Archive of Our Own

"You are opening a flower shop Nemuri. Why do you need an opening night for that?" Aizawa sighed, fingers feeling across the shelf, pulling out a folder. Beethoven's Fur Elise. He needed to practice that.

"Because, many of my friends are coming and I want to show off my talented little brother." She pulled his cheek, Aizawa striking her ankles with his cane. "Ow!"

"First off, just because you call me your brother, doesn't mean I'm actually related to you. And second, what do you want to show your friends? A pianist who trips on his way to the stage?"

"That hasn't happened in a long time." She mused, guiding him through the library, towards the piano. "Besides, other buisness owners would love to book you for an open night. It's a win-win."

The Aizawa's were a small, close knit family, who cared deeply about their son, Sadly both his parents passed away in a car accident recently. Aizawa remained optimistic as much as he could. Somedays were easier, somedays were hard.

He lived in a small town, where everybody was everybody's neighbour. Kayama Nemuri, his childhood friend who recently finished her Literature Honours from Oxford and had come home. She was planning to be a florist, to financially support her author dreams. She wrote during her free time in the evenings, listening to Aizawa practice his piano during tea time.

Aizawa turned in the direction of her voice as best he could determine, eyes unfocused as he reached out for her hand. "Nem, piano is my hobby, I'm not monetizing it."

"But you teach piano."

Aizawa scoffed, "Yeah, at an elementary school. The most I teach them is to play 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.'"

"Come on, just a small piece, I have Emi coming in to do stand up, I just need a small act in between her's and Tensei's juggling. He really isn't willing to let that hobby go." She shook her head, bemused.

"I thought you were about to tell him he isn't good at it." Aizawa raised his eyebrows. Kayama pointedly glanced away. "Nemuri?"

She didn't look at him. Even if Aizawa was blind, his gaze was burning, intimidating.

"You didn't tell him?!"

She threw her hands up, guiding Aizawa to the table. "I was, but then he got really excited like a little puppy, I couldn't break his heart."

Aizawa did not look impressed. "You have no qualms in telling him a girl is way out of his league. Why would you hesitate in this?"

"Beacuse, I'm a good friend."

".......Tenya stared you down when you tried to tell him, didn't he?" Aizawa deadpanned. 

Kayama slumped onto the table, Aizawa anticipating it and swiftly pulling away his coffee mug out of the way. "That kid is scary!"

Aizawa hummed, taking a sip, facing the direction of the wind. "I have to go after Emi?"

"Yup!" She furiously nodded her head, happy that he agreed. 

"I better play Haydn's Surprise to wake them up after her awful jokes then." His lips quipped up as he heard Kayama laugh out.

"Mean!" She slapped his arm. "She isn't that bad!"

"You are biased."

"Whatever. So, you'll play tomorrow?"

Aizawa rolled his eyes. "Yes."

"Aw, I love you Shouta!" Before he could protest, she slapped a loud kiss on his cheek, clearing away the plates. Aizawa grumbled, pretending to hate her loud affections.

He leaned back, loosening his shoulders, taking a deep breathe— fingers cascading down the ebony and ivory keys, the scores etched in deep muscle memory, not even giving the music sheet a once over before playing. Music was how he saw the world. How he imagined it to be. In his mindscape of shadows and faint silouhettes, music filled the space, decorating it and letting him feel the world more than his fingers could tell. 

Aizawa was born blind, Retinal Degeneration. His parents doted over him, hovering yet never suffocating. He felt weird, suddenly not having the millions questions around him everyday, the warm head pats and the love seeping into their overprotectiveness. But he knew they were watching over him. He knew they were there with him in spirit and within his music. Piano was something he shared with his father, his mother singing along to the melody they produced.

His parent's love story was as cliche as it could get. Two college students, paired up for an assignment, falling in love along the way. Aizawa loved the story. He loved how simple and pure their love was, their relationship filled with adoration. They looked at each other as of they had hing the stars themselves, or so Aizawa was told, and yet their individual personalities never dissolved into one person. They were polar opposites who fit perfectly together.

Maybe one day, he will find an Alpha who would love him the same way his parents loved each other.

Mild, sweet fragrances hit Aizawa's nostrils as soon as he opened the door to Kayama's shop, the recently released 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles was playing in the background, the cassette sold out within minutes.

Aizawa didn't bring his cane, not wanting to lose it when he got up to perform. Kayama told him to come early, so Iida and Fukukado must be around here somewhere. He put out his hand, trying to not knock into any of her flower displays. Suddenly he felt himself bump into someone, the guy letting out a startled cry, Aizawa not recognizing his voice.

"Sorry." He swiveled around and put out his hand, trying to locate the stranger's foot he crushed, not wanting to accidentally step on him again. 

"Yo! The hell dude, are you blind?"

"Well yeah. I am, can't you see that?" He teased. Even though he felt terribly guilty for often bumping into people when not using his cane, it was fun to see them get angry and then immediately apologise. It was tiring, but equally amusing. "Or are you blind as well?"

The man paused for a moment, noticing how unfocused the omega's eyes were, mirth mingling in his voice, "Thank Buddha I'm not blind, or else I would have missed a wonderful sight. You." Aizawa felt himself fluster. Nobody had taken it into stride and spoken to him in this manner, as if.........blindness wasn't his lone noteworthy trait. He didn't know how to react to that. "Yamada Hizashi."

He felt the man's fingers brushing against his outstretched arm, a silent question. Sliding his fingers into his grasp, he firmly shook the stranger's hand. "Aizawa Shouta. Nice to meet you. Wait, the opening night doesn't start for another thirty minutes?"

"Oh yeah, Nemuri asked me to help set up the place. We went to college together."

"Oh, speaking of, where is she?"

"Eh, probably snogging Emi somewhere in a corner."

Aizawa snorted. The two continued to talk for a while, playfully jabbing the other, Aizawa, for once, enjoying the socializing. Time seemed to fly by and without realising, the evening passed by, Kayama barreling through the crowd to get to him.

"Shouta! You go on in five! And please try to drag it as long as you can, Tensei will not stop talking about his juggling." She grumbled, putting on a polite face for any guest who passed by, immediately going back to scowling after greeting them. She did a double take as he saw who Aizawa was with.

"I see you've met Hizashi." She enveloped him into a hug as Fukukado came to drag Aizawa to the stage. As Aizawa started to play, Kayama turned to him, a sly grin on her face.

"So, Shouta?"

Yamada raised his eyebrow warningly. "Nem, I'll do what has to be done on my own. No interfering."

She raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Just remember, I don't care that you are a military man, I will chop of your dick if you hurt him."

"Aye aye captain!"

Chuckling, they turned their attention to Aizawa's music, so enthralling and captivating. Yamada felt the rest of the world fade away as he zeroed in on Aizawa, mesemerised by his tunes, unconciously swaying to the music. Soon, his performance ended, Aizawa walking down the stage, his friends ready to greet him.

Yamada beat everyone to the punch. "My god your music was far out, dude!" He glanced around, grabbing a flower from Kayama's display.

"Hizashi!"

"Oh shut up, I'll pay for it later," Bowing slightly, he held it out in front of Aizawa. "For you." He guided the flower in to his hands, Aizawa's fingers trailing up, feeling it across. Yamada discreetly pushed his friends away, trying to ignore the crude gestures they were making as they silently left.

"It's still a bud." He stated, confused. 

"Sometimes, the most beautiful things in life, take time to bloom. Care to spare me some?" Yamada asked sincerely.

Aizawa smiled lightly, "Ok."

"Ok." Realising he was staring, he cleared his throat. "You, played magnificently."

"Thank you. So, what do you do?"

"I'm a marine." He left out the part where he was the youngest Sergeant since the wars.

Aizawa teased, "Oh, the stereotypical strong alpha."

Yamada barked out a laugh, "Haa, if you could see me, you won't say that. I don't really look like a military guy."

"You always wanted to be a marine man or?" He asked, trying to reach out for a glass of water as they stood in a corner.

"Meh, wanted to be an artisit, but family problems ya know," He spoke absentmiddly, placing the glass within Aizawa's fingers. "I had to discontinue my art degree and join the Marine Corps. Just got back from a deployment, so I came to visit."

They continued chatting till Kayama had to kick them out, reminding them that she has a shop to close. Yamada bid his goodbye, jogging down the street to his house. Aizawa waited for Kayama as she locked up, ready to drop him home.

He tried to act disinterested and asked nonchalantly as possible. "Nemuri?"

"Hmm?" She fiddled with her motorbike, kicking the stand up.

"Describe him."

Kayama looked up, confused. "Who?"

Aizawa looked away. "That friend of yours."

Kayama smirked, playfully dragging his name, "Hizashi?"

"Yeah." He spoke in a small voice.

"~Ooh, somebody's interested in that alpha." She wiggled her eyebrows, poking his side, making him jolt. He promptly pinched her, trying not to blush.

"Hai hai," She conceeded, rubbing her arm. Aizawa's grip was strong. "He's about five inches taller than you has waist length blond hair and green eyes."

"Nemuri?" He deadpanned.

"Yeah?"

"Colours don't mean shit to me!"

Kayama bit her tongue sheepishly. "Right, I forgot."

"Bye sensei!" The kids chimed, walking out of the music room. Aizawa waved in the general direction from where the voice came from, pulling the lid of the piano shut, grabbing his cane. Done for the day he started walking out the gates, ready to go home.

The street from the school to his house was beautiful, or so Kayama described to him. A narrow street, houses on either sides, trees forming a canopy over the road, colourful flowers adorning the sky, making it a scene straight out of a Lewis Caroll story, birds chirping as the occasional flowers fell on him.

"Hi there." A voice seemed to walk along with him, "I've been waiting for you. Remember me?"

Aizawa unconciously felt a smile creeping up on him, stopping and turned to him. "Yamada. Hello."

"You recognized me with my voice?" Yamada seemed surprised considering they had only met once before. Well, they talked all night, yet, he didn't think Aizawa would identify him so quickly.

"Yes. I really don't have any other means to recognize someone." Yamada chuckled sheepishly. 

"Right." He went quiet for a while, neither uttering a word, just wordlessely standing. For a moment Aizawa thought Yamada had walked away and he was standing in the middle of the street alone.

"Stop waving your hand in front of me, Yamada. I can feel you fanning the air in front of my face." Aizawa sweatdropped. Yamada scratched his neck.

"Sorry." He didn't seem really apologetic, mirth dancing in his voice.

"Don't be. Why are you here?"

"Ah, straight to the point. You promised me some time, right?"

Aizawa's lip quipped up, raising an eyebrow teasingly, "But will you be worth it?"

"Why don't you take a chance and find out for yourself?" He retorted back.

Aizawa went quiet for a while. Slowly, he held up five fingers. "Five minutes. If you manage to keep me engaged for longer, well and good, but if you don't, I leave after five minutes."

Yamada took whatever he got. "Deal. You won't be disappointed. Come on." He held Aizawa's hand and led him down a corner. "So, were you born blind, or did you lose sight in an accident? If you don't mind me asking."

"Nah, it's fine. Born blind. Never seen anything other than what people tell me is called black."

Yamada pondered for a while, turning to Aizawa, "So you don't have a visual imagery for what colours are? Red, blue, green?"

Aizawa shook his head, pursing his lips into a small smile. He never really felt he was missing out on anything, but he got curious sometimes. Yamada thought for a while, making a decison. 

"Let's sit here, and how about you tell me, which colour have you always wanted to visualise. I'll try to describe it to you." He guided him into a park, settling themselves on a bench.

"Really?" Aizawa asked, hopeful.

Yamada nodded, before realising Aizawa can't see his non verbal response. "Yeah, I'm an artist, I have my way around colours. I'll try my best."

"Ok," Aizawa shifted in his seat. "Describe the colour of the sky."

Yamada looked up, closing his eyes to give Aizawa company, feeling the breeze brush past his face. "The sky is not one colour. It keeps changing throughout the day. Like our ever changing moods. At the crack of dawn it's a quiet, calm hue, the way slight warmth from the pleasant sunlight on a cool summer morning curtains over your eyes. Yellow. Tranquil."

Yamada scooted closer to him, shoulders touching, eyes still closed. "It slowly transitions into a relaxing atmosphere, the feeling when you run your hand through the small brooke near the Musutafu hills, that's the colour of the sky. The soft waves that bob downstream, cold, wet and fluid, slipping through your fingers as you try to catch it. It feels clear and clean at the same time soft, rippling in a soothing pace. Blue."

Aizawa's breath hitched as he felt Yamada take his hands in his, heart racing as he was pulled up, staggering as Yamada held him by his elbows, shivering as he felt Yamada lean down, whispering right into his ears. "And during the evenings, like one now, it's a deep, passionate colour, celebrating eternal love. It's the colour of the heat that flames up your cheeks when I'm standing this close to you."

Aizawa felt himself tense up, eyebrows knitted together, lips parting as he felt Yamada drag a finger down his face. He felt tingles spark up his spine. He couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed as he felt Yamada draw back, but their fingers still interlaced.

"And at night, it sparkles. It's black, but not the way you are used to. It's littered with dazzling specks, shinig radiantly like the hopes and dreams with childish innocence of a child's smile. When you rub your eyes too hard and you see exploding stars behind your eyes. That is the star lit sky."

Aizawa felt breathless as he couldn't comprehend his emotions, not able to hear his thoughts over his beating heart. He.......felt alive. He tried to turn away and hide himself, exuberance coursing through him as he tried to calm his racing heart, not wanting to embarass himself in front of Yamada. Why was he having such an effect on him? For the first time, in his entire life, Aizawa had an imagery, of what the world looked like. He had something besides black and darkness.

His back remained turned to Yamada, trying to create a distance between them and placing a foot forward when he felt a tug on his scarf, spinning towards Yamada's direction.

"Aizawa, it's been more than five minutes. What's your verdict?" He opened his eyes to see Aizawa pulling away from him. He gulped, waiting his opinion, crossing his fingers behind his back. Yamada worried he had unintentionally crossed a line, hoping he didn't make him uncomfrotable. Aizawa remained silent, mulling.

He slowly broke out into a smile that made Yamada's heart do somersaults, "Looks like you just earned yourself a second date, Mr Yamada."

An unbridled joy unfurled within Yamada as he grinned goofily and jumped and cried out, "YES!"

Aizawa chuckled at his antics, blushing slightly. And thus started the tale of a blind Pianist and a Marine Corp.

The ceremony was a small affair, with their close friends in a courthouse. Kayama wouldn't stop crying of how proud she was of her baby brother being a married man now. Tensei and Fukukado were present as well, little Tenya being their ring bearer. Yamada's friend from the corps, Shirakumo Oboro acted as the witness accordiny to military protocol, congratualting the newly weds.

Aizawa had chosen his ring, adamant not to listen to any reason or choose any other ring. It was a simple gold band, with Yamada's name engraved on the outside. Aizawa occasionally brushed his fingers against the ring, able to feel his husband's name on his finger.

"Whoohoo! Cheers to the newly married couple!" Fukukado raised her glass in a toast, the rest following. They decided to have a mini reception party in Kayama's flower shop, the place where it all started. They got flat out drunk, singing obnoxiously, knocking out a few vases and having the time of their lives.

Yamada leaned over to Aizawa's chair, tapping his shoulder, "You know, we still have a wedding night to celebrate." He teased, enjoying the way a startled blush grew on his husband's face, Aizawa smacking his shoulder.

"Shameless."

"I don't hear a no." Leaving Tensei to handle the two drunk ladies, the newly weds snuck out of their own reception party, making their way to Aizawa's-no, the Aizawa-Yamada house.

Before Aizawa could enter, Yamada pulled him back. "Nuh, uh, you're forgetting a very important traditon."

"What?" Aizawa's eyes widened as he flailed around trying to grab onto something, the ground beneath his feet slip away as a pair of strong arms wrapped around his torso and below his ankles.

"Zashi, I'll fall. Put me down." He thrashed about, trying to wiggle out of his arms, the military man's grip iron strong.

"I won't let you." Yamada promised as Aizawa fell quiet, bringing up his hand to trail his fingers down Yamada's face. And like that the couple crossed over the threshold together, starting a new chapter in their beautiful lives.

The two lay in bed, limbs tangled together, trying to come down from their post orgasmic daze. Aizawa scooched closer, laying his head on Yamada's shoulder, tracing along the blond's scars, the marine pulling him closer.

"Why didn't you bite me?" Aizawa asked softly. He had expected the alpha to claim him and mate with him. Yamada huffed slightly.

"Trust me, it took every ounce of military control to not too."

Aizawa pulled himself up a little, holding Yamada's face. "But why?"

Yamada's eyes softened as he noticed the frown forming on the omega's face, scent souring lightly. "Shouta, I have to leave in another month. It will cause a huge strain if newly mated couples are apart for long right after mating. It's just a matter of six months and then I'll be back and then you'll wear my mark and I'll wear yours."

Aizawa sat up in surprise. "You want me to mark you as well?" It was typically unheard of an alpha to let their omega claim them. He felt Yamada smile under his fingers, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "I'm yours, just as much as you are mine."

Aizawa ducked, hiding his face in Yamada's shoulders, making him laugh loudly.

"I'll be back before you know it." He promised gently, hoisting his bag over his shoulders. Aizawa was sulking at the threshold, hand tightly fisted in his sleeve.

"Send a telegram as soon as you reach the shore." He demanded.

"Will do." He kissed him tenderly, a silent promise to come back as soon as possible and left, off to serve his country.

Aizawa felt uneasy.

"So, Aizawa-san, you say you feel sick? Are you sure you didn't eat anything you're allergic too?"

Aizawa shook his head. "No doctor, I'm sure. I'm not even able to eat one of my favourite foods, it's nauseating to even smell it now."

The doctor looked at his chart and hummed. "Let's take a few tests, and then I'll be able to confirm."

Aizawa waited in the doctor's office, waiting for his results. In the meantime, the doctor had gone through his entire file. "When was the last time you went for an eye test?"

Aizawa winced, bracing himself. "About three years."

"Why?" The doctor asked sharply, sighing and shaking his head. "This is the problem with you patients not doing as your told to. Technology is rapidly advancing Aizawa-san. What wasn't possible five years ago, is a child's play today. At this rate, by the time we reach the 2000's, we would have reached a revolutionary period."

Aizawa was confused, "What are you getting at doctor?"

The doctor smiled, "It means, there is a chance to restore your eyesight."

Aizawa froze in his seat. He could see again? "Really doctor?"

"Yes-" A nurse came in, handing him Aizawa's files. "As I was saying, there is a chance you will get your eyesight." He flipped through the test results, eyes widenning. "Looks like today is your lucky day."

"Why?"

"Congratulations Aizawa-san, you're pregnant."

Aizawa froze in his seat. "I'm sorry, can- can you repeat that?"

"You are with child."

Aizawa clutched his shirt, heart hammering. It was a good thing he didn't mate. Being seperated for long durations while pregnant is not healthy for a pregnant omega would have caused a lot of stress on him. There could have been high chances of miscarriage. Happiness bubbled through him. He was going to surprise Yamada with his eyesight and a baby.

Kayama called dibs on being the godmother, Aizawa over the moon to even disagree.

"Now Aizawa-san, take your time, the sudden brightness might be too strong." The nurse warned as he proceeded to remove the bandages from Aizawa's eyes. His eyes remained closed, able to see a faint white light thriguh his closed eyelids.

He put his hands out, Kayama handing him the ultrasound picture. He wanted to either see Yamada's face first, but since he was still deployed, he settled for his baby's ultrasound the first.

Opening his eyes, he saw the picture of his tiny bean. He stared. "It's no different from what I used to see!" The doctor and Kayama chuckled at his indignant cry. 

"Nemuri?"

"Yes, Shouta?" He smiled at her, eyes focused for the first time. "You're pretty."

Kayama vehemently disagreed if anyone pointed out that she teared up.

Now, they wait, for Yamada.

Aizawa heaved himself up from the couch, waddling towards the fornt door. He was seven months pregnant, and basic tasks got difficult day by day. Breathless and tired by the time he reched the front door that was barely five paces ahead, he opened the door to find Shirakumo and Kayama.

"Hey, come in." He stepped aside, moving into the kitchen to get tea but Kayama stopped him, leading him to the couch.

"Shouta, Lieutanant Shirakumo has to tell you something."

Aizawa turned to him, noticing their down cast eyes. "The Commandant of the Marine Corps has entrusted me to express his deepest regret that," shakingly, "your mate, Sergeant Yamada Hizashi was killed in action."

Gulping, Shirakumo glanced upto see a vacant look in Aizawa's eyes, distant and glassy as he instictively brought a hand up to rest on his stomach. Shirakumo clenched his jaw, Kayama looking away as she wiped away the tears before they could fall.

"Sergeant Yamada's ship was compromised in enemy waters and captured. There were no reported survivors."

Aizawa felt numb, barely registering his surroundings. He didn't relaise he had left the living room, entering his nest in a daze. He could faintly hear Kayama and Shirakumo call out to him from a distance, a mere echo of their voices ringing in his ears. He sat unmoving for hours, hand automatically reaching out for Yamada's shirt within his nest, for a while, the reality crashing on to him. He held the collar close to him, sobbing into it as he wrapped an arm around his baby bump.

His baby would never see their father.

Aizawa busied himself with the simplicites his life had to offer, days filled with his baby's nonsensical babbles and laughter. Auntie Nemuri and Uncle Tensei showered him with toys and cuddles every time they came to visit.

He remained brave, proud of his husband, but a small, selfish part in him wished his marine would come home. Wished it had been someone else. Or atleast he wished Yamada would have had a chance to see his child. Or wished he could have seen what his mate looks like atleast once. All he had was the fleeting memory of the the curves on his face, leaving the rest to imagination, of how his husband looked.

Shaking himself out of these thoughts, he turned his attention to his little 10 month old, currently trying to stand up with the help of the coffee table. Crouching down, he smiled, opening his arms, encouraging him.

"Come on Toshi. Come here to daddy. You can do it, come on baby." He clapped his hands, Hitoshi squealing and turning towards his dad, a wobbling foot placed forward. Steadily he made his way, toddling about and falling into Aizawa's arms, giggling.

"Your Papa would have been so proud. He would have yelled out with happiness." He chuckled, bouncing his kid in his arms, the little one getting distracted by the sunlight as Aizawa absentmindedly pressed his lips to the pup's temple.

Hitoshi was a splitting image of Aizawa, from the eyes to the hair, to the face structure. Usually omegas complained of how they went through the entire labour and their pup turned out a carbon copy of the alpha who did nothing but have a nice time. But Aizawa wished he looked a little like Yamada. Atleast he could have seen him in his son, having never seen his mate's face. Although Hitoshi did inherit his sire's mischevious nature, and that was enough for him.

Elsewhere, in a dingy cell, across the enemy borders, Yamada huddled himself in the corner, trying to pull down the worn out shirt over his legs, shivering against the bitter cold, snow pouring in through the cell door. Summer. He needs to make his escape in summer. If he tried to do anything now, he wouldn't make it past the prison walls before he dropped dead.

Wait for me Shouta, I'm coming back.

"Toshi, what are you drawing?" Aizawa asked, crouching down beside his pup as the child scribbled on the paper with any crayon that caught his eye.

"A card!" He shrieked gleefully, holding it up with colour stained chubby hands. "For Papa! When he comes home, 'Toshi will give to him." He announced happily, making the smile on Aizawa's face slip away.

He tried to reign in the tears, ignoring the lump clawing at his throat. "Kiddo, Papa.......Papa might not—"

"He will come," The two year old replied, determined. He smiled at Aizawa, astute. "Toshi knows. Papa will come."

Aizawa didn't have it in him to break his child's heart. He was only two. How could he explain to his child that his father was never coming back? He remained quiet, indulging his pup's faith for some time. Like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, letting him believe for just a while longer.

At the first sight of thawing ice, Yamada made his break. He had managed to nick the keys from the warden when he was asleep, slipping away in the dead of night and ran. Ran until the cell was a small speck along the horizon, ran until his legs gave out, calf muscles burning in pain, forcing him to take a break.

I'm coming home Shouta.

Yamada tried not to dwell on the fact that the Japanese military might have already declared him dead and Aizawa might have moved on. Stumbling into the first Japanese military camp, he collapsed, finally out of enemy territory, finally among his people, finally home.

"Sergeant Yamada, we thank you for your service." The Junior Warrant Officer saluted him. It had been two weeks since he stumbled in the Japanese Air Force camp. They had treated him, nursing him back to health and finished the formalitied required of a prisoner of war returning home. They took care of his expenses to reach home and within a blink of an eye, he found himself back in Musutafu.

Walking down the familiar streets after two whole years, he stopped outside a familiar home. His home. Tears sprung in his eyes as he remembered with how little he and Aizawa had started. This house, when they bought it, barely even had a fence. Now, it a patio with a lucious garden, a porch connected to the house and a beautiful flower bed.

"Toshi, how many times have I told you, don't play outside the garden alone! Get in!" Yamada felt his heart stop for a moment as he heard Aizawa's voice. He moved to the front of the gate and saw him throw a beach ball inside the house, going back to fold tiny clothes, sitting on the Engawa. A child's clothes.

The sight pierced his heart as he hastily wiped away the tears. So Aizawa had moved on. He found a mate and now had a pup. Clenching his eyes shut, he turned away. He had no right to walk in and ruin Aizawa's life now.

Before he coould walk away, he halted in his tracks, the name plate catching his eye. Aizawa-Yamada's. In a font, Yamada most definitely remembered picking out.

Shouta kept this? He stood frozen, not sure what to make of it.

"Can I help you?" 

Yamada slowly raised his head, to the owner of the voice he remembered by heart. The voice that got him through the painful two years of captivity. There he was, the love of his life, Aizawa Shouta, smiling softly at him.

There was something different about him. Aizawa's eyes were........focused.

He was no longer blind. Aizawa eyed his uniform, smile widenening minutely. "Did you just get back from service? You must be tired, why don't you come in for some lemonade?" He invited him warmly.

That's right, Yamada thought. Shouta has never seen me. He doesn't know what I look like.

He choked out a thank you, throat still not healed from the cold and musty prison cell he was held in. His legs automatically followed Aizawa inside, heart numb. He didn't what he was feeling. Elated? Worried? Nauseous? Burst out crying?

Before he could choose one, Aizawa brought out a tray to the Engawa, setting it down on the wooden structure and handing Yamada a glass. He quietly thanked him.

"So, do you usually let strange alphas into your house when you have a pup at home?" He asked, half joking. Humour was all he could manage now amongst the turmoil his heart was in now.

Aizawa snorted, "No, just.......I have deep respect for the military. My husband used to serve, so I know what it's like second hand. Consider it as a 'thank you' for your service."

"Used to?"

Aizawa's smile turned wistful as he fiddled with his ring. The ring that Yamada had put on him. "You know how is it with the military right? Hizashi used to take a lot of pride in serving his country. He was..........a Hero." He said, pride brimming in his tone.

Shouta still loves me. It was the only thought running through his mind in a loop. They heard tiny feet pattering about the house, tiny shrieks and a slight clattering sound. "Toshi, don't throw your toys!"

Aizawa called out, shaking his head fondly, "Little brat, gone completely after his Papa in behaviour." He grabbed the tray with the empty glasses, turning to set it on the coffee table inside. 

Yamada couldn't hold back anymore. "Shouta!"

Aizawa froze midway, frowning as he slowly set the tray down, twisting slightly to face him. "I didn’t tell you my name." He stated, suspicious. 

Tears threatened to spill down Yamada's face as he wordlessely took Aizawa's wirst, trailing it down his face before he could resist, the way his Shouta used to see him. Like a distant memory, Aizawa remembered the touch and the gesture. The same crooked nose, the high cheekbones and sharp jawline, the soft lips that Aizawa had memorised on his fingertips.

Hope threatened to burst through his chest, his breaths became ragged as he entertained the possibility, a lone tear rolling down.

"Hi-Hizashi?!"

All Yamada could do was nod, sobbing. Aizawa choked out a rough gasp, pressing his knuckles to his lips, trying to keep himself together. He ran his fingers all over his face, clutching his face and just looking at him.

"Zashi!" He cried out, throwing himself in his mate's arm, sobbing into his alpha's neck, shoulders raking as Yamada held him tightly. "Where were you?"

"I'm so sorry Shouta. I-I got caught at the border, they-, they captured me, I couldn't escape! I tried, I really did—"

"Shhshh. I know, I know." Aizawa ran a hand through his hair, pulling him closer. "You're back, you came back to me! Zashi I thought I lost you, they said, you- you......"

"I'm back now Shouta, I'm back." 

With great difficulty he pulled back, cradling his face as he took in his mate's face. "This is what you look like?" He laughed slighty through his tears, Yamada snorting, tearfully nodding his head as he leaned into Aizawa's warm touch. This was the first time he was seeing his husband's face. Pressing his forehead against his, the two stayed like that, basking in the other's presence, drowning in the other's scent.

"Daddy?" A tiny voice called out, causing the two reunited mates pull back at the innocent pup, confused at what was going on. Yamada stared a the pup. He looked exactly like Aizawa, a carbon copy. 

"Is.....Is he—" Ours? Yamada couldn't finish the thought, Aizawa understanding. He smiled through his tears, beaming at him. He nodded. "When?"

"Three months after you left." He answered, turning to his— their son. "Toshi, come here." The child toddled to his father as Aizawa took his arms. "Do you know who this is? This is your Papa, Toshi."

The little boy's eyes widened as he shrieked out in joy. "PAPA!" He tackled the blond alpha, Yamada laughing and pulling his pup closer, scenting him. Hitoshi gasped a little, experiencing his sire's pheromones for the first time, tears welling in his eyes, getting emotional. Aizawa rubbed the toddler's back as his omega purred at the sight of his mate bonding with their pup.

The emotions overwhelmed Yamada as well as freash tears sprung out as he pulled Aizawa closer by the waist, snuggling into him, the three holding each other close, complete at last.

"Daddy, I told you Papa will come to Toshi. I told you." The pup cried out in happiness, making his parents glow in joy. 

"Yeah baby, you were right. He came back to us." Aizawa smiled in Yamada's direction, laying his head on his shoulder. Yamada kissed his forehead, a silent promise.

Yamada laid awake, staring at the ceiling. 4:45 a.m. The clock read. Being held captive had trained his body to wake up at the crack of dawn. Not like the prison had a great atmosphere for sleeping. But he didn't mind.

He stroked his pup's head, the toddler currently lying on top of his chest, drooling into his shirt, letting out loud snores. Yamada couldn't take his eyes of the pup, heart filled with fondness for his baby. Yet, at the same time, regret. He missed two whole years of his child's life. He left Aizawa to go through pregnancy and labour all alone. His alpha fumed at not being there for his mate during such a crucial time.

Speaking of mate, he turned to his side, Aizawa snuggled up to his side. All of a sudden, Yamada noticed a frown form on his face, Aizawa shifting in his sleep. "Zashi?" He mumbled softly, getting agitated. "Don't leave, please. No. NO!" He kept repeating this phrase, twitching in his sleep. Before Yamada could wake him up from his nightmare, the omega shot up, gasping, trying to search for Yamada.

"Shouta, I'm here, right here." His mate snapped his heard towards him, visibly relaxing as he collapsed onto the bed, burying his head in the crook of Yamada's neck.

"I thought this afternoon was only a dream. God knows how many times I hoped for it to come true." He muttered, looking up at Yamada. The blond smiled soflty, running his fingers through Aizawa's hair.

"Well, it's come true now." Aizawa smiled, propping himself up on his elbows, staring at Yamada.

"What?" He asked.

"Just admiring my husband. This is the first time I'm seeing you after all." Aizawa brushed a strand of hair of his face, turning his attention to his pup. "You know, for some reason, Hitoshi always insisted you would come home. He made a lot of cards for you, saying he will give it to Papa once he comes home. He was so sure about it. He was right."

Yamada pressed a kiss to his pup's forehead, Hitoshi smiling in his sleep and nuzzling closer. He hadn't let go off Yamada all day, pressed close to his Papa.

"Shouta," He started, trying to find the words. Aizawa looked up, patiently waiting for him to continue. "I.......I don't want to go back to the military. I want to retire. I want to stay home."

Aizawa straightened up as Yamada continued. "I told you we couldn't mate because it would cause a stress on newly mated couples if they stayed too far away from each other, I don't want to stay away, I want to mate with you, I want to play with our child and watch Hitoshi grow up......I.....I can't miss any more moments Shouta!"

Aizawa remained quiet. "I, I don't think I have the strength to lose you again Hizashi. I already lost you once, I can't again." Yamada sat up slowly, careful not to jostle Hitoshi and wrapped his arm around Aizawa.

"You know, I can go back to my painting. Although not sure if you will appreciate it like before, now that you can see how bad I am at it." Aizawa chuckled, earning a snort from Yamada as he leaned down, tenderly kissing him, Aizawa touched his cheek, moving his lips against Yamada's, tilting his head, pressing deeper.

The two stayed like that for a while, completely immersed in the other, trying to make up for all the lost time, trying to pour out all their emotions and the unspoken words, basking in the other's presence. Aizawa purred contently, smiling up at Yamada.

"What are you smiling about?"

Aizawa smiled even more widely, shaking his head. "Why can't I? After all now, My Alpha Is Home."