The breeding house had been hell on earth, and even three years after being liberated, Tsukishima

Kei still had nightmares every night. He’d started off in therapy, but it was a joke. Nothing would

ever take away the nightmares he’d experienced at the hands of alphas who sometimes paid for the

privilege of brutalizing his body. Therapists could talk and talk all they wanted, and try to

empathize, but it was a farce. No one except the other omegas there could understand what he’d

gone through, and a year after being freed, he stopped going to the state mandated group therapy.

When the nightmares returned, as they did without fail, he would try to redirect them to the one

light that had been in the darkness of his life. The one time he’d been at peace and found an alpha

who, somehow, cared. Who was there as part of a breeding program as well and didn’t want to be

where he was, but like Tsukishima, had no choice.

Those nights--was it three or four? He couldn’t remember--had brought him the only solace he felt

there. They were watched, as they always were. No names were given, but Tsukishima had

imprinted on that alpha’s scent and memorized his looks even in the dim light of the room.

Raven hair, long enough to be messy. Bright eyes. A reassuring grin. Sweet balsam fir clouds of

scent mixing with his own ripe strawberries.

Instead of taking what he wanted, the alpha had coaxed Tsukishima’s body and, for the first time in

his life, made the heat pleasurable. He’d fallen into him countless times, accepting the kissing and

clinging to the alpha as if, when it was over, he’d be able to keep him there. Maybe if he was good

enough, if they were good enough together, they overseers would let them stay. Maybe if this heat

produced a child, they’d see Tsukishima just needed someone kind like this alpha, and they’d pair

them together. It happened sometimes. Or so he’d heard.

During the heat, the alpha whispered sweet nothings in his ear, apologies and then gentle praises,

followed by gentle kisses to his neck and throat and scent gland. Not once did he bite down into his

skin. Rough hands smoothed over his body and played him like an instrument.

And then, as soon as it had started, it was over, and the alpha was dragged from his cell-like room.

He got one last look at him before the guards shut the door, and that was the face he’d memorized.

That hair standing up straight on one side, his lips turned up in a smile but his eyes, his bright eyes,

filled with sorrow and regret.

A week later Tsukishima woke up to stomach cramps and knew this heat had been successful. The

overseers would be thrilled. But he was torn. He didn’t want a child. Never had, and had known as

soon as he presented that it was off the cards for him. But then he and his brother had been taken

from their parents and placed in a breeding program and suddenly his life was no longer his to

control.

Of all the children to have an alpha with, that was the one he wouldn’t have minded. And here he

was, pregnant. Would the child look like him or the alpha? Would the alpha be told? Would they

see each other again? He didn’t know.

Nine months later he’d given birth. He didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, they didn’t tell him.

He’d just barely caught sight of black hair before the baby was taken away. For something he’d

never wanted, he cried out in pain as the child was removed from the room.

A month later, the breeding house was found and they were liberated. Suddenly he was in a different program, one for resettlement, as all around the country thousands of omegas and alphas

were freed from lives of horror and ****** back into a world they no longer understood. Some, like

his group-mate Hinata, had only been in the program for a month, and they were able to easily

acclimate to life on the outside. Tsukishima had a harder time. He’d been in the program since he

was sixteen, and he’d been there for four miserable years.

For a year after they’d been freed he lived in a dormitory with others from his program. He was

able to finish the education he’d missed and despite the long gap, pushed himself to complete his

education. A year later, the government granted him a little more freedom and placed him in an

apartment with another omega who had also made great strides. When he asked about his brother

and why he couldn’t be reunited with him, they’d said Akiteru wasn’t ready.

He lived with Nishinoya for six months, but their personalities clashed. While Tsukishima was

quiet, Nishinoya was loud and energetic. He found an alpha and drew up a mating contract. The

government moved Tsukishima out and, much to his displeasure, into another apartment with an

omega named Sugawara. This one was quieter, though, and gentle. He gave Tsukishima space and

warned him if he was having friends over. Just a few months into their living arrangement, he

realized an alpha was stopping by more and more frequently.

It was clear to him that the pair were in love, but Sugawara and promised Tsukishima he could stay

as long as he needed to.

Six months after being there, he petitioned the government to live on his own. He found a job at a

cafe, enrolled part-time at a university, and the government agreed to subsidize his housing due to

the progress he had made re-integrating.

He’d been on his own for a year now and he liked the solitude. He’d reconnected-finally-with his

brother who lived in another city and was getting back on his feet. He’d even visited his parents

twice, but the meetings were painful and he found they had nothing to talk about. They didn’t want

to know about his time in breeding house, and he didn’t want to tell them. There was nothing really

to talk about anymore. And so he cut off contact.

The only friend he truly had was Yamaguchi. They’d reconnected during his second visit home,

and since then, they’d rekindled the friendship they formed in childhood, and he’d even moved to

the same city after taking a new job.

Yamaguchi never asked about the breeding house. He didn’t waste time trying to recall every

memory from childhood, either. Instead, it was like they fit back into the same place and kept

going. It was...comforting. He knew Yamaguchi would listen if he ever needed to talk, but he kept

conversations to the present and near future.

“There’s a new movie out that looks pretty good. Something about superheroes. Did you want to

go see it tomorrow?”

“I have to work.”

“Ah, sorry Tsukki. I forgot. Did you want to see it after you get off?”

“I’ll be too tired.”

“What about this weekend?”

“I’m not really into superhero movies.”

“Okay. Maybe we can see something else. Or did you just want to hang out here?”

“Here is fine. We can...order food or something.”

“That sounds great! Maybe we can just find a movie and watch it here.”

Always eager to please, just as he had been before. Tsukishima smiled as he put the dishes away

from their dinner.

“You don’t have work tomorrow?”

“Nope. Scheduling conflicts for one of my coworkers, so I traded with her as a favor.”

Tsukishima snorted. “As if you’ll ever call in the favor.”

“Probably not,” he chuckled, “but it’s fine. I don’t mind trading once in a while.”

The two of them watched the news and then Yamaguchi headed off for his own apartment just

down the street.

Tsukishima got ready for bed that evening and drank a cup of peppermint tea. It wasn’t something

he’d normally drink, but Sugawara had given it to him as a gift, claiming it would help him relax

and sleep. He’d gotten into the habit of drinking it now, and though it certainly didn’t help with the

nightmares, something about it, maybe just the soothing habit, did help relax him enough to sleep.

It wasn’t a busy shift per say at the cafe, but Tsukishima had had a rough night with little sleep and

he struggled to keep up with the orders. He was good at making all of the different coffees and

teas, and the routine of the job was comforting if not terribly exciting. At one point the owner

Ennoshita took over the register and sent him to the back to take a break.

After having his own cup of tea he rejoined him behind the counter.

“Can you bring this latte to table five in the corner? I got a little behind and the customer didn’t

mind waiting. Tell him we appreciate his patience.”

Tsukishima took the cup and saucer and walked it over to the table without looking.

“Here’s your latte. We apologize for-” The scent of sweet balsam fir wafted up from the table and

he froze. The customer turned and black hair stood up in all directions as bright eyes blinked in

surprise.

“It’s you,” the alpha whispered just as the cup and saucer slipped from his hands and crashed onto

the floor.

“Tsukishima!” Ennoshita yelled from the counter. It spurred him to action as he dropped to his

knees to clean up the mess.

“I’m s-sorry,” he stuttered, his heart pounding in his chest. He’d wondered what had happened to

the alpha so many times, and here, of all places, he was.

The man shifted and dropped down onto the ground next to him. A gentle hand reached out and

grasped his wrist. “Let me help. Tsukishima, was it? Don’t hurt yourself.”

It was then he realized his hands were shaking. He looked up at the alpha whose eyes were still

wide, with a wondering smile on his face. “I’ve wanted to know your name for so long.”

“Three years, ten months.”

He chuckled and helped scoop up the pieces as Tsukishima took the towel from his apron pocket

and soaked up the hot liquid. “Tsukishima Kei.”

“Kuroo Tetsurou.”

A name. He finally had a name. He closed his eyes and let the name and soothing voice wash over

him.

Ennoshita had finished the line of customers and came running over. “I’m so sorry, sir. I’ll get you

a fresh drink right away. Tsukishima, are you all right?”

“It was my fault,” Kuroo said. “I startled him.” They’d yet to take their eyes from each other but

Tsukishima broke the gaze to look up his boss.

“I’m sorry. It slipped.”

“Accidents happen. Did you burn yourself?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Okay, can you go make another latte for him?”

“If it’s okay,” Kuroo interrupted, “can I have just another minute with him? We haven’t seen each

other in awhile.”

Ennoshita frowned but then nodded curtly. “Just a minute.”

After he had left, the two stood and Kuroo stared at Tsukishima. They both were at a loss for

words, and it was a relief for Tsukishima that the alpha was just as flustered as him. He finally

grinned and scratched the back of his head. “Wow, I uh...I had hoped to see you someday, and I

had this grand speech planned out on what I would say and how it would go, but...I guess I forgot

everything.”

Tsukishima snorted. “Things don’t always go the way we plan.”

“No...they don’t. I...how have you been?”

“I’ve...been okay.”

“Good, that’s really good to hear. I just moved to the area last week. Something drew me to this

spot and I’m so glad I came in. I just...god, you still smell so good.”

Tsukishima flushed and scowled, though he wanted to say the same thing. “Sorry, sorry,” Kuroo

said. “Look, I should take my drink to go; I don’t want to disrupt your day, but could I come back

and see you again?”

“It’s a business. You can go wherever you like.”

“Well, yeah, but I wouldn’t come back if it upset you too much.”

He’d do that just to make him comfortable? Tsukishima glanced up at earnest eyes and bit his lip.

“I...wouldn’t mind seeing you again,” he admitted. He wasn’t going to tell him how much he’d

wanted this meeting either, how he’d hoped he’d see him again. Maybe someday, but definitely not

today.“Great. That’s great! Then I’ve found my new favorite cafe,” Kuroo grinned. He walked with

Tsukishima over to the counter and asked if he could have his latte to go.

Once it was made they faced each other hesitantly. “So...see you soon?”

“Sure.”

And with that he was gone. But Tsukishima knew, this time, without a doubt, he’d be back.