Chapter Text
Kageyama's nose has been bothering him lately.
This morning, walking to school with Hinata, the breeze had brought about a whiff of something he's never smelled before. It had stuck to his nostrils like invisible glue, and he’s been smelling it ever since.
He’s tried everything: washing his face after getting to the changing room, putting on extra deodorant, rubbing the tip of his nose— but that scent still lingers like a shadow.
Kageyama’s always had a sensitive nose, but this… is a first for him. And it’s confusing. It doesn’t seem to be doing any harm, though, so he tries his best to ignore it. This goes well, until practice starts that morning, just 10 minutes later.
The setter walks into the gym where the rest of the team are, and he’s floored by a scent that is undeniably the same one as before. It smells of vanilla and citrus, and it’s so potent he can taste it in the back of his throat. As a result, the young Alpha is slightly off his game and undeniably distracted. Tsukishima teases him about it, and Yamaguchi shushes his friend’s remarks every now and then, but surprisingly, Kageyama’s not particularly bothered by Tsukki’s snark today. More than anything, he’s alert, and confused as to why.
Even more bothersome: Hinata has been twitchy this morning. He’s jumpier than usual, and he’s more prone to being surprised (for example: earlier, Yamaguchi had approached the Omega from behind and Hinata had squeaked, whirling around to face the taller teammate in a defensive stance).
It all comes to a head at the end of practice when Hinata stumbles a bit as he’s mopping the floor— which is nothing out of the ordinary, the boy is naturally clumsy— but it captures Kageyama’s attention nonetheless. He’s clumsy, yes, but not this uncoordinated.
“Oi, dumbass,” Kageyama calls, walking over to the ginger, radiating annoyance (though, in reality, he’s not angry; just confused and easily misread). “What’s the matter with—”
Abruptly, Hinata interrupts him with a drawn-out whine. It’s loud, and Kageyama can’t explain it, but it… it does things to his brain.
The Alpha’s eyes zero in on Hinata’s swollen neck gland as the Omega tilts his head in… frightened?... submission. There’s a look he’s never seen before in Hinata’s amber eyes: they’re glassy, with wide-blown pupils, and there’s a haze about them that reminds Kageyama of a desert. If Kageyama didn’t know any better, he’d think his teammate’s on drugs.
All thoughts of drugs leave his mind, though, when he’s hit with a wave of citrusy vanilla, and it smells so enticing it nearly has Kageyama’s eyes rolling to the back of his head. The boy feels like a starving man, and the thirst nearly overwhelms his utter confusion.
“Hinata,” Daichi approaches the two from Kageyama’s right. At the smell of another Alpha, the setter sees red.
He snarls, and it’s a vicious gut-wrenching sound that echoes throughout the gym. To accompany this warning, Kageyama moves to shield Hinata’s body with his own, effectively separating his— the Omega— from the intruding party.
Behind him, Hinata whimpers; across the room, another Omega— Kinoshita— automatically bares his neck in submission, eyes wide like he doesn’t understand why his body is reacting the way it is.
This, Kageyama can relate to. Behind the forefront of his Alphan instincts screaming at him to protect, his thoughts drown in pools of uncertainty. Why is he doing this? He knows Daichi would never hurt Hinata. He knows this; Daichi always considers his team’s health and wellbeing well before his own. He’s a good pack Alpha. He’s probably just trying to help… but help with what? Why is Hinata being weird? Why are the hairs on the nape of Kageyama’s neck standing on end in a manner that can only be described as aggressive?
Daichi takes a step closer and all thoughts leave the setter’s brain once again. He growls, deep and rumbling, and it vibrates low in his chest.
Sugawara cautiously approaches the scene. The scent of an Omega is less threatening; but he’s a threat nonetheless. Still, Kageyama calms down, just a tad, especially when he catches onto the calming pheromones being released.
“Kageyama,” Suga coos. “You know we’d never hurt you or Hinata. Can you please step away? We’re trying to help. Promise.”
In the back of his mind, Kageyama can hear and register the reassurances from his upperclassman, but his instincts are on such high alert that they practically drown out any concrete thought. Suga takes a step closer, and the young Alpha’s eyes narrow, but he remains silent. Another step, though, and Kageyama bares his teeth.
However, Hinata seems to snap back into a cohesive mindset, putting a hand on Kageyama’s shoulder. The Alpha jerks in surprise, but relaxes instantly at the sight of his— of the Omega.
“I’m fine, Bakayama,” his voice is gentle, like he’s talking to a scared animal, but he still sounds… off. Like not all of him is there.
It qualms Kageyama’s aggression, but not completely. Which is why, when Hinata walks away towards the captain and vice, and said captain puts a hand on Hinata’s back to guide him, Kageyama snarls again.
“ Hey, ” Daichi warns, turning to face the defensive first-year. “None of that. You need to cool off. Your instincts are haywire right now.”
Kageyama only half-listens, his gaze still locked on his friend. He whines, quiet and low in his throat, when Hinata is finally out of the gym and out of sight. Not being able to see him is stressing him out.
To cope with this stress, he begins pacing, clenching and unclenching his fingers (though he’s careful not to harm his palms with the crescents of his nails).
Today is going to be a long day, he decides.