymore for some reason. In fact, he can’t help but let his lips quirk up into a small, bashful smile. 

Maybe, just maybe, it would be okay if he wanted things after all. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Ushijima & Tendou

When they score the final point against Shiratorizawa, Tobio and Hinata are promptly attacked by their teammates. It’s specifically Tanaka and Ennoshita at first, who Tobio, in his stunned stance and open mouth, eagerly accepts.

In what little of his vision is not blocked by Tanaka’s shoulders, Tobio sees Yamaguchi jump Tsukishima to the ground. Tears are streaming down his face and it doesn’t look like the rest of the Pack is holding it together either.

The third years are in their own world.

They clutch each other, tears and red faces and shaking hands. 

Tobio feels his stomach clench in pride and a superb happiness for them. They deserve this. They’ve earned it. And the Beta can’t even begin to describe how lucky he feels that he helped give it to them. 

It wasn’t as if Tobio hadn’t believed in their ability to succeed, of course. But he knew that chances had been slim. It would have been foolish to think otherwise.

And yet they’d done it.

Dark blue eyes glance down at the court floor as Tsukishima struggles to get up. So much of their victory is due to the Alpha, even Tobio can admit that. Tsukishima went above and beyond for them.

Before he can reconcile his actions, Tobio detangles his limbs from the pile of his Pack. Tsukishima has just now become steady on his feet again when he comes up to him.

The Alpha only has the time to raise an eyebrow at the sudden closeness from the Beta. Tobio doesn’t speak, and promptly wraps his arms around the other in a sure embrace.

Tsukishima stiffens in his arms. His breath stutters in his chest, and Tobio can’t help but smile just a bit at the reaction. Thankfully he buries his face in the Alpha’s shoulder. This is already embarrassing enough.

Half a second passes and Tobio feels Tsukishima return his hug tenfold. The arms around him are strong, and they grip him so tightly Tobio is almost worried he might bruise. The Alpha’s limbs are shaking. Maybe from exhaustion or from something else. 

Tsukishima’s skin is warm and slightly damp from sweat. Tobio doesn’t mind it, though. The Alpha’s scent is stronger and Tobio has become rather fond of the sweet firewood he now associates with the other.

“Good job,” Tobio mutters. “You did it.”

The Alpha buries his fingers in Tobio’s hair, and the Beta has a moment to enjoy the tingly sensation before his head is pulled back slightly. The grip is gentle, but solid. Tobio is disoriented for a second or two and then he feels now familiar lips at his exposed neck.

Tobio barely stops the whine that wants to leave his throat. The kiss is wet and a bit sharp from the knick of Tsukishima’s teeth. It’s not a mark, but it feels like it could be the promise of one. 

The Betas sucks in a breath. His neck feels flushed, ticklish, and startlingly pleasurable. He hadn’t expected such a response, yet he doesn’t try to stop it. 

Tsukishima kisses the same spot on his neck and bites down deeper.

“Tsuki-” Tobio finally urges. It feels like they’re entering dangerous territory. 

A growl goes past the Alpha’s lips, and Tsukishima releases him. It’s with great effort, and his arms tremble like they want to pull Tobio back to him, but Tobio is grateful for the distance. 

And also not grateful at all.

The rest of the pack rushes over to them. The excited energy of victory is infectious, as well as the joyous tears. Tobio lets himself indulge in the arms of his pack, the head pats, and the nuzzling against his scent gland. His eyes go back to Tsukishima occasionally, but he doesn’t want to provoke the Alpha more than he apparently already has. 

They’re all so wrapped up in one another they don’t notice the pair of maroon eyes that gaze at them with interest.

---------

It isn’t until they’re all gathered together outside that true exhaustion starts to set in. Karasuno is waiting for the coaches to finish out some conversations and head back to the bus for a briefing. Everyone in the pack is smiling, their limbs and eyes tired yet so unbelievably happy.

Tobio is next to Hinata when it happens.

The Alpha is brushing his arm against his own playfully. The heat is nice, and Tobio leans into it before his world is suddenly turned upside down. 

Large, strong hands grab him at his waist and hips. When they pull and lift him, Tobio is helpless but to follow where they command.

For a second, he’s weightless. 

He’s placed over a warm, broad shoulder. Those hands grasp his thighs and legs with a steel grip. Tobio’s gaze falls to the ground where he sees a pair of sneakers he doesn’t recognize from any of his pack. He doesn’t get time to dwell too much on the concrete ground or shoes, though, as the perpetrator quickly walks away with him in tow. 

Vaguely, Tobio is able to hear the shouts and growls of his surprised pack. 

The Beta lifts up his head, having to strain and arch his back just to see something besides the ground. The looks on his pack’s faces are ones of flushed bewilderment and shocked anger. 

Tobio reaches out for them on instinct. 

It’s useless, they’re too far away already. Whoever has him is incredibly fast. And strong, if they’re able to pick up Tobio without a hint of exertion. 

The crowd outside soon hides his pack from view. He’s sure they’re trying to reach them, but the thief is weaving in and out through the throngs of people. Tobio can barely keep up without getting dizzy himself.

He squirms in the hold, but the thief tightens his hold on him and that stops Tobio cold. Plus, he doesn’t want to be dropped, even by accident. 

Seconds tick by until the sounds of the crowd filter away. Instead, the trickling of rushing water meets his ears. Tobio tries to turn his head towards the source of the noise, but his center of gravity is once again being shifted.

Those steady hands gently lift him again and place his feet on the ground. Well, sort of. He’s actually made to sit on cold stone.

It’s a massive water fountain. He’s at the edge of it, hands almost falling in the water when he leans back to look up at the giant that grabbed him. 

Of all the people he’s expecting to see, it certainly isn’t Ushijima.

Ushijima’s piercing gaze makes him twitch. The Alpha doesn’t show any signs of effort from carrying him over his shoulder. He’s still impeccably calm and unreadable. 

“Why did you do that?” Tobio blurts out.

The Beta is red, his skin lightly sweating. Nothing makes sense and he desperately wants to go back to his pack where. He wants to get on the bus and nap, maybe even let Hinata sleep on his shoulder if he’s feeling generous.

Ushijima isn’t allowing that and it’s throwing Tobio off. 

“Hey, it’s nothing personal Beta-setter. You can chill out.”

The words are spoken right into Tobio’s ear. He flinches and inches away from the voice, turning his head sharply. 

The red headed blocker. The Guess Monster. What was his name again?

“Tendou, don’t scare him.”

Ah, that was it. 

Tendou chuckles, his laugh odd and grating on Tobio’s nerves. The other Alpha hefts his arm over Tobio’s shoulder and pulls him closer. 

The smell of bitter, dark chocolate and some sort of spice invades Tobio’s senses. Maybe chilies? It’s hard to tell.

Tobio glares directly at the middle blocker’s face, but that doesn’t seem to affect him in the slightest. He smiles, and boldly pokes Tobio’s cheek with his finger. 

“Aw, but he’s cuter when he’s a little scared,” Tendou teases.

Ushijima sits on the other side of the Beta. Even though Karasuno had beaten them only hours ago, the Alpha’s presence is larger than life. His scent is a heady bergamot and ambrette seeds. Something so unique and powerful is obnoxiously fitting. What's worse, Tobio likes it. 

“Why did you do that?” Tobio repeats. His brow is furrowed and he’s giving them the best death stare that he can manage.

Tendou shrugs his shoulders. It’s infuriating. 

“We wanted a little revenge on Mr. Vanilla.”

Tobio raises an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Your tall middle blocker. The blond,” Ushijima clarifies. Tobio should get a medal for not wincing. This close, the Alpha’s voice is a rumble, low and vibrating. 

Tsukishima. They’re talking about Tsukishima.

“He was a thorn in our side the entire game,” Tendou says with a pout. “So I thought, why not piss him off a bit?”

Tobio narrows his eyes. He was fearful before, but now he’s just become annoyed. “And your brilliant plan was to kidnap me.”

Ushijima grunts at him. “We’re borrowing you.”

“Exactly right, miracle boy! Mr. Vanilla got real handsy with you, so you must be important to him. We’ll give you back eventually. We just want to make him sweat first. Fair is fair.”

It doesn’t sound very fair to Tobio. His pack is going to worry about him now. Guilt swirls in his chest, and he slouches slightly. 

“Aw, don’t look so down,” Tendou coos at him. “Think of it like a game! Did you ever play ‘Steal the Omega’ in elementary? It’s kinda like that. Except you’re, you know, a Beta.”

“I’m very aware,” Tobio deadpans.

That only makes the red headed Alpha laugh. Tobio turns away from him, scoffing as he turns his attention to Ushijima.

“This seems kinda juvenile for you.”

Ushijima doesn’t look bothered. He simply states, “I don’t like to lose. I thought this would make me feel better.”

Tobio can’t exactly argue with the straightforward logic. He hates losing too. But he wouldn’t steal another pack member! It seems archaic. 

“And did it?” the Beta asks under his breath.

“Holding you was nice.”

Tobio pauses at the blunt words. He doesn’t move as Ushijima leans towards him. The Alpha boldly inhales against his neck, nose nearly touching his skin. It’s only for a few seconds, and Ushijima pulls back just as easily. Like nothing happened at all. 

The Beta's face still burns .

“You smell good.”

Should...should he thank him? Tobio’s mind is swimming. 

“Your serves are powerful. I thought you would be heavier. But you could gain more muscle.”

Tobio wants to say that he’s working on it. Yet his lips remain closed, his gaze shifting to side at the blunt compliments. He can tell Ushijima means every word he says.

They’re similar in that way, he supposes. 

Tendou breaks the atmosphere by following Ushijima’s example. He’s less subtle with his appreciation of the Beta’s scent, groaning and leering at him with half lidded eyes. 

“We don’t have any Betas on our team. What a waste! You guys have the most interesting scents. Beside Wakatoshi’s, of course.”

“You’re saying strange things again,” Ushijima comments.

Tobio feels like he’s intruding. While they’re talking, he begins to slowly get up. He’s made it maybe a few inches before Ushijima swiftly grabs his arm and pulls him back to his seat.

“Stay."

The Alpha doesn’t let go of his wrist. A thumb brushes over the inside of his wrist, teasing the scent gland under his skin. Tobio truly doesn’t think Ushjimia realizes he’s doing it, but he shivers all the same. It sends little electric shocks through him. The effect isn’t as strong as it would be on his neck, but he still feels it. 

Tobio swallows thickly. He’s not afraid, yet he knows that leaving isn’t an option and that’s concerning.

“You can’t leave yet. The game’s not over!” Tendou complains with a whine.

It’s a shame, really.

Tobio can admit that he admires the strength in these Alphas. They’re both exceedingly good at volleyball, and it had been an honor to beat them in the game.

But he wants to be with his pack. He wants to make sure they’re okay.

“I don’t want to play,” Tobio tries. “This is wrong.”

Ushijima tilts his head to the side. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

He knows that. They’ve both been strangely gentle. Even nice. Still, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he wants to leave . 

“Let me go back.”

Tendou ruffles Tobio’s hair and chuckles. “Nah, let’s wait a little longer. Sit tight, Beta-setter.”

Those fingers are now slowly down their motions as they run through his dark locks. Ushijima’s hand is still circling his wrist. Their scents grow stronger by the second, to the point that even Tobio is noticing it. 

Are they enjoying this?

“He said he wants to leave.”

Amber and jasmine reach his senses before he registers that all too familiar voice. Tobio’s eyes widen.

Oikawa is standing a few feet from them, hands casually in his pockets and stance tall. His dark, brilliant irises are hidden slightly behind his glasses. He looks strong, and perfect really, as he surveys them with a critical gaze. 

Only the sounds of the water pouring from the fountain greet the four of them. There is a tension in the air, so sharp and thick Tobio could choke on it. 

What is Oikawa doing here? Had he watched the match? That seems utterly laughable. Impossible, even. Why would Oikawa watch a game where both of his enemies are playing?

Oikawa offers his hand, palm up and out towards Tobio. 

“Come here, Tobio-chan.”

Part of the Beta wants to disobey the obvious command. Yet Oikawa is a perplexity that he can at least somewhat understand. Ushijima and Tendou are too new and unpredictable. 

Ushijima’s grip has loosened with Oikawa’s arrival. Apparently he’s just as surprised by the other Alpha’s appearance as Tobio is.

The Beta hesitates for a second, then stands and retches his hand away from Ushijima. He wonders if, as an Omega, his instincts would have allowed him to do such a thing. Maybe he would have frozen or whined in distress. Being a Beta in this situation really did have its benefits. 

Oikawa’s hand is wonderfully warm. The Alpha laces their fingers together and immediately maneuvers Tobio to his side. He’s still staring at the other Alphas. Taunting them.

“Ah man, who invited you?” Tendou says sourly. 

Oikawa ignores the redhead completely. His eyes are locked on Ushijima, who stands. 

“I expected better of you.” The words are burdensome from Oikawa’s mouth. There’s a venom to them that Tobio knows and hates.

Ushijima’s brow lowers. His jaw clenches minutely, and Tobi thinks that’s the most regret they’ll see on the stoic Alpha’s face. 

“Loss is terrible,” Ushijima murmurs. 

Tobio blinks in confusion. Yet Oikawa stiffens beside him, like he understands exactly what the other Alpha means. 

Oikawa’s hand squeezes him more. He’s nearly trembling, and all Tobio can do is squeeze back in what he hopes is reassuring. Not like he knows what he’s reassuring Oikawa for. 

“Then get better.”

The words are harsh, and Tobio is yanked away before he can properly react. Oikawa ushers them out of the water fountain area. Tobio halfway expects Ushijima or Tendou to follow them, yet a minute goes by and they remain undisturbed.

Oikawa is leading them through the backway toward the buses. There’s more people now. It’s nothing compared to the plethora of teams and crowds that Tobio had been in, but the amount somehow brings the Beta comfort. 

It’s not long before Tobio sees his pack in the distance.

They’re obviously, frantically searching for him. Their faces are contorted with worry and the beginnings of panic. Perhaps it’s wrong, but Tobio feels a little flattered by the response. 

“Alright, get back to your pack.”

Oikawa lets go of his hand. The lack of warm is immediately apparent, and Tobio is surprised by how much he hates it.

Tobio faces the Alpha, mouth hanging open slightly. Oikawa isn’t looking at him. Instead, his gaze is off to the side, an odd pout gracing his lips. His hands are back in his pockets, and Tobio didn’t think he’d ever see it, but Oikawa looks...awkward.

Thousands of questions flood Tobio’s mind. He doesn’t know where to start or if Oikawa would answer anything if he asked. 

He knows he’s grateful, though.

The Beta wets his lips. His pack can wait a minute or two more. This is too important. 

“I like this,” he mumbles.

Oikawa glances at him. His brow wrinkles, and Tobio realizes he should probably explain it better.

“I mean, I like this side of you. I’ve never...I’ve never seen it before. At least, not directed towards me.”

The Alpha rolls his eyes. “What side?”

“Protective.”

And that’s the kicker isn’t it. How long has Tobio waited for Oikawa to act like the upperclassman that he is? To act like an Alpha .

There’s tension in Oikawa’s body. He frowns, but doesn’t automatically retaliate like Tobio thinks he’s going too. This is such uncharted territory. It’s terrifying, yet exciting all at the same time.

The Alpha sighs. His shoulders are still tense, yet he’s not looking away anymore at least. He steps towards Tobio, and the Beta doesn’t dare step back. Instead, he stands tall, waiting and eager.

“Not backing away, huh?” Oikawa observes.

“No. Not this time.”

“Still such a brat.” The Alpha lifts his hand and lightly traces his fingers over Tobio’s neck. The mark flares pleasurably at the contact, and Tobio bites his lip to keep some form of dignity. 

Oikawa’s eyes soften, the orbs glassy and unbearably beautiful. 

“I don’t know how to act around you anymore, Tobio.”

Not Tobio-chan.

Just Tobio.

The air leaves the Beta’s lungs. What does this mean for them? They’re on the edge of something, but Tobio can’t figure out what. 

“Why did you help me?” he asks.

Oikawa shrugs, and lets his fingers cup his jaw. His fingers brush the shell of Tobio’s ear, and he shivers. “I don’t know.”

And maybe Tobio can understand that at least. Being confused seems to be a theme in his life lately. Oikawa was, ironically, one of the causes. 

Tobio doesn’t want to think about it too hard, so he nuzzles into the hand on his face. He can smell the amber of Oikawa’s scent strongly now. It’s really nice. He’d like to drown in it.

“Thank you anyway,” the Beta mumbles. 

“Ugh, stop being cute.”

Dark, ocean eyes narrow at that. Tobio tries to argue the use of such a term, but Oikawa is removing his hand from his face. He pats the Beta’s cheek twice before stepping back. 

“Go to your pack, Tobio. They need you.”

It sounds like a goodbye. 

Tobio’s chest constricts. For a brief second, he lets the hurt bloom on his face. He doesn’t want Oikawa to leave him again. He wants everything to be placed on the table, talked about, and finally settled.

But this isn’t the time. Maybe it would be one day, but not now. 

Would they ever be ready?

The Beta shuffles his feet, conflicted, before he finally decides to move. Oikawa’s eyes flash in shock but Tobio keeps going regardless.

Tender lips chastely brush against Oikawa’s cheek. The kiss is warm, lightly wet, and lingering. Tobio enjoys the heat of the Alpha’s skin, smooth and supple and softer than he had imagined. 

It’s good. It’s wonderful.

Tobio feels lightheaded when he pulls away. The barest smile radiates on his face and he mumbles, “Thanks again.”

Hands reach out to grab him, but the Beta lightly pushes them away. They fall to Oikawa’s sides. There’s a heaviness in the Alpha’s body and the stare that Tobio refuses to meet. 

Oikawa whispers to him, and Tobio nearly breaks.

When Tobio heads to his pack, he pointedly does not look back at Oikawa. He can’t. If he does, he may not go to his pack at all. 

The scent of amber and jasmine is still on his skin. There’s an adrenaline in his veins and a lightness to his steps. 

The pack greets him with worried words, soothing hands, and so much scent exchanging even Tobio starts to become hazy. 

Back on the bus, Tobio lets Hinata grab his arm and snuggle into his shoulder the entire way home. Everyone keeps gazing at him throughout the drive. Once, it would have been aggravating. But now all he feels is a sense of pride and maybe a little embarrassment. 

Tobio looks out the window and watches the world pass by. His mind is running through Oikawa’s words over and over again. They cut into his very core.

‘Wait for me, Tobio.’

He can’t decide if he wants to smile or cry.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: Hinata

“Wait, wait, this is the best part. Watch what the cat does!”

Tobio leans in closer over Suga’s shoulder. On his senior’s phone a video of a cat and dog curling up with one another plays. Suddenly, the tiny cat stretches out and accidentally bops the dog on the nose. The canine jumps up, and both animals look at one another with hilariously wide eyes. 

“Betrayed by a friend,” Suga mutters, chuckling at his own joke.

The Beta offers a small laugh, though it’s mostly forced. He finds the video cute, but not as funny as Suga does. Still, he enjoys when Suga shows him such silly things. The Omega’s eyes light up, the excitement palpable as he waits for Tobio’s reactions. It’s sweet, and Tobio will never turn down more time with Suga or his attention. 

A strong wind blows, and Suga shudders before inching closer to Tobio for warmth. The Beta allows the contact. His skin flushes as the Omega holds his hand. Those tactical fingers lightly play with his own almost absentmindedly as Suga prepares another video to show him.

It’s getting colder, and Tobio kind of wishes he’d gone into the convenience store with Hinata, Daichi, and Tanaka. But Suga didn’t want anything and decided to wait outside. Tobio thought it would be better to keep Suga company rather than go search for things he didn’t even want or need. 

Now, they’re here. Laughing at videos and holding hands, Tobio nearly resting his chin on Suga’s shoulder. The warmth they share is nice, and the Beta has always been fond of Suga’s sweeter scent. 

Dark blue irises watch the screen as Suga pulls up another video, this time of a bird and a fish. Just as the video begins, though, the Omega presses ‘pause’. 

Tobio raises an eyebrow and tilts his head slightly to look over at the other. 

“You know,” Suga starts, hesitation tinging his tone. “I’m kind of worried about you going to the National Youth Training Camp.”

The Beta blinks down at the other. His brow furrows, and a cold, anxiousness begins to claw into his chest.

“Why? You don’t think I can do it?”

Suga barks out a chuckle, so fake it actually makes Tobio flinch. “There’s not a doubt in my mind you can do it, honey. I just don’t like that you’re alone. You won’t have anyone in the pack with you and that’s…”

The Omega pauses. His eyes flicker down to the concrete. Tobio doesn’t like the silence one bit.

“It’s concerning. What if someone tries something?”

Tobio’s mind flashes back to Ushijima. Sometimes he swears he can still feel the pressure of strong hands on his legs, the weightlessness as he was placed over the Alpha’s shoulder. For a moment, gravity didn't exist. The exhilaration and fear only created butterflies in his stomach, even though he’d tried to destroy them with the strange guilt that surged as well. 

“Nothing will happen,” Tobio states, bold and blunt.

Suga snickers. “Sorry Kageyama, but you’re the last person that should say that so confidently.”

“What do you mean?”

The Omega shrugs his shoulders and rubs his thumb along the back of Tobio’s hand. “You don’t have the best track record, that’s all. Remember Akaashi? Or what about that Alpha from Johzenji High?”

Tobio feels his face burn as the memories come back to him. The confusion, the odd way his skin had felt clammy and warm all at once. So many questions, but little in the way of answers.

“They were just weird,” he retorts. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Oh baby, this is why I’m worried. Don’t you see that?”

Tobio can. He can see the way Suga’s eyes crinkle, the wrinkles that develop in the middle of his forehead. Suga truly does care and worry for him. He should do something to soothe the Omega, at least a little bit. 

“I’ll be careful. I promise.”

Swallowing thickly, Tobio takes a moment before he slowly nuzzles the side of Suga’s face. He hears the Omega gasp softly, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, the tension in the elder’s body slowly begins to disappear. Tobio can feel Suga relax and lean into him more.

The Beta notices that the sweet scent has gotten headier, tickling the back of his throat pleasantly. 

He wonders what his own scent must be like for Suga. The Omega is practically purring happily against him now. In times like these, there’s an obvious disconnect he has with the rest of his pack. 

Tobio doesn’t react to scents like Alphas and Omegas. No scent will ever make him ‘melt’ or ‘rile him up’. Even a calming Beta scent won’t have an effect on him. He truly does like the scents of his team and others that he’s met. 

But, if he’s being honest, he’d probably get the same amount of enjoyment from a really nice, expensive candle or cologne. 

The realization hurts, and even as Tobio continues to brush against Suga his mood is turning sour. 

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

Suga’s voice brings him back to the present. Tobio pushes away, but doesn’t get far with Suga’s hand still laced with his own. 

The Omega frowns at him. “Your scent changed. It was...distressed.”

Ah, yet another difference. Tobio will never be able to control his scent, at least not like others can. Sure, he could tilt his head to expose the scent gland more, or even try to focus it, but at the end of the day Betas having control over their scents must have been seen as unnecessary by nature. 

He can’t control his scent or ever truly be affected by others’.

Tobio clenches his jaw. “I wish I could do that.”

“Do what?” Suga asks.

The Beta looks down at their hands. His eyes scan the lack of tension in Suga’s form, the way the Omega’s pupils are blown wide, the light blush on his cheeks. Tobio has received affection from his pack before, but he doubts he’s ever looked like this . 

“React to scents like I’m supposed too. Like you.”

Confusion dances over the Omega’s face for a second. Suga narrows his eyes before a sudden chuckle escapes his lips. Tobio barely refrains from jumping when the other caresses the cheek of his face, warm fingers moving to play with the shell of his ear. The Beta leans into the touch, despite being perplexed by it. 

“There’s nothing wrong with how you react, Kageyama. You’re perfect.”

“Sure,” Tobio grumbles.

“You are. An absolutely perfect Beta.”

“There’s no such thing.”

Suga hums before moving up and pressing a quick kiss to the tip of Tobio’s nose. The Beta’s mouth hangs open, words attempting to leave but never succeeding. Suga laughs softly at the response. 

“See? Perfect.”

Tobio groans and rolls his eyes. Why does no one understand what he’s trying to say? Do they know something he doesn’t? He can’t deny the words make him feel akin to jelly, though. The corners of his lips threaten to turn upwards. 

“That’s not what I-”

The smell of sharp ginger and some sort of earthy musk cuts Tobio off. Both of them glance to the side as two, unknown Alphas suddenly enter their space. They’re older, maybe college age, and have looks on their faces that don’t sit right with Tobio for some reason.

An Alpha with dark hair hovers over Suga and barks out a low, “Hey there.”

“Hi. Do you need something?” The words are polite, but Suga glares at the Alpha and shuffles closer to Tobio. 

The other Alpha laughs and comes around closer to Tobio’s side. His focus remains on Suga though, like Tobio isn’t even there. 

“We were just wondering what a gorgeous Omega like you is doing without an Alpha around.”

“Yeah,” the dark haired Alpha adds. “Could be dangerous being all alone.”

Suga scoffs, his hand tightening in Tobio’s. He’s shaking.  “Right. How thoughtful of you. But I’m obviously with someone.”

The Alphas shift their gazes to Tobio as if they’re seeing him for the first time. They look back to each other for a second before laughing, haughty and awful. 

“Who? The Beta?”

“You’re kidding, right? A Beta’s not gonna satisfy you. Not like an Alpha can.”

Tobio isn’t sure why, but something compels him to step in front of Suga. He pulls the Omega closer to his side and lifts up his head as he stares at the strangers. Ugh, he wishes he could growl at them like an Alpha or something. Maybe even give off a threatening or ‘warning’-like scent. Daichi would be able too. 

“He doesn’t want to talk to you,” the Beta declares. “Leave us alone.”

 His voice is steadier than he feels. He hates how much bigger these guys are. Why are they even talking to them in the first place? It’s obvious how much younger they are in comparison. 

One of the Alphas cocks his head to the side, a hideous smirk dancing on his lips. “That right, huh?”

Before Tobio can blink, the Alpha is grasping his chin in a harsh grip. Suga shouts out, but Tobio can’t hear him over the rush of blood in his ears. 

“You’re not as pretty as your Omega friend, but I guess you’ll do. The four of us can have some real fun.”

The words create a cold dread in the middle of Tobio’s stomach. Still, his arms fan out to keep Suga from being any closer to the disgusting Alpha. The Omega is clinging to him, but a displeased growl sounds from his lips. 

The Alphas laugh.

Tobio can feel the nails of the stranger dig into the skin of his face. It hurts, and the Beta wants to pull his head away, but he also doesn’t want the Alphas to focus on Suga. For now, he bares his dull teeth at them and glares as much as he can muster.

“Aw cute. You playing at being an Alpha now, little Beta?” the other Alpha not touching him mocks. 

Venomous wrath surges in Tobio’s veins. He wants them to leave. He wants to protect Suga. He wants to be enough .

Tobio’s hands have just started to tighten into fists and lift up when a harsh, rumbling growl breaks through. 

A blur of black and orange hits the Alpha’s side. Tobio loses his balances, but Suga is right there waiting and wraps his arms around his waist, pulling him back. The Beta’s mouth hangs open as he watches Hinata suddenly square off with the two Alphas.

“Get away from them!” the short Alpha seethes. 

His posture is open and ready to attack. Tobio’s never seen Hinata in such an obvious stance of intimidation before, even when he’d faced Kindaichi. 

The dark haired Alpha is only thrown for a moment, though. He quickly growls right back, and while it may be louder Hinata still doesn’t submit. Instead, he bristles and takes a step forward.

“Back off, pipsqueak,” the Alpha threatens. Large hands suddenly grab the front of Hinata’s shirt and pull, his legs dangling slightly in the air. Hinata kicks and flails, growling and trying to claw at the other’s face. 

It’s brutal. It’s animalistic. 

Tobio is frozen. He can’t stop it, can barely breathe.

The Alpha makes to bite at Hinata’s neck. 

“What are you doing with my pack?”

Suga whines, and even the other Alphas wince at the degree of calm rage in Daichi’s tone. 

Tobio looks back and sees Daichi and Tanaka with heated eyes, their teeth barred and both growling. 

The unknown Alpha drops Hinata onto the ground. Hinata quickly gets up and attempts to rush at the other once more, but Tanaka races between them. He’s keeping Hinata back, yet there’s no confusion in who his aggressive stance is for.

Daichi boldly walks over to the two Alphas. His face is hard, dangerous even. It does funny things to Tobio’s chest and he can’t look away for an instant.

“Explain yourselves,” Daichi demands. There’s no mistaking who’s in charge here.

The Alphas shift their feet, and Tobio thinks they’d back up if it wasn’t such an obvious sign of defeat. 

“Hey man, we were just chatting them up. Didn’t know they were already claimed.”

“They’ve got marks, you assholes!” Tanaka yells. 

Maybe they could have missed Tobio’s fading mark, but Suga’s neck is covered . There’s no way these Alphas missed it. The lie is flimsy at best. 

Silence drags on between them. It’s thick, and Tobio can see the sweat rolling down the other Alphas’ faces. While they may be older, they’re still outnumbered. And it’s clear that Hinata and Tanaka (and maybe even Daichi) are itching for a fight. 

“Leave.”

The solid command leaves Daichi mouth and carries into the chilled air.

Tobio watches, amazed, as the Alphas slowly back up and away from them. He hears them mumble words like ‘whatever’, ‘kids’, and ‘bitch’, but not much more than that.

It’s only when the two are out of sight that everyone seems to breath. Suga immediately runs to Daichi, throwing his arms around him. Daichi brushes his face against Suga’s neck, inhaling his scent and exhaling a shaking breath. Their embrace is intimate, and Tobio almost feels like they shouldn’t be seeing it.

Tanaka wraps his arms around his shoulder and pulls him close, Hinata taking up his other side. They question both Suga and him, but everything feels watery and weird now so he barely replies.

A soft whine utters from Suga, and a responding, calming purr from Daichi. 

Oddly enough, Tobio feels thankful. Out of all the experiences he’s had with Alphas, he’s never gone through something like this before. 

And with the protection of his pack, hopefully he never will again.

---------

Tobio still can’t stop thinking about the incident hours later. He’s bundled up with blankets on Hinata’s bed, looking at the wall. The moonlight from the window is the only source of light, but his eyes have long grown used to the darkness. 

Usually he falls asleep quickly when he spends the night at Hinata’s, yet that isn’t the case tonight. The Beta sighs quietly and turns overs. Warm, dark eyes greet him as he does.

Hinata isn’t sleeping either, it seems. 

They stare at each other. There’s an unspoken acknowledgement in their lack of sleep. Surely they’re reminiscing on the same thing. 

“Go to sleep, dumbass,” Tobio mumbles, his voice lacking any malice or heat. 

Hinata furrows his brow in a small attempt at a glare, but it’s thwarted by the glaze in his eyes. He’s upset, even Tobio can see that. 

Without a word, Hinata scoots towards him. He reaches out and cups the Beta’s face. Tobio can feel the callouses, the sheer hard work that has been done with those hands. 

Thumbs brush over his cheeks, and Hinata appears mesmerized by the feel of his skin. He’s trembling, though, and it’s so worrisome that Tobio inches closer until there is only a hair’s breadth between them.

“Can I mark you?”

The question surprises him. Tobio’s eyes widen, lips opening to reply but no sounds emerges. 

Any answer he may give is overwhelmed by Hinata’s next move. The Alpha slowly lifts himself up until he’s hovering above Tobio. He gazes down at the Beta, eyes alight with a conflicting gleam that steals Tobio’s breath from his lungs.

Every movement is slow and deliberate, so unlike Hinata’s usual attitude. He straddles Tobio’s hips and places a hand on either side of his head. 

Tobio’s boxed in, but he doesn’t feel trapped. 

Heat blooms across his skin when Hinata lowers himself. Their clothed chest touch, and vaguely Tobio thinks this is the closest they’ve ever been. At least, in this way. He’s used to Hinata clinging to him or jumping on his back. But all those touches were quick and playful. This is different. It’s purposeful and intense and makes any words Tobio could speak blissfully disappear. 

“Can I mark you?” Hinata asks again. There’s a broken edge to his voice. Like he’s desperate. 

It’s wrong.

Tobio can’t put his finger on why it’s wrong, but it is. 

Yet he doesn’t stop Hinata from brushing his nose against his neck. Strong, comforting cinnamon and ash greet him the closer the Alpha gets. Hinata’s scent is one of Tobio’s favorites. It smells like home and unwavering acceptance. Like something he could grow with for the rest of his life.  Not that he’d ever admit it, of course.

Lightly damp lips caress his skin, paying extra attention to the almost completely faded mark Daichi had made. Then, there’s kisses. Feather soft and a bit hesitant, but there. Hinata grows bolder with each kiss, until he’s licking all across Tobio’s neck.

Tobio groans quietly and tilts his head to the side to give Hinata more. It tingles and warms him from the inside out. His arms circle Hinata’s form and pull him in. His toes curl when the Alpha growls, sending vibrations through his flesh.

Why does this feel so good ?

It’s wrong. It’s right.

It’s damn confusing. 

“H-Hinata,” he murmurs. His fingers grasp onto Hinata’s night shirt, nails digging into the skin beneath. 

Hinata pushes him further into the mess of blankets. His tongue trails up his neck until he’s sucking bruises into the Beta’s jawline. 

The first hint of teeth catch against his skin, just over his scent gland. Tendrils of pleasure stroke his nerves, and Tobio can’t help the stuttered moan he releases. 

This is going too far. Part of Tobio wants to sink into the quickly deepening euphoria and just accept it. The other part of him knows that if they’re not careful they could really mess this up, whatever it is.

It’s an effort to bury his hands into Hinata’s hair and gently pull him away from his neck. The Alpha briefly looks confused and absolutely wild. His pupils are dilated, and he’s breathing harshly, like he’s barely holding back from sinking his teeth into Tobio’s neck any second now. 

Tobio pants lightly and wets his lips. He’s trying to get his bearings, but it’s hard to do that when Hinata keeps looking at him like that.

Like he wants to eat him.

“What’s wrong?” Tobio finally croaks out. 

Hinata flinches and blinks rapidly. He looks down between them, like he’s almost confused as to why they’re in the positions that they are. 

The Alpha lets his mouth open and close a couple of times before he grumbles out, “I...I just want to be a good Alpha.”

Now it’s Tobio’s turn to be confused. The Beta scrunches his brows together and slowly sits up from the bed. Hinata lets him, awkwardly moving off his hips. They sit across from each other now, their legs criss-crossed and hands in their laps. 

“You’re not making any sense,” Tobio points out.

Hinata huffs, pouting. “You don’t get it.”

The Beta rolls his eyes. “Then explain it to me,” he counters. 

A put upon groan leaves Hinata’s lips. He ruffles his hair, the locks sticking up even more than usual. Tobio has half a mind to smooth it down just to spite his friend, but refrains. 

“I’m an Alpha. I’m supposed to protect my pack, maybe even lead it one day.”

Tobio shrugs his shoulders. He’s not sure what that has to do with marking him. “Okay, and?”

“Well,” Hinata mumbles, his gaze traveling to the mattress. “I haven’t been. Actually, I’ve been failing big time.”

The Beta goes to reply, but Hinata places a hand over his mouth to stop him. Tobio should get a medal for how he refrains from biting him in retaliation.

“No, I have. I couldn’t protect you or Suga from those jerk Alphas tonight. And then when Ushijima grabbed you I did nothing . I froze!”

Hinata is shuddering now. His face is down and hidden, and Tobio desperately wishes he could see him smiling. Energetic and ruthless, but always smiling. Like he’s meant to be.

“And now you’re going to the National Youth Training Camp,” Hinata continues, his voice tight and breaking. “Who knows who you’ll meet there? Every day it feels like I’m being left behind and I just want to stand with you. I want to be an Alpha you can depend on. But I’m not!”

The Alpha looks up at him as he removes his hand from his mouth. His eyes are shining, moonlight illuminating the deep, dark fears that have haunted Hinata longer that Tobio has realized. 

“...I’m not,” Hinata whispers, and it feels like defeat.

Tobio has never known Hinata to give up on anything. Friends, volleyball, even his pitiful grades. And the Beta will be damned if he lets him start now.

With sure hands, Tobio holds Hinata’s face towards him. His grip is gentle, but insistent. This is important, and he doesn’t want Hinata looking away for a second.

“Are you stupid? You protect me and the pack all the time,” Tobio insists. 

Hinata tries to twist out of his hands, but the Beta doesn’t let him. Instead, he leans forward until their foreheads are touching. 

“You pushed Kindaichi away from me. He would have kept going if you hadn’t stopped him. You keep me on my toes all the time. You’re one of the reasons I improve and try to do better. Listen, I know that I inspire you. But don’t forget you inspire me too, idiot.”

It’s embarrassing, admitting such things. But Hinata needs to hear it. He needs to be reminded, to be calmed, to be motivated.

Tobio bites at his lips, and breaths in Hinata’s strong scent before he speaks once more. 

“You’re a good Alpha, Hinata. You’re my Alpha.”

Hinata inhales sharply. His body heats up so fast that Tobio can feel it. The Alpha squirms, and Tobio thinks that if he wasn’t purposefully holding him back then Hinata would tackle him to the bed. 

Gingerly, the Beta pulls away from his friend. He leans back against his arms, head tilted slightly to the side to reveal more of his neck, more of his calming scent that he knows Hinata likes. 

The barest smile, almost a challenging smirk if he’s being honest, graces his lips.

“So start acting like it. Stop moping and hurry and catch up to me. Got it?”

It’s a taunt and a tease that Tobio knows Hinata will respond to. He’s not disappointed when he sees the fire begin to swirl within the Alpha’s orbs. Ah, there it is. That determination that bleeds into Hinata’s very soul. 

Beautiful.

Hinata crawls over him, pushing him lightly down onto the mattress. The Alpha lowers himself on top of him, face buried into his neck and scenting him. It’s warm and more comfortable that Tobio would have thought.

The Alpha’s arms encircle his chest, and Tobio wraps his own arms around the other in response. 

“I can’t mark you yet,” Hinata mutters. “I’ve gotta earn it.”

Tobio huffs out an annoyed groan. “I already told you you’re my Alpha.”

“Yeah, yeah. And you’re my Beta. I know that.” Hinata cranes his neck to look up at Tobio, his mouth quirking to one side in almost childish resolution. “But I don’t want you to doubt that mark for a single second.”

Hinata goes back to hiding his face in Tobio’s neck. His lips are warm and feel nice against the Beta’s skin, and he relaxes into the mattress. Tobio's eyes are growing heavy, and he knows sleep is going to claim him soon.

“Maybe when you get back from the training camp?”

“Gonna practice while I’m gone?” Tobio slurs, nuzzling into Hinata’s hair. 

“You have no idea.”

Tobio has an inkling. 

Soon the sounds of steady breathing fill the room. Tobio feels Hinata pull him more into him, and the Beta obliges by turning on his side into the embrace. 

Hinata has been his constant ever since he came to Karasuno. No matter the trials they go through, he knows that Hinata will be with him through it all. And, as he said, he’ll be there for the Alpha too. Even if it’s to remind him of the obvious. 

Tobio falls asleep to the sensation of kisses on his skin and fingers caressing his sides. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: Sakusa 

Even though he’s sure it’s just a phantom pain, Tobio swears the fresh mark that Daichi gave him that morning throbs when he gets to the training camp. Like a warning. 

It had been a long trip, and losing his way hadn’t helped with the timing. Still, when Tobio finally arrives he is simultaneously ecstatic and terrified. The plethora of diverse athletes is nearly overwhelming. An odd, wonderous aura of strength and drive seems to surround everyone in their own way.

Tobio is thrilled. The urge to prove himself and learn makes the tips of his fingers tingle. 

He wants to play . 

After introductions, Tobio can’t help but note that most of the athletes here are Alphas. There are a fair bit of Omegas too, of course. But not a single Beta.

Tobio tries not to let the disappointment show on his face. He hadn’t been incredibly optimistic, yet a spark of hope still surfaced. A shame it drowned just as quickly.

When he begins to do a series of stretches, it’s then that Tobio realizes how singled out he feels. He’s the only player from Karasuno, the only Beta. Sometimes he swears he can sense the gazes of the others, but he can’t tell the context of their stares. Is it because they’re sizing him up as an athlete or something else?

Suga and Hinata’s words echo in his head. They were nervous for him. He worries their fears might have some merit, even as he tries to swallow down that thought. There’s no time to be afraid. 

A friend for the training camp eventually comes in the form of Chigaya Eikichi. The obnoxiously tall Omega sits down next to him with a soft smile and vaguely familiar eyes. Tobio remembers him from the training camp with Nekoma and the other schools, like Fukurodani. He had dubbed the Omega as “Broccoli #2” in his mind, due to his curly hair, but it’s a little awkward when he can finally put a name to his face.

Chigaya is nice. He takes up the majority of the conversation between them, which Tobio appreciates. His scent of sweet pistachios is pleasant as well. Tobio isn’t sure if they would be friends outside of a training camp setting, but he’s not going to turn down the companionship. 

With all the serenity Chigaya brings, it stands to reason that other players would be just the opposite.

To put it bluntly, they’re monsters.

The raw athleticism and mesh of strong personalities makes Tobio’s head spin. It also inspires him, even if he’s having to put his all into keeping up at times. He’s having to balance talents with people he’s never played with before, and it can be daunting. Of course, the Beta is grateful for the challenge. Only one day has passed and he can already tell he’s improving.

It’s towards the end of the day when Tobio decides to head to the baths. He managed to get milk on his shirt, and didn’t want the residue to stick to his skin any longer than necessary.

The baths are empty as of now, except for the sound of a single shower in use. It must be Sakusa. He’d said he was going to shower before everyone else. Apparently he had a thing about germs or something.

Tobio clenches his jaw at the threat of seeing Sakusa again. While he hadn’t intended to insult the older player, apparently he’d been too honest with his opinions on him. Calling someone ‘normal’ probably wasn’t the nicest thing to say.

To be completely fair though, he hadn’t meant for it to be taken negatively. In fact, Tobio thought his implication that Sakusa was better than what he showed could have been a compliment. Or just a correct observation, at least. 

Given Sakusa’s tense departure from him afterwards, that hadn’t been the case.

Trying not to dwell on it, Tobio quickly changes and enters a shower stall of his own, several away from where Sakusa is. 

The warm water soothes his aching muscles as it cascades down his skin. Tobio sighs softly, and lets his head tip back. He takes a moment to just enjoy the sensation.

His mind drifts to the pack he left behind. How is Hinata doing without him? What’s he improving on? Maybe Tobio will grill him later over text, if he isn’t too exhausted when he gets to the his room. 

Tsukishima should be at his own training camp too. Tobio’s chest swells with a strange pride at that. He wonders how many teams that have lost to them will be attending. Tsukishima isn’t prone to gloating, but Tobio kind of hopes he does, at least a little bit. 

Things feel hazy with fatigue as he washes his hair and body. The soap destroys the sweat and grime he’s accumulated, and Tobio feels more refreshed as he eventually turns off the shower. 

Reaching for the towel to the side, the Beta has just enough time to wrap it around his waist when the shower curtain hiding him suddenly pulls back. 

Tobio flinches at the shock of cool air that rushes at him. Dark, ocean eyes widen, the sight of Sakusa partially naked and dripping wet not something he remotely expected to see. A towel is firmly wrapped around his waist as well, chest bare with droplets of water running down his pale skin. His dark, wet hair curls cling to his neck and forehead, yet it still retains a certain look of softness.

The Alpha is without his mask, similar to how he was for much of training. He might as well have been wearing it though, considering the unreadable expression on his face. 

Tobio stands there, surprised and waiting for an explanation. 

“What is it?” the Beta croaks out. He shivers, wishing Sakusa would pull the curtain back and keep in some of the remaining steam for warmth.

He gets his wish, just not in the way he anticipates.

Sakusa lifts up a hand and gently presses the tips of his fingers to Tobio’s chest. There’s an insistent push, and even though Sakusa doesn’t fully touch him the Beta feels himself move anyway. Tobio lets out a small breath as his back meets the wall. 

“My mask conceals most scents.”

Tobio narrows his eyes, tilting his head to the side slightly. It’s very obvious he doesn’t consider that an answer.

The Alpha continues on. “Earlier, your Beta scent couldn’t reach me. But now that you’ve washed away all that sweat and filth it’s…”

Sakusa tapers off, voice lowering into a deep rumble towards the end. His fingers trail from the middle of Tobio’s chest to the curve of his neck. 

The pads of those warm fingertips make Tobio shudder. Each move is so carefully crafted, yet he can still sense the strength barely contained within those hands.

“It’s clean . Enticing.”

That’s a new one. 

Tobio has heard his scent is fresh, before. Hell, some of his pack have even called it yummy (which he vehemently disagrees with). But clean? Enticing? 

The wording makes Tobio feel completely off balance. His eyes race over Sakusa face for any hint of mockery or joking intent. 

He finds none.

Instead, the Alpha leans towards him. Sakusa has a few centimeters of height over him, and it’s never been more apparent than in this instant. When the other bends down, he inhales against the crook of the Beta’s neck and shoulder.

Tobio feels the heat from Sakusa’s form, the water that drips and drops off of their skin and onto the tile. 

They’re so close, but there’s a strange distance that is still between them. Sakusa is barely touching him. When Tobio’s been scented other times, the person has usually brushed their lips or nose against his skin. Sometimes his scent gland, if they were bold enough. Yet Sakusa is hovering just above it. 

That doesn’t stop the deep groan that releases from the Alpha’s mouth, however. 

Sakusa’s shoulders are trembling, like he’s barely holding back. He continues to take in whiffs of Tobio’s scent. His hand that was caressing Tobio’s neck earlier is now planted on the wall next to his head, keeping him steady and upright. 

Tobio isn’t sure what to say, brain struggling to keep up with the situation. 

Eventually, he murmurs, “I’m marked.”

His voice is hoarse and not as strong as he’d like it to be, but he’s just glad he was able to say it. Besides, his statement should be incredibly obvious. Sakusa is right over his scent gland. Surely he sees Daichi’s new mark?

Sakusa glances at him from the corner of his eyes. Their gazes meet, and Tobio squirms as the mixture of dullness and intensity that swim inside those irises. 

“I don’t want to mark you,” Sakusa states, and if it wasn’t for that slight quiver in his words, Tobio would almost think he was bored. 

“I want to scent you. Now stay still.”

The order’s edge is also dull. Like Sakusa simply expects compliance. And for a minute, Tobio admits that he does give that to him. 

He doesn’t move as Sakusa breathes in his scent. The Alpha’s own scent is an alluring combination of teakwood and sharp peppermint. It’s invigorating in some ways, and Tobio wonders if he were an Omega what his response would be. Would he melt against the tile wall? Groan and try to scent Sakusa as well?

Regardless, for now Tobio simply stands still and rigid. The heat of the Alpha’s breath is nice, and his body is keeping him from being too cold while he’s wet. His skin is flushed at the close proximity, yet it’s becoming more obvious that without any true skin contact that Sakusa is getting much more out of this than Tobio is. 

When Sakusa steps closer and brushes their chests together, that’s when something inside Tobio snaps.

He’s gentle but purposeful as he places a hand on Sakusa’s shoulder. The Alpha isn’t prepared for the touch and stops his scenting immediately. 

Tobio pushes against him until his back is off the wall and he’s created some small distance between them. Sakusa goes, but it’s with reluctance. A light frown dances on the Alpha’s lips, and for a moment Tobio thinks he might even growl at him. 

“That’s enough,” Tobio says. Clear, and no room for argument.

Sakusa stares down at him, dark eyes just as mysterious and perplexing as they were throughout the day. There’s a tension in his body. His hands are curled into fists at his side, and Tobio wonders if Sakusa is going to push him into the wall again.

“Alpha scents are disgusting,” he says instead.

Tobio blinks, wondering what that has to do with anything. He furrows his brow and opens his mouth to ask, but Sakusa cuts him off.

“Omegas are better. They’re too sweet, though. It’s suffocating.”

Well, Tobio supposes that makes sense. All scents are a bit muffled to him, but he could see how Suga or Ennoshita’s scents may be a bit much at times. Like being in a candy shop for too long. 

“But Betas,” Sakusa says, voice vibrating into a low purr that wracks Tobio’s spine in ways he didn’t prepare for. “Betas are exquisite.”

Tobio wants the ground to open and gobble him up. His skin is practically burning at the compliment. His throat goes tight, and he has to swallow thickly to have even a hope of breathing. The barest hints of a cocky smile play at the edges of Sakusa’s lips.

Bastard. He knows exactly what this is doing to Tobio. 

The Beta looks away. “Doesn’t matter to me,” he mutters. 

He wants to appear nonchalant, but Tobio is aware that he isn’t good at playing casual or unaffected when he very much is. He wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s never been more annoying than in this moment.

Tobio can feel the way Sakusa’s eyes linger on his neck, the water droplets trailing down his flesh. It’s embarrassing, but horribly exciting all at the same time.

When he feels himself start to shiver, Tobio exits the shower. 

“Next time, ask first,” he calls over his shoulder.

An unexpected chuckle is his response. “So there will be a next,” Sakusa says, tone rapturous silk. 

Tobio pauses. He doesn’t look back, but he can tell the Alpha is looking at him, dutifully waiting for his reaction. 

The Beta grits his teeth. His face is flushed a brilliant red and he knows it has nothing to do with the shower he just took. 

“You have to ask first,” he reiterates, then goes back to the lockers to grab his night clothes.

Thankfully, Sakusa doesn’t intrude on him when he’s getting dressed. He makes it to his room without issue. The heat on his skin has hardly dissipated. 

Tobio curls into his blankets. A warm mixture of shame and anticipation circulates his veins and into the core of his stomach. He should have pushed Sakusa away sooner, but a part of him had been too curious to do so.

Sakusa preferred Beta scents. He had gotten into Tobio’s space, yet there were clear limits he hadn’t wanted to cross. What’s more, Tobio had alluded to a possible repeat performance. The Beta feels jumbled, thoughts and instincts set into an overdrive he can’t comprehend. 

Suga and Hinata had both been worried about what other players might do during the training camp. And, as much as Tobio hates to admit it, their fears are probably justified.

Perhaps they should have also been worried about what he might do too, though. 

Tobio certainly is. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: Atsumu

“You’re a Goody Two-Shoes, aren’t ya?”

Tobio isn’t sure why Atsumu’s words bother him so much. He keeps replaying them over and over again in his head. The other setter’s dialect is sharp to him, like metal grating in his ears. And the easy-going, low drawl doesn’t make it much better. It’s too conflicting. 

Why? Why is this affecting him?

The Beta has been called much worse. King of the Court, selfish, an asshole. ‘Goody Two-Shoes’ shouldn’t even compare. 

But it does, and Tobio’s at a loss because of it. 

Chigaya seems to notice his change in attitude. Tobio still gives his all during training, but his mind is elsewhere whenever they have a break. He’s quieter, looking off to the side and staring hard, as if doing so will finally help answer everything.

Tobio thinks of those stupid words and he becomes warm . It’s a heat that starts on his face and travels down his neck and chest. He doesn’t like it. It makes him squirm. 

Atsumu Miya is a complicated Alpha.

At first, he seems languid, as if anything could be a joke. The smirk that rests tenderly upon his lips seems permanent. Yet there’s an intensity to his movements and drive. He wants to win just as much as everyone else at the training camp. 

Tobio can’t help but wonder if Atsumu already thinks he’s the best, though. He certainly acts like it at times. 

Then Atsumu will turn around and give Tobio a high five after a brilliant play. The Alpha is a good team player to the people he finds worthy. He has an obvious love for volleyball that Tobio immediately respects. 

Still, Tobio could do without the confusion. 

“Ah, Tobio, hold on a sec.”

Atsumu’s arm being slung over his shoulder stops Tobio just as much as the words. The Beta glances up at the other, slight annoyance obvious by the twitch of his brow. He’s just finished his shower and would like nothing more than to slip under his sheets and sleep the aches in his muscles away.

“What is it, Miya?” he asks, polite but curt.

“Aw, I told ya to call me Atsumu, remember?”

Tobio does, but it feels weird. He doesn’t understand how Atsumu can call him by his first name so casually. They barely know each other, and Atsumu has already poked fun at him more than enough times for Tobio to be wary. 

Atsumu bends slightly, his lips pressed up against the shell of Tobio’s ear. “Meet me in the storage room after lights out. I’ve gotta talk to ya about somethin’.”

No one is supposed to leave their rooms after lights out. They could get in trouble. If they did, he’d never hear the end of it from Daichi or Coach Ukai. 

Tobio shivers at the thought of Suga’s disappointed frown.

“Why can’t you just tell me now?” Ocean eyes narrow minutely at the Alpha. “I don’t want us to get in trou-”

“Oh, right. That would tarnish your Goody Two-Shoes image, wouldn’t it?

Tobio tenses up. He crosses his arms over his chest, legs rigid and glare deepening on his face. He wants to retort, but all the words are stuck in his throat. 

The reaction doesn’t deter Atsumu. “Come on, Tobio. Ya scared to sneak around a little?”

“No,” Tobio seethes.

“Prove it.”

How Tobio feels simultaneously heated and bitterly cold, he’ll never know. Atsumu still has that lazy smirk on his lips, dark eyes watching the Beta for any sort of reaction. Like he’s waiting to feed on it.

Well, Tobio’s not going to give it to him.

“Fine,” the Beta replies through gritted teeth. “I’ll be there.”

“Sweet.”

Atsumu slowly unwinds his arm from Tobio’s shoulder. His fingers swiftly ruffle through the Beta’s dark, soft locks. It’s done so boldly, Tobio almost thinks he’s wrong for being surprised by it. That doesn’t stop the shiver that races down his spine, of course.

“Don’t get caught, Tobio. I’ll see ya tonight.”

The Alpha has the nerve to wink at him before leaving. Tobio watches after him, eyes blinking rapidly as his mind struggles to grasp what has just happened. 

His stomach is in knots, but it doesn’t necessarily feel bad. And that worries Tobio even more.

---------

Hours later, once lights out has been implemented, the Beta tiptoes his way out of the Omega rooms. Since there aren’t enough Betas to warrant another, separate room, Tobio has been placed with the Omegas. 

Honestly, he’s a little impressed he manages to leave without waking up Chigaya. The Omega is a light sleeper, but Tobio can be stealthy when he wants too. He vaguely wonders how Atsumu is fairing with sneaking out of the Alpha rooms.

It’s odd being out in the dark halls with only his phone light to guide him. Nerves threaten to suffocate him, and more than once Tobio thinks about turning back.

No, he can’t. Atsumu would never let him live it down. And, as much as Tobio hates it, part of him wants to impress the Alpha. He enjoys the moments when Atsumu smiles at him, when he compliments his plays or laughs with him at a joke Tobio doesn’t always understand. He can be a good guy.

If only he didn’t have the infuriating talent of making Tobio feel strange. 

Luck is on his side apparently, as the Beta doesn’t run into any of the coaches. He’s at the storage room sooner than he expects. Tobio reaches out a hand, hesitates for a few seconds, then slowly opens the door.

It’s just as dark inside, but a small light inside instantly grabs his attention.

Atsumu is leaning against a pile of gym mats and texting away on his phone. The light is just enough to illuminate the Alpha’s features. His strong jawline, the way his eyes have a nearly golden hue with the light of the phone. Atsumu’s face looks bored, but that quickly shifts when he sees Tobio.

“Well damn, ya actually made it.”

Tobio frowns, though he doubts Atsumu can see it. 

The Beta walks further into the storage room. He narrowly avoids the cart of volleyballs and some random weight equipment. He’d rather die on the spot than fall in front of Atsumu.

“What did you want to talk about?” Tobio asks when he’s in front of the other. 

Atsumu places his phone on the mat, the screen facing up and giving them a little more light. His head tilts to the side just slightly as he moves closer to Tobio.

“Talk?” 

“Uh, yeah?” Tobio retorts, but it sounds more like an unsure question. “You said you wanted to tell me something.”

The chuckle that leaves Atsumu’s lips is familiar but not. He’s heard the Alpha laugh by now, yet this laughter comes from a deeper place in the chest. It reminds Tobio of a growl more than anything. 

“Tobio, ya can’t be serious right now.”

Dark eyebrows furrow, perplexed. Perhaps he should already know what they’re meant to talk about. Well, that’s disheartening. 

“Is it about what happened at training today? I thought we did good,” Tobio offers. 

“Ah man, ya really don’t know.”

Tobio shifts his stance, feet shuffling against the tile floor. Alright, now he’s incredibly confused, and he doesn’t appreciate it one bit. 

Atsumu sighs and suddenly a hand is gently cradling the back of Tobio’s neck. The Beta flinches, but doesn’t outright stray from the touch. His eyes widen as Atsumu steps closer to him, the distance between them lessening to only centimeters. 

“We aren’t here to talk, Tobio,” the Alpha teases. “Think about it. Two teenagers, empty storage room, alone at night. Do I need to spell it out for ya?”

Jeez, he might. Tobio’s head is spinning.

“I...I don’t know,” the Beta mutters. 

“Ugh, you’re cute.”

Atsumu’s face is too close now. Tobio can smell the thick scent of Kashmir, wood, and heady cardamom. It’s nice, and the Beta is so preoccupied by it that he almost misses the Alpha’s next sentence.

“I’m tryin’ to fool around with ya, Tobio.”

Oh.

Seconds tick by, and then Tobio’s skin becomes unbearably warm. The flush spreads across his cheeks, fast and horrible. Dark blue irises widen, and Tobio’s naivety throughout the entire situation slaps him across the face.

He wants to dunk his head in the sink and scream into the water. How could he have been so oblivious?

Embarrassment clings to him like a second skin, even as he mumbles, “Why?”

Atsumu lifts his shoulders up and down. His fingers caress the back of Tobio’s neck, teasing the ends of his hair. 

“Like I said, you’re cute. And strong. I like that.”

The Alpha uses his other hand to cup Tobio’s jaw, tilting his head up so their eyes link. “How about it? Could be fun.”

Would it? Tobio’s never fooled around with anyone, so he’s not completely sure. 

The Beta fidgets under Atsumu’s piercing gaze. He’s waiting for Tobio to respond. Waiting for permission, it seems. Something about that strokes the fire already steadily growing inside of Tobio. 

“Don’t hurt yourself thinkin’,” Atsumu jokes. “If ya don’t want to, that's fine. No harm. But I’d be bummed. You’re really pretty, and ya always smell so good.”

Just like on the court, Atsumu’s compliments do something odd to Tobio. He can tell the Alpha means every word of what he says. He won’t waste time on something or someone that doesn’t actually interest him. 

Tobio’s burning and he wants . 

“Okay,” he finally croaks, voice hoarse. 

Atsumu raises an eyebrow. “Yeah? Ya mean it?”

The Beta nods his head before he can convince himself otherwise. “Yes. But I’ve never, uh, done this.”

“I can tell.”

Tobio most certainly does not pout at that. Not even a little bit. Atsumu still huffs out a laugh, though. The sound makes Tobio’s chest flutter.

“It’s not a bad thing, Tobio. Just follow my lead, ok?”

The Beta barely has time to nod before Atsumu is leaning into his space again. Atsumu pulls him up slightly, angling Tobio’s head, before warm breath tickles over his face. 

Atsumu covers his lips over Tobio’s own in a careful, blindingly gentle kiss. The sweetness in their first touch is palpable, and the Beta automatically groans into it. His lips warm and tingle so wonderfully. There’s a liquid heat that slithers in his veins, his limbs having never felt as alive as they do in this moment. 

They part a little, silent and cautious, and Atsumu dives in again.

This time, the kiss has a harder edge to it. There’s more push . Atsumu’s grip on Tobio’s head tilts him even more, and their mouths slot together so perfectly it makes his toes curl.

Each kiss makes him hotter. It’s dizzying and wet, but Tobio doesn’t want to stop for a second. He likes the way Atsumu feels against him, the pressure mind numbingly good over his lips.

Tobio arches into him, and before he knows it he’s wrapping his arms around Atsumu’s neck. The Alpha rumbles into his mouth, licking and nipping playfully on his bottom lip.

The world and its gravity are suddenly lost on Tobio. Atsumu has his arms circling his waist, and the Alpha doesn’t say anything as he lifts the Beta up. Tobio flounders, feets kicking out, and Atsumu sets him down on the mats. 

Atsumu makes a space for himself between Tobio’s legs. His hands settle on the Beta’s hips, his thumbs rubbing over the area and slipping under his nightshirt. The sensation is akin to a lovely brand on his skin and Tobio keens softly, pushing into the kiss even more.

He tries to copy Atsumu’s movements with his mouth, but it’s painfully apparent who has the experience here. The Alpha doesn’t seem to mind at all, though. In fact, he keeps grunting and sighing into Tobio’s mouth. 

A tongue slips inside, dancing and lapping at Tobio’s own. It’s strange at first, but Atsumu sucks on Tobio’s lips in just the right way that has the Beta moaning openly.

Tobio’s thankful he’s sitting on the mat, because his legs are quickly turning into jelly. His thighs are trembling. He can feel Atsumu’s shoulders shake with every minute that they kiss. 

When Atsumu pulls away, it’s only to continue kissing his jawline. Every kiss has a bit of teeth, and Tobio worries that he might leave a hickey. Atsumu doesn’t. He simply leads a trail of kisses down Tobio’s neck. The wet, sucking sounds make the Beta’s ears burn. 

Tiny whimpers threaten to escape Tobio’s kiss bruised lips, and he’s happy that he manages to muffle most of them.

But only most of them.

Atsumu is smirking against his skin. His hands explore whatever they can find. His sides, hips, and the skin of his thighs that is revealed from his shorts. The Alpha isn’t afraid to caress and squeeze as he pleases, but Tobio isn’t upset about it. Perhaps he should be, yet he can’t seem to remember why.

His world is lush and hazy. Pleasure lies just under his skin, his lips, his hands that grip Atsumu like he’s his last lifeline. 

“I’d love to mark ya up, Tobio,” Atsumu growls out, licking a long line from Tobio’s neck to his ear with his tongue. The Beta shudders. He doesn’t want to tell Atsumu that if he asked, he might actually say yes. 

Everything feels so good.

“Mm, maybe next time, yeah?”

Tobio can’t respond, other than a harsh pant as Atsumu nibbles on his ear. He lightly wraps his legs around Atsumu’s hips, which seems to egg the Alpha on if the unapologetic moan he releases is anything to go by.

Atsumu keeps licking and kissing his neck, and Tobio feels beautifully vulnerable when he’s pushed down onto the mat. He has to hook his legs up onto Atsumu’s waist now and that’s somehow even better.

“You're gonna lose ya mind with a little grindin’, I bet,” Atsumu speaks against his lips, before giving them a quick, dirty lick. “Try to keep ya voice down, got it?”

Tobio isn’t sure that’s possible, but he’s willing to find out. He just wants to feel good. He wants Atsumu to never stop talking to him. He wants this desire and heat and bubbling pleasure to last forever. 

A shocking vibration sounds from Tobio’s front pocket. 

The Beta jumps, nearly losing his grip on Atsumu, but the Alpha holds him like steel. Tobio glances down. He can see the light of his phone through the fabric of his shorts. His hand is reaching out and grabbing it on instinct before he can think about it.

Atsumu scoffs and rolls his eyes, though it’s more teasing than malicious. 

“Nah, nah, get ya phone. Not like I’m here or anythin’.”

For now Tobio ignores the Alpha’s words and focuses on the text message he’s received. 

Hinata’s name pops up on the screen, and Tobio clutches his phone so tightly he’s surprised it doesn’t crack. The words don’t register in his mind, but Hinata’s presence is suddenly, explicitly here . 

All of them are. 

The faces of his pack flash through his mind. 

Is what he’s doing allowed? He’s never asked about having romantic relationships outside of the pack. In fact, Tobio doesn’t know if that’s what’s happening right now anyway. Atsumu said he wanted to fool around, not date him. 

He’s not dating any of his pack either, but this still feels wrong. There are too many unclear factors and connections. If any of his pack found out what he’s doing, they probably wouldn’t like it. 

Tobio rubs a hand over his face and sighs. His head hurts. 

“What’s that look for?” Atsumu asks. The Alpha jumps onto the mat as well, sitting beside Tobio.

He misses Atsumu’s hands and lips on him, yet he can’t deny that he’s able to actually grasp onto thoughts without them. 

“I have a pack,” he replies and slowly sits up. 

“Well, yeah, I know that. What, are ya datin’ the person who texted ya?”

Tobio shrugs his shoulders. He’s tired now. “No. I mean, I don’t think so? It’s hard to say.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

They sit in silence for seconds that seem far too long. Tobio stares down at the phone. He can’t reply, but he can’t look away from the screen either. 

Atsumu enters his space again and places a quick kiss on his temple. That distracts Tobio enough to look at him, a frown on those now red lips. Guilt slowly swirls inside him, clawing and damaging and oh so poisonous. 

“Gotta say I like ya, Tobio,” the Alpha admits. “So if ya wanna hurry and figure out that mess, you should hit me up after.”

“You mean dating?”

Tobio observes, conflicted, as Atsumu gives a casual shrug of his shoulders. “Datin’, hooking up. Whatever ya want. I’m open.”

The answer doesn’t soothe Tobio in the slightest. It does help to cool him down though, and he’s grateful for the haze he felt earlier dissipating. 

“‘Course, I gotta talk to my own pack too. We have a thing goin’ on.” 

That gets Tobio’s attention. The Beta’s mouth hangs open, and it’s a struggle to get out the words, “W-wait. Like, romantically?”

Another shrug. Tobio is starting to hate that.

“Sorta,” Atsumu confirms. “We’re just real close. They’d like ya, though. Especially my brother. Ugh.”

It’s too much information and Tobio can feel the exhaustion in his bones. The adrenaline from the kissing has worn off. He wants to go to bed and let his wired mind rest.

“I’ll think about it,” Tobio mumbles eventually. Atsumu’s responding small smile creates that same fluttering in his chest from earlier. “Let’s...not do the storage room thing again, though.”

“Hey, what happens at the trainin’ camps stays at the trainin’ camp, babe.”

Tobio glares at the Alpha. He pushes his shoulder and warns, “Atsumu.”

“Ya finally said it!”

The actual happiness lining Atsumu’s features is enough to bring heat to Tobio’s cheeks. He quickly gets off the mat and back to the tile floor. Atsumu joins him soon after and places an arm over his shoulder. Tobio allows it. He likes the weight and heat, and it feels like Atsumu steadies him as they walk out of the storage room and back into the halls.

“Fine, fine. Ya gonna be mad if I sneak in a kiss during training?”

“Yes.”

“Well now I gotta.”

Tobio groans as quietly as he can, but his lips still quirk up into a smile that he can’t help. Atsumu doesn’t remove his arm until they’re at the Omega rooms. The Beta misses it, and tries not to look too disappointed when Atsumu leaves.

Based on the practically predatory leer the Alpha sends him, it’s safe to say he doesn’t succeed.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18: Hoshiumi

“He’s doing it again.” 

Tobio glances up from his position on the floor. He has his legs spread, leaning down in the middle and hands grabbing onto his shoes to help with the stretch. Dark blue eyes survey the rest of the gym until they rest on the ‘he’ that Chigaya is talking about.

Hoshiumi is glaring at him.

But more than that, he's posing . That’s the only way Tobio can describe it. He wouldn’t bluntly call it posturing, like he’s seen Tanaka and Nishinoya do to impress Kiyoko or protect their pack. 

This is strategic and purposeful, but lacks any pointed aggression that would give Tobio at least some clue of what the Alpha could possibly want.

Hoshiumi is barely stretching. Instead, he’s focusing on flexing his muscles and lengthening his body to his full height. Even across the other side of the net, his gaze is solely on Tobio, the stare burning into the Beta’s skin. Was he even blinking? 

The Alpha looked more owl than human like this, and it was beyond strange.

Tobio turns his attention away from Hoshiumi and instead shifts to Chigaya. The Omega gives him a small, comforting smile. 

“Did you make him mad?” Chigaya asks.

Tobio shrugs his shoulders and goes back to his stretching. “Beats me. I haven’t talked to him since.”

It wasn’t like Tobio had been trying to insult the Alpha. So he hadn’t reacted with awe and amazement when Hoshiumi jumped. Big deal. Hinata’s jumps have long since taught him not to underestimate height in volleyball. 

Unfortunately, the glaring is the least of Tobio’s problems.

Every time Tobio interacts with Atsumu or Sakusa, Hoshiumi suddenly appears. Half the time he barely talks, yet he’s still very much there. If anything, the posing gets worse. 

If Atsumu laughs at something, Hoshiumi laughs louder. When Sakusa gives Tobio a tissue after he sneezes, the other Alpha rushes towards them and practically throws ten tissues their way. 

It’s starting to make Tobio’s head spin. The smaller Alpha has a chaotic energy about him that Tobio thought he was a pro at dealing with now. Apparently that only applies to his pack.

As training for the day ends, both Tobio and Hoshiumi are paired to finish putting up the last of the equipment. They remain out of each other’s way for most of the cleaning, thankfully. Tobio is tired, hungry, and wants to wash the sweat and grime off his body. 

When Tobio shuts the storage room door, he turns and comes face to face with the Alpha. Well, face to chest if he’s being honest. He has to look down at Hoshiumi, and for some reason he just knows that pisses the Alpha off even more.

“Is there a problem?” Tobio finally asks. His tone is carefully neutral, but tinges of annoyance must flare if Hoshiumi’s narrowed eyes are anything to go by.

“Yeah, I’ve got something to say to you.”

Tobio crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the door. 

“Okay,” he starts. “What-”

“Just ‘cus you’re tall and pretty doesn’t mean you can underestimate me!”

The Beta blinks. Hoshiumi had spoken so rapidly and with such ferocity it had basically been a growl. Tobio tries to wrap his mind around the sentence, but the pause spurs the Alpha on more. 

Hoshiumi invades his space quickly, speed and power radiating from his smaller frame. That doesn’t stop Tobio from flinching when both of Hoshiumi’s hands slam on the door behind him, caging him in. The arms are only at chest level, but the heat Hoshiumi’s body exudes takes Tobio’s breath away.

Spiced rum and lime fill Tobio’s senses. The Alpha’s scent is thick and heavy enough that even Tobio feels a bit unhinged with it. 

“I’m the highest jumper here. Every set you’ve given me I’ve used to obliterate the other team, “ Hoshiumi snarls. Tobio can feel the vibration in his voice. “But you treat me like...like I’m normal . Like you’re not impressed at all!”

Tobio wants to push the Alpha off of him, yet that would be like aggravating a wild animal right now. He stands as tall as he can though, not cowering even as Hoshiumi’s voice raises. 

The Beta has worked hard to praise his pack, and even his temporary teammates at this training camp. Chigaya and Atsumu can certainly attest to this. And he’s even said ‘good job’ or something to that effect to Hoshiumi.

Is the Alpha really complaining that Tobio hasn’t praised him enough ?

“I’ve complimented you before. If you need something different then just tell me.”

Tobio furrows his brow and tries to back away from the wall. The second he does, Hoshiumi only pushes forward until they’re flush against one another. The warmth and increasing scent are simultaneously annoying and oddly pleasant. 

“That’s not the point. I’ve seen how you look at Atsumu. Hell, even Sakusa!”

“And how do I look at them?” Tobio seethes. 

“Like they’re worth paying attention too.”

Hoshiumi is getting riled up. His body is twitching, like he’s barely controlling the strange rage swirling inside him. It doesn’t exactly scare Tobio, he’s sure he could take the Alpha on if need be.

No, there’s something else that’s bothering Tobio about the current scene. Maybe it’s Hoshiumi’s words. Or the way that he’s saying them. Like it hurts to speak, but saying nothing is so much worse.

There’s irritation, for sure. Yet the Alpha’s eyes are slightly glassy, too. He’s holding back something else, and wrath is simply the easier emotion to let out at that moment. 

Tobio understands how that feels. 

His mind flashes back to when he was younger and chasing after Oikawa. Always several steps behind, but wanting desperately to catch up. Even though Oikawa didn’t want him in the first place. Even though Oikawa continued to reject him when he finally got there. 

He thinks about Kindaichi and Kunimi. How many times had he needed comfort and reassurance that they still cared and wanted him, especially when his life had felt uprooted by his grandfather’s death?

Anger had been uncomplicated. Anything else was, really. Anything but the worry and hurt and broken trust. The fear of not being worth it. 

Seeing the Alpha now, Tobio can recognize something similar. He doesn’t truly know Hoshiumi or what he’s gone through to get where he is now. 

But Tobio does know that it has nothing to do with him, no matter how much Hoshiumi is trying to say otherwise.

Maybe he should remind the Alpha of that.

Tobio takes a deep breath in and exhales softly. Without another word, he slowly slides onto the gym floor, crossing his legs and putting his hands in his lap.

It’s an awkward position, especially as he gazes up at the perplexed Alpha. Towering above Hoshiumi isn’t going to do him any favors though, and Tobio needs to alter the playing field a bit.

He’s a setter. 

He’s a Beta. 

Surveying and accessing the situation and its needs is what he’s meant to do. 

“You’re a great player, Hoshiumi,” Tobio murmurs, trying to keep his voice level even if part of him wants to scream. “Just because I haven’t said it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking it.”

The Beta hesitates before tilting his head just a bit to the side. He can’t control his scent, but he hopes it reaches the other all the same. It’s supposed to be calming or something, right?

Hoshiumi hasn’t removed his arms, like they’re the only thing keeping him from falling to the floor. They’re shaking though, and the Alpha is startlingly silent.

Tobio takes that as his cue to continue.

“You remind me of one of my Alpha’s.” The words ‘my Alpha’ stirs up something warm and nice in Tobio’s stomach, but he forces it down for now. “He’s about your height. He jumps like he’s flying.”

A smile plays on the very edges of Tobio’s lips. He doesn’t let it come to fruition though, and keeps his focus on Hoshiumi instead. 

“Your jumps make me think of him and my pack. I’m...sorry if that upset you.”

Tobio doesn’t necessarily want to apologize for something he didn’t mean to do, but he figures that it’s the better move. Besides all the glaring and posing, he sort of likes Hoshiumi. He’s passionate and determined, which Tobio respects. 

The Alpha is gritting his teeth, but the rest of his muscles don’t seem as tense anymore. Perhaps it’s Tobio’s scent or his words, it’s hard to tell. Yet something does the trick, and Hoshiumi gingerly lowers himself to the floor. 

He’s crossing his legs like Tobio and placing his hands on the Beta’s knees. Hoshiumi’s expression is torn, and the level of concentration is almost comical but Tobio stifles back any laughter.

“Great, now I’m the asshole,” Hoshiumi finally spits out.

Tobio watches as the Alpha sighs, shoulders sagging and head hanging down. It’s a move of defeat. 

The Beta finds himself breathing a little easier, even as Hoshiumi’s fingers tap on his knees absentmindedly. Red is flushing over the Alpha’s skin, and Tobio wonders if he’s still angry. 

“So,” Hoshiumi mutters after several seconds of silence. “If you’ve got an Alpha why do you let those guys hang around you so much?”

Confusion washes over Tobio’s face. “What guys?”

“You know!” The Alpha lifts his head up, his hands grasping tighter onto Tobio’s knees. “Atsumu, Sakusa, even Chigaya! They’re all over you.”

Tobio’s face warms so quickly he nearly chokes. Atsumu and he haven’t done anything since the storage room incident.Which has still remained a secret, of course. And Sakusa hasn’t boldly asked to scent him again, even if he’s hovered closer. Chigaya doesn’t make sense to him, though. The Omega is perfectly friendly, so he’s not sure where Hoshiumi is getting these accusations.

“They’re not ‘all over’ me. We’re training!”

Hoshiumi scoffs loudly and rolls his eyes. “Maybe you are.”

The Beta can feel a headache coming on. Why does it matter what he does or doesn’t do with anyone here? It’s not Hoshiumi’s business, even if he’s wrong.

“Whatever,” Tobio grumbles. “Look, I’m not with anyone so don’t assume things about me.”

The squeak of Hoshiumi’s sneakers sounds against the gym floor as he moves closer. His hands on Tobio’s knees balance him as he crowds the Beta in, the position mimicking their position against this wall earlier. Only this time, Hoshiumi lifts himself so their faces are only centimeters away from each other. 

“That means you’re fair game.”

A smile slowly dawns on the Alpha’s lips, brightening into an excited smirk. Tobio’s chest tightens, fluttering and tingling, but he manages to give a responding frown. 

If only his skin didn’t feel so hot.

“I’m not fair game.”

Hoshiumi chuckles, head inclining slightly to the side. “You sure about that?”

Tobio doesn’t know what compels him to do it. Maybe it’s all the adrenaline and stress he’s dealt with for the last few days. Maybe it’s his Beta nature telling him that somehow, some way, Hoshiumi needs this type of response.

Regardless, the Beta finds himself leaning forward and barring his teeth at the Alpha. He doesn’t have a low, deep growl like an Alpha or the higher hiss of an Omega. No, this is something in between. There are instincts within him still, and the noise that leaves his lips sounds so right to his own ears. 

Hoshiumi immediately pulls back. Surprise is evident in his wide eyes, and he even lets his hands fall from Tobio’s legs. 

“Oh,” the Alpha whispers, mouth hanging open.

The noise has only left the Beta’s lips once, yet it seems to ring throughout the gym. Tobio has a few seconds of blissful confidence before reality catches up to him.

What was that?

He’s up before he can think about it, struggling to stand on trembling legs. He clutches his throat. Ocean eyes search aimlessly and Tobio isn’t sure what his next course of action should be.

“I,” he chokes out, wetting his lips. “I didn’t mean...I wasn’t…”

“That was so cool!”

Hoshiumi jumps from his place on the floor. His body is electrified, like a kid in a candy store. His eyes a bright, and Tobio is pressed to admit he’s seen a similar look on Hinata’s face before.

“Do it again,” the Alpha demands.

“No.”

The rejection is immediate, but to be honest Tobio isn’t sure he could recreate the sound on a whim even if he wanted too.

Hoshiumi pouts. “Aw, come on.”

Tobio groans and turns away from the other before walking towards the gym exit doors. They’re definitely late for dinner by now and he has no plans on skipping a good meal.

The Alpha quickly dashes to his side, and continuously asks him to make the sound again all the way to the cafeteria. While annoying, the atmosphere is better than whatever Hoshiumi was trying to do earlier. Apparently he’s forgotten all about that ‘fair game’ bit. 

This feels familiar. Like when Hinata bugs him to set for him. And he’s well versed in denying that when he truly doesn’t want to. 

When Tobio finds Chigaya at a table, Hoshiumi joins them. Chigaya sends the Beta a look, but Tobio is in no mood to explain. 

Still, he also feels better. The Alpha appears to be over his strange posing thing. Tobio did that. Or at least he helped. 

As long as Hoshiumi keeps the weirdness to a minimum, Tobio doesn’t see any reason why they can’t get along for the rest of the training camp. 

“Hey, Kageyama, do it again!”

Maybe he spoke too soon. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: Chigaya

“I’ve been thinking, it’s probably a good thing the coaches didn’t put you in the Alpha room.”

The feeling of soft sheets against his arms and a fluffed pillow under his head is helping Tobio drift off into dreamland. Sore, tense muscles are slowly relaxing. The energy he had at the beginning of the day has faded, and Tobio is looking forward to seeing the inside of his eyelids. Or at least he would be, had Chigaya not spoken.

Tobio blinks several times before he focuses on the Omega. Chigaya’s bed is next to his own, only a few inches of space between them. The taller of the two is slightly lifted, using his arm to lean on his side and still face Tobio. 

The kind smile that Tobio is now very familiar with rests on the Omega’s lips, and if he weren’t so tired perhaps he would offer one of his own.

“Why’s that?” he mumbles. His voice is already tinged with the promise of sleep, but he turns on his side to talk to Chigaya anyway. 

“Well, you’ve already got your hands full of them during training. Can you imagine dealing with them at night while you’re trying to sleep?”

Tobio does try to visualize the situation. Atsumu would be more annoying than usual, and maybe try to sleep next to him. He’d have to put up with more of those small, confusing smirks from Sakusa. And Hoshiumi would be...louder.

The Beta shivers. He’d never get any sleep if that was the case.

“No thanks,” Tobio mutters and pulls the sheets closer up to his chin.

Chigaya chuckles. “Exactly. I don’t like to agree with stereotypes, but we are the more relaxed room by far.”

That was true. Tobio hasn’t had a single issue with any Omega in the training camp. The atmosphere is mostly peaceful, laced with expected exhaustion and sweeter scents. 

“Though,” Chigaya continues. “I guess that would be like a dream come true for some Omegas here. Being in a room full of strong Alphas, I mean. If you’re into that.”

Something about the way Chigaya words his sentences feels off. Tobio glances at the Omega, eyes narrowing as he tries to make sense of what he means.

“...Are you not?” he questions.

Perhaps it’s too blunt, but Tobio isn’t known for being subtle. Besides, Chigaya’s the one who brought it up.

Chigaya shifts slightly on his bed. His silence is deafening, and Tobio waits for a much needed verbal response. The Omega slowly looks at him, teeth biting at his lips and hand gripping the sheets just a bit tighter.

“No, I’m not.”

The air feels thicker. There’s a pressure developing between them now, heavy on Tobio’s shoulders and chest as they stare at one another. 

A deeper answer has been given, yet Tobio can’t decipher it. At least, not in the way that he knows he’s supposed to. 

“What are you into then?” Tobio asks, the words low and whispered. Like it’s their own little secret world now.

Chigaya sucks in a breath. His gaze lowers to the floor, hints of red painting his cheeks and neck when he replies.

“Omegas.”

Surprise fills Tobio’s eyes before he can taper it down. He doesn’t want to appear shocked. The Beta can tell this isn’t the easiest thing to admit. 

It’s not forbidden by any means. But the norm? Definitely not. Even Tobio, who is still learning so much about himself and his place as a Beta in society and his pack, knows that.

Omegas don’t typically date other Omegas. Not without an Alpha somehow in the mix. Yet Tobio has a feeling that isn’t something Chigaya would want.

“It’s just...Omegas are nice, you know?”

Tobio nods. He scoots closer to the edge of his bed and listens as Chigaya keeps talking.

“Alphas are fine too, I guess.” Chigaya shrugs his shoulders. “But I’ve never wanted to kiss one. Their scents burn my nose. And Omegas are, wow, just...wow. It feels so right with them.”

Chigaya turns onto his back. He lifts up his hands and rubs over his face and the curls of his hair. 

“People look at me weird when I say that, though.”

Tobio lifts up his head. He glares, jaw clenching. “Who’s looking at you weird?”

Chigaya glances back at him, eyes widening. He quickly smiles though, soft and maybe even a little sad, before he hums thoughtfully.

“Mostly adults. Relatives. They’re just worried. It’s hard to find Omegas who are attracted to other Omegas. So they want me to try to find an Alpha and be happy.”

“But you wouldn’t be happy.”

Tobio sits up from his bed. The sheets lie over his shoulders and slither to his bare thighs, the cocoon effect helping with the vulnerability that has started to morph in his body. He wraps the sheets around him more, but doesn’t look away from Chigaya for a moment.

“I don’t understand. If you don’t like Alphas then don’t be with them. Why does it matter what anyone else says?”

Chigaya forces out a laugh. It’s strained and grates on the Beta’s ears.

“It’s not that simple, Kageyama.”

“It is.”

The Omega sighs softly. He grips onto his hair and pulls, barely refraining from groaning. Tobio’s blunt nature is endearing most times, but Chigaya can’t fathom how simultaneously dense yet earnest the other is.

“It’s not 'normal'. People will judge me and-”

“Do you think I’m boring?”

Chigaya pauses. He eyes the Beta, confused.

“Um, no? Why are you asking?”

Tobio grasps his sheets, knuckles starting to shake.

“Do you think I’m average? Or forgettable?”

This time, the Omega gets up. He’s ready to leave the bed entirely at this point and knock some sense into the other. “What? Of course not! Why would you even think that?”

“Because people say that about Betas.”

Oh.

Chigaya hesitates. The sudden, almost violent, urge to rush and grab the Beta makes him shake. He wants to bring Tobio close to him, wrap his arms around him and drown him in his sweeter scent. 

What an awful thing to hear.

“No one really ever said it to me directly,” Tobio explains, voice soft. “But you see things online or hear adults talking. They say it without saying it.”

‘What a great singer. Too bad she’s a Beta, she’d probably make it as an Alpha.’

‘Oh he’s cute! Wait, he’s a Beta. That’s a bummer.’

‘Poor thing. She’ll have to adopt if she ever wants kids. No Alpha will want that.’

‘Why is there a whole article on this guy? He’s just a Beta. Get to the real athletes.’

‘A Beta? Eh, we don’t want to spare any more rooms. Just go with the Omegas.’

Tobio’s mind swims with the endless words he’s heard and thought about far too much. Once upon a time, he would have hidden away in response, head down and shoulders sagging.

But certain people have lifted him up since then.

Maybe he could do the same for Chigaya. 

“People are wrong sometimes. And if they’re wrong about Betas, why wouldn’t they be wrong about you too?

Tobio pauses, eyes traveling to his lap. “It’s okay if you like Omegas. I think you’ve just got to find people that don’t make you feel bad about it. They should make you feel good. They’re the ones that really matter.”

Like his pack.

Like the ones he’s forgiven from his past.

Like the people he’s found here.

The responding quiet isn’t uncomfortable, but it is present. Tobio can’t make himself look up at the Omega. He knows he isn’t the best at saying the right thing or understanding the situation. But he’d meant what he’d said. 

The Beta nearly flinches when Chigaya suddenly walks into his space. Tobio looks up, confusion gracing his features as the other places both hands on his shoulders. Chigaya moves the blanket until it’s away from covering Tobio’s upper body, the fabric instead gathering at his waist and tangling in his legs. 

Heat, lightly wet and lovely, presses against Tobio’s forehead. 

Tobio freezes, breath exhaling as he registers the softness of Chigaya’s lips on his skin. The kiss to his forehead is gentle and lingering. He feels his eyes closing before he can stop himself, and he leans into the sensations.

Sweet pistachio fills his senses. It's a more subtle Omega scent than he’s used to, but it fits Chigaya quite well. Inviting and warm, like the boy himself. 

“Thanks, Kageyama,” Chigaya murmurs. “I needed to hear that.”

The Omega pulls back then, and Tobio can’t help the flush that settles over his face and the back of his neck. Chigaya’s thumbs brush over his shoulders, squeezing once before letting go.

“You’re a sweetheart when you want to be.”

Tobio frowns. He’s many things, but sweet? He certainly doesn’t think so, he’s just being honest after all.

The Beta opens his mouth to argue. Chigaya, however, is already smiling and giggling as he returns to his bed. Even if Chigaya is incorrect, Tobio really doesn’t want to ruin his better mood or the grin on his face. He’ll just let the Omega think what he wants.

Rolling his eyes, Tobio fusses with his sheets until they are manageable again and lies down. His skin is still warm and it’s irritating, but he feels lighter than before. 

“Goodnight, Kageyama.”

The Beta stills. A smile, small and young, rests on his lips.

“Goodnight, Chigaya.”

Tobio buries his face into his pillow and asks sleep to take him away from the silliness of it all. 

---------

As everybody prepares to leave on their last day, Tobio feels bombarded by the new people he’s met and the odd relationships he’s formed. 

In the early morning, Sakusa finds him after he’s already freshly showered and in the process of getting dressed. The Alpha is tall, but oddly stiff, as he gingerly asks to scent Tobio before they leave. 

Tobio feels like he should deny him. Yet, warmth surges within his veins and stomach at the prospect. Part of him had also enjoyed the intimacy of it last time, if he was being truthful. 

Plus, Sakusa asked this time.

The Beta nods his head and gives a small ‘sure’, and without a second thought the Alpha is pressing him up against the lockers. They’re alone for now, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t come in, which is worrisome.

That fear dashes from Tobio’s mind, however, when he feels Sakusa’s heated breath on his neck. The smell of peppermint and teakwood is somehow stronger, and before Tobio realizes it he’s got his arms around the Alpha's shoulders.

Sakusa groans, low and guttural as he inhales Tobio’s scent deeply. His lips tease all along the flesh of Tobio’s neck, but he never presses further or attempts to mark him in any way. There’s a line that Sakusa must know he can’t cross, and the Beta is thankful for that.

Eventually, the Alpha does pull away from him. Dark eyes linger on his face, scanning and searching for something Tobio can’t comprehend.

“Let’s talk after Nationals,” he says. It’s not a suggestion.

Tobio isn’t sure if that’s such a good idea, but he doesn’t go against it either. When Sakusa leaves, Tobio feels a little shaky as he finishes getting dressed.

At breakfast, he’s joined by Chigaya and bothered by Atsumu. The Alpha smirks and jabs a few sly remarks here or there into the conversation. Tobio is getting better at unraveling what Atsumu truly means to say, and Atsumu laughs every time the Beta glares. 

Yet Tobio never tries to leave. In fact, he lets Atsumu sit right next to him, and turns his chair to face him when talking. 

When Chigaya goes to throw the remainder of his food away, they’re the last ones in the lunchroom. Atsumu wastes no time in placing his hand on Tobio’s thigh and leaning forward.

Even though it’s been days, the feel of Atsumu’s lips and his delightful scent of Kashmir wood and cardamom is familiar. This Alpha has crafted a place for himself inside of Tobio’s mind, and he’s not sure how or even if he wants him to leave.

The kisses are gentle and slightly chaste, but long. Each one sends a spiral of pleasurable heat curling in Tobio’s chest, sinking down through his stomach and into his trembling legs. 

By the time they’re done, Atsumu is cradling Tobio’s face delicately. As if he’s worried the Beta might break should he let him go. 

Maybe Tobio would at this point, who knows?

“Remember, call me when you figure things out.”

Tobio hums his response, and they slowly make their way to the rest of the training group. Atsumu wraps an arm around Tobio’s waist and doesn’t release him until they’re with everyone else.

Later, when they’re all packed up and nearly headed out of the doors, Hoshiumi races over towards him. He grabs Tobio by the arms and pulls him down a bit, their heights now more level.

“Do the growl again!”

Tobio has half a mind to do it, and bite the Alpha for good measure, just so he’ll stop asking. But the Beta doesn’t know if he can make that noise again. It had been instinctive last time, and he hasn’t had the opportunity to try since.

So, Tobio does what he considers the next best thing.

Without warning, the Beta leans down until their foreheads are touching. Hoshiumi grips his wrists tightly, a small gasp escaping his lips. He doesn’t pull away, though. Actually, he looks excited. Ecstatic, even.

“Earn it,” Tobio challenges, a smirk lighting up his face.

Hoshiumi rumbles an all too pleased growl and lifts himself up more on his toes. Tobio doesn’t give in, but he feels the power in the Alpha’s movements, and it’s intense.

“Oh, I will.”

Hoshiumi leaves him with a self assured, toothy grin. Strangely enough, Tobio sort of hopes the Alpha will make good on his words.

Perhaps the Beta should have expected such last interactions. He won’t be seeing any of them until Nationals, after all. And that will be an incredibly different experience. One he won’t be shying away from. 

Not in the slightest.

---------

Chigaya kindly offers to walk him to the train station, which Tobio accepts with an embarrassed nod. Tokyo is still too new and confuses him on the best of days. With Chigaya guiding him it’s easy, though.

The Omega continues his pleasant small talk, and never makes Tobio feel anything other than comfortable. Although they haven’t known each other for long, the Beta thinks he’ll miss Chigaya more than he anticipated.

When they arrive just outside of the train station, Chigaya turns to him with a determined look on his face.

“Can I have your number?”

It’s asked so seriously that Tobio almost reels back. His number? Well, that’s not a big deal. He’s already given it to Atsumu and Chigaya is way more trustworthy. 

“Yeah, give me your phone.”

As they exchange numbers, Tobio can’t help but notice the nervous energy radiating off of the Omega. He keeps shifting his stance and shuffling his feet. His eyes dart back and forth between Tobio and his phone, like he’s afraid Tobio is suddenly going to take away the offer.

When Chigaya hands back his phone, he grips onto the Beta’s hand as well. 

Tobio looks up at him, perplexed and wondering. 

“You know I prefer Omegas. But...some Betas are really pretty.”

The words are like lightning over his skin. It makes his mind fuzzy. The serene smile on Chigaya lips is so open and wonderful that Tobio forgets to breathe. This smile isn’t expecting anything, or goading, it’s just there. An image that Tobio can have with him when he wants his heart to flutter and a connection to reestablish.

Tobio has to swallow thickly before he can even hope of responding. 

“...Some Omegas are pretty too. Especially tall ones.”

Chigaya laughs, bright and relaxed, before he lets Tobio go. 

“See you at Nationals, Kageyama. I’ll text you sometime. Don’t forget to take your own advice and be happy, okay?”

Tobio nods his head, a tiny smile playing on his lips as he leaves and makes his way to his train. 

The training camp has taught him a lot in regards to volleyball and what he can offer his pack. Yet, he can’t help but think of all the other little lessons and experiences he’s gained along the way. 

It’s a gamble on which lessons will come into play more.

Tobio can’t wait.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20: Asahi & Yamaguchi

Hinata jumps him when they see each other again.

Cold slithers on Tobio’s back as he’s pushed onto the ground, his jacket not doing much to protect him from the chill of the air. Hinata, straddling him from above, doesn’t even notice the shiver as he scents him ferociously.

“Okay, no matter what Tsukishima says, I was not a nuisance this week!”

They stay like that longer than Tobio would strictly like, if only because Hinata’s body isn’t nearly enough to warm him against the elements. Still, what little heat he gives is nice. And his stories from the week are fascinating.

Sneaking into Tsukishima’s training camp? The move is so ridiculous, Tobio can’t help but snicker with the retelling.

He relaxes on the ground. His hands loosely encircle the Alpha’s waist. It’s subtle, but Tobio swears he can feel more muscle in the boy above him. 

Hinata is getting stronger. 

“I’m freezing,” Tobio interrupts at some point, teeth chattering.

The Alpha blinks, glances down at their position, and quickly scurries away. He apologizes awkwardly, voice trembling as if he also just now noticed the cold. 

When Hinata helps Tobio up from the ground, his arm slips around the Beta’s waist and pulls them closer, chest to chest. His grip is like steel, and Tobio can’t help but notice the placement of his feet and the way his muscles lock up purposefully. Like he’s truly thinking about his stance now, and not relying solely on instinct.

“I’m getting there. I’m gonna be a better Alpha.”

Tobio doesn’t doubt him for a single second.

The moment they disentangle themselves from one another and enter the gym, Daichi and Suga are upon him.

Tobio’s head is cradled and gently tilted to the side, until his neck is bare and open for prying, dark eyes. Daichi surveys his skin with laser focus, and while such actions might have been off putting to the Beta in the beginning he accepts the treatment almost instantly now.

Suga’s hands are warm on his face. He practically coos questions of Tobio’s time at the training camp. Daichi is silent, but his presence is powerful and solid as fingers lightly trace over his fading mark.

“He’s good,” Daichi states and finally that familiar, strong smile lifts onto his lips.

Tobio slowly exhales the breath he’s been holding, just in time for Suga to fully wrap his arms around his neck and nuzzle him with his sweet scent. 

“Welcome back, Kageyama. We missed you.”

The words swim inside Tobio’s chest, simultaneously choking and caressing him. All he can do is nod his head stiffly, eyes drifting to the gym floor. Given how Daichi brushes fingers through his hair and Suga holds him just a bit tighter, he thinks they understand his appreciation.

When the rest of the pack arrives, Tobio notices the changes they’ve all gone through. There’s a sense of improvement and focus growing. It’s palpable to him, and Tobio doesn’t know why but it feels like his instincts are set into overdrive.

Nervousness and worry will always persist with them, yet there’s also determination.

Tobio has learned to adjust himself to his partners, but if the training camp has taught him anything it’s that he can’t let them stay in their comfort zones either. Nationals won’t let them. 

Setter.

Control tower.

Beta.

With every breath Tobio inhales, he thinks he’s starting to comprehend it a little bit more. And what’s even better? He doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. 

---------

Practice matches with Date Tech High is an exhaustive blessing. The other team's blocking has improved even more than last time, and the added challenge is exactly what Karasuno needs as a prequel to Nationals. 

The teams they face won’t pull back any punches. They’re going up against some of the best, and any holes in their own playing strategy have to be seen, admitted, and corrected in some way or form. 

Tobio is blissfully sore and light when they're done. Adrenaline still thrums through his veins as they all begin to clean up the gym. Even though the practice has pointed out their flaws, the Beta feels more confident than ever. 

Ocean eyes glance around at the interactions with his pack and Date Tech High. The Alpha Koganegawa has been at his side for several minutes, chatting his ear off. Tobio tries to respond, but the energy the other exudes is a little overwhelming. He’s trying though, and if the bright smile the Alpha wears is anything to go by he seems to like it.

Daichi, Suga, and the captain Futakuchi are in some sort of intense conversation. The Omega Captain has changed a lot since they last saw him. Must be all of that responsibility on his shoulders now. Tobio can’t imagine rallying the Date Tech pack together. 

The ones that really steal his attention, however, are Aone and Asahi. 

They’re not too far from Tobio and Koganegawa, their low voices carrying over. If Tobio remembers, the Alpha blocker had terrified Asahi at one time. Now, the Omega stands tall and strong, as he had done during the matches.

Yet, the more Tobio looks, he can’t help but read some sort of underlying tension. Asahi’s back is straight, his fingers twitching at his sides. His face is flushed, dark irises shifting between the floor and Aone’s hard stare. 

Asahi is nervous, but not in any way that Tobio has seen him before.

The Omega slowly places his hands behind his back, fingers interlocking together. Aone steps closer to him, and Asahi cranes his neck just a bit to the side. Somehow Tobio knows it’s not a conscious decision on Asahi’s part. 

“Ah man, Aone’s laying it on thick,” Koganegawa whistles. “But your Omega seems like he’s into it.”

Tobio turns back to the Alpha, frown set on his lips. “What do you mean?”

Koganegawa raises an eyebrow. “You can’t smell that? It’s...oh, well, yeah I guess you wouldn’t.”

The Beta glares, Koganegawa physically flinching in response.

“Right, sorry, sorry! Aone’s just really letting off his scent. Makes me gag, but I don’t like Alpha scents so.”

Glancing over at the pair again, Tobio tries to take in the scene. He can’t smell anything from this distance, yet it’s obvious that Asahi is starting to be affected by it. The Omega isn’t holding himself as high, muscles going lax and eyes glassy. 

The scent of cedarwood and citrus invades Tobio’s senses as a small blur rushes past him. 

Nishinoya.

Oh no.

A surge of panic settles in Tobio’s stomach and he watches the Alpha approach the pair without a hint of hesitation. The sound of a low, rumbling growl releases from Nishinoya’s lips. He’s between the two in an instant, legs bent and lowered like he’s seconds away from jumping on the taller Alpha.

Asahi backs up, uttering the softest of whines. Tobio hasn’t heard that sound from the Omega before. It’s distressed, but the two Alphas are too busy being in each others’ faces to notice. Aone hasn’t stepped away, towering over the smaller Alpha and showing his teeth. 

Tobio’s body is moving, energy and purpose pushing him forward. The growls between the two Alpha’s are getting louder, and it sparks something within him. 

Everything is sharper now. The scents of the Alphas and the Omega flood his veins and it’s never been so intense. Aggression and the mildest hints of fear flavor the air, and Tobio can taste all of it.

This has to stop before it ever truly begins.

The Beta’s lips tingle and tremble as he opens his mouth. A vibration starts from low in his gut and quickly moves to his chest and escapes his throat. 

Once again, he can’t decipher it.

It’s not like the growls of the Alphas, or the keening whine Asahi makes. No, this is something much more pronounced. A split between a snarl and a delectable purr.

Tobio can feel his own muscles loosen with the power of his sound. The noise vibrates throughout his form and rings across the gym. It’s pointed and the reaction is immediate.

Both Aone and Nishinoya let their hands fall to their sides. Their stances and aggressive posturing dissipate. The pupils in their eyes dialate, and while Tobio might have expected a more energetic response, they seem almost scarily calm .

Like they’ve been shaken from their nearly out of control instincts.

Asahi gasps, hands flying to his mouth and face still red. He’s no longer cowering and is instead up to his full height. Yet his eyelids flutter, feet shuffling like he his body doesn’t have a care in the world, even if his mind can’t keep up.

“Woah.”

Asahi’s voice crashes all of them back into reality. 

Tobio clenches his jaw. The sound stops, and in its place is an ear-shattering silence.

A whirlwind of actions all happen at once. Daichi and Futakuchi are suddenly gathered near the Alphas, pulling them away from each other and taking them to the side. Tobio can hear the lectures already beginning, their tones oddly similar in their discipline, even if the two Captains could not be more different.

Warmth latches onto his arm, and Tobio looks up and into the face of Asahi. The Omega’s eyes still shine, but there’s much more clarity in them than before. He steers the Beta back towards the net, where Tobio had dropped his broom and left Koganegawa behind.

“I don’t know what that was, but thank you,” Asahi murmurs and picks up the broom. Tobio numbly tries to take it, but the Omega shakes his head.

“Let me do this. And, um, maybe stay with me for a minute?”

Tobio’s eyes narrow, confused at the request but not denying it.

The Omega forces out a chuckle, running his fingers through the parts of his hair that have come out of the bun on his head. “Your scent is pretty strong right now. It keeps me level headed.”

It is?

How was that even possible?

Before Tobio can try to ponder the thought for too long, Koganegawa breaks through. “That was awesome! I didn’t know you could do that. What was it? A growl? I’ve never heard a growl like that. Can you make it again?”

All the Beta can do is shake his head at the other setter. Asahi stays by his side, leaning against him every so often as they finish cleaning. The tension in the gym has been released, but Tobio remains perplexed and uncertain. 

Why was his ‘growl’ so different from an Alpha’s? If he’d been an Alpha then Nishinoya and Aone would have responded to him as if he were competition. But they didn’t. They listened . They backed down. 

Tobio touches his throat with his fingertips. He can vividly recall the feeling of it, the steady vibration that remained high and abundant. Like he could use it forever if need be. Like he could do it as easily as breathing.

Now he just has to learn how . 

---------

“Good job today, Kageyama.”

Tobio gazes up from his position on the floor. His back is to the wall, jacket unzipped and hanging off his shoulders. He has his hands in his lap, legs crossed. Honestly, he could take a nap in this position if anyone would let him.

Yamaguchi wants to take away that option, apparently. 

“Thanks. You too.”

The Omega smiles and moves to sit next to him. He brings his knees up to his chest, leaning back. 

“I didn’t play much, but I appreciate you saying that,” Yamaguchi replies.

It occurs to Tobio that he and Yamaguchi don’t talk that much. At least, not without Tsukishima or Hinata around. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course. Tobio respects the Omega and sees his validity for the pack. They just don’t have much in common.

Tobio sighs and lets his head tilt back against the wall, eyes closing. He’ll admit this, Yamaguchi has never made him feel like he has to talk. They can sit together in silence probably better than anyone. 

The Omega taps away on his phone for several minutes. 

Waiting for Tsukishima and Hinata is taking longer than usual. Apparently Daichi wanted to have an important conversation with the Alphas of the pack in the locker room. Tobio imagines that Futakuchi is doing the same back on Date Tech’s bus, even though he’s an Omega. 

He doesn’t envy any of them.

“You know, I’m really glad you did that today.”

Tobio opens his eyes and glances at Yamaguchi to the side of him. His brow furrows and he asks, “Did what?”

“Made that noise. The growl-thing.”

Ah, that. The Beta shrugs his shoulders and looks away from the other. His mind is still buzzing with questions, and he doesn’t think Yamaguchi or anyone on the team has the answers. It’s frustrating, and part of Tobio wants to forget about it altogether. 

“I don’t really know what I did,” he mumbles.

Yamaguchi hums thoughtfully.

“Yeah, I figured, but that’s okay. It still really helped Asahi. Plus Noya and that Date Tech Alpha too. Things could have gotten bad if you hadn’t.”

That was probably true. The Alphas looked seconds away from having an all out brawl. Who would have thought that a little bit of flirting would have set Nishinoya off like that. Tobio hopes the Alpha and Omega can work things out. 

Yamaguchi shifts beside him, and Tobio stills when he feels the Omega place his head on his shoulder. The weight is pleasant, and Tobio can feel the heat of him seeping into his jacket. 

“I wasn’t close to the scene,” Yamaguchi explains. “But I heard you. When you growled, or whatever.”

The Beta focuses on his hands in his lap, the back of his neck feeling strangely warm.

“Obviously I didn’t get the full effect like Asahi, but I did feel...nice. More focused and clear somehow. It was a pretty sound.”

Tobio scoffs. “Pretty?”

“Maybe that’s not the best word,” Yamaguchi shyly concedes. “But it wasn’t that forceful either. There was something soothing about it.”

Yamaguchi shuffles even closer to him, his lips warm against the shell of Tobio’s ear. 

“I could listen to you all day.”

The heat that paints over Tobio’s skin is fast and shocking. A tiny inhale of breath stutters from the Beta, and Tobio can’t help that his muscles tense as he burns .

Tobio lifts up a hand to cover his face, groaning while Yamaguchi gently laughs at him.

“Too much?” the Omega asks. He doesn’t lean away, though. Instead, he remains close and nuzzles the side of Tobio’s face. Yamaguchi’s scent, a subtle sweetness of whipped cream and fruity baked apples, lingers over them.

“All of you are too much,” Tobio grumbles, though it lacks any distinct malice. He might even be smiling, just a bit, behind his hand. 

Yamaguchi doesn’t verbally reply, but he does slip his hand into Tobio’s unoccupied one. Smaller fingers lightly brush over his palm, the touch warm and more electric than the Beta had counted on.

The Omega sighs, and goes back to laying his head down on his shoulder. The Beta feels his eyes close, and he lets the new sensation wash over him. 

“Don’t worry about this. The growl, and anything else that has been plaguing that weird mind of yours. You’ll get the answers eventually.”

Yamaguchi lifts up their intertwined hands and places Tobio’s near his face. He rubs his cheek over Tobio’s hand, and even though he hasn’t touched it, the Beta swears he can feel the scent gland under the skin of his wrist tingle in anticipation. 

“Just be with me while we wait for Tsukki and Hinata. Please?”

The thought of declining briefly rears its ugly head into Tobio’s brain, but he dashes it away with such fierceness it surprises him. 

Yamaguchi is pack. He’s safety and assurance without expectations. 

Tobio nods, and curls slightly into the other, leaning to rest his cheek against the top of the Omega’s head. 

“Okay,” Tobio mutters, and breathes in the admittedly sweetest scent in the pack. 

A tiny trill sounds from Yamaguchi. The rhythmic softness makes Tobio sleepy, and he doesn’t even try to stop the foggy atmosphere that engulfs him. 

Sometime later, they’re woken up by Tsukishima and Hinata. Tobio walks with them outside, blurry eyed and tired but unapologetically satisfied. 

He missed Hinata’s brash, unyielding understanding and the way he maneuvers into Tobio’s space. He also missed Tsukishima’s lazy smirk and fingers that dig into the back of his neck every so often. And now, he realizes that he missed Yamaguchi’s supportive nature that comes out precisely when it needs to. 

Nationals will test them to their cores. There’s still many answers Tobio has not received, and more questions he hasn’t thought to ask. Yet he’s simply not as scared of the future as he used to be.

He’s happy to be back where he belongs.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21: Ennoshita, Kinoshita, & Narita 

There’s been a nervousness bubbling in Tobio’s stomach for the past few days.

At first, he couldn’t truly pinpoint the reason. It would be easy to blow it off as worry for Nationals, and perhaps that was a portion of it. How could he not be at least a little apprehensive, regardless of how confident he was in his pack and himself?

No, this went deeper.

They would be meeting teams, familiar and old, at Nationals. Nekoma and Fukurodani were a given, and Tobio could already imagine the chaos and energy that both teams would exude. He is more than prepared for them.

But what of Itachiyama? Or Kamomedai? 

And Inarizaki.

Tobio feels his lips tingle at the mere thought of the school. Or rather one specific team member, but saying that means admitting to the increasing guilt that has started to surface.

It’s a tricky situation. On one hand, the Beta doesn’t think he’s done anything technically wrong. He’s not in a relationship with anyone officially, and he didn’t get marked from outside of his pack.

Yet he knows he’s something to everyone on his team. 

Confusion and hesitance keep him from the answers he’s desperately craving. And it’s making his guilt a million times worse. He enjoyed Atsumu’s company, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have a soft spot for the others he met at the training camp as well. 

But how would any of that work?

Did he need to tell his pack what happened? Was it any of their business? 

On top of that, Tobio understands that he can’t solve this dilemma right now. Nationals are too important, and he wants everyone to be at their best. Unnecessary drama isn’t going to help them and he refuses to be the cause of it. 

So for now he sits near the window, fingers tapping against his thighs as he listens to the rest of his pack go through their own anxieties. 

The inn they're staying at is nice enough. Hinata and Nishinoya had been spouting off about it being haunted earlier, but Tobio stopped listening soon after Tanaka started trying to scare Yamaguchi and Yachi. 

Tobio rests his chin in his open palm, dark blue eyes narrowing at the city lights outside. His skin itches, adrenaline thrumming underneath. He needs to do something. Run? Or maybe just jump the stairs until his legs give out? Both sound appealing at this moment.

Mind still going haywire, the Beta doesn’t notice when Ennoshita joins him at the window.

“Kageyama,” the Omega calls, causing Tobio to flinch. 

The Beta looks up at the other standing over him. Dark, soothing eyes gaze down on him with such serenity it makes Tobio’s muscles relax. That doesn’t stop his anxious tapping, though.

“What’s up?” Tobio asks.

Ennoshita chuckles, fingers brushing through his hair in a way that could almost be called nervous. “Ah, could you do me a favor? Kinoshita and Narita are freaking out. I think your scent would help calm them down.”

Tobio perks up at the request. His eyes shift over to the two Alphas in question. Both of them are looking at their phones, the highlights of the past year that Coach Ukai had made flashing across the screens. Their lips twitch into smiles, yet there’s an underlying tension in their shoulders and shaking fingers. 

It occurs to the Beta that they might not be in the video much. 

The revelation is frigid in his chest, and Tobio finds himself moving away from the window before Ennoshita can ask again. 

“Yeah, I got it.”

He hears the Omega sigh in what must be relief and tries to deny the pride that swells within him as a response.

Moving into the corner with the Alphas, Tobio doesn’t waste anytime before he awkwardly sits next to Narita. The normally shy Alpha seems to be the most fidgety, and he glances at Tobio with confusion at the close contact.

“Um,” Tobio starts, boldness simmering to low now that he’s actually near the other. “Can I watch with you?”

The Beta gestures to the phone for good measure. Heat flares upon his face at the surprised look in Narita’s eyes. The scent of oakmoss and fresh ginger is subtle but present. There was a time when Tobio had wondered (and maybe even secretly hoped) if the Alpha was a Beta back in the early days. But that wouldn’t be true to Narita’s character, and the selfish desire had quickly faded away. 

“Oh sure. Here!” Narita switches his phone to his other hand so the view is better for both of them. Jaw clenching, Tobio pauses before slowly letting his head rest between the crook of the Alpha’s neck and shoulder. 

He feels Narita stiffen, breath catching in his lungs. Tobio tries to focus on the screen, but his mind is elsewhere. 

Calm.

Soothing. 

The Beta tilts his neck so that his scent is more open to the air around them. He breathes in and out softly, waiting for Narita’s beating heart to settle into something more steady. 

It takes a minute. The warmth of the Alpha’s body is near burning, yet with every passing second Narita’s arm stops trembling and his breath becomes acceptably shallow. 

A large, warm hand gingerly slips across his waist. There’s a small tug, and Tobio finds himself being pressed more into Narita’s side. The embrace isn’t harsh, and Tobio could easily escape the Alpha’s grasp if he wanted to.

Tobio blinks, eyelids fluttering and feeling heavy as he continues to watch the screen. It’s nice, he notes. He isn’t often close with the other 2nd years, and now he finds that kind of sad.

Before his thoughts can delve too deeply where they shouldn’t, Tobio feels one of his hands being lifted.

Ocean eyes glance to the side, refusing to fully lift his head from Narita’s comfortable shoulder. The sight of Kinoshita greets him. The other Alpha smiles at him, sheepish and unsure but still cradling Tobio’s wrist.

“Can I join?” Kinoshita asks. His thumb briefly brushes over the scent gland in Tobio’s wrist, the touch making him shiver.

Tobio nods his head before he can fully comprehend his answer. 

With the go ahead, Kinoshita’s smile brightens and he nuzzles his cheek along the sensitive patch of skin. The Alpha inhales quietly, his breath hot and creating pleasant goosebumps all along Tobio’s arm.

For a moment, the Beta just watches his light haired Alpha, entranced. 

There was a time when Tobio wouldn’t have known how to take such actions. Truthfully, it all still makes him a little unbalanced and conflicted, but now he knows there’s something ingrained in him that likes this.

The closeness, the instincts. It’s hard to explain, and even harder to go along with sometimes. 

Yet he’s still trying. And if his teammates smile at him like this, dopey and content, how can it be a bad thing? 

Kinoshita kisses the inside of his wrist, tongue briefly sliding across but stopping when a tiny grunt escapes Tobio’s lips. The Alpha looks up, waiting for any signs of distress, before brushing over the area with his lips and face casually once more. 

Narita’s grip around him is tighter now. A soft, rumbling growl is barely heard from him, and the Alpha’s fingers absentmindedly stroke across Tobio’s clothed stomach. 

All the touches are light, but meaningful. 

Kinoshita’s scent is probably one of the few that Tobio can’t really categorize, even as close as they currently are. It’s akin to aloe and something sort of fruity. Subtle like Narita’s. A tease of Beta nature that Tobio doesn’t want to think about.

Besides, they’re both being very Alpha-like right now.

Time passes, slow yet quick, as the three of them watch the screen and let their scents mingle. Any signs of fear or nerves have since flowed away into nothingness. The Alphas’ limbs are like jelly, melting into Tobio with heat and comfort. 

After a while, the Beta stops thinking about how to calm them and simply basks in the experience. He’s not as blissed out as the Alphas appear to be, but he likes it none the less.

Honestly Tobio thinks they may have stayed like this for the rest of the night if not for Ennoshita’s sudden interference. The Omega bends to whisper into Narita’s and then Kinoshita’s ears, so low that Tobio can’t make out what he’s saying.

The Alphas share a look before carefully untangling themselves from him. Narita places a quick kiss to his jaw, and Kinoshita micks the action on his warm cheek. Tobio blinks at them as they leave, perplexed.

“They may not look like it, but they’ll get too handsy if you let them. Besides, they need to get ready for bed,” Ennoshita supplies, his voice echoing from above Tobio.

Before the Beta can turn to look back at his older pack mate, he feels the Omega’s fingers slip almost sensually under his chin. Ennoshita tilts his head up, and Tobio’s breath catches in his throat when a pair of lips press against this forehead.

The kiss is lingering, lightly wet and incredibly warm. Ennoshita’s sugar sweet scent caresses him just as easily as his lips, and Tobio has to choke back the unexpected groan that wants to leave and embarrass him. 

“Thanks for helping them, Kageyama. You did a good job. I’ll take it from here.”

The praise nearly does him in. Tobio’s eyes close, his breath a stuttered exhale. Ennoshita smiles (smirks) over his skin and gives him another kiss before softly releasing him.

Scent doesn’t affect Betas, at least not like Omegas and Alphas. Even though that’s the case, Tobio swears he still feels something. Perhaps it’s not biological, but to say there isn’t a type of bond that influences him? Impossible.

So Tobio watches as Ennoshita makes his way to the two Alphas. Ennoshita may be an Omega, yet it’s all too obvious who is in charge within their relationship. They fit like that. Perfectly. 

The Beta’s skin is flushed, adrenaline returning to his system for a different reason entirely. His eyes drift away from the three 2nd years, worked up but not knowing exactly why or how.

He needs to run.

---------

The cool night air in Tokyo has a strange quality to it. Tobio can’t put his finger on what it is, but he knows his body doesn’t prefer it as much as Miyagi. 

Heavy huffs of breath that are not his own reach his ears. Tobio takes a quick look to his side, eyeing Hinata who is running right alongside him. The smaller Alpha keeps up admirably, as he always has. 

Tobio would never admit it, but he’s impressed that Hinata can meet his own longer strides. Is he shocked by it anymore? Hardly. Now he comes to expect it, and Hinata always reaches those expectations. 

Behind them a tired Tsukishima rides on a bike, groaning at them to hurry up every few minutes. He still stays, though, and Tobio thinks that says a lot more than the Alpha’s words ever will.

They stop on top of a concrete covered hill, lights bright and shining in Tobio’s eyes. It’s more than he’s used to seeing at night. Everything blurs into the background, except the faces of his pack.

Hinata inhales harshly, hands over his head as he tries to take in more oxygen. Tsukishima isn’t much better, even if he refuses to let it show. 

This is natural, Tobio’s mind vaguely registers. Being with them. Counting on them. Knowing that if he were to look back they would definitely be right there. He hadn’t even asked either of them to come with him, yet they showed up regardless. 

Such devotion deserves the whole truth. Yet Tobio doesn’t have the courage to give it to them. At least, not all of it. 

There is a portion he can give though. He just hopes it will be enough.

“We need to talk.”

His voice pierces the noise of the city, deep and pointed. Tsukishima raises an eyebrow and leans against the bike. Hinata’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t ask for clarification.

“About us , I mean,” Tobio murmurs. His arms awkwardly flail between all of them before falling to his sides.

“That’s obvious, King.”

“Don’t be rude, Stingyshima,” Hinata hisses under his breath. 

Tobio brushes his fingers through his damp bangs, sighing softly and shuffling his sore feet. “Look, I’m not good at this.”

“Also obvious.” 

Hinata growls. “What did I just say?”

“You know, I’ve made plenty of offers to help him ‘get better’. When he says yes, maybe I’ll let you watch.”

Tsukishima has the gall to place his chin in his palm, lips quirking to the side in an infuriating (and regrettably attractive) smirk. Hinata puffs out his chest, stuttered words lost on Tobio as he tries to rein back the sudden heat that flares over his cheeks. He almost convinces himself it’s purely from the run. 

“Stop it, that’s not what I meant,” Tobio seethes, congratulating himself for not tripping on his words.

Tsukishima raises an eyebrow. Sweat lightly glistens from his face, and the scent of sweet firewood feels pleasantly suffocating. “Isn’t it? You said you wanted to talk about ‘us’. Sounds like we’re either about to fool around or break up.”

Hinata gasps and rushes to Tsukishima’s side. It’s almost comical, the force in the other Alpha’s movements and the sheer energy radiating off of him. 

“We are not!” Hinata nearly screams.

“Idiot, we have to be together first to break up.”

Cold douses the slowly forming fires with Tsukishima’s words. Hinata deflates, feet backing up a step and eyes shifting over to the Beta. Tsukishima follows his line of sight, golden gaze swallowing Tobio whole and devouring the confidence he had been building up. 

“What’s this about, King?” Tsukishima asks, voice notably softer than before.

Tobio knew that the attention would be on him during this moment, but their discerning gazes are still more intense than he imagined. 

The Beta crosses his arms over his chest, warm yet still somehow shivering. “When we get back to Miyagi, I want to figure us out. Like...what we could be, I guess.”

Hinata gapes at him. Tsukishima doesn’t react quite so dramatically, but there’s a new tension in his form that hadn't been present before. 

“You’re my Alphas,” Tobio continues. “And my pack. But sometimes I think you want to be more.”

Tsukishima scoffs. “Only sometimes?”

Cinnamon and ash invade his senses as Hinata steps closer to him. He looks down at the Alpha, the smaller’s eyes practically glowing with a fierceness that mimics their moment in Hinata’s bedroom weeks ago.

“Are you ready for that?” Hinata questions.

Yes. No. Maybe.

Tobio can’t say for sure either way, but just denying the situation isn’t working for him. Or any of them.

“I don’t know.” Tobio’s fingers grip his clothed arms, nails digging into the material. “But I’m sick of running from you guys.”

And, hysterically enough, maybe he’s worried they might not try to catch him one day. And doesn’t that just propel him further into another convoluted question? His head hurts thinking about it.

“Oh Kageyama, you were running?” Hinata’s tone is laced with genuine sweetness. It makes Tobio’s world feel tilted, and he gazes at the Alpha with unmasked surprise.

“I...I think I was. Couldn’t you tell?”

Hinata shrugs. “Not like I'll ever stop running after you anyway.”

“And if you think I can’t catch up you’re deluding yourself,” Tsukishima pipes in, voice a lazy drawl that does something to Tobio’s stomach. 

The Beta looks between the two. For all the seriousness of Tobio’s words and the anxiety that flows off him like cold rain, neither seem particularly bothered. As if they knew this type of conversation was going to happen eventually.

Maybe they did. Tobio wouldn’t doubt anything at this point. 

“Okay,” he utters. “After we win, we’ll talk.”

“Right! First, we win Nationals!” Hinata yells. Tsukishima growls at the louder Alpha, rolling his eyes and pressing his fingers to his head like he has an incoming headache. 

It’s the normalcy of the scene that really helps Tobio breathe easy again. There’s a weight that’s been lifted off of him, and without waiting for their approval he begins to run back to the inn. Hinata squeaks behind him and Tsukishima hollers some type of insult his way. 

The sound of running feet and the rattling chain of a bike reaches his ears.

Tobio’s never felt lighter. 

The run and the talk have done their jobs. His mind is wonderfully clear. Focus on the future, on volleyball, on the team, is his top priority. The Beta can’t predict or control what will happen when they go into Nationals tomorrow. Not the outcomes, the games, or the interactions with other players. 

But just as he expects Hinata to always run beside him, he expects his pack to have his back. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 22: Osamu

The near frenzied energy of the gymnasium is infectious. Excitement, nervousness, confidence, and the strangest flavor of dread radiates every volleyball player, regardless of team or skill level. Even Tobio, who can’t experience the full effect of such heightened scents, isn’t blind to it all. 

In fact, he’s experiencing it too.

The Beta places his hands in his jacket pockets, body swaying slightly from side to side. His fingertips tingle wonderfully, and he swears he can already feel the smooth surface of the ball in his hands. Adrenaline surges through his legs.

He wants to run again, preferably on the court. Tobio knows he’ll get the chance soon enough, but he wants to go now.

He wants to play .

Glancing around to distract himself, Tobio only recognizes a handful of people in the ever growing crowd while they wait for the opening ceremony to start. 

Ocean eyes spot a familiar, curling smirk and shock of white and black hair accompanied by a booming voice, but he doesn’t dare disrupt the odd captain standoff that Daichi, Kuroo, and Bokuto are engaging in. 

His heart thuds in his chest, rapid and deafening. If he did go over there, would those too knowing, sly eyes gaze at him and know the changes he’s been through? Would Kuroo have any more words of wisdom to give him? And then there was Bokuto. Tobio isn’t sure he could take such open and honest affection from the Alpha. Or a pout, since Tobio hasn’t been able to text the other as much lately in the last few weeks. 

Tobio bites at his lips. His mind is spiraling, yet he’s still happy just to be here. Hinata is practically jumping up and down in simultaneous joy and anxiety, and he’s pretty sure the Alpha has been to the bathroom three times already. 

Tsukishima looks more alert, even as he tilts his head to the side to give an impression of nonchalance. He’s closer to Yamaguchi than usual though, whose face is pale but a smile is still in place.

Daichi and Suga are both oozing quiet, confident leadership stances that Tobio hopes he can replicate one day. 

It’s all so authentically his pack that the Beta can’t help when the tiniest of grins graces his lips, head bowed to keep the expression private. 

“Aw, is that smile for me?”

Not as private as he thought, evidently.

The voice whispers, low and warm in his ear. Tobio doesn’t start at the sound, but he does tense when an arm lays gently over his shoulder, the hand dangling and heavy absentmindedly over his chest. 

Tobio glances over and up just a bit into gleaming, dark eyes.

“Atsumu,” the Beta greets. 

The Alpha smiles, teeth showing. “Hey ya Tobio. Ready to lose?”

Competitive strength fills his veins, and Tobio can’t help but lean closer to the other as he replies, “Ready to win .”

“Ah, see, that’s a problem ‘cause we’re gonna win so…”

Tobio scoffs and shrugs out of Atsumu’s loose embrace. The lack of heat is immediate, and Tobio tries not to miss it.

As he turns to face Atsumu, the Alpha’s eyes rove over him slowly, from his head to his toes. The languid gaze creates pleasant goosebumps on Tobio’s arms. 

“It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Tobio murmurs, swallowing. 

Atsumu hums softly and reaches up a hand. Fingers brush across the Beta’s exposed collarbone, feather-light but bold in their pursuit. “Yeah? Got ya falling for me already.”

Tobio rolls his eyes, but doesn’t try to escape the touch. “That’s not-”

The tips of Atsumu’s fingers suddenly leave his skin. Or, perhaps the more accurate description is that they were slapped away. The quick ‘smack!’ resounds through the air, one or two onlookers noticing and turning towards the scene.

Dark blue irises widen as a flash of orange and black fills his vision. His gut churns in dread and undeniable pride. 

Hinata stands between him and Atsumu. His hand is still raised from when he slapped the other Alpha’s hand away from Tobio. A frown morphs onto Hinata’s usually cheerful face.

“Why are you touching him?” the smaller Alpha growls out.

Atsumu’s eyes sharpen. His lazy grin slides into something much more antagonistic, with an edge that Tobio has only seen when he plays. 

“‘Cause he likes it.”

Hinata bristles, and even Tobio gapes at the response. He quickly grasps onto Hinata’s arm to keep him from going any further, hand gripping tightly.

Atsumu chuckles at the aggressive posturing. He lifts up his hands in a way that might have signified peace with others, but Tobio doesn’t believe it for an instance. There’s a certain stiffness in his frame. 

“Easy, easy. Just kiddin’. This guy apart of ya pack, Tobio?”

The Beta nods his head and steps up beside Hinata instead of behind him. He glances down at the Alpha, jaw clenching as he explains, “Hinata, this is Atsumu. We were at the Training Camp together.”

The suspicion in Hinata’s eyes is probably warranted. Hinata stands up straight and as tall as he can, hands crushed into fists at his sides. 

“Kageyama never mentioned you,” the Alpha quips.

Atsumu’s lips thin, eyes narrow ever so slightly. “How rude. I told my whole pack about ya, Tobio.” This time, the taller Alpha directs his gaze right at Tobio, and the Beta feels himself freeze.

“Ya know, just in case ya figured things out with your pack.” Atsumu shifts his line of sight back to Hinata, light dancing teasingly in his eyes. “Somethin’ tells me ya haven’t.”

“What are you talking about? Our pack is none of your business,” Hinata insists. 

Atsumu shrugs his shoulders. “Not yet.”

Hinata growls again, and Tobio pulls on his arm harder than before. 

“Stop growling,” Tobio orders through gritted teeth. People were starting to look their way. If Daichi and Suga heard them it would only get worse. This wasn’t how he wanted to reunite with Atsumu at all. 

Hinata focuses back on Tobio, and the Beta winces at the conflicted concern and hurt that swims in those orbs. “Kageyama, this guy....did he court you?”

The words leave Hinata’s lips, but they sound as if even the Alpha can’t believe that he’s said them. What’s worse, Tobio doesn’t have a good answer. They didn’t do anything by the books at the Training Camp, but they also didn’t cross any lines either. Everything feels so incredibly gray and twisted, and all Tobio wants to do is leave immediately. 

“...No, it isn’t like that.”

“Hey,” Atsumu interrupts, tone smug and light. “What happens at trainin’ camp, stays at trainin’ camp, Tobio.”

Except it obviously doesn’t.

The Beta glares at Atsumu, who has the audacity to smile at him. Yet there’s a spark of upset in the forced grin. Like the Alpha is hurt by what Tobio said.

This isn’t supposed to happen right now. Tobio didn’t plan for this. How does he get out? How does he fix it?

“Knock it off ‘Tsumu.”

Tobio blinks. Is he seeing double?

A large hand slams into Atsumu’s back, the Alpha having to stumble forward to avoid the brunt of the hit. It’s not a harsh slap, but the small yelp that Atsumu utters isn't overly dramatic either.

With a single sentence, a single movement, the tension between the three of them breaks.

The Alpha that has inserted himself into the conversation has astonishingly similar features to Atsumu. His hair is cut in much the same fashion, but lightly gray rather than the bright blonde Tobio is used too. Dark eyes hold a tingle of blue to them, muted by the black jacket that adorns his broad shouldered and tall form. 

It’s the aura of calm that really throws Tobio, but he can’t say he’s ungrateful for it. 

Atsumu seethes, and crowds around his obvious sibling. 

“The hell, Samu! That hurt!”

“You’re bein’ annoyin’,” this Samu replies, not even flinching when Atsumu grabs onto his collar. “Kita is gonna be pissed if he hears ya started somethin’. Ya want that?”

Atsumu tenses, his hands tightening around the fabric of his brother’s jacket. There’s a quiet moment of consideration before the Alpha’s shoulders sag and he groans softly.

“Nah, he’d kill me.”

The other twin nods his head. “Exactly.”

Atsumu lets go of his brother’s jacket, and the only way Tobio can describe it is ‘sulking’. 

‘Samu’ observes them, eyes subtly critical in their findings. 

“Ah, ya must be Tobio,” he says, dialect just as thick as Atsumu’s. “I’m Osamu. Tsumu told us about ya.”

That ‘us’ sends a cold, bitter taste down Tobio’s throat. 

The Beta can only minutely nod his head, unsure of the scene before him. Osamu doesn’t glare outright, or even frown, but there’s something in the tilt of his chin that Tobio can’t put his finger on. He feels awkward and ashamed, like he should apologize.

“So you’re...brothers?” Tobio asks.

“What gave it away?” Osamu’s tone is still calm, yet clipped and short. It leaves the Beta immediately unnerved.

Atsumu eyebrows furrow, teeth gritting as he lashes out, “Hey, don’t bully Tobio.”

“Like ya weren’t already,” the other Alpha brushes off, his gaze locking onto his twin. 

There’s some sort of silent communication between them. Tobio can’t understand it, but he sees the twitching of Atsumu’s jaw and the white knuckles of Osamu’s fisted hand. 

He’s missing something.

Something important. 

“Anyway, we need to get goin’,” Osamu suddenly announces. He pulls on Atsumu’s arm and tugs him along without so much as a warning. “Nice talkin’ to ya.”

The two brothers are soon lost in the crowd. The chatter around Tobio and Hinata drowns out any hope of hearing what the twins might be talking about. If they even want to know. 

Slowly, Tobio releases Hinata’s arm. He’d been holding onto it the entire time. His lifeline and his concern all at once. 

Hinata looks up at him. There’s confusion on his face, and Tobio isn’t sure how much he can soothe in the limited minutes they have.

The Alpha mashes his lips together, looking like he wants to shout, question, or even cry. That’s the worst one, Tobio decides.

“I can explain,” the Beta bursts out, words strained and high.

“Okay.”

Hinata responds instantly, yet it feels hollow. He still has that look on his face, and Tobio wants nothing more than to hold his head and promise that everything will work out. 

It has too.

“After the game,” Tobio mutters. “We can’t...we can’t right now-”

“I trust you, Kageyama.”

Tobio keens, soft and barely there but it leaves his mouth all the same. He hunches slightly, leaning over Hinata but feeling somehow smaller.

The Alpha wraps a warm hand over Tobio’s wrist. He squeezes it gently, and if they weren’t in public something tells the Beta that Hinata would do a lot more if he could. But he’s holding back, more than he ever has before.

A thumb brushes over his scent gland, purposeful and assurance seeking. 

“You need to trust me too.”

When Hinata leads them back to their pack, Tobio is quiet. The Alpha doesn’t let go of him until they have to line up for the ceremony, and he’s more appreciative for that than he ever thought he would be. 

It’s almost enough to keep the guilt from swallowing him whole.

---------

The thrill of the opening ceremony helps put Tobio’s mind at ease. He sneaked glances at Hinata and the rest of his pack throughout the ordeal, that freezing guilt gnawing at his bones.  When he’s on court, he knows that his head will fully be in the game, focused and sure. 

Right now though, he needs a moment.

The hollering of the crowd is distant as he walks down the halls alone. Tobio managed to have one of the volunteer staff point him in the direction of a vending machine, and slipped away with a quick word to Daichi that he wouldn’t be long.

Now, he looks at the options through the glass, unseeing.

He doesn't even want anything, but it would look weird if he didn’t come back with a snack or a drink. Yet he can’t bring himself to complete the simple action of lifting up his finger and choosing.

When did choices in his life get so complicated?

“Decisions, decision.”

Tobio turns around as he hears the tap of footsteps walk near him. Dark eyes and gray hair greets him, and all the tension that had left him before returns full force.

Osamu Miya comes to stand next to him, eyes surveying the plethora of options. 

The Beta doesn’t pretend to pay attention to anything other than the Miya twin. He clenches his jaw, arms uselessly at his sides.

“Ya know, I have hard time decidin’ what to get, ‘cause I always want to eat everythin’.”

Osamu glances at him from the corner of his eye, and that simple look stills Tobio like stone. 

“Maybe that’s greedy. What do ya think, Tobio?”

There’s something insinuating in his tone, and the Beta is on the defense before he can blink. Dark, ocean eyes narrow. It’s with great effort that Tobio inclines his body towards the Alpha, head high even as he feels weakness seep inside.

“I think you’re rude.”

Osamu has the briefest look of shock before a huffed out laugh leaves his mouth. He faces Tobio completely, snacks and drinks forgotten. 

“This is new. Usually people say that about ‘Tsumu, not me,” Osamu supplies, arms crossing over his chest. 

Somehow Tobio can believe that, even though he doesn’t know Osamu well at all. But the twin seems more serene than Atsumu. Unless provoked. 

Tobio takes a chance and states, “You don’t like me.”

“I don’t trust ya.”

Osamu goes back to gazing at the vending machine. He inserts a few coins and barely looks as he presses buttons and chooses a bag of chips. The disregard is a bit harsher than Tobio was prepared for, but he has no comeback for the honesty given to him.

“Tsumu made ya seem like a decent guy, but I heard what ya said back there. ‘No it isn’t like that’,” Osamu drones, mimicking Tobio in a higher pitch than necessary. 

The Alpha bends down to retrieve his snack, the chips already ignored in his hand as he turns his attention back to Tobio. 

Tobio knows his instincts aren’t the best, but those dark eyes scream ‘dangerous’ to him.

“Here's a secret. ‘Tsumu wears his heart on his sleeve, and he doesn’t like people often. So when he talked about ya I knew he really liked ya.”

Suddenly the chips are forced into Tobio’s hands. The Beta barely has time to register the crunch of the bag before his back is pressed against the glass of the vending machine. Osamu’s hands are clasping his own, the strength in his hold wholly Alpha. Chamomile, sage, and hints of honey overtake Tobio’s senses just as Osamu invades his space.

“Don’t lead him on,” Osamu warns, low and near gravelly. “Hurry up and talk to ya pack or leave him alone. Got it?”

In a way, Tobio does get it.

Osamu is trying to protect Atsumu in his own way. The method might not be the best, but Tobio can understand him to a degree. If someone had been messing with any of his pack like Osamu perceives him to be, the Beta would probably be upset as well.

Still, Tobio doesn’t appreciate being judged so quickly. He’s had enough of that in the last few years to last a lifetime. And he doesn’t feel like adding Osamu to that long, painful list.

“I don’t want to hurt him.”

His words come out strong, no stutter or hushed whisper in sight. The response must surprise Osamu, who doesn’t retract his calloused hands entirely but loosens them even so.

It’s enough for Tobio to press on.

“I like Atsumu. A lot.” The Beta grips onto the chips, the crinkling sound loud in his ears. He feels his skin begin to warm as words tumble and flow from his lips. “We kissed at the training camp. It was good. And kind of weird?”

His hands were trembling, the crunch of broken chips like background noise to the scene before them. The admittance flushes his face, and he has to force himself not to avert his eyes as he speaks. 

“But I’m not going to rush things with my pack just because you want me too.”

Patience is something Tobio has never considered himself a master in, yet the slow development of his pack and his own skills has taught him the importance of it. And even though Atsumu (or maybe it was actually Osamu) wants an answer quickly, doesn’t mean he has to give it if he isn't ready.

“They’re worth more than that. So is Atsumu.”

When Tobio pushes back, Osamu lets him. The crushed chips are still in his hands.

The Alpha regards him with a steel gaze. While the twins must be similar in so many ways, Tobio can’t help but see the differences. There’s a hidden energy to Osamu that Atsumu doesn’t bother to hide, yet Tobio thinks Osamu is all the more lethal for it. 

“I’ll give it to ya Tobio, ya got a backbone,” the Alpha says.

Tobio isn’t sure how to take the compliment, if it could be called that. The fire inside him has simmered low. It's ready to heat back up at any given moment, though. He watches the Alpha, waiting.

Osamu sighs softly, fingers raking through gray locks and something in him appears to deflate. 

“Ugh, I can’t do this macho Alpha thing for long,” Osamu mutters. “It’s exhaustin’. ‘Tsumu is way better at it.”

The bag crinkles as Osamu grabs the chips and opens them. He digs inside, taking a few measly bites of the crushed chips that resemble crumbs. The Alpha looks down at the food with a mild frown before he pulls out a vaguely whole chip.

Just as Tobio thinks Osamu will put it in his mouth, the Alpha changes tactics and offers the chip out to him instead. The Beta stares at the chip in front of his face, blinking rapidly. 

“Here. A peace offerin’,” Osamu states. “Not on the court ‘course.”

Tobio knows what he means. Hesitantly, the Beta reaches forward and grabs the chip. He munches on the snack, very aware of how Osamu watches him take every bite. When Tobio swallows, his throat is irritatingly dry, cheeks warm and limbs jittery.

“Thanks,” Tobio eventually gets out.

Osamu nods his head as he finishes off the crumbly chips. Tobio stays as he does, for some reason not willing to exit the odd moment they’ve created just yet. 

“My pack has a lotta personality, ya know.” The Alphas sudden words are so loud to Tobio in the relative silence they had settled into. Tobio can’t help but pay attention to them.

Osamu throws the empty bag into a nearby trash bag, hands on his hips as he rolls back his shoulders. “It took us a while to get where we are. Thanks to our Captain, mostly. I don’t want it ruined.”

This time when the Alpha faces him, the smallest of smiles has spread to the corners of his lips. “Not even by a pretty, clueless Beta.”

Tobio frowns, opening his mouth to retaliate. Osamu puts up a hand though, stopping him short.

“Look, if you’re gonna let ‘Tsumu down, do it gently. That’s all I ask.”

The Beta wants to refuse. He wants to bash Osamu for assuming anything about him or what happened with Atsumu. The vicious, self-protecting anger would be easy to slip into. Like coming back into a familiar, broken home that was somehow stable enough for you to convince yourself it was still livable. 

But instead, Tobio sucks in a soft breath and slowly nods his head.

That seems to be a good enough answer for Osamu. The Alpha claps him on the shoulder, fingers dipping into his flesh over the jacket. It’s not as aggressive as before, and Tobio doesn’t try to lean away from the touch as he looks slightly up at the older boy.

“If things work out, my pack likes to share. Just keep that in mind,” Osamu murmurs, and smirking must run in the family or something. 

Tobio’s heart beats just a bit harder, the back of his neck burning when that honey scent gets more potent. Surely the Beta is misunderstanding. 

“Share?” Tobio ventures to ask. “Like...training exercises?”

Osamu chuckles, that hand tightening its grip on the Beta’s shoulder. “Ah man, ‘Tsumu was right. Ya are a goody-two-shoes.”

Tobio glares up at the other, the protest apparent on his face. That just makes the Alpha grin more, sharper teeth gleaming but ironically not as threatening as Tobio had previously perceived. Or maybe they were, just in a different way.

The Alpha gives a last lingering squeeze before he steps away from Tobio altogether. Dark eyes seem softer than before, and Tobio has the sinking feeling that he put through some sort of test. 

Great, he’s terrible at tests.

“See ya on the court, Tobio,” Osamu says with a slight wave of his head. “Don’t hold back.”

Tobio tries not to look as the Alpha leaves. His stomach is in knots, and not all of it seems inherently bad. There’s a trickling euphoria building up inside him, scary and enchanting all at once. 

When the Beta meets up with his pack and they step onto the court, he feels astonishingly lighter. Hinata shoots him a determined look that feeds into his already increasing strength. Osamu didn’t need to worry, Tobio couldn’t hold back if he tried at this point. 

The interaction with Atsumu and Osamu had blown up in his face a little, yet there were so many parts that were still salvageable. 

Maybe Tobio was greedy, but was that such a horrible thing?

When Hinata jumped on his back, or Tsukishima brushed fingers over the back of his neck, or even when Atsumu looked at him with that lazy, devouring gaze, he didn’t think it was. They were being greedy too. 

As Tobio looks up into the blinding, gymnasium lights, he can’t help but think Osamu had said it best earlier.

Decisions, decisions.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23 : Suna

After the match with Tsubakihara, Tobio feels ravenous. His body thrums with leftover adrenaline and hunger from the immense amount of energy he had used during the match. It hadn’t been their hardest game, but any team at this level is bound to be challenging in some way or form.

And it’s only going to get harder.

Inarizaki is their next opponent.

Tobio thinks the universe might be conspiring against him on this one, considering the circumstances. Still, he can’t deny the building anticipation. He’s seen Atsumu in action, and he can only imagine all of the plays and tricks he wasn’t privy to during the training camp.

How does the Alpha work in a pack that he knows and trusts? Will he give his all and then some while he plays against Karasuno? Tobio hopes he does. He wants to see it, wants to beat him at his best.

And maybe, just maybe, he’s starting to enjoy being near Atsumu in general. 

Karasuno practically devours their lunch. The 3rd years have gone off somewhere with their former upperclassman, leaving the younger players to fend for themselves for a while. Tobio didn’t get a good look at the former Karasuno students, yet he wonders how things were years ago. How did Daichi, Suga, and Asahi act as 1st years? He can’t picture Daichi as anyone other than the pack Alpha. 

There was a time when that wasn’t the case, though. The now 3rd years had once been fresh, new, and maybe even a little confused as their pack formed. Had the Captain at the time been the first to give Suga or Asahi a mark? Were there bonds that Daichi had formed with the older Alphas and Omegas?

The thoughts make Tobio’s head spin, and he already knows that he’ll never have the courage to ask. So he focuses on the food before him, barely tasting but appreciating the much needed nutrients all the same.

When he finishes, the Betas stands to throw away his trash. A hand claps him on the shoulder, and Tobio glances down to see Hinata by his side, remnants of his lunch in his hands as well.

“Can we talk now?” Hinata leans up and whispers to him.

Dark blue eyes swiftly look around the area. They land on the other Karasuno students, laughing and eating with exhausted eyes but bright smiles. Well, except Tsukishima, he looks done with pretty much everything. 

They’re all occupied, and Tobio doesn’t know when they’re going to get another moment to be even partially alone. It’s now or never.

“Yeah, we can.” Tobio inclines his head to the trash cans. Hinata easily follows him, and the familiar, warm presence of the Alpha helps to settle the butterflies beginning to rage within his stomach.

Once they’ve disposed of their trash, they meander to a corner that’s moderately private. If Tobio lifts his gaze he can still see the rest of their pack eating, but it’ll have to do. He doesn’t want to make anyone suspicious of their conversation. Talking to Hinata will be hard enough. 

“So,” the Alpha starts, his feet scuffing against the tile floor. “You and that other Alpha became... close ?”

The emphasis is enough to make Tobio flinch. He has to remember that it’s a question, not an accusation. 

“Sort of,” he mutters in reply. “He’s annoying. But a great setter. And we-”

Tobio stops, face shifting upwards for a moment in thought. What were the words Atsumu used again?

“We fooled around.” 

Those are the right words, but they feel clumsy and foreign on Tobio’s tongue. 

Hinata’s eyes widen, brows raising and lips shaping into a small ‘o’. It’s not what he’s expecting, that much is obvious. The Alpha takes a second to decipher what Tobio has said, opening and closing his mouth several times before finally choking out, “Meaning?”

Jeez, Hinata’s really going to make Tobio explain further.

Perhaps the Beta should have seen that coming. Even he could never get away with such blunt terms given the precarious situation they’ve found themselves in.

“Meaning we kissed. A little.” Tobio pauses again. No, he can’t do this. He can’t sugar coat it, Hinata doesn’t deserve that.

The Beta clears his throat and corrects himself, “A lot, actually. We were in this supply closet and it started happening. I didn’t know that's what we were going to do but then we did and we just kept going.”

It’s a rush to get out all the words. Tobio can’t remember a time that he’s spoken so hastily, tripping on syllables and unable to control his volume all the way through. His heart is beating rapidly, skin going uncomfortably cool and clammy.

The dam has broken and he can’t stop talking.

“He never marked me or anything. It was only kissing. And he did this thing with his tongue which was weird but good too? I don’t know it was really fast and then you texted me so we stopped and-”

“Wait, hold up,” Hinata interrupts.

The Alpha raises his hands, leaving the rest of Tobio’s words to remain lodged in his throat. 

“You two stopped making out because I texted you?”

That’s the part Hinata gravitated too? Tobio stares down at his friend, blinking once or twice before his brows furrow in confusion. 

“Yeah, of course I did.”

Hinata looks at Tobio blankly, like he’s processing everything with the utmost care. Seconds tick by in silence, before a gleaming light shines in those warm, chesnut irises. An open, authentic smile morphs onto Hinata’s lips, and suddenly Tobio’s heart is beating wildly for different reasons.

The Alpha stretches out to gently wrap a hand around Tobio’s wrist, thumb brushing over the skin covering his scent gland. “Now why did you do that?” Hinata asks. His voice is oddly sugary sweet, but deeper than Tobio thinks it strictly should be. 

Tobio wets his lips, throat still constricted and tight as he croaks out, “Because it was you.”

Hinata tightens his hold on the Beta’s wrist. It doesn’t hurt. If anything, the added pressure feels nice. Tobio’s eyes flutter for a moment at the tingling sensation, breath catching, and he has to turn his head away from the intensity of Hinata’s stare. 

“Because it was me,” Hinata mimics, a teasing lilt to his tone. Tobio doesn’t have to look at him to know he’s grinning wolfishly. He has half a mind to knock some sense into the Alpha for the behavior, but Tobio can’t bring himself to do it.

“Yes,” Tobio concedes instead.

The Beta’s face burns as he feels Hinata continue to look at him. That gaze is heavy, and if Tobio isn’t careful he knows he’ll drown in it. All the while, that thumb continues it’s movements, pressure and heat from Hinata’s form increasing with every breath.

“I’ve been thinking,” Tobio says, and he’s lucky his voice doesn’t quiver at this point. “Maybe you should mark me before the Inarizaki game.”

A new mark could simultaneously ruin and fix many things. It would be a gamble for sure, and possibly destroy the barely blooming something that he has with Atsumu. Yet if the alternative is losing Hinata or anyone in his pack then he’s going to choose them. 

If Karasuno leaves him, he doesn’t know how or if he’ll survive it.

So he'd rather take a mark from Hinata, even if he isn’t strictly ready for it or the implications it could have. Not to mention the potential harm that it could cause Tsukishima, which made Tobio’s stomach clench in poisonous, sickening guilt.

No, he couldn’t think like that, he had to be determined. Anything was better than turning around and realizing no one would be there again.

Anything.

Hinata loosens his grip on him and soon takes his hand away altogether. Tobio glances back at him, freezing at the small frown that has taken its place on Hinata’s lips.

The Alpha tilts his head to the side slightly, eyes searching. “You know I can’t do that yet.”

Tobio recalls their conversation weeks ago in Hinata’s bed. The searing darkness in the middle of the night, the softness of Hinata’s lips on his neck, and the heated promise for both of them to do better.

They haven’t reached that point yet, and Tobio knows that. 

But he’s scared . 

“I’m offering, though,” Tobio tries.

Hinata shakes his head. That frown tips upwards, but the smile isn’t meeting the Alpha’s eyes this time.

“I don’t think you mean it.”

Tobio wants to viciously retort. He knows Hinata isn’t calling him a liar; there’s not a hint of malicious intent. Yet Tobio still barely refrains from lashing out and pushing for the thing he isn’t even sure he wants. 

“Besides,” Hinata adds. “We agreed to talk after Nationals. Tsukishima needs to be a part of this conversation, don’t you think?”

He does, but Tobio can’t deal with that right now.

“Please don’t tell him.” The Beta looks back at Karasuno. They’re still eating, and Tsukishima is resting his head against the table. Yamaguchi is running his fingers through his short hair, smiling softly and talking with the rest of the pack.

“I won’t. But you need to tell him eventually.”

Tobio nods his head, swallowing thickly as he answers, “I will. Later, I promise.”

A silence emerges between them. It’s not as suffocating as it could be, but it doesn’t completely lack tension either.

Hinata sighs and moves to be by Tobio’s side. The Alpha bumps his shoulder against his arm, and Tobio feels his frame relax as an easy smile rests against Hinata’s lips once more.

“It sucks, but I can’t be mad at you,” Hinata says with a groan. “We never talked about you only being with the pack so...that’s our bad, I guess.”

The Alpha pouts, cheeks puff out and Tobio has to roll his eyes at the childishness.

“You’re taking this better than I thought you would.” He also hadn’t jumped at the chance to mark the Beta up. Maybe he should be giving Hinata more credit than he is. 

Hinata shrugs, and Tobio is close enough that he can feel the warmth of him even with the fabric of their clothes as a barrier. 

“You stopped your gross make-out session because I texted you. So you must really like me.”

The smirk that accompanies his words causes Tobio to glare. Instinctively, he swats at Hinata’s shoulders, face furiously flushed as he seethes out a hissed, ‘dumbass!’.  

The sound of Hinata’s laughter makes the gripping tension in his gut uncurl. His shoulders feel light, limbs regaining a more pleasant and easy energy. He has half a mind to get Hinata into a headlock, but the thought of snuffing out that bright, open smile is unacceptable in this moment.

When they make their way back to Karasuno, Hinata grasps onto his arm and gives a purposeful, reassuring squeeze. 

It’s a small action, but it soothes the remaining nerves in Tobio’s body and mind.

They’ll be okay.

Regardless of how this plays out, they’ll be okay.

---------

Later, Tobio manages to slip away from the pack to look around at the merch. It’s overwhelming at first, and the Beta doesn’t have the money for everything that he wants. Really, he should be getting back so he can see the other matches. 

However, ocean eyes suddenly catch sight of a simple T-shirt with the word ‘Setter’ boldly printed on the front. He’s immediately hypnotized by the sight, and his legs walk him towards the booth before his mind can catch up. 

His hands feel the fabric of the shirt, decently soft with a good enough stretch that he could easily wear it to workout in. He lifts up the shirt, lips hinting at a smile as he holds it close and bubbling, excited energy swirls inside him.

A flash disrupts the private moment.

Tobio turns to the source of the light, a quick ‘click’ sound accompanying it. An Alpha he doesn’t recognize stands a few feet before him. Tired, golden eyes look between him and the phone he’s carrying in his hand. The camera portion is pointed directly at the Beta, and Tobio doesn’t have to be a genius to know who took the photo. 

Shirt still in his arms, Tobio pulls it just a bit closer, feeling inexplicably vulnerable for some reason. 

“Why did you do that?” he asks, eyes glaring at the stranger.

The Alpha gives a shrug of his shoulders as he lowers his phone. “It was a cute moment,” he replies.

A perplexed look crosses Tobio’s face, which stays in place even as the other walks over to him. He’s an inch or two taller, and leans slightly over the Beta to get a better view of the shirt in his hands.

“You should get that,” the Alpha says, calm and tone sounding almost bored. 

Tobio glances up at him, focus no longer on the T-shirt. The casualness of the boy’s actions makes him feel off balance, as if he’s missing an important piece of information for this social situation. But Tobio doesn’t think he is this time. He truly doesn’t know this person.

“Who are you?” 

The blunt question is enough to make the Alpha’s eyes glance over at him, those sharp orbs scrutinizing his face. 

“Suna Rintaro. I’m a middle blocker for Inarizaki.”

Tension swims into Tobio’s muscles instantly. His grip on the shirt tightens, and Tobio angles his head so that they are more eye level than before. The stance of his legs signifies an obvious edge, perhaps even mistrust. He isn’t having the best track record with this school lately, after all.

Tobio’s reaction is hardly noted by the tall Alpha, who smoothly leaves his side to survey the other merch on the table they’re next to. 

The Beta stares after him. 

He fidgets a moment, body stuck in a state of fight or flight as Suna continues looking around. The Alpha must find what he’s wanting though, as he grabs a black baseball cap. The word ‘Setter’ is once again printed over the hat, and Tobio barely has time to observe it before Suna is walking back to him.

Tobio opens his mouth to ask what the Alpha wants, but his words taper off into nothing as Suna places the hat unceremoniously over his head. 

The hat is put further down than Tobio would like. He grumbles under his breath as he fixes it, fingers pushing up and messing with his hair a bit. A long arm finds its way over his shoulders, and Tobio is being pushed into Suna’s side before he can think to protest.

As he looks up a screen mirroring their position greets him. The phone camera shows both of them, Tobio clutching the ‘Setter’ shirt with one hand while the other is gripping the side of the cap. Suna had grabbed a hat of his own, but the words ‘middle blocker’ are labeled across his instead. 

“Smile,” Suna instructs and starts snapping several, quick photos. Tobio doesn’t smile, and the camera captures his look of confusion, blue eyes wide and mouth hanging open ever so slightly. 

The Alpha’s form is burning hot against his, and they’re much closer than Tobio thinks it strictly necessary, even for a selfie. 

Suna holds up a peace sign, his face impassive. The image would make Tobio laugh if he knew the Alpha better, probably.

The scent of black pepper and sweeter, dried fruits caresses Tobio’s senses. It’s a unique scent, but somehow very fitting of the strange Alpha. Not necessarily loud like Atsumu, but just as unapologetic. In some ways Tobio can admire that. 

If he wasn’t the unexpected recipient of it, that is. 

Suna hums at the photos before putting his phone down. With his arm still wrapped around the Beta, he shows him the photos they’ve just taken and swipes through the ones he prefers.

“This one’s alright,” Suna mutters, inclining his head towards Tobio’s. “Atsumu will like it. What do you think?”

Tobio isn’t fond of photos of himself. He never has been. It feels too private, too openly seen and he’s still not great at that. He’d rather ignore photos entirely, but that’s hard to do when they’re directly in your face.

“You should delete all of them,” is his answer. 

The Alpha chuckles, shallow and low in his throat, barely even heard if Tobio hadn’t been so close to him. 

“That’s no fun.”

Suna turns to the Beta, reaches out, and slowly turns the hat until it’s eschew to the side. A portion of the letters are still seen, and Suna takes a few more photos before Tobio can blink.

“Osamu will enjoy these,” Suna mumbles, the edges of a tiny, sly smirk dancing on his lips.

Tobio swiftly moves his hand and attempts to grab the phone before he can think about it. The Alpha must have been expecting it, because he pulls the phone back and steps forward. 

They’re closer now, barely an inch apart. Tobio hates that he has to look up at him, even if it’s only by a handful of centimeters. 

“When Osamu pointed you out, I had to see what all the fuss was.”

The Beta is frozen as Suna leans down. He inhales softly, golden eyes closing for a moment as he breathes in Tobio’s scent. Seconds pass before the softest of exhales escapes the Alpha’s lips. Those shining irises open, and Tobio feels akin to a fascinating, dissected experiment. 

“I think I get it. You smell fantastic.”

Tobio reacts, energy surging inside of him. He grasps the Alpha’s phone and pulls it toward, causing Suna to lose his footing and stumble. The surprise that basks on the other’s face is worth everything that comes after, and Tobio can’t help the triumphant grin that spreads across his lips.

The Beta turns away and quickly swipes through the photos that had been taken. He has time to delete some of them before he feels warm breath at the back of his neck. 

And then sharp teeth.

It’s hardly more than a nip, but the shallow bite to his skin is enough to make him gasp. His hands twitch, and the phone and the Setter T-shirt are on their way to the floor. The phone never lands however, as Suna’s wide hand catches it in a half a second. 

Suna leans over him, chest to back. He scrolls through the rest of the photos still on his phone, weight resting comfortably against the Beta. His other hand encircles Tobio’s chest for balance, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the fabric of his shirt. 

“You shouldn’t take things that don’t belong to you,” Suna murmurs, tone dull but deep voice absolutely scorching along Tobio’s ear. 

Tobio shifts his head toward the Alpha, teeth barred and eyes glaring. “You bit me!”

“You took my phone. And I barely bit you. It’s not even red.”

The Beta feels it coming on. It starts low in his chest, a vibration that hums deliciously in his chest and begs to be let out. Tingles already spread throughout his nerves, and Tobio opens his mouth as the beginnings of that growling thing release.

Or at least it would have. 

Suna slaps a hand over Tobio’s mouth, quick but lacking any harshness. The action is still shocking though, and the Beta winces back against Suna’s chest.

“Ah ah, none of that,” Suna whispers over the shell of his ear. “Only one Beta can use that on me, and you’re not him.”

It’s such a sure, unquestionable statement. Tobio finds himself sagging near instantly, hand still over his mouth but gripping carefully all the same. 

They stand there for several moments. Tobio can feel the excited beating of Suna’s heart, the heat of his hand, and the flare of his scent. 

Gingerly, with all the hesitance of handling a wild animal, the Alpha lets him go. Tobio trips on his steps forward before he turns back around to face Suna head on. Suna bends down, hardly regarding Tobio’s initial response as he picks up the shirt the Beta had dropped.

“Like I said, you should buy this. It’ll look good on you.”

“Do you know what that thing is?” Tobio questions, ignoring Suna's other words completely.

The Alpha scrunches up his face, not understanding. 

Tobio isn’t sure how to describe it. He doesn’t have the words, and it’s like he’s always trying to find them, desperately and without reward. 

“That growl. Or...snarl. Howl? I don’t know. ” 

The last sentence is punctuated with obvious frustration. When would that ever not be the case?

 A touch of soft material is pushed into his hands, startling him out of potentially spiraling thoughts. Tobio grasps onto the T-shirt that Suna has given back to him, a heavy gaze considering him with a new tenderness that hadn’t been present before.

“You really don’t, do you?” Suna mutters, but it doesn’t seem like he’s actually asking Tobio at all.

Suna takes the hat off of Tobio’s head and puts it back on the table. Fingers briefly brush through dark locks, and it must say something about how used to the Alpha’s presence Tobio has already become because he doesn’t even jerk back at the treatment.

He waits for answers. Suna knows something . 

The Alpha lets his fingers lightly stroke the side of Tobio’s face before he pulls away. “It’s not my place. Another Beta should explain it to you.”

“There isn’t one,” Tobio snaps, voice soft but insistent.

And wasn’t that just a sad fact that he hated admitting too. Before his presentation, Tobio had seen a handful of Betas on the street or in the media. But in his immediate social circle? Not a single one.

After he presented, Tobio had secretly hoped that he would somehow find others like him. As if they would all suddenly flock towards one another by deeply rooted instincts that would finally make sense to him. 

He was, perhaps foolishly, still waiting for that day.

The look Suna gives him is unreadable. In some capacity, Tobio expects pity or even annoyance, yet he can’t detect any of those things coming from this Alpha.

“We can fix that.”

Tobio’s mind struggles to compute the words said to him. 

How would Suna do that? Who did he mean by ‘we’? Inarizaki? Atsumu and Osamu? Questions flooded through him and tried to grasp onto just one and ask it without a hint of success. 

Suna steps past him, hand patting him on the head as he goes.

“See you on the court, Tobio. For future reference, Osamu and I are the better Alphas. Don’t tell Atsumu.”

The Alpha leaves Tobio with a now wrinkled T-shirt hanging in his hands, a mildly sore neck, and burning confusion. He feels like he’s only half-present as he slowly buys that shirt and tries to find his pack in the stands. 

Tobio later sits next to Tsukishima, purchase forgotten by his feet. The Alpha raises an eyebrow at his silent demeanor. He wants to comfort the taller boy; worry will only make things worse, but he can’t find it in himself to put forth that effort right now.

Thankfully, Tsukishima merely looks him over before giving up and sighing. A much more familiar arm wraps around his shoulders, and Tobio leans into the touch before he can think better of it.

They watch the game that Tobio isn’t paying attention to in silence. His mind is farther away, somewhere he doesn’t know or understand. 

Tobio has long since learned to not get his hopes up. Yet, in this moment, with his pack as they strive to do what feels like the impossible almost every day, he thinks gently to himself, almost begging in a way that he can never do out loud. 

‘Please. Please fix this.'

Chapter Text

Chapter 24: Kita

It is oddly numbing and surreal to watch videos of the Inarizaki team on the television screen. Coach Ukai gives the Karasuno team stats and advice on their next adversaries, the seriousness of their upcoming match clinging to their shoulders and necks like heavy weights.

Tobio presses his bent legs to his chest, arms wrapping around them. It’s a comforting position, and while he would usually look at the screen adamantly he spends most of his time gazing at the floor.

He knows these players now, but distantly. Like looking through a blurry glass door. He can see more if he wants, he simply has to open the already unlocked door. But the view is just obscure enough to give him pause.

The energy is tense, yet he can’t deny the furiously burning excitement either. Hinata is practically vibrating, stars in his eyes and determination in his smile. 

Perhaps some of that enthusiasm is contagious, because by the end of the night Tobio feels his heart beating a little faster, adrenaline surging through his veins. 

Right before they head to bed, Hinata grasps his hand and pulls him down to his level.

“We’re gonna win,” the Alpha states. The conviction in his tone makes Tobio inhale softly, and the corners of his lips are moving upwards before he thinks to do otherwise.

“Yeah,” the Beta confirms. “Yeah we are.”

The butterflies don’t leave his stomach and Tobio is grateful for them. He can work with anxiousness, with anticipation. 

He’s Karasuno’s setter and he won’t let them down.

---------

The cheers and roars of the crowd are magnificent.

Karasuno steps onto the court with earned confidence and humbled caution. None of them are ignorant to the battle that they will have to push their way through. 

Regardless of the dramatics and uncertainty from the last few days, Tobio is looking forward to playing against Inarizaki. Atsumu, specifically. 

He would never scoff at a fellow setter’s skill. In fact, he’s intimidated. Not enough to back down for even a second, though. 

If anything, the Beta plans to surpass it one day. And that goal starts now.

They set their bags and gear on their side of the court. Coach Ukai instructs their warm ups, and Tobio focuses his mind on the stretch of his muscles and steadiness of his breath. The feel of a volleyball in his hands is grounding, sentiment overtaking the nervousness that he’s been experiencing.

Until he hears the howl of the stands, that is.

Inarizaki enters the court with all the assurance that they rightfully deserve. Arrogance isn’t the right word for it, but confidence also seems too tame a description.

Sureness. Determination. Dominance.

Karasuno watches the other team with respectful and critical eyes. Tobio grips the volleyball in his hands tighter. His gaze shifts to a familiar flash of blonde hair, and he has to turn away.

He’ll face Atsumu on the court with equal footing and not a second before. 

“Keep your focus, Kageyama,” Daichi murmurs to him at his side. The Beta nods once, taking a deeper breath and getting back to the warm up drills.

It’s in that first breath though, that Tobio begins to feel off.

The sensation is subtle. Like there’s a tiny itch in his mind, flaring to life slowly but consistently. His nose twitches, face growing warmer than it normally would even while stretching. 

Tobio clutches his face once or twice, fingers digging into his cheeks and the bride of his nose.

Something in the air is different from before.

The Beta wouldn’t describe it as bad, but it is noticeable. He lifts up his head, gently smelling the air as inconspicuous as possible.

His chest heats up, tingles of warmth and ease swimming over his form. The smell is nearly sweet, fresh, and overpowering. It reminds him of the meals he would help his mother make in the kitchen sometimes when he was younger. Not the dish exactly, but the familiarity of it. 

Tobio starts walking.

His senses lead him away from his pack, their voices becoming nothing but background noise. The crowd blurs into nothing. Tobio can barely hear their yells anymore. He’s being led somewhere, and the idea of not following never occurs to him once.

The Beta is at the net before he realizes it. 

Dark, ocean blue eyes blink rapidly, perplexed. His hands are on the net, loosely gripping it. He looks around for a moment until intense, chocolate eyes are staring right at him.

That beckoning scent has gotten stronger than before. Tobio feels like he could swallow it without issue, like he would want too. 

Inarizaki’s captain, Kita, stands before him on the other side of the net.

Tobio thinks he forgets to breathe for a second or two. Yet that indescribable, welcomed scent lingers and invades his head without any rest. 

His hazy, muddled mind comes to the conclusion so naturally Tobio is surprised he hadn’t known it since birth.

The smell is coming from Kita.

“It’s you,” Tobio croaks out. His voice sounds rubbed raw and small, but he can’t find it in himself to care.

Fingers come to grip the net alongside Tobio. They end up next to his own, the barest tips of Kita’s hands touching against him. 

Now that they’re closer, the scent becomes clear. Kita smells like Juniper berries and fresh rain during the spring. Nostalgic and knowing and everything that Tobio can somehow understand. 

Kita is a Beta.

“You’re shaking, Kageyama.”

Is he? Tobio glances at his arms, and sure enough tremors are wracking up and down his skin. He can feel it in his legs, but doesn’t dare move for fear of falling into a mess on the ground. 

All the while, Kita is looking at him with something very similar to a smile. The other Beta flutters his eyes closed and breathes in deeply, no shame or hint of worry. 

“Atsumu tried to describe your scent to me, but I knew it couldn’t compare to meeting you in person.”

Kita lets his fingers teasingly graze over Tobio’s shaking ones again. The captain opens his eyes and takes a step closer. The flimsy net is the only thing keeping them apart, and Tobio’s sanity together. 

“Is this your first time meeting another Beta?” Kita asks softly.

“Si-Since I presented,” Tobio stumbles through.

Kita hums in response, considering and knowing. “I’m sorry it had to happen here. It can be overwhelming for us if we haven’t been exposed to other Betas consistently.” 

We. Us. Betas.

They were both Betas. There must have been so much knowledge that Kita possessed. Things Tobio has never dreamed of or even considered. 

He’s two seconds away from crossing the net. Tobio doesn’t know what he would even do, but he wants to be near Kita. He wants to bury his face into the other Beta’s neck, wants Kita to hold him. 

He wants. He wants. He wants . 

“Kageyama, you have to snap out of it.”

Tobio flinches as a near musical and gravelly growl caresses his ears. The sound brightens something inside of him, and Tobio whimpers loudly. His body straightens on its own though, no longer trembling. His hands fall to his side, and while the haze still teases at the edges of his eyes he feels like he can breathe better than before.

Is this what the others felt when Tobio had done this thing ?

“You can do it too,” he mumbles. 

The other Beta tilts his head to the side, and Tobio can’t help but notice several marks littering his neck. Hints of a smirk blossom on Kita’s face. “Of course I can.”

Kita shifts his eyes just beyond him then. Tobio doesn’t have to look back to know that his pack has caught on to the scene, and are probably moments away from interfering. He has to push down the urge to yell at them to leave him and Kita alone. As soon as the thought enters his mind, Tobio feels guilty. 

“We’ll talk after the game.”

Tobio takes a step forward. “But what if-”

“Regardless of who wins.” Kita takes his hands away from the net, but Tobio swears he can still feel the heat from the short seconds that their skin had barely touched. “I’ll find you and we’ll talk, Kageyama. I promise.”

Tobio believes him.

The other Beta walks backwards several steps, their gazes not breaking until Kita is forced to turn back around. 

It’s Tanaka’s and Nishinoya’s voices that bring him back to the present. The two Alphas are gripping his arms and pulling him towards the rest of the pack. Tobio goes with them easily, still a bit dazed and unsure. 

“Kageyama, what happened?” Daichi questions as soon as he’s within earshot.

“He’s a Beta.” The answer is soft, barely a mumble of words. 

The Alpha narrows his eyes and looks over at Inarizaki's side. “Their Captain? Kita?”

Tobio grunts his affirmative and shakes his head to clear the rest of his vision. He drags his hands over his face, groaning as that intoxicating scent finally starts to leave him. 

“I...I never thought I’d meet…”

He can’t finish his sentence. The Beta’s throat constricts, almost painful and sore. Tobio has to bend his head down, and he horrifyingly recognizes the first sign of tears. His eyes prick and burn at the corners. He hurries to rub at his face but there’s no mistaking how his back quivers.

Hands, familiar and lightly calloused, are instantly cradling his head.

Tobio has to look up by the will of those hands. The smell of cinnamon, ash, and home caress him just as much as the fingers caressing under his eyes. 

“It’s okay. We’re right here, Kageyama,” Hinata whispers to him. The Alpha leans into his space, and Tobio immediately accepts it and moves closer.

Soon, more hands are upon him.

They pat at his arms and sides, run through his hair, tease at the back of his neck, and grip onto him so tightly he isn’t sure they’ll ever retreat from him. And, truly, he doesn’t want them to. 

The mixture of scents are potent enough that even Tobio can register them all. 

Whiskey.

“You’ve got this, Kageyama. There’s never been a doubt about that.”

Vanilla and lilacs.

“The pack is right behind you, honey.”

Spicy saffron and melon.

“Inarizaki better watch their asses!”

Cedarwood and Citrus.

“Yeah! They won’t know what hit ‘em!”

Strawberries.

“We won’t really hit them though, right? Right, Kageyama?”

Sugary sweetness.

“Well, if push comes to shove. They did get pretty close to our Beta.”

Aloe and delicious fruit.

“Ennoshita, stop. You’ll be fine, Kageyama.”

Oakmoss and fresh ginger.

“Yeah, we’ll be supporting you the whole time.”

Whipped cream and baked apples.

“Just like you’ve supported all of us. Don’t forget that too.”

Cypress and sweet firewood. 

“We’re in this with you, King. Always.”

Hinata brushes the last of his tears away. Tobio’s still too warm and groggy, but the sight of that smiling face and the heat from the hands of his pack bring him a certain peace he didn’t know was capable of existing. 

“We’re gonna win,” Hinata says, words an echo from last night.

Tobio’s chest flutters. His mouth grins, wide with vulnerable, unchained euphoria. A symphony of unity and confidence swells inside him, and he can’t help the laugh that tumbles from his lips. 

“Yeah,” the Beta agrees, drive and heat bursting forth. “Yeah we are.”

Sound and sight come back to Tobio in full force. He can finally hear the screaming of the fans in the stands and the clear array of colors surrounding him. His hands grasp onto every pack member for a brief second, squeezing and sending a small smile their way.

Tobio’s eyes settle on the Inarizaki pack.

Karasuno walks to the net at the sound of the referee’s whistle blowing. A triumphant smile has risen on Tobio’s lips, so vibrant that even the redness of his eyes cannot take away from it. 

He can’t think of any other way to honor Inarizaki and the growth they’ve helped give him than by putting everything he has into beating them.

And so they will.

---------

And so they did.

The game, the battle, leaves both teams with heaving breaths and a new ferocity. Tobio is on the floor when he and Hinata are bombarded by their pack. Suga is screaming in his ear proudly, and even though it makes him flinch Tobio leans into the crushing hug.

They’re all happily exhausted. The Beta has never felt so energized.

Atsumu shakes hands with him under the net, a knowing, half smile on his face. The Alpha’s grasp lingers, and Tobio squeezes back just as tight.

His eyes travel to the side at Kita several people away. Daichi and the other Beta are talking, but Tobio can’t make out what they’re saying. Tobio shuffles his feet, conflicted. Should he go over there?

“Later, Tobio,” Atsumu interrupts his thoughts. “We need to have some pack time.”

Tobio looks back at him, frowning. He supposes it would be pretty rude to try and talk right after their loss.

Atsumu finally takes his hand away, resting them against his hips instead. “Kita will come to ya, don’t worry. Just wait.”

He wants to say that he’s done enough waiting. Years of it, actually. But Tobio bites his tongue and nods his head instead. Even he knows when staying silent is the better option. 

“Well, see ya around Tobio. We’ll beat ya next time.”

Tobio shoots the Alpha a challenging grin and Atsumu huffs in response. That sharp leer tugs at something in his chest, and Tobio watches Inarizaki leave until he’s called back to Karasuno. 

It’s hours later that they’re all back at the inn. The sky has become as dark as it can with the bright, neon Tokyo lights. Tobio relishes in how clean and refreshed he feels from a bath, and his muscles thank him too.

He’s sitting with Yamaguchi now, mind pleasantly blank as they watch videos on the Omega’s phone. Tobio doesn’t know the pop star that they’re watching, but Yamaguchi seems to like them so he doesn’t comment.

It’s better than acknowledging the growing anxiety at the back of his skull.

Tobio places his head on Yamaguchi’s shoulder. His eyelids are heavy, and he struggles to keep them open for several minutes before giving up.

The catchy pop song becomes a strange lullaby. He feels his breath slip into something more shallow and allows his body to finally go lax. 

“Kageyama, Kita’s here to see you.”

The Beta is instantly awake. He jumps at the sound of Suga’s voice, gazing up at the Omega that is bent over him slightly. Suga smiles, but it’s strained and maybe even a little worried.

“He’s waiting for you downstairs,” Suga clarifies. “He wanted to talk to Daichi first. You two can talk privately in the kitchen.”

Tobio shakily stands up on his feet. Yamaguchi brushes fingers over his arm as he does, silently supportive but not taking up more space than necessary. “Good luck,” he says.

Suga lands a hand on his shoulder and leads them out of the room. When they get to the first level, Tobio spots Kita and Daichi murmuring to each other near the entrance to the kitchen.

Kita looks up as they enter. Tobio wouldn’t say he feels ‘pinned’, like he has with Alpha and some Omega gazes, but he does feel ‘seen’. It’s different. He doesn’t dislike it.

“Thank you for allowing this, Sawamura,” Kita addresses Daichi, head bowing. 

“Of course. Thank you for coming all this way for our Beta.” Daichi graces Tobio with a quick smile and a wink. He lifts a hand and pats his back when they get closer, before pushing the Beta towards the kitchen. 

“Let us know if you need anything.”

“We’ll come immediately,” Suga interjects. His tone is a little harsher than normal, and Tobio glances at the pack Omega in confusion.

Daichi rolls his eyes and grasps Suga’s wrist, pulling him away. “Easy ‘mama bear’. You two take as much time as you need.”

Tobio waits until both of his seniors are up the stairs and out of sight before he turns to Kita. The other Beta offers him that same small smile. There’s a tiredness in his eyes though, and Tobio wonders how he managed to leave his pack and make his way to the inn after everything.

“Shall we?” Kita asks.

They head into the kitchen, a singular light on above the sink. It casts the room in a warm, comforting glow, coupled by an open window that lets in the brightness from the street.

 Kita sits down in a chair at the kitchen table, hands resting on his lap. Tobio takes the other seat and turns it so they are facing each other, side by side. 

“Suna told me about his meeting with you,” the other Beta starts. “You tried to use your growl on him.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Tobio laces his fingers together in front of him. He tenses up. Had he gone against some sort of Beta rules? “I don’t know how it works. Plus, he bit me.”

Kita hums, the sound drifting into a chuckle. His eyes are softer now, and the mild nerves that had thought about surfacing quickly die off in Tobio’s mind.

“Yeah, I got onto him for that, don’t worry.”

The thought of Suna, a tall, sure Alpha, being reprimanded makes Tobio happier than it probably should. 

“So,” Tobio begins. “The growl. What is it?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

The other Beta leans forward a bit, brow furrowing like he’s trying to find the right words. “Betas don’t growl for dominance like Alphas. Or try to entice and distract like an Omega whine. We soothe. Sort of.”

Tobio raises an eyebrow. “Sort of?”

“When an Alpha’s or an Omega’s instincts become too much they need to be brought back to a manageable level. Betas can do that with the growl,” Kita explains. “Maybe it’s the vibration, or the tone of our voice. It calls out to them. Our Beta instincts become a focal point in that moment. So you have to use it wisely.”

Ah, that was why Kita had seemed a little concerned with Suna. Tobio had, even unknowingly, tried to use his instincts over an Alpha that wasn’t in his pack. Not that Suna had done any better, but the Beta could see why that might have been a tricky situation for Kita.

“I didn’t think we had instincts,” Tobio admits, voice mumbling.

“Society makes it seem that way sometimes, doesn’t it?” That small smile lifts, but the narrowing of Kita’s eyes gives it a sadder quality this time. “We have instincts, they’re just subtle. But there’s a reason for that. Think of how you feel when you growl. How the people around you react. Could you imagine being like that all the time?”

He couldn’t. 

When he’s in that state, Tobio conflictingly feels powerful and helpless. There’s a heightened vulnerability when he gives in to his Beta instincts, even if doing so ironically soothes others’. 

“No,” he replies. “It would be too much.”

Kita nods his head, and the pride Tobio experiences is unexpected. “Exactly. We’re meant to keep others from harm. Sparingly. Sometimes that means growling at an Alpha. Sometimes it’s letting a distressed Omega scent us. There’s a balance to everything, and we make sure it doesn’t tip over.” 

Tobio glares to the side. His eyes zero in on the kitchen floor, hands squeezing into fists. “No one ever told me.”

The other Beta places a hand on the table. He rests his chin on his open palm and regards Tobio for a few, silent seconds. 

“Betas are vital, but we are also rare. And infertility has never been regarded kindly. Our experiences don’t apply to the masses, so it’s easy to brush us off.”

Tobio glances at Kita, jaw clenching. “That’s not right.”

“I didn’t say it was, Kageyama.”

Kita’s words aren’t chastising like the Beta thinks they’ll be. He’s calm, waiting and ready to continue as soon as Tobio wants too. The patience helps to quell the anger that had begun to simmer. 

The other Beta really is good at this. Tobio wonders if he’ll be the same one day.

“You...know a lot.”

“I was fortunate,” Kita continues. “My aunt is a Beta. She taught me many things. And my junior high had a very inclusive sex and gender education course. I’m assuming you didn’t have the same.”

The memory of Kitagawa’s classes makes Tobio scoff bitterly. 

“No, it was mostly about Alphas and Omegas. I didn’t have to take it.”

“Awful.”

Tobio glances back at the other Beta. Kita’s voice was deeper, a sharper edge to the singular word that captured more heat than one would guess. 

Kita is frowning now, and Tobio shifts in his chair at the intensity of it. The look isn’t directed towards him, but he’s starting to understand how the Beta might be intimidating in the right setting. 

“I’m sorry your school didn’t treat you right. You deserved better.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not, but it will be,” Kita automatically responds. 

The warmth that slithers into his nerves and skin is shockingly pleasant. Tobio bites at his lips, and feels suddenly shy at the other Beta’s gaze. 

Tobio straightens his back. An idea plunges into his brain, and he knows he only has a few seconds to speak before he chickens out. 

“Could you teach me how to control the growl?” he asks softly.

Kita blinks at him, head tilting to the side just a bit. “It’s more of a process,” the other Beta supplies. “It will take time for you to control it on command like I can. But I will give you some guidance.”

The chair scraps along the kitchen tile as Kita moves it closer. Tobio stays perfectly still, watching and quiet.

The smell of berries and rain is still blissfully present with the Beta, but he isn’t as affected this time he realizes. If Tobio lets himself, he might slip into that haze again, though. He can feel it, tempting and calling, and he doesn’t know how he’s aware of that but he is. 

When Kita stops there’s only an inch or two of space between them. Just as the other Beta opens his mouth to speak, Tobio beats him to it.

“Why was it weird when we first met?” he questions.

“Weird how?”

Tobio shrugs his shoulders. He can barely describe the experience to himself, much less someone else.

“Your scent,” he tries. “It was...a lot. I could smell you on the other side of the court. Everything felt slow.”

Kita utters a little ‘ah’, and sits up to his full height. 

“Like I said, it can be overwhelming for a Beta if they aren’t around other Betas often. Your instincts went into overdrive trying to reach out to me. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but you were making these little whining sounds.”

Tobio’s face is burning. The heat sneaks up on him so fast he gasps before making his teeth clench down on his lips to snuff it out. 

“It was cute,” Kita offers. 

“Please don’t say that.”

Kita chuckles, quick and honest, before he lifts up his hands to the other Beta. “There’s no shame here, Kageyama. Not with me. Not with another Beta.”

Tobio watches as Kita places strong, sure hands on his chest, just below his neck. He can feel the warmth of those hands even over his T-Shirt. But instead of tensing up like Tobio expects his body too, he remains relaxed. 

There’s something natural to Kita’s touch. Like it was always supposed to have been around. Like Tobio should be used to it as much as he is breathing.

“It starts from here,” Kita says, voice steady. “Feel the urge in your chest. Let it build. Let it pull .”

Tobio does.

Kita’s words are his tether to everything now. A swirl of something morphs inside Tobio’s chest. Perhaps it has always been there, only dormant until needed like in this moment. 

He breathes in deeply. The air feels hotter, but it’s not bad. This thing is growing, and with Kita’s hands on him he forgets to be afraid.

“That’s it,” the other Beta practically coos. “Push it upwards now. Feel the vibrations when you do.”

Kita gingerly lets his hands travel up to Tobio’s neck. That heat goes with him, transforming from energy into the beginnings of sound. Tobio feels it buzzing, much slower and purposeful than the two times he’d experienced this before. 

Fingertips brush over his collarbones, his Adam's apple, until they’re just past his chin. Kita is holding his face now, thumbs gently touching his bottom lip.

“Let it out, Kageyama."

Tobio opens his mouth, and the growl that emerges is unlike anything he’s ever known. The other times had been rushed and uncoordinated, like a baby lion roaring for its first time.

Now, he’s been guided wonderfully into something fantastic.

The combination of growl, purr, and deliciously vibrating sound makes Tobio’s own body tremble. This is how it was always meant to be. Honey dripped music and light dancing inside him, showing him the very apex of the instincts he didn’t think he had.

Tobio’s voice carries throughout the kitchen. It’s hard to believe that this sound is coming from him, but the Beta has never felt more right. He wishes he could be like this forever, singing in a way that few others can. 

Kita growls back at him, and it’s magic.

The other Beta is out of his chair now, forehead resting against Tobio’s own. They keep growling at one another, calling softly. 

“There you are,” Kita whispers. 

Tobio smiles, pushing up into Kita and laughing before he can stop himself. It feels too good, too right and spectacular.

The high of their noises takes minutes to dissipate. Tobio is left giggling all the while, with Kita holding onto him through it.

Fingers scratch his scalp, smoothing out dark locks and petting him occasionally. Tobio leans into the touches and he finds himself smiling up at Kita with a grin he has rarely shown anyone.

When the effects finally wear off, Kita is sitting back in his seat. They’re still close though, and Tobio is glad the other Beta decided not to push away just yet. He likes the heat, and Kita’s scent is quickly becoming one of his favorites.

“Eventually, you’ll be able to do that whenever you want,” Kita says. “You have to be careful about when and how, though. Not just for others, but for yourself.”

“For myself?” Tobio mumbles out, his words slightly slurred.

Kita’s eyes crinkle as he continues, “Your own scent becomes stronger, but you’re also more sensitive to other scents when this happens. It helps you discern who needs the effects of the growl most.”

Tobio thinks back to the incident with Asahi. Nishinoya had rushed over to the Alpha Aone, and when he had his scent had been noticeably thicker to the Beta. At first Tobio thought he had imagined it. Apparently that isn’t the case.

Sighing, Tobio slumps a bit in his chair. His muscles are loose and he feels great, but his head is murky with new information. Still, he needs to press on. He has more questions. 

“Your pack. How-” Tobio stops. He wets his lips, unsure of the words. “How does it work?”

Kita leans back into his chair. His leg lightly moves along Tobio’s ankle, subtle but the skin to skin contact is nice. 

“We’re more intimate than some packs get, but it’s nothing too different from your own. I’m sure there are groups in your pack that have closer relationships with each other.”

That was true. Suga and Daichi were practically a unit. Plus Ennoshita was obviously romantically involved with his two Alphas. And Tobio expected Nishinoya to confess to Asahi any day now. 

“Yeah,” he concedes. “There are some.”

“We’re the same. I’ll admit I’m more serious with the pack Omega, Aran. Suna and Osamu spend most of their time with each other. And Atsumu sort of...floats between everyone.”

Kita lets his gaze drift off to the side. His lips curl into a pleasant smile, and even though it’s not for him Tobio feels his chest swell. 

“At the end of it all we’re a pack, though. Suna might mark me one day and Atsumu another. Intimacy should be expected and encouraged with everyone in some way. And as Betas, it’s in our nature.”

That gets Tobio’s attention. He sits up, no longer feeling sluggish. 

“In our nature,” he mimics, tasting the words slowly. 

The other Beta nods. He lets his leg lift a little high, nearing Tobi’s calf. Tobio can’t tell if he’s relieved or embarrassed that he chose to wear shorts. It makes him quiver, regardless.

“Betas are very adaptable. When we’re only with other Betas romantically, our instincts can cancel each other out. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. You and I had a pretty great moment, right?”

The half-lidded look Kita gives him shakes Tobio to his core. He gulps, the ability to inhale oxygen becoming just a tad more difficult. He succeeds in nodding though, and honestly Tobio thinks he deserves an award for that.

“Y-yeah. It was nice.”

“It was,” Kita nearly purrs. “But we flourish in a pack too. It enhances our instincts. We become more. Better, even. We’re meant to be in packs, Kageyama. We’re built for it.”

Kita reaches out, hands balancing on Tobio’s bare knees. 

“Let me ask you this,” he says. “Do you like being alone or with a pack more?”

Tobio remembers being alone. He can feel the loneliness sticking to him like a disease, thick and suffocating even in a room full of people. And he’d still been invisible at that time, or seen in a cruel and unforgiving light. 

And then his pack appeared.

The road to understanding them and opening himself up has been arduous. Yet the blood, sweat, and tears that he’s spilled for his pack mates is something he could never regret. Even if intrusive thoughts of insecurity snake into his mind at times, he has Karasuno to dash them away. 

They’d saved him. And helped him save himself. 

“My pack,” he murmurs reverently. “I like being with my pack.”

Kita takes his hands away from Tobio, but his eyes keep the Beta transfixed all the same. 

“Our role in the pack is just as important as any other,” Kita says. “Betas offer something different. We take care of our pack, even if that means having them take care of us. So let yourself be with your pack already, Kageyama.”

The other Beta lets his lips quirk to the side, and Tobio has to remember to breathe as Kita smirks softly at him. “And maybe some other people outside your pack too.”

Tobio hunches his back slightly, stomach feeling twisted and skin blooming furiously red. He swallows, eyes focusing on the table to the side as he mutters, “Yeah...Yeah I think I will.”

“Excellent.”

The two Betas talk for a while after that. Kita recounts the first mark he ever got (junior high captain). How Aran’s scent (peaches and honey) is his favorite. The annoyance of not being able to mark anyone back (‘I didn’t say being a Beta was perfect’,)

They even discuss not having control of their own scent and not being as affected by others’

Kita thinks it’s actually a strength. He admits that it bothered him when he was younger, like he was being left out. But now he’s learned to appreciate the scents he can smell in his own way, and how those scents truly reflect the person they belong to.

Those fun, hazy, and sometimes arousing reactions that Alphas and Omegas get are probably great, Kita concedes. But by not having that response, Betas are able to be more ‘present’. They can like the scents and still have a clear mind, and there is something nice about that.

Kita also assures Tobio that Betas can definitely enjoy themselves with Alphas and Omegas in other ways. Infertility be damned. 

Tobio almost asks him how, but he’s honestly afraid (and hopeful?) that Kita would tell him. In detail.

By the time they’ve finished their conversation, the moon is higher in the sky and even the noise of the city has gotten softer. Tobio leads the other Beta to the front door. He watches Kita put his coat and scarf back on, hiding the marks that Tobio may have stared at once or twice. 

“You know, my aunt once said that Betas would always be taken for granted,” Kita says when they’re outside, Tobio staying by the doorway. 

The other Beta turns back to face him. “But the world is changing, Kageyama. We can live our lives the way we want. Our generation proves that, don’t you think?”

It may be cold outside, yet all Tobio can feel is warmth. His gaze moves to the ground, the pink in his cheeks not as unwelcome as it had once been. 

“Yeah. I think so too.”

A gentle smile tugs at Kita’s lips, and Tobio finds himself returning the expression. The other Beta then waves half hearted at him and murmurs a soft, “See you later. Good luck at tomorrow’s match.”

Tobio doesn’t shut the door until he can no longer see Kita’s retreating back. It’s only when he’s out of sight that he shivers and feels the chill of the air. 

The Beta shuts the door, leaning against it. Tobio lifts up his chin and lets his eyes close. He expected his mind to be jumbled still in some way, but that isn’t how he feels at all.

The years of confusion, struggle, and self-doubt melt away from his shoulders into nothingness. Tobio isn’t stupid, he knows that there are many challenges still waiting for him. But the hesitance that had been like a second skin before has now shed from him. 

Tobio opens his eyes and glances at the staircase leading to his pack. He can hear the voices of those that are still awake, and the fondness he has been wanting to unleash for so long keens and growls joyously inside him.

He knows what he wants.

And now he’s not afraid to have it.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25: Finale 

Tobio isn’t sure what wakes him up first; the sunlight streaming through the blinds, or the kisses Tsukishima is bestowing on his neck. 

Warm, lovely lips trail from his bare collarbone to that sensitive spot just behind his ear. Tobio’s eyes flutter open, his vision blurry with sleep and a foggy mind. Pleasant goosebumps rise on his skin, and the Beta lets out a soft, sleepy groan as he wakes to the world.

“Morning,” he mumbles. He slips further into the fetal position he had fallen asleep in last night. Tsukishima is curved around him, arms securely wrapped at his waist. 

There’s heat at his ear as Tsukishima grunts his own ‘morning’. His voice is laced with thick layers of sleep, rumbling and low and already setting Tobio’s nerves on fire.

The Beta means to turn in Tsukishima’s grasp, and is quickly greeted by sore muscles and a twinge in his backside. He freezes for a split second. The reminder and memories of last night flash bright and hot in his head. 

Shared breath. Wandering, sure hands. The push and pull. Heat. So much heat. Spine tingling pleasure that turns bones to liquid.

Tobio shuts his eyes and can’t help but focus on the slight pain that flares through his body. His neck feels and probably looks like a war zone. The scars of multiple bites are littered over his neck and collarbone, warm in their stages of healing. The bruises on his hips and thighs aren’t much better. His morning jog certainly won’t be ‘leisurely’.

Fingers tuck under his chin and gently guide his head up. The image of a relaxed Tsukishima is one that he never thought he’d become used to after all of these years. Blond hair curling and mussed, golden eyes narrowed just a bit with his glasses over on the bedside table. The tense lines on his face are non-existent in these small, quiet moments.

“You okay?” the Alpha asks, worry etched in his brow. 

Tobio shrugs his shoulders and leans into Tsukishima. He nuzzles his face into the other’s bare chest, soaking in the warmth. “Yeah,” he responds. “You two could have taken it easy on me.”

A snort is the Alpha’s reply. “Not likely.”

Tsukishima pulls him closer and moves to lie down on his back. Tobio’s world shifts as he’s placed on the other man’s chest like a rag dog, but he easily accepts the change and exhales softly, getting comfortable. 

Their legs tangle with each other and the sheets. They don’t often get to stretch out like this, and it’s that revelation that has the Beta asking, “Where’s Hinata?”

Tsukishima settles his hands on Tobio’s hips, thumbs absentmindedly brushing against his skin and making him shiver. 

“He didn’t want to wake you. Coach called and told him to come in for a morning practice with the Jackals. Apparently their practice matches are happening a day earlier now.”

Tobio nods his head at the information before lying down fully on the Alpha, head resting on his chest and fingers dragging over long arms. 

They remain like this for several minutes. Only the sounds of their light breathing, mild traffic, and the chirping of birds permeate the air. Tsukishima continuously caresses some part of him, from his hips to the back of his neck. Tobio worries that if he closes his eyes he’ll fall asleep again. 

“You could stay here today. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Tsukishima’s words are accompanied by the sliding of his hands. Expert, too knowing fingers press over the bite marks on his inner thighs, and Tobio flinches into the touch. They’re deliberate and teasing, keeping away from the area Tobio really wants them.

If anyone could tempt him, it would be Tsukishima. And the Alpha knows that. 

With clenched teeth, Tobio forces himself to sit up. He straddles Tsukishima as he looks down at him, eyes narrowing. The glare is lessened by the blush forming on his cheeks. And those hands don’t stop their exploration for a second. 

“I can’t,” Tobio croaks out. His voice sounds hoarse, and that just makes the burning on his face worse.

Tsukishima has the gall to send him a lazy smirk. “Yes, yes, you’re a busy boy. I know.”

He says that, but the Alpha still swiftly grinds upwards with his hips. Tobio gasps at the action and loses his balance, having to steady himself by putting his hands on Tsukishima’s torso. Distracted, the Beta doesn’t see Tsukishima’s hands until it’s too late.

Ah, now that’s where Tobio’s wants them.

The pressure is absolutely delicious. A stuttered moan escapes the Beta’s mouth, and he can’t stop the roll of his hips no more than the instinctive need to breathe oxygen into his lungs. Which is becoming difficult, incidentally. 

“How about this?” Tsukishima offers, as if he isn’t casually making Tobio tremble. “Stay in bed a little longer and I’ll make you breakfast.”

“Tsukki, I have to-”

The last of Tobio’s words are cut off when Tsukishima uses his hands in just the right way, making the Beta arch his back with a sharp gasp. 

Tobio can hear the Alpha hum as he sits up, their chests pressing against each other and sharing blissful heat. 

“I’ll make sure you leave on time.” 

Friction and warmth are turning Tobio’s head into mush. His lips part, soft keens and moans falling freely. It’s not a bad deal, and the Beta has long since learned the true power of Tsukishima’s determination. 

“Promise?” Tobio manages to ask.

“Promise.”

Tobio gets out a small ‘okay’ before Tsukishima kisses him. It’s chaste, yet it still leaves him breathless.

And just like that his back meets the mattress in a parody of their activities last night. Minus one participant, of course. 

Tsukishima manhandles Tobio’s legs to hike around his hips, locking at the ankles. The Alpha kisses over the marks on his neck reverently, a boast and an apology all at once. Tobio sighs into every touch, lick, and kiss until his entire body lights up with familiar, intoxicating pleasure.

There are worse ways to start the morning, he supposes.

---------

Tobio eats the breakfast Tsukishima makes with heavy lidded eyes and a wonderful ache at the bottom of his spine. Perhaps he shouldn’t have agreed to fool around this morning, because the call of the bed is speaking to him so sweetly. 

The Alpha brushes his nails through dark locks every so often as they eat at the table in relative silence. It’s a peaceful morning still, regardless of the list of errands Tobio has to run later.

The jingling of keys and the ‘click’ of the lock at the front door make both of them look up. 

“Morning! It smells good in here. Did you cook Tsukki?”

Yamaguchi walks into the dining area and places his small, overnight bag on the floor. He goes to Tsukishima, pressing a quick kiss to his lips and then forehead. Tsukishima smiles softly into the kiss before going back to the food.

“There’s plenty in the kitchen if you want some,” the Alpha says. 

Tobio watches the Omega shake his head as he comes over to his side. “Thanks, but Asahi fed me alrea- Tsukki!”

The outburst causes both of them to jump. Smaller hands trace over the marks on his neck. Tobio swallows thickly at the conflicting look in Yamaguchi’s eyes. Ashamed, but impressed.

“Jeez, they really did a number on you didn’t they?” Yamaguchi murmurs with a pout.

“Is it...that bad?” Tobio asks, hesitantly.

The Omega chuckles, leans forward, and kisses the tip of his nose. “Baby, you’re a walking neon sign at this point.”

Yamaguchi glances back at the unbothered Tsukishima, who is finishing up the last of his breakfast. 

“Could you be any more arrogant?”

“Maybe.”

“Jerk.” No venom is in the Omega’s tone, even with the glare. There’s always an air of fondness to their bickering, Tobio has come to realize. It may get annoying at times, but he’s truly glad to be a part of it. 

An all too recognizable leer features on Tsukishima’s face and he gets up from the table. “He didn’t have any complaints,” he states before he goes to the kitchen and out of Yamaguchi’s reach. 

Yamaguchi rolls his eyes and drapes his arms over Tobio’s shoulders. “Sorry I wasn’t around to help with all that big, strong, Alpha attention ,” the Omega says, punctuating the end of his sentence loud enough for Tsukishima to hear. “I can make it up to you, though.”

Sweetness invades Tobio’s senses as Yamaguchi presses closer. Soft lips tease against his ear, and those ‘innocent’ hands squeeze at his chest suddenly. The Beta bucks up into the touch, and he barely refrains from groaning when Yamaguchi whispers invitingly into his ear.

“Next time I’ll ride you just how you like it. What do you say?”

Tobio’s afraid that if he verbally responds it will just be a moan. The embarrassment, no matter how commonplace it is now, drenches sinfully into his skin. All he can do is nod, and that thankfully seems to be confirmation enough for the Omega.

The Beta tilts his head, and they’re kissing instantly. It’s slow, gentle, with that sensual flick of Yamaguchi’s tongue that Tobio has come to associate with weak knees and fuzzy thoughts. 

When they pull away, Yamaguchi is smiling in between tiny pants and Tobio feels light headed. The Omega takes the other chair next to him, fingers brushing over his shoulders as he does. 

Tobio clears his throat and asks, “How are Asahi and Nishinoya doing?” 

“They’re good. They planned this big trip for Italy soon. Makes me jealous.”

A trip like that would be nice, the Beta thought. Maybe a vacation was overdue for all of them. The notion of settling all of their schedules was akin to a nightmare, though. 

Yamaguchi describes the rest of his night with their friends with quick words and animated hands. It’s amusing to think about how much the Omega has come out of his shell over the years. At least when he’s with their little pack. 

Tobio listens quietly as he finishes breakfast, giving the occasional nod and one word response. 

When the food is eaten and the dirty dishes are washed, the Beta changes into the workout clothes he brought over last night. He can feel eyes staring at his back as he ties his shoes. 

Dark, ocean eyes look over at his two pack mates questioningly. They’re at the front door, intent on sending him off as he goes about his full day. There’s a blaring hesitance in their stances. Yamaguchi keeps shifting his feet, and Tsukishima is looking off to the side. It reminds him of their early days at Karasuno if Tobio is being honest. 

Some things never change.

“Don’t be afraid to call us,” Yamaguchi blurts out.

The Omega has latched onto Tsukishima’s arm, but his eyes are trained on Tobio. “We’ll come right over. If he says something you don’t like, or tries to push you we’ll-”

“Break his arms.”

Tobio’s expecting Yamaguchi to reprimand the Alpha for the exaggeration. Yet he stays perfectly silent, his jaw clenching. Well, if Tobio had had any doubt of their seriousness he definitely doesn’t now. 

The Beta steps closer, tilting his neck just a bit to let the calmness of his scent reach their senses. 

“It’s gonna be fine,” he encourages. “If anything happens I’ll come home.”

Truthfully, his stomach is in knots, and most likely will be for the rest of the day. He doesn’t have time to dwell on those thoughts though, so he shoves them down and hopefully will revisit them never.

For now, he kisses both of them on their cheeks. He nuzzles against their necks until the tension in their shoulders disappear, and he can hear a small whine escaping Yamaguchi’s lips. Tsukishima finally looks at him, and their eyes link. 

If the Alpha asked him, really asked him, then Tobio might reconsider later tonight. He thinks Tsukishima must realize this, because he finally sighs and gives him a quick peck on the lips. 

“Hurry up, you don’t want to be late.”

Tobio hopes he can read the gratitude in his eyes.

When the Beta leaves, there’s one less knot gripping his stomach. He takes the stairs down from the apartment complex two at a time, energy increasing even if his body is still sore.

Everything would be fine.

---------

“Uuugh, could you tell Chigaya to lay off all the sappy crap on Instagram? It’s annoying!”

Only months of practice keeps Tobio from halting his jogging pace when Hoshiumi shoves his cellphone in his face. The Beta glances at the screen, eyes narrowing. In the photo, Chigaya is smiling with exuberance. He has an arm around his lover, an Omega, while his other hand takes the selfie from above. 

Tobio’s met the couple for drinks and dinner a handful of times. They’re good together. Chigaya always looks incredibly star struck, even after a year of dating. Dilated pupils and a special, fond grin that Tobio has come to understand is only ever directed at the other Omega. 

It’s cute, and Tobio has never seen Chigaya so happy.

 Maybe it is overkill with all the posts on social media, though.

“He uploaded three photos today. Three!” Hoshiumi seethes through his panting breaths. “He’ll knock it off if you say something.”

Tobio rolls his eyes and runs faster, getting out of the Alpha’s reach. “I’m not doing that.”

Hoshiumi growls, and Tobio has half a mind to growl right back if he didn't want to risk breaking his stride. The smaller Alpha catches up to him, as he always does, and attempts to show him another post with a biting remark on his tongue.

A large hand pushes the phone back down before he can. “Focus on running. This is not the time,” a low, vibrating bass utters.

Tobio shoots a look at the usually tranquil Ushijima. Hoshiumi rarely listens to anyone, but the other Alpha is better at handling him than most. The Beta wonders if it’s due to all the experience with his partner. 

“Oh come on Ushijima,” Hoshiumi practically whines. “Would you post this much with Tendou?”

“No,” Ushijima grunts.

“Exactly!”

“But Tendou would.”

The Beta has to hold in the chuckle that wants to leave his mouth at Hoshiumi’s replying scream. It makes several onlookers turn their heads, but Tobio has long since gotten used to the stares. They’re quite a sight.

Playing with the Schweiden Adlers has been a rewarding experience. At first, Tobio worried he might not be able to create a connection with his teammates, much less a pack. But they’d taken him in with open arms ready to teach and accept. It didn’t hurt that he knew Ushijima and Hoshiumi going in as well. 

It may not have the exact same intimacy that he developed with Karasuno, yet it was still good. Amazing, even. The trust that he had with his team pack was different and just as powerful in its own right. 

He has a place with them. 

“Hey, Ushijima,” Tobio calls out, getting the Alpha’s attention. “When you go to Paris, you should get Tendou to pose with you covered in chocolate.”

The shriek that Hoshiumi lets out is silent and effective. The older Alpha doesn’t smirk or smile, yet there’s a light to his eyes that lets Tobio know the joke has landed. 

“That would be very wasteful, Kageyama.”

“Not if he licks it off.”

Hoshiumi races past both of them, grumbling loudly as he does. It isn’t often they both get to tease the shorter Alpha so much, but when they have the opportunity it would be a crime to pass it up.

The remainder of their run is spent with only a few words spoken between them. Hoshiumi appears to be giving them the silent treatment, but Tobio knows that won’t last long. 

They reach his apartment complex first. Tobio is anticipating a quick goodbye as his pack mates go to their respective residencies as well, yet the two have stopped completely at the entrance with him. 

At Tobio’s questioning expression, Ushijima speaks up, “You don’t have to, but if you wanted to bring him to practice this week no one in the pack would disapprove.”

The Beta freezes. He has avoided such topics because he knows the delicacy of the situation. Especially concerning the Adlers. 

Tobio turns his attention to Hoshiumi to see if he is of the same opinion. The smaller Alpha shrugs his shoulders. “He can’t be grosser with you than Hinata already is, so it doesn’t matter to me. If you accept him, so will we.”

Blue irises blink between the two Alphas. A ‘thank you’ is at the edges of his tingling lips, but saying the words out loud feel inadequate. His team pack understands him, and all the intricate relationships in his life. 

Still, it’s nice to have their understated approval.

“Okay, I’ll ask him.”

Ushijima nods his head. The Alpha grabs onto his shoulder and squeezes. It’s a good pressure, and Tobio grips his arm back before Ushijima is off running again. 

Hoshiumi lingers, like he wants to say more. They’ve grown a lot together since forming their team pack, and there are times when the Alpha isn’t so great with words. But, if Tobio has learned anything, it’s that words are not always needed.

The Beta bends down slightly and murmurs, “Better catch up to Ushijima.”

As soon as the sentence tumbles from his mouth, a steady, softer vibration of a growl teases at Hoshiumi’s ears. It’s melodic, a near purr at this level. 

Hoshiumi is more partial to Tobio’s Beta Growl than most. He loves it, actually. Whether it’s to calm, or strangely sometimes energize, the Alpha always responds with an abundant croon of his own.

It’s a way for Tobio to show that regardless of the happenings in the future, he will still be with the team. He’s not going anywhere.

The Alpha shakes for a moment, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows. Hoshiumi pats his own face with his hands and takes a deep breath. 

“Right, I’ll see you later!” he yells and runs once more.

Tobio watches until the two Alpha’s are out of sight. His chest is warm, and it’s not only from the run. Knowing where he stands with people has always been a challenge for him, but he’s been lucky over the last few years to garner friends and more that don’t make him feel like such a burden. 

Taking his gaze off of the street, Tobio goes into his complex and digs for his keys to his apartment. He needs a shower and the will to not instantly fall asleep under the water.

---------

A little bell chimes when he enters the Miya Onigiri restaurant. Tobio has beaten the lunch crowd that will bombard the place in an hour or so. As it stands, there’s only one customer sitting at the bar. Though he doubts they’re paying for anything.

“Suna, hey,” Tobio greets.

He walks over to the chair on the Alpha’s right side and sits down. Suna nods at him and answers with a small ‘hey’ of his own. The calmer energy is a nice reprieve from Tobio’s morning jog altercation. 

Tobio scans the bar, a frown falling on his lips. “Where’s Osamu?”

“In the back. Finishing up your ridiculous order, I imagine.”

The Beta lifts his shoulders up and down. “They eat a lot. You know how Bo is.”

Suna hums in agreement. He swirls the straw in his glass idly, and Tobio glances out the window to people watch while they wait. It took time to get as comfortable as he is with the nearly serene but unpredictable Alpha. His brand of ‘Alpha’, quiet dominance and sureness, still throws Tobio for a loop sometimes. But he’s learned to enjoy it when he can in certain ways. Or put Suna in his place if he crosses a line. They’re all the better for it.

Osamu looks a little drained when he comes out of the kitchen. Maybe he’s still waking up, even though it’s closer to noon now. When he spots Tobio however, he stands up straighter and a half smile graces his face.

“Ah, Tobio. Ya early.”

The Miya twin leans over the bar. His hat dips slightly down over his eyes, and Tobio doesn’t hesitate to reach out and push it up higher. That broadens the Alpha’s smile, the expression almost cheeky.

“Big order for the Jackals. Not sure they deserve it.”

Tobio snorts. “Do you mean the Jackals or Atsumu?”

“Ya said it, not me.” Osamu gives him a wink. “Didn’t take ya for the bribing type, Tobio.”

Before the Beta can counter, Suna casually cuts in, “You’re more the begging type.”

Osamu beats Tobio to the punch. Or a flick on the forehead, rather. Suna flinches at the contact and glares up at the other Alpha, but doesn’t make a move to retaliate. 

“Watch it,” Osamu says, “Or he’ll send Tsukishima after you.”

The threat makes the Alpha pause. He glances to the side and views Tobio’s lightly flushed face. A smirk teasingly curls at the corners of his mouth, but the effect is lost when Osamu speaks up again.

“Next time ya wanna have fun ya should bring Tsukishima.”

That gets Suna’s attention. The Alpha becomes rigid, glare fierce and automatic.

“Absolutely not,” he states.

Tobio scrunches his eyebrows. He honestly hasn’t thought of including Tsukishima, or any of his other pack mates, in his outings with Suna and Osamu. They’re so few and far between already, so he’s usually happy to engage in whatever moments he can with them. Still, he’s surprised at the ferocity of Suna’s rejection.

“I thought you two were getting along better,” Tobio supplies.

Suna scoffs and turns away slightly from the two other men. “Just because I can stand him now doesn’t mean I want to fuck him.”

“It’s cute ya think you’d be doing the fuckin’,” Osamu helpfully quips. 

Now there’s an image Tobio didn’t expect to pop into his head. Maybe Osamu’s idea has some merit. 

Obviously unhappy with the turn of events, Suna shoots Osamu a pointed look. “You’d just want me distracted so you could have more time with Tobio.”

The other Alpha raises his hands in the air, a tiny grin that reads ‘guilty as charged’ hanging on his lips. 

“ Anyway, ” Tobio emphasizes. “Is the order ready? I need to get going.”

Osamu rests his hands on his hips. Dark irises scan over the Beta in a way that some might describe as lazy, yet Tobio has long become used to deciphering the Miya twin’s gaze. He’s more delicate, usually, in saying what is on his mind. But he will always tell you. 

“Yeah, it is. Ya know this isn’t necessary, right Tobio? Ya don’t actually have to bribe them.”

The Beta has some doubts about that. Deep, darker doubts that he tends not to visit as much anymore. Or at the very least he often has one of his pack mates assist him in digging himself out of it.

This time is different though, and if he’s not careful he could accidentally drag them down with him. 

“I know,” he tries. “I just...want to do something nice.”

And soften the blow, maybe? But that isn’t completely accurate. He’s not going behind anyone’s back, and they all agreed to this months in advance. Still, it wasn’t an easy decision, and if he can assuage any apprehension his pack may have even through simple gestures then he will. 

Osamu gives a short sigh before going back into the kitchen area. Tobio can hear the shifting and clattering of things moving around. The twin comes back to the bar with two large boxes in his arms. They’re the biggest ‘to go’ boxes he has, and the Alpha begins the careful process of putting them in easy to carry bags in front of them. 

As Tobio watches, Suna slowly moves his hand to the back of the Beta’s neck. He squeezes, the pressure nice and appreciated. Suna brushes his thumb over his warm flesh, and Tobio’s body relaxes. When had he gotten so tense?

“Don’t think about it too much,” Suna suggests. “Your pack loves you. It’s embarrassing.”

A snick sounds from the other Alpha, just as he finishes packing the boxes. “Ya one to talk. Weren’t ya just whinin’ about how long it’s been since ya got to hold him?”

Suna’s grasp get’s a little tighter, but he doesn’t deny the accusation.

Soon Osamu has Tobio’s order wrapped up securely in a bag. When the Beta takes it, Osamu puts his hand over his and presses down. “I know ya didn’t order it, but there’s lunch in the box for ya too, Tobio. Make sure ya eat it.”

Tobio’s eyes widen a fraction, excuse on his tongue. “But I didn’t pay-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Osamu waves off. “No charge. I can spoil ya if I want. Now head out.”

The Beta hops off the bar seat and grabs the ‘to go’ bags. It’s a little heavy, but nothing compared to the training he’s used to doing. Tobio is nearly out the door when he hears Osamu call out to him. 

“If ya need me to talk to him, I will!”

Tobio knows exactly how Osamu’s ‘talks’ go. As does Atsumu, Tsukishima, and even Hinata that one winter. The Beta suppresses a shiver just thinking about it, but barely.

“Not on your life,” he easily flips back. He raises a hand and waves it lazily behind him before leaving the restaurant altogether.

He doesn’t miss the sound of soft, responding laughter, and his chest lightens all the more.

---------

By the time Tobio arrives at the gym the Jackals are practicing at, things have started to wrap up. The familiar sounds of scuffed sneakers against a hard gym floor has become the Beta’s anthem and lullaby. He feels comfortable here, even if it’s not his team.

Though he’s very close with several of the players.

Tobio nods to the coach when he enters. The older man spares him a glance and inclines his head to the side where a table and one of the assistant coaches is waiting. Atsumu had sweet talked the coach to get Tobio permission to come to the practices, as long as it was towards the end. Plus, everyone on the team was a sucker for Miya Onigiri. 

The Beta has just started to spread out the lunches for the team when the force of a raging bull barrels toward him. He breathes a grunted ‘oof’, and he’s suddenly being lifted into the air. It’s not an easy feat to do such a thing, and Tobio knows immediately who it is.

“Kageyama! I missed you!"

Bokuto has his waist locked in an iron grip, lifting him to the point that his feet are dangling in the air. The Alpha only has a handful of centimeters on him; not enough for him to hold him as effortlessly as he is.

Tobio steadies his hands on Bokuto’s shoulders. Even through the fabric of the shirt he can feel how hot the other is from practice, though he wonders if the flush on his skin is only from exercise. 

“Missed you too,” the Beta manages to huff out through his semi-crushed middle. 

Those bright, golden eyes flash up at him, and now Tobio is the one that experiences warming skin. He inches his hands to settle closer to Bokuto’s neck, and if he wasn’t worried about tipping them over he might have even cupped the Alpha’s face. 

When Bokuto finally puts him back on the ground, it’s with a careful gentleness. As soon as Tobio’s feet meet the gym floor, Bokuto is upon him. He holds the Beta’s face and quickly covers it with quick, chaste kisses. Tobio’s cheeks, forehead, the tip of his nose, and of course his lips are lovingly kissed. 

It’s an embarrassing display, but Tobio doesn’t have the heart to pull away and get a resulting puppy look from the Alpha. Besides, over the years he’s realized he could never truly hate any type of affection from Bokuto. 

“Jeez, lay off a little will ya Bo,” Atsumu drawls as he approaches them. 

Bokuto barely spares the other Alpha a glance, instead getting on the tips of toes to place a kiss on the top of Tobio’s head. The Beta returns the sentiment by pressing his lips against Bokuto’s cheek, lingering a moment before pulling away. Bokuto doesn’t let him get far, arms hanging on Tobio’s shoulders from the side. Tobio grabs onto Bokuto’s arms, the Alpha now clinging to him like the strangest jacket as Atsumu stands in front of them. 

Dark, perceptive eyes look Tobio up and down. That lazy gaze has the uncanny ability to still make the Beta shiver, and if he grips onto Bokuto just a bit more the Alpha doesn’t comment on it. 

“Did ya get mauled by a bear on the way here, babe?” Atsumu asks, head tilting slightly to the side.

Tobio narrows his eyes, perplexed. The blond Alpha chuckles and taps his own neck with a finger.  

A sudden, red blush covers Tobio’s cheeks, and the Beta has the decency to look promptly self-conscious as Atsumu snickers at him. Bokuto apparently doesn’t notice the marks until Atsumu’s question, but once he does he zeroes in on them with rapt attention. 

“Oh wow, these are deep,” Bokuto marvels. His fingers lightly trace along the healing flesh, and the resulting, tingling pleasure nearly makes the Beta whimper. He bites his lips though, even if the stare that Atsumu gives him says how obvious he is to read. 

“Blame Tsukishima and Hinata,” Tobio protests, looking off to the side.

Atsumu hums. “Ya look like ya got room for one more.”

Tobio crosses his arms over his chest, brow furrowing. Bokuto is still holding him loosely, and the presence behind him is nice as the Beta declares, “My neck is off limits until these heal.”

“Laaaaame.”

Atsumu’s fake whine makes Tobio roll his eyes. Another retort is nearly out of his mouth, but he stops short as a flash of orange greets his vision. 

Hinata rushes up to him without any signs of stopping. Bokuto moves out of the line of fire just in time for the smaller Alpha to jump into Tobio’s arms. Solid muscle fills out those limbs, and it’s an effort to hold Hinata up enough to not fall over. 

The Beta is grateful for the table at his back, and he means to yell at Hinata for nearly causing them to collapse, but the Alpha takes the opportunity to kiss him deeply. 

Sure hands cup the back of his head, keeping him still and accessible for Hinata’s searching lips. The smell of cinnamon and ash flares to life, and Tobio fell in love with that scent so long ago that he melts instantly. 

When Hinata pulls away, both of them are lightly panting. Tobio is gripping onto the Alpha’s back, keeping them up even on legs that start to shake. 

“Hey,” Hinata murmurs, breathless.

“Hey,” Tobio barely responds back.

The Alpha gingerly lets his legs come back to the floor. Those hands trail over Tobio’s shoulders and sides until they settle on his wrists. Thumbs brush over the scent gland hidden underneath the Beta’s skin, and Tobio has to struggle to swallow as they do.

“Look at you,” Hinata says in wonder, a grin spreading across his face. “I can’t believe you made it on time after last night!”

That earns the Alpha a glare. “Yeah, no thanks to you.”

“Hey, Tsukki helped! And you liked it.”

A large hand lands on top of Hinata’s head, twirling the locks of hair into an even messier fashion. The small Alpha growls up at the offending appendage, pouting. 

“I’m sure Tsukki did most of the work,” Atsumu teases. “Ya probably only got one mark on our Beta. Shame, shame. Gotta step up ya game.”

Hinata pushes Atsumu’s hand off of him and turns to face the other Alpha. 

“Half of those marks are mine, thank you!” he seethes. 

“Sure they are.”

Tobio can see Hinata’s stance, ready to pounce on Atsumu, seconds ahead of time. He immediately grabs onto the back of Hinata’s shirt and pulls. The shorter Alpha flounders before looking up at Tobio in surprise.

“Stop being dumb. Go eat,” Tobio practically orders. 

He looks to the side at Bokuto, who has been watching the exchange with rapid attention and no shortage of glee. “You too.”

The Alpha seems to deflate a bit at that, but still nods his head and goes toward the table. Hinata puffs out his cheeks. Another quick look from Tobio has him freezing before he groans and follow’s Bokuto’s lead. 

“And you ,” Tobio says, turning his attention to Atsumu. “Don’t goad him.”

“Can’t help it. Just in my nature.”

Atsumu comes up to him, body languid. Yet he always seems to make Tobio pleasantly on edge. An anticipation that never leaves the relationship they’ve slipped into since high school.

When the Alpha reaches out to cup his cheek with one hand, Tobio can’t help but lean into the touch. It’s such a small action, and yet the warmth in that palm and scent of cardamom make the Beta’s mind buzz delightfully. 

“After ya guest leaves, you’re all mine,” Atsumu murmurs, thumb caressing the skin of his face. “Any new marks ya got I have to replace. It’s the rules.”

Tobio fails at suppressing a chuckle. His eyes close as he indulges in the sensation of Atsumu’s voice and touch for just a moment. 

“Tell me you want to do something other than mark me.”

A mellow growl is Atsumu’s reply, and Tobio doesn’t need to open his eyes to know that the Alpha is closer now. He can feel it.

“Oh we’ll do plenty,” Atsumu purrs. “Little of this. Lots of that .”

Tobio’s eyes flutter open, and a small frown sets on his lips. “Don’t keep me locked up in your apartment the whole time.”

“Temptin’, but no. I won’t, promise.”

Atsumu’s fingers slyly tease at the shell of the Beta’s ear, making Tobio straighten his back. It’s the Alpha’s heady gaze that really settles into his bones though, heat and suspense rolling up inside Tobio’s stomach so addictively.

“I’ll take ya somewhere real nice,” Atsumu continues. “Make ya fall head over heels for me.”

As if Tobio isn’t already.

As if Atsumu doesn’t already know that.

They met half way for a kiss. It’s not as frenzied and passionate as Hinata’s, but the slow slide of Atsumu’s talented lips is just as delicious. The perfect pressure and wetness makes Tobio’s toes curl, and just like every time they see each other, he’s almost too aware of how swept away this man makes him feel.

Atsumu gives him one last peck before grinning cheekily and heading to the table. Tobio turns and watches him go. He spots most of the team around the area, eating their food on the gym floor or the seats spread around on the side. 

Tobio takes a step forward, intent on joining the team for his own lunch, but is stopped by a hand grabbing his elbow. 

The Beta looks back at dark, tired eyes and feels his chest lighten. 

“Sakusa,” Tobio mutters, a different intimacy coloring his tone. 

The Alpha gives him a quick, barely there smile that Tobio knows is just for him. Without a word, he tilts his head slightly to the side, exposing his marked neck.  

Sakusa knows permission when he sees it. He buries his face just over Tobio’s scent gland, inhaling deeply and exhaling with a shuddering groan. This morning must have been rough in some way for Sakusa to sag against him as much as he is. 

Arms sneak their way around his waist, pulling Tobio closer. The Beta places his hands down on them and lets his body lean into the Alpha behind him. 

“Hinata and Atsumu were unbearable,” Sakusa mumbles against his throat. 

Ah, that explains it. While the energy of the Jackals makes them formidable opponents, Tobio thinks even he would be slightly apprehensive at having Atsumu, Hinata, and Bokuto on his team all at the same time. 

Sakusa obviously needs a pick-me-up.

“Yeah?” Tobio questions, turning his face to press a kiss into the Alpha’s hair. 

He’s given a grunt in response, and a tighter grip around his middle. Sakusa breathes in his scent for several moments, in no hurry to let the Beta go. If he let him, Tobio is pretty sure the Alpha would gladly hold him for the remainder of the day.

And if Tobio growled at him? Well, consider Sakusa nothing more than a puddle on the floor.

Unfortunately, the Beta doesn’t have time for that. He’s got a tight schedule to keep, and dawdling more at the Jackal’s practice than necessary will make him be behind

Tobio kisses Sakusa again and murmurs, “ Alpha , I’m hungry. Let’s eat, okay?”

The effect is instantaneous. Sakusa growls deep into his flesh, body trembling, before he forces himself to take his hands away. Those dark irises narrow at him, but it’s negated by the flush staining Sakusa’s cheeks. 

“Now you’re unbearable.”

Tobio doesn’t acknowledge the false remark and laces their fingers together, pulling them towards the table of food. Sakusa goes willingly, as always.

The rest of the lunch passes by how Tobio expects it to. He sits between Hinata and Atsumu, who joke and bicker at each other the entire time. Tobio joins in occasionally, but the special onigiri that Osamu made him admittedly steals his focus several times. Bokuto, full of energy, regals Tobio about the new manga that Akaashi is editing. They’re sports themed, so the Alpha is eating it up eagerly, relating to the main character and the dramatics of it all. Sakusa asks about Ushijima at a moment when the other three are stuffing their faces. He doesn’t comment on the knowing look Tobio sends his way.

Overall, the atmosphere is chaotic and comforting. And just what Tobio needs for the rest of the day.

After lunch, the team has a meeting concerning their upcoming practice match. Tobio isn’t allowed to hear the conversations naturally, but he doesn’t mind. He waves goodbye to all of them, promising Bokuto that yes he would try to text him more and no Atsumu he can’t visit his apartment this week. 

“I’ll walk you out,” Hinata offers him, hand placed on the middle of his back. 

Tobio allows it and they leave the gym. The doors at the entrance to the stadium are only a few feet away when Hinata grips onto his shirt and Tobio halts. 

“You know I love you,” the Alpha expresses, voice soft but steady as he gazes up at Tobio openly. “I love our pack. Tsukki, Yamaguchi. I even love the people outside of it.”

“Especially Atsumu,” Tobio adds.

“Don’t you dare tell him.” The smile that Hinata wears lessens any perceived ill intent. 

They both share a small laugh and the Alpha takes the time to grip Tobio’s hands in his own. “Point is, I’ve always accepted how this works. I’m happy. But I’m…worried. About tonight.”

A spike of cold, dreadful and sharp, sinks into Tobio’s chest. The grasp he has on Hinata’s hands increases, and the sinking feeling in his stomach, old and buried, makes an unscripted appearance. 

“Hinata,” he struggles to get out. “If you don’t want me to do this...if you want me to call it off-”

“No, no, please don’t do that!”

The Alpha’s words are just quick and honest enough to put Tobio mildly at ease, but only a bit. Nervousness still flutters inside him, and although it’s painful the Beta waits for Hinata to speak.

“I want you to see him. You two deserve to know where this could go. And maybe he could even join the pack one day,” Hinata rubs his thumbs over Tobio’s palms, feet shifting over the floor. “But I don’t want to lie and say that part of me isn’t scared. It’s been a while since we’ve added anyone and I feel rusty. Plus it’s.. .him. ”

Tobio understands. How could he not? When the opportunity arose months ago it had striped him to his core, doubt and fears and blissful hope circulating his very veins. His pack had been with him through the entire process. He refused to keep them in the dark, and while egos had taken a bit of a blow in some respects they had gotten past it and discussed what the best course of action was. 

The trepidation Hinata is experiencing is something Tobio has been ready for. 

Hinata wets his lips, eyes downcast. “We all agreed, and I’m not taking back what I said when we decided this. Just don’t shut me out, even if you think it’ll hurt me.”

Tobio wants to tell Hinata how ridiculous his fears are, how after all these years he can’t imagine his life without the Alpha in it. But belittling those insecurities (something Tobio is intimately familiar with) won’t help.

Instead, he bends down and caresses his lips over Hinata’s mouth. The kiss is so much softer than their earlier engagement, slow and a sensitive merging of lips. Tobio pours his tenderness for Hinata into the kiss, the respect and admiration he will always possess in regards to the Alpha. 

When they part, Tobio can feel the reciprocated devotion, lovely and eternal.

“I love you,” the Beta whispers. 

Words are not Tobio’s specialty, as his pack and lovers have all come to realize. But when he does in moments like these, filled with unquestionable reverence, he thinks they can comprehend what he means.

Hinata embraces him, face rubbing over his chest and arms shaking. “I love you too,” he proclaims, as if Tobio could ever think otherwise. 

They share one more kiss before the Beta leaves. It’s pushier, Hinata energized from the declaration, nibbling at his lips and slipping in a nimble tongue that has Tobio struggling to pull away from the Alpha. 

His legs are akin to jelly when he manages to escape and walk down the busy street. The Beta’s face is furiously red and he pulls his jacket a little closer to his neck to hide the marks he keeps forgetting about. 

Still, Tobio feels lighter than ever. He’s glad Hinata admitted his concerns, though they won’t come to fruition. 

Even in a sea of inhibitions, Hinata never fails to make him feel loved.

---------

“Look at you, being all domestic and trying to make his favorites. Brings a tear to my eye.”

Tobio glances over at Kuroo by his side, his focus momentarily shifting away from the fresh produce he’d been studying carefully. The look he sends the Alpha only causes him to snicker and reach out to pinch the Beta’s cheek. 

“Don’t make it weird,” Tobio mutters. 

“It’s only weird if you wear a frilly apron when you’re cooking.” Kuroo pauses and gazes up at the fluorescent lights in thought. “Or hot, if that’s all you’re wearing.”

The Beta is starting to regret asking Kuroo to go grocery shopping with him. But the Alpha had insisted they meet that day, and the timing worked out perfectly. Besides, Kuroo makes the usually boring errand interesting, as much as Tobio hates to say it. 

“He said he missed Japanese food,” Tobio tries as he places onions in his basket. 

Kuroo grunts and grabs carrots and a few peppers before putting them in the basket hanging off his arm. 

“I’m sure that’s not all he missed.”

The Beta pointedly doesn’t acknowledge the insulation. While he realizes that has to be true in some capacity, it’s odd to admit out loud. And if he’s being honest, a small kernel of doubt is still lodged within his heart. . 

Eventually they leave the produce area and head towards the wide selection of fish and other meats. Tobio debates the choices when Kuroo interjects, “Bo and Akaashi’s anniversary is soon.”

Tobio has the date marked on his calendar, yet he’s glad Kuroo brought it up. His mind has been on other things, but they really should plan something for them. Maybe a dinner, or just a night out. 

When Bokuto and Akaashi got married right after the Omega graduated, many family members and friends said they were jumping the gun. They were too young, too inexperienced, and would regret it later. 

Those people were eating their words now. If Tobio can feel such petty glee from his friends proving all the naysayers wrong, he can only imagine the joy the couple has. 

“I need to get them a gift,” Tobio mumbles, grabbing a packet of fresh, sealed mackerel and placing it with his other groceries. “Any ideas?”

Kuroo hums, low and melodic, and taps his bottom lip with a finger. The swift, sudden leer he graces Tobio with is enough to make the Beta freeze, insides already burning at the dark look directed at him.

“You. With a bow on top of your head.”

The grip he has on a packet of salmon loosens and the fish falls from Tobio’s fingers. Quick, honed reflexes allow him to catch it before it hits the floor. That doesn’t, however, do anything for his burning face and the back of his neck. 

“Just because you did that last year with yourself-” he hisses out, but Kuroo’s rich tone stops him short. 

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, little Beta .”

Tobio can feel his flesh redden up to his ears. He isn’t necessarily unhappy that the endearment has stuck after all this time, but it still never fails to rile him up in horribly, wonderful ways. 

Eventually the conversation shifts to other, more mundane things. Kuroo’s job with the Japan Volleyball Association, how Tobio is getting along with the Adler’s new wing spiker Romero (well, but his view of packs is vastly different from their own and has taken some getting used to.), and how Kuroo has made a bet with Kenma that Atsumu will propose to Tobio before Hinata. Tobio tells him they have too much time on their hands, but doesn’t completely deny either outcome. 

Tobio pays for his groceries, and they each carry one bag in their hands. The noise of the city is quieter in the neighborhood that Tobio resides in, and he appreciates the easy silence between them as they walk down the street to his apartment. 

Perhaps that’s why the Beta barely breaks his stride when Kuroo’s arm settles over his shoulders. They’re close, hips brushing, and the Alpha’s scent of bitter almonds and leather is enticing, even if it doesn't make Tobio's pheromones spike like it might Akaashi or sometimes Bokuto.

“I’m proud of you, Tobio.”

That, however, makes him pause.

Tobio looks at the Alpha, a mixture of confusion and hesitant happiness painting his features.

“For what?” he asks, mouth dry.

The smile Kuroo sends him is genuine. Not a smirk or a leer, but an honest smile. “For going for what you want. And being graceful about it.”

The Beta isn’t positive he agrees with that statement. Graceful? It’s a term Tobio has never used for himself. Athletic, sure. And dedicated, no doubt. But graceful? The compliment dances over his skin, entering his mind and whispering the possibility of truth, no matter how unlikely. 

Before he can say otherwise, the Alpha continues, “You’ve created a great pack, little Beta. Great relationships outside of it too. Not everyone can do that. So whatever happens, I have no doubt that it’ll be the right move.”

Kuroo leans in towards him, forehead brushing against Tobio’s own. The Beta’s eyes lower slightly, half lidded and waiting as Kuroo glances at his lips.

“Trust yourself.”

Tobio isn’t sure who closes the distance first, but he groans softly into the kiss all the same. The first time they had kissed, Tobio had been surprised by the sweetness of it, the sensuality that dripped off of the Alpha as naturally as his scent. 

There were times of hurried hands, lips, and teeth of course. And Tobio was intimately familiar with the walls and bed of Kuroo’s apartment. But most of the time, their kissing was like this. A delicate dance, the exploration and thrill of languidly tasting one another. Kuroo guided, he always did, yet Tobio never felt like an inactive participant. He felt willingly and wholly devoured. 

The street isn’t the most appropriate place for a make-out session though, and they quickly arrive at Tobio’s apartment. It’s a little disconcerting how they barely put up the groceries before they’re kissing on the couch, but Tobio thinks they’ve earned some points for waiting as long as they did. 

He loses time in Kuroo’s kisses. 

No new marks appear, but that doesn’t stop the Alpha from teasing his neck with his teeth. Tobio’s fingers dig into Kuroo’s back, the scent of leather thickening even to him. They swallow each other’s breaths, the moans that Tobio’s glad can be tucked away where only Kuroo will find them. 

It’s afternoon by the time Kuroo leaves with a snarkily warm grin and pupil blown eyes. 

“Call me if you need anything,” he offers, and while Tobio doesn’t think he’ll need to, he's grateful for the option.

The Beta rests against his kitchen counter for several minutes. He catches his breath and works on refocusing his mind. There are many more things he needs to do before tonight. Kuroo had been a fantastic distraction, and he wonders if that was the Alpha’s plan all along.

Tobio smiles at the floor. 

Cunning little Alpha.

---------

[Suga: Text]

What are you wearing tonight?

Tobio scans the text messages that lights up his phone. Suga’s name makes a frequent appearance in the group chat he’s a part of with him and Daichi. Training and matches keep the Beta from visiting them and Miyagi as much as he would like. The last time he saw them face to face was probably the couple’s wedding over a year ago. 

The Omega is thankfully a pro at contact though, even if Daichi and Tobio could be a little better. It’s nice to know that while the three of them are no longer considered a current pack, they still keep him and other Karasuno members updated with their lives. 

And check in on them, of course.

Before Tobio can text back (a simple, ‘shirt and pants’ response), Suga texts him again. 

[Suga: Text]

You should wear that blue sweater I got you for your last birthday.

[Daichi: Text]

He has to be in public.

Tobio frowns at his phone. The sweater Suga mentions isn’t that bad. It’s a little tight, maybe, but he doesn’t see the reasoning in Daichi’s comment.

[Tobio: Text]

One sec

The Beta rummages through his closet until he can find the infamous article of clothing. He picks out a nice pair of jeans to go with it. When he changes, the fabric of the sweater stretches over his chest, mildly constricting. It highlights the broadness of his shoulders, the length of his torso, and the trimness of his waist. As an athlete he’s got solid muscle, but it’s leaner than if he’d been hitting the weights at a gym for hours. His body is built for speed, endurance, and carefully crafted strength.

He reaches up to smooth dark bangs out of his face as he looks at the full length mirror attached to the back of his bedroom door. Selfies really aren’t his thing, but he knows Suga will request one sooner rather than later. 

The dark blue is a good color choice on him, he concedes. He enjoys the way it looks on him, and although it’s tighter than he might be comfortable with, he can understand why Suga suggested it. 

Tobio takes several photos. His stance feels all wrong and awkward, and he isn’t sure whether to look at the camera or off to the side. Eventually he settles on one picture that doesn’t make him feel entirely ridiculous and sends it off. 

[Suga: Text]

HOT DAMN

YES WEAR THAT

[Daichi: Text]

You look really handsome, Kageyama. 

[Suga: Text]

And EDIBLE.

[Daichi: Text]

That too.

Tobio rubs his hand over his face, feeling heat prickle at his skin. Jeez, will he ever grow used to compliments? He feels like a 1st year in high school beaming at his upper classmen’s praises all over again. 

[Tobio: Text]

Thank you.

You sure it’s okay?

[Suga: Text]

Honey, you could be on the cover of a magazine.

[Daichi: Text]

Weren’t you in Volleyball Monthly a few months ago?

[Tobio: Text]

Yeah.

[Daichi: Text]

They should have had you wear this.

[Suga: Text]

Yes! They would’ve sold out copies everywhere~

Tobio finds himself smiling softly down at his phone. The butterflies in his chest are warm, fluttering through his form and he leans against the wall slightly for support as he continues reading the messages. Definitely still a 1st year on the inside, apparently.

The Beta changes back into his normal clothes and lays the outfit on his bed for later. Suga proposes he wear his gray coat with the ensemble. He also warns that he’s not responsible if Tobio gets ravished on the spot. 

Thankfully, the messages slide into less mortifying territory. Daichi and Suga will be heading to dinner soon with Tanaka and Kiyoko, so they’ll be sure to let them know that Tobio says hello. Apparently they spoke to Ennoshita, Narita, and Kinoshita recently and the three are off on vacation for a week. 

It’s surreal to accept that life has gone on in Miyagi without him.

Realistically Tobio knows that’s how it’s supposed to be, and he didn’t truly think otherwise. But there are new memories in his old home that he isn’t a part of anymore. There’s a nostalgic bitterness to the admittance, even if he’s ecstatic in Tokyo with his pack and his team. 

He treasures these texts, simple as they are. 

[Suga: Text]

We’re going to dinner, but you know we’re a phone call away.

[Daichi: Text]

Doesn’t matter how late. We’ll be there.

Tobio grips his phone, hand shaking lightly and making the device tremble. The support, blinding and loyal, will always wrap around him to his very core. He has to take a moment before replying, unable to stop the grin on his face or the furrowing of his brows. His eyes feel wet, but he can’t bare to wipe them.

[Tobio: Text]

I know.

Thank you.

Really.

Have a good night.

The Beta holds the phone to his chest, eyes closing as he breathes in and out slowly. Whether in Tokyo, Miyagi, or another city thousands of miles away, he’s learned that he’ll always have someone out there rooting for him. 

---------

The Tokyo sky is painted with darkening purples and an orange glow by the time Tobio has stopped cleaning his apartment. He’s wiped down every surface he can reach, vacuumed, watered the plants, straightened up his bathroom, and washed his sheets.

It’s spotless, yet there’s a nagging voice in his head saying it’s still not enough. He’s not sure what else he could possibly clean though at this point. 

So the Beta finds himself sprawled out on his living room floor. The fabric of the rug is soft on the back of his neck. Ocean irises stare at the white ceiling, mind spiraling even as he begs it not too. 

It’s hours until he needs to leave for the airport, but there’s an itch inside of his skull that tells him to leave now. Or cancel the entire thing, which isn’t an option and one he doesn’t even want. Yet this insistent, overly protective voice keeps cooing in his ear and he would very much like it to stop. 

Just as Tobio turns onto his side, he hears a knock at his front door.

The Beta sits up, body feeling sluggish. No one texted him that they were coming over, and he wasn’t expecting anyone after Kuroo left. 

Before he can question it too much, the ‘click’ of his lock turns and the door opens. The light of the Tokyo sunset filters from his open window and cascades down on the figure that enters his apartment. Golden rays accent gray, shining locks, the scent of juniper berries and fallen rain wafting into the room. 

“Kita,” Tobio greets, surprised. 

The other Beta shuts and locks the door behind him, giving Tobio a tiny smile.

“Hello, Kageyama.”

Kita removes his coat and the scarf around his neck diligently. Tobio watches as the Beta places them on the bar of his kitchen, including his gloves and the house key he’d given him when Tobio first moved in. He never expected Kita to use it for an unprompted visit, though. 

“What are you doing here?” Tobio asks. He thinks about getting up from the floor, but the other Beta is moving towards him before he can.

Kita places the tips of his fingers on his chest and gently pushes him back down. Tobio lets gravity run its course, and he’s once again lying on the floor. But this time, he’s not alone.

The two of them maneuver themselves until they’re laying down on their sides, facing one another. Their legs tangle, and Tobio doesn’t protest when Kita holds his hand and laces their fingers together comfortably. The rug is plush enough to cushion their bodies for at least a little bit, and Tobio settles into the contact with a sigh.

“I thought you might need company,” Kita says after several minutes of gentle silence.

Tobio has been with a plethora of people all day, but he understands what the Beta means. No matter how hard the Alphas and Omegas of his pack try, they can’t relate to him like Kita can. It’s Kita’s scent that truly, biologically, affects him. The relaxation is so natural between them.  

The blue eyed Beta looks down at their joined hands. Both have developed calluses over the years for completely different reasons, and sometimes he wishes Kita still played volleyball in any capacity. 

But even if their careers and lives created distance, they managed to have moments like this.

Kita shifts his shoulders and inches closer to the other Beta. “Don’t overthink tonight,” he advises. “Everything will be fine.”

“What if I screw it up?”

His voice sounds small, and Tobio doesn’t like it. Yet he can’t stop the words from flowing. “What if he changes his mind? Or someone in my pack does? Things are good, I shouldn’t-”

The last sentence dies off in his throat, but he knows Kita understands.

‘I shouldn’t want more.’

“Oh Kageyama, you’ve always been greedy.” Tobio jerks back, blinking rapidly at the unexpected admission. His mouth opens, the blood draining from his face as panic slowly trickles inside him. 

Kita’s hands grip him harder and pull him close. Tobio immediately curls into the half-embrace, confusion coloring his skin. The other Beta doesn’t appear malicious though. In fact, he’s grinning.

“But so is everyone inside and outside of your pack,” Kita continues. “You’re greedy for each other. That’s why it works. And tonight will work too.” 

The clenching tension that has started to build up in Tobio’s frame slowly simmers into nothing. Kita brings their held hands to his face, kissing Tobio’s warm skin. The shining in his eyes is obvious in their teasing, and Tobio cheekily pulls their hands back to do the same for the other. 

“Minx,” Kita comments half-heartedly.

Tobio swears he can feel the vibrations that develop in the other Beta’s chest. The symphonic growl travels up his throat and leaves his lips, caressing Tobio’s ears lovingly. He’s called to return the sentiment, which he does easily and eagerly.

Kita’s growl is just a touch higher, smooth and rumbling all at once. Tobio’s has taken on a lower tone after the last few years. Yet the musicality couldn’t be denied either. Kita described it as drowning pleasantly, like he was floating home. 

Time becomes foggy and unreal when they’re like this. It could have been five minutes or five hours and Tobio would have been none the wiser.

All he registers is the sound of Kita’s voice, the touch of heated hands, and that dark gaze that he doesn’t mind consuming every part of him.

“I missed you,” Tobio confesses, nuzzling into Kita’s neck.

He feels the chuckle the other Beta lets out more than hears it. Arms wrap over his torso, rubbing over his back.

“I missed you too. I always miss you.”

Thoughts of being with Kita in a more permanent setting surface in Tobio’s mind every once and a while. They’ve talked about it before, and the conversation will most likely come up again one day. 

But both of them decided they had to limit their time together in any sort of romantic way. It’s laughably easy to forget the rest of the world when they’re with one another. And that was the dangerous part. 

Together, they can support each other and rest. Yet they can’t grow . Not like they do with their Alpha and Omega partners. 

It’s like Kita had told him long ago, they’re built to be in a pack. So this eternal longing would persist, only to be temporarily stated when it could. 

Needed, but in small doses.

By the time Kita has helped him up from the floor, the sun has disappeared. Night blankets the city, neon lights attempting to keep it at bay. 

When Tobio leads Kita to the front door, he ducks down and pecks at his lips. “Thank you,” the Beta murmurs. “You didn’t have to come here.”

“Yes I did,” Kita readily repels. The crook of his smile is infectious, and Tobio feels oddly bashful at the sight of it. “Now go get your Alpha, pretty little Beta .”

Tobio smacks Kita’s shoulders, brow knit and embarrassed frown lifting on his lips. “Stop it,” he hisses out, but venom could never accompany anything he says to the other Beta. 

Kita’s small laugh can be heard as he leaves down the apartment hallway, hands barely up as he waves goodbye. Tobio stands at the door and watches until he can’t see his retreating back anymore.

The surprise visit has helped to put his mind at ease. Anxiety creeps up his neck still, but it’s more controllable now.

Thirty minutes later, Tobio is leaving his apartment. A nice, light gray coat hangs over his shoulders, gloves buried in his pockets. The Beta can see his breath in the chilling air, and he wouldn’t be shocked if it started to snow soon. 

Narita Airport here he comes.

---------

Much like Tokyo, the hustle and bustle of the airport doesn’t stop, even in the dead of night. Tobio vaguely listens to the lady over the intercom read travel times, flight numbers, and changes in schedule. 

The Beta finds a bench near the corner of the pick up area. He’s earlier than he anticipated, but it’s better than being late. For several minutes he scrolls through his phone, barely seeing the random social media posts from his friends and lovers, yet needing something to occupy his mind.

Tobio removes his coat and settles it in a heap near his hips. Resting against the bench, he pulls his knees up and closer to his chest. It’s a little difficult, given his height and build, but the position offers a tiny semblance of comfort.

The notification shows up bright and bold on his phone screen.

Flight delay. New Estimated Arrival Time: 3 hours from now.

Well that’s not good. Tobio scrolls his phone for some kind of information, an explanation even. But all the app shows is the new time, and a small ‘we apologize for the inconvenience’ at the bottom of the page.

The question of what to do barely has time to circulate in his brain before his phone blares that he has a video call request. Tobio accepts the call without a second thought, and the flight app changes in favor of a well known face.

“Kageyama, did you get the notification about the flight?”

Iwaizumi’s low timbre voice is a bit distorted on the phone. The screen shows that he’s somewhere public. People are chattering in the background, and Tobio thinks he can hear the ‘clink’ of glasses. Maybe a restaurant? Or a bar? 

“Yeah, it’s delayed,” Tobio answers.

The Alpha rolls his eyes and groans, taking a quick drink from a glass at his table. Definitely a bar then. “It’s always connecting flights. He’s gonna be pissed.”

Great, as if Tobio wasn’t already anticipating tiredness and jet lag. It’s a valid feeling given the length of the flight, but still. 

The thoughts must have been obvious on Tobio’s face, because Iwaizumi quickly corrects himself, “Not that he won’t be happy to see you! But he’ll need to sleep in for sure.”

Tobio’s lips quirk to the side in a little half smile. Sleeping in didn’t sound so bad, really.

“Oh what’s that look for? You sly Beta. He has to actually sleep in your bed at some point.”

A shock of light hair enters the screen, and Tobio jumps at the sight of Hanamaki taking Iwaizumi’s phone. The Omega changes the view and focuses on himself and a lounging Matsukawa. 

“Are you pestering Kageyama?” The Alpha asks mildly.

“Never.”

Tobio listens to Iwaizumi snort off to the side. 

“Yes you are. And of course I’ll let him sleep,” Tobio counters. He tells himself he doesn’t sound or look like he’s pouting in the slightest. 

Hanamaki hums, the disbelief clear in his tone. “Sure, sure.”

The Beta wants to retort further, but Matsukawa leans closer to the phone. He smiles softly, and Tobio feels his face get a little hotter as he takes both gazes from the couple. 

“If he can’t drag you to Miyagi, just know we’ll come there. Rude and uninvited.”

It’s a legitimate threat, no matter how casual Matsukawa makes it sound. The Omega grins beside him, mischievous and everything Tobio doesn’t trust. Enjoyment is a different battle entirely, though.

“Exactly, it’s been too long since we’ve seen either of you!” Hanamaki adds.

Matsukawa lets the Omega take control of the phone again, amusement shining clear in his eyes. He places a hand over Hanamaki’s shoulders and pulls him closer. They look comfortable, flushes over their cheeks from a combination of the weather and whatever is in their glasses. 

“Tell him, Makki,” The Alpha says in Hanamaki’s ear, but it’s loud enough for Tobio to grasp. 

The Omega pats Matsukawa’s chest lightly. Tobio is simultaneously worried and curious, and even brings his phone screen a bit closer to his face.

“ So ,” Hanamaki starts. “We obviously hope everything turns out great and you’re very happy together blah, blah, blah. But you know where to find us if he blows it. Or if he doesn’t blow it right .”

“We don’t have that problem,” Matsukawa helpfully supplies.

It takes tremendous strength not to throw his phone across the tiled airport floor. Hanamaki laughs, loud and maybe a little tipsy. Matsukawa is better with his quiet snickers, but the dark of his eyes hold nothing but truth in such a bold suggestion. 

“You two are annoying,” Iwaizumi declares, suddenly grabbing the phone and making the world tilt on screen. 

He’s glaring off at the other two, before turning his attention back to Tobio. The embarrassed smile is an apology in and of itself. “Just ignore them, they’re drunk.”

“Not yet!” Hanamaki yells, offended. 

The Alpha does not spare his friends another look. Instead he shifts his body against the booth he’s sitting to give some tiny form of privacy. Tobio appreciates the gesture. He likes both Hanamaki and Matsukawa, but dealing with them even a little inebriated is draining. 

“So, what’s the plan?” Iwaizumi asks. “It’ll be pretty late by the time he comes in.”

Some people might not blame Tobio if he chooses to go home. There are plenty of cabs or trains running at this time of night. And there’s no guarantee the flight won’t be delayed more, if it’s already so behind.

“I’ll stay here.”

The idea of leaving, of possibly missing the landing of the flight, is unacceptable to Tobio. He didn’t consider an alternative besides staying. Not for a second.

Iwaizumi’s eyes soften. They’re too open and understanding, and Tobio’s throat tightens at such a vulnerable expression. And just how vulnerable it makes him feel as well. 

“Of course you will,” the Alpha utters. He leans further into the booth and raises his glass to Tobio on the screen. “Well, then I’ll keep you company while I can.”

Tobio changes his position on his bench, letting his body tilt sideways a bit as his head rests against the arm of the chair. He graces Iwaizumi with a genuine smile of his own.

“I’d like that.”

The conversation varies, interrupted by witty, slurred banter by Hanamaki or sometimes Matsukawa. Iwaizumi asks questions about his training and if he’s taking care of himself. It’s easy to overdo it as a pro athlete, after all. Tobio reassures the Alpha that his coach and team would never let him go down that road. And his pack? The interventions would be legendary.

Iwaizumi talks about his clients as an athletic trainer. He sees potential in others everyday, and his younger athletes remind him so much of their high school days it’s scary. 

That train of thought circles around into interesting territory. Iwaizumi hesitates before asking if Tobio knows about Kindaichi and Kunimi’s wedding. The Beta politely informs him that not only does he know, he was invited. And already RSVP’d. 

The surprise in Iwaizumi’s widened eyes is enough to make Tobio laugh. Pride swells inside him. It’s a thrill to show the Alpha how far he has come, the relationships he’s mended and built.

When Iwaizumi looks at him, it’s with adoration. Tobio soaks it up without a hint of shame. 

The video call lasts another hour before the Alpha informs him that Hanamaki and Matsukawa need his supervision. The loud cheering in the background was already a give away, but Tobio understands. And he doesn’t envy the journey home for the three of them.

Iwaizumi ends their conversation with a promise to talk soon. Tobio hopes they do.

“Good luck, Kageyama. You both deserve this,” the Alpha says as his farewell. 

After the call, Tobio lays down fully on the bench. He uses his coat as a makeshift pillow and shifts until he’s vaguely comfortable. 

The hours are slow. Tobio constantly pulls up the flight app on his phone, yet the status remains the same. He tries to be grateful that the time hasn’t increased, but the heaviness in his eyes and the constant yawning make it hard. 

Thankfully, he’s too tired to be overwhelmed with nerves or old, crippling anxieties. The airport blurs around him, and there’s a time or two when he nods off for a few minutes. He quickly wakes up each time, but he smacks his cheeks and shakes his head nonetheless. 

When he gets the notification that the flight has landed, he almost doesn’t believe it. The message feels like a dream, or a trap. Yet it’s true, and energy spikes through him. 

The Beta gathers his coat in his hands and walks over closer to the doors that the passengers will come through. Several people are already waiting in various states of excitement and exhaustion. 

Tobio shuffles on the balls of his feet. The hand not holding his coat taps at his thigh in some nonsense pattern. He doesn’t know what kind of face he’s making but he just hopes it’s not ridiculous.

People begin to pour out of the exit doors. Tobio ignores the excited giggles of reunited family and friends and tries to focus on finding styled brunette hair and chestnut eyes. 

The crowds eventually part, the area becoming sparse. Tobio has half a second to panic (maybe he got the wrong flight, or the time, or any number of errors), but all thoughts cease when he comes into view.

Oikawa is wearing his glasses and appears exhausted.

Tobio thinks he’s never looked more handsome.

The Alpha rolls his suitcase behind him, wrapped around his waist and one hand rubbing at his eyes. Oikawa’s piercing gaze surveys the area. Those irises instantly stop their search when they spot him, and Tobio feels a burning warmth flood every cell of his body.

In this moment, the distance between them is minimal but still far too much. 

Oikawa’s feet pause for a second before they lead him over to Tobio. He doesn’t look away from the Beta once. Tobio doesn’t either, nearly forgetting to breathe altogether.

When the Alpha stops, he’s so close Tobio can feel the heat of him. The scent of jasmine and amber is thick and lovely. Tobio has missed it more than he thought, and the acknowledgement of that is enough to make his legs tremble.

“You waited for me.”

Oikawa says it with disbelief. Like a prayer he wanted answered but doubted it would ever be. 

The Beta nods his head. Words are too torturous. His face is flushed, vision swimming and hazy but he can’t look away. To have Oikawa before him, gazing at him like this, is beyond Tobio’s comprehension. 

Still, he perseveres and takes a step forward.

“Welcome back.”

It’s only natural, maybe even predestined, for Oikawa to cup the back of his neck and face with his hands. They help him destroy the remaining distance between them with wet heat and fervent euphoria. 

Tobio kisses Oikawa back, moaning softly into the Alpha’s mouth and encircling his waist. Oikawa cradles his face with a delicacy that doesn’t dispute the passion of their kiss. The Beta recognizes the sensation of his eyes prickling and can’t find it in himself to give a single care. 

Oikawa’s lips are wonderfully soft. His back muscles are broad and his hands burn, leaving their mark on Tobio in ways he hopes will last forever. 

The Beta arches into Oikawa’s touch, sighing through stuttered breaths. Fingers trail and wipe at his eyes, and Tobio is unable to summon the effort to be embarrassed.

He’s just so happy .

Oikawa is the first to push away, but it hardly counts. The Alpha immediately pulls Tobio to his body and wraps his arms tightly around him. Tobio returns the embrace. He can feel a mouth at his neck, inhaling his scent deeply and exhaling with a croaked groan. 

They stay like that, time relevant, sagging into the others’ arms.

Tobio will never tire of Oikawa’s warmth or scent. He buries his face in the crook of his neck and shoulder, stray hairs tickling the Beta’s face. 

Talented, nimble hands snake their way back to Tobio’s face and move him so they’re looking at one another again. The tears have dried, but Tobio doesn’t trust them not to fall again without warning. 

Fondness. That’s what he sees when he looks into Oikawa’s eyes, and he’s sure it’s mirrored in his own.

Oikawa wets his lips. He gives Tobio a quick, chaste kiss, and the twitching of his muscles hint that it’s an effort to not do more. 

“Let’s go, Tobio,” the Alpha murmurs.

The Beta’s heart flutters. There’s no turning back now. And he would never want to.

They leave the airport holding hands, fingers playful linked. The cold of the winter air is biting, but the heat they share is more than enough to keep them warm. 

It’s only the two of them, but the Beta swears he can feel the influences of his pack and partners. Supportive, loving, open, honest, and everything that at one time Tobio thought he couldn’t have.

He knows better now. He knows the truth.

And as he squeezes Oikawa’s hand, the Alpha squeezes back and solidifies the last piece of their little puzzle. 

He’s finally home.