Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 3: Secrets

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Chapter summary: The duo begins working with each other and some secrets are revealed.

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A/N: y'all I'm so sorry for the long delay in this chapter. I have been having some health problems and they got to a point where I needed surgery, so I had that done a few days ago. I am just now getting back to feeling better!

Anyway, I hope you like this next chapter. Reminder this is a slow burn so it will be a while before things heat up!

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Kageyama is fairly certain he is losing his mind.

There is no other explanation for why he offered the beautiful, alluring omega a job. Kageyama works best alone. Based on past experiences, he knows this is true and he promised himself long ago to keep it that way.

So he kind of shocked himself by extending the job offer to red-haired omega, who had somehow clouded Kageyama's judgment with his big, sad eyes and his adorable freckles and his enticing scent. Fucking omegas.

Kageyama absolutely refuses to consider the possibility that this particular omega is anything special. Hinata's omega pheromones just affected Kageyama's alpha, that's all. It's just biology, some chemical shit that Kageyama doesn't have to understand the inner workings of to be aware that the effects exist, whether he likes it or not. So the omega looked vulnerable and his protective alpha instincts kicked in.

And okay, yeah, the omega looked attractive and that also appealed to his alpha. Fine. Fucking biology or whatever.

However, there are a couple of very good reasons why It doesn't matter if he thinks Hinata is cute or appealing or even breedable. First and foremost, Kageyama is going to be Hinata's boss, and his grandfather taught Kageyama that someone in a position of authority over another person should never make romantic overtures because of something called sexual harassment. Kageyama understood that the person could think they could lose their job if they say no, so he will have to keep his thoughts about Hinata's perfect lips and fluffy hair and toned muscles to himself.

Which is fine, because no one ever finds Kageyama to be a suitable romantic partner anyway. He is aware that he is traditionally attractive, and several omegas, a few betas, and even another alpha have shown romantic interest in him before. But he also knows that he is surly, frowns a lot, doesn't talk much, and fails to respond appropriately to social cues. Everyone who has shown him any sort of attention usually gets over it pretty fucking quickly once they realize what his personality is like.

So yeah, he can admire Hinata all he wants, but Hinata will never look at him as anything other than his boss or coworker. In fact, once Hinata gets to know Kageyama, he might just get fed up and piss off to find another job.

Kageyama adamantly ignores the brief pang of disappointment at that thought.

He heads down from his apartment to the bakery at around 5:00 AM, flicking on lights as he walks through the kitchen. He has two hours before the shop opens to the public, and he has several types of pastries to make during that time. Luckily, he has the routine down from years of practice. He turns on the Bluetooth speaker and calls up one of his work playlists on his phone. It is one that particularly reminds him of Kazuyo.

With the comfort of the music and the familiar surroundings, Kageyama starts to bake.

He gets so lost in the zone that he forgets that Hinata is starting work today until he hears the banging on the front door. Startled at first, then annoyed at the noise the idiot is making, he quickly washes his hands and wipes them on the towel hanging from his belt as he walks to the front door.