Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 11: Gifts

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SUMMARY: It's Kageyama's birthday

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A/N:

I'm continuing edits for Mine To Protect and it's almost ready for beta readers! (Those are people who read a book before it's published to find errors and suggest improvements to the author.) If you'd like to be a beta reader, please email me at or fill out this form

Beta readers will be sent the manuscript in early September. Release is scheduled for November 1.

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Kageyama stands in their apartment's kitchen, staring at the ultrasound photos of Hinata's pup. They're black and white and blurry, but there's an unmistakable face in one image that Kageyama swears looks like Hinata. It gives him hope that the child will look like his mother, which would be a blessing. He doesn't think Hinata would cope too well if the child looked like that asshole, Sunada.

And he probably wouldn't either.

Hinata emerges from his room carrying a basket of laundry, and Kageyama burns with embarrassment as he remembers stealing Hinata's dirty clothes during his rut. He managed to sneak Hinata's shirt back into the laundry after Hinata mentioned he couldn't find it. Otherwise, he might have kept it.

Hinata says as he passes, "Just let me throw this load in, and then we'll watch Bake Squad."

Kageyama nods and retrieves the popcorn from the microwave. He dumps it in a bowl and settles onto the sofa, calling up the show on the television. When Hinata finally joins him in the living room, Kageyama notices he's walking slower than usual. It's unusual for the normally energetic redhead.

"You okay?" Kageyama asks, now concerned for Hinata's health. He hopes the omega isn't getting sick.

"Yeah, I am tired. It feels like the baby is just sucking my energy, y'know?"

"Go to bed early tonight, then."

"I will Worry-Yama."

Hinata plops down next to Kageyama, and Kageyama is immediately comforted by the omega's familiar, sweet cinnamon scent. He relaxes and calls up the show, and they start watching.

Kageyama notices every time their hands brush in the bowl of popcorn because he is a whipped, pathetic fool. He wishes he could hold Hinata's hand while they watch, wishes that touches between them were allowed, welcomed even.

He's so fucked.

They finish the popcorn and let the next episode begin. Hinata provides a running commentary while they watch, talking about everything from the ingredients to what the people are wearing. Kageyama just listens, grunts when appropriate, and occasionally argues with Hinata's declarations, which leads to bickering without any heat behind it. They compete about who will correctly predict the winner, and Hinata wins this one.

"Ha, told you she would win! That brings my total up to 79 wins to your 82."

"Whatever, dumbass," Kageyama retorts, huffy at losing this one when he was sure the man's creation would be the winner this time.

Hinata looks like he's about to gloat some more when he suddenly exclaims, "Oh!"

Kageyama is startled and instantly on high alert. "What's wrong?"

"The pup kicked! It was a big one."

Kageyama's eyes are instantly drawn to Hinata's baby bump, and Hinata must sense what Kageyama is thinking because he pulls up his shirt to reveal his slightly protruding stomach and puts his hand on the side.