A Fated Pair - SasaMiya

Chapter 21: I Will Protect You

A/N: As mentioned on my Tumblr, this will be a heavy chapter, so please take note of the chapter warnings!

Chapter Warnings: Trigger warnings for child abuse and physical assault

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Chapter 21: I Will Protect You

"Miyano."

Most of the pack went home except for Kuresawa and Tashiro, who hung around him after everyone left to go home. Tomorrow was a school day after all, and most of them had curfew.

"What's up? Why were you guys so silent today?" The head omega asked. It wasn't like them to not engage in the group chat, especially Tashiro.

They were waiting at the train station, and it was after the evening rush so it was pretty empty.

The two betas were quieter than usual, and at once Miyano felt something was off. "What happened?"

The two shared a look before Kuresawa spoke. "I was with Tashiro today because he called me for advice on something. While talking, I overheard a man in the background yelling, and I told Tashiro to leave his house and walk to me."

Tashiro hardly ever looked anything but cheerful and happy, but now he looked crestfallen. "It's my dad. He... He was able to get out early and now he's home, so..."

Miyano felt his heart lurch, and every nerve ending inside of him screamed to protect. "Your father is out of prison?!" This isn't good. Now he's home with Tashiro?! How could they let him out?

The OB forced a smile, trying to reassure others even now. "Hey, it's okay. He still has anger issues, but he's gotten better! Really. And he's working again, so he's hardly home..."

"I don't like him being around you. Tashiro, if he hurts you--"

Tashiro put his hands up, trying to placate him. "He's promised my grandparents to be on good behavior. He's trying to change for the better."

Miyano didn't like this. He clenched his hands into fists by his side as he tried to stop the trembling. Beta in danger, have to protect! His inner omega screamed at him, and trying to fight that instinct was harder to do since he knew exactly what kind of man Tashiro's father was.

"If you're ever in any danger--"

"I know, Kuresawa told me to have a bag of necessities ready to grab so I can book it to one of you guys."

"If he says anything bad to you, please don't listen. Just run, hide, call us!" Miyano couldn't stress this enough.

"I know." The beta smiled, suddenly melancholy. "But he said he's changed, and I really want this to work out. I just want to have a parent around, you know?"

Miyano could feel his sadness, and it made him whine and hug his packmate fiercely. "I know. I know you do." That's all Tashiro's ever wanted. His mom died when he was really young, and his father wasn't the best person... His grandparents had to raise him.

Kuresawa joined the hug, and they stayed like that until the train arrived. The whole way home Miyano worried, and even when he went to sleep he worried. He wanted to believe that everything would be okay, and that Tashiro would get the father he always wanted and needed.

Yet, his instincts screamed at him that something wasn't right.

.