Untitled Part 64
Chapter Sixty Four: Final Conversations
Hajime~
If Hajime knew one thing for certain, it was that Daichi and Suga needed to be able to leave on a moments notice. They needed to have a go bag packed and ready, and an escape route to take that would work outside of government channels. That left only one option-- utilizing underground contacts. It was something of which Hajime very, very wary. Oikawa was much more liberal with the use of the underground than he was-- he avoided it like the plague. While Oikawa was only partially introduced to it, Hajime's family history made him too acquainted to its dangers. He knew full well just how deep the rabbit hole went.
When he, Daichi, Suga, and Oikawa sat down at the dining room table that morning, they all knew that they had to come up with something -- even if that something was brought on by desperation. That was where Oikawa's plan came into the fold. Hajime absolutely detested it and he had said as much when he was given the details of it the night before. He knew, however, that his feelings didn't matter. With everything that they had become privy to, natural mates, the safety of Daichi and Suga far more important than his Emotions... Or of his own sanity. His instincts were already in overdrive just thinking about the details of it.
He shook his head, reasserting himself, and internally repeated what he knew to be true-- he couldn't allow what to Hamoto, to happen to two of his dearest friends. He needed to keep his mouth shut, his emotions banished, and allow Oikawa's plan to go forward.
"So... Is this the only option we can come up with?" Dachi asked, eyes flicking to Hajime-- are you really okay with things?
It was true that Hajime hadn't argued against what Oikawa had just explained to the group. It was a valid solution to their problem, but that didn't stop an uneasy feeling from settling deep within his chest. Daichi had no doubt picked up on that instinctive emotion. As time had gone on, with the nest living inside of their house, it had become easier to connect with his fellow Alphas' emotions.
"I'm fine with it," he said, trying to convince himself of his own words. Kabuto, one of the newer kingpins in the underground, had the connections that they so desperately needed. He was just going to have to deal with things. "Really. Oikawa and I have already discussed it. It's up to you guys what you want to do. Weigh the pros and cons. Decide."
"Are we seriously sure about this? After everything his pack has done?" Suga asked, his voice stern and unyielding.
Oikawa snorted, looking to Suga. Hajime's own family was out of the fold so that was a dead end-- his father would never deliver. Much like Yachi, Oikawa had experienced Kabuto and the criminal pack first hand. If he felt that they would get what they needed from the snake and come out unscathed, Hajime would follow his lead.
"Listen, Suga," Oikawa said, all of his usual sarcasm lost on his tone. It doesn't matter what Hajime thinks, or what I think, or what any of us think." He barked, tapping the dining room table with a nail. "You guys need an out and this is the best way to make that happen. I know him. I know what he's capable of. And I know he never backs out on favours. They are currency down there. So are you," he paused, pointing two fingers at the captain and his silver friend. "Are you both going to suck it up and do this, or are we going to bring in the professors? Because those are our two options right now."
Daichi closed his eyes and let out a heavy exhale, a stressed scent pouring out with it. "Bringing them in is not something I am totally comfortable with... Kabuto or the professors."
Hajime understood the words better than anyone-- they were in the same boat. He also had been around the tanned Alpha for a long enough time to know what the man meant in his statement. He was expressing a feeling, but without taking a side-- something that made him an exceptional captain in Hajime's eyes. In this moment, however, a decision needed to be made.
"Fair," Oikawa affirmed with a tough nod, bringing the conversation back around to where Hajime wanted it. "But you're forgetting, captain... You don't have a fucking choice."
There was silence for a moment as Oikawa's words rang out into the empty house. Hajime listened as the last remnants disappeared, then glanced down at his watch, tilting his head to one side as he read the face. "We need an answer," he spoke up, sitting up from his slouch. "We need to get the ball rolling. Tsukishima and Bokuto will be back from class at noon, so we're crunched for time. I'm not saying that something might happen in all of this, but the sooner we are prepared, the better." He glanced down to the table, smirking. "And my sanity can't take many more hits. I think I'm speaking for all of us when I say I want this resolved quickly."
Suga remained quiet in thought, but Daichi spoke, calm and meditated. "I can speak the two of us, I think," he said, looking at his mate for encouragement. "That we don't know enough about Kabuto, or escape plans, or any of this, to make an informed decision. We... We would rather place our trust in the people who know this kind of stuff."
Hajime looked between the two mates sitting across from him and Suga smiled awkwardly, tilting his silver head to the side. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers-- he and Oikawa were going to have to make the decision. "Do it," he growled to his Omega sitting next to him. "Text him."
He hated the words as they rolled off his tongue-- he was calling out for a plan that posed a great risk to his mate.
Oikawa pulled up his phone from the pocket of his joggers, glancing around the table for consent. "Yes?"
Suga nodded, his mouth set in a hard line, and Daichi closed his eyes, his throat rumbling out his acceptance.
Oikawa's brown eyes flicked back to the phone in his hand and his fingers began to type furiously on the screen. Then, he set it down on the dining room table in front of them. "And now we wait," he muttered, looking to Hajime with his entrancing hazel eyes. "You're stressing me out with your scent, by the way, so knock it off~~"
Hajime snorted, a trait he had recently picked up from Oikawa. His dark eyes glued on to the device on the oak wood before him-- he didn't care one bit about how his scent bothered his mate. He was taking one for the team in all of this, Oikawa could, too. "Too bad so sad," he grumbled, shifting against the hard back of his chair. "What did you text him?"
Oikawa smirked as his mate's grumpy mood and gestured to the device with a slender shoulder. "See for yourself, you're the one who has all of his Alpha nerves firing off~"
Hajime had just finished rolling his eyes when Suga snatched up the device from the table, curious. He held it up to his pale face, eyes scanning the virtual message. "'I'm calling you in for some fun... I need a travel kit for two. Plastic for the beach and a map so we know what sights to see. Can we go tonight?'" Suga paused, brows furrowed, and Hajime chuckled. It was the same language he had grown so used to during his time under his father-- the obscure words seemed so ridiculous and poetic now.
"Well, I can't very well tell him everything, can I? And we don't want to leave a trace so... We use code," Oikawa huffed, snatching the phone from his silver friend's gentle grasp. "Goddammit, Suga! You making me call it code makes it sound so lame! You're not supposed to ask!"
Suga threw up his arms, his eyes shining out a dramatic, I'm sorry, while Daichi hummed, nodding his understanding. "Mmm, texts would definitely leave a trace. What else would? I suppose we should start thinking about this kind of stuff..."
As the captain's words spilled out, the air of the room tensed, swirling around with a sudden strain.
Hajime growled under his breath, saddened by his packmate's abruptly somber mood. "I wouldn't worry about it too much," he said, doing his best to lighten the atmosphere. "There hasn't been any evidence so far. We're just taking precautions, I doubt anything will come of what Hamoto said. Just keep that in mind and you'll be fine."
"Exactly," Oikawa agreed with a tough nod. "It's just best to be prepared. Nothing is set in stone. Nothing at all."
Suga sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He seemed very tired, almost to a point of aging him. "If anyone told me a year ago that I would be living in a house full of Alphas, mated, running from the government... I would have laughed in their damn face."
"No regrets about it, though, hey?" Oikawa murmured, sneaking out a coy wink in his mate's direction-- which Hajime appreciated it.
"Yeah... But I would take back a few idiot decisions," Suga whispered, trailing off to glance at Daichi. He smiled sweetly and his mate began to rub his back in small circles. "But everything else, I'd never dream of it."
Another bout of silence fell upon the group. This time, much to Hajime's pleasure, it was affectionate and comfortable. He reached next to him, giving Oikawa's thigh a squeeze beneath the table. "So now we wait?"
Daichi nodded, eyes locked on the phone between them. "Now we wait."
Oikawa~
Oikawa was watching afternoon television on the coach, waiting for both dinner and a response from Kabuto. They were now three hours and counting, he was getting anxious. Suga was his partner, his companion, and he would do anything to keep the boy safe. He had no qualms putting himself, or Hajime, in danger to achieve that end, but he was still stressed-- a lot rode on Kabuto. Oikawa didn't like placing any amount of trust in the snake. The only reason he had given the idea any thought was because it all rode on favours-- a currency that was taken very seriously in the underground.
Halfway through a commercial about toothpaste, he felt his phone buzz against his thigh. Suga glanced at him, his arm extended forward, frozen, with the remote in his hand. Oikawa raised an eyebrow and dug out the phone from his pocket, holding it between them, He lit up the screen, pupils darting over his notifications. He glanced down and tapped on Kabuto's icon-- New Message: Mr. Snake.
Calling me in so soon, Oikawa? What a welcome surprise. I thought you would disappear from my life forever :)
Oikawa snorted, rolling his eyes at the message. He hated the coy fucker and his fake love. After this last favour, he was going to disappear from the man's life forever. "Fucking snake..." He whispered under his breath, his reply lighting up the screen in his hands.
Oh fuck off with all of that. How long do you need to get things together?
Suga opened his mouth to speak, but Kabuto was swift in his reply, silencing whatever remark the silver Omega had on his lips.
Two people? That seems like more than a single favour to me...
"Oh shut the fuck up," Oikawa remarked, grinding his teeth. "Can I just throw this out the window?"
Suga shook his head, over-serious. "Not until we get our trip to the beach."
Oikawa opened his mouth, then closed it again. Then opened it again, gpbsmacked. "Did you just... Did you just use purposefully use code in a real life conversation?"
"Yes, I did," Suga announced proudly.
Oikawa brought a palm up to his forehead. "You don't use code in real life, stupid!"
"I know that," Suga barked back, putting his hands on his hips. "And is he going to let you cash in those favours or-"
"No, he will," Oikawa interjected shaking his head, "He's just being an asshole."
He looked back down to the phone, biting his lip with furious eyes.
It's ONE favour, the ONE you OWE me. He typed out, sending the message away with a heavy tap of his finger. It's two people, not TEN, so don't you dare cheap out on me you fuck.
He awaited the reply, holding the phone with an iron grip that tensed up his entire arm. He hated that Kabuto was incapable of separating business with pleasure. Soon, the device rumbled out again and he quickly read out Kabuto's words, whispering them to Suga.
Hahahaha, fine. I'm just fucking with you, so keep your panties on. We're going to need photos and a map. Meet tonight, nine, at the red bench at waterfront.
Suga's scent swirled around the living room, confused. "A map? Photos?" He asked, looking over his shoulder to the sound of Tobio and Shoyo, entering through the front door.
"A map is like..." Oikawa started, trailing off to confirm the meetup with Kabuto. "It's the route you'll take if you need to make an exit. You'll probably hit a variety of safe houses on your way out of the country. I would assume the map will take you two to China... It's easy borders for the Yakuza, lots of connections there and such."
"Okay..." Suga replied, nodding out his understanding. "And the photos?"
"For new identification cards," Oikawa explained, clicking at an invisible camera in front of his face. "If it really does run government deep, they will be a necessity."
"Christ," Suga sighed, leaning back further into the plush couch cushions. His scent swirled around with renewed anxiety.
Oikawa scrunched up his nose and moved in to plan a sweet kiss on the silver boy's cheek. Reality was hitting the poor Omega hard, he could relate, but Suga needed to keep it together. "Your scent is out of control today... I know you're a mess, rightfully so, but you need to keep it on the down low. You're normally pretty good about it, so take a deep breath! Things are going to be fine~~" He said encouragingly, not wanting his friend to wallow in upset.
"I know," Suga replied, flashing a weak smile. "It's just... A lot right now. But you're right... If I keep this up, everyone in the house is going to figure out that something is up..."
Oikawa hummed, cocking his head to the side. "We're just taking early precautions, they'll know everything as soon as we have a good escape plan in place. You said so yourself that it would be unwise to tell them everything before that. Some of them..." He paused, coughing out the names of Asahi, Bokuto, and Yuji under his breath. "Would be a nightmare to deal with. An absolute nightmare. "
Suga laughed at his friend's dramatics and smiled wider, leaning his head back into the couch cushions. "Asahi would just... Melt. He'd be a puddle of stress."
Oikawa chuckled, grabbing the silver boy's hand in his own. "We'd have to mop him up! And can you imagine Bokuto and Yuji? They would be two harpies, flying around in Alpha fits~~"
Suga nodded, letting out a deep breath of air and Oikawa squeezed the boy's hand, picking up on more hints of the strained scent. His friend was doing better to keep it in, but their close proximity had it creeping into his open nostrils. "And once this is done, you can rest easy," he continued, puffing out his chest. "If something does happen, which is suuuuper unlikely, then you and Daichi will be ready for it!"
"Ready for what?" Tobio chimed in, leaning forward against the back of the couch.
Oikawa jumped up, startled by the Alpha's sudden appearance. He cursed under his breath for not smelling the setter's approach-- he was becoming far too comfortable with the collective smell of the house. "Exams," he rattled off a quick lie, eyes flicking to Suga to cover their story. "Daichi, Suga, Hajime, and I are headed to the library this evening to cram for it. We kind of dropped the ball on this test."
"I didn't know you guys all had a class together!" Shoyo remarked from his position near the front door. He kicked off his shoes and bounded over, clumsily hitting into Tobio's side. "Since when? I want to be in a class with everyone, too! That would be so fun, right Tobio?! If you and I had a class together, then you could stop being such a creep, following me around on campus for no reason and-"
Oikawa chuckled, watching Tobio's dark eyes widen as each word tumbled off of Shoyo's lips. The setter pulled the ginger in close, clamping a hand over his mouth with stressed growl. "I don't follow you around on campus, okay!" He affirmed, eyes flicking between Suga and Oikawa-- begging them to believe what he was saying. "You're acting crazy!" He continued, chuckling nervously as his brain worked up another lie.
Oikawa laughed, obnoxiously-- anything to drive another nail into the setter's coffin. "I always knew that you were a creep," he chirped, smiling coyly at Tobio's stiff face. "Every since the first day that I laid-"
Suga jumped in behind Oikawa and clamped a soft hand over the boy's mouth to silence him alongside Shoyo. He smiled a toothy grin at the sullen Alpha towering above them, poking Oikawa in the ribs to shut up a few coy mumbles. "Why don't you take your chatty Omega with you and I'll take my chatty Omega with me," he said, nodding at the stairs by the front door. Oikawa muttered another chirp beneath his hand and he jabbed hard knuckle into the chestnut Omega's kidneys. "Burgers for dinner, probably in an hour or so, okay?!" He continued, glanced out the backdoor through the dining room to the Alphas, grilling on the porch.
Tobio nodded, visibly relaxing with the chirpiest Omegas silenced. He kept his hand fixed in place, on Shoyo's smirking mouth, and wheeled them around to walk towards the stairs. As their footsteps faded up to the second landing, Oikawa erupted, laughing heartily into Suga's palm.
"Why do you have to always antagonize him?!" Suga asked, sicking back into the cushions. "He's gonna snap if you keep at it!"
Oikawa giggled, snorting. "How can you not antagonize him?" He questioned back, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "He makes it so damn easy, so sullen and nervous about love~~"
Suga folded his arms over his chest-- body language shifting to mom-mode. "Because, Oikawa, he gets enough shit from the Alphas! He doesn't need it from you, too. Or from me!"
"But Shoyo left me the perfect openinggggg, he was practically asking for my backup!" Oikawa whined, flashing Suga a pair of puppy dog eyes. " Following me around on campus like some creep... I mean, come on, Suga!"
Suga groaned, but a small smile playing across his pink lips. "Okay, fine. Even I have to admit that Shoyo has become quite the little chirp with him lately. It's actually kind of nice to see. He's really come out of his shell."
Oikawa nodded, rolling his shoulders. "Now if only they would just fuck and get it over-"
Suga immediately covered his ears, shaking his head-- La, la, la, la, la . "Stop that! Shoyo is my baby! I don't want to hear about any of that!"
"Hear about any of what?" Yamaguchi's voice carried over, his tone sweet and innocent.
Oikawa rolled his head back, glancing towards the doorway to the kitchen to look at his freckled nestmate. "Yams! My love! We were just talking about how Shoyo and Tobio should-"
"Do not make me sew your damn mouth shut!" Suga interjected, smacking Oikawa on the bicep with the back of his hand.
Oikawa ignored him, a wicked smirk plastered on his pale face. "You and Tsukishima any closer to having your own good time tog-"
"Oikawa," Tsukishima's voice rumbled out from inside the kitchen, cutting the chirp short. "Is it necessary for you to be in everyone's business?"
Oikawa's face stiffened, his scar contorting slightly upwards. "Is is necessary for you to be such an asshole?" He loudly remarked, his voice carrying into the blue kitchen to the invisible Alpha within.
"Yes, when the occasion calls for it," Tsukishima replied, appearing in the doorway to tower behind Yamaguchi. "Oftentimes, it does when you're involved."
Yamaguchi blushed, turning on his heels to face the blonde Alpha. He kareened his neck upwards, waving his hands in front of Tsukishima's stern face. "Okay, that's enough! Let's get back to those potatoes now!" He rattled off, his scent pouring off droves of anxiety-- clearly nervous about what Oikawa might say.
Oikawa rolled his eyes at Tsukishima's words, growing irritated with the snarky Alpha. "You know what, blondie? You don't even have the balls to..." He trailed off, swallowing his pride at once-- Yamaguchi had turned back around and his face was riddled with lines of anxiety...
Oikawa wanted nothing more than to tear into Tsukishima, right then and there. After everything their pack had been through over the last year, Oikawa was perplexed by their stagnant relationship. They had barely moved an inch from being strange, friendly acquaintances.
Now, after what he had learned in the last twenty four hours, he was utterly gobsmacked by the tepid relationship. They were natural mates, for christ's sake! Even if they didn't yet know it themselves, they should have made more headway in their bond by now.
Oikawa shook his head in disbelief, even Tobio and Shoyo had made obvious strides! They were by no means intimate, but it was clear to everyone that the sullen setter was opening up. He was growing interested in having something more with the ginger Omega. The two weirdos were practically courting each other... What the fuck was Tsukishima's deal?
It was painful for Oikawa, watching Yamaguchi pine after an Alpha that so easily toyed with his emotions. For whatever reason, it seemed to be that Tsukishima's personal creeds were stronger than his natural instincts. If things kept up, Oikawa was certain that the two boys, one cautious, the other pigheaded, would never reconcile their feelings for each other. Yamaguchi would never get to experience the same satisfaction and euphoria that he felt with Hajime. From his perspective, that was all Tsukishima's fault. The blonde idiot was denying not only himself, but Yamaguchi as well, from a natural and implicit bond.
Oikawa paused his rampant thoughts, taking in a deep breath to steady himself in reality. His poking and prodding at the household relationships came from a place of love... But he couldn't justify using it against Yamaguchi. His nestmate was sweet and shy and so undeserving of his quips-- just as Tsukishima was so undeserving of the lovely boy.
Suga coughed, filling the awkward silence at once. He stood up from the couch and stretched up to the ceiling, groaning softly as he did so. "I'll come in and help with the vegetables in a second, Yams," he said, dismissing the freckled Omega who was all too happy for the excuse. "Tsuki, do you guys want to grill them out back?" He continued, nodding to the blonde giant.
"No," Tsukishima replied as Yamaguchi ducked under his arm.
Suga nodded slowly, thinking that there was more that Tsukishima wished to say. Instead, the blonde Alpha stalked back into the blue kitchen, quiet and agitated. Suga blinked once in thought, then his brown eyes shot down to Oikawa, still seated on the living room couch. "Is it impossible for you to not be a shithead?"
Oikawa shrugged, hopping up to his feet in the blue cushions beside him. "Is it possible for Tsukishima to not be a prick?"
Suga sighed, massaging his temples as he bobbed up and down, balancing on the soft cushions. "I know. I'm frustrated, too. Especially after everything we know now..."
"Exactly," Oikawa replied, snapping his fingers in the air beside his ear. "How is he still such a cold hearted asshole? He's keeping Yams at arms length without... Without caring about how he feels."
"Still... It's none of our business. Yams clearly doesn't want us involved," Suga put forth, grabbing onto Oikawa's slender shoulders for balance. "Tsuki isn't like the others... Even Tobio is more open than he is! You can't force the stupid nut to do anything. In fact, the more you prod him about it, the less he's going to want to do what you're saying... Even if your point is valid and well-versed, it doesn't matter to him. You know that, Oikawa. He'll do the opposite of what you say, so your little chirps aren't going to help anything."
Oikawa sighed dramatically, rolling his neck back to look at the ceiling. "I knooooooow, sugar momma, but what they heck do you want me to do? Yams obviously loves him... And he deserves so much better than that blonde asshole!"
Suga hummed under his breath, nodding-- such a nestmother . "I agree... But I'm trying to give Tsuki the benefit of the doubt because..." He trailed off, his scent coiling up with a sudden bout of guilt.
Oikawa paused, inhaling the fragrance, attempting to understand its source. Then, his eyes widened and he grabbed Suga's jaw, pursing the boy's relaxed lips with his hand. "Don't you dare!" He quipped, gingerly shaking the silver Omega's head from side to side. "Don't you take the blame for it!"
"Bwut I accidentally infwuenced thwem!" Suga retorted, his words slurring through Oikawa's grip. "Ywams can't ever fwind someone ewlse becwause of mwe and Daichi!"
"No!" Oikawa reiterated, releasing Suga's jaw only to flick the boy's forehead. "You and Daichi didn't ask for your weird mating super power, so don't you dare blame yourself. Tsukishima being a prick isn't your problem. And..." He trailed off, sighing.
"And...?" Suga asked, opening and closing his mouth to stretch out where Oikawa had held.
"And... I'm sure the stupid blondie isn't... He's not..." Oikawa tried, failing to find the right words.
"He's not a bad guy?" Suga guessed, smirking at Oikawa's struggles. "He's got a heart in there, I know that. He's just so damn stubborn. He's not perfect for Yams, the way he is now, anyways. He needs time to grow. But I have faith."
Oikawa nodded, dramatically rolling his hazel eyes. "Mhm, mhm, okay, motherbear. That's a nice thought. And he, that is what I meant to say," he trailed off, muttering under his breath. "Fuck, he's so hard to compliment!"
"But he's a smart prick," Suga remarked, giggling as the swear rolled off his tongue. "I bet... If he knew about the natural mates stuff... His brain would just..."
"Oh, it would totally self-destruct. It just wouldn't compute in his mechanical brain. He would exploooooooooooode," Oikawa agreed. "Also, let's get off this topic because, you just swore, which, as your child, frightened me. And , we have more important things to focus on right now."
Suga winced, remembering their plight, and smiled awkwardly. "I'm gonna pull Daichi aside and update him on the meetup with Kabuto. We'll all meet out front on the porch around eighty thirty, then? Should be enough to get there by nine."
"Yeah, I agree. That should give us a good amount of time to get to Waterfront..." Oikawa agreed, glancing out the open back door. "Plus it's earlier enough to excuse our absence as studying at the library."
His eyes landed on Hajime's back, the Alpha's muscles tensing beneath his navy shirt as he grilled. Next to him, Daichi stood overseeing the patties, his face hiding his annoyance as Bokuto and Yuji bickered incessantly next to him. Oikawa wished that he could join them with a fresh mind, one untouched by Kabuto, their escape plan, true mates, or Hamoto's dead body. He wished that he would sit down on the patio boards, dangle his feet into the long grass of their yard, and laugh with his pack, late into the night. His journey, indeed, his pack's journey, had been riddled with difficulties, tragic circumstances, and emotional upheavals that had been hard to reconcile. Yet, they had persevered to this moment in time. What was one more hurdle? He knew that the end was in sight-- the days where things could be simple and joyous was upon them.
Soon, he told himself as he fell into step behind Suga, heading for the back porch, soon they could put everything to rest and live the joyous lives they so deserved.
Daichi~
It was nearly nine when the group reached the edge of Waterfront park. As they strode over the mowed grass towards the walking path above the beach, Daichi scanned the area for threats, unwanted visitors, and for Kabuto. The irony was not lost on him, that the latter fell so perfectly into the first two categories, yet here they were, willingly meeting up with him.
"There," Hajime growled out, low and deep, from next to Daichi. "Red bench."
Daichi's eyes raked over the pathway, landing on what he knew to be the coloured bench. The sun had only just set beneath the ocean waves, all he could make out were two large outlines-- one seated, the other standing up against the bark of an overhanging cherry tree.
"Two?" He growled, banishing a sudden rise of his instincts at the unexpected guest. If things went south, if things were a trap, he would fight to the death for everything he had. He was prepared for this. He glanced over his shoulder, trying to relax his mind on the sight on Suga's pale face, trailing a few feet behind him. He internally reiterated to himself that his mate was within arms reach... There was no immediate threat in the vicinity.... And Hajime was shouldered up beside him.
"Smelling him isn't enough, Daichi?" Oikawa chirped, sticking out a pink tongue in the captain's direction. Then, he grabbed at Suga's hand, swinging theirs arms as they walked across the trimmed grass. "Everyone let's just take a deep breath, yeah? We're here to do business. Instincts are not necessary. Things are going to be smooth and easy."
Daichi's throat rumbled out his acknowledgement, willing his instincts away as the boy's words set in. Hajime and Oikawa were representations, carriers, of his sanity right now. He and Suga were completely out of their depth-- they were plain-jane types that paid their taxes and never thought anything of it!
He inhaled a steady breath and notes of Hajime's scent hit his nostrils, calm and disciplined. Daichi did his best to imitate it, but failed. He sighed, wishing that he had Hajime's level of control. He still had a long way to go.
"Kabuto," Oikawa called out as they approached the walkway. "Who's the guest? Are you trying to provoke our pack with unexpected bullshit? Come on, aren't we professionals here?"
Daichi watched Kabuto swivel around on the bench, his bright eyes glancing over the approaching group. " I'm the professional here," He said, smirking. "The only other one here is your mate," he paused as Oikawa rolled his eyes, then he jerked a thumb towards the Alpha behind him. "Vinnie, ID guy. You should know that this shit is a two man job, Oikawa, you say that you're a professional. You also know that I don't do plastics."
Daichi stopped their approach in the grass, two feet back from the bench. His companions fell in behind him. Hajime stepped up next to him, throat grumbling out his discontent. Daichi couldn't blame his packmate for his internal struggle with aggression. After everything that had happened between he, Oikawa, and Kabuto, Daichi was surprised that Hajime hadn't already torn into Kabuto's skull.
"These are the two?" Kabuto asked, pointing two fingers between Suga and Daichi. Oikawa nodded and the snake continued, his tone humorous. "Really? Mom and dad here? Really? They're the ones who need a go bag? Just what kind of bullshit did you guys get into?"
Daichi opened his mouth, a snarl ready and waiting in the back of his throat, but Oikawa beat him to the punch. "No questions from you. Not a single one, you got that? Now, how do you want to do this?"
Kabuto coyly smirked at the confident and commanding tone. Daichi felt Hajime tense up beside him and he struggled to place the emotion he felt from his packmate. His eyes widened, realizing that Kabuto had been making obvious passes at Hajime's mate... Right in front of him.
"Mom and dad need to go with Vinnie to get the plastic," the snake continued, jerking a thumb over his shoulder to the large Alpha behind him. "We need fresh photos."
"And the map?" Oikawa asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"Delivered here in the next two hours," Kabuto remarked, rising to his feet to stretch, his black tattoos flashing out as he reached upwards.
Hajime snarled at the man's movement, losing his internal battle with his irritation. He stepped in front of Oikawa, his muscles tense underneath his tanned shirt.
"Relax, Hajime," Kabuto said casually, rubbing the back of his head with a large hand. "We don't want to start something that you can't finish, now do we?"
As the words rolled off the snake's tongue, Daichi's instincts surged forward, egged on by Hajime's own domineering ones. The words were challenging in nature, challenging Hajime for dominance and for his mate-- he didn't like it one bit. He clenched a fist at his side, watching his packmate for direction. It wasn't his fight, it was Hajimes.
Instead, Oikawa stepped around his bristling mate-- planting himself firmly between Hajime and Kabuto. "Enough!" He barked, holding up steady hands. "No more fucking passes at my mate, you fucking got that?" He seethed, pointing a finger in Kabuto's amused face. "Daichi, Suga, and I will go with Vinnie. Get the photos. Hajime will stay here, with you, waiting for the map."
In that moment, Daichi thought that Hajime might explode... But he didn't. The air held new levels of calm, only the lingering remnants of the Alpha's surging anger remained. Then, it hit him. Hajime and Oikawa knew what they were doing, and they were willing to sacrifice whatever they could in order to help him and his mate. He could still feel his packmate's anger, surging forth like a salty geiser that might blast Kabuto's flesh away like sandpaper, but it was muted by Hajime's sheer will.
"Fine," Kabuto agreed, shrugging in Oikawa's direction. Daichi knew that he was disappointed, landing Hajime instead.
Oikawa's neck snapped back to Kabuto, his face stiff. "Oh you don't get to be pouty. You're going to deliver and then we're going to leave, forever."
Something flashed in Kabuto's bright eyes, something full of regret and remorse, but it was quickly suppressed by his usual, comfortable amusement. "Those are the terms of a favour, Oikawa. I don't want to cause problems in the marriage though..." He trailed off with a coy smirk. "You both could stay with me, while mom and dad over here," he paused, fingering over Suga and Daichi once more. "They can go get their plastics without you. Or you could all go with Vinnie, it makes no difference to me. I can wait for the package myself."
Hajime snorted and spoke, his tone calm and domineering. "You think I trust you to keep your word and deliver? Fuck you and your word."
Kabuto shrugged, shaking his head as if he didn't care. "You know how a favour works, Hajime. Actually, rumour has it that you're quite acquainted with how they work."
"Fuck. You." Hajime snarled out again, his chest rising and falling with angry breaths. Daichi tried to cycle through the series of emotions, tried to translate Hajime's rage, but could barely get a grasp on it. It was something deep, something to do with his family ties to the underground-- an insinuation from Kabuto that he failed to catch.
A tense silence fell over the group. Daichi pulled Suga's figure in closer to his body, instincts coiling around their ownership of the silver boy. Still, he forced himself to be patient-- Kabuto and his lackey were not the type of people that he was familiar with. Oikawa and Hajime, they knew what was best right now and so, he would wait for their decision.
Soon, Hajime's gruff voice spoke up, echoing into the park around them. "I stay. They go. Keep it professional and we won't have a problem," he growled, restating Oikawa's earlier decree. He nodded to the dark shadow of Vinnie, then moved in close to Daichi. "Keep the peace," he growled, the tone low with hints of desperation.
Daichi pulled Suga's hand into his own and watched as Vinnie pushed off from the tree and began a brisk walk towards the right side of the park. He glanced to his mate, then to Hajime-- implicitly understanding the severity of his situation. "I will watch," he snarled his reply, so low it was almost a hiss. "Nothing will happen."
Hajime nodded, his pupils swirling with instinctual black. He was putting his faith in Daichi-- trusting the captain to keep his mate safe. Daichi would never dream of failing such a task and he was eternally grateful that the Alpha had the mind to put he and Suga's needs above his own. Without Oikawa accompanying them, Daichi wasn't sure if he could keep himself together. He was surrounded by unfamiliar circumstances-- the presence of his two experienced friends was practically the only thing keeping his instincts at bay. He didn't want to unleash a rampage on Vinnie and ruin he and Suga's only chance of safety. He inhaled a breath, repeating what he knew to be true-- Oikawa would be able to keep him in check... Oikawa and Hajime were his stabilizers... Oikawa would help to keep Suga grounded and level, too.
"We'll see you soon," Hajime growled, giving him a tough nod of acknowledgement. "You know to text."
"We do," Suga affirmed, smiling sweetly. "We will."
Daichi squeezed his mate's hand with his right, then grabbed Oikawa's into his left. He was going to make damn sure that they all returned to their yellow sanctuary with what was promised to them. Taking a deep breath, he and the two Omegas followed Vinnie across the lot to the rows of houses beyond.
Hajime, he thought out, willing his scent to reach his packmate, I will keep them safe.
Hajime~
Hajime's mind was completely focused on Oikawa's absence. However, he had to admit that he preferred his mate going with Daichi and Suga, then to have him stay behind with Kabuto by himself. Hajime trusted his captain with his life-- and Oikawa was exactly that. They would take the photos, print the cards, and be back in no time. All he had to do was keep his instincts and emotions under control for the time being and not accidentally kill Kabuto before their return.
Easy enough, he thought, sinking further into the hard bench. He opened his eyes, lids narrowing as Kabuto stalked towards him, taking a seat on the red wood next to him. He hoped that the snake would keep his damn mouth shut, he wasn't in the mood for mind games. He was barely holding it together as it was and Kabuto's scent was domineering, even at the best of times.
"Can you rein that in, please," he spoke up, rolling his eyes as another wave of the snake's scent washed over him.
Kabuto shrugged. "Nope."
Hajime wanted to punch the man in the side of the head. He clenched a fist at his side and stood up, walking a few steps forward to lean against the bark of a tree.
Kabuto raised an eyebrow his way. "Problem?"
Hajime's throat rumbled and his body stiffened. "Nope."
There was a long minute of silence before the snake spoke again, unable or unwilling to exist without conversation.
"I know who your dad is, Hajime," Kabuto said, nonchalantly-- as if he was making a casual remark about the weather. "If you didn't tuck tail and run away from it all, you'd be exactly like me. You can't fool me with this white knight routine you've played Oikawa with. I know where you come from. I know what kind of person you are. You and I are merely two sides of the same coin. You're the light to my dark. Nothing more, nothing less."
Hajime's face set in a grimace at the condemning words and he clenched his fists at his sides, drawing blood from his palms. "I would never be like you," he growled, trying his best to believe his own words. "I don't take advantage of Omegas...I don't use them again their will like some devious animal."
Kabuto snorted and tore his gaze from the ocean beyond to look at Hajime. "Okay, let's pretend that's true for a second...shall we? That you've never taken advantage of Omegas..."
Hajime sucked in a sharp breath, his self-hatred growing with each passing second. He despised that he couldn't deny what the snake was insinuating. "Fine," he begrudgingly admitted, dark eyes focused on the ground in shame as he leaned more of his weight against the tree. "Fine. I'll fucking admit it, okay? I used to be like that... Like you. But I'm not anymore. You can't say the same."
Kabuto smirked, irritating Hajime with his undeserving air of confidence. "But I don't take advantage of Omegas."
Hajime snorted at the statement, then devolved into a fit of maniacal laughter, keeling over. "Wow," he breathed, eyes flicking up to meet Kabuto's penetrating gaze. "What an amazing lie that is!"
He knew full well that the snake took advantage of Omegas. He had seen it, first hand-- he had been the one to pick up the pieces of Oikawa that had been scattered to the wind.
"It's not a lie, actually," Kabuto retorted, raising a knowing eyebrow his direction. "I take advantage of people. Society just happens to beat down more Omegas than Alphas, but that's not my problem. I don't create the circumstances surrounding defeated people," he paused, flashing Hajime with another devilish smirk. "That being said... I do benefit from them. That, I have no problem admitting to you."
Hajime stared down the man for a few long seconds of silence, unsure of what he could say in response. He detested the way Kabuto always disarmed his accusations with pretty words. Pretty words-- ones that always seemed to make perfect sense in his head. "You're never going to touch my Omega again," he quietly affirmed, unable to come up with anything better to say. Kabuto had made his point and made it well. All that was left for him to do was to reassert his dominance-- reassert that this would be his pack's final meeting with the snake. He unleashed his Alpha scent in its entirety, subconsciously, to physically assert that conviction. Then, a creeping thought snuck up on his mind and every muscle tensed up. His instincts reared their head forward, pushing out a heavy scent of ownership that was impossible to misunderstand-- Oikawa was his, now, and forever. Kabuto needed to back off.
For a moment, Kabuto was unusually silent. His bright eyes darted back to the ocean beyond them, lingering on the tumultuous, dark waves that washed up upon the sand. "Is it that obvious?" He said quietly and Hajime noticed his broad shoulders tremble slightly from an inaudible sigh.
It had been painfully obvious to Hajime for some time now-- that the snake was in love with his Omega. In love with his mate. He knew that Oikawa would never sacrifice their bond to be with the tattooed man, yet he still felt uneasy, knowing that there was the potential for Kabuto to interfere with their lives in the future. "Painfully," he chastised, his voice hostile-- reaffirming his claim on the chestnut Omega through his tone. "Painfully obvious."
"I guess..." Kabuto started to reply, but trailed off into a silent reflection that startled Hajime. The snake always seemed to know just what to say-- his quiet contemplation was unnerving. "I guess that I do love him, in my own twisted sort of way."
Hajime opened his mouth to reaffirm that he would never allow the tattooed snake to touch his Omega again, regardless of the man's warped feelings, but Kabuto cut him short with more sullen, self-reflective words.
"Maybe I'm no better than Chaki... May the fucker rest in peace."
Rest in peace. Hajime had to shove down the sudden rise of gratitude in his chest-- the snake had gotten rid of one of the major threats to Oikawa's nest-- to his nest. He shook his head, physically banishing the warped feeling. It didn't matter, not at all. Kabuto was still an evil man in his eyes.
"Is that why you gave him this favor?" He asked, desiring to know the inner workings of the snake's mind. Why would he grant Oikawa with a favour, an unconditional favour, if not to keep the chestnut Omega tied to him? "You want to keep one foot in his life... Even after he worked so hard to leave you behind?"
Kabuto's mouth set in a hard line and his blue eyes fell behind heavy lids. "Maybe..." He murmured, then shook his head and a sorrowful smile passed over his lips. "But it doesn't matter anymore. The favour is done. The debt had been paid. He used it on his friends so there's nothing left to connect us anymore. Unless... Unless you somehow fall down the dark rabbit hole into the underworld... Unless you somehow stumble into the Yakuza... Neither of you will be hearing from me again," he paused, flashing Hajime with another irritating smirk. "Which, from the whispers I hear, isn't that far-fetched for someone from your branch..."
Hajime sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Kabuto was wrong-- there was no way in hell that he was going to follow in his father's footsteps. What more could he do to prove that? No amount of threat or pressure would ever drive him down that low, especially now, when he had Oikawa by his side. He would never drag his mate into such a terrible situation.
For a moment, he contemplated ending his agitating conversation with Kabuto there, but something still irked him. He could tell, in his bones, that the coy man still had more to say-- more to get off of his chest. Hajime wished he could ignore his gnawing desire to hear more of the snake's words-- perhaps, it was because the criminal Alpha was a representation of himself, had he not left that world. "What do you want, Kabuto," he asked, exasperated with the man's ability influence him into conversing. "What is it you're dying to fucking say to me."
Kabuto smirked, then gave Hajime a cheeky wink. "He draws in trouble. I don't know why, but he does. Best to watch out for that."
Oh fuck off, Hajime mused with an obvious eyeroll. He was already painfully aware of how much of a trouble maker Oikawa was. He didn't need the snake advising him on how to look after his mate. "I am well aware," he remarked hotly, anger bubbling inside of his chest. He knew Oikawa better than the snake ever could-- of that, he was certain. "No trouble is ever coming near him again," he growled, directing his aggravated scent towards the tattooed man-- the very definition of trouble.
For a few long seconds, the two men stared each other down, then Kabuto relinquished and looked away. "Good," he hummed, scent submitting to Hajime's own domineering one. "And, by the way," he continued, flashing Hajime with a set of perfectly white teeth. "Just know that I still stand by what I said earlier. You'd be a great second in command... That offer will remain open forever."
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