Chapter Text
Semi watched from a distance with narrowed eyes as Satori, his so called best friend, stiffly shuffled into their English class, he muttered a short apology to their teacher and sat down in the far corner of the room. Semis eyes narrowed even more as he tried to make eye contact with the red head but he didn't so much as glance in his direction as he kept his head tilted back, lips curled in its usual smirk. key word, Fake. Something had been going on with the Omega, Firstly, Tendou had had nothing but hardships for most of his life, especially since presenting. Secondly, he was late, the red head was never late. Thirdly, he was avoiding him and that made Semi worry because Tendou usually told him everything and being ignored by his best friend was worrying. Semi had seen the Omega through all of his lows, from failing to hide the marks on his body, new and old, that his parents left when the where home, proof of their ill will towards their only sons 'lesser' gender. He had seen him to hospital from overdosing on suppressants which he still took a concerning amount of to supress his very nature to the point it was almost impossible to tell how the Satori was feeling, his scent muted to a point that most people would think he was a beta.
Satori sat staring absently out of the window, shoulders visibly tense and he almost toppled out of his seat when their teacher barked at him, demanding he pay more attention. Semis brows drew together, swallowing a low growl. It was clear the omega was distressed even if he was on strong suppressants but then again Shiratorizawa was infamous for its poor treatment and attitude towards omegas.
The ashen haired omega spent the rest of the lesson boarding holes into the red heads back until he felt a nudge from his recently mated partner from next to him.
"Eita," Shirabu nudged him with his elbow, snapping the Omega out of his thoughts. His alpha gave him a concerned look, his nose twitching meaning the ashen haired must have been releasing a distressed scent. He drew a slow breath to calm himself as the bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson, he would definitely pull Satori at after volley ball practise.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Semi sat at lunch with the rest of the team with Shirabu, Wakatoshi, Hayato and Reon. He could feel their eyes glancing at him as he fixed his eyes on the entrance to the lunch hall knowing Satori wouldn't make an appearance, he hadn't joined them for lunch since their defeat at nationals against Karasuno over a month ago.
"Semi you haven't touched your food, what's wrong?" Shirabu brushed his knuckles against his side and snaked it around his waist, pulling him closer. The omega sighed at the touch, a little of the tension elapsing at the comforting warmth of his alpha and he poked at his lunch some more with his chopsticks, not feeling hungry at all.
"I'm worried about Tendou." His team mates hummed in agreement except Wakatoshi who frowned.
"We're all worried about him, he hasn't spoken to anyone outside of practise." There was another hum of agreement and Semi bit at his lip and he held back a whine. He needed beat some sense into the red head as soon as he figured out what was wrong and why he kept whatever was bothering him from even his closest friend.
~*#*~
For Tendou Satori, being touch starved was the least of his worries. It was normal. Since the damned day he presented as an Omega in his first year, he can barely remember a day where he wasn't touch starved to some degree but for the last week or so, he noticed his clothes feeling itchy. Wincing when he moved and the fabric of his school uniform bunched against his skin and made him feel like a hostage in a body he hated. When it got bad, He would usually seek out Semisemi, the only other omega on the volleyball team who he had grown close to as they fought against their coaches, the entire damn school facultys, belief that omegas where to weak to play sports. This time he hadn't, he grit his teeth and dealt with it because he didn't want to face the pinch server, couldn't. He couldn't see that same disgust and loathing he saw in his parents faces whenever he was within their sights.
He stepped out onto the roof of the school which was devoid of students and immediately stripped off his school blazer, dropping to the floor in the middle of the open space and unboxed a homemade bento he knew he probably wouldn't touch. He sat staring at nothing and wishing he had just stayed home again because he knew he wouldn't be able to avoid his teammates for much longer.
What do they really think of him? It was his fault they lost against Karasuno. Washio had watched the match and hadn't hesitated to tell him when their team wasn't around. He had it all planned out, just like in the many romantic anime he found his escape in. They where going to go to nationals, they where going to win and come home victorious. Coach was going to look at him without his usual disgust. He was going to ask Ushijima to consider him and things where going to work out. They would go to university and share an apartment because the universities him and the Alpha where going to where close by and if not, him and Semi where going to room together at his second choice.
What had he been thinking?
They lost their last match. He hadn't received any acceptance letters from the universities he had applied for, not even a rejection letter. He couldn't look their captain in the eye because he knew he had failed him. His parents delivered the news that when he finished High School, they didn't care if he went to university or someone would be stupid enough to court him, the moment he graduated (if he even managed that), he was no longer welcome in their house. The cherry on top of the tragic life of Tendou Satori was that his heat was due a week ago and it hadn't come. His last heat had struck violently on his way home from practise a month ago and-
He shuddered, willing himself not to start dry heaving at the though and he flinched so hard at the bell signalling the end of lunch that he sent his untouched lunch flying across the floor.
"what a waste-" He mumbled under his breath, not that he had any real intention of eating anyway. He stood on unsteady legs, shivering uncomfortably as his clothes bunched and settled against him and swung his back over his shoulder, heading to his next class.
One month until graduation and they wouldn't have to put up with him anymore.
~*#*~
Semi changed into his practise gear absently in the betas changing room. The school had only started allowing omegan students enrol the year he started and three years later, had still not found a budget to build additional changing rooms for omegas. The thought made Semi wrinkle his nose in irritation, still not sure dealing with the schools attitude towards him for his secondary gender was worth the glowing university applications he'd been able to send off. Once himself and the rest of the betas had changed, the rest head into the gym while he waited, arms crossed and ready to give a certain guess blocker a piece of his mind.
The moment he heard the door creak open his impatience peaked.
"Satori, you know how coach Washijo gets, you should know better than to be la-" He turned on the redhead and stopped mid sentence, spirit falling to his feet. The red haired omega stopped a few paces away from him, wrestling with his school uniform and revealing his practise uniform which he had worn underneath to avoid baring himself to his team mates. It was like seeing his fellow omega for the first time up close in months.
Satoris tall and naturally slender build was something closer to being gaunt. His jersey and shorts seemed to hang off him and his skin had taken on an unhealthy pallor. His hair, usually carefully gelled into that perfectly spiked, ridiculous updo, looked wilted with some strands falling down over his face. Like his skin his hair also looked duller than the usually vibrancy he carried. When the taller managed to wriggle out of his jacket, his movements noticeably uncoordinated and weak, and saw how his eyes where sullen, the darker-than-usual bags under his eyes that didn't just come from a late night of studying or watching a whole anime in one sitting as the idiot did far to frequently. Despite it all, the redhead forced a smile and flashed a smile so forced the ashen haired omega winced. If it weren’t for the unhealthy amount of suppressants the other took, he didn't want to know what kind of pheromones Satori would be releasing.
"Don't you work about me Semisemi, I'm good to go!" Tendou stepped forward towards the gym and Semi reached out to him reflexively. His eyes widened as the redhead flinched away from his outer stretched hand like he where brandishing a knife. He couldn't contain a whine at the terrified look Satori gave, wide eyed and venerable. "How long have you been this touch starved for?" The redhead met his eye for the first time in weeks and Semi withered, his omegan instincts screaming at him to look after the decrepit looking omega. A thought struck him as he fought with himself to not scare him further. "What happened to you? What's happened that got you in this state?" Satoris eyes cast down and after a few seconds of silence he nodded to himself.
"After practise? your place?" Semi smiled as reassuringly as he could, nodding his approval.
"You're staying at mine for the weekend, that's not an offer." He wanted to argue because the redhead didn't look like he was in any state to be go to practise but trying to convince him not to would probably push him away. He was well aware of Satoris ... egregious family life and knew volleyball was one of the few things he really enjoyed freely.
The two entered the gym together to be immediately intercepted by a furious looking coach Washijo.
"Late," was all he said, The intimidating presence of the Alpha making the omegas bow their heads in submission against their will. "I'm disappointed in you, it's almost the end of the year and you think it's ok to start slacking. Semi you're lucky enough as it is to be on the team." Oh, he must have been in a foul mood before reaching the gym Semi thought bitterly. The coach rounded on Satori. "And what's wrong with you? Are you going into heat? You better not distract everyone else and bring them down to your level-"
"Easy coach, They're not even five minutes late and Tendou-Sempai doesn't look to good," Bless the tiny Alpha named Goshiki, the first yeah who bravely announced that he would take Ushijimas place as ace and pack leader when the third years left. He took a step forward, nervousness clear on his face as he tried to defend his sempais.
"With all due respect coach, Goshikis right," Reon added, casting a glance at Shirabu who stepped to his mates side and pulled him against him by the waist, glaring at their coach. Washijo looked between them and huffed.
"Fine, continue with your drills. You two," He brandished an arm at the only omegas on the team, "twenty dive drills around the court and then you can join." Semi bristled in irritation, ready to protest but the baritone voice of their captain beat him to it.
"Coach, I would very much prefer it if Tendou where to sit on the bench for today, I fear for his health." The alpha stepped closer to Satori as if to reach out to him as said omega had crossed his arms over his abdomen, curling in on himself slightly at the mention of dive drills. The action confused Eita but he shook it off. Washijo gave the captain a surprised look, the team captain never spoke against him however politely. He ground his teeth before turning away and going back to one end of the net to observe all the while muttering something probably offensive about omegas.
"Tendou, Bench. Semi, Practise your serve drills." The tiny thankful smile Tendou gave the captain from behind didn't slip past Semi. He walked to pick up one of the many dropped volleyballs and to practise his serves as told when a sour scent fragranced the air, the uncomfortable made his hairs stand up and goosebumps raise across his skin. It smelt something like another omega in distress fiftyfold and he clutched at his chest, spinning around for the source. Several volleyballs dropped to the floor, everyone in the room froze at the scent. A blur of motion caught his eye and suddenly Tendou was on the floor, folded in on himself and panting, clutching the front of his jersey with trembling hands.
"Satori!" He ran and dropped next to the collapsed redhead, resting a hand on his friends shoulder and he writhed under the touch, face contorted in pain and whined. Semi let out a whine in response and looked up at the rest of the team who had surrounded him, all sharing expressions of confusion and horror at the sudden attack on their senses as whatever suppressants Tendou had been using seized to have any effect. Semis inner omega wanted to cry, he'd never smelled that level of distress from another omega and it made him want to smother the guess blocker.
"What’s wrong with sempai?" Goshikis high pitched tone cut through the worried chatter.
"He doesn't smell like heat, what do we do?" Ohira grumbled.
"Everyone step back, give him some room." Soekawa stepped in, trying to calm the situation when Ushijima dropped to his knees next to Semi and made to lift the omega.
"I’m taking him to the nurses office," was all he said as he hooked an arm under the omegas knees and back and lifted him with east. Satori writhed weakly at the contact and Semi blinked to rid the burning in his eyes. He rested a hand on chilled skin and trotted along side the captain, seeing the deep frown set on his face. The taller radiated pheromones and screamed of protectiveness and Semi fought the will to bow his head and back away. The rest of the third years and Goshiki caught up behind them.
"Semi what's wrong with him? This isn't normal!"
"I don't know, I think he's dropping," The omega tried to pacify the panic stricken first year, damn these Alphas with no control over their scents. "When an Omega is under severe stress or becomes touch starved over a long period of time they 'Drop', it can become life threatening." The group sped up at those words. They rounded a corner leaving students in their wake with expressions ranging from curiosity to concern and practically bulldozed through the medical office door, startling the Beta nurse sitting at a desk. "Sorry, Tendou is n trouble, I think he's dropping." He wasted no time explaining as Ushijima took the weakly writhing Omega to one of the beds. The nurse went from surprised at their intrusion to shocked and then horrified, forcing it down and narrowing her eyes.
"Heat room! Take him into the heat room and build a nest, the whole pack! He'll recover quicker if he's close to his pack mates." At those words the rest of the team shuffled as the beta retrieved a key card from her desk and unlocked a door behind it. "What?"
"Um, we're not really a pack." The beta frowned.
"You're all his friends right? Close enough, I know Washijo is tough but this is ridiculous." She directed Ushijima into the room and cast an expectant look at the rest of the team who stood eyeing each other unsure. "He needs human contact, it's the only way he'll recover." Tsutamo gave his signature look of determination and marched forwards, entering the room after Semi.
"Tendou-Sempai needs us!" The words came out shaken, pleading almost but it did the trick. Without further hesitation, Reon, Yamagata and Ohira staggered forwards following the young Alpha into the heat room.
Semi was no stranger to the schools heat room, a room made for the purpose of keeping an Omega safe and comfortable if they go into heat unexpectedly. The whole room was floored with a thin but comfortable mattress and soft, plush pillows and blankets where piled in the corners, the entire room smelling faintly of sterilising detergent. Despite their being no windows the air was clean and fresh. Ushijima stood unknowingly, gathering Satori into his lap and looking up at the nurse expectantly as she followed them into the room.
"Let me have a look at him, can you sit down?" With some trouble, Ushijima leaned against the wall and slid down, careful not to jostle the uncomfortable omega in his arms who's face was wrinkled in pain. She helped the captain rearrange the smaller so she could take his vitals, face becoming borderline disgusted. "he's in a bad way, really bad. Does he live alone?" Semi shuffled uncomfortably.
"His parents aren't very...accommodating of his omegan side. They're also away on business trips frequently." The nurse fixed him with a probing stare. The entire team looked at him and he mentally ground himself, this could have been avoided if he had just told them, not the whole story, but enough for them to be aware.
"I'll call them and let them know. It's a Friday so he can't stay here and I don't want him going home and spending the weekend at home alone. Is there anywhere he can go?"
"My place, I need to call my parents."
"I'll do it." She addressed everyone in the room. "Get him comfortable and stay close to him, if anything changes or his condition doesn't improve in the next hour, press the buzzer here," She waved her arm at an intercom by the floor, "I'll have to call an ambulance. This door will automatically lock when I close it so use the intercom if you need anything." With that they bowed and left, the intercom beeping when the door locked itself behind her. Without any delay Ushijima lowered Tendou to the floor and positioned him on his side facing him. He reached the pillows and propped his and the omegas heads on them and pulled the limp omega forward so his chin rested on his shoulder near his scent glands. If it weren’t for the situation Semi would have left and allowed the two the intimate moment Tendou would probably squeal in delight about later.
Semi lay down behind Tendou and flattened himself against the redhead, making it so there was as much contact between the two as possible and winding an arm around his waist.
"What are you all waiting for?" He shot at the rest left standing. The team quickly dived for pillows and a blanket was thrown over those lying down, Shirabu lay behind Semi, arm extending to rest on Tendous shoulder. Goshiki settled himself between Satori and the captain, hugging Satoris middle and resting his head against his stomach and the rest of the team settled against their legs, all reaching to rest their hands on the redheads legs. Said omega continued to quiver, small distressed whines leaving his chapped lips and he shrunk in on himself as much as possible given the various bodies around him. An involuntary white left Semi and his mate nuzzled his scent glands.
"Why is he like this? I've never seen this before." Goshiki sounded like he was close to tears and reached a hand out to rest on Semis side in response to his signal of distress. Said omega bit his lip, he didn't think Satori would want everyone knowing about the cruel upbringing he'd suffered.
"Satoris parents are away a lot and he has a hard time with his heats and the idiot's been avoiding us since the interhigh tournament. He's done this to himself to a degree." He pulled his friend a little closer to his chest protectively. "When omegas get severely touch starved, touch becomes painful and it's hard to recover from." The youngest of the group let out a high pitched sob.
"Some pack we are," He grumbled sadly. Semi reached around ruffle the smallers hair fondly.
"Don't say that, we've never really been allowed to be a pack."
"That's not.. We should.."
"He's right," Ushijima spoke up for the first time, having been more focused on nuzzling Satoris neck and rubbing soothing circles across his back and hips. "But that isn't an excuse for us lot looking out for each other."
Goshiki quilled his raising voice at the shush of the rest of the team, " I promise when I'm alpha and the ace of this team I won't let this happen to anyone on the te... in our pack." Semi chuckled.
"Satori is an idiot, I don't think many omegas are stupid enough to get themselves in this state." He gave the smallers hair one more ruffle for good measure and the cuddle pile fell into silence, the only sound disturbing the it where Satoris whimpers which slowly tapered into pants much to everyone’s relief. Semi found himself lulled by the warmth and contact of the Alphas and Omega around him and before he could fight it his eyes where dropping.
~*#*~
Far earlier than Semi would have liked he was pulled from sleeps tendrils by an awful scent assaulting his senses. Wrinkling his nose in distaste he looked for the source but only found his...pack stirring around him seemingly by the same thing. The ashen haired took a whiff of the air and wrinkled his nose in displeasure at the distressing sour scent filling the room, looking towards Satori who appeared to be the source. From his position he caught eyes with Wakatoshi who appeared to have stayed awake.
“I think Satoris suppressants wore off a while ago, I've never known his scent before.” Semi shuddered. You could read a lot into an Omegas emotional state by scent alone and the sour scent that was coming from the red head that had been hidden through an unruly amount of suppressants until now was definitely unhealthy, on the rare occasions when Semi had been in Satoris house, he knew the omega had the distinctive scent of chocolate and some sweet spice. ‘What's been happening that you aren't telling me Tori?”
Semi had meant the words as a thought but the captain grumbled in agreement. As far as he was aware, Ushijima considered Satori as something close to a best friend ever since the omega had insisted he sat with them in their first year because ‘as a team they should eat lunch with them because that’s what teams do in his favourite sports manga. Satori had ever since stuck to the taller like glue. To say it was agonising for Semi to sit and watch them steal longing glances at each other (or slightly more focused stared in the forever stoic Alphas case) for nearly three whole years was an understatement. Then Satori had planned to ask the Alpha to court him and then interhigh happened. Along with the sour smell, Satori picked up on something else, a faint foreign he could have sworn he had smelled before but couldn't place it. A knock and a static voice from the speakers pulled him from his thoughts and he looked up as the nurse creaked the door open and peaked her head through.
"How is he doing?" She asked. Semi awkwardly sat up, Shirabu rising up behind him rubbing his eyes, cute.
"Better." Ushijima didn't lift his gaze from the omega resting against his chest. The nurse nodded.
"Good, Semi your parents are here, they said they can take you and Tendou home as soon as you're ready."
"Thank you," Semi yawned and stretched as the rest of the team mimicked him and began to rise. Wakatoshi stood and ever so carefully lifted Satori into a princess carry. They filed out, huddling around their captain and placing a hand on any part of Satoris skin that was exposed beneath his training jersey and filed out of the heat room with some reluctance. The nurse lead them out of the office and through the school, eerie with a lack of students, and out into the reception where Mr and Mrs Semi where standing waiting for them, rushing towards them as then entered. Semi Mahiru, a kind faced and doe eyed omegan woman who, minus the eyes, was the image of her son, eyed the omega with unreserved worry on her face while Semi Misaki, a Tall Alpha with Eitas piercing eyes stood behind her looking shocked, nose wrinkled at the putrid scent coming from the omega. Upon overhearing a conversation Semi had with Tendou when he first opened up about his home life, The Semis had always gone out of their way to open up their home to the red head and Semi couldn't have been more thankful, after the school holidays and weekends they had insisted Satori spend at their house, they saw Satori as a second son.
"Saito told us what was going on, I had no idea, Why didn't you tell us something was going on?" Mahiru looked besides herself, looking at her son with an edge of disappointment. Semi bristled.
"If I had any idea... I didn't know! What was I-"
"If you'll pardon me for being rude Semi-san, nobody know anything about what Satori has been going through, he's been avoiding us for some time," leave it to Wakatoshi tried and keep things neutral. "I don't think arguing will be good for Tendou in his current state." Mrs Semi sighed.
"Let's get you both home," She pulled her son into a one armed hug much to his embarrassment in front of his team. "Can you carry Satori out to the car?" She addressed the Alpha who bowed his head respectfully and nodded.
"Of course. Forgive me for asking but may I accompany you back to your home? I would very much like to see to it myself that Satori recovers. Feel free to decline my request." Mahiru chuckled. If it had been any other Alpha, anyone would have had every reason to question the motives of an Alpha wishing to accompany an incapacitated omega where they may be left alone but the older Semis knew he was very probably incapable of having ill intentions.
"Still so formal Wakatoshi, of course you may." Misaki spoke for the first time and turned to leave the building. Semi and Wakatoshi turned to the rest of their team who said their goodbyes for the weekend and departed. Shirabu lingered to steal a chaste kiss from his mate and also left with the promise of visiting the next day.
"Wait a minute! I'll be back in a second!" Goshiki piped up and ran out of the reception, returning slightly out of breath carrying the three third years forgotten bags. Misaki took them with a fond smile from the smaller and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for looking after Sempai!" He practically shouted at the older alpha, or at the floor since he was bent at a ninety degree angle. Misaki chuckled.
"You'll be a great pack leader when you get older, not go and get yourself home." With that he left, cheeks flushed at the compliment and turned to wave as he jogged home. Wakatoshi was lead to the Semis car and they drove home, semi sitting with Wakatoshi in the backseat with Tendou curled up in the formers lap with his legs draped across the latter. Mahiru only broke the silence making occasional comments to herself about how some parents aren’t fit to be parents and the likes, only pacified by her husband resting a calming hand on her shoulder without taking his eyes on the road. They finally pulled into the driveway of their large somewhat traditional two story house and he youngers wasted no time awkwardly getting out of the car and into the house, kicking their shoes off as they entered.
"I'll make some dinner and bring it up, anything in particular you want me to make?" Misaki asked as they made their way to Semis room.
"I don't think Satori will be up to eating much, maybe some soup or a smoothie?"
"Got it, I'll bring it up in a bit, make yourselves comfortable," She bustled off in the direction of the kitchen and Semi led he way to his room. The alpha settled himself on Semis large bed with his back resting against the headboard, he rearranged the omega with an impressive display of strength so the omega was sitting his lap laying against his chest. The arms wrapped protectively around the smaller made the corner of Eitas lips curl as he sought out something for himself and Satori to wear.
"So when are you planning to ask him to consider you?" He tried casually, feigning nonchalance. The alpha hummed in thought, even at a distance Semi could see the darkening of his ears. Is that a blush? "Don't act like you weren’t planning to at some point." Wakatoshi stayed silent, finally tearing his gaze away from the redhead who looked much calmer than he did earlier although his skin was still an unhealthy pallor and his breath laboured.
"I do not think it appropriate to talk about courtship at this particular moment Semi." Said omega rolled his eyes as he found what he was looking for.
"Alright I'll drop it. Out, We need to change." The alpha made no move to leave and Semi resisted the bubble of laughter that threatened to escape his lips. "I am not having us sleep in my bed in sweaty jerseys, out!" With some reluctance, the alpha shifted Satori off his lap and onto the soft mattress. As soon as he let go of the smaller completely, Satori whimpered pathetically. Semi and Wakatoshi froze, locking eyes when he whimpered again. "Never mind, Sorry," Eita said guiltily as he quickly crawled onto his bed sitting beside the alpha as he pulled the distressed omega back into his lap. Semi shuffled as close as he could and rested his head on Satoris shoulder, rubbing his cheek against clammy skin and hoping the pheromones he was releasing where comforting. Within minutes he found his eyelids drooping again at the warmth that had built up from the shared closeness and he fumbled to pull his comforter over the three of them and wishing the curtains would close themselves as the sun was still shining and early evening light pooled through his windows.
"Eita?" Mahiru opened the door quietly and padded across the room with a serving platter holding three glasses with straws and some sandwiches. She set them on the night stand and sat down on Eitas side of the bed and ran a hand through Tendous hair.
"Make sure he drinks that," She pointed at the smoothie that smelled of chocolate and banana. Her nose flared as she leaned in to closer examine the omega and a look of shock and recognition? crossed her features, movement faltering. Eita opened his mouth to ask what that look was for when she stood up and made her way out of the room. "I want to know exactly what’s been going on in the morning, make sure he knows I'm going to kick his ass if he doesn't have a good excuse for not looking after himself when he wakes up." The underlining concern in her voice wasn't lost to Eita but he was to tired and comfortable to get up and follow her. She drew the curtains before she left them for the night.
"Here," He passed one of the smoothies to the alpha and stroked circles against Satoris arm. "Hay, wake up, mom made you your favourite." Picking up the chocolate concoction and waving the tip of the straw under the redheads nose, he gently coaxed him to semi-consciousness.
~*#*~
Dark lashes fluttered minutely, something delicious was being shoved under his nose and he could distantly hear someone calling his name. As the redhead gained consciousness he became of how warm he was, warmth caging him in on both sides and wrapped around his chest, he couldn't remember feeling this content in a long time despite also feeling like he was recovering from death.
"Satori, wake up," Was that Semi? The omega willed his eyes open and saw through blurry vision that he wasn't at school or home, the strongest scents present where that of his omegan friend and an unmistakable smell of cinnamon and thunderstorms. Why on earth was he in Semis room with them? He opened his mouth to speak but a straw was shoved in his mouth. "Drink." To exhausted to argue he sipped at the concoction that had enticed him out of sleep and moaned in delight at the taste. The straw drew air and made a gurgling sound before he was finished enjoying it. With a content sigh he snuggled into the comfortable warmth that was Ushijima, unembarrassed at the closeness and fell back to sleep.
~*#*~
Eita woke up abruptly the next morning, the darts of sunlight sneaking past the cracks in the curtains across his face made him grumble in annoyance but that wasn't what woke him. something, or someone more specifically, was wriggling in his arm. Someone who smelled faintly like chocolate ice cream under a more unpleasant scent. Yesterdays events rushed back to his mind and he immediately worried that Tendou had somehow reverted to the state he had descended to yesterday but the omegas seemed to be pushing his arms away which he had curled around his waist before falling asleep the night before. Before the he could ask what was wrong the omega answered for him.
"Bathroom, please," almost on autopilot, the slightly shorter untangled himself and allowed the redhead to crawl over him, promptly fall off the bed and half run, half crawl to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. The sound startled the sleeping alpha and the mattress creaked slightly as he rose into a sitting position.
"What the he-" He froze mid word at the muffled wrenching sounds that came from the en suite bathroom and the acidic, sour scent of vomit made the alphas nose wrinkle in a mix of disgust and concern. Several seconds crawled into minutes as the wrenching continued and the pinch server caught the Ushijimas equally concerned gaze. Eventually the sounds tapered into pants and the tap started running, a few seconds later, Tendou called through the door.
"Semisemi, mind if I take a shower?" Semi had been waiting for the guess blocker to re-emerge from the bathroom and demand he talk about what had been going on, just-recovering-from-a-drop be damned, but the timidness of the omegas borderline plea stopped him in his tracks.
"S-sure."
"Thank you." Any resentment he had had towards the other omega evaporated even though he was well within his right to be angry at the other for not confiding in him. As much as Satori tried to act like he didn't need anyone and was completely independent, Semi saw right through his nonchalant attitude. He rose from his bed, finding the clean sweats and tshirt he had discarded the night before and padded to the bathroom door, creaking it open and tossing them in the direction of the dry towel stand. He then returned to his bed and sat in silence while the shower ran until he eventually addressed the alpha who seemed to be deep in his own thoughts.
"When he's done, do you mind leaving us for a few minutes? you can take a shower down the hall." Semi almost felt bad for pushing the alpha out but he doubted Satori would talk with his long term crush in the room, as far as he was aware he never talked to anyone aside from himself about his home life which was most likely a big part of the cause of his withdrawal. The dense alpha wouldn't take a hint if he tried to get him out of the room subtly and he was pretty sure he'd understand. Ushijima nodded and moved towards their bags, rummaging in his own and finding clean clothes and left moments before Tendou emerged from the en suite, towel over his shoulders and looking awfully lost in Semis usually perfectly fitting clothes. He seemed to be looking everywhere but at the ashen haired omega.
"Um, Thanks for... you know.. looking out for me last night." He even tried to force a little of his usual eccentric air into his voice but failed miserably. Semi noted now more than yesterday how raspy the others voice was, possibly from disuse. With a sigh, Semi pulled the comforter over his lap and patted his lap. The guess blocker halted reluctantly, eyes downcast and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"guess there's no evading anymore." Semi grumbled and the redhead slowly crawled onto bed next to the blonde omega. He let himself slump so his head was resting on the elders lap. Semi brought his hands to card through the youngers hair soothingly, the omega sighing at the touch and his whole body seemed to relax.
"Tell me." was all he said. Satori tensed up slightly, one hand grasping at the fabric of Semis pants and he shuddered.
"Semi I-"
"Tell me." Eita let his nails gently graze against Satoris scalp in a way he knew relaxed the younger and seconds snailed by in silence and hopefully stop him from resisting. A small sound made the blondes stomach clench.
"I-" Satori took a shuddered breath, trying and failing to conceal a sob. "It was my fault we didn't make it to nationals, If I weren't such a sorry excu-"
"No it wasn't." Semi cut him off immediately but kept his tone soft. "It was no ones fault, We where never going to win every game and Karasuno took us by surprise. It wasn't any one persons fault."
"But Semi-"
"And nobody blames you. Coach may be an asshole but be blames us by default for ruining his alpha elite views. Everyone has been worried about you." Semi felt his pants becoming damp, not just from the mess of damp wet hair strewed across his lap. "That’s not everything, I've known you long enough to know this wouldn't bother you to this extent. What else?" There was another long pause while Satori silently wept into the elders lap, trying his best to comfort him in any way he could.
"My-" He coughed to disguise his voice cracking, "My parents said they're k-kicking me out when I-I graduate. If I don't get acc- accepted into university then I don't know where I'm going t-to go. I haven't had any responses f-from the applications I sub-submitted." Semi seized his movements at that, cold hatred washing over him like a poisonous smog. There didn't seem to be an end to how low the rambling omega's parents could sink. Eita closed his lips for a moment to force down the tyrant of profanities he wanted to sew and didn't speak until he was sure his voice wouldn't break. And not receiving any acceptance letters was troubling, Semi had got lucky and received an acceptance letter from his first choice of university a week ago and a rejection letter from another not that it mattered.
"I'm sure there must just be some sort of delay. And do you really think me or my parents would see you out on the streets? actually do you think any of the team would let that happen? I'm almost insulted." he chuckled but the sound was somewhat forced and he failed to hide it, choosing to continue his ministrations of the tallers red locks.
"I can't do that, I w-wouldn't want to i-intrude."
"You've stayed here more than you have at home and it wouldn't have been the first time my parents have wanted to give you one of the spare rooms. It wouldn't be all that much different compared to how things are," - or where,
"Semi I can look after myself-"
"And that hasn't been going so well for a while now." Satori twisted to shoot an offended look at the older but it didn't hold and he turned away. He sniffed wetly and rubbed his eyes on the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing.
"I don't know...I d-don't know what to do S-Semi," despite calming down, Satori curled in on himself, his voice grief stricken and the arm that wasn't fisting Semis pants curled around his abdomen. Semi had noticed how the repulsive scent the omega had been emitting had considerably lessened since the day before and his natural scent had started coming through but that smell rolled off the omega in waves and it was heart breaking. Eita waited patiently for whatever else was distressing the omega to the point of dropping but when it didn't help he let a hand smooth over the tallers back comfortingly.
"What else? There’s something you haven't told m-"
"I-I think I'm pregnant."
Eita blinked, the words not sinking in as he replayed them in his mind.
"W-what?"
"I t-think I'm p-pregnant. M-my last h-heat. I... I was on my way h-home from pract-tice. There where four o-of them. My l-last heat did"..didn't happen." Satoris sputters broke off into sobs and his whole form trembled as he finally made the confession. The truth struck him like a thousand knives and Semi fought the burn of his eyes, unable to withhold the low while that escaped him. He laced his arms around the tallers waist and drew him towards himself and the redhead clung to him, subbing uncontrollably.
"Who." The grieving omegas whipped their heads around in shock at the alpha standing in the doorway. Enraged hormones overwhelmed them and they both withdrew, simultaneously tilting their heads back in instinctual submission to the alpha. Wakatoshi was not an expressive person, no matter if he was excited, angry or exasperated he never expressed his emotions. Right now his rage was clear on his face, lips drawn up slightly in a feral snarl revealing elongated canines and eyes dark, narrowed. Seeing their friend show such an expression was unnerving.
Satori whimpered audibly, evidently far more susceptible to the pheromones than the marked omega. Ushijima seemed to notice this and the anger melted. He crossed the room in three long strides and sad besides the shaken omegas. "Sorry, who was it?" He asked gently, resting a hand on a trembling shoulder and gently tugging the red haired omega around to face him, he didn't allow it and clung to Semi more, sobbing into the olders scent glands. Semi glared.
~*#*~
Ushijima hadn't meant to overhear, he had returned to retrieve the clean spare clothes he usually kept in his bag having picked up dirty ones by mistake and was inches away from knocking when he heard the muffled conversation.
"My parents said they're k-kicking me out when I-I graduate. If I don't get acc- accepted into university then I don't know where I'm going t-to go. I haven't had any responses f-from the applications I sub-submitted." The words made him stiffen and a growl tickled the back of his throat. "Satori's parents are kicking him out?". The growl he had been holding back escaped him, his instincts at war with his better judgement because he shouldn't be hearing this but he wanted nothing more than to sooth the omega, make all of his troubles go away. The conversation continued, to low for the alpha to hear until he picked up until "I t-think I'm p-pregnant. M-my last h-heat. I... I was on my way h-home from pract-tice. There where four o-of them. My l-last heat did...didn't happen."
Ushijima saw red. All sounds around him drowned out by white noise. The beast in him stirred, rearing its head. "how DARE someone defile my omega. The rational part of his mind echoed how Satori wasn't his omega even though he had wanted him to be for some time but he wasn't in his right mind. His feet carried him forward and into the room.
"Who?" The two omegas looked at him in shock and visibly wilted, Satori tinting his head back in response to the pheromones he was undoubtable releasing and the beast in him purred at the sight but he could come back to that. Right now he needed to know who attacked his friend so we could go and rip their throats out with his bare teeth. Satori whimpered, resisting the pheromones for a split second and curling against the smaller omega and the scent that emitted from the trembling omega stopped in his tracks and the alphas mind redirected towards looking after the omega. He was sitting beside the two before he know what he was doing. Anything to stop the unbearably distressed pheromones the omega was releasing.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to scare you. It was not my intention." Over the mess of damp red hair he caught Semis accusatory gaze and guilt bubbled in his stomach. Satori hiccupped and released his vice grip on the older, dropping his face into his palms.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm pathetic, sorry you both have to p-put up with me."
"You're not pathetic-"
"I am, I don't deserve your care.... I'm tainted.. dirty-"
"Enough." Wakatoshi hadn't meant to sound so stern but he couldn't bare to hear the hear the omegas self depreciative words anymore. In his eyes Satori was nothing other than perfect, He lit up any room he walked into with his smile, H never made Ushijima feel alienated as people had in the past and was never anything other than accepting of his lack of social awareness. Satori had been a bright and shining Constance in his life and the alpha wanted nothing more than to court the omega, bond with him and mate him, give him all the affection and care he could and protect him from the harsh world they lived in, even more cruel to the unfortunate omega than he would have ever imagined.
Damn his inner beast for acting on its own and driving him forward before his mind could catch up. All but forgetting there was another omega in the room right in front of him, is hands found the omegas, pulling them on his face and his hands found sickly pail, wet cheeks and he forced the omega to face him. The omega tried to withdraw his face but Ushijima kept a firm hold and eventually hollowed eyes rose to meet his intense stare.
"Satori," The gentle way he uttered the name caught the others attention. "Please, Consider me."
There was a shuffle of movement and some of the weight on the mattress shifted and left. The alpha heard Semi utter something along the lines of 'I'll leave you to it," but he didn't acknowledge it. He only had eyed for the red haired omega who stared back at him, eyes blown wide.
"W-What.?" He hiccupped. Wakatoshi stared, drinking in the sight of the omega. His still damp hair framed his face and his skin was still an unhealthy pallor but past that Wakatoshi saw the light dust of freckles acruss his cheeks and hose and oh how he wanted to lay next to him as he slept and count them in secret. He saw the dark red of his irises that matched his hair, usually so full of life and cheer. The slack hands that rested over his own in a weak attempt to pry them away, delicate hands that he wanted to lather with kisses and affection along with every other part of him, convey the heat and depth of his feelings in ways he'd never be able to translate into words or expressions. Satori was beautiful in so many ways and something inside him hurt that the omega couldn't see it in himself.
"Consider me, Please. I want you to be my omega." Satori froze, stared back at him in disbelief. Slowly, his face wrinkled, eyes glazing and fresh tears escaping and he broke eye contact and much to the alphas disfavour, tried to pull away.
"No. You deserve better, You deserve so much more." His voice warbled and Ushijimas heart dropped. He released the omega only to reach his arms around the smaller and drew him against himself. The omega fought, loud sobs tearing through the silence but the alpha refused to let go.
"If you hold any feelings for me please consider me. You don't have to answer now but please don't reject my offer because you think you are less than worthy. Even if you are not it doesn't matter because I want you." The omega's struggles weakened, not that there was much strength behind his fight before. " apologise for speaking out of term, I do not want to force you into anything. It took me a while to realise but you make me...happy. Whenever you are near I'm always happy." Ushijima cursed himself, although he knew he never spoke this much he didn't know how to literate his feelings. Couldn't convey his thoughts and it frustrated him endlessly. "these pups, I'll take care of them, I'll fester them as my own if that is what it takes. They are a part of you an-" His ability to voice his thoughts ended there and instead he threaded a hand through crinson locks, hoping the genuineness of his thoughts conveyed in his scent. Tendous fight seized all together and trembling hands grasped at the front of his shirt in a desperate manner. He allowed his face to drop and a shall twinge of hope sparked in the alpha as the omega nuzzled the junction of his neck, sobs tapering into nothing. The smaller relaxed, his entire body seemed to melt against the aces and Ushijima almost missed the soft rumble against his chest. Satori purred.
"Ok. I accept." Wakatoshi wasted no time pulling the omega closer to his chest, readjusting them so they where sitting comfortable against the soft pillows of Semis bed.
"Now let me take care of you." The awful scent of an ill-looked after omega was still permitted the air and Wakatoshi pulled the many comforters towards himself, piling them on top of himself and his omega. His omega. The beast in him purred in pride as he caged the omega in, drawing him close to his chest once again in the makeshift nest and nosed at his scent glands, smiling softly as the scent of chocolate ice cream became stronger and the omega continued to purr in his arms.