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Baji was staring at him again, and Takemichi remembered the first time they met each time he caught the alpha's dark eyes on him.
He had caused a scene with Kisaki, and the alpha had punched him in the face and it hurt so much that it felt like his jaw had dislocated. It had taken a while for him to heal and feel comfortable enough to return to the Toman meetings. But he didn't like being the focus of the boy's attention especially if he had it out for Takemichi for some reason.
All those heated looks were no doubt threats and Takemichi could only hide behind people whenever there was a meeting at the shrine because he wanted to remain undetected. He would mostly find himself clinging to Hakkai who was confused but happily accommodating. His friend's larger frame was easily able to block him from sight.
But he swore he heard a growl from Baji each time this happened. The alpha's rumble was a dangerous pitch and it caused the small hairs on the back of his neck to raise and even Hakkai tensed up at the sound. However the younger boy was brave enough to shift and make sure that Takemichi was hidden protectively behind him.
Takemichi thanked Hakkai silently in his heart as he inwardly cried because if he had known punching Kisaki would capture Baji Keisuke's unshakeable attention then he wouldn't have done it at all. (At least not in front of Baji, because he didn't really regret punching Kisaki. The beta had it coming.)
However he couldn't hold back a whimper when he heard Baji's terrifying growl this time, even though he should have gotten used to it after a while, he only grew easily more shaken and frightened. Quickly, he let go of Hakkai to latch onto Mitsuya instead, because he knew that if Baji snapped then his captain could protect him. Hakkai was strong but he'd probably be too intimidated to move in the face of such a scary alpha like Baji.
The sound of his whimper echoing in the clearing made everyone freeze even Mitsuya stilled for a moment before he purposely adjusted his arm to tuck Takemichi under it, so that he was next to his side in an one armed hug. He felt secure with the alpha's hold on him, and he nuzzled the alpha's shoulder as he tried to calm down with the warmth settling over him, but there was a snarl that struck through his haze, and an answering growl from Mitsuya that was surprising since the alpha was always so passive with his instincts.
"Oi, cut that shit out," Draken shouted, and Takemichi couldn't see what was happening but he heard a thunderous growl that vibrated in his entire being, so he trembled, and there was Mitsuya bristling as he held Takemichi tightly.
"Stop," Mikey's voice was deeper and it made everyone and everything halt, the sounds cut off and Takemichi was blinking in confusion when Mitsuya suddenly released him, but he immediately felt small at the moment. He wondered why his captain had given up on protecting him and he stared up at Mitusya with wet eyes and trembling lips.
Mitsuya's eyes were a bit wild with how dark and blown out they were and his lips were still twisted on a phantom of a snarl, but he still managed to give Takemichi an apologetic look as he begrudgingly stepped away from him. It didn't make Takemichi feel any better. He was just more confused. He was about to go to Hakkai when he found himself being blocked by a wall.
He whimpered when he smelled the unfairly enticing pheromones that smelled rich like chocolate and looked up to see that it was Baji.
When had he even moved over here?! He couldn't have been that fast, that was inhuman, even for someone as strong as him! But more importantly, his brain wailed, why wasn't anyone trying to help him?!
He was too scared to even cry, but his body was uncontrollably shaking and his pheromones were wild in distress and fear, signaling to everyone how he felt, but he was hopeless and didn't expect anyone to step him to protect him. After all he was abandoned.
He ducked his head and rose his arms to shield his face because he didn't want to endure the pain of Baji's punch ever again, but a long moment passed when nothing happened and even his anxious brain noticed the complete stillness around him.
Growing confused and even more anxious by the lack of action, he braved a glance upwards, only lowering his arms a bit to see, and saw that Baji was still standing there in front of him, his presence intimdating everyone else who cowered, and kept their distance, but the alpha was staring at Takemichi with a conflicted look. There was what seemed like hesitancy on his face even though his eyes were dark and giving him that same look that's become familiar to him. The threat.
But it also didn't seem to be quite right.
He didn't know what to make of the alpha's fixation on him, nor did he understand why everyone was just watching- especially Mitsuya. His captain had actually stepped aside for Baji to get closer to him. He bit his lip as his eyes stung as he felt a stab of betrayal making his heart ache, but desperately he glanced around nervously, holding on to some hope that someone will pity him enough to save him. Usually, he'd be able to get himself out of this situation and he normally didn't mind getting hurt all that often, but there was something about Baji that made him so helpless. He couldn't fight a Toman captain who also happened to be the founder.
But as soon as his eyes landed on Draken, by mere chance than anything, Baji released a sharp growl that reverberated through the tense silence, and Takemichi froze.
Then he whimpered, the pitiful sound rather loud in the utter silence around them.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and before he knew it Baji was stepping in closer, and Takemichi flinched when he noticed which caused the alpha to pause and strangely give him a dejected look as he lowered his head.
"Baji," Mikey spoke up again, voice lighter than before but there was still a command in his voice. "Leave Takemitchy alone."
Finally, Takemichi thought with some relief though he wondered what that whole show was about, why did they let it happen for that long but he could only focus on the fact that Baji was ordered to leave him alone-
"Mine," Baji growled out in protest and Takemichi's eyes widened, because while people like to call him dense, he's not stupid. He knew then exactly what was happening.
And it freaked him out even more than believing that Baji hated him. Because he didn't know what to do with an alpha who wanted him.
But when exactly had Baji started liking him in that way anyway?!
His heart was beating frantically as sweat dripped from his forehead but he grew less afraid as he stared at the alpha, instead he gave him a curious look.
No one was getting in the way because this was a traditional courting that happened when an alpha really liked an omega, they'd usually do a whole chasing then mating ritual but they were still pretty young for that, because that was for life. But Baji was obviously feral, and Takemichi didn't know what to do.
He never even thought about mating especially when he was too focused on his dreams to be become a top delinquent, something like having an alpha seemed to be in the very far future. He had a girlfriend before but that hadn't lasted long because he couldn't even give her the type of attention that was considered romantic so they were more friends than anything. So really, while he was somewhat flattered, though deep down mostly confused and instinctively scared, he didn't know how to proceed with Baji.
Baji was-
Well, he was a strong alpha.
Takemichi wasn't shallow, but he found that already appealing. He just needed more time to get to know Baji, because things were overwhelming different than he thought and he still needed time to accept that. After all, he spent the last few months believing that Baji hated him and was out to get him.
But his inner omega was strangely perking with interest, even preening a bit.
"I need time," Takemichi murmured after considering it, his inner omega liked Baji's alpha a lot, he was strong and expressed a lot of good mate qualities, but Takemichi wanted to know more about the boy on his own, without their instincts coming into play.
Baji cocked his head and gave him a long stare but then his face split into a grin, and his eyes gained more clarity to show that he was no longer stuck in his baser animal instincts, and they softened with a warmth that made Takemichi's heart skip a traitourous beat, "As long as you don't pay attention to any other alpha when I'm around then I'll be able wait as long as I have to, Crybaby-chibi."
"D-don't call me that," Takemichi muttered, blushing because Baji actually looked...cute. He was too busy being scared to even pay attention to his looks like that. But Baji was attractive and dangerous and-
Embarrassingly, his inner omega swooned.
He shook his head. "I don't understand t-though why..." he couldn't even ask, but Baji fortunately understood.
"Yeah, about that," the alpha sheepishly scratched the back of his head, "I'm sorry for hitting you...I didn't really understand my feelings at the time, I was so confused but excited. I mean you were cute and it made me want to punch you- ah, but I won't do it again though-" the alpha was rambling.
"Baji-kun, it's okay, I get it," Takemichi cut in more confidently, thinking he understood. The alpha was usually unpredictable and aggressive so his first reaction to having those feelings evoked inside of him without making sense of them was to punch the person responsible....and he sweatdropped.
He really got that painful punch in the face because an alpha thought he was cute? He didn't know what to make of that but Baji wasn't as frightening as he thought. Not when the alpha sounded just like a nervous boy who didn't even know how to properly handle a crush.
It was strangely endearing and Takemichi realized that even though he didn't have those kind of affections for the alpha yet, it would probably be easy to after some time.
The alpha beamed at him in delight and his canines were on display, making Takemichi's brain stall and face heat up.
"Oi," Draken barked out, "save that for after the meeting! We're not here to watch a shoujo drama!"
"You watch enough shoujo drama to know what it's like, Draken?!" Baji shouted but he winked at Takemichi who bit his lip to contain a giggle.
"Shut up!" The vice commander retorted with a slight flush.
Baji easily complied this time after giving Takemichi a loaded look, and Takemichi nodded,they'll see each other later and find out together where to go from here. The alpha was glowing so happily as he proudly walked back over to his squad and Takemichi noticed the not so sublte high five he exchanged with Chifuyu who looked possibly just as delighted as his captain.
Takemichi covered his face for a moment. Chifuyu was probably the one responsible for what took place today, even though it was Baji's alpha instincts...he was the one who planted the idea in Baji's head no doubt. He felt his lips twitch even though he was going to talk to his friend after this.
When that was all figured out though, everyone relaxed, and settled back at their previous positions. But the meeting didn't continue smoothly at all though, because some people were even more surprised than Takemichi about what just happened and looked like soulless block of woods as they stood there, and Draken pinched the bridge of his nose whenever Mikey talked because their commander kept suspiciously coughing every few seconds, a closer look and one could notice the amusement in his eyes.
However, Mitsuya purposely stepped in and blocked Takemichi's view of Baji, or rather he was hiding him from Baji, yet the omega sometimes shyly looked over his captain's shoulder to glance at the alpha, only to catch Baji staring back at him with a pleased little smirk that grew each time it happened.
Yeah, it would be easy, Takemichi thought with a blush as he shyly averted his gaze.