Chapter Text
Ushijima looked between Tendou and Oyasu, his nose flared as he breathed in. He most likely saw how unsettled and distressed Tendou was as his eyes grew darker and he growled low in his throat as he crowded up to Oyasu.
“Leave.” Ushijima managed to snarl out through his gritted teeth.
Oyasu wanted to go. He really did, every instinct in him was telling him to bolt! But he sent a quick glance at Tendou, an action that Ushijima didn't miss.
“Now!” Ushijima barked out, his eyes looked cold and deadly, his stance threatening.
Tendou knew Ushijima was a step away from losing his control. Something he has never done before. “Just go.”
Oyasu opened his mouth to say something but Tendou just shook his head “I'll be fine. Go.”
Ushijima let out another deep growl. Unhappy that Oyasu was still there. Oyasu didn't hesitate this time, he slipped past Ushijima and ran out of the changing room. Leaving Tendou with Ushijima.
Ushijima was by Tendou's side the moment Oyasu was out of sight. He held Tendou in a deep embrace. An action that caught him off guard. Tendou’s heart skipped a beat and his stomach dropped as he was happy Ushijima was comforting him and protecting him but he knew that ushijima was just doing this because he was his teammate and friend.
Tendou closed his eyes and tentatively wrapped his arms around ushijima, hugging him back. So that even for just a moment he could imagine that Ushijima was holding him because he loved him. Imagine that his mate wanted him the same way he did.
But of course, he was pulled back to reality.
“Tendou are you ok? Did he do anything to you?” Ushijima asked as he pulled away from Tendou to inspect him.
“He didn't hurt me.” Tendou didn't answer Ushijima’s first question. Ushijima would know if he was lying and he didn't want Ushijima knowing that he was emotionally unstable. “Thank you, but I just want to be alone for a while.” Tendou put on a smile for Ushijima trying his best to act normal so that Ushijima might buy his act.
He didn't.
“You’re upset.”
Tendou sighed in defeat Ushijima was always straightforward. There was no use trying to hide it from him anymore. “Yeah, I– I guess I am.”
Ushijima's brows furrowed and he took one of Tendou's hand in his. “What's wrong?”
“Well... I have something I need to tell you first… I- I'm an omega.”
A look of shock passed Ushijima's face before it was replaced with a concerned one. “The guy earlier...Was he harassing you?” The protective growl sent a shiver down Tendou's spine.
“No, he was just concerned. He-... He could smell my distress.” Tendou led Ushijima to his locker
Tendou opened his locker and took out his scent blockers and patches. He hesitated to remove the ones he already had on but the look in Ushijima's eyes had him ripping them right off.
If he thought the smell before the game was bad, it was worse now. The moment he smelt his own misery, his eyes teared up. Ushijima let out a heart wrenching whine. Before Tendou could replace the patches he was pulled into another hug. Ushijima was subtly rubbing his scent on Tendou but Tendou was too busy crying to notice.
“Why? What is making you feel this way?” Ushijima asked.
Tendou could hear the suppressed growl. His heart fluttered at the sound. He wiped his tears away with the hand that wasn't pressed between them while Ushijima helped with his other side. He debated whether or not to tell him when he heard Ushijima whisper out a “please.” The gentleness in Ushijima's voice, something he has never heard come from the alpha before, had him tell him.
“I'm sorry, Ushijima.” Ushijima stiffened when Tendou called him by his last name, and had Tendou not been looking down he would have seen Ushijima look as if someone had slapped him across the face. “I just–” Tendou looked to the side, unsure how to tell Ushijima that he was miserable because he couldn't have him. He didn't want to make Ushijima feel bad or as if he was trying to guilt trip Ushijima into feeling he was obligated to accept his feelings.
“I’m just being silly.” Tendou ended up saying with a hollow laugh. “I am trying to get my emotions in control as I come to terms with the fact that my mate doesn't want me… Probably never will.”
Ushijima's hands tightened around him. The low growl reverberated through to Tendou. “Then he's stupid.” He growled. Shocking Tendou and making his blood boil a bit. “Anyone would be lucky to have you as their mate.”
“You have to say that. You're my friend.” Tendou let his head fall in the crook of Ushijima's neck. “And an alpha just comforting an omega in distress.” He mumbled.
“No, that's not why I–”
Tendou didn't let him finish. He let out a growl himself and pulled his head back to look into Ushijima's eyes. “Oh really?” His voice was hard as was his glare. “Then if I was your mate, would you want me?” Tendou was too upset that he was ignoring the rational voice in his head telling him to shut up! That he would only hurt himself when he hears the answer. But his emotions were too strong. “Would you want an omega who is almost as tall as you, who isn't sweet and submissive, who people call a “monster” someone who–”
“Yes.”
Tendou was taken aback. But he shook himself out of the shock. “No, I mean–…” Tendou groaned and lifted his hands up to cup Ushijima's face. “Pretend I'm a stranger. Not a friend, or teammate, you want to help feel better–”
“I'm not trying to make you feel better. I do want you as my mate.” Ushijima placed a hand on top one of Tendou's hands. He pressed his cheek into it, rubbing his face into Tendou's palm.
Tendou's eyes burned as moisture pooled in them. He blinked them back. They were not tears. “But... You–… O-Oikawa. Isn't he your mate? I'm not going to be his replacement.” His breath hitched at the end. He looked away from Ushijima, not wanting him to see him cry again, to see him so weak. He was embarrassed with himself.
“Oikawa? I never wanted him.” Ushijima said truthfully. Tendou knew that what he said was the truth but he just couldn't believe it. He looked back at Ushijima.
“But you always run after him. You always talk about him and tell him ‘he should have come to shiratorisawa’.”
“Because his talents would be improved at our school. But that was it. I never saw Oikawa as a prospective mate. I only ever wanted you. I wanted you the moment you came to shiratorizawa. When I thought you were a beta, I still wanted you.”
Tendou was speechless. He knows Ushijima has a hard time expressing himself but he always could see and understand him. How could he have missed it? Then again, he did tend to look away when his feelings were too strong.
“If you'd let me, I'd like to court you.” Ushijima had a blush across his face. His eyes serious with a hopeful spark in them.
Tendou rubbed his thumb across Ushijima's cheek. He swallowed the lump in his throat before saying in a soft voice. “I’d like that. I'd like that very much, Toshi.” He laughed at the end and Ushijima pulled him close to rub his scent against Tendou. Calming him down and marking him.
“I like it when you call me that.” He purred into Tendou's ear.
“What? ‘Toshi’?”
Tendou felt Ushijima nod and he smiled carding a hand into Ushijima's hair. “Then I'll continue calling you that.”
They pulled away after a few minutes. Tendou replaced his patches, laughing at the grunt Ushijima let out when his scent was blocked, and walked back to the court to meet the rest of the team.
“I'd like to take you out for dinner. As a date.” Ushijima said on the way back.
Tendou took Ushijima's hand in his, he smiled when he saw Ushijima preen at the action. “We can go to that restaurant that has the dish you liked and has the mudslide sundae.”
Ushijima looked at Tendou. Tendou almost tripped over his own feet when he saw the softest (and biggest) smile on Ushijima's face. The “is Ushijima smiling??” Had Ushijima look up at their teammates but Tendou didn't look away from Ushijima.
He wondered if this was a dream, but no. The hand in his was real the hugs he received form his teammates, congratulating them on finally getting together, was real.
He was in love with Ushijima and Ushijima loved him back.