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Karasuno gymnasium was thick with the scent of sweat of teenage pheromones. For most of the volleyball team, this was just the smell of practice. But for Kageyama Tobio, the Alpha setter, and Hinata Shoyo, the Omega spiker, it was the daily struggle of suppressing what they both refused to acknowledge. Kageyama, tall and fiercely coiled with energy, wiped the sweat from his brow, his deep blue eyes narrowed on the court. He was an Alpha. Strong, dominant, and notoriously bad at communicating anything that wasn't volleyball. Just three meters away, Hinata, small but a blinding burst of light, launched himself into the air. He soared, his movements defying his stature, and slammed the ball Kageyama had just set.
Thwack! The sound echoed, powerful and clean. "One more time, dumbass!" Kageyama barked, grabbing another ball. Hinata landed, his chest heaving, his orange hair a halo under the gym lights. His Omega scent was slightly elevated with exertion, a scent Kageyama knew he was intensely drawn to, but would sooner set a ball into the ceiling than admit.
"I know! Don't call me a dumbass, dumbass!" Hinata shot back, puffing out his chest. Kageyama's jaw tightened. "You ARE a dumbass, Shoyo." He only used Hinata's given name when he was genuinely annoyed with the omega or… he’s just trying to conceal his awe for the omega? The secret is only to Kageyama and God. Hinata flushed, a combination of pique and something softer. "You're the worst, Tobio!"
They knew.
It had started the second they saw each other, truly saw each other, after their disastrous middle school match. The moment Kageyama's inner Alpha had registered the fiery little Omega defying his biology on the court, a deep, resonant connection had sparked. It wasn't the traditional, possessive Alpha claim, but a magnetic pull. A need to see that Omega shine, and the quiet, terrifying realization that this bright, ridiculous Omega was his person. Hinata, despite his inherent Omega sweetness, was also a stubborn, prideful brat. His Omega instincts recognized Kageyama’s powerful Alpha presence, but instead of submission, his entire being screamed to challenge the alpha. He felt the pull, deep, settling warmth and a desire to be close to Kageyama but his self-respect demanded he never, ever show that vulnerability to the Grumpy King.
---
Later that evening, the team was packing up. Hinata was struggling to stuff a massive duffel bag into his locker. "Out of the way, boke," Kageyama grumbled, stepping too close. "I'm trying! Why don't you offer to help, you insensitive Alpha!" Hinata snapped, his frustration bleeding into his scent. He expected Kageyama to shove past. Instead, Kageyama paused, his large hand brushing Hinata's shoulder. A low, soft growl that was not an annoyance rumbled in his chest. "You're getting in the way. Move your bag."
With a swift movement, Kageyama grabbed the top strap of the duffel, compressed the air out of it with one knee, and effortlessly shoved it into the locker. He then slammed the door shut with a finality that was almost aggressive. Hinata stared, heart hammering a frantic rhythm. Kageyama hadn't helped. He had done it simply because the Omega was struggling nearby and it was bothering him.
"Thanks," Hinata mumbled, looking at the floor. "Don't thank me," Kageyama said sharply, turning away. "You're slow. I want to leave." He's lying, Hinata thought. He knew Kageyama's scent was currently layered with a subtle, protective calm. It was the scent he used when he was secretly satisfied. Kageyama, halfway out the door, stopped. He glanced back, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "Don't... don't stay out late, dumbass. You need sleep for morning practice."
An order? He ordered me? A subtle, caring order. He DOES care for me.
Hinata stiffened. "I'll do what I want! You're not my Alpha!" "Good," Kageyama growled, his scent spiking with feigned anger. "Don't let me catch you yawning on the court, though, or I'll spike a ball right into your face." They stared at each other for a long, charged moment. Both pairs of eyes Kageyama's and Hinata's held the same secret, a burning, mutual affection that neither's pride would allow them to act on. The silent agreement was as clear as their denial.
I know you like me, and I like you back, but I will continue to treat you like a menace until you prove you're worthy of my total affection.
---
Kageyama was furious. Not genuinely furious, he never truly furious with Hinata but he just performing his requisite level of Alpha annoyance necessary to sustain their current, exhausting relationship dynamic. "You should have been three steps to the left! Were you not paying attention, dumbass? I told you specifically to cover the diagonal!" he roared, pointing an accusing finger directly at Hinata's nose. Hinata, predictably, bristled like an angry hedgehog. "I was there! Tanaka-senpai’s block was late! Stop blaming me for your stupid, high sets!" Kageyama watched him, a slow, quiet appreciation unfurling behind his sharp glare.
The early afternoon sun, streaming through the gymnasium windows, caught the fine, downy hairs on the back of Hinata's neck. The Omega was red-faced, vibrating with indignation, his hands balled into tight fists. And then there were his eyes. Those ridiculous, luminous golden-brown eyes, usually wide with wonder or narrowed in focus, were currently burning with pure, glorious defiance. Most Omegas no- most people, frankly looked away when Kageyama deployed his full, intimidating presence. They backed down, fidgeted, or softened their tone. But Hinata? Hinata leaned in. He stood on his tiptoes to meet Kageyama's height, forcing Kageyama to meet the fire head-on.
Good, Kageyama thought, the silent part of his mind dangerously close to swooning. Don't look away.
The line of his neck, where his uniform collar ended, was flushed pink. His lips were parted slightly, ready to deliver the next volley of insults, and his fiery orange hair seemed to glow in the light. He looked utterly, beautifully incandescent, even when contorted by fury. He was the angry tangerine Kageyama didn't know he needed.
"You look like a goldfish," Kageyama eventually grunted, because he couldn't compliment the sight and had to say something mean to keep the facade up. Hinata gasped, genuinely hurt by the random attack. "A goldfish?! That doesn't even make sense! You're a stupid Alpha who has no brain cells!" Kageyama felt a surge of possessive satisfaction. Hinata hadn't looked away, not even for a second. He held the gaze, demanding to be respected, demanding to be seen. Kageyama glared harder, folding his arms. "Just get the next toss right, or I'm putting the ball in the bleachers."
"Try it, King!" Hinata spat, turning on his heel and stomping back to the court. Kageyama watched the confident, springy bounce of his Omega's steps. He knew that if Hinata ever stopped arguing, stopped challenging him, or worse, if he ever started looking away, Kageyama would probably implode.
Keep fighting, dumbass, Kageyama thought, grabbing a volleyball. It suits you. He served the ball with punishing force, aiming it directly at the spot where his angry, beautiful Omega was waiting.
---
Hinata sat cross-legged on the floor of the clubroom, fiddling with the elastic of his kneepads. Kageyama was on the opposite side of the room, ostensibly studying volleyball theory diagrams. Kageyama’s eyebrow furrowed and he ran his hand through his black hair. A subtle, annoying habit that drove Hinata crazy.
He’s waiting for me to do it, he wants me to initiate. Hinata realized for the thousandth time, glaring at Kageyama’s stoic profile. Despite his constant bravado and defiance, Hinata was just an Omega who craved connection and warmth. He had already established the mutual attraction through their intense gazes and scent flares. Now, in the subtle dance of Alpha-Omega courtship, an Alpha was supposed to initiate the conversation, the move, the acknowledgment of the bond. Kageyama Tobio is strong, dominant, precise, and completely, utterly useless at taking the initiative when it matters most. Hinata sighed dramatically, loud enough for it to echo slightly in the quiet room. Kageyama didn't move.
"Tired, boke?" Kageyama finally muttered, without looking up. "Yes! I'm tired of waiting for things to happen!" Hinata snapped, throwing his hands up. Kageyama finally looked over, his blue eyes sharp. "Then make them happen! Why are you just sitting there?"
Oh, the irony!
"I can't just make this happen, King!" Hinata burst out, frustration making his voice squeak. "It's supposed to be natural! It's supposed to be... obvious!" Kageyama frowned, genuinely confused. He thought they were obvious. They were clearly the best duo on the court. They fought constantly. They were always near each other. What else did this demanding Omega want?
"What are you even talking about? Practice is over. What do you need to happen?" Kageyama challenged. Hinata wanted to scream. He wanted to march across the room, grab Kageyama's collar, and yell, 'I need you to stop acting like you don't smell me, like you don't watch me, like you don't care! I need you to initiate a non-volleyball conversation, you dense Alpha!' Instead, his pride flared. "N-nothing! Never mind!" Hinata huffed, snatching up his bag. "I’m going to go eat meat buns!" Kageyama watched him bolt for the door. His inner Alpha felt a distinct pang of disappointment, the Omega was leaving, and he hadn't managed to do the one thing he always intended to do, keep him close.
Why did he look so upset? Was he waiting for me to walk with him? Kageyama frowned deeply, completely missing the point. He knew what he wanted to do, grab his bag and follow the little Sun, making sure he got home safe, perhaps sharing a meat bun, their shoulders brushing. "Dumbass," Kageyama whispered to the empty doorway. Yes, Hinata was definitely in for a long, long, long wait. Kageyama Tobio might have fallen first, but he was going to be the last to actually admit it.
---
Hinata walked home alone, kicking a loose pebble down the street. The setting sun cast long, orange shadows, a color that usually felt like his own strength, but tonight felt lonely. His anger with Kageyama wasn't just about volleyball errors or being called a "dumbass" or “boke” anymore. It was about Kageyama's infuriating inaction.
He's an Alpha! The Alpha King!
Hinata’s entire Omega biology screamed for simple, undeniable affirmations that Kageyama’s scent and gaze already promised. Hinata didn't want poetry. He wanted Kageyama to look him up and down and say, 'You look strong today,' with that low, serious voice, or even just tease him about his hair. Instead, he got "You look like a piece of garbage." He always wanted a hug from his alpha. A simple warm embrace after a good spike, or maybe even just a brief hand on the back of his neck, asserting quiet presence. Instead, he got "Get out of my way, boke!." Sweet whisper? Nahh no way. He wanted to settle for a whispered praise, 'Good job,' or 'Don't push yourself too hard, Shoyo.' Instead, he got "If you mess up this fast attack, I will murder you."
Hinata stops and sighs.
He wanted Kageyama to initiate the first, irreversible step. He wanted that powerful Alpha scent, the one Kageyama usually kept tightly leashed, to fully bloom and mark him. He wanted the undeniable, formal acknowledgment of their connection, for Kageyama to be the first to declare. This Omega is mine, and I will be his Alpha. Hinata clutching the strap of his gym bag. He remembered the brief hand-brush over when they tried to grab volleyball. The fleeting warmth, the sudden, potent mix of their pheromones. Kageyama had pulled back immediately, looking terrified. "He's the strongest Alpha I know," Hinata muttered to himself, scuffing the toe of his shoe. "But he’s also the biggest coward I know!" If Hinata made the move, if he leaned in, or scent-marked Kageyama first. It would feel desperate, and his pride would never recover. He was an Omega, yes so he deserved to be chased.
I am not going to break first. He’s the King. Kings are supposed to conquer.
He took a deep breath. He had to keep pushing Kageyama, keep fighting him, keep defying him, until Kageyama’s Alpha instincts which were clearly struggling against his massive insecurity finally overloaded. "Fine, Tobio," Hinata whispered into the twilight. "I'll wait. But you better hurry up, because I’m running out of good insults." He knew, with a sinking heart, that he could be waiting a very, very long time. Kageyama was a perfectionist in all things, and claiming an Omega was the one area where he absolutely refused to risk imperfect execution. He was waiting for the perfect moment, which meant it maybe would never come.
---
They were in the school library because the teacher decided to get fresh air to move the entire class to the library. Kageyama and Hinata were forced to sit together, both staring intently at textbooks, though neither was absorbing the information. Kageyama was agonizing over a simple gesture he had been planning for an hour. He wanted to offer Hinata a bottle of chilled yogurt drink he bought. It wasn't a confession, just... a cold drink. A sign of Alpha favor. He glanced at Hinata, who was currently biting the end of his pen, squinting intensely at a math problem.
Now. Do it now.
Kageyama subtly nudged the bottle onto the table, just an inch closer to Hinata’s elbow. Hinata, catching the peripheral movement, reacted instantly. He noticed the bottle and Kageyama's focused glare that seemed to demand attention. Hinata’s Omega heart leaped. Is this it? Is he giving me a gift? A sign of favor?
But Hinata's pride and fear of misinterpreting the move made him perform his usual defense mechanism, denial indifferent. Hinata sniffed, dramatically pushing his chair back. "What are you staring at? Did you just realize you can't read those equations?" Kageyama’s expression went blank. The subtle, careful Alpha favor he had been trying to initiate dissolved into hurt and confusion. "Nothing, boke," Kageyama growled, pulling the yogurt bottle back to his own side. He hates my presence. He’s deliberately avoiding my attention. I should have known.
Kageyama had been hoping that Hinata would just take the drink, maybe flash him a small, genuine smile, a clear signal of acceptance. Instead, Hinata had aggressively challenged him. In Kageyama’s mind, this was a loud, clear rejection. "Good. Stop interrupting my study," Hinata huffed, even though he desperately wanted that cold drink and was now inwardly kicking himself for being so aggressively defensive. Why did I say that? He was trying to be nice! Now he thinks I'm annoyed!
---
Kageyama waited until the team was leaving practice later that day. He saw Hinata fumbling with his water bottle cap, struggling to twist it open. An Alpha should help the Omega in distress, Kageyama's instinct roared. This is a clear signal, an acceptable need for aid. He strode over, his scent spiking with concern which he masked as impatience. He reached out to take the bottle. "Give it here, dumbass. You're going to spill it all over your uniform," Kageyama ordered. Hinata, however, was in the middle of a private war. He was furious that he couldn't open the cap and even more furious that Kageyama was ordering him instead of sweetly offering.
He's still treating me like a child! He's not initiating anything sweet!
In a defiant Omega effort to prove he was strong and capable and didn't need the Alpha, Hinata yanked the bottle away. "I got it! I don't need your help!" Hinata snarled, his eyes narrowed. He twisted the cap hard enough that his knuckles turned white, and miraculously, it popped open. "See? Totally fine." Kageyama froze, his hand left hanging in the air. The internal conversation was brutally confusing. He was struggling. I should assist. This is how you show care. He pulled away. He rejected my help. He explicitly stated he doesn't need me. He wants me to leave him alone. Conclusion, he is faking his feelings. He doesn't want me near him. He doesn't want me to be his Alpha.
Kageyama quickly masked the sting with anger. "Fine! Struggle then! Don't come crying to me when you get dehydrated!" He spun around and stormed off toward the bicycle racks. Hinata watched him go, his defiant scent instantly replaced by a miserable feeling. No, don't leave! Come back and insist! Don't let me push you away! He wanted Kageyama to see past the bluster and know that 'I don't need your help' meant 'Please, please stay, please.' But Kageyama, consumed by his own insecurity and belief that Hinata’s constant verbal rejections were the only honest things about him, could never catch the real signal hidden beneath the 'angry tangerine' facade. He was waiting for a vulnerability but Hinata’s pride would never allow him to show first.
They were locked in a situation where an Alpha waiting for a soft Omega sign, and an Omega waiting for a dominant Alpha move, all while continuously keep sending the wrong messages.
---
Hinata watched Kageyama from across the lunch table, chewing slowly on his egg roll. Kageyama was trying again. This time, Kageyama wasn't using subtle movements or yogurt drinks. He was attempting, in his own Alpha way, to gather information. The logical precursor to a plan. "Hey, Hinata," Kageyama said, his voice unusually low, almost hesitant. "What?" Hinata snapped back immediately, his defenses up. "What..." Kageyama stalled, visibly struggling to form a sentence. "What kind of... things does Natsu... like?"
Hinata blinked. Natsu? His little sister. This was clearly Kageyama trying to gather intelligence on the Omega's family, a traditional step before making a serious move. Kageyama was attempting to clear the emotional prerequisites. A pang of pity, sharp and unexpected, hit Hinata. Kageyama’s powerful Alpha scent, usually so composed, was currently laced with nervous anticipation and a desperate need for success. He looked utterly miserable for trying.
He’s trying so hard! He’s so scared! Oh God!
Hinata’s heart melted a centimeter, but then his Omega pride solidified it again into a cold, hard stone. ‘If he wants, he would’ the mantra echoed in his head. If Kageyama truly wanted to initiate a relationship, he needed to understand the core Omega requirement, commitment and assurance. He couldn't just offer a drink; he had to offer his future. "Natsu?" Hinata repeated, tilting his head with mock confusion. "Oh, she likes everything. She especially likes people who aren't mean to me. Why? Are you going to bully her too?"
Kageyama’s face crumbled into baffled exasperation. "No! Why would I bully her, you idiot? I just... I was just thinking..." He trailed off, unable to voice that he was thinking about the appropriate gift-giving for his Omega's little sister. Hinata leaned in. "Just spit it out, Tobio. If you have something important to say, say it with your chest, not with weird, roundabout questions about my family!" Kageyama recoiled, interpreting Hinata’s challenge as a warning, ‘Stay away from my family’.
"Forget it," Kageyama grumbled, looking defeated. He stuffed the rest of his rice into his mouth, his Alpha scent retreating behind a wall of cold indifference. He thinks I'm a threat to his little sister. He wants me to be gone.
---
Later that night, curled up under his duvet, Hinata replayed the interaction, sighing heavily. He knew, Kageyama knew it too. Their Feeling is mutual. But, before a formal bond, before any true flirtation, the Omega's family had to be respected and won over. It wasn't enough for Kageyama to like him. He had to be prepared to face his father, mother and of course Natsu. If Kageyama truly wanted to claim him, he wouldn't be asking Hinata subtle questions in the lunchroom. He would show up at the house. He would initiate a formal visit, ask to speak to his parents, and offer a simple, sincere reassurance of his protective intentions. He would win Natsu over with a new volleyball or a juice box.
That would be a clear signal.
Hinata sighed, punching his pillow. "Until then, King," he whispered, feeling a miserable mixture of love and stubbornness, "I'm not going to make it easy for you. I deserve a King who can conquer his own fear." He was waiting for Kageyama's Alpha determination to outweigh his pride.
---
Kageyama lay rigidly on his bed. It was past midnight, and his mind was in chaos. He hadn't been able to sleep since Hinata’s dismissive, prideful comments at lunch. Hinata's challenge “If you have something important to say, say it with your chest” had only fueled Kageyama's agonizing internal debate. "A simple gift," he muttered into his pillow. "It should be a simple gift." He cycled through possibilities, analyzing each one with the meticulous detail usually reserved for Volleyball.
A new volleyball? Too impersonal. Too much like training. Milk? Too typical of Kageyama, not a sign of courting. A flower? Traditional, but Kageyama didn't know what kind of flower represented 'bright, annoying, but utterly essential Omega.' Plus, he will be mortified buying one. A meat bun? Practical, but not special.
Then his mind flashed back to Hinata's face. Not the angry one from lunch, but the one from practice yesterday. Hinata soaring, his face pure joy after a clean spike. His smile. It was wide, blinding, and completely innocent. It was the only time Kageyama could look at him without having to immediately fight the urge to reach out. Kageyama rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He was trapped in a feedback loop of Hinata’s perfection. Kageyama had always considered beauty frivolous. But Hinata... Hinata wasn't just 'pretty.' He was luminous. His small stature held explosive power, and his skin always looked kissed by the sun. When they were close, Kageyama could feel the subtle heat radiating off him, the way his scent seems to sparkle. It was an infuriating, intoxicating, Omega beauty that Kageyama, the unromantic Alpha found flawlessly perfect.
His Laughter. A sudden, high-pitched peal of joy that could cut through the gym noise. It was the sound Kageyama realized he had started subconsciously setting out to achieve with every perfect toss. His Anger? The best. The small, furious pout; the burning, defiant eyes that never broke contact. That was the face that told Kageyama everything he needed to know. I see you and I am not afraid of you. That aggressive vulnerability was what had made Kageyama fall first.
"He's perfect," Kageyama whispered, the admission of a heavy weight in the quiet room. "Every part of the dumbass is perfect."
As exhaustion finally claimed him, Hinata bled into his sleep. Kageyama dreamed he was on the court, but the gym was silent, glowing with moonlight. Hinata was there, standing perfectly still. He wasn't yelling or fighting. He was smiling, a soft, intimate expression Kageyama had never actually seen. Kageyama walked toward him. In the dream, his pride was absent. He reached out, cupping Hinata’s cheek with his large hand. "Why do you fight me?" Kageyama asked, his dream-voice low and true. Hinata leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. "I'm not fighting you, Tobio. I'm fighting my fear, thinking that you won't stay."
Kageyama’s Alpha heart twisted. He moved closer, wrapping his arms around the Omega’s small frame. The sensation of Hinata fitting perfectly against his chest was overwhelming. Kageyama breathed in the sweet, deep scent of contentment and protection. He lowered his head and whispered against the soft, warm skin of Hinata’s neck. The place where an Alpha’s mark would go.
“I’m not going anywhere, Shoyo.”
He woke up with a gasp, his heart hammering and his head pounding. Kageyama sat up, deeply shaken. It wasn't just a dream; it was his subconscious Alpha laying out the blueprint for what he had to do. Drop the pride and initiate. I have to stop thinking about a gift and start thinking about claiming him even if I'm terrified.
---
Sunday morning felt unnaturally bright and loud to Kageyama Tobio. He was dressed in his cleanest clothes, his hair meticulously styled. In his hands, he held the offering. A box, wrapped with infuriatingly cheerful orange and yellow paper. Miwa, his big sister had insisted on the "cute theme" on the wrap. The box contained a soft, plain gray hoodie perfect for scent sharing and a new volleyball nestled beside it.
Every step toward the Hinata residence felt like wading through deep, molasses-thick water. The air was thin, and his palms were sweating profusely. He was the King of the Court, but here, on this quiet residential street, he was just a terrified high school Alpha facing a potentially life-altering rejection.
I just need to present the gifts, state my intentions, and survive.
He reached the front door, his heart hammering against his ribs. He raised a trembling finger and pressed the doorbell. The sound was ridiculously high-pitched and chirpy. The door swung open instantly. Standing there, however, was not the object of his affection, but the Omega’s fierce little sister, Natsu.
Natsu, miniature and observant, blinked up at the towering Alpha, her expression shifting from curiosity to shock, and finally, to pure, mischievous glee. She looked Kageyama up and down, the formal clothes, the ridiculous orange-wrapped box. She registered the faint tremor in the Alpha’s hand and the nervous tension in his powerful shoulders. She grinned, a terrifyingly knowing expression for a grade-schooler. Then, she pivoted, cupped her hands around her mouth, and let out a piercing shriek that rattled the calm morning air.
"NII-CHAANNNNNN!!!" Natsu bellowed, her voice echoing into the house. "YOUR BOYFRIEND IS HEEEEERE! AND HE BROUGHT A GIFT!"
Kageyama’s world stopped.
His eyes widened in horror. His blood pressure plummeted to zero. The Alpha in him wanted to bolt, to retreat, to deploy a smoke screen and vanish. Boyfriend? Gift? This is not how the negotiation was supposed to start! He felt his cheeks heat instantly, a deep, painful blush spreading up his neck. He wanted the ground to swallow him whole. "Natsu!" he managed, his voice a tight, strangled squeak.
Before he could offer a denial or a proper introduction, Hinata Shoyo rounded the corner from the living room. He was wearing an oversized t-shirt and sweats, his hair a riot of sleep-tousled orange. He looked adorable and completely unprepared for this confrontation. Hinata froze in the doorway, seeing Kageyama’s panicked, towering form and the brightly wrapped box. The words "YOUR BOYFRIEND IS HERE" hung in the charged air between them. Hinata’s face went through three distinct phases, confusion, mortification (at Natsu's phrasing), and finally, a surge of overwhelming, furious pride.
He actually came. He actually showed up. And he brought an offering. He finally initiated! This is what I wanted!
"WHAT are you doing here, Kageyama?!" Hinata shouted, stepping past Natsu and blocking the doorway. Kageyama, still reeling from Natsu’s announcement, could only stand there, the orange gift box feeling impossibly heavy, his carefully constructed courting plan already pulverized. "I... I came to..." Kageyama stammered, his eyes darting desperately from the furious Omega to the grinning little sister. "I came to... see your parents."
---
The morning sun streamed into the spacious apartment Kageyama and Hinata shared near their professional volleyball team's training facility. The apartment was a comfortable blend of minimalism and chaos, reflecting their personalities. Expensive, sturdy furniture mixed with scattered volleyball magazines and Hinata’s brightly colored gym gear.
Kageyama was scrolling through his phone, sipping coffee that was, naturally, perfectly brewed. Hinata, already buzzing with energy, was attempting a complicated stretch in the middle of the living room rug. Kageyama paused his scrolling, his eyes drifting up to the wall above the media console. There, displayed in a custom-built, shadow-box frame, was the evidence of his greatest pre-mating blunder. The Hoodie, A soft, plain gray hoodie, slightly faded, still folded neatly and the Volleyball, a pristine, brand-new volleyball, its leather untouched.
"You know," Hinata commented, snapping out of his stretch and glancing at the display. "Sometimes I still look at that and just shake my head." Kageyama sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. Even two years into their marriage and two years of perfectly synchronized quick attacks and shared championship titles. The memory of that Sunday morning was a source of crippling, hilarious embarrassment. "Yeah, that courting gift is stupid, what was I even thinking?!" Kageyama muttered, pulling at his dark hair in mock despair. "A hoodie and a fucking ball. It looks like I was giving you supplies for a field trip, not asking your parents permission to court you."
Hinata chuckled, a bright, melodic sound that still gave Kageyama a quiet thrill. He walked over and leaned against Kageyama’s chair, bumping their shoulders together. Kageyama instantly wrapped an arm around his husband, pulling him close. "No, no. It was perfect because it was stupid," Hinata said, tilting his head back to look at the display. "It proved you were so stressed you out to the only things you understood, comfort and volleyball. It showed my Mom and Dad that you were a socially incompetent Alpha, but one whose heart was clearly in the right place." Kageyama snorted, pressing a kiss into the top of Hinata's fiery hair. "I should have brought your mom flowers and a bottle of wine, and given you a proper declaration."
"And if you had done that, I would have thought you were a fake!" Hinata argued, laughing. "I would have thought you hired someone to write the speech. The awkward, terrified Alpha showing up with training equipment and soft fabric? That was the most honest you ever been up until that point." Hinata pushed himself off the chair and walked over to the display case, tapping the glass lightly over the volleyball. "Besides, it's proof," Hinata said, turning to face Kageyama with a wide, loving smile. "It's proof that even the most prideful Alpha King, after months of pretending not to care, eventually has to face and give in to his Omega's demands for attention."
Kageyama stood up, closing the distance between them with two long strides. He gripped Hinata by the hips, his deep blue eyes focused entirely on the beautiful Omega he finally and formally claimed. "You were just as bad," Kageyama countered, his voice a low, gravelly tease. "You were pretending so hard you nearly gave me a heart attack when I asked your father. You should have just said 'yes' the first time I showed up."
"And surrender to the King that easily? Never!" Hinata chirped, his pride still intact, even if his heart had been Kageyama’s for years. Hinata looped his arms around Kageyama's neck, settling perfectly into the space reserved just for him. Kageyama lowered his head, breathing in the comforting, intimate mix of Hinata’s and his scent.
"I love you, Shoyo," Kageyama murmured, the simple phrase now as easy and natural as spiking a quick set. "I love you too, Tobio," Hinata replied, pulling Kageyama in for a soft, genuine kiss. They broke apart, Hinata still grinning, looking up at the framed reminder of their agonizing high school antics.
"I'll act indifferent but I do want you"