Chapter Text
Atsumu sighed, snapping his book closed and setting it onto the large wooden desk with a thud. The late morning light shone a bright white through the library’s large windows, illuminating his notes scrawled messily across parchment. He was doing a final round of studying on Itachiyama’s nobility in preparation for the arrival of their royal family. He had hoped to find something detailing their courting and mating customs, but after skimming so many books, Atsumu was admitting defeat. He’d go into courtship with his betrothed, Kiyoomi, blind.
The plans had been made last month at a diplomatic meeting in Itachiyama. It was agreed that in exchange for a hefty share of Inarizaki’s grain production, Itachiyama would provide armies and necessary funds to defend Inarizaki’s steadily shrinking borders. To ensure cooperation in this arrangement, the two kingdoms agreed that their youngest sons would be mated.
When the diplomatic party arrived back to Inarizaki, they presented Atsumu with a portrait of his mate-to-be and unceremoniously announced, too joyfully in Atsumu’s opinion, that they’d finally found him a suitable match. Atsumu had been hesitant, at first, but the handsome portrait of the alpha, that he was assured was accurate, slowly won his favor.
“He’s real nice to look at,” Shinsuke, one of Osamu’s closest advisors and a fellow male omega, had promised. “Smart too.”
Atsumu hoped Shinsuke was right. He leaned back in his chair, glancing at his favorite shelf in the library. Carefully tucked in the corner, it was full of Atsumu’s cherished romance books. They all sported well-worn spines and dried tear spots decorating the best pages. Atsumu knew it was wishful thinking, but he wanted a romance just like the ones he’d read about. He’d been kept protected from outsider alphas his whole life, chaperoned constantly and never allowed to even entertain the thought of a future with anyone. Now, the opportunity had opened itself up to him and Atsumu wanted it all.
The heavy wooden door to the library opened with a shrill squeak. Atsmu looked to find his twin brother wearing a grim expression. Atsumu snickered at him, covering his mouth with one hand.
“Why do you look so upset?” Atsumu asked, giggling as Osamu’s frown deepened further.
Osamu moved to stand beside Atsumu’s desk, surveying his notes. “I’m giving away my baby brother,” he grumbled. “Of course I’ll be upset.”
Atsumu rolled his eyes. Baby brother, by about 30 minutes. “You believe Shinsuke, don’t you? He sounds like a nice alpha.” Osamu nodded, but Atsumu could see he was still biting the inside of his cheek in anxiety. Atsumu stood, grabbing Osamu by the shoulder. “You have to relax. What will they think of us if they see our future king so frightened over one little trade deal?”
Osamu nodded again. He took a moment to recenter himself, shutting his eyes, rolling his shoulders back, and taking a deep breath. His ever-familiar lemon and oak scent seeped into the air, unencumbered by his respectful cloth neckerchief. When his eyes opened again, Osamu had an entirely different presence than he’d entered the room with.
“You should get dressed,” Osamu told him. “They’ll be here soon.”
Atsumu agreed. He gathered his scattered parchments, rolling them together and tying them with a stray ribbon. Osamu put the book away for him. Then Atsumu followed Osamu out of the library and into the hallway. They parted ways from there, Osamu wishing him good luck as he left for the first floor to wait for the Itachiyama arrival as Atsumu headed to his room.
Atsumu entered his room to find an outfit laid out on his bed for him. He was currently wearing the plainclothes he preferred, but this new outfit seemed to be especially chosen to show off Atsumu’s body and the available luxuries of Inarizaki. He’d also been provided a black neckerchief, customarily worn as a show of respect by and for unmated alphas and omegas. It was intended to decrease mating bite desires at the sight of an unmarked neck, as a sort of middle point between nothing and a collar. Atsumu hated them, especially now when he was supposed to be attracting attention, preferably from his mate-to-be. He left it lying on his bed and instead tied his long brown hair up to further show off his neck.
He left his room, following the maroon carpet lining the hallways back down the stairs and onto the first floor. Shinsuke greeted him at the bottom. He smiled warmly at Atsumu, raising a hand for Atsumu to place his on to help him down the final steps.
“You look nice,” Shinsuke complimented. He straightened the collars of Atsumu’s shirt and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Atsumu’s ear.
Shinsuke was relatively new to the court, having been plucked out of the group of graduates from the royal academy as a promising force to work beside Osamu as a strategist and advisor. He had quickly gained the twins’ trust with his serious, gentle nature, the type of omega prized for such a role. Anyone else wouldn’t dare to touch the prince in such a casual way, but Shinsuke had gained that privilege with ease. He had been there during the negotiations for the deal with Itachiyama, with both twins trusting him with the future of the kingdom and Atsumu.
Atsumu returned his smile. “Are they here yet?”
Shinsuke shook his head, guiding Atsumu towards a large seating room off of the foyer. Inside, Osamu and the twins’ mother sat near the ornate fireplace. The flames glinted off of Osamu’s just-graying hair and the golden crown he’d donned since Atsumu had last seen him. He spoke quietly to their mother, who sat wringing her hands.
She was a small woman, with pin-straight salt and pepper hair woven in intricate braids. She beamed at Atsumu as he approached, scooting over on the small sofa to make room for him. Atsumu grabbed her hand as he settled, leaning his head on her shoulder. Shinsuke stood behind Osamu’s chair.
“Are you excited?” she asked, nuzzling at her son’s neck. Normally she might scent him, still in the mindset of treating her grown sons as tiny pups, but today she restrained herself. There could be no confusion in presenting Atsumu to his betrothed, his scent needed to be obvious. Still, Atsumu indulged himself in a few quick inhales of her comforting grapefruit and rosemary scent.
“He’s pretty in that portrait,” Atsumu replied. “And Shinsuke says he’s charming.”
Shinsuke nodded across the room. “A bit uptight, but I’m sure he’ll loosen up.”
Atsumu turned back to his mother. “Shinsuke’s not been wrong yet.”
She smiled. “Yes.”
The queen dowager had been mated in a similar fashion. The omega daughter of an extremely wealthy landowner, she’d been arranged to marry the twin’s father and future king of Inarizaki, without ever having met him. Fortunately, the match worked for them, and they spent eight happy years together. The late king passed just four years after his coronation and six years after the twins were born. She’d been ruling in his place ever since, only set to give up the throne in a few months on Osamu’s 20th birthday.
It was her own experience that was clearly driving her worry. It was clear she was hopeful the match would go well, although she knew her experience of true love in an arranged marriage was unusual. She held Atsumu’s hand in a tight grip, jaw tight as she rejoined Osamu in their conversation, ironing out the details of the upcoming ball to formally introduce Atsumu and Kiyoomi as a couple.
Atsumu had fantasized about this ball forever. Their first introduction into society had to be perfect. Matching outfits, sharing a plate of delicacies, and their first public dance, Atsumu had been planning the particulars since he’d first received the news of his engagement. Now that it was only a week away, Atsumu felt his nerves and excitement grow simultaneously.
As his mother turned to Atsumu to ask him a question, a page entered the seating room. He had clearly just been running, cheeks red and panting heavily as he delivered the news.
“The Itachiyama party has arrived,” he said excitedly, bowing halfway through his sentence. “Their carriages are just pulling through the gates.”
The royal family got to their feet together, anticipation obvious in their scents. Shinsuke and the queen headed towards the door first, with Osamu grabbing Atsumu by the arm to hold him back.
Osamu looked seriously into Atsumu’s eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Atsumu hesitated, before patting Osamu’s hand and giving him a gentle smile. “We need this.”
“Still,” Osamu started. “If you decide you can’t be with him, I will get you out of it. Just tell me.”
Atsumu nodded, smile straightening into a determined expression. “I will.”
He linked his hand onto the crook in Osamu’s elbow, beginning the walk out of the palace to gather on the lawn. Outside, the few members of the court who stayed in the palace had gathered on the left side of the path to the front door, with the queen, a few of her ladies, and Shinsuke to the right. The twins moved to be with their mother, watching as a handful of carriages rolled their way down the brick path towards the palace.
When they rolled to a stop, Atsumu felt goosebumps rise on his skin with a shiver. This was the real beginning of Atsumu’s life. The hours spent poring over romance stories, the years spent in etiquette and dance lessons, and the lifetime of abstaining from alphas. All of it led up to this moment.
The coachman of the first carriage hopped down first, quickly opening the door. Out first came an older man, with close cropped black hair and dark brown eyes. After leaving the carriage, he turned around and assisted an older woman with black curls and similarly dark eyes out. Atsumu recognized them from his studying as the king and queen of Itachiyama. They stood, waiting for the passengers of the second carriage. When the door opened, a beta man a few centimeters shorter than Atsumu emerged. Atsumu didn’t recognize him from his studies, and his light brown hair stood out enough from the rest of the royal family Atsumu thought he would have remembered his description.
From behind the beta, Kiyoomi exited the carriage. Atsumu felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. The portrait was accurate. He had dark, sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, and a straight nose. His mouth was small, curved in a seemingly permanent frown. Thick black curls fell to his shoulders with overgrown bangs brushing against his thick eyelashes. Through his bangs, Atsumu could see his most intriguing feature, a pair of two moles arranged vertically above his right eyebrow.
Once everyone was out of the carriages, the Itachiyama royal family strolled down the wide brick path towards the Inarizaki palace. The king and queen led the group and arrived first to the queen dowager. The king and queen bowed deeply, receiving a similar response from the court and royals.
“We’re so pleased you’ve come,” the dowager queen greeted. “And on such a happy occasion!”
The king’s face broke out in a simple smile. “Thank you for having us. We are so excited to meet your son. Your advisor there spoke so highly of him.” The king gestured at Shinsuke, who gave the king a small nod. The king’s eyes scanned the twins. Atsumu knew most people had trouble telling them apart, at least at first. Although, they had the distinct smells of alpha and omega, which the king seemed to notice. He reached behind his back, fumbling for Kiyoomi’s elbow and pulling him forward to stand beside him.
Kiyoomi’s gaze met Atsumu’s. Atsumu couldn’t read his expression, but his lavender and vanilla scent stayed neutral. It’s okay , Atsumu reassured himself, Shinsuke said he might be like this . After a moment, he extended a hand towards Atsumu, pressing a kiss to Atsumu’s fingertips after he gave Kiyoomi his hand. Warmth flooded Atsumu’s cheeks. It was the first time an outsider alpha had ever been allowed to frivolously touch him, especially in such a bold manner.
“Pleasure to finally make your acquaintance,” Kiyoomi said. His voice was rich and smooth, not as deep as the average alpha’s. When Atsumu put some thought to it, he really was an unconventional alpha. He was clearly slim and lean beneath his formal clothes, although his height more than made up for this, in Atsumu’s opinion. His scent was also soft and sweet, although had the unmistakable musk that every alpha had. Atsumu certainly had no complaints about any of this.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Atsumu replied, letting his hand linger in Kiyoomi’s before retracting it to his side.
The dowager queen stepped in as silence between them lingered in the air. “Well,” she said, laying a hand on Atsumu’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’re tired from traveling, but we have lunch if you’d like.”
The Itachiyama queen grimaced, while the beta lit up. The king laughed heartily. “Me and my wife will take to our chambers, if that’s alright. But Motoya seems to want lunch.”
The queen dowager agreed, looping her arm through Osamu’s, Shinsuke and Atsumu walking side by side. She guided them back to the palace and through the foyer, chatting merrily. A maid gathered the king and queen at the stairs and led them away to their rooms. She then turned her attention to Kiyoomi and Motoya.
“So, forgive my rudeness, but I’m not sure I recognize you,” she said, gesturing towards the beta. “Motoya, was it?”
Motoya nodded. “I’m Kiyoomi’s cousin. Our mothers are sisters.”
“My siblings convinced him to come along as a chaperone ,” Kiyoomi added, disdain dripping off his words.
Atsumu quirked an eyebrow at Shinsuke at the comment, but stayed silent. Motoya bumped his shoulder into Kiyoomi’s sending him stumbling a few feet to the side. He whipped his head around to glare at him. They reached the dining room as Kiyoomi managed to fall back in line, one hand rubbing the skin under his shoulder.
“Kiyoomi is just embarrassed he is still being looked after,” Motoya explained, taking his seat at the table.
The dowager queen chuckled. “Well that’s one thing you and Atsumu have in common, then.”
Atsumu looked over from where Osamu had pulled out his chair for him between their mother and Osamu. “I’m not embarrassed,” Atsumu protested.
Shinsuke and the dowager queen chuckled. Osamu elbowed him in the ribs. “No,” Osamu teased. “You love being spoiled rotten.”
Atsumu sputtered, turning to Osamu to lightly whack at his elbow. He felt his cheeks heat once more and hoped Kiyoomi couldn’t tell. Why did Osamu have to embarrass him now, when he needed to appear perfect? Atsumu sent a nervous glance Kiyoomi’s way once the plates were served and he abandoned his attack on Osamu. Kiyoomi sat quietly, making no acknowledgement of Atsumu or the chatter around them. Atsumu wondered what he was feeling. His scent, his posture, and his movements gave nothing away.
As lunch wound to a close, the queen turned her attention to Kiyoomi. Her eyes glinted in a way that made Atsumu nervous about the next words out of her mouth. “So Kiyoomi,” she called, getting his attention. “Do you like to read?”
Kiyoomi nodded simply. “I like to think I am well-read.”
The queen dowager smiled widely. Atsumu noticed the subtle darkening of her eyes, as her foot kicked his beneath the table. “Atsumu spends most of his time in the library. Maybe he could show you it.”
Kiyoomi’s eyes met Atsumu’s. He seemed to reach a judgment about Atsumu’s character in a few beats. He leaned back in his seat, dropping his chin down to remain level with the omega. “I would love that.”
Atsumu felt his heart swoon. It was nice to hear the word love leave Kiyoomi’s mouth. It was also a start, at least, that he and Kiyoomi seemed to have something in common. Maybe they could find a book they’d both read to bond over. Maybe they’d have the cute library scene Atsumu had fantasized about for years, if his ladder were to slip and Kiyoomi were to catch him in his strong arms. Atsumu decided he’d find a way to make it happen.
The queen seemed satisfied and ushered the young ones out of the dining room, holding Shinsuke back. Atsumu felt a bit of pity for him, knowing his mother’s love to gossip. She probably felt the story of the year was unfolding in front of her.
As they started up the grand staircase, Atsumu was reminded of his manners. “Are you sure you’re not tired?” Atsumu asked, regarding them timidly. He was suddenly nervous about letting these almost strangers into the safe, private space of the library. “We can do this later.”
When they both shook their heads, Atsumu turned back to the stairs. He remained silent for a second, taking a breath to recenter himself. They’d come in, see the books, and leave. Maybe Atsumu could make a slightly more subtle move than the ladder on Kiyoomi. He promised himself it would be exciting for his future alpha to be in a place that was Atsumu’s. That thought cheered Atsumu up quickly. Hopefully Kiyoomi’s scent would linger in the air. His nerves leaving him, Atsumu followed Osamu and the Itachiyama boys up the stairs with a renewed excitement in his step.
Osamu pushed open the door to the library for the second time that day. Atsumu filed in behind the rest of the group, watching as sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated Kiyoomi’s mole-speckled skin and dark curls. Atsumu remembered with a start that he had left his roll of Itachiyama notes on the desk, but fortunately it seemed the maid that oversaw the library had put them away for him. Atsumu made an internal note to thank her later.
Motoya let out a small noise of surprise as he looked around the room, taking in the hundreds of books covering the walls and shelves. Kiyoomi’s eyes roamed the shelves, head turning on a swivel. Atsumu couldn’t help but let a prideful grin paint his face. Of course, the library was shared among everyone at the palace, but Atsumu had spent the latter half of his life curating the collection.
Kiyoomi focused on a nearby shelf that spanned most of the width of the room, cutting off the half with the door from a darker side. He ran a long finger along the spines of the books, stopping on a red book with gold lettering. Atsumu peered over his shoulder to read the title. Kiyoomi tilted the book cover towards Atsumu when he realized he was looking. It read The Complete History of the Kingdom of Inarizaki: Volume One .
“Have you read this?” Kiyoomi asked.
Atsumu shuddered. “I have.”
Osamu turned to look, laughing when he realized what Kiyoomi was holding. “Tsumu hates history. I believe it took him over a year to get through that one.”
Atsumu glared at his brother. “It was only a few months,” he grunted, swiping at him with one hand. Osamu dodged.
Kiyoomi frowned down at the book. “Even your own country’s?”
“Well I’ve studied it, but isn’t it boring?” Atsumu asked, sobering up from his attacks on Osamu. “I’d rather read for fun.”
Kiyoomi stayed silent, putting the book neatly back on the shelf. He kept browsing that side of the library. Atsumu was glad he hadn’t gone immediately to his favorite shelf, but now he was kind of disappointed that Kiyoomi seemed to have no interest outside of the historical and legal shelf. Atsumu would have to find something else to bond with him over.
Motoya came back from the other half of the library. That side held the books rarely accessed, mostly the childrens and language books. He covered a yawn with a stretched hand over his mouth. Osamu chuckled.
“Has travel finally caught up with you?” Osamu asked, turning away from Atsumu and Kiyoomi. When Motoya nodded, Osamu continued. “Let me show you to your rooms.”
As Osamu led Motoya out of the room, Kiyoomi lingered for a few moments. He plucked a worn copy of a book Atsumu had held no interest in until now off the shelf. “Can I borrow this?” he asked, voice low.
“Of course,” Atsumu replied easily, giving the alpha a small smile. “All of this is yours, while you’re here.”
Kiyoomi nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. Atsumu took a moment to admire the small pout that seemed permanently etched onto his face.
“You really should care more about your country,” Kiyoomi said as he followed after his cousin.
Atsumu frowned, trailing after him. “I do care. What do you mean by that?”
Atsumu didn’t receive an answer.
Kiyoomi met Motoya in the hallway, jogging to fall in step beside him. Motoya frowned, glaring at him out of the corner of his eye. Kiyoomi responded with a quizzical look, receiving a shaking head from Motoya with a pointed gesture towards Osamu. Kiyoomi got the message to shut up until they were in private.
Osamu deposited them at their rooms and told them they’d have a few people over for dinner that night. He wished them well and told them he’d see them later, then headed for the stairs. As soon as he was out of earshot, Motoya turned on Kiyoomi.
“You have to be gentler,” Motoya scolded, slapping him on the arm.
A growl caught in Kiyoomi’s throat, the few notes that slipped out scaring Motoya off. “He’s not taking this seriously,” he said gruffly.
Motoya’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t possibly know that.”
Kiyoomi thought back on the day. Atsumu hadn’t been outwardly frivolous, but everything he had done had made him seem like the typical happy-go-lucky rich omegas he was all too familiar with. He didn’t seem to consider at all the position they were both in, that they had to marry for their kingdoms’ sakes, and not because of any genuine interest between them. Yet Atsumu had seemed all too excited to ogle him.
And that smell, could Atsumu have smelled any more eager? That orange and cinnamon smell, sweetening to an almost candied stench when Kiyoomi had showed even passing interest in Atsumu’s library, only to find out Atsumu had no interest in any subject that had an actual impact. Kiyoomi felt like the smell clung to his clothes.
Still, Kiyoomi couldn’t deny he was attractive and he was definitely Kiyoomi’s type. He was broad all over, except for that irritatingly tiny waist. His long brown hair framed his face and swept down to his mid-back, and had brushed softly against Kiyoomi’s skin when they’d gotten close in the library. His wide golden eyes betrayed an intelligence Kiyoomi couldn’t deny, but he wondered if the omega had ever put it to use. His looks could not overcome the boundary Kiyoomi needed to put between them, however.
Kiyoomi ignored Motoya’s comment, instead entering his room and leaving Motoya to glare angrily at his door instead. He placed the book on a nightstand then quickly stripped out of his clothes to get Atsumu’s scent away from him. He was sure that was the source of the lingering smell, but after they were piled on the other side of the room, Kiyoomi wasn’t sure. It seemed it had sunk into his skin. He’d have to deal with that later.
For now, he crawled into bed, burrowing into the layers of blankets. He felt the tension leave his body as he could relax for the first time in days. The places they’d stayed in along the road had all been slightly too dirty for Kiyoomi to get any worthwhile sleep and the carriage was far too bumpy for even a nap. On a cursory glance of this room, it was suitably clean and the bed had no detectable odor. If he weren’t so tired, he might have done a deeper inspection, but he worried any more days without adequate sleep would start to cause problems. For now, he let himself drift off into sleep.
He woke with a start a few hours later to a knock on the door. The sunshine that had once worked its way through the curtains had dimmed, blanketing the room in dusk. Another rap sounded on the door. Kiyoomi groaned at whoever it was, sinking back into the mattress. He hoped that would be enough for them to go away.
Unfortunately, Motoya was not deterred. He knocked again, then opened the door before Kiyoomi could respond. Kiyoomi growled as he approached the bed, eyes barely open. Motoya cackled at him.
“Get up, sleepyhead,” he called in a sing-song voice. He sat on the edge of Kiyoomi’s bed, poking his cheek. “It’s time for dinner.”
Kiyoomi rolled onto his back, covering his face with one heavy arm. He sighed loudly. “I will,” he groaned. “Get out.”
Motoya shook his head, getting to his feet. He tugged at the covers, finding them held in Kiyoomi’s iron grip. “If I leave, you’ll just go back to sleep.”
“Unless you want to see me naked, you will leave,” Kiyoomi warned. He pushed up to a sitting position to send his point home, revealing his bare chest.
Motoya made a shocked face and fled the room. Kiyoomi took a slow breath before raising his arms above his head and stretching deeply. Fortunately, it seemed Atsumu’s scent had worn off. He glanced around his room. While he slept, someone had laid out his outfit for the evening. He slid out of bed and dressed, sinking down on the stool of a vanity to put on his boots. He studied his reflection in the mirror once he was fully clothed, deciding he needed to finger comb through his hair. Once he was satisfied, he tied the silk neckerchief over his scent glands.
Kiyoomi wondered for a few moments what this dinner would consist of. He knew there would be guests, so Kiyoomi let himself hope that he might evade his parents’ intentions to pry and meddle. Logically, he knew they wanted what was best for him, however this match had already been decided. Getting his emotions involved would just make things more difficult.
Once he was finished, he left his room to find Motoya waiting for him in the hallway, leaning against the wall with one foot propped up. He did a once over of Kiyoomi, humming when he seemed certain Kiyoomi wasn’t going to embarrass him at dinner.
“Are you ready?” Motoya asked. His hands fiddled with his shirt collar.
Kiyoomi sighed, leaning in to straighten it for him. “I’m sorry I growled at you,” Kiyoomi apologized quietly. He stepped back from Motoya.
Motoya laughed. He ruffled Kiyoomi’s hair, earning himself another growl. It just made Motoya laugh harder.
“You need to get it together before dinner,” he said through a laugh. “You’ll scare your omega away.”
Kiyoomi glowered at that jab. He didn’t want Atsumu to be his omega.
Motoya put his hands up in surrender. “I was just joking! I didn’t mean it.” When Kiyoomi didn’t respond, Motoya looked at him with a perplexed expression. “You’ve been weird since you were first engaged. What’s your problem?”
Kiyoomi looked away. “Remember when the whole thing happened with my mother?”
Motoya nodded somberly. Kiyoomi knew he hated to remember, hell, Kiyoomi hated remembering. When he was just a small kid, still a pup in every way, Kiyoomi’s mother had been abducted and held for ransom by a rebelling faction in Itachiyama. Kiyoomi was fuzzy about the details, beyond just being young, he’d been intentionally kept out of it. But he remembered his father angrier than Kiyoomi had ever seen him, then more scared. Within just a few hours, his closest members of court were having to talk him down from abdicating just to get his mate back. Their armies managed to crush the rebellion within a week and the queen was returned safely, although Kiyoomi seeing his father so distraught over someone he loved being taken from him had left permanent scars on his psyche.
“I will not risk the kingdom like that,” Kiyoomi said.
Motoya frowned. “Kiyoomi, neither of your parents want you to think like this. The chances of that happening again are so low. There’s no reason to do this to yourself.”
“Even in a different scenario,” Kiyoomi replied, the answer rehearsed on his tongue. “I never want to choose my mate over the kingdom and the people that I have the ultimate responsibility to.”
Motoya shook his head at Kiyoomi, but he didn’t see it, already heading down the hallway and towards the stairs. They reunited on the first floor, where the guards directed them towards a small ballroom. Inside, Kiyoomi could hear the sound of a small gathering with a string band playing quietly in the background.
When he entered, he caught Osamu’s eye immediately. He directed him to a seat next to Atsumu, and Motoya to the one on Kiyoomi’s other side. He greeted Atsumu with a respectful nod. He’d changed into an impossibly deeper cut flowy top, the back also sporting a prominent dip. His hair was loose around his head, only adorned by a small gold band studded with pearls. Atsumu’s cheeks seemed redder than earlier, although one sniff told Kiyoomi he’d had at least one drink before Kiyoomi arrived and was working through a second.
Atsumu smiled warmly at him, dipping his head to look up to meet Kiyoomi’s eyes. Kiyoomi’s eyes felt drawn by magnetic force to Atsumu’s unmarked and exposed throat, although he tore them away at the last second and forced himself to hold Atsumu’s gaze.
“I hope you slept well,” Atsumu said. He leaned further into Kiyoomi’s space. “You were getting grumpy-tired there at the end.”
An unfamiliar laugh came from across the table. Kiyoomi looked to see a large alpha next to Shinsuke, with dark hair and eyes and a stubbly beard. Kiyoomi noticed how close Shinsuke was sitting next to him, sides practically pressed together. He wondered if maybe this was Shinsuke’s alpha, although Shinsuke’s throat was obviously bare under his sheer neckerchief.
Osamu pulled Atsumu out of Kiyoomi’s space by his arm. He gestured towards the unfamiliar alpha. “This is Aran,” he introduced. Aran bowed his head at Kiyoomi. “Me and Tsumu’s best friend.”
“He’s my best friend,” Atsumu corrected.
Osamu narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think so,” he replied. He postured slightly, shifting his shoulders to widen his frame. Atsumu responded similarly, a gesture Kiyoomi had never seen an omega make before.
Aran raised his hands, making a palms-down calming gesture at the twins to settle the bickering. Shinsuke let out a quiet chuckle, shifting in his seat to orient his body to face Aran’s, adding his presence to Aran’s silent plea. The twins both gulped, leaning back in their chairs and calming down immediately. Shinsuke and Aran shared a look, one that seemed even to a stranger to be full of understanding. Oh , Kiyoomi thought, Aran was definitely Shinsuke’s alpha, claimed or not .
With their tiny fight over, Atsumu turned his attention back to Kiyoomi. His scent bloomed sickly sweet, radiating from the exposed scent glands on either side of his neck. As if to torture Kiyoomi, he gathered all his hair behind his back, leaving nothing to block the scent. Kiyoomi took a swig of wine, hoping his deep sniff in his glass was not audible over the chatter in the room. He needed anything to clear out the candy smell from his nose.
The room was arranged with one long table, headed by a roaring fireplace on either end. The royal parents were sitting around one end, lost in heated conversation. Kiyoomi hoped it didn’t involve him, although from the sly glances they sent his way, he knew it must. Their group was seated at the other end, with Osamu and Aran closest to the fire. Between the two royal groups sat a collection of people Kiyoomi assumed must be Inarizaki nobles. On the opposite side of the table from the door, the string band was arranged in the corner, with a small area of open floor in front of them, clearly meant for dancing.
As Kiyoomi turned his attention back to the people around him, he watched as Atsumu’s eyes obviously raked over his body, lingering on his arms and chest. He was wearing far fewer layers than he had traveled in, not needing the defense against the wind cutting into the carriage. Atsumu seemed appreciative. Kiyoomi’s alpha preened against his will.
“So, Kiyoomi,” Atsumu started. “Do you have any preferences for the ball next week? Flowers, music, food?”
Kiyoomi blinked, considering the question before shaking his head. “No,” Kiyoomi replied. “I will leave that to you.”
Atsumu seemed to deflate a little, but he regained his easy smile quickly. “Not your kind of thing?” Kiyoomi shook his head. “You dance, though, right?”
Kiyoomi nodded this time. “Of course.”
“Good,” Atsumu replied, blush rising on his cheeks. He averted his gaze from Kiyoomi’s and took another long drink. Kiyoomi wondered if Atsumu drank often, based on the way he didn’t seem to pace himself any.
Soon, plates were set in front of them, loaded with thick steaks, mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables. Kiyoomi let himself admire Atsumu’s table manners. He reminded himself he wasn’t really here to find a partner, rather to find someone to join the royal family and raise pups with. Kiyoomi’s royal duties often involved entertaining foreign dignitaries, and Atsumu’s decent etiquette and personable character both made him a fine fit for the role.
If he were more serious about his responsibilities to his kingdom, Kiyoomi would have no objections. As it was, he was still certain that this was a fine match. As Kiyoomi placed another bite of steak in his mouth, he reached the firm conclusion that he would mate Atsumu.
As Kiyoomi finished his steak and began attacking his vegetables, he noticed Atsumu attempt to secretly slip a few extra pieces of steak onto his plate. Kiyoomi cocked an eyebrow at him. Atsumu grinned sheepishly, fork retreating back to his own plate.
“You need the protein, Kiyoomi,” he explained. His hair fell in front of his face, shielding his expression.
Kiyoomi had shockingly few reservations about sharing food with Atsumu, something that surprised him. He of course knew that most omegas had a strong nurturing instinct, and although he hadn’t sensed this from Atsumu before, he supposed the instinct must be in him somewhere. Kiyoomi had to admit it felt good to be taken care of by an outsider omega. Still, he frowned, and pushed one of the steak pieces back onto Atsumu’s plate, leaving him with two.
Atsumu seemed satisfied with this, taking it without protest. As Kiyoomi’s attention shifted back to his plate, he could feel Motoya grinning devilishly at his other side. They finished eating in relative silence, although Shinsuke and Osamu both eventually got onto Atsumu about finishing his vegetables.
Atsumu made a face at them. “They’re so bitter,” he protested.
Shinsuke and Osamu both began explaining the benefits of vegetables, something Atsumu surely knew. It dissolved into bickering between the twins, with Osamu’s scent gradually growing agitated. Kiyoomi cleared his throat, before setting his utensils down with a clink.
Atsumu looked up at him in surprise. “You need the vitamins, Atsumu,” Kiyoomi said, mimicking what Atsumu had told him.
Atsumu’s eyes widened further, a small smile twitching at his lips. He ducked his head, protests dying immediately. “Fine,” he agreed.
Kiyoomi felt something stir inside him. He wasn’t unfamiliar with omegas, he’d explored with a few before, but this was new. This was the first time he was truly able to lay claim to someone. The desire to possess felt like it could easily overwhelm him. He could not let this feeling become too intense. Atsumu could not take precedence over Kiyoomi’s obligations.
At the other end of the table, the queen dowager stood and thanked everyone for coming. She introduced the Itachiyama royal family, all eyes turning to inspect Kiyoomi. He could see out of the corner of his eye Atsumu tucking his hands onto his lap and picking at his cuticles. Atsumu was too unsure about this. He should have no reservations about binding their kingdoms together, if he truly understood the dire state Inarizaki was in. He seemed all too eager to flirt with Kiyoomi without truly sealing the arrangement.
After the queen finished her speech, the string band that had been playing quietly picked up volume. Kiyoomi watched Aran and Shinsuke give each other a look before retreating to the dance floor, easily finding their positions and beginning to dance. They were joined by a few other couples, chairs emptying around the table. Osamu whispered something in Atsumu’s ear before leaving for the end of the table to talk with their mother.
Motoya tugged on Kiyoomi’s sleeve, making Kiyoomi bring his head down so Motoya could whisper to him as well. “Ask Atsumu to dance,” Motoya instructed, sending a pointed glance to where the omega was watching his friends dance with a wistful expression.
Kiyoomi sighed under his breath, nodding to Motoya as he leaned back. He stood from the table, pushing his chair in and catching Atsumu’s attention. Atsumu looked up at him, eyelashes batting. Kiyoomi would not let himself be affected by the sight.
“Atsumu,” he started, taking the omega’s hand in his. “May I have this dance?”
A grin spread across Atsumu’s face. “I’d be delighted.”
Kiyoomi helped him out of his seat and led him to the dance floor as the previous song wrapped up. As a new one began, Kiyoomi set his right hand on Atsumu’s waist and raised his left, still holding Atsumu’s hand. Atsumu shivered at the touch before placing his free hand on Kiyoomi’s shoulder. Then, they danced.
Kiyoomi tried to focus on the music and his steps, but Atsumu’s gold eyes glittered enchantingly in the firelight. His attention was trained on Kiyoomi’s face, but Kiyoomi was looking anywhere but at him. His hair was soft where it brushed against Kiyoomi’s hand on his waist, the ends getting tangled in Kiyoomi’s fingers as he adjusted his hold.
Atsumu tucked his head forward, breath hot where it hit Kiyoomi’s neck. His cheeks were flushed, whether from excitement or the alcohol Kiyoomi couldn’t tell. “You’re a better dancer than me,” he said, giggling slightly.
Kiyoomi hummed. He hadn’t noticed Atsumu lacking anywhere, keeping perfect time with Kiyoomi’s movements, so Kiyoomi wondered if this was said just to inflate his ego. On a different alpha, it might have worked.
He spun Atsumu, left hand twisting to hold him. His flowy tunic caught the breeze, opening enough in the infuriatingly deep neckline to expose most of his chest. Kiyoomi drank in the sight. As Atsumu spun back, he seemed to notice Kiyoomi looking. His eyelashes fluttered as his lids dropped, the ghost of a smirk forming on his lips.
“Listen,” Kiyoomi said, cutting off Atsumu before he could say the teasing comment that was surely coming. He had to stop Atsumu’s affections before he was in too deep and started making decisions that risked his kingdom. “I am only becoming your mate out of obligation.”
Atsumu hesitated for a moment, stumbling over his feet before recovering. At the same time, his face dropped. “What?” he said, voice full of confusion.
Kiyoomi took a deep breath before continuing. “I have no intention of falling in love with you. I’d prefer not to, actually.”
Atsumu’s scent lost any sweetness. He loosened his hold on Kiyoomi’s shoulder, putting more distance between their bodies. “I don’t expect us to be soulmates or anything, but you won’t even try?”
Kiyoomi shook his head. He willed himself to stay poised, quashing the alpha urge to comfort a sad omega. “We have our duties to our kingdoms. That’s all we will be.”
They continued dancing. Atsumu’s eyes darted around the room nervously, thinking. His scent went bitter, unripe oranges spilling out of his exposed glands. Kiyoomi wished Atsumu had worn a neckerchief.
“Our duties don’t prevent us from being close,” Atsumu finally replied. “Even just a friendship. I can’t be mates with someone who won’t give me at least that.”
“I can’t,” was Kiyoomi’s reply, practiced words rolling out of his mouth without a second thought. He felt his throat closing with the anxiety that always came with thinking about the incident with his mother. He would never allow himself to feel that out of control, as his father had. This had to be done.
Atsumu shook his head incredulously. Kiyoomi could see the tears welling along the bottom of his eye. The firelight reflected off of them, forcing Kiyoomi to remember how happy Atsumu had been just minutes earlier.
The song swelled, finishing with a flourish. Atsumu’s hands fell away from Kiyoomi almost bonelessly. They bowed at each other, remaining courteous until the end. But before Kiyoomi could even straighten up, Atsumu was fleeing the dance floor, walking quickly toward his brother who was still sitting with their mother.
Even from this distance, Kiyoomi could see the angry red blotches on Atsumu’s neck and cheeks. He bent down to Osamu’s level, although he didn’t seem to say anything before Osamu was up and walking him by the elbow out of the room. The royal parents looked to where Kiyoomi still stood dumbly in the middle of the floor. He could feel Shinsuke and Aran’s eyes on him before they followed after the twins.
He willed his leaden legs to move, to return to the table to where Motoya still sat. At what felt like an achingly slow pace, he found his chair and slumped down in it. Kiyoomi knew he had to do this. He knew that it would hurt Atsumu. Still, he hadn’t expected the effect Atsumu’s scent and tears would have on him.
Motoya’s eyes narrowed at Kiyoomi. “What did you do?” he whispered.
“I told him exactly what I told you,” Kiyoomi explained. He wrung his hands in his lap.
Motoya shook his head. He didn’t say anything else to Kiyoomi, instead downing his glass of wine and setting it on the table with a thunk. His lips drew into a straight line. He didn’t need to tell Kiyoomi what he thought.