Chapter Text
The past, A decade ago.
Mayhem.
The dark thick clouds of smoke, the roaring sounds, the smell clung to everything he had known his life, was now gone it had alternated far past his control he was merely a hybrid, livestock, prey of the world.
The day he had remembered; the day that had haunted him. The sun was high in the sky, sparks of ember flew from every corner. Distressed people ran some carrying their children their belongings, taking all they could for the worry of having their lives taken too.
The place where people could be safe was no longer; Kiyoomi hid there many hybrids hid there it was a city unknown to maps and even if you reached it it wasnt obvious at all to hunters that the things that they seeked were there, just out of sight.
The previously blank bright blue canvas had transformed into a blazing foreboading orange, the air abundant made murky with ash, the smell of gunpowder, selfishness, terror. His heart pounded in his ears alert, vigilant, watchful.
The words had echoed in head trying to make sense of the situation, to relieve his panic, to protect himself ; but the piercing shouts had broken his barriers enough to make him feel unprepared. Sickness built in his stomach twisting into a knot then again and again until he felt naseous until he trembled, until he was petrified unable to move, he was frozen but so was time, everything was in slow motion.
The rerbrating booms; vibrating; shaking the ground where he stood, his mother screaming his name telling him to go. Tears dripped down her cheek, salted water he could taste when she squeezed him tight, he had never seen anyone so afraid, never seen his mother scared of anything, he wasnt sure what was scarier the screams, the chaos, or the look alone of fear that donned her face.
Her hands gripped on his small shoulders shaking him out of his stupor shoving him into the direction of the woods.
"Don't look back kiyoomi, and don't ever stop."
The fear in her eyes was so very present, that moment he never forgot; too intense the last time he saw her the last time he had a family, the last time he wasn't alone.
He hadn't looked back. Not then. Not at all, Never.
Survival was silence. Survival was solitude. Surviving was life, surviving nothing more.
The alpha had built walls around himself, the way others had built homes, piece by piece blocking him out from anything that could touch him, harm him ; know him.
Not even a feather would tickle his skin, he was hidden by the iron cage he used to protect himself. Until the sickness couldn't reach him, the flowers, the hunters, the false hope of anyone else. He would entrap his feelings and bottle them up emotions meant weakness he couldn't afford that.
It was safer this way, easier.
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Present
Kiyoomi's ears twitched, black rounded ears, alert pointing to the exact location of the sound.
He was situated on a old tree probably hundreds of years old, ancient, it was tall with a massive trunk and many thick branches able to support his build. The panther was usually sleeping at this time but the sudden noises had awoken him. Yawning large and stretching from his position sleeping on a bough.
He transforms from his panther form into his hybrid.
His nose was sensitive so he caught the scents quickly, it was familar yet unknown it wasnt the regular forest animals or the occasional human, unless it was one he would have to be very wary; humans were almost always last men but they tended to stand out, distinct smell. He seemlesy got into a crouched position on the wooden limb, able to move quickly incase of threat. Sakusa was confident in his stealth. The subjects got closer and the noises followed, voices cut through the silence; jarring the tranquility.
He couldn't see them through the heavy foliage but he could sense where they were his instincts impeccable, he was a large, imposing predator and this forest was his domain. As he grew older he learned a good sum of the habitat; he knew where prey lay and the best places to nap. He had his own den not too far from where he was currently stationed and hides of food that he stashed.
"Tsumu I swear ta' god if ya don't pick up tha pace it won't be our food on tha' skewer itll be ya"
"Actually shut yer trap Samu stop complainin' or I'll shut it fer ya"
Sakusa could hear bickering between the two , footsteps and rubbing of fabric which he guessed was bags.
Unlucky enough for the two hybrids below there was something else, threatening. Last men, tangs of smoke filled his nostrils the remnants of gunfire and blood.
Many years ago about 2 decades, there was 'the great crumble' a global pandemic which wiped out most of humanity, no one really knows what caused it some seem to think it was the birth of hybrids. Hybrids were born while the sick had appeared, all babies since then had been half human half animal.
The world had became desicated, void of life. Society had vanished mostly and the planet was post-apocolyptac
The population that remained were enraged with hybrids, pointing the blame to anything that could fill the void of their loss. Mankind had a point in eridicating others that were different.
Hybrids were hunted by last men, a group, a militant group full of individuals trained to eliminate hybrids and those who stood in their path.
Sakusa rummaged through the greenery and brushed it into a window of leaves, a view point to see better.
Down below the alpha saw two fox hybrids, roughly the same height but with different hair colours and fur. The latter a lighter haired fox with a tinge of golden pelt, their tail moved wildly batting back in forth which was a clear indicator that he was annoyed before stopping, his hair also had a similar colour a blonde hue. The former was a darker shade a more commonly fox tone maybe slightly dimmer a grey hint, his hair coincided.
The latter blathered a lot but from his position it was mostly intelligible; just mutters.
It was safe to say he was surprised and that happened to be an understatement of the century. He hadn't seen hybrids in what felt like an eternity; hadn't seen them since he traded the dull grey empire, smouldering, fire dancing ablaze , concrete paths, and war cries to the psithurism, verdant nature, towering plantation that was home.
The blatant smell of humans lingered in the air a bewildermant that the foxes hadnt detected it, they failed to show any indication in any way. But no they were in their own little world presumably. Sakusa inwardly sighs.
Metallic, rusty, a weapon the panther is all too familiar with.
The gun clacks twice, one distinct heavy then immediately followed by a sharper sound cutting through the air.
He didn't move right away, internally weighing the pros and cons of intervening; he watched as the rifle was struggling to be positioned, the foxes still somehow blissfully unaware.
Sakusa now knew it was now, or never. The gun was now raised, metal glistening from the rays that had managed to creep their way through the foliage.
He exhaled, and dropped.
His knees bent largely upon landing, situated into a crouch. He waited one-two seconds before he struck in a swift movement; roundhouse kicking the barrel of the gun sending the object falling, aswell as the hunter stumbling back onto the ground; probably more out of shock then anything else as he hadnt directly touched him.
A thunderous crack broke the layer of earth.
In a flurry of limbs, confusion and scrambling, one of the foxes had barreled into the panther. Sakusa swore curses under his breath and immediately, roughly grabbed the louder one by by the scruff of his clothing out of the sitting duck position
"HEY-."
Sakusa simply smacked a palm over his mouth muffling his speech, he grabbed the smaller guy and swiftly guided him with vigour towards the treeline hidden by the canopy,thicket of leafy growth.
"Be quiet." He hoarsed out.
He releases the fox not holding for any longer than he has to.
The fox staggered slightly, taken by surprise and clearly shocked by the quickness and it being so unexpected, gasping breathily brown eyes unblinking, his pupils wide as saucers making the iris a thin lined frame, swallowing his upper lip and darting his eyes his pheremones spike, showing the startedlness honeysuckle bursting, cinnamon inveloping into cloying scent.
The other twin was there instantly creating a larger barrier between the two, puffing his chest and squaring his shoulders; he stares at the alpha fangs bared; making an appearance.With a low growl creeping out emitting his own pheromones; cardamom intensifying, alert, spicy. Cedar turned musky, clouded and the freshness of his clover assuring the other.
Without words; standing up to a challenge it was abundant at this point that the quieter twin was an alpha even without his scent being thrown in the panthers face, his body language and protectiveness alone displayed it that much.
His ears slightly pinned back and his tail flicking
His gaze wavered between Sakusa, and scanning his soroundings with more imminent threats, the alphas ears perked up , then flicked back to the larger predator.
The panther raised his hands and stepped back, displaying he wasn't a threat though his eyes still locked at the opposing, he revealed his own scent black orchid; incense; amber which was as warm and comforting as it could get; crisp fresh eucalyptus drifting, nurturing.Letting out an attempt at peace, solace .His shoes softly padding against the earth stepping onto soil and then a group of crisp leaves.
Threats came in all forms, so even if it was someone assisting them there was reason to wary especially in this society, Sakusa understood, Sakusa respected it even if he never had something to protect like that, he couldn't relate but he could empathise.
The sound of footsteps passed, the forest mellowed, soon it settled once it was safe. Boots faded and the rustic smell of metal drifted, the whistling of the forest inhabitants could be heard rather than blood pulsing while in frenzy.
The air tickled bushes and shrubs, dancing on the panthers skin aswell as sending a light shiver down his spine, the wind sung the wind kept secrets and it whispered them all, avaliable to anyone who would listen to the calls. It was better like this, quieter.
Sakusa briskly moved away a few paces at most, still very much in the view of the twin foxes.
"The hunters now know you are here" he intoned, matter of factly. "Your loud, you'll bring more wandering eyes. You would be unwise not to move."
The louder one shrieked " Excuse ya-."
Suddenly the grey hued fox elbowing him in the side prevented him from speaking for the second time Sakusa had met them he had been stopped in the middle of a sentence, it would have probably been laughable in a different situation.
Their eyes met, cold hard stares meeting head on. "Where?" he gravelled out. Scanning. Calculating.
"Just North of here. Old culvert. Temporary. " He replied, Glancing towards the depths of the woodland, light umbral from the evergreen cast dark shadows, radiance shone through in most parts only the dim, gloomy corners were covered in shade. "If you remain here, they'll find you before the sun sets". His eyes flick back to the twins looking expectantly.Solemnity, earnestness; tinged his scent, incense becoming an abundant note, wrapped around the sharp eucalyptus warm amber and orchid.
The Silence dragged on.
"You lead. We follow." Osamu stated.
Sakusa studied the twins; eyes batting between the two.
"Stay quiet " he responded, curtly.
The louder twin spoke up.
" Uhm- we should probably' introduce ourselves..." He rubs his hand and the back of his neck, fingers tangling through hair. "Like our names or somethin'." Anxiety, nervousness painted a wash over his scent.
Sakusa observes, doesnt respond.
The quieter twin sighs "He means that since ya 'helped us, it would' feel wrong ta not say our names".
"Then say?" He replied.
The blonde instantly brightened his sweet honeyed scent perking up, the first time sakusa had smelt the entirety of it without it being clouded in emotions; honeysuckle, cinnamon vanilla and amber. "Atsumu. Miya Atsumu."
He gestures to the other twin. "And' thats' Osamu, careful he' bites."
Osamu shot a glare at Atsumu, scowl dressed his face letting his lightly annoyed scent out.
"Only when necessary." He faced the other alpha , eyes unwavering, steady. Scent turning with a heavierness; seriousness. "We'll keep outta yer way."
Sakusa nodded once. " Sakusa."
Not saying more than any means necessary.
Atsumu blinks light confusion on his face. "Huh. Just Sakusa?" Furrowing his brows.
"That's enough" Sakusa responded.
Atsumus grin softened. "Alright then. Guide us oh great leader Sa-ku-sa." He sing-songs.
Sakusa turns toward the forest, striding foward. He doesn't look back.
The woodland grew denser as the path grew smaller, thick branches hung low some you had to move as you passed through to prevent them smacking into you. The formidable dark shadows sorrounded them in the incased space, although light shone just enough to see. The panther-hybrid guided them, He knew the forest like the back of his hand, knew were every twist and turn would lead you . The chatter ensued although quieter than previously, as Atsumu talked.
They were close, they were eachothers family, only family presumably.
Sakusa didn't recognise the feeling in his chest tightening, squeezing him almost painfully, a dull aching begging to filled.Whether that be because he had not felt it before or learned to ignore it. He tried to not let his scent being tinged with it.
He noticed that Osamu was more subdued, calm. Atsumu on the other hand was eccentric, chatty, loud. But they could switch very quickly acting completely different in situations for example defensive and resigned.
They were also very attractive and he couldn't even deny that, maybe to their faces but he would know its untruthful.
He chose paths humans instinctively avoided. Walking in waterlogged, swampy ground which squelched with every step covering their footwear in dark brown. Over slanted, rough and rocky terrain some stones even wiggling their way into the crevices in their boots. Into waist high thorned growth that piecered into their clothing, grass seeds also clinging on. He led them uninterrupted treading on new ground, adapting to the new surfaces, habitat. Although it was a forest it could and would change in a flicker of flashlight, but that was the beauty of it.
The foxes learnt to adapt to the differences, but it didn't mean they didn't struggle. Stumbling over various amounts of large rocks and slipping on a wet slate grey stone and nearly face planting into a shallow stream..
A sharp snap of a branch echoes loud in the forest, hitting Atsumu back in defiance (or probably just because it broke). Sakusa stops, not sudden not abrupt just pure ol' normal stopping.
"Jeeeez.. Who the fuck left all this shit 'here" Atsumu muttered, brows furrowed. Lightly batting the tip of his tail and letting a tinge of his sweet scent out.
Osamu clicked his tongue looking distastefully at his twin. "Mayb' if ya would stop stompin' about ya wouldn't have ta voice yer dramatics" Osamu retorts " Lift yer foot up an step lighter".
" 'am not... " He pauses and complies with what the other fox said after being on the side of receiving a look from his twin " What like this?"
Sakusa sighs, and continues forward. Realising they would catch up eventually, moving might even encourage them to quicken their pace.
Osamu remained at the back, steady and calculating, memorising, pupils moving tracking his whereabouts. Surveying, looking, watching. Still eyeing Sakusa, not all people that help are fully trustworthy.
After awhile of temporary silence, Atsumu makes an effort to get the alpha to talk. Drifting closer to him, or better yet creeping .Curiousty only killed cats anyway.
" Not much of a talker huh? " Atsumu stated " yer a mysterious guy ya know. Going around saving' people fer fun"
"Not all heroes wear capes! Some are obscurely quiet big cats that lurk in the shadows" Atsumu added, including various large hand gestures.
Osamu turns to glare, hissing out " Shut yer trap, scrub."
Undettered Atsumu continues " We've got a bad case of the uses words like they cost money among one of us "
"Or maybe its the mime syndrome but they are miming so much that they lost the ability to actually do tha gestures." The omega reported.
"Quietness is efficient, it doesnt mean hard of hearing" Sakusa replies. He still walks at a steady pace the forest was looking more like a normal woodland now more spacious, tall bark adorned with green luscious leaves and shrubbery below. Little wild flowers lay waving in the light breeze following the grasses dancing and the leaves gentle fluttering.
Atsumu perks up at that grinning wide, " Oh he talks!!" He announces.
Osamu places his head in his palms, groaning loudly. Sakusa decided to guess where his annoyed scale would be and quickly inquired that it would have broken a long time ago, but if it hadnt it would have just now. " Tsumu yer gonna get Sakusa ta kill us before tha hunters do".
"Samu dont ya think he'd of killed us by know if he was plannin' on it?" Atsumu replies before adding, " Never mind killin' us he'd probably eat-
Sakusa interjects " You would have died. Much earlier."
Osamu gaze sharpens, quizzical yet strong trying to control the narrative with his look.
"I do hope thats not a threat." Osamu replies, not in a friendly way more standoffish, like he has a point to prove maybe showing an attempt at his own threat, his scent voicing it.
Sakusa could feel the burning holes directed to the back of his head, if he had lazer beam eyes he would have borne multiple craters in the shape of his pupils into his brain, thank the lords that the only supernatural in this world was half human half animal hybrids.
"No." He replies curly. Sakusa slows his pace just enough to glance back at him " Your alive because you chose to listen to me."
Osamu breathes out a breathe he probably didn't know he was holding, but nods towards the other alpha in acknowledgement.
They continued walking, without commentary.
Earth taking the weight of the three hybrids, flattening tall blades of grass with every step.
A twig breaking loudly from a distance echoed, Osamu ever the vigilant noticed first freezing suddenly in his tracks, eyeing his soroundings; Atsumu stiffened this time stopping. It sounded wrong, it sounded threatening but at this moment In time likely everything did.
Osamu reached out to his twin grasping the cuffs of his sleeve curling his fingers around the fabric briefly, indicating to him to stay put. "Still" he breathes out lowly.
Sakusa still infront watches for anything, human, unnatural to the forest. He raises his hand indicating to those behind him to stop, although they already had and most likely were going to until it passed.
They waited, the forest was mostly undisturbed, it should have been a relief but it was frankly a bit unsettling. Nerves between the trio bundled.
Seagulls cawed from above, soaring, spreading their wings wide, displaying their large wingspan. Gliding over the weald.
Sometimes Sakusa wished instead of being a panther he would be some type of bird, wings, freedom. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy being a panther, it was familar, it was great, being an apex predator.
After a few moments, the subject had moved on. It wasn't human so no point in investigating any further, it wasnt an immediate threat, it wasnt someone that was stalking their every move hunting their very species, kind.
When Sakusa lowered his raised arm, gesturing once again but this time telling them it was safe to move. Atsumu let out a slow breathe one he had previously been holding from the sound of him choking it out.
"Okay..." He muttered just enough to be audible to the group. "I think i finally' get tha quiet thing' now."
"Good," Osamu responded, mischievous smirk gracing his face. "Took ya long enough' ." Smacking his palm at the back of Atsumus head, earning a glare from the omega and a pout, in which in return osamu just snickers.
The old culvert appeared gradually, fading into view. It was almost completely swallowed in ivy barely able to make anything out unless you were looking, and looking hard.
The concrete was cracked, fraying edges, it was archaic aswell as indefintley abandoned.
Brushing the climbing plants aside, it was fairly spacious and it was dry enough. Although it smelt like the earth, damp concrete, old rain; trickling of water lightly echoed in the tunnel like space. It was hidden though, a secret enclosed in the forest.
Atsumu peaks over Sakusas shoulder and stretches over it pointing his finger at the interior. "Huh, Five star hotel in there or what? Where do i submit tha review."
"Inside" Osamu hisses, nudging him as Sakusa steps aside. He looks at the taller man. "Ya sure no one followed us?".
Sakusa scans his souroundings once more, inspecting the woodland around them, before turning his gaze back "I wouldn't have brought up you if they did." He replies flatly.
Osamu nods towards him.
Theirs a brief moment of recognition, of acceptance, their situation was far from ideal but no major problems had arised.
Atsumu pauses at the entrance, glances between them, then looking towards Sakusa. "So.. Ya just leavin' us 'ere?"
"Its Temporary," Sakusa states." I'll stay just till dark. You leave during the first light."
"Inside".
Atsumu enters first ducking under the curtain of ivy holding it as he passes through "Wow," he mutters. "Pretty damn' spacious aswell, even got a water feature over there, bougy ".
He points at the crevices in the concrete in which water was lightly trickling in through.
Osamu huffs softly, following behind him after looking around briefly.
Sakusa enters but stays close to the entrance, he moves the vines into a window enough to see from the inside, nothing more.
The further the better though, in a confined space their scents were a large amount more apparent.
Turning to look at the twins, Atsumu was crouched down fluffy fox tail moving, he looks up to Sakusa.
"Ya think it could flood?".Atsumu asks." Like if tha rain is to heavy?".
The panther looks down to him meeting his eyes consisley enough to be polite or rather indicate he acknowledged he said something, turning to look out of his make shift window, he replies. "Well no, its curved, the rain will bounce off".
" Oh Good, I don't fancy wakin' up floatin'."
Osamu snorts a light smile dons his face and shakes his head.
It was then sakusa finally clocked it.
Omega.
Atsumu was an Omega, not that it was an huge issue, but it something his brain pushed to the back burner and now he was actually acknowledging the fact of it, he didn't notice because he was acting timid or quiet. Because well he wasnt-.
It was more from his body language, he filled space didn't challenge it which was a more alphan way. His brother also stayed close, however it wasn't hirearchian. It was familar, it was normal,it was rhthymetic.
Sakusa hadnt met many he only knew the hybrids he shared a town with, and all of them ( apart from one) were alphas / betas. One small problem though was omegas meant a higher target on their back.
Sakusa switches his stance, shuffling closer to the entrance, closer than he had previously planned, moving his sleek panther tail without squashing it.
"Don't wander" Osamu gravelled.
Atsumu tilts his head up from his staring match with the cemented walls, "Well I wasn't plannin' on it."
Osamu adjusts his tail before leaning back against the wall
"We'll keep outta yer way."
Sakusa nodded, seemingly becoming the new language via today.
Atsumu looks between the two, " We just playing tha waitin' game?"
Sakusa turns his eyes to the foxes, "Yes."
"Fer how long' ?" Atsumu asks
"Until its dark out". Sakusa says matter of factly.
Whisks of wind blew through, tickling the ivy door, larger amounts of light shone in, rays shining against the concrete giving a large contrast to the derelict scene.
"Kay, cool" Atsumu replies watching the sunlight retreat back.
The silence settled, but not awkward, not heavy. Atsumu shifts, moving his tail in the same manner he just saw moments ago with his twin, aswell as himself.
Osamu bumps his knee gently against Atsumus, a quiet, unconscious way of checking in, looking towards him while doing so. Sakusa watched from the corners of his eyes. even from his view he could see the care that his eyes contained, it was love, pure unadulterated love, something he hadn't seen since his.. mother, wow that stung to think about.
The forest whistled, chirped, sang and whispered. Nature never fully settled.
Birds sang in chorus, as if being instructed in a vocal orchestra. The susurrus of wind, whispering, psithurism carried unspoken words in gusts, its words moved the leaves dragging them through the air aswell as brushing on the ground.
Sakusa remained where he was just watching as nature played, lived.
Behind him, the twins were silent, taking in the whirlwind that was today.
Their presence was odd to him, truthfully he had never met any hybrids since leaving the city and even then he hadnt become close never spoke more than a few words he kept to himself like his nature of being a panther; a solitary animal.
The twins filled the space, unashamed. He could interact for the first time in decade. They could relate to him, which was terrifying to him, but it comforted his insides, it felt like warm water was washing over him.
This was only temporary he repeated, told himself.
The light hadnt sunk fully yet, but it definitely wasn't high above, it would probably be a few hours till it faded to dark.
His mind stated that it wasnt permanent but it didn't stop the silent longing in his heart, however he stayed.