Subtletys

Bonus Chapter 1: Obviously

NOTES: 

According to Wiki, "Tsundere" (ツンデレ) is a term for a character who acts rude, cold, and hostile towards their love interest in order to conceal their warm and caring feelings.

I learned this word through watching anime and think it fits Lou in this fic perfectly ;)

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JULY (MONTHS BEFORE MAIN STORY)

“Are you familiar with the term ‘tsundere’, babes?” Zayn asked as he pushed Liam’s back, helping his alpha bend further forward so that he could touch his toes.

“What’s that?” Harry asked, wincing on Liam’s behalf as Zayn continued to push relentlessly.

They were the only ones left at the gym since the rest of the lads had been punished to run laps across campus (thanks to Louis pissing Vines off). Zayn had been waiting at the benches, listening to Liam complaining about his sore muscles. The omega decided to kindly step in to help with some rehab stretches.

From the looks of it, Liam was actually more in pain than before the stretching had started.

“Tell me who comes to mind when I explain the meaning.” Zayn wiggled his brows at Harry.

“Tsundere is a person who pretends to act uninterested towards their crush, when in reality, they’re obsessed with them.”

“Baby, I think you watch too much anime.” Liam rasped out as Zayn made an annoyed noise, pushing the alpha down until he howled in pain. “Ouch!”

“This conversation doesn’t include you.” Zayn ploughed on after pinching Liam’s shoulder.

“What’re you trying to get at, Z?” Harry still couldn’t quite grasp the idea.

Zayn wrinkled his nose at Harry disapprovingly. “Doesn’t a certain someone come to mind? Someone who gets on your nerves for no reason, yet, treat you sweet and nice sometimes? Especially when no one is looking…”

Harry blinked just as Louis swung into the gym’s doorway, falling to his knees as he panted. The alpha didn’t have time to get off of the gym threshold before Steve and Niall were piling on top of him.

They soon turned into a mess of scuffling limbs while Coach Vines never bothered to look up from his tablet on the other side of the court.

Harry turned back to Zayn and shrugged, “Are you trying to say Lou is a… Tsundere?”

Zayn snapped his fingers. “Not trying, babes, I’m saying it. Calling it.”

“How’re you supposed to confirm something like that?”

“Not me. Us. We are.”

The evil smile on Zayn’s face only made Harry more confused as the omega jerked a thumb towards the entrance. “Those idiots are gonna hit the showers soon and fight over who goes first, blah blah tough laddy stuff. Meanwhile, you and me,” He sniggered. “Are going on a heist.”

▲▽▲▽▲

“It’s not budging!” Harry said in panic after he had keyed in the numbers 0028 to Louis’ locker. He tried 2828, but still, he was denied of access as he whipped his head frantically to the side, afraid that the alpha captain was going to catch him in action.

Thankfully, the team was still busy with fighting in the showers.

“My turn.” Zayn rolled his eyes, shooing Harry away with a cool flick of his wrist and pinched his tongue between his teeth, thinking for a moment before brightening.