Cozy September Word Prompts

There should be a fanfic writing game called the showrunners challenge where someone writes a story and partway through someone else can play things like "actor leaves after 4000 more words" or "topic now too politically sensitive due to unforeseen world events" or "lost rights to that reference"

Behind the Scenes: The Secret Omega *CHAPTER 11 - Holiday Rush

AO3 Link

Summary: Kimi plans and goes through the holidays with Shouta and Hizashi.

*Chapter 11 - Holiday Rush

The holidays were always rough for Kimi. Since the loss of her parents, the celebrations always left such a sour taste in her mouth. It felt like there was always something missing and no amount of time with her friends or her grandmother could fix that.

This year, she found herself extremely anxious since she wanted everything to be perfect for her alphas. It was the first holiday season she would spend with them, she couldn’t believe it. The last several months seemed to have flown by and she was thrilled with the progress that was made.

Kimi bites her lip as she looks over her calendar again, trying to prep herself mentally. November 8th was Aizawa’s birthday and Hizashi had planned two dinners. A small one for their coworkers and another one at the restaurant they went to when they first met.

Then the following week, there was a Society ball that she was expected to attend with her alphas. She had to make sure she got a dress and make sure that her alpha’s outfits were prepped as well. Not to mention, she was nervous about showing up since she had yet to get pregnant and just knew it was going to cause rumors to spread.

The week after that on November 23rd was Thanksgiving. Nemuri was going to come over and so Kimi had to make sure she had things prepped in advance. If she was able to find the time to do that, it would make things on that day just a little bit easier. 

The next week, Kimi was going to take a train to see her grandmother for a couple of days. Some other family members heard Kimi was going to be visiting and planned to stop by as well so they could all spend some holiday time together. 

Then there were various holiday events the following month that the alphas had to attend, so Kimi had to make sure that she had things for them to exchange. She had also promised the creative team at the agency that she would help with creating some holiday items so she had additional meetings to attend on top of everything else. 

With a deep sigh, she closes her planner and moves over to the window, looking down at the world below. She could practically feel the stress of the holidays creeping under her skin. She looks at the yoga mat that’s rolled up under the ottoman and decides to be proactive about her nerves. 

While the first few stretches feel extra forced, after she gets into her routine the crawling sensation slowly dissipates. Instead, it’s replaced with the slight stretching and burning of muscles that help shift her focus.

Moving into the tree pose, she absorbs the world below her once more. Her breathing settles to a calmer rhythm as she watches the cars and people move below her. Clouds loom in the distance, reflecting the changing colors of the sky as the sun slowly starts to dip into the horizon. After a few more steady breaths, Kimi slowly lowers herself out of her pose and puts her yoga mat back. 

After a quick shower, Kimi’s in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the pack tonight. It’s one of the rare weekdays where neither of the boys were assigned for patrols.

She hears the front door open right as she starts finishing up getting everything prepared.

“Honey, we’re home,” Hizashi sings in English as he enters.

Kimi giggles. “Hellooo,” she sings back. “Dinners almost ready. Feel free to get comfy and I’ll get the table set.”

Her alphas shout their thanks as they do just that. As they approach the table, Kimi starts putting out plates and food. Much to her protest, Shouta and Hizashi help her with the last few things. Her protests die as they give quick pecks as they go by. 

Once Kimi sits at the table, she takes a quick moment to soak up the rare sight of everyone at the table. 

Hizashi catches her staring. “Everything ok?” he asks with a bit of concern.

“Oh, yes. Sorry, was just enjoying you two both being here for dinner. Don’t mind me,” she waves him off. 

Hizashi’s look turns to one of pity as Kimi starts to load up her plate. The boys follow and everyone starts eating.

“How did today go?” Kimi asks between bites.

The boys give non-commital answers as they bite.

“Wasn’t awful,” Shouta says, finally giving Kimi some semblance of an answer. 

Hizashi jumps in, “Lots of emails and meetings today. End-of-year prep and all that.”

Kimi hums. “Sounds like we were doing the same thing today,” she says with a small giggle.

Shouta seems to regard her but doesn’t say anything. 

“We’re not working you too hard, are we?” Hizashi asks. Kimi immediately shakes her head.

“Oh no. Not at all. Just wanted to get myself prepped for the season, ya know? The next couple of months are going to be crazy.”

Hizashi watches intently as she answers, as if looking for one of her tells when she lies. Not finding any, he gives her a small, unsure smile. “Ok, love. Just checking.”

Kimi catches onto his concern and rushes to placate him. “Thank you, ‘Zash. I’m all good. The holidays are just always so hectic. Wanted to get ahead of it. I’m just extra thankful my heat is not until after everything. Boy, would that cause a mess of things,” she laughs.

“When’s your next one?” Shouta asks.

Kimi smiles. “Thankfully the week after New Years.”

“That’s right,” he says with a solid nod. 

“It’ll be nice, we can end the season with a bang ,” Kimi giggles. Shouta lets out a breathy laugh. Hizashi quickly points at him and pats Kimi’s shoulder.

“Oh, you got ‘em!” Hizashi teases. He had been rubbing off on Kimi, the two of them exchanging puns trying to get Shouta to laugh, much to his dismay. 

Kimi and Hizashi laugh as Shouta playfully rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “You two are too much,” he teases.

Hizashi waves him off from across the table. “Eh, you love us.” 

“I do,” Shouta replies warmly. Kimi can’t help the big grin that spreads across her face. There’s a beat of silence as the trio enjoys one another’s presence. The boys finish up their plates as Kimi continues to eat.

“We should probably figure out where to go,” Shouta says, pulling out his phone. 

“For my heat?” Kimi asks. He nods in response. 

“Oh, somewhere tropical ,” Hizashi blurts out. 

Shouta gives a disapproving noise. “Don’t want to chance the flights being canceled because of the weather.” 

“Ok, so somewhere close,” Hizashi says as he thinks of more ideas. 

“Did we want to just stay here?” Kimi offers. Both her alphas reply with negative noises.

“We goofed up the last two. We’d really like to take you somewhere nice to make up for it,” Hizashi explains. 

Kimi scrunches up her face in concern. “You really don’t have to. It was just because of work that-,”

Shouta holds up a hand, making Kimi stop. “As your alphas, we should have made sure that things were in place the first heat you went through. You’ve had to endure reprimand on our behalf which is not something I’m happy about. We’re going to be taking you to a nice place to make up for that, understood?”

Kimi blushes, feeling slightly small under Shouta’s intense gaze. She bites her inner lip, eyes darting between her two alphas. She locks eyes with Shouta, who waits for her response.

“Yes, alpha,” she responds meekly. He relaxes and gives her a soft smile.

The three go back to thinking about destinations, shooting back and forth a couple of ideas. Shotua puts down his phone, crossing his arms as he looks at the ceiling. “Hizashi,” he addresses his husband. “Would it be possible to rent out that hot spring again?” 

Kimi lights up, hoping for a positive answer. Soaking in the hot springs post-heat sounds amazing and would probably shorten her recovery period. 

Hizashi smiles at Kimi’s eager face. “Let me see what I can do,” he answers his husband with a smile.

~

Later that evening, Kimi and Shouta are curled up on the couch watching a show when Hizashi plops next to them. 

“Just got off the phone with the hot springs,” he tells his mates. Kimi’s attention darts to the blonde. 

“Sounds like they’re going to be able to make it work. Since we’re going to be there after New Years, they’re willing to shut things down for us.”

Kimi lightly squeals, maneuvering to give as much of a hug as she can. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou,” she squeals. 

“Of course,” Hizashi grins. He grabs her hand, bringing it up to his mouth to give a chaste kiss. “Anything for my sweet little omega.” 

Kimi beams through her blush. Shouta readjusts himself on the couch so Hizashi and Kimi can cuddle better. “That’s going to be perfect,” he muses. “We’ll probably be able to recoup a lot easier.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Kimi says, snuggled up into Hizashi. 

He runs a hand through her hair, soaking up the happy waves pouring out of his omega. “I’m just glad I was able to make it work. It was kinda iffy with the timing, but I was able to make some magic.”

“That’s because you’re just so amazing,” Kimi sing-songs. 

“I try,” Hizashi dramatically sighs making Kimi giggle.

Attention turns back to the show they’re all watching for a few minutes before Shouta excuses himself to use the restroom. Once he leaves the room, Hizashi moves to whisper in Kimi’s ear.

“Hey, so you know how Sho’s birthday is next week?”

Kimi nods, listening intently to her partner. 

“Well, I was thinking. Nemuri got you those cat ears and tail when you were first with us, right?” 

Another nod from Kimi, who glances towards the hallway, making sure Shouta isn’t there.

“I think it would drive Sho wild if we came home from the bar with his coworkers with you in that getup. Maybe a cute strappy piece as well?”

Kimi bites her lip, thinking about the idea. She looks up at her alpha with a smile before nodding once more.

“I can do that,” she whispers back to him.

Hizashi gives her a wicked grin back in response. “Good. He’s going to love that. Thank you,” he bends his head down and gives her a small peck on the head.

“What’s going on in here?” Shouta says, startling them both.

“N-nothing,” Kimi rushes to say as Shouta stands behind them.

“Mmhmm, sure,” he deadpans before leaning down to be at eye level with Kimi. The look he gives her tells her she’s in for a long night. 

~

“Alright, Sho’,” Kimi says, bouncing up on her toes to kiss him goodbye. “Have a super fun birthday, I’ll see you later tonight.” She hands her alpha the specially made birthday bento she spent the morning on and waves off her two alphas as they leave for work.

After they’re gone, she continues her normal routine for the day. She cleaned up the kitchen, did some yoga and strength training, vacuumed and mopped the apartment, and finished up with a quick refreshing shower. After putting on her clothes and makeup for the day, she heads down to the lobby to wait for the SUV she’s ordered to take her shopping. 

She politely speaks to the doorman as she waits, cooing over the fact that it’s her mate’s birthday and she wants to make it super special. He wishes her good luck as her SUV pulls up and she waves him goodbye. 

The car ride isn’t overly exciting, but since a lot of people are at work, there’s less traffic than usual. Fifteen minutes later, she waves the driver goodbye as she gets out. Since it’s the middle of the week, the mall isn’t super busy which Kimi is thankful for.

She makes her way through the mall, getting some skincare and makeup she needs before making her way to Midnight’s lingerie store. As she enters, she’s greeted by a familiar face.

“Kimi! Long time no see, how’ve you been?”

“Audrey! It’s so good to see you,” Kimi greets back with a giant smile. “I am doing so good. How are you doing?” 

“Oh, same old same old, nothing new to report here. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you last! Enjoying your new alphas?” her voice dips with intrigue. She places her elbows on the counter and rests her hands on her hands.

Kimi comes up to the counter with a slightly excited bounce. “Yes,” she coos. “They’re absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Oh, I am so happy to hear that!” Audrey beams. “I was a little worried since we hadn’t seen you in a while, but I’m glad you’re back.”

“Yeah,” Kimi giggles. “Midnight kinda set me up with everything I needed for a while. Just coming in today to get some last-minute things for one of their birthdays.” 

Audrey stands up with a slight squeal. “Oooh. What we thinking?”

Kimi looks over to where the lingerie is. “I need a new piece to wear. Something that would go well with a pair of ears and a tail. Preferably with straps if possible.”

“Oh, very nice, very nice. Let me see…” Audrey trails off as she walks over to the lingerie section with Kimi in tow. She comes to a floral lace crotchless bodysuit. “Normally I would recommend this since you’ll have the back open for the tail. But, it’s too lacey, hm?”

“Yeah,” Kimi agrees as she looks it over. “But it’s really cute. I might have to get it later. I like the little heart charms in the front.”

“Right? Want me to grab one just in case?” 

Kimi rocks her head back and forth slightly as she thinks. “Mm, maybe. Yeah, worse case I say no, right?”

“Exactly!” Audrey says, grabbing one in Kimi’s size. Kimi looks over to another set on the other side of the section. It’s a strappy piece with a lot of o rings connecting everything. 

“Oh, what about this?” Kimi asks. “Kinda seems more his style.”

“It’s cute. But look,” Audrey says, pointing at the photo of the back. “The straps come right over the butt. It’s going to get in the way of the tail. 

“Ooh, darn,” Kimi says, putting it back. “Have something close to that though? That’s like exactly what he likes.” 

Audrey looks around. “Hmm… Is a little lace ok?” 

Kimi thinks about it. “Mm, it depends. Whatcha thinking?” Audrey moves to another part of the section, grabbing a top and bottom on a hangar. The top and bottom are straps with small bits of lace that cover half of the breasts and the front of the panties.

“Ooooh, that’s cute!” Kimi says, taking it from Audrey’s hand. 

“Super cute! And since there’s no back, you should be able to wear the tail with no problem.”

“Perfect!” Kimi coos. 

“Oh!” Audrey says with a clap of her hands. “Do you have a backless skirt and a collar?”

“Uh,” Kimi looks around while she thinks. “I don’t think so. I have a necklace that can come up like a collar but it’s not like a collar collar, ya know?”

“Yeah, I get you. Well, the skirt is a must-have so let's start with that,” Audrey says, moving to a different section of the store. She grabs a short, black skirt that matches the strappy set Kimi has in her hand. “There ya go,” she says, handing it to Kimi before heading to a section of the wall that’s just all collars.

“Hm…” she says looking over everything. “Anything call out to you? Or did you want to stay with the necklace?” 

A simple black collar with an o ring stands out to Kimi, so she reaches up and grabs it. “I like this. Seems like it would match,” Kimi says, looking it over.

“Oh,” Audrey says, getting an idea. “That does match. I think we may have one like it with a leash too.”

“Ooh,” Kimi says, putting it back. Audrey scans the wall and grabs a collar and leash combo that matches what Kimi was holding previously.

“Yeah, here we go, what do you think?”

Kimi looks the set over. “Yeah. Yeah, this is cute. Thank you! This is going to make him so happy,” she smiles. Audrey lights up. 

“Yay! Ok, was there anything else you wanted? Did you want to look around? I could put this up front while you browse.” 

“Yeah, that would be great,” Kimi smiles. “Thank you.” She hands her selections to Audrey and starts walking around the store. As she does, her phone buzzes. She checks it, seeing that she has a text from Hizashi.

Hizashi: Hey, slight change of plans. You’re coming to dinner with us tonight. 

Kimi: What?

Hizashi: Yeah. One of Sho’s students saw his bento and was asking about his girlfriend. Sho said it was his assistant who made it and then Thirteen was insisting that you come.

Kimi: You could have made up an excuse on my behalf. I’d just hate to cause an issue.

Hizashi: Nah, ur good. Nem kinda played into it, think she wants to see you. ;P Just gotta make sure you act like our assistant.

Kimi: I can do that. 

Hizashi: That’s my girl. Having a good day? 

Kimi: Yeah, just picking up some things for tonight. 

Hizashi: Oh? Like what kind of things? Kimi: image sent

Hizashi: Is that Nem’s store?

Kimi: Maybe… ;)

“Everything ok over there?” Audrey asks from the counter.

Kimi startles slightly before giggling and putting her phone away. “Yeah, sorry. One of the alphas was just texting me.” She makes her way over to the counter.

“Think this is going to be it for me,” she tells Audrey. “Sounds like the birthday celebrations are getting bumped up so I gotta go home and prep.”

Audrey flashes Kimi a knowing grin. “Sounds exciting! Hope you have a great evening!” She rings Kimi out and they wish each other goodbye, hoping to see each other more frequently. 

After calling an SUV to get her home, Kimi stops by a tea place to grab a fun drink before making her way home. After letting her driver know to take her home, she checks her phone again, finding another message from Hizashi.

Hizashi: Fuck Sho is so lucky.

Kimi: You’re so silly! I did the same thing for your birthday!

Hizashi: I know, I know. Just can’t but feel a little jealous! He’s gonna you all to himself looking super cute! Can’t help but want it.

Kimi: We can spend some time together another day. :) Gotta make sure he has a good birthday!

Hizashi: I know, ur right.

Hizashi: Gtg, class starting. C u later tonite! Luv u!

Kimi: Love you! :* 

As Kimi places the bags from her shopping trip onto the large bed she shares with her mates, her head rolls through a game plan for the night. The dinner is planned for 6 tonight as per the guy’s schedule. That gives her plenty of time to get dolled up and dressed for the evening without having to rush. Then, when she’s there she’ll make sure to leave earlier than the boys so she can get prepared for the rest of the evening. 

She lays out both outfits for the night on the bed including the accessories she plans to wear for both. She takes one last look at the time before deciding to have a small lunch before she starts her adventures for the afternoon.

~

Kimi: Just got here, are you guys already here?

Kimi stands outside the restaurant where Shouta’s coworkers are taking him for his birthday dinner. Prepping for the colder November weather, she has on thicker tights and a sweater on top of her normal black pencil skirt and turtle-neck blouse combo. Instead of heels, she dawns thick socks under black boots since the weather hinted at rain.

 She also grabbed an extra plain leather jacket and white scarf as she left the house and she finds herself extra thankful. The crisp, cold air seems to just blow right through her.

 Looking up from her phone, she makes eye contact with the hostess.

“Can I help you ma’am?” they ask. 

Kimi does a quick look around, trying to see if she can find either of her mates. “Um, yes. I’m supposed to be attending a dinner here for a birthday. I’m not sure what it would be under.” 

“Not a problem,” they say with a polite smile. “Who’s birthday is it? Maybe I can help.” 

“Thank you,” Kimi smiles back. “It’s my boss, Aizawa Shouta’s birthday today. But his business partner, Yamada Hizashi may have also made the reservation.”

The hostess turns their attention to their system, looking for either name that was mentioned. A loud, “ Oh, Kimi~,” startles the both of them. 

Midnight comes striding over, before grabbing Kimi by the shoulders. “There you are! We’ve got a seat saved over here for you,” she practically purrs.

Kimi gives a quick polite bow and a thank you to the hostess before allowing Midnight to pull her into the restaurant. They walk to a private room where Kimi can hear some familiar voices on the other side.

“Here she is,” Midnight sing-songs as she opens the door. “Isn’t she just darling? Look how cute she is tonight!”

Kimi blushes and tries to hide it with a polite bow. “Thank you, Miss Midnight, and thank you all for having me.”

Midnight waves her off. “Of course, of course. Come, sit by me,” she ushers. Kimi politely follows, taking the seat between Midnight and another hero. Midnight’s quick to make introductions.

“Kimi, this is Thirteen, she’s our search and rescue teacher. Next to her is Ectoplasm, he’s our mathematics teacher. And then that is Cementoss, he’s our modern literature teacher.” As everyone was mentioned, they either waved or nodded. Kimi made sure to politely bow back, wanting to make a good first impression. “And of course those two you know,” Midnight teases, addressing the last two people at the table.

“Hey,” Yamada says from across the table. “Introductions are my thing.”

Midnight merely waves him off. “Nah, if you did introductions, we’d be here all night while you go on and on about everyone’s quirks and backstories,” Midnight teases. 

A couple of chuckles emerge from the table and Kimi takes a chance to glance at her two mates for the first time tonight. They’re both still in their work uniforms, looking a bit worn down from probably a long day. 

Kimi gives another polite bow. “It’s very nice to meet you all. Thank you again for the invitation.”

“Of course,” Thirteen chirps. “We just had to meet the lovely assistant that made Eraserhead his birthday bento.”

Kimi laughs sheepishly. “Haha, yeah, sorry. I might have gotten a little carried away. I just try to always make birthdays a big deal.” 

She chances another look at Shouta, who doesn’t seem entirely involved in the conversation. She assumes it’s just to keep up the charade though and tries not to take it personally.

“Well then, I guess that means I can expect a bento for my birthday then too,” Midnight teases. 

“Of course, Miss Midnight,” Kimi agrees with a chuckle. “I’d be more than happy to.” 

“How long have you been working at their agency?” Thirteen asks Kimi.

“Since April,” Kimi smiles. “I’m super happy to be working for them, they’re all so very wonderful.”

“Did they pay you to say that?” Cementoss jokes with a deadpan tone. Kimi and a few others laugh.

The waiter for the evening stops by the room to introduce themselves and get the orders for the evening. After they leave, Thirteen lightly nudges Kimi. “You didn’t get a drink.”

“I got water,” Kimi offers.

Thirteen rolls her eyes in response. “I meant like a beer or something.”

Kimi chuffs out a laugh. “Oh, no sorry. On a special diet so no alcohol for me.”

“What are you pregnant?” Thirteen teases. A slight pang of sadness shoots through Kimi’s heart but she puts on her best smile to hide her true feelings.

“Ha ha, no. Just watching my figure is all,” she beams. She can practically feel the awkward air between the three people who know her secret as they all seem to shift in their seats. 

“How about you,” Kimi offers, trying to get the attention off of her. “Do you have any family?”

Thirteen shakes her head with a slight smile. “No, no pack for me. Hard to do with a busy schedule. The students make it all worth it though.”

Kimi hums. “I’ve heard that before,” she muses, glancing over to her alphas. “You all do fantastic work though, teaching the next generation of heroes. Not to mention the other subjects you teach them. It’s very admirable, I’m honored to be sitting with you all.”

Thirteen flashes a wicked grin. “Ok, they have to be paying you to say that,” she laughs with the other teachers.

Midnight wraps an arm around Kimi’s shoulder. “No, no. That’s just how our little Kimi is. Always so sweet,” she coos. “There’s been such a change in the agency since she’s been there. Way more smiling faces.”

Kimi blushes. “You’re going to have them thinking I’m paying you now,” she chuckles. 

The waiter comes back with everyone’s drinks and appetizers. Kimi’s quick to pour everyone their drinks for the first round as a sign of respect. She pours some of her water into a glass so they can all cheers to Aizawa’s birthday before drinking. 

Conversation about schooling picks up and Kimi listens in politely. She loves being able to hear more about other students with interesting quirks and the challenges of schooling them. She continues to refill drinks throughout the night, even as dinner is served.

As the night goes on and more drinks are poured, Midnight and Thirteen slowly start to lean more and more on Kimi. Soon enough, she’s sandwiched between the two intoxicated heroes, trying her best not to disturb them.

Ectoplasm takes notice of her predicament with a chuckle. “Are you quite alright there?”

“Yes,” Kimi says with a smile. “But I may need some assistance getting them up. I’m going to have to head home soon.”

Ectoplasm nods his head before opening his mouth and letting a fog cloud dart past her. With a poof, two clones of Ectoplasm appear behind her and help move the drunken heroes off of her.

She gets up and politely bows. “Thank you. I should be getting home now,” she announces. 

“Let me walk you out,” Yamada offers, which Kimi greatly appreciates.

She says her goodbyes and wishes Aizawa a happy birthday again. He waves it off, thanking her for coming along. 

Outside, Yamada waits with Kimi for the SUV to arrive.

“You did really good tonight,” he says softly. “Think you’ve got them mostly fooled.”

Kimi looks up at him with a knowing smirk. “Thankfully,” she says with a relieved sigh. “Miss Thirteen was really hounding me there. Got worried for a second.”

“Nah,” Yamada rebuffs. “Seemed like you knew just what to say.”

Kimi gives a soft hum of appreciation, knowing best to take the compliment.

“Going to get ready when you get home?” Yamada asks with an alluring tone.

Kimi slightly bites her lip, looking away in slight embarrassment. “Yeah,” she nods.

“Good,” he purrs. “I can’t wait to see the look on Sho’s face. Maybe wait on the bed for him?”

The SUV pulls up and Kimi looks at Yamada out of the corner of her eye. “I can do that,” she states before entering the SUV. 

Yamada opens the door for her and helps her get in before waving her goodbye. A few minutes into the drive, her phone buzzes.

Hizashi: See you soon, kitty.

~

Shouta walks into his home with his partner later that evening. The day’s events have him both physically and mentally exhausted. While he’s thankful to his coworkers for taking him out to celebrate his birthday, he can’t help feeling a bit burnt out. He’d prefer nothing more than to just crawl into bed and get some much-neglected sleep.

He’s surprised to find most of the lights off in the house. There’s some illumination coming from behind his bedroom door,  but the rest of the house is mostly cloaked in darkness. 

He gives his husband a quick concerned look, knowing this is out of the ordinary for Kimi. His partner merely shrugs with a knowing smirk. Shouta slightly squints his eyes as he takes off his shoes.  

Making his way over to the small source of light, he opens the door. The uplighting in the room is turned on, as well as the lamp on the farthest night table. The room has a warm feeling to it, though the shadows from the rest of the house still creep in. 

Shouta’s eyes quickly lock onto the figure in the room. Sitting coyly on top of their bed is Kimi. His eyes trace over the big, fluffy ears on top of her head, blending into her hair. She wears very little as straps criss and cross across her body, amplifying her best features. A small bit of lace protrudes from the straps, slightly covering her breasts. 

Below the straps is a small, black skirt that just barely covers her front. A tail can be seen coming from Kimi and lying on the bed next to her. Shouta finds himself excited to explore its origins. Lastly, his eyes graze over the long socks sitting upon his omega’s legs.

Finding himself utterly speechless, he stands in the doorway, staring at his mate on the bed. He notices she’s wearing a collar as she lifts her hand behind her neck, grabbing a leash and turning it around so it’s front and center for him.

“Happy birthday, Shouta,” Kimi says, voice laced with honey as she playfully wiggles the leash. Hizashi peaks over Shouta’s shoulder, grinning madly. His hands come around his waist as he encourages the other alpha to walk into the room.

Finding the ability to move his legs, Shouta slowly makes his way to the edge of the bed, standing tall above his omega. His heart pounds in his chest as one of his fantasies sits before him, begging to be explored. 

Kimi playfully crawls to the edge of the bed, sitting on her knees in front of him. From her movement, he’s able to tell that the tail is in fact a buttplug like he hoped. As well as her socks seem to have squishy cat feet on the bottom of them. His body practically starts to vibrate as excitement pours into him. 

Kimi offers Shouta her leash with slightly hooded eyes and a coy smile. “Would you like to play with me?” she asks. “I’m all yours tonight.” With a tilt of her head, Shouta looks over to the chair in the corner of their room to find his husband. Hizashi merely winks as he readjusts himself in the chair.

Turning his attention back to Kimi, he slowly accepts the leash, gently taking it out of her hands. His eyes continue to look at her, selfishly soaking up the view.

She giggles. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Playfully, she sticks out her tongue and winks. 

Shouta allows a breathy laugh to escape his mouth before he pulls on the leash, directing Kimi to stand in front of him. He spins her around, eyeing the straps contorting over her skin and enhancing her curves. 

His eyes dip further, seeing where the sleek, fluffy tail is coming from. He lifts it up, slightly stroking it before giving the butt plug a slight pull. Kimi gasps as her ass clenches around the tail, trying to keep it in.

“Such a good kitty,” Shouta coos, breaking his silence.

Kimi's stomach flutters, making her bite her lip. 

“So pretty. All dressed up for me,” he says, turning her back around to face him. His hand moves up to caress the side of her face. 

“Will you let me play with you, kitty ?” he emphasizes the last word with a gravely tone.

“Of course,” Kimi says, a bit bashful. 

A wicked grin greets Shouta’s face as his eyes slightly darken. “So perfect,” he mutters to himself. He lightly pushes on her shoulder, directing her to get on her knees. Obediently, she drops to her knees, sticking her butt out a little to emphasize her tail and placing her hands out in front of her, pushing out her chest. 

Shouta stares at Kimi as she bats her eyes coyly in front of him. The leash is long enough to reach her while she’s still on the floor, making her smile when he gives it a light tug instinctually. 

“Fuck, you look so good,” he says, entranced. His eyes greedily soak in the view of his omega on the floor before him. His hand reaches out to stroke behind one of the cat ears on her head.

Kimi leans into it, playing along and closing her eyes at the touch. She opens them slowly, keeping them heavy and focused on his face. 

He smirks and lightly jerks on the leash, making her sit up taller. “Why don’t you be a good kitty and suck me off?”

Kimi smiles and lifts her hands, but stops when there’s another jerk on the leash. Shouta tsks at her.

“Kitties don’t use their hands,” he playfully chides. 

Kimi places her hands on her thighs obediently. Her face comes to the front of his pants as she quickly tries to figure out how to get his cock out of his pants. She fumbles with the button, trying to get the fabric around it off with her lips before gaining some success with her teeth. 

After a few tries, she’s able to successfully pull it up and over the button, mentally congratulating herself. The zipper is far easier, though she does have to pull a little harder mid-way to help get over the prominent bulge. She nuzzles her head into the cock, mouthing it through Shouta’s boxers. Above her, he gasps and lightly jerks his hips at her movements.

 Her teeth lightly chop the top of his pants as she guides them down his legs before repeating the action with his boxers. 

Shouta’s cock stands proudly in front of Kimi’s face. She licks her lips before wrapping her lips around the tip of his cock and looking up at the alpha. His hungry eyes stare back down at her. There’s a fierce desire in them that has desire starting to pool in Kimi’s core. 

Determined to impress, she slowly lowers herself partially down his cock. She moves back and forth, allowing the drool that’s pooling up around the corners of her mouth to help coat his cock. She moves further and further down until she is confident enough to attempt taking everything into her mouth.

Shouta grasps at the hair behind her ears as she bottoms out on his cock. He groans as she slowly pulls back, staring up at him. His head rolls back and she continues the motion a couple of times. 

“Fuck,” he hisses. “Good kitty. You know just how I like it.” His complement goes straight to her core and she readjusts to soothe some of the ache. Shouta takes notice and is quick to tease her.

“Oh yeah? Getting wet just from sucking cock?”

Kimi bobs her head on his cock making him hiss in pleasure again.

“Such a good kitty,” he coos. Distracted by the pleasure, he allows the leash to fall from his hand. His head rolls back again as he thrusts a couple of times into her mouth. “Fuck, so good,” he mumbles.

Kimi moans around his cock, eyes occasionally closing as Shouta fucks her throat. His hand occasionally stroking her hair and ears as she moves over his cock. After a particularly harder thrust, she slightly gags and he’s quick to help pull her off.

“Sorry,” he pants. “Got carried away there.”

She coughs a little and wipes the corners of her mouth. She looks back up at him with watery eyes.

“It’s ok,” she giggles. “Just glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

He responds with a pleased hum, extending a hand to offer her help up. She takes it happily before sitting on the bed in front of him.

“Did you want to continue?” Kimi prompts. She moves her hands to behind her back and sticks out her chest a little, accentuating her breasts. 

Shouta curses under his breath. “Yes. Please ,” he responds, practically whining the last word. 

He spends his time winding her up until she’s begging for him to either touch her or fuck her. Spinning her around, he takes her from behind, enjoying the view of her ears and tail bouncing with each thrust. Her skirt falls to the side, giving him a perfectly framed view of her ass while he fucks her. Her toes curl in her long socks, pushing out the puffy paw pads. He can’t help the way his hips aggressively snap into her, losing himself to his fantasy. 

One hand pulls on her leash, making her turn her face so he can see her pleasure. The other hand slams her back onto his cock over and over again. Occasionally, he pushes the tail plug with his thumb, enjoying the extra mewls and moans that fall from Kimi’s mouth. 

When he starts to get close, he pulls out and moves them up further onto the bed. Hizashi smiles from his place on the chair, slowly stroking his cock at the view.

Kimi’s chest fills with pride as she sits reverse cowboy on Shouta’s cock. Both of her alphas stare at her with lust-filled eyes as she bounces on Shouta’s cock. Her breasts, ears, and tail bouncing with her as she chases both her and Shouta’s orgasm.

Hizashi finishes before the two of them, entranced by watching his partners enjoy themself. He moves to the bathroom to start the tub while Shouta and Kimi enjoy each other more. 

Shouta eventually sits up, adjusting Kimi so she’s sitting in his lap, still facing away from him. He picks up his earlier relentless pace, slamming her onto his cock while tweaking her nipples. She cums easily and gets worked up into multiple orgasms as he keeps hitting her g spot. 

The hand on her breast moves to her clit and she bucks wildly as the overstimulation takes over her. Her squirming makes Shouta grip and slam harder, fighting to keep her on his cock. After a particularly hard thrust, he shouts as he cums deep in her pussy. 

The pair take a second to catch their breath, both falling into each other. Hizashi watches from the bathroom, leaning on the frame.

“Fuck, you two. That was hot as shit.”

Shouta and Kimi breathlessly laugh before Shouta helps carry Kimi to the bathroom. Her alphas help her remove her makeup and the tail plug before they all climb into the tub.

“You really like the ears, huh?” Kimi says as she cuddles into Shouta’s chest. One of her hands is intertwined with Hizashi’s, making sure he doesn’t feel left out.

“I did,” Shouta drawls, enjoying the warm water on his skin. One of his hands rests on Kimi’s head behind the ears that are still on. “You look so good with them on.”

“You really do,” Hizashi adds. “Thought it was just going to be something Sho’ likes, but I gotta admit, it was hot as shit seeing you get plowed with them on.”

Kimi blushes as she sinks a little further into Shouta’s chest. “Guess I’ll have to wear them more for you guys.”

“Please,” both the alphas say in unison. A small chorus of chuckles bounce off the walls of the bathroom. Kimi closes her eyes as she savors the feeling of her alphas surrounding her in the tub.

She opens them and she’s waking up on the morning of Thanksgiving. She’s a flurry in the kitchen, whipping up various meals for later in the evening. The Society ball had been canceled for her due to last-minute hero work for the alphas, but she finds herself thankful for not having to deal with judging eyes the whole evening. The doorbell rings and she bounds over, wanting to be the first to welcome Nemuri into their home. She’s welcomed with a tight squeeze that has her squeezing her eyes shut.

When she opens them, she’s off to spend a week with her family. Only to blink again and have tears in her eyes as she heads home. Her suitcase filled with thoughtful gifts and food from her extended family, wishing her well in her relationship. 

As she wipes away the tears, she finds herself cozying up in front of the fireplace to watch American Christmas movies with her alphas on a rare night they all have off. Though it may not actually be Christmas, they treat it like so, exchanging gifts and basking in the warmth of one another.

She blinks again and is standing on top of the roof with her alphas, ringing in the new year. Shouta snuck over from his patrol and will soon leave again, but she’ll have Hizashi to keep her company for the rest of the evening. She laughs as they both try to kiss her at the same time before they all divulge in a kiss fest between the three of them, all while trying to spill the drinks she brought up for them.

As she opens her eyes from another blink, she watches as a familiar hot spring comes into view. The holidays are over and her heat is incoming. She can’t help but let out a soothing sigh, all of her work is over. The holidays are once again gone just as quickly as they began.

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I'm at that disgusting point of my writing where I cannot fathom writing any more of my story today... but it's all I can think about. 🙃

If you write romance, do your characters flirt in your head while you’re trying to sleep, or is it just me?

a bit out of the blue but it seems like a good time to remind everyone who follows me here that i really do not want you putting any of my work into any sort of ai. i know i can't stop you but like.... please don't put my writing that i work really hard on into an ai that will reproduce it but Worse. it would mean the world if you all could just Not. thanks!

Killing the 'everything has to be perfect or your stalker will come threaten you again' trauma cop by listening to the shoulder devil that was my old art teacher going 'do it fast so you can't have time to fester on the details'.

That said, timed sketch, 27 minutes with 3 minutes to color and scream.

me writing the worst paragraph of my life knowing that a sexier, more hydrated version of me will fix it later

Behind the Scenes: The Secret Omega CHAPTER 3 - Moving In

AO3 Link SUMMARY: Kimi meets up with a friend before moving in with her new pack.

CHAPTER 3 - Moving In

The next morning Kimiko called the Society to let them know that she had been accepted into the pack from the alphas she had left with yesterday. Her advisor was super excited, shouting over the phone how happy they were and what her next steps were. They sent over some documents for her to sign and told her they’d be in touch with the alphas as well so they didn’t all have to come back in. There were some questions about the living situation which she tried her best to answer but most of it was regarding security protocols that she wasn’t aware of. The advisor said they would just ask the alphas when they called and would reach out if they needed anything additional. 

Kimiko’s grandmother came out of her room shortly after she had hung up the phone and congratulated her on being accepted into the pack. She asked about how the dinner date went and Kimiko splurged details to her over tea and breakfast.

Wednesday morning, she went out to the local mall and waited for her friend, Naomi. When she called Naomi on Monday to tell her the news that she had been placed through the program successfully, Naomi insisted on a shopping spree to celebrate. She had also been placed in a pack through the program, so she knew that there weren’t many details Kimiko could give out, but she was still very excited to hear everything she could.

“Yoo hoo,” Naomi hollers from down the hallway. Kimiko turns around to find her, arms spread wide for a hug.

“Hey!” Kimi greets while walking over and hugging her. 

“It is so good to see you! I am so excited for you!” Naomi bounces as she hugs her, making Kimiko giggle.

“It’s good to see you too. I’m so glad I could meet up with you before I move in.” 

“Me too! We are going to have so much fun today!” She locks arms with Kimi and guides them further into the mall.

“You know, I really hope our alphas work together. That way we can meet up more often. Plus, I want to hear all the juicy details! It’s killing me not knowing who you’ve ended up with!”

“Oh my goodness, I know. I wish I could tell you everything. I guess now we know how we both felt when you got paired up.”

“Oh, this is torture,” she says dramatically. “But, I guess we’ll find out soon enough, and hey, if they don’t work together, we can at least find out at the next Society event.” 

“Oh, that’s true. I didn’t even think of that! Regardless, we still need to meet up for coffee or lunch or something as often as we can.”

“Yes!” Naomi agrees. “Okay, so where to first? I have some ideas in mind.”  They bounce ideas off one another before making a game plan about where to go and what to get. 

They go from store to store, looking at different clothes and items. Kimiko ends up grabbing a couple of new skirts and dresses, knowing that’s what the boys liked. Naomi takes the opportunity to do the same. As they start finishing up their shopping route, Naomi gives Kimi a playful look.

“You know where we should go?”

“Where?”

“Midnight’s shop!” 

“You know, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I can find some cute lingerie for my mating night.” Naomi lets out a little squeal in response.

“That’s the spirit!” She says before practically ripping off Kimiko’s arm as they bolt towards the shop. 

“Well, well, well, look who it is,” one of the workers greets them as we walk through the door. 

“Hi Audrey,” Kimko says to the blonde girl behind the counter. “Good to see you.”

“Likewise, girlie,” she responds. “A little birdie told me that someone got accepted into a pack.” Her stomach sinks a little, concerned that her secret had gotten out. She looks to Naomi but she just shakes her head.

“Yeah, who told you?” she asks, concerned.

“Midnight, she said she’s friends with your pack mates and set some things aside for you in case you came in.”

“Oh, that’s awesome!” Naomi says, giving Kimkoi’s arm an encouraging little shake. “Let’s see what she picked out!”

“This piece here I think is going to be a winner,” Audrey says.

She hands Kimiko the package and she can immediately tell what she was implying. Inside is a lacey teddy bodysuit that had scalloped floral lace. The piece was crotchless and the back was completely open. The top could be tied around the neck but still gave plenty of space for any mating marks. 

“Pair this one of the garter sets and some cute stockings and I think you’ve got yourself a good piece for your first night with them.” 

Audrey starts laying out some of the other pieces for Naomi and her to look over. One of the things that catches her interest is a strappy set that has cuffs that attach to the thigh pieces. 

“Ooh, this is really cute.”

“I’ll say!” Naomi agrees. “I want one of those!”

“There are some more over there if you want to grab one” Naomi gives an excited squeal and saunters over to the wall to grab herself a set of thigh cuffs. Kimiko giggles as she oohs and aahs over some of the other pieces.

“How much do I owe you for everything?” Kimiko asks Audrey.

“Nothing,” she says cooly. “Like I said, Midnight put these to the side for you. Said the only thing she wanted from you was to give them a good time or something like that.” Kimiko blushes and gives an embarrassed laugh in response.

“Ok, I can do that. Please tell her thank you for me.”

“Can do, girlie.” She hands her the bag across the counter and Kimiko takes it while Naomi places her items on the counter to be purchased. She opens the bag again, taking another look at some of the items.

There’s a variety of items, butt plugs, cat ears, some stockings, all of which keep a tinge of pink on Kimiko’s cheeks. While she knows what these things are and how to use them, the thought of using them with her new mates has her both nervous and excited.

Naomi’s transaction finishes and soon she’s adding her new bags to the collection she has around her arms.

“Ok you two, have a nice day and Ison,” Audrey pauses.

“Yes?” 

“Enjoy,” she says with a wink. Kimiko’s blush deepens and she mutters a thank you as they leave. 

“I’m getting so hungry! Do you want to grab some lunch?” Naomi asks.

“Yeah, I’m getting pretty hungry too. What are you in the mood for?” 

“I’m down for anything, I just really need food and quick!” She practically flings herself onto Kimi, grabbing her arm. Laughing at her dramatics Kimi starts walking towards a restaurant nearby that she knows will have good food.

“Ok, I know just the place!” 

Soon, they’re seated at a table, bags tucked next to them and under the table. Kimi feels a little bad buying so much, but knowing that it’s for her new packmates eases her worries.

“So,” Naomi prompts. “Now that we’re somewhere a bit more private, what can you tell me about your new pack?”

Kimi takes a second to think. Since she can’t talk specifics, she has to find a way to give some sort of information to appease Naomi while also not giving too much away. She can’t tell her how many members are in the pack, how old they are, their names, anything that she could normally tell a friend. After taking a few moments to think, she has an answer.

“There’s a cat.”

“A cat?!” Naomi responds, clearly happy she was able to get some bit of an answer.  “Ohmigosh I am SO jealous! Do you have a picture or anything?”

“No, I wish, he’s a major cutie!” 

“Awww, well next time I see you, you owe me double the cute cat photos!”

“Ha ha, ok,” she laughs. “That’s only fair.” 

“Are you going to be moving in soon?” 

“Yeah, fairly soon. It ended up working with my grandma’s moving schedule.”

“That’s right,” Naomi says. “I forgot. She’s moving in with your aunt, right?”

“Yeah! My aunt was kind enough to offer her a place when my grandfather passed. She’s got a spare room because her oldest moved away for college. It’ll be nice because Grandma doesn’t get a chance to see that side of the family much.” 

“Oh, that is nice! Do you have a lot of younger nieces and nephews?”

“A couple. I think the youngest is about 8 or 9.”

“Oh, that’s nice. She’ll probably love that!”

“Oh, totally!” The waitress brings over food that they ordered earlier and Naomi gives a quick thank you before starting to ravenously devour her plate.

“Ah, this is so good!” she says through a mouthful of food. Kimi giggles as she starts to eat. 

“Mmm, this is good,” she says after taking a particularly good mouthful.

“We should meet up here more often when you’re settled in.” 

“That’s not a bad idea. This place isn’t super far from-,” She stops, realizes what she’s saying, and quickly adds more food into her mouth. Naomi gives her a knowing look from across the table and she gives her a smile.

“Sorry,” she starts. “I shouldn’t be pushing for info so hard. I just really want to make sure that you’re in good hands. After everything you’ve been through and all you’ve done to get here, you deserve a good pack.”

Touched by her words, tears start to form in Kimi’s eyes.

“Naomi,” she trails off.

“Oh, hun. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

Kimi looks at her, trying to stop her emotions from billowing out of her.

“It’s ok. It’s just. You’ve been there for me through all of this and I’m just so grateful. A lot of people were really harsh about me going through this but you understood and stood by me through everything. Gosh, I wish I could tell you everything right now, but just know that I’m in a very good pack and I’m going to be ok.”

Naomi sniffles and starts to tear up.

“Ok,” she tells her. “I’m so glad.” She grabs her hand across the table and they share a meaningful look before Kimi gives a small laugh and wipes away her tears. Naomi mirrors her actions and goes back to eating. They chat some more while finishing up their meals. As they pay their tabs, Naomi’s phone buzzes.

“Oh, that’s my alpha. Looks like I need to head back.”

“Ok, sounds good,” Kimi responds. “I needed to meet up with my alpha as well.” They embrace in a tight hug wishing each other behind before moving on with the rest of their days. 

It’s Friday when Kimiko arrives back at her new home. Her things had been dropped off the day before, so she only carried a small duffel bag with some clothes and toiletries in it. Shouta had stopped by her grandmother’s house on Wednesday before his patrol, to drop off her new keys and papers with all the codes and info about her new home.

Kimiko’s grandmother had tried to get him to stay for tea but he politely declined, saying he had to get his patrol. When he left, Kimiko’s grandmother remarked she liked Shouta making Kimiko feel proud about her choice.

Throughout the week, she occasionally texted her new pack mates, getting updates on when movers would be by to pick up her stuff. They also chatted about how their days went and sent over some photos of Sushi. Kimiko couldn’t help but feel cheery about how well they were all getting along. The week seemed to move so slowly for her, but soon enough Friday comes and she’s trying to figure out how to input the codes into the security system correctly. 

After having to put in the codes a couple of times, she was soon entering the home she had just so recently been upset about leaving. Sushi greets her at the door with a stretch and a curious meow. After rubbing all over her legs, he starts purring when she reaches down to pet him. 

“Hi, Sushi,” she sing-songs. “How are you doing?” He doesn’t answer but does direct her toward the living room. A note is left on the coffee table in the middle of the room.

Kimiko, welcome home!

We took some time to put away all of the things that were delivered since it was just a few boxes. We’ll bring back dinner around 6. Please make yourself comfortable, there’s a surprise for you waiting on the bed.

Love,

Your Alphas. ♡

“Thanks, Sushi,” she says making her way to the bedroom. Her duffel bag gets onto the very large bed and she notices some folded-up shirts by the pillows. There were a couple of black shirts seemed to belong to Shouta and some graphic tees that were presumably Hizashi’s. Though her instincts wanted nothing more than to have her alphas near her, she picks up one of each shirts and takes in the scents that were pouring from them. It was good enough for now. 

After a couple of moments of taking in their scent, she takes the opportunity to give herself another quick tour of the apartment, wondering if anything had changed since the last time she had been there. Sure enough, the plethora of blankets and pillows she owned had been dropped off in the living room and her other belongings were put away in the kitchen and bathroom. There was also a new dresser in the bedroom for her to put her clothes away in. She takes her time to empty the bag and put her things away nicely.

Skirts were a popular choice between the two, so she stocked up on a variety of those when she had gone shopping earlier in the week. Off-the-shoulder tops were another pick she thought the two of them would like, especially since they would show off the new markings she was hoping to get tonight. Her hand grazes over the area at the thought. She sends a text into their group chat saying that she made it into their home successfully. They respond back with positive messages and she decides to start getting ready for their arrival.

Pulling out one of the nice lingerie pieces she had gotten, she places it on the bed, excitement building. It was the lacey teddy bodysuit that Midnight had picked out for her. She planned on putting it on after a bath, wanting to hide it under one of Hizashi’s tees and one of the skirts she had gotten. After laying everything out on the bed, she headed toward the bathroom. 

Hopping into the large bathtub in the master bathroom, Kimiko starts prepping herself for the evening. Every inch of her was scrubbed and she made sure to make everything smell pleasant. She dries off and gets dressed, doing her best to try and hide the lingerie underneath the clothes. Afterwards, she finishes primping herself and heads toward the kitchen. Taking stock of what was in the pantry, she finds that there are just enough ingredients to make some chocolate chip cookies and gets to work.

By the time the alphas get home, the cookies were being placed onto cooling racks, and the whole house was covered in their delicious aroma.

“Welcome home,” Kimiko greets the two as they walk into the kitchen. “Thought you two may want some dessert after dinner.”

“Wow. Those smell amazing!” Hizashi says, walking over to grab one. He’s stopped by Shouta who gives his hand a small slap. 

“Don’t ruin your appetite. Plus, those look like they just got out, they probably need to cool.” He places the bags containing their dinner on the counter. 

“Those do smell good though. Thank you for making them,” he says, before walking over and giving her forehead a small kiss. She blushes in response, happy for the show of affection. Shouta’s original stern demeanor had her concerned that it would take a while for them to get where they are right now. Happiness blooms in her chest at the realization that’s not the case. Shouta catches onto the sweet, happy scent leaving her and gives a small smile.

“Sorry, Kimiko. Hizashi just can’t control himself around sweets.”

“Oh, sorry,” she replies, nervous she did the wrong thing.

“I’m not!” Hizashi blurts out. “My cute little omega comes with cookies? I’m in heaven.” Shouta chuckles and starts taking out everyone’s dinner from the bags. 

“I just realized! Is that my shirt, princess?” Hizashi asks, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

“Yes,” she says with a smile. “It smelt good so I just decided to put it on.”

“It looks good on you, huh, Shouta?” Hizashi says, standing back to admire the view.

“Nah,” Shouta says, taking in her appearance. “My shirts are better.”

She giggles as he winks at her and goes back to unloading the bags. Hizashi shakes his head and comes to hug her from behind. Happily, she accepts the hug and enjoys being encompassed by her alpha. She gives his arms a good squeeze and she’s met with an enthusiastic squeeze back.

“You are just too cute!” Hizashi exclaims. Shouta watches the two of them hug and catches Kimiko’s eyes. Releasing Hizashi, she moves over to Shouta and wraps her hands around his waist to hug him as well. 

“I hope you guys had a good day.” The men give noncommitted shrugs and nods.

“Could’ve been worse,” remarks Shouta. Unsure of how to respond, Kimiko gives a small nod and smiles. Deciding to try and keep things positive, she responds,

“Well, I’m just glad it wasn’t bad then!” 

She grabs some plates and quickly sets the table as Shouta brings the food over. Soon they’re all having dinner at the table next to the kitchen and talking more in-depth about their days. 

“I think some of the kids are just still upset you expelled them all, Shouta.”

“You expelled all your students?”

“He did, but they were all brought back the next day.”

"So many of these kids are self-sacrificing,” Aizawa says, irritation flowing through his words. “Often, they confuse being self-sacrificing with being suicidal. So I gave them what they wanted, a 'death' so to speak. It refocuses them into working harder for their future," he explains to Kimiko.

“Yeah, but Nezu’s never going to let you pull that again,” Hizashi teases. 

Shouta nods before taking a sip of his drink. A sense of joy flows through Kimiko as she learns more personal details about their lifestyles and work. She feels proud to know that they feel comfortable enough to share such information with her. Shouta finishes off his drink and locks eyes with Kimiko.

“So, little omega,” he starts. Her heart does a little backflip at the recognition. “How would you like this evening to go?”

“Oh,” she blushes a little, thinking about the lingerie set that’s hidden underneath her clothes. “Um, if it’s not too forward, I would really like to be marked by the both of you tonight, if you’re comfortable.” 

“Eager, are we?” Shouta taunts, causing her face to start heating up. The two men sitting across from her share in one of their usual silent conversations before Shouta breaks the silence,

“I think we can arrange for that.” Kimiko slightly shuffles in her chair and smiles wide, eyes diverted towards her now-empty plate.

“Why don’t we take things easy though and start by getting comfy on the couch,” recommends Hizashi. “Plus, there are some cookies calling out my name that I just have to get my hands on.” With a giggle, Kimiko stands up and helps collect the plates before heading into the kitchen with Hizashi. He grabs the plate of cookies and offers his other arm out to her. Accepting it, she allows him to guide her into the living room onto the large couch. Shouta stays behind in the kitchen to take care of the dishes. She tries to protest but Hizashi remarks,

“You’ll have plenty of time to take care of chores later. Allow us to take care of things for tonight.” Reluctantly, she agrees as he takes a seat to her left.

“Thank you for being so welcoming, I really appreciate it.” Hizashi gives her a dramatic sigh in return which makes her concerned that she offended him.

“I think I’m just going to have to start calling you honey because you are too sweet,” he shoots his signature finger guns at her and she can’t help but to laugh and blush.

“You guys are too. I was worried that I would end up with some really old creepy guy. I’m glad that’s not the case.” She places her hand on his arm and Hizashi smiles.

“Me too, hon. Although, I’m dying to know who else you had to interview with. Who else we beat out, ” he whispers out the last part.

“Yeah?” she giggles. “Well, let’s see. First was Best Jeanist, which I only know because my grandmother is a huge fan and was practically fangirling the whole time he was in the room.”

“I can see why, he’s always so put together.”

“Right? She loves ‘dapper’ men, so she knew it was Best Jeanist right away,” she giggles, remembering how surprised her grandmother was.

“Then I believe Mr. Kamihara was next, very polite guy.”

Hizashi’s eyebrows lock together as he thinks of who that could be.

“Oh! Edgeshot!”

“Was it really? He looked nothing like he does in his hero costume. I guess I could see his whole face too so maybe that’s why I didn’t realize.” Hizashi smiles at her comment as she thinks of who was next.

“Oh,” her face scrunches up as she remembers. “They did have me interview with a very wealthy businessman. Don’t remember what his name was, but he gave me the creeps.”

“Oh yeah, how so?”

“I can’t really describe it. Not sure if it was his demeanor or the way he kept looking at me but something about him made me sick to my stomach.”

Hizashi nods and puts a comforting hand on her thigh. She tries to hide the fact that it has her instincts screaming with excitement. 

“Then came Gang Orca and Shisido. Hard not to know who they are. They were usually in my district so it was interesting to be paired with them.”

Hizashi hums in acknowledgment.

“They were funny though, both wanting to know if the other was interested in picking me.” “That makes sense,” Hizashi comments. Kimiko looks at him a bit puzzled by the response. “They’re very competitive with one another. Makes sense it wouldn’t stop here.” 

“Mmm,” she hums. “Yeah, that does make more sense now. And then the last one before you guys was Mr. Toyomitsu. He was very friendly and they brought in extra snacks for him which I super appreciated.”

“Did you not eat at all?” concern blasts from Hizashi’s question.

“No, no. I did. Just not a big meal. The little snacks they gave us were all I had throughout the day.”

“Oh, hun.”

“No, no. It’s ok. Like I said they gave extra snacks for this guy so I was able to get some food and then when you took me out for dinner it took everything in me not to stuff my face.”

Hizashi groans. “I can’t believe they didn’t feed you, that’s just wrong.”

Shouta walks into the living room, just slightly hearing the end of the conversation.

“Is everything okay? Did you not like dinner?” Kimiko slightly startles and spins around, not having heard the man approaching them.

“Oh, no. Sorry, it’s not that-” she rushes to assure him, but Hizashi cuts her off.

“She hardly ate during the interviews. Poor thing was chomping at the bits when we took her out.”

“No, really. It’s ok. I was expecting that, I promise.”

Aizawa makes a displeased noise which has her shrinking into herself. 

“Ok, well don’t feel a need to wait for us to eat or anything like that. This is your house too, we want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“Ok, I will, I swear.”

He gives her a small smile and takes the seat to her right. She adjusts herself so she can easily turn her head between the two of them. Hizashi takes the chance to grab a cookie from the tray and takes a bite.

“Oh my god , Kimiko. These are incredible.”

“I’m really glad you like them,” she says, giggling when he shoves two more in his mouth. Shouta sighs from behind them,

“You’re going to choke.”

“MoUG ImpH Ought,” Yamada jokingly responds. He swallows a large amount of cookie in his mouth and sticks out his tongue. Kimiko jokingly reels back in disgust and then notices chocolate on the side of his mouth,

“Um, you have a little chocolate right here.” She points at the corner of her mouth and giggles. 

“Well, why don’t you come and take care of that?” he says suggestively while dramatically wiggling his eyebrows. She giggles again and leans forward. When she reaches out her hand to wipe off the chocolate, but he grabs it,

“Nuh-uh-uh. No hands,” he teases. A surge of confidence rushes through her at his challenge and she closes the rest of the distance to give a lick to the corner of his mouth. He takes the opportunity to sneak in a kiss. Giggles escape Kimiko’s mouth before she deepens the kiss. After a few moments, she pulls away for air.  

 Hizashi’s dopey grin greets her and she blushes. 

“So beautiful,” Shouta says from behind her. Pride fills her chest at his comment. Her instincts claw at her mind, happy that her alpha thinks she’s pretty.

“Could I get a kiss as well?” he asks. 

She nods and readjusts herself so she’s on her knees facing him. He grabs her chin and helps guide her toward his lips. She reaches her arms out to his chest to support herself better as the butterflies rush to her stomach. A small gasp escapes her, which he takes notice of, and smiles into the kiss more.

 Her instincts claw at her chest as she savors the kiss from her alpha. Trying to soothe the feeling, she places a hand on her chest. Noticing the movement, Shouta pulls away.

“Too far?” he questions.

“Not at all,” she answers breathlessly. 

“Good,” he responds, giving her a little peck on her forehead. 

“Gosh, you both make me blush so much!” she jokingly complains and both her alphas laugh.

“Sorry,” Shouta says. “You just look very cute when you blush. Makes me want to do it more.”

“Gosh,” is the only response she can think of. 

“Shouta, I must say, when we originally met, I thought you were just a very quiet person. Now, I know you were just waiting to speak until you could find the right words to melt me.” Both alphas laugh again at her comment.

“You got that right,” Hizashi agrees and she turns to face him. 

“Just wait until he gets you in the bedroom. He’ll say things to me that I can’t get out of my head for weeks.” A rush of heat shoots to her core at his comment. Her instincts fill her mind with all of the things he wish she’d say to him.

“Oh, gosh,” she says, jokingly scared.

“Don’t be fooled,” Shouta says, “Hizashi’s got quite the mouth on him too.”

“I should probably just write my obituary now then,” she jests in response. The guys laugh and Hizashi starts staring at her lips again. Shouta notices and decides to take charge of the moment. 

“Well, little omega. If you’re ready, we can get started with the events for this evening.” PREVIOUS | NEXT

Paws and Effect Blurb

Read the full thing on: AO3

Paws and Effect - A Ghost/Reader/Soap Hyrbid AU fic.

Blurb - 4k words, Full on AO3 - 16k words (18+)

Summary: Soap was convinced that Ghost was hiding something. He was dead set on a secret missus tucked away in some flat in London. Nothing could have prepared him for the truth. A cozy little farmhouse, far removed from the chaos of their world, and a… fluffy cat? The biggest shock yet? The cat’s true identity.

Soap was certain that Ghost had a missus back home. His first clue? Ghost’s uniforms. They were always crisp and well-pressed. Don’t get him wrong, he was sure the big man knew how to use an iron, but there was something suspiciously meticulous about the way his clothes looked when he would come back from leave. Pressed to perfection, not a single wrinkle in sight.

Not only were they clean-pressed, but there was that scent that drove Soap’s nose crazy. It wasn’t just your standard laundry detergent, there was something warmer, floral, something… homey. Soap had sniffed every brand of detergent he could get his nose on, but nothing quite matched the lingering fragrance that was on Ghost’s clothes.

He tried asking once, tossing out the question casually. “So, you got a missus waiting for you back home, Ghost?”

The man barely spared him a glance, shaking his head. “Just a cat,” he said. His tone was even, but Soap swears he could see just the faintest twitch of a smile under his mask. 

What really got under his skin was how the rest of the 141 played along. When he pressed Gaz about it, all he got was a shrug. “He’s not lying, mate. He’s got a cat.”

Price wasn’t any better. “Sounds about right,” he said, offering nothing more. Soap wasn’t buying it though, because every so often he’d get another clue. 

Like when he overheard Ghost chatting with someone on base. He kept mentioning how she was doing, whether she was planning to visit soon and no matter how hard he tried, Soap couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t a cat. It was always just vague enough to be brushed off, yet it gnawed at Soap’s curiosity. 

The final clue was the phone calls. Ghost wasn’t the type to waste time on mindless chatter, but every now and then, he’d slip away with his phone, voice low and private. One night, Soap happened to walk down the hallway towards the rec room at the right time. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop… kind of. It just so happened that he could hear Ghost’s voice from where he so happened to be standing.

“Yeah… I miss you too.”

Soap nearly fell out of his pants. He finally caught him, but he couldn’t let him know. He needed something more solid and he had to find out just who this girl was.

Going back to square one, he decided to take another swing at asking questions. “So Ghost, what’s your cat’s name?”

Ghost barely looked up from his cards. Soap had figured the team’s weekly poker game was the perfect time to catch him off guard. It seemed like a solid plan so far, but Ghost was just as unreadable as ever.

“Callie,” Ghost answered simply.

Soap narrowed his eyes. “What kind of name is that for a cat?”

Price leaned back in his chair, gaze darting between Soap and Ghost. “Why do you care so much, Johnny?” he asked his tone a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“I don’t, I just-,” he huffed. “Look, I just know he’s full of shite, alright? There’s no way all he’s got at home is a bloody cat. And what’s worse is it that you lot seem to know it too.”

Across the table, Gaz snorted. “You sound jealous.”

Soap scowled. “I am not jealous. I just find it hard to believe.”

Before he could finish, Ghost’s phone buzzed.

The whole room went still.

Ghost barely reacted, checking the screen with his usual impassive air before typing out a quick response. Then, just as casually, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and placed his cards down with a satisfying ‘plap’.

“That was the cat,” he said flatly, revealing a full house. “Gotta make a call.”

Gaz nearly chokes on his drink, bursting out laughing. Price just sighed, leaning over to pat Soap on the shoulder. “Just give it up, mate.”

A month later, the task force was on the road, making their way back to base after a grueling week-long mission a few hours away. It was far too late for them to be out and exhaustion was starting to settle in. They had pushed to get back, desperate for their own beds, but the further they drove, the harder it was for everyone to stay awake.

“Why don’t we just crash at my place for the night,” Ghost offers, calm but firm. From behind the wheel, Price glances over, considering it for a second before nodding. 

“Sounds like a plan,” he says, speeding on into the night. 

Soap perks up immediately, practically bouncing forward to stick his head between the front seats. “Wait, we’re going to L.T.’s place?”

Ghost sighs, already regretting his offer. “On second thought…”

Soap playfully shoves his shoulder. “Aw, don’t be like that,” he grins. 

“It’s been a while,” Price cuts in, his voice carrying a note of familiarity. “It’ll be nice to visit again. Bet a lot’s changed since I was there last.”

Ghost doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he turns his gaze toward the dark scenery outside. “You have no idea…” he murmurs.

Soap blinks. “Wait, ye’ve been before, Captain?” 

Price nods. “A few times.”

From the back seat, Gaz casually raises a hand. “As have I.”

Soap reels back, scandilized “What?” he whines. “How come everyone else has got an invitation ‘cept me L.T.?”

Ghost cocks his head to the side, sizing up the Scotsman with an air of amusement. “You’re too rowdy. You’ll scare the cat.” 

Price and Ghost exchange a knowing glance, only adding fuel to the fire in Soap’s burning curiosity.

Soap huffs, flopping back into his seat with exaggerated indignation. “Unbelievable,” he mutters under his breath.

He turns his attention to the window, watching as the darkness of the countryside stretches endlessly around them. The road was essentially empty with vast, open fields on either side. Every so often, a streetlamp would flicker by, offering the briefest glimpse of the world outside before swallowing it back into the shadows.

Yet, despite the tranquil scenery around them, Soap’s mind was far from resting. If everyone had been to Ghost’s place before, that meant that there was definitely something worth seeing, something he was hiding. He was determined to be right. Ghost had a bird.

Further into the drive, Soap catches glimpses of distant lights moving across the fields. They bobbed and weaved in a uniform rhythm, eerily synchronized for lights, flickering through the darkness.

“Farmer’s dogs are out,” Ghost comments, his voice low and unreadable. “Must be chasin’ something.”

Before Soap could get a proper look at whatever something was, the car veered onto a narrow side road, cutting off his view.

“You live near a farm?” he asks, watching as the scenery shifts.

Ghost grunts an affirmative, offering nothing more. Before he could press any further, Price turns onto a long, gravel driveway, the tires crunching softly against the stones. 

Soap leans forward again as a modest yet charming farmhouse comes into view. A small porch light bathes the front of the house in a warm glow. It looked, cozy. Not how he would think one would describe Ghost’s home.

“That’s yer place?” he asks, heavy skepticism coating his tone.

Once again, Ghost merely grunts an affirmative. Then, with a slight edge to his voice, he adds, “Make sure you mind your manners.”

Soap smirks. “What, ye worried I’ll scare the cat?” Soap teases. 

The joke earns him a hard glare from the masked man, the kind that makes it very clear that he is treading on thin ice. Price parks up close to the house before anyone can say anything further. 

After stepping out, Soap takes a chance to look at his surroundings. The house was wrapped in lush greenery, flowers spilling over from well-kept garden beds and climbing trellises. It was once again a stark contrast to the man who owned it, comfy. And yet, it only fueled Soap’s suspicions.

They had barely grabbed their bags when a blood-curdling screech tore through the quiet night.

Soap froze, immediately on edge. “What the hell was that?”

A deep, guttural meowl followed and it felt long, drawn-out, and wrong. It echoes from somewhere near the tree line, making Soap’s pulse quicken.

Ghost barely reacts, simply glancing towards the forest. “Cat must’ve got out,” he mutters before heading toward the house.

Soap hesitates. That didn’t sound like any cat he’d ever heard.

Something about how Ghost said it so casually and dismissive sends a shiver down his spine. With a quick glance toward the others, he hurries after Ghost, not keen on lingering outside any longer than necessary.

Stepping inside, Soap was immediately hit with a wave of warmth and comfort. The living room was the exact opposite of what he had expected. Big, inviting couches piled high with plush pillows and blankets, soft lighting that cast a golden glow across the walls. Nearly every surface was adorned with plants, their vines spilling over shelves and trailing toward the floor in lazy curls.

And then there was the pet bed. It was huge, nestled in the corner like a throne. Soap stared at it, utterly surprised. “Just how big is your cat?”

Ghost’s answer dies on his tongue as another ungodly screech echoed from outside, this time followed by the unmistakable snap of jaws and a furious chorus of barking dogs.

Soap flinched, whipping toward the window in time to see three of the distant lights streaking past, tearing towards the forest with breakneck speed.

“Sounds like they caught whatever they were after,” Ghost says flatly, completely unfazed. 

Soap turns to him, concern plastered on his face. Slowly, Soap takes a step away from the window.

“Right,” Ghost continues as if nothing had happened. “One of you will need to take the couch. Guest bed’s not big enough for three.” 

Just as the words leave his mouth, a sudden noise comes from the kitchen. A faint but distinct shuffle, the sound of movement where there shouldn’t be any. Every head snaps toward the doorway. The team had faced enemy fire, brutal missions, and near-death situations. But after the week they’d had, their nerves were still wound tight, instincts sharp.

Suddenly, soft, quick footfalls break the silence, followed by a chorus of eager meows barreling into the living room. The team exhales, shoulders loosening as the true source of the “intruder” revealed itself.

“There she is,” Ghost says, his voice uncharacteristically warm as he kneels down.

A fluffy black cat, with a mosaic of white and orange splotches, practically launches into Ghost’s arms. Immediately a cacophony of loud, rumbling purrs fill the room as the cat chirps and rubs their head all over the masked man.

“There's my girl,” Ghost coos as he rubs a finger under the cat's chin. 

Soap swears he can see the damn cat smile, purrs growing even louder as it presses into the touch, completely and utterly smitten with the masked man.

“She's looking nice and healthy,” Price comments, watching the affectionate display.

At the sound of his voice, the cat perks up, ears twitching as it twists out of Ghost’s hold and trots over to rub against Price and Gaz’s legs. Both men reach down to scratch at its soft fur, their hands easily finding familiar spots.

“I forgot how soft you were,” Gaz chuckles as it twirls between them, soaking up the attention. Then, as if suddenly noticing the extra presence in the room, the cat pauses. Its bright green eyes land on Soap, studying him with a quiet curiosity. It tilts its head slightly, ears twitching as it takes a hesitant step forward. 

Soap freezes, glancing at Ghost who gives him a small nod.

“Let her sniff your hand,” Ghost instructs. 

Frowning slightly, Soap peels off his glove and extends his hand, palm up. The cat looks to Ghost first, as if waiting for some kind of confirmation. Ghost turns his attention to the cat, cocking his head to Soap. “That’s Soap,” he tells it, low and steady.

At that, its ears perk, and its tail flicks before it closes the distance, giving his hand a few, careful sniffs. Then, as if making its final judgment, it presses its head into his palm, purring into the touch.

“Soap, this is Callie,” Ghost says simply. “Seems she likes you.”

Soap blinks down at her as she gazes up at him with wide, trusting green eyes. Any lingering suspicions, theories, or conspiracies vanish in an instant. Ghost was telling the truth. There was no secret missus waiting back at home.

Just this cat. 

Callie.

“She’s a beaut,” Soap admits, scratching gently behind her ear.

Ghost gives a short nod. “Yeah.”

After another moment, Callie stretches lazily and trots back over to Ghost. She lets out a long, dramatic yawn before hopping effortlessly into his waiting arms, nesting into the crook of his elbow with a satisfied purr.

“Looks like she’s had a long night,” Ghost remarks, stroking her soft fur. “We’re gonna turn in, regroup in the morning.”

A murmur of sleepy agreements passes through the team. Ghost gave one last nod before retreating toward the downstairs bedroom with Callie still draped in his arms like a queen.

There was some lighthearted bickering over who got the couch, but Soap eventually ends up being the one collapsing onto the plush sofa. The second his head hits the pile of soft pillows and blankets, sleep takes him. For the first time in a long, long time, everything feels strangely peaceful.

The next morning, Soap stirred awake to the low murmur of voices drifting from the kitchen. The warmth of the blankets still clung to him, and for a moment, he considered rolling over and slipping back into his peaceful sleep. The tempting scent of fresh coffee ends up winning out and he stretches with a groggy yawn. He pushes himself upright, blinking blearily at the cozy living room around him before making his way toward the voices.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he was immediately met with two pairs of eyes watching him. Ghost and Price sit at a small dining table, mugs in hand, their conversation cutting off when they see him enter. There was something unreadable in their expressions, as if they were waiting for something. 

Soap narrowed his eyes, suspicious. Then, movement out of the corner of his eye has him whipping his head towards the other side of the kitchen. When his head turns, his thoughts grind to a screeching halt.

A woman.

A stunning woman.

She turns toward him and for a moment, all he can do is stare, slack-jawed. She has warm, sun-kissed skin and striking green eyes that seem to glow under the soft kitchen light. Long, dark black hair cascades down her back, streaked with vibrant patches of orange and white. But that wasn’t what had him frozen.

It was the ears.

Perched atop her head were two pointed, fur-covered ears, flicking slightly as they registered his presence. Behind her, a long, bushy tail stood proudly, curling slightly at the tip. His eyes dared to dart lower. 

She was dressed casually, wearing an old tank top that effortlessly hugged her figure paired with sweatpants with a cutout for her tail. But it was her feet that made his brain short-circuit. At first, he thought she was wearing oddly realistic slippers, but no, those were definitely not slippers. 

They were actual cat paws.

Soap’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. His brain finally clicked everything into place and suddenly, it all made way too much sense. His expression lit up in triumph as he spun on his heel, jabbing a finger towards Ghost.

“A-ha!”

Ghost let out a long, exhausted sigh, bringing a hand up to rub his temples. “Please don’t yell.”

Soap ignored him, grinning like a madman. “You said you didn’t have a bird!”

“He’s not wrong,” Price mused, smirking behind his coffee mug. “She’s definitely not a bird.”

Callie grins wickedly. “I eat birds.”

Soap crossed his arms, doubling down. “You also said you didn’t have a missus.”

The woman let out an amused hum, raising a delicate hand. “Not a missus either,” she purred, lips curling into a sharp smirk as she turned to Ghost. “You were right, master. This one is funny.”

Soap’s brain screeches to a second halt.

“Master?!” he gawks, whipping around to face Ghost like he had just grown a second head.

Ghost exhales through his nose, reaching for his tea like this entire conversation was already giving him a headache.

Soap took another second to let things sit in, completely stunned. Of all the things he had expected to find at Ghost’s house, this was not on the list. “Right. Okay. Just, hold on a minute.” Soap pinches the bridge of his nose like that would somehow help process the absolute madness in front of him. “So, let me get this straight. Ye’ve been lying to me this whole time? Playin’ me for a fool while I went on and on about you havin’ a secret missus?”

Ghost gives him a look over his mug, eyes flat and unimpressed. “Never lied to you, Johnny.”

Soap’s jaw drops. “Oh, bollocks ye didn’t!” He waves a hand at the woman, who was now watching him with an amused gleam in her eyes. “What’s all this then?”

Ghost takes another slow sip of tea, dragging it out just to piss him off, Soap is sure of it. “Told you I had a cat.”

Soap gawks at him. He turns to Price, who is doing a terrible job of hiding his smirk. Turning to the woman, her tail flicks lazily behind her as she sips from her own cup, utterly unbothered by his existential crisis.

Finally, his eyes settle on Gaz, who walks into the kitchen. He takes one look at the situation before sighing.

“Finally found out, huh?” He turned to the woman with an easy nod. “Morning, Callie.”

“Morning, Kyle,” she responds happily.

Soap whirls on him. “You knew too?!”

Gaz snorts, grabbing a cup from the counter and starting to pour himself some coffee. “Mate, everyone knew.”

Soap threw his hands in the air. “What the hell is wrong with all of you? How is this normal? This is not normal.”

A soft chuckle draws his attention back to Callie. “Relax, Johnny,” she teases, stepping closer. “You’re acting like you’ve never seen a shifter before.”

Soap takes a step back, bumping into the counter. “A what now?”

She arches a brow. “A shifter?” At his blank stare, she sighs, setting her cup down before gesturing to herself. “You know… a hybrid. A morph. I think in Japan I’m known as a nekomata.” She flicks her tail for emphasis. “Any of this ringing a bell?”

Soap blinks. Looks at Ghost. Back at her. Looks at her tail. Then back to Ghost.

“That's what all that racket was last night,” she says with a huff. “Sorry about that, by the way, I hope I didn’t scare you. Had to shift into my bigger form to deal with this nasty fox that's been causing issues and eating my chickens. Finally caught the fucker, so I called the neighbor's dogs for some assistance.”

Price chuckles at Soap's pale face. “Starting to make sense now, isn’t it?”

Soap once again jabs a finger at Ghost. “You… yer dating a bloody cat girl and just didn’t think to mention it?”

Ghost shrugged. “Not my fault you wouldn’t drop it.”

Callie grins, stepping even closer to Soap, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Would it make you feel better if I purred for you?”

Soap blanches. “Do not.”

Ghost sighs and stands up to put a steadying hand on her head. “Stop winding him up, love.”

She huffs playfully, ears and tail flicking in satisfaction. “Fine, fine.” Then she leans up on her toes and gives Ghost a quick peck on the cheek, right over the mask. “But you do make it too easy, Johnny.”

Soap slumps against the counter, dragging a hand over his face. He needed a drink or a nap. Probably both.

Price stands up, clapping him on the back with a chuckle. “You’ll get used to it.”

Soap peeks through his fingers at Ghost. The same Ghost who could make hardened men freeze with a single look was letting Callie nuzzle into him.

The contrast was striking. His harsh demeanor softened as he ran a gloved hand down Callie’s back. The sight pulled something deep into Soap’s chest, something warm and unfamiliar. His initial resistance crumbled instantly, and the fight left him like air from a punctured tire.

And yet, what he’s most surprised to realize, isn’t his surrender. Rather, it’s the quiet tug of longing that settled in its place.

Despite how comforting the kitchen now felt, reality was quick to settle back in. Price was the one to break up the moment, clearing his throat to grab the boy's attention. 

“Sorry to break this up, but we're going to be needed back at base today to give a debrief. Why don't we finish our drinks and be wheels up in 10?”

Soap pushes off the counter, glancing at Gaz, who is now determined to finish his coffee before they return to work mode. “I'll go grab my stuff.”

Callie, still tucked against Ghost's side, gives a small pout. “So soon? You boys just got here.”

Soap scoffs. “Aye, and I'm sure you’d love to keep watchin’ me lose my mind, but we do have jobs to get back to, lass.”  

She smirks. “Fair enough. But don’t be a stranger, Johnny.” 

Something in the way she says his name is light, a little teasing, but oddly warm. It makes his ears burn, and he quickly turns on his heel before anyone notices.

“It was really good to see you boys,” Soap can hear her say with a purr as he leaves the kitchen. “Promise you'll stay longer next time? Give me a chance to properly host you all?”

He hears the captain respond, but Price’s voice is too low to make out. A few minutes later, the team has their gear piled up in the living room, ready to head out. Ghost disappears into the downstairs bedroom while the others get things sorted.

Soap takes another slow look around the cozy space, trying to shake the weird sense of homeyness it leaves in his chest. He hadn't expected any of this, and he sure as hell didn't expect to feel… jealous? No, that couldn't be right. Whatever it is, it settles heavily in his stomach as he watches Ghost reappear, Callie trailing behind him with an easy grace.  

As they step outside, the crisp morning air cuts through the lingering warmth of the house, jolting Soap back into reality. Ghost pulls the door shut behind them, lingering there for a moment. Callie takes the opportunity to lean up on her feet, brushing a kiss against the side of his mask. He murmurs something to her, too low for Soap to hear, before stepping back and heading towards the car.  

Callie waves lazily as they load into the vehicle. “Safe travels, boys.”  

Soap leans his head against the window as Price pulls away, watching as Callie stands in the driveway, tail flicking. She stays there until they disappear down the road.  

Only then does he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.  

Gaz nudges him with a knowing smirk. “What’s got you all quiet?”  

Soap scowls. “Nothin’.”  

Price chuckles from the front seat. “Give it time.”  

Soap had no idea what he meant by that. But as he watches the road stretch ahead of them, the warmth of Ghost’s home fading into the distance, he has a sinking feeling he’s going to be thinking about this for a long time.

A/N: Thought I would post a little snippet of this story here on Tumblr since I've noticed that's where I'm finding a lot of other hybrid things. I think the full story might be too long to post here so I've got the full thing linked below! Thank you for reading! 💜

Completed story on: AO3 (18+)