Chapter Text
Voices murmured around him, but Kudou didn't register a single word.
His inner alpha was clawing at his mind, trying to pull him into a feral drop. He fought off the urge with shaky breaths, forcing himself to stay present.
He just couldn't stop thinking about that nightmarish prison.
All For One had repurposed a bank vault and locked it deep under his mansion. When they heard about it, they theorized that it must be full of dangerous weapons, twisted experiments, or priceless treasures. Everyone had a different theory, but they all agreed it was an important target.
The plan had been a simple smash and grab. Steal anything that seemed useful and destroy the rest.
But this... they never expected this.
The lone occupant of the vault was a skeletal omega, dressed in rags and curled on the floor. He reeked of All For One's scent. It combined with his own sour smell of fear and a body that hadn't been washed in who knows how long.
A long mane of white hair covered his face and the memory of crazed green eyes were seared into Kudou's mind. It was a feral expression, desperate and hungry. But beneath it all was a silent cry for help.
Kudou's body had moved before he had a chance to think.
Before he knew it, they were out of the vault and racing toward the getaway car.
The omega was nearly weightless in his arms, heart pounding like a caged bird. The ride back to base was a blur, and even now he could hardly process what had just happened.
A hand squeezed his shoulder, bringing him back to reality.
"He's awake."
Kudou shook himself, focusing on the grounding touch and mellow scent of his mate.
Sanzou had been a lifesaver, as always.
He had gotten Kudou and the omega out of there without question. And when he started to spiral about why All For One had an abused omega locked underneath his mansion, Sanzou calmed his rage before it could consume him.
He allowed the grey-haired beta to pull him to his feet. Although he wanted nothing more than to return to his den and forget this whole experience, he needed to make sure the omega was all right.
Sanzou led the way into the small medbay. The omega was crouched on the floor, blankets pulled around his shoulders. His eyes tracked their every movement, bright and intense as searchlights.
Kudou repressed the urge to gag as a fresh wave of scents hit him. In the enclosed space of the medbay, the smell of suffering was unbearable. Sweat, tears, urine, and the sour scent of an omega's fear made him want to crawl out of his skin.
And even though they had left the vault behind, All For One's stench hung heavy around the omega. It reminded him of blood and cologne — a sickly sweet combination that turned his stomach.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, reminding him how dangerous that scent was.
But the villain wasn't here now. Just his prisoner and all the damage he had left behind.
Kudou crouched down, hoping to create a less imposing silhouette.
The omega blinked at him in surprise. He probably wasn't used to alphas bringing themselves down to his level.
Kudou raised his hands in what he hoped was a soothing gesture.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
To prove his point, he took a deep breath and tried to project a calming scent.
The omega cocked his head to the side, nose twitching as he sniffed the air. He seemed cautious, but some of the fear had left his eyes.
Kudou gestured to himself and said,
"My name is Kudou Kaiji. And this is my mate, Sanzou Shinji. What's your name?"
The omega's mouth moved, but no sound escaped him.
Sanzou gently asked,
"What did you say?"
"Yoichi," he whispered. "He... my brother says it means first gift."
Kudou stiffened and he felt Sanzou do the same. His eyes flicked to Yoichi's white hair. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but was it possible...?
"Your brother?" he repeated. "Was he the one who locked you up?"
Yoichi nodded, tugging at his hair in agitation.
"Wouldn't help him. Acting like a villain."
Kudou's stomach twisted.
They had never heard that All For One had a sibling. But it wasn't hard to believe that the villain would imprison and torture anyone who disagreed with him, even a family member. It was clear that Yoichi had been heavily abused under his brother's "care".
But he took some small comfort in the fact that the omega didn't bear any mating marks. So perhaps the sibling relationship had offered him some form of protection after all.
Trying to focus on the positives, he said,
"We brought you to our base. He can't hurt you here."
Yoichi pulled the blankets around his shoulders, eyes downcast.
"He'll come looking. Says I belong to him. Ever since we were kids."
"You don't belong to anyone," Sanzou said firmly. "And your brother isn't as all-powerful as he thinks."
Yoichi looked doubtful, but didn't say anything.
Kudou was struck by an interesting thought as he eyed the omega. If he was All For One's brother, perhaps they had similar abilities. If so, Yoichi would be invaluable in their fight.
Opting for a blunt approach, he asked,
"Do you have a meta ability?"
Yoichi jerked his head up, eyes flashing with fear. That reaction was all-too familiar, so Kudou quickly elaborated,
"I have one, and most of our members are meta humans as well. So if you do have a power, you don't have to worry about being the odd man out. We just want to know what we're working with here."
The omega glanced back and forth between them for a moment, then muttered,
"I didn't have a power. But big brother gave me a stockpiling ability. I didn't... I don't really understand it. It's still new."
Sanzou hummed thoughtfully.
"Sounds like it might be similar to my ability. I can build up kinetic energy and release it later. But we can keep an eye on you while it develops. Maybe it will speed up your recovery! Speaking of which, the doctor examined you while you were unconscious. She says you don't have any major injuries, but does anything hurt?"
Yoichi pulled the blankets up to his face and mumbled,
"Dunno. Just feel hungry."
"Okay. We'll check you over in the shower, then get you something to eat," Sanzou promised.
Yoichi visibly brightened at the mention of food. Judging by how easy he had been to carry, he hadn't eaten a proper meal in a long time.
Kudou offered a hand to the omega and pulled him to his feet.
"Come on then. Let's get you cleaned up."
With Sanzou on one side and Kudou on the other, they shuffled into the showers.
Yoichi looked confused when they instructed him to undress, but he did what he was told. Luckily he didn't seem shy about nudity, because he needed a full-body scrubbing.
As he and Sanzou removed their shirts, Yoichi watched them intently. His eyes traced their scars with blatant curiosity and Kudou wondered how long it had been since he had interacted with anyone other than his brother.
In return, Kudou's eyes lingered on his ribs and the ridges of his spine. As soon as the shower was over, he vowed to get Yoichi the best food they had available.
Once the omega was perched on a small stool, he turned on the water. For a moment, the nauseating scents grew stronger than ever as steam carried them into the air. It was so thick, he could almost taste it.
Kudou directed the shower head toward Yoichi, eager to wash away the pungent odor that All For One had left behind.
But as soon as the water touched his skin, the omega yelped and jerked away as if he had been burned.
Kudou hastily pulled the shower head back, testing the temperature. He frowned as the warm water flowed over his hand. Unless Yoichi was incredibly temperature-sensitive, it should be fine.
"Is it too hot?" he asked.
Yoichi just stared at the water jets, shaking like a leaf.
"Can't... I'll drown," he gasped.
Kudou shot Sanzou yet another concerned look. What had All For One done to make his brother so afraid of water?
Kudou's mind raced as the shower head hissed in his hand.
He didn't want to scare Yoichi, but they needed to clean him off for everyone's sake. All For One's lingering scent was putting the whole base on edge and the omega could get sick if they didn't wash away the grime.
Unable to think of a better solution, Kudou ducked underneath the shower head instead, letting it soak his hair and drip down his face.
"Look at me. I'm getting wet, but I can still breathe just fine. The water won't hurt you."
Yoichi peeked at him from behind his curtain of hair.
Sanzou knelt next to him and placed a reassuring hand on his back.
"This water is clean and warm. We will keep it away from your face and take as many breaks as you need. If it's too much, perhaps we can arrange a sponge bath or some other alternative. But you will feel much better once you are clean and free from his scent."
Yoichi glanced down at himself, eyes lingering on wrists that were rubbed raw from aggressive scenting.
"It won't... hurt?" he asked.
"Not at all." Sanzou promised.
Yoichi looked at Kudou one more time, confirming that he was wet, but still breathing. Finally, he let out a shaky breath and nodded.
Fondness for his mate bloomed in Kudou's chest.
Sanzou always knew how to diffuse a tense situation and help others feel at ease. Thanks to him, they would finally be able to give Yoichi a much-needed wash.
Moving carefully, Kudou positioned the shower head over Yoichi's back. He flinched as the water made contact, curling in on himself. But although the omega clung to Sanzou's hand like a lifeline, he didn't try to move away.
After a moment, Yoichi opened his eyes a crack. Sanzou squeezed his hand and said,
"Nice, isn't it?"
Yoichi didn't say anything, but his breathing became a little calmer as the warm water flowed over his skin.
Kudou let out a quiet sigh of relief and handed Sanzou a washcloth. Working as a team, they began to scrub away the filth of the vault.
A patchwork of scrapes and bruises covered Yoichi's pale skin. Some of the marks resembled fingerprints, while others seemed to be the result of lying on the hard ground. A thick ring of bruises surrounded both wrists, as if he was frequently grabbed there.
Anger and sadness swirled within Kudou as he saw the clear evidence of abuse. The physical wounds would heal with time, but he feared that the damage went deeper than they could see.
Yoichi was a trembling thing beneath their hands. But apart from occasional whimpers and winces, he didn't resist the treatment. Kudou just hoped it was a sign of trust rather than submission.
Once they finished with the wipe-down, Kudou grabbed a bottle of scentless shampoo and eyed Yoichi's tangled hair.
So far they had avoided his head and face. But All For One's scent was still wafting around his hair, soaked deep into each strand.
Kudou looked pleadingly at his mate and Sanzou nodded in understanding.
He carefully tipped Yoichi's head up so he could look him in the eye.
"We would like to wash your hair now. You might have lice or other parasites hiding in there and I promise it will feel good to be fully clean."
Yoichi fidgeted nervously, eyes flicking toward the stream of water.
"As long as you keep your head tipped back, the water won't touch your face," Kudou promised.
"He's very good at washing hair," Sanzou whispered conspiratorially. "See mine? It's very thick and hard to deal with, but Kudou helps me keep it clean and healthy. He'll even give you a scalp massage."
Kudou shot him a look.
Only Sanzou knew that he had training as a masseuse because he didn't want everyone in the base begging for free massages. But now if seemed like Yoichi was part of the club too. Not that he would deny the abused omega anything, especially something as simple as a scalp massage.
Yoichi nervously tugged at his hair, clearly fighting against every instinct in his body.
After a moment he glanced up at Kudou, searching his face as if looking for a sign. Apparently he found what he was looking for because he squeezed his eyes shut and jerked his head in a nod.
Sanzou knelt beside him, offering a soft stream of reassurances while Kudou slowly moved the shower head up toward his scalp.
As the first drops made contact, Yoichi let out a whine through gritted teeth. A few tears slipped down his face, cutting tracks through the grime.
But he didn't pull away.
Kudou carefully soaked his hair, stunned by the level of trust the omega was displaying. Somehow, he was willing to entrust strangers with something as terrifying and intimate as this.
Once his hair was thoroughly drenched, he shut off the shower head.
Yoichi relaxed slightly once the sound and sensation of the water disappeared. Kudou took it as a sign of encouragement as he dolloped a generous amount of shampoo into his hands.
He threaded his fingers through Yoichi's locks, rubbing gentle circles into his scalp. Sanzou enjoyed firmer pressure for his scalp massages, but he didn't want to start off too strong.
Fortunately, Yoichi wasn't resisting the treatment. With the water gone, he actually seemed to be enjoying the sensation of shampoo in his hair. Kudou decided to push his luck by applying a little more pressure.
The effect was instantaneous.
Yoichi melted beneath his touch, head lolling into his waiting palms. Breathy purrs and sighs of contentment filled the room.
Sanzou gave him a smug smile, as if to say I told you so. Kudou scrunched his nose in annoyance, but quickly refocused on his work.
Yoichi was putty in his hands as he worked the shampoo into his hair. As he went, he felt for any bumps or wounds on his scalp. He let out a sigh of relief when he didn't find anything. The last thing they needed was a head wound.
Soon Yoichi's hair was completely hidden beneath a layer of suds.
Kudou hated to break the peaceful mood, but he murmured,
"Gotta rinse your hair now. But you'll get another massage for the conditioner."
Yoichi didn't respond, still coasting on a wave of bliss.
With a soft smile, Kudou turned on the shower head and guided it toward the omega's hair. Yoichi stiffened a little at the return of the water, but he still seemed much more relaxed this time.
The soapy water flowed over Kudou's hands, leaving pure white locks behind.
After a round of conditioner and one more rinse, Yoichi was finally clean.
His eyes were unfocused and dreamy as Sanzou helped him sit up. He slowly reached up and touched his hair, marveling at the wet, silky texture.
Sanzou handed him a damp washcloth.
"We won't get your face wet if you're not ready for it. But maybe give it a wipe-down with this."
Yoichi obeyed as Kudou put away the soaps and Sanzou grabbed an armful of mismatched towels. They all dried off, but not before Yoichi tried shaking the water out of his hair like a dog. Sanzou helped him brush out his hair and wrap it in a towel so it wouldn't dampen his clothes.
As they left the bathroom, a new smell drifted through the air. It was completely different from All For One's sickly sweet scent. This was sharp and fresh, like icy pine needles.
Kudou sniffed the air appreciatively, letting the scent surround him.
The omega seemed to notice his reaction. He hunched in on himself, quickly trying to cover his wrists and neck.
"M'sorry," he apologized, eyes fixed on the ground.
"Don't be!" Sanzou assured him. "You smell much better than All For One."
Yoichi flushed self-consciously, scratching at his neck. But a shy smile crept over his face too.
Sanzou ducked into their shared bedroom and emerged carrying a white shirt and a pair of long pants.
"These will be a bit large for you, but it's the best we can do for now. Should keep you warm at least."
Yoichi pulled on the clothes without complaint. Sure enough, the sleeves covered his hands and the shirt fell to his mid-thigh.
Cute, Kudou's mind supplied unhelpfully. While he tried to stamp out that thought, Yoichi grabbed the shirt collar and took a deep sniff.
"Smells like you," he smiled, looking at Kudou.
Heat rose in his cheeks as he gruffly cleared his throat.
"Yeah, well feel free to cover it up with your own scent. I don't wear that shirt much anymore."
Sanzou smirked at him, then clapped his hands together.
"All right. Kudou will grab some food for you and I'll see what kind of nesting materials I can dig up. Sorry if it's slim pickings. Most of the bedding has already been claimed, but maybe we can grab some stuff from town soon."
Yoichi looked at him curiously, fidgeting with the sleeve of the over-large shirt.
"Nesting materials?"
"Yeah. I've got a blanket you can borrow and I'm sure Kudou wouldn't mind sacrificing one of his twenty different pillows."
"I have a bad back," he growled defensively. "But... yeah I guess you can borrow a couple until you get your own. Some of our members are omegas, but none of them are stationed here. Sorry you can't crash in one of their nests in the meantime."
Yoichi just stared at him blankly.
"I don't... what is a nest?"
Kudou froze, then glanced at Sanzou in disbelief.
Just what kind of mess were they getting themselves into?