Chapter Text
For as long as I could remember, I belonged nowhere.
I belonged to no one, I had no place, I had no home. In my bag, I only carry what I have always known; two shirts, two pants, one hat, one pair of socks, one pair of shoes, and a hairbrush. I once had a beautiful novel with leather bindings and weathered pages, but when Miss Shuzin found it hidden in the bottom of my bag, it was burned before I could dare to stop her.
And I wouldn't dare to stop her. I wouldn't dare to inflict more beatings than I already know.
The bed beneath my bottom could hardly be considered a bed. But to my relief, this is the last time I'll have to sleep on the pathetic thing, and that makes me smile. Its frame is made of molded wood, the mattress nothing more than layered sheets; as are all the beds that line the sleep hall of the orphanage. I clutch my bag in my hands, my knuckles white and my nerves jittery as I wait for Miss Shuzin to retrieve me.
It's finally happening; after 18 years of bouncing from farmhouses to orphanages, from hostiles and work camps...I, Hinata Shouyou, am being adopted.
Into a family that wants me.
Into a home I could—just hopefully—one day call a home.
I close my eyes and pray to the stars, begging that possibly this time, everything will work in my favor.
The door to the sleep hall slams open, the sound of it crashing against the wall blaring as it echoes across the room—a sound I pray I'll never have to hear again.
Miss Shuzin appears as usual as she rushes towards me, dark hair falling loose from its braid and her back hunched.
I bite my lip as I jump to my feet to address her. "Are we leaving?"
She looks me over without ever meeting my eyes, her face, as usual, disgusted. "You are packed, I assume?"
"Oh yes, of course! Since yesterday morning! I've been packed-"
"Stop with the words," she groans with rolling eyes. "You talk too much."
I simply look at my feet. My boots are scuffed. If I were staying, the scuffs would cost me 20 lashes.
I thank the stars that I'm not.
She slaps the back of my head with her metal hand and I try not to wince from the pain. "Move, boy. We do not have all day."
I nod again, clutch harder at my bag, and walk to the door.
I memorize the halls of this horrible place as we head towards the front of the orphanage. The walls are in splinters and I sneak a small glance down to my sliced palms as I think from all the times I was made to scrub the walls. The floorboards beneath my boots cry as I walk, each one cheering for me, happy for my departure. The doors creak as Miss Shuzin tosses each of them wide open, the hinges in critical need of oil. And the windows, most shattered and fogged over...they will be the only things I miss.
The windows helped me to see a world outside of the splintered walls of Haven Hill Orphanage.
When I step through the doors out into the pathway where the carriage awaits, I have to pinch myself again; a bruise forming just below my elbow.
I'm awake, I chant in my head. I'm awake.
I look up at the sky.
Cloudy. Always cloudy. Even on a day as glorious as this one.
The wind blows, tossing my hair about as I hold tight to the straw hat on my head.
The horse (a black stallion I'd named Jasper my first night arriving at Haven Hill) whinnies, snapping me from my daze as Miss Shuzin's greasy smell approaches. "Take a good look, boy," she says, staring not at me. Never at me. "Hopefully, this is the last time you'll ever step foot in my orphanage," she mumbles under her breath. "And hopefully the last time I'll ever see that dislikable, dirty face of yours."
I leash back the tears clawing behind my eyes.
I should be used to it, the common words people often sprout about my appearance; about my orange hair and my freckled cheeks, my small build, and my silly height. I should be used to the way she looks down at me with eyes of hate and resentment but...the words never seem to become easier to hear or handle.
She walks ahead of me, climbing into the carriage and taking the reins in her wrinkled hands. I climb up next to her, my foot slipping on the wet step. She chuckles, still not looking my way. Once seated, I cling tighter to my bag, the inside filled with my only belongings as she clicks her tongue and snaps the horse into action.
A day's ride. Only a day's ride and I will be home.
Home. Oh, I wonder what it will look like?
***
The farm is astonishing, that is for certain.
I anxiously bounce in my seat on the bench, my jaw brushing the ground as I take in the sight. There are many horses, all different breeds and colors and sizes, and never has my heart ever felt so full.
Never in my life have I ever seen anything more beautiful. White fences and lush gardens and horse rings, barns made of bold, red wood and tin roofs, grass fields that seem endless—a sea of green dancing in the Wyoming winds. And the farmhouse, it's extravagant from what I can see. With white-painted wood, a green screen door, an aged, rustic porch swing, and an old dog on the front porch....gosh, it feels as though I've stepped into an extravagant dream as we ride down the muddy driveway.
But it's not the house or the horse that my eyes linger on...no.
It's the family that stands in the driveway....waiting.
But not just the family.
At the end of the line of smiling faces and welcoming eyes...stands the most handsome, flawless boy my eyes have ever experienced.
He's tall, firm, and toned, and his hair...it shimmers blue almost, the color similar to the fur coating Jasper the horse; a solid, asphalt black that I could lose myself in if given the chance. And his eyes—the sea would be jealous of the blue held within his eyes.
As the carriage nears, our gazes transfix on one another.
With a grunt, Miss Shuzin takes hold of my bag and rips it from my hands, tossing it into the mud. A surprised gasp slips from the lips of one of the members of my new family; another beautiful, young man with silver hair and gentle eyes.
...New Family. What a beautiful thought...
"Get down, boy. Hurry," she commands with a smile as she nods politely to the group standing on the ground in front of me.
I scurry down, quick to retrieve my bag but as my hand reaches out, my fingers brush against another, the hand warm, callused, and strong.
To my surprise, when I look up, my eyes are greeted by the ocean, the boy with blue-black hair looking at every small detail of my face as we lock eyes. He examines all of me; each flawed freckle, each small scar, my nose, my eyelashes, and finally, my lips, where his eyes linger for far too long—causing a small ache to tingle between my thighs. I feel small under his gaze but also...important and...pleasant, goosebumps erupting along my arms. My heart leaps in a way I've never experienced as my cheeks flush ferociously.
His cheeks appear a bit pink as well.
When he finally clears his throat and jerks away, a part of me almost reaches out to touch him again...
"S-sorry," he stutters, his voice much lower than anticipated, rough.
I just shake my head, too nervous to form a sentence.
I grip my bag and slowly stand up, my eyes hesitant to leave the ground.
But again, her meaty hand slaps hard at the back of my head, a small whine escaping my lips. "Learn your manners boy and greet your new family-"
"That's quite alright," speaks a new voice, one that sounds taunt behind clenched teeth, this voice also wonderfully powerful and deep.
And very clearly agitated.
The man continues, "There is no rush," he adds, his tone softening when suddenly, I can feel his eyes slide to me.
At his words, I dare to look up and instantly, I'm overwhelmed. Everyone in this family is...gorgeous, and I suddenly feel all too aware of how hideous I must appear. The man with the rustic voice is towering, with shaved, chocolate hair and a kind smile. His arm is looped around the waist of the man with silver hair and I bite the inside of my cheek as I take in how his hand clutches lovingly to the gentleman's side. He holds his free hand out in my direction, and when I flinch, I can see he takes it to heart; his large smile faltering slightly.
I wish I could tell him that he's not what frightens me, that it's only my memories that do. But my brain is much too nervous to form those words.
"Hinata, shake the man's hand, for God's sake," barks Miss Shuzin.
At the mention of my name, I can see in the corner of my eye, the boy with the ocean eyes tense a little as his stare wanders in my direction.
My heart leaps again, curse it.
Slowly, I reach out and take his hand, his grasp firm and secure...warm. I offer a tiny smile which only causes his to grow wider. "Hinata," says the man softly. "It's an honor to finally meet you."
I smile tiny and nod.
He leans a bit, trying to meet my eyes and my heart doesn't know what to do. He's coming to my level. He's not trying to size me up or intimidate me. No, he's trying to make me feel as comfortable as possible and I have to force my tears to stay hidden. "My name is Daichi," he says, looking to the man with silver hair. "And this is my partner, Suga."
Suga steps forward and instinctively, I step away. He acknowledges this and waits for my eyes to meet his again. When they do, he grins and my god, nothing has ever made me feel so calm in all of my existence.
Suga kneels. "Hello, Hinata," he says, his voice much softer than Daichi's. "You have no idea how I've waited to meet you," he speaks in a whisper as he tilts his head and looks me over with awe and wonder; as if I was something rare and precious, and I shake in my boots. "You are more than anything I could have ever imagined."
Miss Shuzin scoffs.
Suga's gentle eyes harden as he throws a nasty glance her way. "Is there an issue?"
Miss Shuzin appears speechless and mumbling. So Daichi kindly steps in to settle the tension. "Suga, down, love," he says, placing a hand on the small of Suga's back. Daichi's eyes fall to Miss Shuzin. "I assume there is nothing more to be done here, correct?"
Her eyes fly to Daichi. "No sir. Everything is in order. We will send someone in seven days with the rest of the paperwork and the adoption forms. That is if you decide to keep him."
Another boy, this one only slightly taller than me with spiked hair and sharp, hazel eyes, turns her way. "You act as if he's a dog we've adopted from the shelter," he growls.
My heart stops.
She hums. "Well, It wouldn't be much different."
I close my eyes.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and look to see Suga standing by my side, his stern shimmering eyes hard glued on Miss. Shuzin.
But it's not Suga who speaks up next when he damn near snarls, "Can she leave now?"
God, that voice could melt my bones.
I turn to see the boy with ocean eyes standing proud and menacing; his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw squared and tense. The blood stirs beneath my skin as I take him in again. Curse everything, he's gorgeous; from his hair to his face to his broad, ample shoulders, he is quite literally absolute perfection in every way possible.
I fight to control the heat bubbling in my stomach.
"I-I was just leaving. I apologize for any inconvenience." When her eyes fall on me, for once, she looks directly into my eyes. "Hinata. Let us pray we don't see you back at Haven Hill again, yes?"
Her words might sound innocent enough, but I know what meanings they truly hold.
Without another word, she spins on her heels and climbs back into the carriage, bidding farewell with the jerk of her chin.
I turn from where I stand to watch her ride away, my eyes concentrated on Jasper as I watch him trot down the path and out the front gates.
I lied before. I would miss more than just the windows.
"Bye Jasper," I mumble under my breath, far too quiet for anyone but myself to hear.
Again, two hands rest on my shoulders, and again, damn me, I jump. But Suga doesn't let go and inside, I applaud him for it. He spins me around to look at him as he bends and stares me directly in the eye. He doesn't say a word. He just smiles and looks me over, studying all the little features of my face. He shakes his head.
My heart plummets as I assume the worst.
But then, he says, "You are so breathtaking," he whispers and my lips fall open as my body begins to shake.
B reathtaking? Me?
He notices my shivering limbs and his eyes bulge. "Oh dear, of course! You must be freezing. Do they not supply appropriate clothing at that damn place," he hisses while rubbing my arms. He pulls me against him and for a moment, I'm stunned. He turns to the line of boys. "Noya, go find Asahi and get him to toss a blanket over the fire, would you?"
The boy with spiky hair bounces into action. "Got it, Noya to the rescue as usual," he jokes before spinning on his heels and running towards the house. "Welcome to the family, Hinata," he yells while waving back to me.
I toss up a shaky wave. "N-Noya," I manage to spit out and everyone turns and looks at me, even the beautiful raven-haired boy, his eyes wide and glossy and my cheeks catch fire again.
"Yes!" Daichi states as he walks to join Suga by my side. "Yes, that's Noya, one of our other sons. He's a ball of energy so I'm sorry if he's overwhelming at first."
I simply shake my head.
Daichi smiles wider and looks down at the bag in my hand. "Son, is this all you have?"
The muscles in my cheek flutter. Son.
My lungs flail in my chest as I forget the need to breathe. Finally, I answer him with a nod.
"Do you speak?" asks the beautiful boy, his voice harsher this time.
Suga rolls his eyes. "Tobio, please. Manners."
Tobio. What a fitting name. How stunning he is.
Tobio grunts and looks away. "I apologize."
A small smile tugs at my lips and this grants a squeal from Suga. "Oh my, you are going to be the death of me," he says, looking at Daichi with bright eyes. Daichi looks back at his partner with an expression so compassionate I feel as though I should look away.
What love this family shares.
"We should get inside before this wind gets colder, yes?" Daichi insists, rubbing a knuckle down Suga's cheek. He turns to Tobio. "Go get Tsukki and Yama and get the horses in for the night, would you?"
"Yes sir," is all Tobio says before he turns without giving me a second glance, rushing off towards the largest of the three barns where two boys (who I can only assume are Tsukki and Yama) stand leaning close together by the bay doors.
I watch him for a moment, mesmerized as I watch his hair bounce lightly atop his head, the muscles in his back shifting beneath his shirt.
Again, that damn tingle strikes me between my legs. My lord, I really must control myself.
I'm pulled away by the sound of Suga clearing his throat, his lips pulled into a smirk. "Come along, Hinata. Let's introduce you to the rest of the family."
Daichi's hand lands on my other shoulder. "Your family."
My lips fall apart as I nod and look towards my new home.
Home.
This...might actually be wonderful.