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“Ken, that you?”
Kentarou paused in the genkan where he was trading his slip on sneakers for his house slippers, resisting the urge to bark out a “who the fuck else would it be?” Last time he had done that, he’d gotten reamed for his attitude before his Mate had dissolved into tears over Kentarou being mean, then guilt from said Mate over his mood swings and how he didn’t mean it.
He wasn’t in the mood for that rollercoaster, not after having just spent the past hour running around town on his latest errand and dealing with assholes. Besides, a happy wife equaled a happy life or something along those lines and considering everything his Mate was dealing with and going through, Kentarou could hold back on the attitude and be more understanding.
So he shoved his feet into his house slippers and put on a more friendly tone as he replied with a “yeah, it’s me, babe!” that earned him a happy purr.
“Get in here! I miss you!”
He rolled his eyes as he picked up the bag of purchases. It was almost as though it had totally been forgotten why Kentarou had gone out in the first place, whose cravings he’d been trying to satisfy.
Again.
Whatever. He couldn’t deny that hearing he’d been missed made his chest feel fuzzy and his Alpha side feeling pleased and he moved with more hustle than usual to get back into the bedroom.
Shigeru was exactly where he had been when Kentarou had left, in the middle of the bed surrounded by more pillows than any one single bed needed or should have--and Kentarou still wasn’t entirely sure where they’d come from, convinced that Shigeru had done a little online shopping when Kentarou was at practice or the gym. He was dressed in one of Kentarou’s tees, covered by one of Kentarou’s zip up hoodies, big and fluffy and practically swamping him. He thought back to when they were in high school and Shigeru was taller, only for a third year growth spurt to give Kentarou the advantage there. His continued playing--now at a professional level--and working out also made him more muscular, broader, and his clothes bigger.
Not that Shigeru minded losing there. He loved stealing Kentarou’s clothes, his too big tees and hoodies and sweats. And Kentarou loved seeing his Mate wearing them, their scents mingling together pleasantly. Hell, the entire room smelled of the two of them, along with pleased Omega, his purrs rumbling loudly as he lounged, smiling fondly at Kentarou.
Kentarou, whose eyes were dropping down, taking in the way his tee fit on his Mate. It wasn’t as baggy as it had been in the past, not with the changes Shigeru’s body was going through. His chest had begun filling out, a small A rather than the flat pectorals they’d once been. And more importantly, the swell of his stomach, gray cotton stretched over it, their pups held safely within.
Their pups.
Two of them, twins, the product of their joining together during Shigeru’s Heat, the product of their love. Kentarou still remembered the day Shigeru had shown him the positive test, then the day of their first ultrasound when the doctor had pointed out there were two fetuses in there. Shigeru had joked that Kentarou’s sperm had been a little too powerful and Kentarou had argued that it was Shigeru releasing too many eggs, but either way, two little miracles were on their way.
Kentarou was on the bed in a flash, bag set down on the other side of Shigeru as he curled his upper body on his Mate’s lap. His hands framed his stomach, lips pressed to it, letting out a happy rumble. He’d done this. He’d fucked and knotted his Mate so well, had put his pups inside, had done his duty as an Alpha and bred up his Omega so well there were two growing in there.
Long fingers carded through his short hair, scratching at his scalp. Those hands had once carried their team, set the ball for him perfectly, helped Kentarou become an ace. Now they took care of their Mated den, took care of Kentarou after a hard day on the court, took care of the pups he was carrying and helping to grow.
Kentarou raised his eyes, looking over the swell of his Mate’s stomach and chest. That fond smile was still on Shigeru’s face, his chocolate eyes sparkling, and Kentarou felt as though he could melt. To think he’d once hated the asshole, had wanted to flatten him on his ass for his shitty attitude and the way he acted as though he was a mini version of Oikawa. Kentarou had actually hated himself for getting aroused when Shigeru had slammed him into that wall during their second year inter-high tournament, not wanting such a pretentious prick to affect him like that.
Had made for a lot of interesting ruts over the next year before Shigeru had apparently had enough and grabbed him and kissed him, calling him a pussy of an Alpha and snarling at him to get a backbone and Court him already.
The two of them were Mated by the time they’d left university and now… now there they were, ridiculously in love and with their first pups on the way.
A smile spread across the Alpha’s face and he rose up to kiss his Omega, to wordlessly say what he’d never be able to. A thank you for having the guts to make that first move, for being with Kentarou and putting up with his shit, for Mating him, for carrying his Pups.
Not that Shigeru would’ve ever rejected the idea of having Kentarou’s pups. Once again, he’d been the one to initiate, crawling onto Kentarou’s lap a week before his Heat was set to start and practically demanding Kentarou breed him. And Kentarou was too goddamn weak and his Alpha urges were too goddamn strong and he’d carried Shigeru through to the bedroom right then and there as though he could breed him up outside of said Heat.
He honestly wasn’t all that surprised it had only taken them a single cycle for Shigeru to get pregnant.
Shigeru let out a small laugh as he pulled away, nose crinkling adorably, and Kentarou felt way too fluffy for the whole thing. It wasn’t a life he’d ever imagined himself having, one full of love and warmth and desire, yet there it was in truckloads. The angry, edgelord wannabe he’d been in high school was long gone. He was still prickly, of course, still wasn’t a fan of big crowds or social engagements or people getting too close, but he was better with them, didn’t fight against them as much. Shigeru had softened those hard edges, allowing him to better fit.
Not that he gave much of a fuck about fitting into society or any other shit. No, he only cared about how he fit against his Mate.
Leaning down, he slotted his teeth against the Mating Bite he’d left years ago, pressing just enough for it to be felt and elicit a shiver from Shigeru. The Omega let out a pleased hum as his body relaxed even further against his mountain range of pillows, his long fingers curling over Kentarou’s broad shoulders.
“Guess you missed me, too, huh?” he teased and Kentarou…
Kentarou nodded. He hadn’t realized just how much or how badly, but now that he had an arm wrapping around Shigeru’s waist and a hand curved over his stomach, he was acutely aware of how badly he’d been freaking out over not being by his Mate’s side. He’d been warned about this by Iwaizumi, that he had to keep a watch on those possessive Alpha instincts that were only gonna get stronger now that his Omega had his pup inside of him. Shigeru had even chewed him out on several occasions for being too overly protective, insisting he wasn’t fragile, that he could handle carrying grocery bags, that the random Alpha talking to him meant no harm and to back the fuck off.
He’d learned his lesson, but it didn’t stop those Alpha instincts screaming at him to protect, to take care of, to provide for. And while the last part of that had been why he’d left their den in the first place, it didn’t make it any easier for him to be away from his pregnant Mate, fear and paranoia making him more and more anxious the longer he was out of sight.
Coming home to find Shigeru still warm in bed, tucked into his pillows and fluffy clothing and overstuffed comforter had been a relief beyond words that he was only really aware of at that moment.
Lifting his head, he kissed his Mate once more before dragging the bag of food he’d bought onto Shigeru’s lap.
“The line was too damn long but I got those soba noodles you love and the chocolate sauce you wanted to put on them.” Kentarou had to withhold a grimace at it, his Mate’s cravings getting weirder.
“You got the Shichimi Togarashi seasoning, too, right?” Shigeru double-checked, opening the plastic bag and pulling out the tub of noodles Kentatou had nearly killed a bitch over.
“We still had three jars of it in the kitchen,” Kentarou pointed out with a huff. He wasn’t going out of his way to buy more of that when they still had plenty.
Or at least it should be plenty. Shigeru had been adding the flakes to practically everything, which led to a bunch of rambles over old wives tales regarding how spicy cravings could be a sign regarding their baby’s gender--which Kentarou admittedly spaced out on those monologues, since they were having two pups and it didn’t mean all that much nor was there even any basis in reality for those things.
Of course when he pointed that out, he’d gotten chewed out for not caring about the pregnancy, a fact that Kentarou had vehemently argued before being forced to sleep on the couch. Shigeru had shown up crying an hour later saying he couldn’t sleep because he was lonely. Another argument had broken out as Kentarou tried to convince Shigeru to go back to the actual bed with him instead of trying to also sleep on a sofa much too small for two people to lay on comfortably--even without a rounded pregnant belly.
Shigeru eyed him skeptically, tapping the provided chopsticks on top of the lid, lips twisting from side to side. Kentarou sighed and rolled his eyes, pushing himself up off the bed.
“Would you like me to bring all of them in here?” he volunteered dryly. “I’d only be able to get the ones in the actual cabinet though. Fuck knows where you’ve stashed the others throughout this place.”
Kentarou was never gonna be able to forget reaching into his gym bag for his baby powder, only to grab hold of a jar of Shichimi Togarashi flakes. Thank god he’d noticed before he’d tried sprinkling them on his sweaty crotch.
More of that hard stare, those twisting lips, then Shigeru reached between a couple of his pillows to produce… a jar of Shichimi Togarashi flakes.
Kentarou glared. “Really.”
Shigeru just shrugged, nonplussed. “Can you hand me the tray table?”
A long staring contest then Kentarou let out a sigh before sliding the tray table out from under the bed. He unfolded the legs before placing it over his Mate’s lap, Shigeru then putting his food on top. Kentarou watched in disgust as Shigeru poured the chocolate syrup all over the cold noodles then sprinkled the spicy flakes, mixing it all up.
“That’s disgusting,” he commented as he sat near the end of the bed, folding his legs and putting Shigeru’s feet on his lap.
“It’s delicious and it’s making your Mate and your pups happy so shut the fuck up.” Shigeru glared before tasting his food. Not as delicious as he previously claimed, apparently, since he added more syrup and twice as much Shichimi Togarashi flakes.
“Disgusting,” Kentarou repeated, sneering as he began digging his thumb into the arch of Shigeru’s foot.
A happy hum left the Omega, his scent bursting with contentment, although Kentarou wasn’t sure if it was in reaction to the food or the foot massage. Still, he kept up the actions, using skills he’d picked up recently from doing just this very thing for his Mate every day.
“I have no problem with you never stopping that,” Yahaba commented before slurping more noodles down, chocolate sauce staining his chin.
Kentarou snorted, biting back a threat to quit right then and there. But he knew that Shigeru’s feet had been hurting him lately, his ankles beginning to swell as his pregnancy continued on. He owed it to his Mate to be supportive in all ways, to repay him for the changes his body was going through in order to carry Kentarou’s pups and birth them, to give back for all the times he iced and rubbed down all of the Alpha’s volleyball induced aches.
Besides, he had to admit, there was a very basic, very primal part of him that was absolutely loving this. He was thoroughly enjoying being able to take care of his Omega, to provide for him in some way. Shigeru had always been a thoroughly independent, take charge kind of Omega, which was one of the things Kentarou loved about him. He wasn’t clingy or weak or super needy--outside of his Heats anyway, but that was a whole other story. Point was he could take care of himself and often did, allowing Kentarou to relax and focus on what he needed to focus on. Heading out of town for games wasn’t as stressful as they could’ve been because he knew that his Omega could handle shit on his own.
So for moments like this, when Shigeru did need him, was relying on him, it lit up that instinctual part of Kentarou that demanded he provide and take care of his Mate, his pups, his pack. The Alpha in him was satisfied, pleased, eyes darting back and forth between where he was massaging Shigeru’s feet, his swollen stomach, his happy face.
Shigeru gorged himself on his strange concoction as he rambled on about his friends, about how he’d spent the past hour Kentarou had been gone on the phone with Shirabu--of all fucking people--as he’d ranted about his own Mate Futakuchi being an annoying asshole and how Shigeru had pointed out that he’d warned him about Futakuchi’s attitude and the fact that both of them liked to fuck with people, purposely mess with them. He rambled about his morning spent texting with Ennoshita about the clinic Shigeru was trying to set up before he was forced into bedrest--which couldn’t come soon enough for Kentarou’s Alpha, who was looking forward to his Mate constantly being at home, in bed, safe and secure and comfy--and how it had led to talks over Ennoshita’s current relationship issues with his boyfriend Terushima and Kentarou wondered when the hell his Mate had become such a damn gossip.
Then again, he kind of always had been. Part of being Oikawa’s disciple and near replica really.
Not to mention, it wasn’t as though Kentarou had any room to talk, not when he’d spent part of his own time away, waiting in line, in a group chat with his own Alpha friends discussing Shigeru’s increased sex drive and how it felt as though his dick was gonna wear away. Iwaizumi had been able to relate. Matsukawa had reacted with sarcasm that could’ve been felt even through typed words. Watari had left the chat entirely. Kindaichi had just seemed confused about why Shigeru would be horny in the first place and “wouldn’t it harm the pups if you had sex?!”
The conversation had spiraled into a sex ed lesson at that and Kentarou had wondered if Watari wasn’t the smart one for bailing when he had.
His food chowed down, Shigeru let out a satisfied sigh, sitting back and rubbing his hands over his belly with a smile. Kentarou finished up the foot rub before moving the tray table and putting it on the floor. He’d deal with the trash later on. Right now, his focus was on the beautiful form before him, stretching out on Shigeru’s legs to wrap his arms around his waist and press his head to his rounded abdomen once more.
Earning him a smack to the head.
“You’re heavy.”
“So are you and I let you lay on me,” Kentarou grumbled, tightening his arms.
Shigeru huffed and smacked his head again. “I’m carrying your pups. I’m supposed to be heavy.”
Kentarou opened his mouth to point out that Shigeru was heavy before being pregnant, too, but quickly clacked his jaw back shut. Bad idea to point that out. Hell, his previous comment had been a bad idea as well and he’d gotten damn lucky that Shigeru hadn’t dissolved into tears over how fat and disgusting he was, the way he usually did when his weight was brought up in recent times. Really, he should’ve known better than to make any sort of remark on Shigeru’s appearance given his out of whack hormones and emotions.
Yeah. A minor miracle that he was currently being himself with grumbling arguments rather than sobbing despair.
“And you’re carrying them beautifully,” Kentarou commented, pressing his lips to the round of Shigeru’s stomach, where his belly button had begun to pop out recently. He smirked up at his Mate, loving the way the flush spread across his cheeks and his scent grew even stronger, despite the glaring pout on his face and the huff he let out as he folded his arms over his chest, obscuring Kentarou’s view.
“Suck up.”
“Being honest,” he argued, kissing his stomach again before carefully sitting up and straddling the other man’s lap. “But if you really want, you can lay on me instead. You know I’d welcome it.”
Shigeru’s lips twisted in a considering pout, those warm chocolate eyes twinkling, before he turned his nose in the air. “Nope. I want a bath.”
“Can do,” Kentarou responded easily, leaning forward to kiss the brat on his haughty nose. The glare intensified but Kentarou just smirked as he got off the bed and made his way to the en suite.
Years of practice and shared baths meant he knew precisely the right temperature for his Mate’s bath, adding his favorite oils to help him relax. The air grew warm with the humidity of the hot water, fragrant with lavender and herbs that Kentarou didn’t know the names of but made Shigeru happy so that was all that mattered to him. He swirled his hand in the water to mix it all up and when it reached the right level, he cut the tap, dried his hand, and headed back into the bedroom.
Shigeru had shed the hoodie and was trying to scoot his way out from his plethora of pillows, clearly getting a little winded from the exertion of trying to move with a growing belly. Kentarou wanted to laugh at how frustrated he was, point out it was his own fault for having so many goddamn pillows, but thought better of it. Shigeru’s eyes were beginning to grow shiny, welling up with tears, and the Alpha knew it was only a matter of moments before his Mate began crying.
So he rushed over to scoop his Mate up, easily holding him with a supportive arm under his knees and one under his back. It was reminiscent of when they’d gotten Mated and Kentarou had carried Shigeru over the threshold into their honeymoon suite--a Mating gift from Oikawa and Iwaizumi. His Omega still fit in his arms perfectly, even with the extra inches protruding from his midsection, and Kentarou vowed then and there that even after retirement, he’d continue to hit the gym just so he could keep carrying his Mate, regardless of how old they got.
“Thought I was heavy,” Shigeru sniffed, clearly upset, and Kentarou kissed his head as he carefully made his way back to the bathroom, mindful of the precious cargo in his arms.
“You’re perfect,” Kentarou commented, fierce look on his face daring him to argue. “And I’d carry you no matter what.” He carefully placed his Mate on the tile before their tub, mindful of the condensation sticking to it already. “I love you.”
Shigeru melted, appeased, eyes sparkling out of joy once more. “I love you, too. And you better be getting in this tub with me.”
“Yes, dear,” he teased with a smirk, getting a backhand to the shoulder that made him laugh more than anything.
He slowly undressed Shigeru, revelling in every revealed centimeter. His shirt was first to go, tossed in the general direction of their hamper. Next he dropped to his knees to remove his sweats and underwear, allowing Shigeru to hold onto him for balance. And when his beautiful Omega was naked before him, Kentarou leaned in to press kisses to his bared stomach, to every single stretch mark that designated him as a creator of miracles.
“You’re incredible,” he insisted, knowing an argument was coming, that Shigeru was about to object to the attention the stretch marks were getting. His hands framed his stomach, feeling the press of the life within him rising to greet their father, and he lifted his eyes to find Shigeru already peering down at him, eyes watery again. “Your body is transforming itself, changing to house not just one life but two. Two tiny human beings are growing in there, becoming stronger every day because of you. Not everyone can do that, but you can and you are and it’s amazing.”
Shigeru sniffed, swiping angrily at a tear that he would surely deny had fallen. “Shut up,” he grumbled, sharply turning his head away.
Kentarou kissed his stomach once more then rose to his feet to kiss his lips. “Thank you for all you’re doing.”
Another sniff, Shigeru avoiding eye contact, distracting himself by tugging at the hem of Kentarou’s tee. “Just get naked already.”
He laughed before following orders, quickly ridding himself of his own clothes and tossing them aside with the same lack of care as everything else. He stepped into the tub first, hand held out to assist Shigeru with getting in, then they both carefully settled into the hot water with Shigeru nestled between Kentarou’s legs, his back to his Alpha’s chest, both of their hands on his swollen stomach.
A happy sigh left the Omega, mood lifted once again, and he nuzzled his head under Kentarou’s chin. Kentarou smiled, feeling his pups kicking against both his hands, including themselves in the moment.
“They’re active right now,” he commented, feeling their insistent presses that he was sure couldn’t have been all that comfortable for Shigeru.
An agreeing hum was let out, Shigeru’s hand curving over Kentarou’s to move it where one pup was kicking a perfect rhythm. “Feels like they might wind up playing soccer rather than volleyball.”
Kentarou frowned at that. “For all you know, that’s a hand punching its way through. They’re an ace in the making.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shigeru responded, clearly not agreeing in the slightest but not wanting to argue.
Kentarou just kept pouting. Yes, he’d love his pups no matter what, but he was definitely gonna be fostering a love of volleyball in them as early as possible. After all, it was how their parents met in the first place, how they even came to exist.
“We’ll love them no matter what,” Shigeru insisted, echoing Kentarou’s thoughts.
And Kentarou grunted in agreement, kissing the side of his Mate’s head, his cheek, his Mating Bite. Volleyball brought them together, helped pay for their home, gave them this wonderful life of happiness and joy. But he knew that the biggest part of that happiness came from what he was currently holding in his arms: his beautiful Mate and the miracles held within him.