Untitled Part 43
Chapter Forty Three: Weightless
Hajime~
"Tell me why you're irritated," Oikawa commanded as he rolled over on the cold floor to pull on his grey sweatpants-- pale skin still flushed by their hot and heavy fucking in the equipment room.
Hajime groaned at the intensity behind the words. He just wanted to bask in the post-sex scent of his Omega and to not think about Kabuto. The snake had twisted inside his mind and he needed a break. He had barely enjoyed his fantasy come to life-- too overwhelmed with thoughts of the drug lord.
He placed a large hand on his forehead, feeling defeated, then glanced to his dressing Omega. "If I tell you, you have to promise to not be mad."
Oikawa raised an eyebrow before pulling a turquoise shirt over his head. "That bad, eh?"
"Yes," he affirmed, flashing Oikawa dark eyes. He took in a shaky breath and forced himself to put a bit of faith in his Omega-- he had just wanted to secure an extra bit of protection, nothing more. Hopefully Oikawa could see that.
"Okay," the chestnut boy replied carefully, his playful disposition dropping away to match Hajime's seriousness. "Okay. I won't get mad. Just tell me."
Hajime rolled up to sit against a plaster wall of the storage room and sighed. "I met with Kabuto yesterday."
"You met with-"
"Wrong word choice," he quickly interjected, sensing Oikawa's rising anger through his hot scent. "I went with Yuji and Bokuto to give them a friendly warning...to not come back. And to stay away from you and the nest."
Oikawa was silent for a moment, his stormy eyes fixed on Hajime. "Did it go as planned?"
"No," Hajime admitted through clenched teeth, hating the sarcastic look the chestnut Omega was happy to give him. "No it did not."
"Shocker."
"You're mad."
Oikawa rolled his neck back to look at the ceiling, then shook his head and grinned. "I'm not mad, Hajime," he whispered as he ran a quivering hand through his chestnut hair. "It's just...they're dangerous...okay? You shouldn't go near them again. In fact, please do not go near them again."
Hajime flashed the Omega with a skeptical look. "Yeah, drug dealers tend to be a little fucked in the head sometimes, but they aren't that scary. I'm sure we could handle ourselves-"
"No," Oikawa said, deadpan. "No. You don't understand."
Hajime sat up, suddenly honed in on Oikawa's stressed scent. "What is it," he barked with dark eyes, growing extremely antsy in a matter of seconds. His instincts coiled around his stomach and he subconsciously released a possessive fragrance to cover his Omega.
"They're...Yakuza...Hajime," Oikawa admitted in the quietest of whispers and closed his eyes. "I mean, they're a young branch, but they're still dangerous. Just...promise me that you'll stay away from them. I promised you that I would, so give me the same courtesy."
Hajime's thoughts went into a dark flurry at the honest plea-- yanking forth reservations with his family that he had all but forgotten. His father was Yakuza, and a prominent member, at that. The old man had expected him to follow the same footsteps, but the older he grew, the more he had refused. Being involved with the Yakuza was for a certain kind of person-- one with a very steel stomach. Hajime had learned, very early on, that he had all the necessary traits. It was a realization that frightened him to the core so, like any logical person, he had been all too eager to run away from it.
He was keenly aware that his father was just biding time while his only son went to University-- went through a rebellious stage.The moment he felt that Hajime was over it, he would ask, or command, his son to come back and join the family business. Only, it wasn't just a stage. Hajime was never going back. He knew that, soon, his father would grow impatient and his access to the well of family money would be cut off, but he didn't care in the slightest. Earning his own way was a pleasant idea for him-- one that he closely attached to the idea of personal freedom.
Hajime's mind flickered to Oikawa's dealings with Kabuto and his throat rumbled in panic. How deep had his Omega fallen into the Yakuza snake trap? Was he still involved in it? Hajime knew, better than anyone that, once you were indoctrinated into the dark lifestyle, it was nearly impossible to get out unscathed. With so many questions flying through his brain, he started with the easiest one.
"Who else knows?" He asked through narrow lids, visibly quaking from a combination of fear for Oikawa, and anger with the situation.
"No one," his Omega asserted with heavy eyes-- his oceanic scent suddenly worn. "Not even Suga...or Keiji. Just you. I doubt Yachi even knows."
"You're out?"
"I was never fully in."
"Good," Hajime said with a deep sigh of relief-- at least the chestnut beauty was smart enough to leave before things got too serious.
"You're not telling me something," Oikawa said quietly with a tone of hesitation. "I don't...I don't know what it is...but it's got you really upset...so I can only assume that it's...personal."
"I'm upset that you got dragged into that kind of l ifestyle," Hajime affirmed, knowing full well that his response was far from the truth. Was it really a good idea to tell Oikawa everything?
"No. It's not just that," Oikawa replied, sniffing the air around Hajime as he fiddled with the ends of his shirt. "There's something else, too."
Hajime sighed again, heavier than before, and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. Avoiding the topic was not going to do anything to help keep his Omega safe. In fact, it would probably put Oikawa in more danger. If he knew about Hajime's family, then he would know to keep his guard up.
"I'm ashamed of it," Hajime said after a few minutes of tense silence. His voice was almost a whisper and he looked up to meet Oikawa's interested gaze. "It's not exactly something that's in my control."
"Don't be. You know my past. There's not much that could top that," Oikawa affirmed with a sweet smile and his tranquil scent did well to calm Hajime's nerves.
Hajime shook his head, mouth set in a hard line, and confessed. "I come from a long standing Yakuza family. I'm not...a full member...and I don't plan on ever being one. But, it's going to follow me around for the rest of my life and..." He trailed off, heart in his throat, fearing his next words. "And if we mate...then it will follow you around, too."
Oikawa laughed at that. A sweet, singsong sound that flooded the small room with more of his clean fragrance. "What are the chances~~"
"What?" Hajime asked, raising an eyebrow-- relieved that Oikawa paid no mind to his roundabout suggestion that they break up.
"That the only two people in the house who have had dealings with the Yakuza, end up together~~" The chestnut boy quipped as he shook his head with a snort. "Unless...none of your other teammates are involved, are they?"
"Fuck no," Hajime laughed-- the only other Alpha who might have the stomach for it would be Tsukishima, and maybe Tobio. "I'm the only one. Trust me."
"Do any of them know? About your family?"
"Daichi does."
"Ah. So he's been father Alpha long before my nest arrived, then."
"Yeah," Hajime said with a playful grin-- sometimes he forgot just how much support Daichi provided both him and his teammates. "Always been the captain type, even before he was officially named as one."
OIkawa shifted on his knees, leaning forward to gently caress Hajime's jaw. After breathing in a few happy breaths of his scent, the chestnut Omega leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his lips that melted his insides.
"So," he whispered as he licked his plump lips, meeting Hajime's fluttering gaze. "You're going to tell me exactly what Kabuto told you."
It was not a suggestion.
Oikawa~
As Oikawa listened to Hajime's detailed account of the meeting with Kabuto, he felt his heart sink down into old memories. He had always had his suspicions that Kabuto was a puppet master-- twisting Chaki to his will from an unseen place. However, he had never truly believed it.
Until now.
Hajime's unexpected news meant that every terrible thing Kabuto had said to him during the party had been intensely calculated. The snake knew exactly which buttons to press-- the ones that would make him dejected and self-conscious. Ones that would rob him of the confidence he needed to physically attack before the yellow house Alphas returned. Seriously? Had Kabuto really been that concerned with his safety? He wanted to scoff at the very notion, but shuddered when he found himself unable.
Everything lined up too perfectly and he hated it. The tattooed snake even went so far as to engage in the brawl to save face with his Yakuza pack. It was so like Kabuto-- to plan a hundred steps ahead and wrap everything up in a neat little bow.
Well, not everything.
Oikawa's scarred face was a testament to that. Kabuto had lost control. He had seen it happen to the tattooed man before, many times. The dark snap in his eyes, the scent of his unyielding rage-- it was exactly the same when the Alpha smashed him into the steel faucet. The loss of control over internal instincts didn't excuse the act of violence, the nasty scar on his face, but it did leave Oikawa with a bitter understanding that he didn't want.
Anger was easier than understanding. He wanted his anger back.
***
Oikawa stirred from his nightmare filled sleep, twisted in the blankets next to Hajime's near-comatose figure. He had already made peace with what his Alpha had done...but not with the apparent things that Kabuto had divulged.
Kabuto and his spider web of lies...he couldn't get them out of his head. Why had the tattooed man explained so many crucial secrets to Hajime? It was out of character and Oikawa could not, for the life of him, come up with a good reason-- aside from a desire to make peace with the yellow house Alphas. But that couldn't be the only reason, right?
He glanced at Hajime as he yanked a navy sweater over his narrow shoulders, then snatched his phone from the bedside table. His Alpha was going to be very mad at him for what he was about to do, but he had to find out the truth for himself.
He snuck out into the dark hallway, adjusted his grey backpack over tired shoulders, then clicked on his phone. He hated that he still knew Kabuto's number off by heart-- obsessive need for drugs had burned the digits in his mind for all eternity. Only, that wasn't the entire truth. Despite everything, Kabuto had provided him with some measure of safety...a shrewd feeling of protection in his darkest hour.
As he typed on the bright screen, his hands shook with anticipation, but he wasn't frightened in the slightest.
It's Oikawa. I know you're awake. We need to talk.
He hit send, then padded down the stairwell and pushed out the front door to sit on the veranda steps. He inhaled the humid, early autumn air and ran a quaking hand through his disheveled hair. What the fuck was he doing? Had he gone mad?
Before he had the chance to contemplate the answer, his phone vibrated in his hands.
Where?
He sighed and told himself an obvious lie, that he wasn't nervous, then replied.
Waterfront park. Red bench. Come alone.
Immediately, Kabuto's reply popped up on the glass screen.
You really trust me to come alone?
Oikawa couldn't help but chuckle at the sentence. He did not trust Kabuto with anything, but his desire for answers overruled all thoughts of safety. He pondered back to their altercation at the party, to the moment when Keiji's rape had been revealed-- Kabuto's bright eyes had flickered with shock. He was certain of it. The question was, just what exactly was the snake surprised by? His vicious monologue, or the rape itself?
He shook his head, steadied his conviction, then typed one last reply.
I don't trust you as far as I could throw you. Prove me wrong.
***
As Oikawa neared the park, he immediately caught Kabuto's familiar scent on the light wind. He scanned over the cobblestone path before him, running parallel to the dark ocean beyond, and noticed a tattooed, surly figure-- casually seated on the red bench. Just as he had promised.
Oikawa sniffed the air a few more times for good measure, to ensure that the snake had truly come alone, then sighed at the ludicrous situation. Once he was fully satisfied, he strode over to the monstrous man and balled his fists to alleviate some of his rampant stress.
"Oikawa," Kabuto remarked as he approached, not even bothering to turn his head from the ocean waves beyond.
"Kabuto," Oikawa seethed back, then walked in a large semi-circle to stand before the tattooed man-- wanting to stay out of lunging distance.
"I came alone."
"I can see that."
"A show of faith, on my part."
Yeah fucking right, Oikawa thought as he debated a snarky remark before deciding against it. He wasn't there to argue, he was there for answers.
"Why the fuck did you say all that shit," he abruptly asked, his voice louder than he intended.
"To your lover?" Kabuto chirped back, then whistled when Oikawa's throat rumbled with an irritated growl that was supremely human. "Would you fucking relax? Christ, you're making me nervous with your scent."
Oikawa hadn't even bothered to reign in his feelings. He was too perplexed and angry with the tattooed man that he didn't have any extra energy to spend on his own fragrance. Kabuto was just going to have to deal.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" He spat forth as he pointed to the long, pale scar on his face. "You see this shit? Don't fucking tell me to relax."
Regret flickered inside the haunting depths of Kabuto's bright eyes-- gone so quickly that Oikawa wondered if he had imagined it. "Fair," was all he said before glancing casually up at the clear night sky.
"Was it all true," Oikawa pushed, shoving down a sudden desire to slap the man across his smug face. "Everything you said to Hajime. Was it true."
Kabuto dropped his gaze back to Oikawa and smirked. "Yes. All true."
"Liar. You've never been one for making peace."
"I've been called that a lot this week."
"Good," Oikawa barked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "People are finally starting to see the real you."
He wished that he meant the harsh words, but he didn't. Something about Kabuto's tone and perfect eye contact rang true. The man was telling the truth, and it freaked him the fuck out.
"You believe me," Kabuto remarked with a playful smile that did well to accentuate his handsome features-- if he wasn't such a bastard, Oikawa was certain that the man would have long lines of beautiful suitors.
"I don't," Oikawa flipped back with a huff of frustrated air. "You've always been a liar, through and through."
"I know your scent pretty well by now, Oikawa. There's not much you can hide from me. You know that."
"Shut the fuck up," Oikawa whispered, his tone liquid hostility at the insinuation. "You don't get to say that kind of shit."
"You're right," Kabuto conceded quietly, then glanced past him to once again look out at the dark ocean. The silence was cutting, lingering for more than a few minutes before he spoke again. "Hajime's good."
Oikawa nearly fell over the cobblestone barrier and onto the beach below. "Excuse me?" He exclaimed, painfully aware that his face was plastered with confusion. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean."
Kabuto rose to his feet and stretched up, revealing dark tattoos on his lower abdomen. "He's a good catch. That's all."
"Did you know about Jime and Keiji," Oikawa asked, wanting to immediately change the subject to something he did want to know. "I saw your eyes, when Keiji said it. You were surprised."
"You're not frightened of me anymore," Kabuto threw back his own statement of a question, disregarding the accusation with professional ease.
Oikawa rolled his eyes, but his breath caught in his throat-- suddenly realizing that he no longer felt fear in the presence of the snake. "No. No, I'm not," he replied, pleased with his own, steady words. "Now stop avoiding. Did you know about Jime and Keiji?"
The tattooed man caught his gaze with serious, unyielding eyes. "No. I didn't. You know my stance on that."
Oikawa snorted. He hated that the words were plainly honest. Kabuto was a demon, but he never saw the man rape an Omega-- except...him. But even then, he wasn't sure if he really could claim rape. He was taken advantage of, for sure, but his gut twisted up when he thought of it as anything else. Sometimes...he had even enjoyed it.
"No," Kabuto growled out, startling Oikawa with sudden intensity. "There were times when I did rape you. Stop trying to excuse it in your twisted head."
Oikawa's heart nearly stopped and he felt hot tears pool in his eyes at the sudden and unexpected admission. He hated that Kabuto could take one sniff of his scent and put together his thought process-- the man was a master manipulator, through and through. It he was born an Omega, he would probably be able to pluck the thoughts from the mind of a thoughtless animal.
"It was wrong. Don't forget it. Don't excuse it," the man continued, eyes still fixed on the calm ocean waves behind him. "I don't take advantage of clients any more. It's not a good way to run an empire."
Oikawa sniffed, scoffing at Kabuto's idea that his Yakuza drug ring was the equivalent of an empire. "No. It's not."
"I'm glad you got out."
"Stop it."
"I am sorry."
"I don't forgive you."
"Good."
Stop, Oikawa internally pleaded as he wiped a stray tear from his soft cheek. Ever since his fight with Hajime, his emotional floodgates had opened and tears seemed to come quite readily.
He just wanted the monster to stop talking-- to stop being so fucking genuine. There was a reason he grew so attached to a snake like Kabuto. A reason he did not leave the man's side for years. A reason that was beyond the drugs.
Deep down, he believed that young Yakuza was always trying to be good. Even as Kabuto struggled against his own inner demons, the man wanted to be a good person. Oikawa had related to that idea-- related to the harsh reality of being happy and good while trapped inside the dark, underworld of crime. It was a near impossible task, but the stupid snake was still fighting to do it. Even now.
"I know that it doesn't make up for much," Kabuto filled the pensive silence with ominous words as he meandered back towards his residence. "But I owe you a favor."
"For what?" Oikawa said in loud reply, glancing at Kabuto's broad back as he walked away. Yakuza favors were not given out lightly. He was plainly aware of that fact.
"For pushing me to come out of the shadows."
"What the fuck does that mean, you cryptic animal."
"I'm gonna push out Chaki. Take the lead. He's too much of a hassle and I've got to stop being a puppet master if I want to get anything done."
Oikawa dropped his head back and looked up at the stars, smiling faintly. All things between them aside, he knew that Kabuto would succeed and, somewhere deep down, Oikawa actually wanted him to-- Kabuto had always been indiscriminate when it came to Alphas and Omegas. The only variation in his bright eyes was the divide between those he could take advantage of, and those he could not. Oikawa used to be in the former category, not because he was an Omega, but because he was weak-minded.
Not anymore.
"One favor. You know where to find me," Kabuto said his final words before disappearing into the dark park.
Oikawa rolled his neck, feeling suddenly lighter than he had in a long time, and started his own walk home-- a favor from a snake might come in handy one day.
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