Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jongho smells the omega before he sees him.

Even though he doesn’t live far from the city, Jongho doesn’t get much company. He occupies land at the base of one of the mountains surrounding the valley. It’s only about a half hour walk into the city center, and half an hour up the mountain path to the natural springs repository on the mountainside where they house the huge onsen and the mechanics for water-powered energy. Jongho doesn’t use much water power, mostly steam. Sometimes gas. Either way, he thinks the location is ideal. Plenty of room both in his cabin/cave hybrid home and on the surrounding land to build prototypes of his designs.

For all intents and purposes, Jongho is an urban planner. He helps engineer mechanisms which make city-life easier, whether that be access to resources or solving the problem of too-tall, structurally unstable housing that sways in the wind. He’s grateful for his job. It allows him to manage his own schedule, guarantees access to scrap metal yards and the back rooms of market shops, and provides better than average pay relative to the other citizens. Overall, he’s content.

What he doesn’t like about his job, however, is how isolated he feels at times. Even though he’s grateful to have full command of his own space and not deal with the squabbles of neighbors, his social interactions are limited to vendors and other government employees at the occasional conference. Sometimes he gets lonely, but he definitely doesn’t have time to meet and pursue an omega. Honestly, he doesn’t really want to. He’s heard shop-talk about how crafty some omegas can be, and even those who are genuine seem to crave the traditional chase and courting of their fairytale ancestors. Jongho just doesn’t have the time. If he wants someone and they want him, that should be all there is to it. No fancy wooing, no elaborate system of gifts, and definitely no miscommunications. He wants it cut and dry and easy.

Fortunately, his position offers just the solution.

The city offers its employees a shoddy benefits package, but Jongho is a man for the details. In the back of the handbook are two pages on services designed to match workers with potential mates or service partners, meaning someone to help you through your biological cravings whenever they come around. He’s also heard the shop-talk that this is because the city wants to keep workers busy and their minds on the task at hand. That’s fine with Jongho. He’s grateful they would pay a matching service to connect him with a willing omega who is also looking for something simple.

When the wind gusts the sweet scent of omega through the cabin entrance, Jongho knows today is the day.

The omega comes into view a few minutes later. Jongho watches him step out from the path through the trees and climb up the short, snow-dusted hill. The omega is shrouded in furs. He’s wearing a long, brown and gray coat and fur-lined boots that reach to mid-calf so Jongho can’t see any part of his skin. Even his face is hidden beneath the oversized hood. He carries a woven basket with both hands. Jongho is surprised he was able to pick up a scent through all of those layers, but maybe it was because his nose had been anticipating the foreign scent of omega for the past few days. He couldn’t make it out from here, but it held the characteristic saccharine.

From the window of his workbench, he watches the omega take in the exterior, decide on the front door, and approach. The alpha is quick to let him in.

The moment the omega drops his hood, Jongho gets the breath knocked out of him.

The omega is gorgeous. He’s got the biggest amber eyes Jongho has ever seen, fastened with copious thick lashes and low, straight eyebrows that give him a soft, innocent air. His hair is blonde like the wheat from the field and the only other colors on his face are the wine of his lips and the birthmark by his temple.

His scent is intoxicating. He smells like the apples Jongho used to enjoy, honey crisp and dewy. There are more undertones but Jongho doesn’t want to breathe. He wants to greet the omega properly, not like a muddled alpha in pre-rut.

“Hi,” says the omega, in a deep, calming voice. “Are you Choi Jongho?”

Jongho forgets how to word.

The omega blinks at him until Jongho gets it together. He clears his throat. “I am. And you are..?”

“Kang Yeosang. I’m here from the city matching service. If you still desire an omega, I am the one they chose for you, and I am here for our 24 hour trial run. If you desire a different omega, please indicate on this paper and I will return to the city and inform them they should keep looking.” Yeosang hands him the neatly folded papers wrapped in a golden string, eyes downcast as if embarassed at the possibility of being rejected so fast.

On top of the papers is a copy of the application Jongho filled out, complete with his list of preferences for a match.

His requests were simple: Male omega. Quiet. Doesn’t mind living in a rural setting. Compliant.

Jongho didn’t feel bad writing ‘compliant’. He knew he didn’t have the time to carefully tame a bratty omega, or woo one that wanted grandeur. He didn’t know how difficult it would be for the matching service to find someone easygoing and compliant, so he opted to keep other preferences minimal. He would rather be assigned his omega sooner than later so they had time to get to know one another well before his next rut. He's never had a true rut partner, but he's pretty sure it is important to his alpha to have it be an omega he knows and trusts. So the more time they can spend together, the better.

In the ‘special requests’ section he had added: Because of the isolated setting and alpha’s busy work schedule, omega should have hobbies or other ways of entertaining himself.

That one was important to Jongho. He didn’t want to subject anyone to isolation and insufficient activities. That would be a bad match for both of them.

Last on the list he had written: Alpha will cook, but requests help with other chores.

Jongho looks up. “You agreed to all this?”

Yeosang nods. “Yes. To confirm your acceptance, you need to complete an inspection and sign the bottom of the form. If you are satisfied, I am required to return to the city tomorrow and submit it to my agency.”

Jongho appraises the form again. “How do you opt out if you want to?”

“That’s why I have to return within 24 hours. I confirm your agreement and tell them I have accepted as well. If I don’t return, they’ll send a pair of investigators to your homestead to locate me and make sure I’m alright.” Yeosang waits for Jongho to nod in understanding. “Otherwise, after I confirm tomorrow, the agency will send someone out in one week, one month, and an undisclosed amount of time after that to make sure our partnership is still working.”

Jongho nods again. He remembers that part. The way it works is that the city pays for the placement service and confirms a good match, but everything else is up to them. The alpha offers the omega room and board in exchange for companionship and biological relief. It would work the same in other situations — omegas looking for alphas, betas looking for betas, etc. Then after the initial time frame it’s up to the partnership whether they want to continue or part ways. The matching service is just a matching, after all. No contracts attached.

When he flips the form over, Jongho sees a short bio on Yeosang alongside a list of why they thought this omega would be an adequate match. He ticks all the bullet points, but what interests Jongho the most is the note about his hobby.

“You’re a craftsman?”

Yeosang assesses him with those big eyes. Jongho wonders what for.

“I wouldn’t say that. I like to find things and make them into something new. It’s just a hobby. I’m not trained.”

Then he looks down and away and the tip of his canine bites his lip just so, and Jongho needs no other convincing. He sets the form on the workbench and signs at the bottom.

“Great." Suddenly, Jongho is aware of how bad of a host he is. He shouldn’t have made the omega stand there in his coat and boots with a large basket in hand, but he was just so...enamored. "Please, take your coat off and come in. Can I help you with your basket?”

“It’s for you, actually. A gift. From the matching service.”

Yeosang has to keep shuffling it from hand to hand because it’s so laden with treats. Jongho opens his mouth and closes it again, utterly and completely unprepared for the feelings that accompany this entire process.

As Jongho gingerly takes it from him, Yeosang murmurs, “They thought about sending me in the basket instead, but this way you get two kinds of snacks.”

The omega’s face is blank. Impressively so. When the corner of Jongho’s lips pick up in a smile, the omega’s do too, owning up to his joke.

As the omega removes his outerwear, Jongho unpacks, carefully picking things up and putting them down on the wooden table. It’s a fruit basket with other assorted goods. There are preserves and square butter, seed crackers and hard candies, things that are in low supply and high demand. It’s a good basket.

Distracted by the aromas of fruit and nuts, Jongho doesn’t notice the shift in Yeosang’s scent until it tinges with something bitter, something nervous. Jongho snaps his head to look at him.

Yeosang is standing to the side and holding one wrist, watching the alpha take things out of the basket. Jongho is appalled to find that under all those layers the omega is wearing very minimal clothing, just a thin pair of trousers and an oversized shirt, the billowy kind that slips down to show off his shoulder. Jongho tries to put a box of berries down three times before he finally connects to the counter, unable to take his eyes off the omega.

Yeosang shifts under his gaze. “I can use the basket to get things from town.”

Jongho’s brow furrows as he assesses the sturdiness of the handle. “They’ve really thought of everything, haven’t they?” But the omega still smells nervous and Jongho doesn’t understand why. He looks around carefully, trying to see if there’s anything in sight the omega would consider a threat.

His home is a bit odd. From the outside it looks like a log cabin that slowly becomes one with the mountainside, which is basically accurate. Jongho built half a cabin onto the front of a cave. The engineering wasn’t easy but he considered it good practice to see the limitations of how far their city could expand into the surrounding mountain range. However, the living area doesn’t stop there. Inside, the cave is composed of a few different branches leading to other, smaller cave openings, which he has also closed in different manners, letting in light and good airflow. He’s made his own breezy bedroom and bathroom alongside a few more open spaces he hasn’t plotted out yet. Jongho is proud that his engineering prowess developed ways to keep each space warm, mostly with the thanks of frequent fireplaces and heavy steam.

Just as he opens his mouth to offer a tour, Yeosang blurts, “Would you like to do the inspection now or later?”

Confused, Jongho asks, “I thought that’s what we just did?”

“No,” Yeosang blushes, “the physical inspection.”

Jongho chokes.

“Didn’t you finish reading the form? You signed it.”

Honestly, no. He’s pretty sold on Yeosang. He gapes until Yeosang continues, bristle of nerves continuing to grow.

“You have to finish the inspection before I can make my decision about you.”

Oh.

“When would you prefer?”

“Now, please.”

Anything to stop his nervousness from growing. It’s making Jongho’s alpha anxious, wanting to soothe but not knowing how.

Jongho nods. But then he’s lost again. “What am I looking for…?”

Looking exasperated, Yeosang huffs. “You have to appraise whether or not I’ll meet your physical needs. We can negotiate the chores and other things, but if we’re not physically compatible, it won’t work either way.”

Jongho feels like he’s on thin ice, the way he feels walking on city cobblestones in winter. He wants to tell Yeosang that he thinks they’re very physically compatible just by his apple scent and the way his thighs look in those trousers, but that doesn’t seem like the assessment Yeosang is looking for.

Then Jongho is struck with a realization. “Have you done this before?”

“What?”

“Have you been paired with a partner like this before?”

Yeosang, as curt and professional as he’s trying to appear, blushes again. “No.”

“You’re sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, then walk me through it.”

Those big amber eyes look around until he lands on the kitchen table. Then he’s walking over, and before Jongho can even breathe, he’s stripping himself of his pants and tossing the shirt over his head, leaving him naked. Ass towards the alpha, he leans down until he’s pressing his chest to the surface, parting his legs, and presenting himself.

Jongho has to look at the ceiling.

Breathe. Breathe.

“What am I looking for?” He repeats, gulping air.

The omega subtly sways his hips, maybe unintentionally. Jongho sees it out of his peripheral. “You have to say you looked, you touched, and you approved. And you have to make sure my scent doesn’t repulse you.”

Jongho can, in fact, confirm that since Yeosang has spread his legs, his alpha has literally started to salivate at the rich aroma alone. He smells like apples with cinnamon and something that drizzles, like vanilla or caramel or sweet espresso cream. If that layer of nervousness weren’t there, Jongho might not have been able to stay rooted in place.

Voice strained, Jongho replies, “It doesn’t.”

“Okay. Then finish the rest.” Yeosang’s voice is as wavering as his scent. It gives away the nerves beneath his feigned professional composure.

Jongho glances at the display draped over the edge of his table and furiously looks away again. Nope. Nope.

“Looks good," he strains out.

“Please,” Yeosang begs, “Please just finish so I can get off the table.”

“I said yes—”

“You have to touch me so I can decide if I will accept you, alpha.”

Jongho's brain shortcirtcuits at being called alpha.

“Do all pairings have to move this fast, because it’s been a while and I’m a bit out of touch—”

The omega growls.

Jongho rushes to him. Then he’s there, standing behind a beautiful, gorgeous, succulent omega, and he lets himself touch.

As a male omega, Yeosang has the lower genitalia designed for reproduction, but he cannot conceive pups. Jongho has been with male omegas before. He’s familiar with their fluttering lower labia and the hooded clits that crown them. Yeosang's details are peach, honey gold like the rest of him. They're perfect. The lips are plump and juicy and slick, and even without touching Jongho can see the way they part as the omega shifts, jittery with an alpha behind him. Beneath those labia is a darker, deeper peach, coated in the scent dowsing Jongho’s thoughts. Then there’s his perineum, smooth like the rest of him, and his perfect, perfect asshole, small and tight and set between two plump asscheeks.

As a pupil of design, Jongho can appreciate Yeosang’s aesthetics.

“I’m going to touch you,” he whispers.

The omega doesn’t growl again, just shifts his hips, ready and slow.

Placing both palms carefully on the omega’s rounded ass, Jongho lets one hand slide down the back of Yeosang’s thigh until his thumb is at the perfect level to gently, so gently, slip between the folds.

The omega catches his breath. He clenches, muscles tense, and Jongho doesn’t move until he relaxes again.

Cautiously, Jongho traces the contours of Yeosang’s labia. His thumb collects slick, admiring the way Yeosang gifts him with more, even more, until he’s traced everything into a glossy, wet mess. Encouraged by the omega’s mellowing scent, Jongho lets his thumb explore, creeping up to his asshole to press lightly. That earns another clench, one that relaxes enough for Jongho to get the very tip of his lubricated thumb into his rim before the omega clenches again and breathes heavy, and Jongho decides they’ll have to work up to that. He doesn’t want Yeosang to void their partnership just because Jongho likes ass play. So he slips back down again, caressing the syrupy slick now heavy on the omega’s cunt, letting his thumb press deeper.

Another clench.

Yeosang is a sensitive, sensitive boy.

For his last pass of ‘inspection,’ Jongho crouches, parts the omega’s thighs even further, and slides his thumb up and under until fingertip brushes clit.

The omega moans.

Sensitive boy.

Jongho pulls back, channeling his willpower to stop and listen, to let the omega decide. He doesn’t know if his touches were good or bad, he just hopes the omega thinks they’ll learn to get along because Jongho really, really wants to keep him.

Jongho softly caresses Yeosang’s ass as they both exhale. “Was that sufficient?”

Cheek still pressed against the table, Yeosang nods. “Sufficient.”

Chapter Text

Yeosang liked to create. Jongho wasn’t wrong for assuming the ‘arts and crafting’ note under his ‘hobbies’ section meant he was a craftsman, but Yeosang thought that gave him too much credit. He had grown up the way most male omegas do: discredited. He couldn’t be bred and he wasn’t ‘capable of the same labor’ as betas or alphas so he spent a lot of time in the arts. From a young age he started picking things up off the streets, a habit his parents tried to scold out of him but wouldn’t budge, collecting odds and ends just to have possessions he acquired on his own. He thought clean streets were prettier anyways. He had found fallen flowers and lost stubs of crayons, pieces of broken glass and emptied makeup tubes. To him, they were pretty. After he learned how to create mosaics later in his education, he never looked back.

His love for found object mosaics meant he turned part of his tiny, shared room into a miniature studio, one that annoyed his roommate but made Yeosang very happy. They lived in the city-run housing for male omegas, where he had lived since he moved out of his parents' home. It wasn't his first choice, he just didn't have many real options for financial gain, and moving out was better than staying home. The staff of the facility liked him though. He bedazzled their planters and helped fix broken tabletops with pretty things, or gathered the dried bits of plants and herbs to turn into wall decor. Yeosang believed it was better to look for ways to recycle the things others thought useless and make them functional again.

Things just like him.

That’s why, when the matchmaking agency came to him with Choi Jongho’s application profile, Yeosang immediately accepted. He and this alpha seem like a perfect fit. The alpha wants a quiet omega who doesn’t mind open spaces and will find ways to occupy himself. Perfect. And since the alpha is an engineer, maybe he'll have extra supplies he'll let Yeosang borrow. Maybe even let him set up a small studio space on the grounds. As long as the alpha is kind and ensures his basic needs are met, Yeosang is happy to be his rut partner. It will make Yeosang’s heats better too.

What really surprised him though was that the alpha said he prefers to cook and only wants help with the other chores. How does someone so busy have the time to cook? Why does he want to? Is this his way of providing?

‘Compliant’ had also been on the list. Yeosang could be compliant.

Everything inside the cabin smells like alpha. The aroma is so strong it settles into his tongue, turmeric and black pepper, spiced and divine. Yeosang tries to keep his nostrils from flaring every other moment but he’s not sure if he hides it well. He knows he’s acting awkward, so it doesn’t surprise him when the alpha looks a little stunned at his sudden appearance inside his home. Yeosang probably isn’t what Jongho was hoping for. If he’s smart enough to have such a good job and design a home as unique as this, he’s probably way out of Yeosang’s league. But he smells so good and there are so many interesting things on his property. If Yeosang can just prove his worth to the alpha, that he can meet his requests and please him, he thinks they can coexist beautifully.

So it’s as he’s standing there, bent over the alpha’s table after being touched by him for the first time, that Yeosang thinks this could be a match so perfect it’s dangerous.

What he didn't expect was how intensely his body would want to submit.

He’d been with others before: alphas, betas, and omegas alike. That’s one thing male omegas do get a lot of - action. He was always in high demand, but in the recent years of living with other omegas he’s gotten used to their style of touching and kissing. One would think omegas would be gentle with one another, but no. Not in his experience. Omegas are snippy in conversation and even brattier when they’re together in bed, the two or three or four of them all wanting the attention. They were fun to play with, but Yeosang hasn’t felt this heated in a long, long time.

The fact that the alpha doesn’t immediately want to inspect him has him practically vibrating with nervousness. The matching service told him their alpha clients typically like to do a very thorough investigation of their potential omega before accepting, usually with intense frisking, often asking the omega to pleasure the alpha right then and there. So when this alpha won’t look at him too long and instead focuses on the gift basket, Yeosang panics and hopes he’s not just taking it as a consolation prize and preparing to send the omega back.

Even though Yeosang makes a show of presenting himself, the alpha can’t look at him for more than a moment. What’s wrong?

Yeosang growls on accident. He’s almost positive he’s going to get thrown out for growling at an alpha in his own home, a potential partner no less, and when he’s returned to the agency they’re going to redact his name from the list of options and he’s going to live in city housing all his life and—

“I’m going to touch you.”

Jongho stops him from spiraling. His voice is strong and calm.

Yeosang shudders in relief. The alpha is there and he’s going to touch him and finally, hopefully, approve.

Yeosang can’t help it when he tenses at each careful, soft prod of the alpha’s fingers. It’s called an inspection for a reason, but the anticipation has him all riled up. He hopes the alpha likes slick, because his body is giving.

Already a bountiful producer, his body is in overdrive trying to soak the alpha’s hand as if that will convince him to keep Yeosang. The alpha is so quiet, touches so delicate, that he doesn’t know if the display is helping or hurting. There’s nothing he can do about it though. His omega has decided this is how it’s going to persuade the alpha and his omega always wins. So he helplessly shifts his hips and feels his pussy drool into the alpha’s hand.

When the alpha spreads his labia and the cool cave air kisses his wetness, he tenses. When the alpha’s finger prods at his asshole, a welcome bolt of excitement has his body clenching. And when a fingertip dips inside then up to roll off his clit, Yeosang’s body squeezes again.

He wants. He wants the alpha, he wants the partnership.

He wants.

He hopes the alpha isn’t put off by his sensitivity. He’s not inexperienced, just nervous. He wants the alpha to accept.

“Was that sufficient?”

“Sufficient,” Yeosang breathes.

The alpha stands back but leaves hands on him, a welcome touch that makes Yeosang feel connected, like the alpha might not reject him after all. Yes he signed the papers, but their 24 hours aren’t up. There’s still time to ruin their arrangement.

When Yeosang pushes himself up, he feels all the slick that didn’t cling to the alpha’s fingers begin rolling down his thighs. Disgruntled, Yeosang shifts from foot to foot, feeling the way the alpha’s hands move to stay planted on his body.

“If the inspection is over, I’ll take you on that tour. We can start with the bathroom so you can get cleaned up?”

Yeosang nods, face flushed as he looks around for his discarded clothing. A cold bath would definitely help him regain some composure. As he bends down to grab the fabric, the alpha seems to realize Yeosang didn’t bring anything other than the clothes on his back and the basket.

“You didn’t bring anything else? Do you have belongings to pick up in the city tomorrow?”

Shyly slipping just the oversized shirt over his head to avoid staining his pants with slick, Yeosang blushes again. “I don’t have much, but yes, I’ll move the rest out of my housing tomorrow if you still want to keep me by then.” The alpha gives his bum one last caress before removing his hand to let the shirt finish falling. It’s just long enough to cover him. Yeosang misses Jongho's comforting touch almost immediately.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem, Yeosang-ssi,” he laughs dryly.

“Just Yeosang is fine,” he mumbles.

“Then so is just Jongho.”

Yeosang's heart twists.

Jongho leads them to an adjacent hallway of the cave, short and shallow and surprisingly bright. As they round the corner Yeosang sees why. The ‘bathroom’ is a few steps down into a natural pool with a few smaller basins dotting the edges. It’s beautiful to look at, especially since the opening of the cave has been enclosed by thin, welded copper with pieces of glass held in between, creating almost a kaleidoscope net of a window overlooking the sloping property below. Honestly, it looks like something out of Yeosang’s dreams. Recycled objects, bright light, and quiet, private pools. Yeosang is surprised to see the water moving, but it's crystal clear so he can see there are holes in the bottom where the flow must filter in and out. By the shapes and water levels it’s easy to figure out the purpose of each basin. He doesn’t know if they were naturally made or the alpha created this unique system of plumbing and filtration himself, but he’s impressed. Bathrooms in the city probably aren’t even as efficient. They’re all stacked on top of one another and trying to siphon the mountain springs. No wonder Jongho is a city engineer. Clearly he’s talented. Unbidden, a puff of pride shoots through Yeosang at the idea that this alpha, potentially his alpha, is so talented.

“There are supplies there on the edge,” the alpha points out, shaking Yeosang from his thoughts. He hadn’t even noticed the makeshift counter on the edge of the largest pool. There are a few stacked towels, a standing mirror, and a small box of things like shampoos and razors and other items for personal care. “I’ll leave you to it,” the alpha murmurs as he turns to leave. “Take your time.”

Yeosang grabs onto the alpha’s shirtsleeve before he can go. “You’re not staying?”

Jongho blinks. “You want me to?”

The nerves ball up in his stomach again. Does the alpha not find him attractive? Shouldn’t he want to watch an omega bathe?

He lets the sleeve slip through his fingers. “I thought you would want to.”

The alpha looks pained. “I thought you might want a moment alone.”

Disheartened, Yeosang nods. He doesn’t wait for the alpha to leave, just strips and steps into the bathing pool, plunging under the water. He’s so embarrassed.

When Yeosang finally comes up for air, the alpha is gone. Probably doing something more important.

While he bathes, Yeosang stews. He scoops water in his palms and drops it over his head, grounding himself and thinking about what he could do differently. This alpha isn’t responding the way the agency said he would. Yeosang feels at a loss. He isn’t much of an actor and he doesn’t think he’s very good at seduction, so the only plan he can formulate is to let things play out naturally and hope the alpha asks for pleasure tonight. Maybe he likes it before bed. Yeosang can do that. He can use his mouth or hands or body, whatever the alpha wants. Maybe he’s just busy right now. Maybe Yeosang came at a bad time.

Dropping more water on his face, Yeosang sighs.

Fresh from the pools and smelling like the alpha’s clean shampoo, Yeosang wraps himself in a towel and debates. He could put his old clothes back on again or see if the alpha has something else he would like Yeosang to wear. It’s probably better to give the alpha the option of choosing rather than risk offending him, he decides.

Careful not to make too much noise, Yeosang tiptoes back into the main cavern to find Jongho at his workbench again. Yeosang can hear the echoes of whatever tools he’s working with. The only real furniture in the room is the workbench, kitchen table and chairs set, and a worn-in looking couch in front of the firepit. In the front, along the cabin extension, there are wooden counters and appliances and what look to be cooking supplies. Overall, the alpha has done an impressive job of turning a mountain cave into a functioning home.

Yeosang doesn’t want to surprise him in case he’s doing something important, so he slowly steps closer and tightens the towel around his body. It’s barely long enough to cover from his nipples to his pelvis. There are definitely hints of his labia showing underneath, but the alpha’s already seen them, so why should that matter?

“Alpha?” He whispers.

Jongho startles. Apparently he didn’t sense Yeosang coming. Maybe bathing with the alpha’s products masked his scent.

When Jongho turns to look at him, Yeosang sees his eyes rake up and down his body, linger on the too-short hem of the towel, and return to his face again. “What-” he coughs, “what are you wearing?”

Yeosang shifts nervously. “I didn’t know if you had something you wanted me to wear.” When the alpha’s face blanks out, Yeosang accidentally lets his tense, flustered nerves out in the form of snarkiness. “It’s one of the things you have to do as part of the matching service. You have to provide food and housing and clothing and whatever else the omega needs. Do you know what you signed up for?”

He regrets it instantly.

The longer the alpha stares at him, the more anxious Yeosang grows, until finally he can’t take it anymore. “Alpha, I’m sorry—”

“You’re right,” Jongho interrupts. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. I apologize for my unpreparedness.”

Yeosang opens his mouth and closes it again. What?

Thankfully, the alpha activates. He stands abruptly and places a cautious hand on the small of Yeosang’s back. “Come with me. I’ll show you the bedroom and you can borrow my clothes until tomorrow. If you decide to stay we can buy more for you in town.”

We? Jongho will accompany him to town? Yeosang bites his lip, trying to figure out what both the apology and the accompaniment mean. Nodding, he lets the alpha guide him through a different short pathway, this one angling up rather than down.

At the end is the most peaceful sleeping area Yeosang has ever seen. Like the bathroom, the cave opening is entirely enclosed by uniquely-shaped window panes, but here some have hinges like they can be opened to let in the breeze. This room isn’t as tall, so the alpha was able to fasten a grate to the ceiling as decoration. Various items hang down, like strings with beads and lengths of ribbon. Things Yeosang would collect. Maybe the alpha likes odd things too.

The bed sits perfectly inside a divot in the rock. There are bountiful bundles of furs thrown about, filling up the space and overflowing out onto the side. It would be the perfect nest. Safe, secure, cozy with a damn good view. Since this cave is lofted, Yeosang can see the entire cityscape over the tops of the trees. It’s a dark silhouette against the lowering afternoon sun. It’s beautiful from up here.

“I don’t have much of a wardrobe, but what’s mine is yours.”

Turning away from the wall of windows, Yeosang finds the alpha lifting the lid of a large, sturdy chest. It appears to be filled with clothing, more furs, and a random assortment of books. He stares into it pensively like he’s doubting what to pull out for this new omega.

Jongho better hurry because it smells very much like unmated alpha in this room. His scent is definitely ingrained into the furs. But Yeosang just took a bath and he doesn’t want to get wet again so soon — unless the alpha wants him wet, of course.

Stepping up to the alpha’s side, Yeosang joins him in staring into the chest. Jongho picks up something flannel, then something thick, then something wooly. Two things actually. Yeosang realizes they’re socks. Shamelessly letting the towel slip off his body, he quickly changes into the most oversized flannel shirt of his life and a thick pair of sweatpants, then those two cozy socks. He’s so sufficiently warm. He hopes that’s why the alpha chose it - because he thought Yeosang might get cold, not because he’s so displeased with the omega that he would rather suffocate his scent in oversized items.

Jongho collected the towel and turned away while Yeosang changed, but kept an ear cocked over his shoulder, listening for sounds of the omega finishing dressing.

“Okay,” Yeosang says, smoothing out the baggy pants with extra room in the crotch, room for the alpha cock he doesn’t have. Jongho must have a big one if he needs all this room. Yeosang tries not to think about that.

Jongho is quick to guide them back downstairs. Yeosang really, really likes it when the alpha guides him by the waist again. He tells himself that has to be a good sign.

Jongho ends up making an early dinner for them. Since it’s getting dark he says he’ll show Yeosang around the exterior tomorrow. He sits the omega on one of the chairs at the table, but Yeosang subtly pulls it up to the makeshift counter, feeling too far away. It’s clear when Jongho notices. He stops dicing the potatoes and assesses Yeosang’s position. The omega stills, feeling like he’s been caught, but he’s not sure if the approach makes him the predator or the prey. He starts breathing again only when Jongho lifts an eyebrow and resumes his preparations without comment. After that they talk a little, mostly about Jongho’s job and his hours, proactively communicating time and expectations. Yeosang appreciates that. He feels almost content watching the alpha cook, especially when Jongho expresses interest in him as a person, asking questions about his background and interests and why he signed up to be a part of the matching service. He listens intently and only hums at Yeosang's answers. He's hard to read.

It’s just as the bowls of thick, warm stew are being migrated to the table that Jongho asks if Yeosang has any expectations of him.

It catches him off guard, but it must be in reference to his earlier outburst about adequately taking care of an omega. Yeosang still feels guilty. He looks down at his generous portion sadly. “I’m sorry.”

The spoon halts on its way to Jongho’s mouth. “For what?”

“For being rude to you earlier.”

The spoon returns to the bowl. “When were you rude to me?”

Yeosang cringes. “About not being prepared. I know you’re busy. I know that’s the whole point of signing up for something like this. I’m sorry. I promise I will be more understanding.”

The alpha looks shocked. “Yeosang.” When the omega doesn’t look up, he repeats, “Yeosang.” The omega shivers. His name sounds good in the alpha’s smooth voice. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You were right, actually, and I appreciate you calling it out.”

“But I know you wanted a compliant omega and I swear I am, I just—”

Jongho reaches out, lays his fingertips against Yeosang’s exposed wrist, and says, “By compliant I didn’t mean passive. I meant someone who understands why I can’t spend time trying to win them over or showering them with things they might deserve but I just can’t offer. But by the sounds of it, you already understand. That's all I need.”

Yeosang’s stress starts to slowly, slowly bleed away. “I don’t want to do anything wrong,” he whispers.

Jongho looks heartbroken. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”

“No!” Yeosang gasps. “It’s not you.” He quiets as the alpha leans across the table, shirt almost dipping into the stew, so he can cup Yeosang’s cheek. It’s like the alpha wants to say something but he doesn’t have the words, so he just keeps them connected there, warm palm channeling soothing intent straight through Yeosang’s skin.

All too soon, the alpha leans away and picks up his spoon again.

Traditionally, Jongho rises and sets when the sun does. For as much time as he spends engineering urban solutions, he himself is almost fully reliant on nature. So as the sun drifts behind the mountains and Jongho initiates a conversation about sharing a room, Yeosang finds himself tucked into the bed of furs beside the alpha, hands clasped across his chest, staring at the outline of the makeshift mobile hanging overhead. It almost glows from the clear, luminous starlight coming in through the glass.

Yeosang is unable to turn off his nervous thoughts.

He whispers, “Do you find me attractive?” He almost doesn’t want Jongho to hear it.

Jongho’s breath catches beside him. Then there’s a rustle as the alpha’s face tilts towards his. “You can’t tell?”

“No,” he confesses. “You didn’t react the way they said you would.”

There’s a pause. “They?”

“The city matching service.”

“What did they say I would do?”

Yeosang frowns at the ceiling. It’s a little embarrassing to share. “They said if you were attracted to me you would probably fuck me right away, or at least ask me to pleasure you. But you didn’t. You didn’t even want to look at me.”

Jongho’s breath is quiet. Yeosang can’t tell what he’s thinking.

“Is that what you wanted?”

“It’s what I expected. Now I don’t know what you think.”

Another tentative pause.

“Is that what you want, now?”

Yeosang’s fingers curl in the sheets. His voice is small. “Yes. I want you to know I can do a good job.”

The alpha shifts again, his turmeric and pepper emboldening ever so slightly. When he leans up the furs slide down and reveal his thinly clad chest, the light layer all a hot-bodied alpha needs to stay warm, especially with a creative heating system.

Yeosang makes the mistake of making eye contact. There’s moonlight glinting off the alpha’s eyes, eyes that watch him intensely.

“Can I touch you?”

Already breathless, Yeosang nods. “I’m yours to touch.”

He sees a tick run through the alpha’s jaw.

“Anything you don’t like?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Promise me,” Jongho whispers firmly, “that if there’s anything you don’t like, you’ll tell me right away.” Yeosang nods but it’s not enough. “Promise me.”

“I promise.” It’s barely audible. Yeosang is already feeling weak as the alpha slides across their shared fur to straddle Yeosang’s thighs. But why is he on top of Yeosang if he’s the one trying to prove his worth? He doesn’t get a chance to ask, brain liquifying as Jongho leans forward and cups his cheek again. His thumb dips into the corner of Yeosang’s mouth and passes over his lips, appreciating the way they look when gently tugged back and forth. Yeosang wants to open and welcome the thumb inside but he’s afraid to move, confident the alpha is taking his time, doing what he wants, and will give directions when he wants something from him. So Yeosang waits, inhaling the aroma from the scent gland on his wrist.

Then that hand traces down his jaw, his throat, his side, until it carefully slides under the arch of Yeosang’s back, raising him just enough to free the flannel and slide it up, exposing Yeosang’s sloping, toned tummy. The omega readies himself, assuming the alpha will pull it off all the way, but he doesn’t. Instead he tucks the excess securely under his chest as if he's still focused on keeping the omega warm.

Jongho traces the spaces between his ribs. Then he runs a hand down the center, fingertips catching on his belly button before dragging lightly over the band of his pants and into the excess fabric between his thighs.

“Can I take off your pants?”

“You can do anything you want.”

Jongho looks at him, really looks at him, like he’s trying to decide if Yeosang is being honest or just doing what he thinks he’s supposed to. But Yeosang is being honest, and finally it seems the alpha can tell.

Jongho gathers the rest of the furs and piles them up on Yeosang’s chest, the mound so high he can’t even see the alpha’s face. Automatically, Yeosang lifts his hips again.

He considers moving the furs so he can watch, but he won't since the alpha put them there, and honestly there’s something about not seeing where those hands will go next that has him deeply aroused. By the time Yeosang's ankles are freed from the pants his legs are already tightened together, instinctively protecting his sweetness from the drastic change in temperature.

Jongho pets up and down both Yeosang’s thighs in tandem, slowly working him open. He kneads into the muscles all along his legs, even massaging the tension held in his hips. It's like his fingertips are murmuring, convincing Yeosang's knees apart. The alpha acts like there’s no rush, like the omega can take all the time he needs to feel comfortable presenting his most sensitive places for the second time today. It makes him emotional. This is not the treatment he thought he'd receive. After he feels the alpha’s lips unexpectedly brush against his knee, his legs go weak, butterflying apart until he has fully exposed himself.

Yeosang can’t help it when the muscles around his clitoris clench. When nothing else happens they clench again, pensive and anticipating. He gets the feeling Jongho is watching, is staring openly at his body. His pussy immediately reacts to that thought, slicking itself up, making itself ready for whatever the alpha wants to do.

Now, the smell of alpha arousal is impossible to miss.

Yeosang feels like he’s been smacked with it. It makes his brain fuzzy and his body even looser, loose enough that the pool of slick he’d been trying to hide gushes right out of him.

Jongho is quick to close Yeosang’s legs again, holding them together until he gets in whatever position he’s going for, trying to keep the juiciness from escaping while he’s positioning himself. Yeosang likes that, likes feeling like the alpha doesn’t want to waste anything, like even his slick is precious. What he next expects is a curious finger or maybe the large head of a cock, but he should learn that Jongho still isn’t going to act like the alpha he imagined.

What he feels on him instead is a broad, hot, tongue.

His reaction is instantaneous. Yeosang snaps his thighs closed around Jongho’s face, feet anchoring themselves into the mattress so the omega can arch his back and moan. Jongho hums in return, gently holding Yeosang's thighs apart so he can return his tongue to sweet omega cunt.

It’s wet, he’s wet. There’s nothing like it. The texture of Jongho’s tongue is perfect, soft against Yeosang’s silky folds. He sucks on them, pulls them into his mouth and kisses them, before letting go to lathe his tongue in long strokes. Then that tongue swoops down and navigates the tight, tight entrance to Yeosang’s pussy, kissing and licking until Yeosang’s helpless to do anything but escort the tongue inside. He relaxes and Jongho tastes him deeply. The alpha rumbles in appreciation and Yeosang writhes, already addicted to the sound of Jongho’s pleased alpha. Yeosang knows he’s creaming all over Jongho’s face but he’s so aroused for him, body wanting the alpha to know, especially when the alpha loops his arms around his hips and pulls the omega even closer, close enough that Yeosang doesn’t know how the alpha can breathe, his nose and mouth and jaw completely buried between Yeosang's pussy lips.

Yeosang’s back bridges, head falling to the side, open-mouthed panting. He’s watching the stars but they’re so blurry, slurred like his thoughts because all that matters is that there’s an alpha attached to his cunt and it’s the best feeling in the entire world.

“Close, alpha.”

Another rumble of appreciation. Yeosang whimpers.

It's unclear whether he changes pace in an attempt to delay Yeosang’s orgasm or finish him off quicker, but Jongho licks up and up until he latches onto Yeosang’s clit, and when he suckles, it’s all over.

Yeosang cums hard and fast and everywhere, legs trying to keep Jongho close, gratified when the alpha lifts his hips and eats the mess right out of him. He eats him through it until Yeosang trembles in sensitivity, whimpering at each pass of Jongho’s tongue. Then Jongho carefully lowers Yeosang’s hips, kisses his thighs, and sighs.

Foregoing the pants, Jongho returns the furs from Yeosang’s chest back onto his legs. Yeosang can finally see him again. His chest is rising and falling heavily and he looks about as fucked out as Yeosang feels, face glistening, eyes flitting from Yeosang’s hands still tangled in the sheets to his ruddy cheeks, still visibly darkened even in the low light.

Admiring Jongho, Yeosang pants, “I’m supposed to be showing you my skills, alpha.”

Jongho smiles, teeth as glittery as his slick-wet cheeks. “Actually, I think the goal was to prove that I find you attractive. Have I succeeded?”

Yeosang eyes the very hard, very obvious cock in the front of his pants. “Alpha,” he scolds.

“A testament of my sincerity. You don’t have to prove anything to me.” Yeosang opens his mouth to protest, still hoping to return the favor, but he's quickly dismissed. Then Jongho leans down to nose at his neck and whisper in his ear. “I want you to stay.”

Yeosang would love nothing more.

Chapter Text

Yeosang is going to be the death of him.

He’s standing there in the nude, staring into Jongho’s chest of clothing, looking absolutely edible.

After last night, Jongho realized his self-policing was actually coming off as negative towards the omega. In reality he was trying not to jump him. How could he not feel conflicted when the omega showed up in that too-short towel, pretty body on display? Jongho felt like his brain was frying. He’s not exactly sure how to proceed with the knowledge that Yeosang would rather he be overly obvious in his appreciation. He wouldn’t have thought it possible Yeosang couldn’t tell how attracted he is. All Jongho’s been able to do since he laid eyes on him is stutter and stare. Whatever prowess the matching service assumes alphas are supposed to have, Jongho doesn’t. The omega probably thinks he's a mess.

Yeosang bends over, rustling through the pile and leaving it completely disorganized. Jongho can’t bring himself to care. He’s too busy fighting himself in a battle of wills, trying to decide if he gets to stare at Yeosang’s peachy pussy or should turn away and pray to whoever it was that taught him the word chivalry.

“What’s this?” the god of chaos asks him. Yeosang is holding one of Jongho’s old button ups. It’s unremarkable save the unique detailing - buttons made out of small, probably fake gemstones.

Still rigid, Jongho tries to sound calm. “Nothing special, just an old shirt.”

Yeosang presses it to his chest like he’s attempting to try it on with his eyes. “Can I wear it?”

“You can wear whatever you want.” But then Jongho realizes how badly that could end. “Preferably something, though. Not for my sake but for yours. Well maybe mine too. O-ours. Please wear something so I don’t attack you.”

Jongho feels desperately relieved when Yeosang quietly giggles. At least he didn’t totally mess that one up.

“Would you like help finding bottoms?”

Yeosang hums. “This is long enough to cover the important things, right?”

Jongho’s jaw goes slack. Imagine knowing that under his big winter coat, Yeosang is naked save for Jongho’s old shirt. Pantiless, even.

The god of chaos is truly cruel, playing with his emotions like this.

Yeosang laughs out loud. “I’m teasing. I’ll wear my original pants. Yours won’t fit me well. But you said we can go shopping today, right?”

The omega is still naked. Jongho nods blankly.

Jongho forces himself to leave and make breakfast. They both agreed to go into town right when the matching agency opened to get the formalities out of the way. That way Yeosang could officially move out of his city-run housing and into Jongho’s humble abode, and Jongho could finally start to relax and get to know the omega like he wants to, establishing the mental, emotional, and physical connections necessary to have a successful rut partner. Not that his rut is close. It isn’t. But it is a good excuse to make easy progressions.

Simple, Jongho reminds himself. This is a simple arrangement with an attractive, fast-witted omega who seems bent on challenging every stronghold of Jongho’s alpha. One that looks divine, smells divine, and, as Jongho now knows well, even tastes divine.

Jongho’s mouth waters at the thought.

Simple.

Breakfast is a humble helping of toast and sausage and fruit from the gift basket. Jongho didn’t want to make anything too elaborate before their day of walking. Even though it’s only about half an hour one way, it sounds like they’ve got a lot of stops to make and he will probably have to place a few orders for things he wants but can’t carry back by himself.

Having a...housemate is going to take some adjustments. At first he only cooks up one serving of sausage before realizing his mistake, then accidentally only cutting one portion of fruit. The weirdest thing is that he’s definitely preparing it for Yeosang, not himself, like he’s forgetting that he also needs to eat. Jongho blames it on the constant waft of sweet omega pheromones throughout the cavern, lingering thick and hot from last night’s pleasure. It’s keeping him on edge. He might have to open one of the window panes to air everything out lest his alpha get scent-drunk.

He almost regrets not letting Yeosang get him off. It ended up taking him way longer to fall asleep with a hard-on than he expected, especially when the source of his arousal was curled up in a pile of slick scented furs next to him, but he wanted Yeosang to know that he was serious. Yeosang doesn’t need to have the world’s greatest blow-job skills or the record for most orgasms in a row to be a great match. He already exceeded Jongho’s requests.

Jongho about drops the hot frying pan when he turns around and sees Yeosang still isn’t wearing pants. He does, however, have on a pair of Jongho’s boxers. Where he found those, Jongho doesn’t know.

“I wanted to wait to put my pants on until we left...just in case.” Yeosang starts timidly.

Jongho gulps, death-gripping the iron. “In case what?”

“In case I spilled breakfast on them. They’re my only real pair, and I don’t want to get them dirty, so…”

Oh.

Jongho definitely needs to get some air. These dirty, dirty ideas need to get out of his head.

“Good idea,” he nods, pretending he’s not disappointed the answer wasn’t ‘getting wet for alpha.’ Who even thinks like that?

Yeosang’s mood is so clearly improved from the day before. Jongho really discounted his nervousness. It didn’t occur to him that his potential partner would be just as nervous about their match. Yeosang seemed so professional, so straight to the point and insistent on process that Jongho never considered his curt demeanor could be out of nerves. But he should’ve. Sure, Jongho could get rejected too, but he wasn’t the one with a lot at stake here. His life wouldn’t change overnight. Yeosang’s would.

They eat quietly, the talking minimal. They’re two naturally quiet people and they’ve got a lot on their minds - Jongho thinking about Yeosang’s bare thighs under the table, Yeosang probably strategizing about what to pack from home.

Yeah, that sounds right.

Aside from Yeosang’s thighs, the alpha is also thinking about the marketplace and the sellers he knows. He’s trying to decide who would give him the best deal on clothing and who he could barter with instead. He should place orders for more groceries and another large chest where Yeosang can keep his personal items, and maybe duplicates of everything else: more soaps, another razor, a comb or two.

As Yeosang uncrosses and recrosses his legs under the table, his warm and sugared scent finds the alpha. Jongho adds something else to the list: panties. So many panties.

Yeosang needs those.

He’s lost in thought when he hears, “J-Jongho?” The name stumbles out of Yeosang’s mouth like he’s still getting used to saying it.

“Hm?”

“Before we go into the city, can you- can we-” Yeosang shifts in his chair nervously, unable to make eye contact.

Jongho tries to soothe him. “Tell me.”

The omega looks away, clearly nervous to ask for what he wants.

For some reason, Jongho’s alpha thinks this is a good time to chime in. It decides calming pheromones are a great idea. But with no one around to comfort it’s been so long since his body tried to produce them, which becomes abundantly clear when his scent explodes so dramatically that Yeosang physically startles from the intensity of it.

“Sorry,” Jongho grimaces, trying to get his alpha to reel it in. This is not what Yeosang meant when he said to be more obvious.

Jongho can’t smell his own pheromones, so he doesn’t know what variety of ‘comfort scent’ he emits. Yeosang must like it though, because after a few gulps he has no trouble rising from his chair, waltzing over to Jongho, and plopping down across his lap. Those big amber eyes are way too close. And those lips. Those permanently wine-stained lips.

Last night, before, during, and after touching Yeosang’s body, Jongho debated kissing him. It seems odd to do things out of order, but then he has to remind himself that none of this is traditional. It just...didn’t feel right to kiss him the day they met, and especially not in the midst of what felt more like Jongho trying to, very enthusiastically, correct his mistake.

Pleasuring one another is part of their arrangement. Kisses aren’t, necessarily. Jongho wants to save kisses for a better time.

So Yeosang should be more careful with where he puts those lips. They’re very close, so close their breaths are mingling.

“Jongho,” he tries again, “before we go into the city, can you scent me?”

Oh.

Shit, Jongho’s alpha likes him.

“With pleasure.”

His alpha is so incredibly pleased that the omega would request to be scented. It’s a sign of possession. Of wanting to be possessed. Jongho isn’t sure he deserves someone like Yeosang in his life, but he appreciates the clear communication of what he wants and needs. It’s great, actually, because Yeosang’s not the only one afraid of doing something wrong.

Jongho rearranges the omega on his lap so that Yeosang is straddling him instead of sitting sideways. This position will make it easier for Jongho to scent one side of his neck and then the other. Yeosang seems to like the position. He easily melts into Jongho’s chest, looping his arms around his neck and scooching up, as close together as his limited mobility can put them.

Jongho squeezes his small waist appreciatively. “I’m going to start.”

“Okay.”

Leaning in, Jongho takes a moment just to sample.

Yeosang is sweet apples and saccharine cream, plus undertones of cinnamon and cardamom and spices he doesn’t know the names of. Those are the things he missed the first time around, the spicy undertones. They suit Yeosang. Overall he’s soft and sweet and pleasant, but the sprinkling of depth tempers him. A perfect palette.

Jongho squeezes his little waist again. Yeosang harrumphs sweetly.

Then Jongho zones out and lets his alpha go to work. It almost completely takes over, so much so that he lets his eyes close and he works off of scent and touch alone, totally primal. There are moments where his nose and mouth and teeth are pressing into one side of Yeosang’s neck then the other, being careful, being thorough. He knows he spends a lot of time licking. A lot. He pulls the omega in closer, close enough that Yeosang can almost wrap his legs around the back of Jongho’s chair. When he’s done, the sides of Yeosang’s neck are tinged red from so much attention, starting to speckle purple. Just enough visible possession for his alpha to approve, not enough to anger Yeosang, hopefully.

Yeosang looks hazy-eyed. He’s gazing at Jongho almost adoringly, soft and pliant, like in this moment he’ll do anything the alpha says.

“Better?” Jongho whispers into Yeosang’s ear.

The omega nods, unwilling to separate from the alpha just yet. That’s fine. Jongo is content to hold him, relishing in the warmth shared between their bodies.

It’s not just that Jongho’s been sexually lonely, but deprived of all physical touch. He didn’t realize how much he missed hugging and snuggling until this moment. His lips linger on Yeosang’s neck.

When they finally make it out the door, Yeosang is glued to his side. They’re in their big furry coats, accompanied by Yeosang’s papers, Jongho's money purse, and the oversized basket to collect their spoils. The path into the city gets clearer the farther they go. Jongho keeps close to Yeosang anyway under the guise of providing a solid support if he trips on a bramble or his boots can’t find good purchase on a particularly rough patch of stones. Yeosang sticks close to him too, as close as the basket will allow until Jongho reasons it could potentially throw his balance off and takes it from him instead, also conveniently removing any barriers between the omega and his side. This time their conversation centers around Yeosang’s city-run housing, which turns into a revealing discussion from which Jongho thinks Yeosang’s first-hand experience will help him create new housing solutions or adjust outdated systems. Jongho appreciates how he’s thoughtful too, not just ranting for the sake of it, but has actually thought about some of the more pervasive issues. Jongho’s body tenses as he realizes he’s both mentally and physically turned on by Yeosang’s intelligence.

He thinks this is one of those moments where Yeosang might benefit from direct appreciation. Mustering up the courage, he blurts, “I find you extremely attractive.”

Yeosang’s mouth snaps shut. There had been a lull in the conversation, but whatever Yeosang had wanted to say is forgotten.

“You do?” It's like hearing it in broad daylight has a different effect.

“Yes. I like the way you think about these issues. I like your mind. I like your voice.” Yeosang stumbles a little, maybe over another damn bramble, and Jongho shoots an arm out to slip it around his waist. “Careful.”

“Yes, alpha.”

They have to stand outside the stone office building and wait against the wall until it opens, five minutes after the time it’s supposed to. Yeosang leans into Jongho’s side the whole time. Jongho likes that. Every few minutes his nose accidentally finds its way to Yeosang’s neck, inhaling their combined scent, until Jongho realizes what he’s doing and pulls away again. But it’s so good. Just before the iron gate is unlocked and they’re let in, Jongho swears he hears Yeosang start to purr. But maybe it’s just hopeful thinking.

Jongho’s been here before. Well not here exactly, but this building. The third floor is occupied by long wooden tables he and other engineers can work at but Jongho doesn’t like the pompousness of this place. He feels like the small, crowded rooms lead to small, crowded thoughts, the opposite of the innovation they need. As such he’s never spent much time here and he’s certainly never entered the room at the back of the first floor, City Matching Services. Yeosang has, however. When Jongho looks around for directions, Yeosang takes his hand, softly tugging to lead them where they need to go.

The secretary is definitely judging them. Every time her tiny, lace-gloved hands stop writing, she looks up to give them another once-over before resuming. Jongho doesn’t like it. His alpha gets more and more irritated with each passing moment. What’s the problem? But from what Yeosang shared yesterday, it sounds like the agency has a specific set of preconceived notions about him, or maybe just alphas in general, and he doesn’t like it. Is she judging them because Jongho accompanied the omega? Is it because Yeosang is sitting close to him on the settee but isn’t ass-naked in his lap? Is that what they expect to see?

“Jongho, you’re growling.”

Beside him, Yeosang’s eyes are huge. He hasn’t moved away but he does look a little spooked. Jongho cuts himself off immediately, unaware he was making any sound. He apologizes, disappointed with himself. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. But maybe...maybe there’s something else you want to do? You don’t have to wait for me. I was planning on coming alone anyways. I can...meet you somewhere?”

Dammit, Yeosang is already annoyed. He hopes he didn’t just ruin it and that Yeosang will walk in and tell them he’s changed his mind. Maybe that’s why he wants Jongho to leave.

But then Yeosang adds, “I don’t want them to think you brought me here to pressure me into saying yes.”

Jongho didn’t even think of that. “Does that happen often?”

“I don’t know. I just want to get the meeting over quickly.”

“So you’re still sure about accepting me?”

“Are you still sure about accepting me?” When Jongho nods sternly, Yeosang smiles bashfully and says, “Then so am I. I’ll meet you in the square after this? If we can’t find each other right away we can wait by the fountain. Is that okay?”

Jongho doesn’t really feel comfortable parting from the omega, their agreement too new and his alpha already far too attached, but at least he was thoroughly scented this morning. It’s like the omega knew he would need it. Others will know he’s spoken for and hopefully Jongho will be able to pick his scent up easily. From all the time he spent licking down his neck and between his thighs, Jongho feels he could pick that scent out of a crowd pretty easily.

“Okay.” He nods, steps out of Yeosang’s hold, and makes his way to the city center.

The daily marketplace is already in full-swing by the time he reaches it. There are a few more winding streets between the agency and the city center, but once here it’s the nicest-feeling space in this city, in Jongho’s humble opinion. The old rusty fountain Yeosang referenced stands tall in the middle. They haven’t been able to keep it pristine because of the atmosphere and the weather. That’s one of Jongho’s personal missions though, problem-solving high-atmosphere water fixtures. Otherwise, the fountain is surrounded by open cobblestones where tents and stalls and seller’s rugs spiral out every day. It’s not huge but neither is the city, and they get so few travelling salesmen up here that the unique stock is even slimmer. But Jongho knows his go-tos. He greets them all with varying degrees of conversation and keeps moving, on a different kind of mission today. He’s got an omega to provide for.

Working for efficiency, he starts with placing large orders. He orders more bags of grains and opts into the local farmshare so they can pick up whatever produce is ripe once a week. Then Jongho purchases some of the smaller items he can carry in his pockets, things like containers of spices and extra spools of thread, strategically keeping the hunt for personal items and clothing for after Yeosang returns to him. He feels like a man preparing for a war against the unknown, wanting to be ready for the beautiful, perfect storm that inevitably accompanies Yeosang.

City planners plan for life in the city. He doesn’t know how to plan for life with a shameless, beautiful omega.

After what feels like hours, Yeosang is still nowhere to be found.

Agitated and insecure, Jongho stalks over to his favorite seller of parchment and writing utensils. There’s something about running his hands over fresh quills and multi-fibered brushes that soothes him. The old omega behind the stand, one of his favorite sellers, watches.

“Need another sketchpad already?”

Jongho shakes his head. He doesn’t even remember which project he last told her about. There are so many he’s working on at all times, whatever he is inspired by each day. “Unfortunately no. I haven’t had much time for new ideas, still trying to solve the old.”

She stretches out on her pile of pillows, boots kicking a box out of the way. “Pity. I got a new set of pastels from my supplier in the valley and wanted to sell you a deal with a sketchpad. Sure you can’t be convinced?”

Just as Jongho starts to shake his head, he’s struck with an idea.

“You know what? Show me.”

Later, sitting on the edge of the fountain, Jongho’s alpha is feeling deeply unsettled. It’s way later in the morning than he expected to see Yeosang again. Neither of them could guess at how long Yeosang would be in that office, but this seems ridiculous. With pockets full of odds and ends plus a few bundles wrapped in butcher paper stuck up under his arm, Jongho must emanate such a distasteful aura that people start keeping a wider berth of space around him.

He’s just contemplating what to do, when he smells it: honeydew and sugar, pepper and spice.

Jongho freezes in place, eyes searching for the source of the scent.

Then, off to his right, Yeosang pops out of the crowd. He's walking right up to him, shy smile steadily growing.

Jongho can breathe again.

He’s still frozen, restraining himself from tackling the omega, instead letting Yeosang come to him.

“I’m sorry, Jongho, I decided to go to my housing complex right after so you didn’t have to bother going all the way there, but they wanted to do a room inspection and I couldn’t get out of it and I didn’t have any way to contact you, I’m sorry, but I’ve got everything now and—oof!”

Jongho drops his packages and pulls Yeosang to his chest. The omega comes easily. Jongho pushes off the omega’s hood so his lips can find the speckles he made on Yeosang’s neck. He nips at them, freshens them, and teases the hairs at Yeosang’s nape. The omega shudders, pressing himself closer to the alpha. Their layers of thick clothing and coats make him feel so far away but Jongho sticks to him like wood glue. The fact that Yeosang lets himself be scented again without complaint, even so obviously in public, has the alpha deeply pleased.

Eventually he stops and pulls back, breathless. “I was worried.”

Pink cheeked, Yeosang apologizes again. “I’m sorry, alpha.”

“Were they mean to you? At the agency? Or the city housing?”

“No, they weren’t mean. Just doing their jobs. I’m done now, officially yours." They both catch their breath. Yeosang quickly adds, "Where else do we need to go?”

Jongho is attached at the hip as they hit the last few vendors. He’s glad he waited. Yeosang seems to have fun picking out his own items like it’s the first time he’s ever been able to do so, and maybe it is. That thought makes Jongho puff up a little. Maybe he can’t provide Yeosang much entertainment, but hopefully he’ll be able to provide other satisfying experiences, even things as small as picking out his own shampoo.

He quickly becomes exhausted not only from carrying around the heavy basket and constantly watching other alphas to make sure they’re not looking at Yeosang too long, but also from the way Yeosang smells so good. Different trials, same exhaustion. But when they finally end up at the tailor that Jongho heard specialized in omega goods, he’s wide awake. The tailor takes off Yeosang’s outerwear and throws it on the plush velvet couch that contains Jongho and the rest of their purchases, then sweeps Yeosang away. When they come back out, Yeosang is wearing...very little, and the seamstress has her hands full of potential options. Jongho practically claws into the furniture. Yeosang keeps glancing at him then away, hands clasped in front of himself but doing very little to hide all of his pretty outlines beneath the plain white underclothes.

The seamstress clears her throat. Both omega and alpha jump.

“What would you like him to wear, sir? We have a few different styles on hand that I can send home with you today, the rest will have to be tailored to size.”

Jongho balks, looking between them. “Whatever he wants to wear.” He addresses Yeosang, “What would you like to wear?”

“Whatever you would like to see me in.”

The seamstress rolls her eyes.

Jongho tsks at her but focuses on Yeosang again. “Anything. Anything you like that makes you feel comfortable.”

Yeosang seems to debate with himself before turning to her and asking, “Can we just try some things on? Whatever you said we can take back with us today?”

She nods and whisks him away again.

The next fifteen minutes are some of the hardest of Jongho’s life.

He doesn’t know why. It shouldn’t be this hard. He shouldn’t watch an omega he just met yesterday come out from behind the changing room curtain and feel like his stomach just fell through the floor. Yeosang is so beautiful. He looks good in the tight pants that scoop up his plentiful ass and thighs. He looks good in the long skirts that cinch in at the waist and cut close to his ribcage. He looks good just standing there in his modest, plain white underwear. Jongho stops giving opinions because all his answers are the same: beautiful, gorgeous, whatever you like. The seamstress gets annoyed. Yeosang starts giggling. In the end Jongho doesn’t even know what he buys. He’s too busy standing behind Yeosang and holding him around the waist, nuzzling the spaces below his ears.

The walk home does wonders to cool him down. He was afraid that he was going to ruin his plan and kiss Yeosang the moment they walked through the doors, pressing him down on the couch or straight into the furs.

By the time they return it’s after lunch. Jongho whips them up something quick while Yeosang organizes his new things, taking bundles to the bathroom and the bedroom, keeping the rest in his basket for now. It all feels so domestic, sitting across from one another and accidentally touching toes under the table.

Jongho had debated working the rest of the day since it wasn’t a weekend, but Yeosang looked so soft and cozy and had just become his for all intents and purposes, so Jongho decided work could wait. Instead, he starts a fire in the den and brings some furs down from the bed, creating a nice and warm environment for them to read or draw or whatever they please. All he cares about is being close. As they both read books from Jongho’s collection with varying degrees of success, Jongho noticed his physical contact with Yeosang was steadily growing. He wasn’t sure who was moving, just that what started as calves brushing was now Yeosang’s chest pressed up against his side, their legs intertwined, his nose nuzzling the alpha’s neck.

“You smell good.”

His voice is low.

“What do I smell like?”

“Mmm, warm and spicy. Calm. Like alpha.” Jongho could snort at calm. When he’s around Yeosang, he’s anything but. But being told he smells like alpha does things to him. “Can I scent you too?”

When Yeosang asked Jongho to scent him this morning, it’s because Yeosang wanted to feel possessed. In this case, he’s asking because he wants to feel like Jongho belongs to him. Jongho finds that astounding. Is this how most matches go? Do other alphas get connected with omegas who both want to be possessed and to possess the alphas themselves? That's hard to believe. How did he get so lucky?

“Please do.”

Yeosang scents him with just as much panache as Jongho had done earlier that day. But he’s a little more insistent, like maybe he has an ulterior motive, and when he places a careful palm on Jongho’s inner thigh, it becomes clear.

“You don’t have to pay me back for yesterday.”

Yeosang visibly deflates. He doesn’t even try to defend himself. “Why? I want to.”

“I don’t want you to feel like all of our interactions have to be equal exchanges. We don’t have to go one-for-one. If I want to eat you out four times in a row, let me.”

“What if I want to touch you? Why won’t you let me?”

“If you really want to, only because you want to and not because you feel like you have something to prove, then go right ahead.” Yeosang looks pouty. Jongho smiles.

“I want to,” he murmurs, lashes fluttering. It’s a deadly move.

Maybe Yeosang won’t be able to relax until he sees Jongho's intimate places too. Maybe Jongho wouldn’t mind it either. “Okay. How do you want me?”

Once he has permission, Yeosang wastes no time kneeling on the floor between Jongho’s legs. As he’s trying to get the drawstring of Jongho’s pants undone, the alpha folds up a fur and makes Yeosang wiggle around until he’s kneeling on that instead of the cold stone ground. If Yeosang is going to insist, Jongho at least wants him to be comfortable. Yeosang doesn’t seem to care. His sole focus is on pulling out the tie, lowering the hem of Jongho’s briefs, slipping a hand under his cock and balls to pull him out, and—

“Alpha,” he gasps.

Jongho looks at Yeosang, Yeosang looks at his dick.

“Big.”

Jongho doesn’t know if he’s big. His past partners always seemed enthused, but he doesn’t know if they were just being nice or if his package was actually worth the praise. No matter how tight his partner was he always stretched them appropriately, hopefully so well it wouldn’t hurt whether he was long or wide or average at best. As long as they both enjoyed themselves, that’s all that mattered to him.

Yeosang shuffles up to the edge of the couch to be as close to his crotch as possible. Then he tucks the clothing under Jongho’s dick and uses both hands to cup his balls, seemingly weighing them like fruit from a stand. He’s wordless. Then he wraps one hand around the base, the other directly on top of it, the edge just brushing the underside of Jongho’s tip. He thinks he sees Yeosang’s mouth water.

“Big.”

Jongho can smell Yeosang growing more and more aroused. It’s a good smell, thick and rich. It makes his mind heavy. Someone has to do something, and if Yeosang isn’t ready, Jongho would be more than happy to take over and touch Yeosang again. He should be obvious with his attraction, right?

“Yeosang, you know you don’t have to do anything, I can—”

“Shh.”

Jongho startles at the quiet command. Yeosang is completely zoned in on his penis, carefully feeling it up. So he shuts up and lets Yeosang explore. Jongho isn’t shy. He’s actually quite confident. But Yeosang is looking so intensely like he’s trying to memorize each raised vein, each groove of his balls, that Jongho starts to blush.

“Can I put you in my mouth?”

Jongho shivers, watching Yeosang finally look up at his face. His pupils are blown.

“You may.”

Like the rest of their touches so far, Yeosang starts carefully. He gently prods and squeezes, using his hands to ensure Jongho’s cock is fully aroused, which, trust him, it is. When he’s satisfied, Yeosang collects the precum off the tip and slicks him up with it, moving a little quicker with a bit more rotation, eyes flicking up to the alpha’s every so often as if trying to gauge what he likes. Jongho again doesn’t know how to word, but Yeosang must find the answers in Jongho’s slackened expressions because he smiles, then leans in, grabs onto Jongho’s thighs, and licks at the hole in his tip.

Jongho moans.

He doesn’t mean for a hand to slide into Yeosang’s hair, but it does. It’s not doing anything, just there for moral support and to make the alpha feel grounded. Yeosang trills. His licks turn into little sucks, just in the space between the slight parting of his lips, but Jongho feels like he’s light-headed, like he’s ascended into the thin mountain air. The omega's hands keep working his shaft and rolling his balls but he almost wishes they wouldn’t because he feels like he’s going to cum way too fast. So he holds off and bites his lip and watches and Yeosang takes that as a challenge. He figures it out too late. Jongho is just starting to say, “Wait—” when Yeosang drops his jaw and takes half of Jongho’s cock straight down his throat.

Throwing his head back, Jongho tosses an arm over his face to try and muffle his sounds.

Of all the things that get him to the edge, there are two in particular: the way Yeosang purrs around his cockhead, sending vibrations up his shaft, and the unbearable scent of an omega turned on. He can’t help it when he pictures Yeosang’s warm, wet mouth as his pussy instead, imagining the omega riding him or under him or bent over that table again. He manages to brokenly tell Yeosang he’s cumming before he does, but it doesn’t make a difference. The omega swallows it all down regardless, purring the whole time, licking the final droplets right out of him.

He takes a moment to breathe.

Then he pulls a red-faced, grinning Yeosang up onto the couch, rips off the omega's shorts, and returns the favor.

Simple.

This is going to be simple.

Chapter Text

When he first laid eyes on Jongho’s dick, Yeosang became a stuttering mess.

Yeosang didn’t think he was the type of person that cared about things like big alpha cocks and fat balls, and maybe he’s not, but his omega certainly seems to be. It probably didn’t help that this was the first time he’d been around Jongho in any state of undress, and as such he was intoxicated by his unfiltered alpha scent as well. That’s a lot of stimulation to his senses all at once, so he gives his omega grace. He can fawn over Jongho’s body a little. It’s okay. He belongs to the alpha now, and as such he might as well get acquainted. They are to be cycle partners, after all. When it comes time for his heat, Yeosang will be even more appreciative of Jongho’s body. He’s got breeding balls. Big. Heavy. Did he say big? They filled his palms. Yeosang can’t be bred, but if he could, Jongho would certainly get the job done. He shudders just thinking about it. But it’s not his heat yet, this is just getting familiar.

Jongho looked at him so tenderly, like he really didn’t want Yeosang to do anything he wasn’t comfortable with. He believed Jongho when the alpha said he didn’t expect too much of him, and he didn’t feel pressured. Yeosang still wanted to do a good job, though. Who wouldn’t? Especially when presented with a gift like that to take care of.

Jongho hadn’t seemed phased by Yeosang’s stutters. He probably knew how impressive he was. Probably had omegas trying to hang off his knot all the time. Well too damn bad for them, that’s Yeosang’s job now. Yeosang might not be at knot status yet but he’s going to make it his personal mission to become worthy, even if Jongho says he already is.

After they had finished, after Yeosang had swallowed down mouthfuls of warm alpha cum and Jongho had swallowed down mouthfuls of his, they both lay together on the couch, tangled with their bare bodies pressed together. It was soothing. No pressure to do more, just touching and feeling connected and boneless.

At some point Yeosang must have drifted off. When he wakes up he’s alone, sprawled out on the couch under some furs. He doesn’t like it. So, half asleep, he trills out for the alpha, wondering where he is. Jongho is instantly kneeling by his side, petting through the omega’s hair. Yeosang blinks up at him. “You left me.”

Jongho watches him with a gentle expression. “I didn’t mean to leave, but I wanted to show you something. Will you come outside with me?” He already has Yeosang’s coat in hand, along with some pants. Yeosang notices that his little shorts have been pulled back up under the furs. He denies the pants but accepts the coat, much to Jongho’s chagrin, but he’s already feeling so toasty and warm from their touches and laying by the fire that he thinks he’ll be okay.

They don’t make it very far very fast. Yeosang’s residual emotions from being together in town and the post-orgasm glow have him feeling extra clingy, so every few steps he’s nipping at Jongho’s neck and ears, refreshing his scent. Jongho lets him, watching him with glittering, dark eyes, holding him around the waist tightly. “We’re not going far. Just showing you around the property,” he murmurs.

Yeosang understands. He just doesn’t care. Scenting is important.

As they tour the grounds, both in their coats and boots again, Yeosang leans into Jongho’s side. Outside the home are a few different workspaces and sections for various projects. Jongho explains how the raw materials are organized, how this tool and that tool make it so he can weld scrap metal together, which small shed holds the utensils for wood carving or steam harnessing or other engineering mastery. Yeosang admires the assortment, hoping the alpha will let him steal some unusables for his own creations. There are already so many things Yeosang wants to play with. But when Jongho stops in front of a smaller bench close to the cabin, Yeosang notices the shift in his scent. Nerves.

“I thought...I thought you might like your own space to work,” he manages, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m glad you have your own hobbies, and that they’re so close to mine, so...if you want, I don’t use this area often...so...” He trails off, eyes set on the bench rather than Yeosang’s reaction.

It takes a minute before Yeosang understands.

Jongho has sectioned off a whole corner of his property just for Yeosang. But not just space, also a workbench and tools. Giving it up means Jongho’s own work might be less efficient. But he’s willing to do it for Yeosang.

Yeosang is aghast.

His omega, however, is pleased.

“And I got…” Jongho starts, taking a step away to pick something up off the workbench. “Well, while I had extra time in the marketplace yesterday I stopped by one of my favorite sellers and they were having a sale. I didn’t really need anything, but who can pass up a sale, right? So I bought them. I’m not sure if you use them but- if you want- you can use them- and, well, if you don’t like them or they’re not your thing, I can- I’ll save them for something...” he trails off.

The alpha bought him a present. Two presents, actually: a sketchbook and pastels. Yeosang’s never even been able to try pastels. But here they are.

Gifts.

From his alpha.

Yeosang throws his arms around the alpha’s neck and nuzzles into his chest, purring intensely. “Thank you Jongho. I love them. I love all of it.” Then he whispers, “Thank you for making space for me.”

The alpha holds him close, lips in Yeosang’s hair. “Thank you for agreeing to stay with me.”

Yeosang purrs loudly, trying to calm himself down. Unfortunately, all his omega can think is courting gift.

It’s like the alpha can hear his thoughts. He murmurs, “I have a feeling you’re going to be a distraction.”

“I promise I’ll be good.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about.”

A thrill works its way up Yeosang’s spine.

He likes that the alpha is distracted by him. It’s the kind of affirmation his omega needs.

So for the next few days, it goes like this: each day they wake up more entangled than the last. Then they lick each other until they’re almost too riled up to ignore it and Jongho forces himself to go make breakfast instead. Yeosang loves those few minutes where he gets to stretch under their mixed-musk furs and watch the birds flit between the trees out the wall of angled window panes, tracking the way the dawn illuminates the city spires. It’s when he really feels at home, his alpha having just given him love licks and is now down in the kitchen, getting ready to provide a meal, letting Yeosang rest. Inevitably the smell of something good finds its way up this branch of the cave and he rises. Thoughtfully, Yeosang ignores his own clothing in favor of wearing one of Jongho’s oversized shirts with a new pair of panties, always with the goal of properly riling the alpha up but not pushing him too far. The look on Jongho’s face is always, always worth it. After breakfast they commence their own activities. Jongho alternates between the indoor and outdoor workbenches, flitting from his stockpiles of metals and woods like a garden fairy between flowers, collecting things. Yeosang mostly stays at his workbench outside unless the temperature is too cold, where he brings his sketchbook and the pastels inside to the couch or wooden table and drafts ideas on the paper instead. Now that he has his own tools and space, he can finally set to work on some ideas of his own. The items he’d saved from the omega housing were limited, just a few scraps of wire and baubles, but after seeing what he has access to here, Yeosang can already feel his ideas expanding.

It’s a pretty good system. They’ll both catch the other staring from time to time and it makes Yeosang smile. They work through the day that way, stopping only for meals. By dinner neither one of them can go without touching the other in some small way, usually via their feet under the table. This is Yeosang’s other favorite part of the day. They always have good conversations about what they created, the alpha praising Yeosang’s ideas endlessly, sometimes asking to see what he sketched if the omega will show him. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about his projects, even if they’re small and insignificant and will never mean anything to anyone else. But Jongho understands. He has the same sense of vision Yeosang does. It only makes Yeosang like him more, impossibly more. He already feels that emotional and mental connection Jongho talked about wanting, and he only hopes the alpha feels the same.

It’s already clear that they’ve got a physical connection, of course. Yeosang always feels jittery from the way the alpha’s scent clouds the cavern during the day, slowly building for what has become their nighttime tradition. He’s sure his own scent does the same.

It usually starts when Yeosang comes up and presses himself to Jongho as he’s doing the dishes. He nips at the back of Jongho’s neck, slowly pulls the alpha’s shirt out from where it’s been tucked into his trousers, and sneaks a hand into his pants. Then they migrate somewhere else to lick and touch, both getting the other off. For all Jongho’s talk of their pleasure not needing to be reciprocal, he can’t seem to just let Yeosang have his way with him. He always has to ensure the omega cums, too. But they never go further than they have before, always just using their hands and mouths. Jongho hasn’t even fingered him. The deepest he’s gone is on the first day, during inspection, when he slipped his fingertips into Yeosang’s asshole and between his folds. Yeosang wants to tell Jongho it’s okay to do more, he wants more, but he’s so good with his mouth that Yeosang honestly can’t complain. It’s probably because Jongho cares so much about pleasure and not causing any pain that he’s waiting to stretch Yeosang on his fingers.

He can though. Yeosang is sure Jongho would quickly find the spots that make him tense up from the inside, could probably rub at both his clit and his g-spot at the same time and make Yeosang black out. There’s no point denying themselves pleasure, right? So Yeosang makes small advances, hoping the alpha will pursue opening him up.

One day, as Yeosang is outside smudging pastels with his fingers, Jongho comes to join him. He finds a nearby crate, pulls it closer, and sits on it. Then he opens a pad of paper and begins to sketch.

Yeosang’s dusty hands are suspended above his sketchbook. He lifts an eyebrow at Jongho skeptically. “Hi?”

“Hi,” Jongho answers like nothing is out of the ordinary. He doesn’t even look up from his paper.

“What are you doing?”

“Sketching.”

Yeosang pouts in his general direction. Of course he’s sketching. But why here? It’s not that Yeosang doesn’t like him there - of course he would rather keep Jongho close. But this is unusual and Jongho is generally a calm, predictable guy. So even though it’s small, unusual is still important in Jongho’s language.

He rubs his fingertips together, sprinkling off some of the pastel dust. “What brings you over here?”

“Change of scenery.”

“Is the scenery here preferable?”

“Very much so.”

He doesn’t even look up.

Yeosang smiles to himself. He watches the alpha a moment longer before letting it go. If Jongho wants to be near to him but doesn’t want to admit it, that’s fine. And maybe that’s not it. Maybe he really did need a change of pace. But Yeosang has fun thinking otherwise.

A few hours later, close to dinner, Jongho abruptly breaks the calm forest quiet. “You will have been here for a week, tomorrow.”

“You’re right.”

Jongho seems to be waiting for something but Yeosang doesn’t know what, so he stays quiet.

“So,” Jongho starts eventually, “someone from the matching service will be out to check on you?”

Oh. That’s what he’s worried about.

Yeosang turns to look at him. He’s still sketching dutifully, pretending he doesn’t care about this conversation. Yeosang knows the truth. Between the two of them, quiet and thoughtful as they are, all conversations are deeply meaningful. “I guess so.”

“Will you leave with them?”

“What?” Yeosang scowls at him. Why would he ask that?

Finally, Jongho sets the pencil down resignedly.

“Are you happy here?”

There’s a tense moment where they’re just staring at each other. Yeosang is so happy here he could punch his alpha right in the face for asking such a stupid question.

“How could you ask me that?”

“I don’t want to assume. I don’t want you to feel trapped.”

“Do you think that’s how I feel?”

Jongho looks at him, hard. His eyes search each and all of Yeosang’s features, really looking for his answer like somehow the red-tip of Yeosang’s cold nose is going to say otherwise.

“No.”

“Then stop asking dumb things.” He turns back to his sketchbook, unable to look at Jongho’s face anymore. If he looks too long he might go over there and kiss the uncertainty out of him, but that’s not something they do yet, apparently.

Jongho fights a smile, clearly pleased with Yeosang’s answer.

They work for a while longer until Yeosang can’t take it anymore, too agitated thinking Jongho still doesn’t understand. Clearly nothing else has proven to the alpha that he’s his. What does he still need to see? He’s seen Yeosang’s snippiness, his sweetness, his creativity, and his pussy. What else is there?

His playful side, maybe?

Yeosang can play. He loves to play. It’s just been a while. Sneakily, he scoots closer, closer, until he can jump on the alpha and wipe his hand on his face, getting pastel dust all over his cheek and temple and jaw. It’s such a contrast to his beautiful golden skin and Yeosang almost doubles over laughing at Jongho’s shocked reaction.

When Jongho puts a hand up to his face to see the damage, his expression quickly goes from surprised to calculating. Then it goes dark.

There’s one, critical moment where Jongho’s whole body tenses and his eyes lock onto the omega.

He's going to pounce.

Wide-eyed, Yeosang has just enough time to realize he needs to run because he is about to get chased. In a flash, Yeosang is bolting away and across the yard, angling towards the house. It’s not a good idea because it’s a dead end, but Jongho knows the forest far better than him and his nest is the first vision of safety his mind supplies. He hears the alpha toss his sketchpad down and rocket off the crate, footfalls light even in his big boots. Yeosang’s never been chased before, but now he understands.

Now he understands why they tell you not to run from an alpha, because you’re guaranteed to get caught.

You’re also guaranteed to get aggressively turned on.

Yeosang flies up the stones to the door, rips open the doorknob, sees the wide-open cave before him, and gets tackled from behind.

He and Jongho burst through the threshold, door slamming shut behind them. Jongho’s all over him. He’s growling into Yeosang’s neck and ears, pressing him against the door. Yeosang is so turned on it almost hurts how fast his body slicks itself up. The scent just makes Jongho growl louder, mouth open and teeth on Yeosang’s neck, not even pressing, just there.

Instinctive.

Possessive.

After a few labored breaths Jongho pulls back. His gaze is flicking between Yeosang’s eyes and his lips, and Yeosang is so sure the alpha wants to kiss him. But he must be in a battle of wills with himself. Why? Yeosang doesn’t know. When he sees Jongho’s pupils darken again for just a blink, just a moment, Yeosang’s head naturally falls to the side, baring his neck for the alpha. He watches his reaction from under his lashes.

“If an alpha is showing possession, that means you’re doing something right.”

That’s what they told him. Maybe Jongho isn’t like most alphas, but he can show his own form of possession just the same.

Jongho fights himself really, really hard. Yeosang can tell. He sees the tick in his jaw and feels his hands tighten on his waist through the coat that hasn’t been given a chance to come off. His alpha has powerful self-restraint. Even though he licks his lips, all Jongho does is lean in, softly lick a stripe up Yeosang’s neck, and bite the lobe of his ear. Then he pulls the omega off the door and helps him take off his coat, leaving Yeosang a flustered, wet mess.

Yeosang doesn’t know what Jongho is holding back for. He can kiss him. He can do whatever he wants with him. But maybe Jongho just needs a little more time. He is a very gentle alpha, after all. Maybe it’s not in his nature to be so brash.

Yeosang will just have to help him work up to it.

As the alpha moves to hang their coats up, Yeosang follows and clings to his arm, not ready to part. But that leaves the alpha to work one-handed, his other arm down and at just the right height so that when Yeosang presses in, he can feel knuckles through the front of his thin pants.

Silently, he gasps.

Yeosang loses himself to his omega. He rocks into the knuckles, subtly shifting until he gets his clit to press right against them, and then he grinds, soft and slow, until the alpha notices because his hand starts to get wet. When Jongho catches him, Yeosang flushes with embarrassment and hides in his neck. He couldn’t help himself. Knuckles through fabric is one step closer to getting fingered.

But then, to Yeosang’s elatement, the alpha rotates his hand and cups Yeosang through his trousers, sliding his finger through the wet divot of his labia. Quietly moaning, Yeosang’s hips start to rub and hump his finger, until abruptly, Jongho takes a step back and shakes his head as if to clear it.

“I need to go cool down.”

The alpha backs away, eyes glued to Yeosang until he gets past the table. Then he quickly toes off his boots and rounds the corner towards the bathing pools, pulling the shirt over his head.

He needs to go cool down his erection, he means. Yeosang can smell it. Yeosang wants it. Yeosang isn’t going to let him get away that easy.

Their chase, as short as it was, deeply affected Yeosang. His adrenaline is escalated higher than the mountain top and will drop just as suddenly if his tension isn’t released the way his body thinks it should: through sex. So Yeosang pushes off the door and copies Jongho, tripping over his boots and shucking his pants off as he makes it down the hall, leaving a trail of clothing behind. He catches Jongho’s muscular body on display, hard, weeping cock bouncing as he steps into the water.

Jongho hears him enter, probably because his breath is so loud, echoing around the small cave. The alpha runs a hand over his forehead to slick back his hair, watching Yeosang’s shaky hands try to undo the buttons of his shirt, lacking the finesse of an alpha in pursuit but prowling toward his target nonetheless. When he gets to the pool he’s tired of the buttons, just wants his alpha to keep touching. So he stands at the ledge and pulls up the hem of his shirt, revealing his wet panties.

Jongho freezes.

Yeosang’s lucky it’s a light yellow pair because it makes the dark wet patch of his slick even more captivating. Ensuring the alpha’s eyes are locked on, he slides a finger under the elastic. It presses into his pussy, making a soft, wet sound. “Please, alpha.”

Entranced, Jongho watches the outline as he fingers himself.

“Please?”

There’s the tick in Jongho’s jaw. Yeosang’s favorite one, the one that means he’s either going to fight or give in.

“Shirt off.”

Yeosang immediately complies. Shirt off means good things. More skin. More touches. By the time he drops it on the ground Jongho has crossed to his edge of the pool, hands resting on the slopes of Yeosang’s feet. He hadn’t realized before, but with the angled depth of the pool and their combined heights, Jongho’s face is now perfectly level with Yeosang’s cunt. The alpha seems to realize it at the same time. Slowly, looking up at Yeosang’s face to watch his reaction, Jongho leans in until the tip of his nose grazes the fabric of Yeosang’s panties. Yeosang shudders, watching as the alpha’s eyes slide closed and his nose traces up the groove between Yeosang’s pussy lips. The alpha inhales deeply. That makes Yeosang even wetter, knowing Jongho is inhaling the aroma of his most intimate places. He’s done it before, but this feels...different. A little more raw.

Jongho tastes him. He sticks out his tongue and licks him through the fabric. Shivering, Yeosang parts his legs instinctively to give the alpha more room to play. Jongho leans in and opens his mouth, sucking on the wet patch of his underwear, sucking his clothed pussy. He looks up again and sees the omega swaying, body woozy with want. The alpha doesn’t tease him much longer. He pulls Yeosang’s panties down to his knees, visually appreciates the contours of his cunt, and leans in to kiss it.

As Jongho licks between his folds, Yeosang slips a hand into the alpha’s hair, gently holding him closer.

It’s the best feeling in the world.

“Are you sure I can’t just eat you out?”

The omega hesitates, moaning as Jongho thumbs up the hood of his fat, throbbing clit. The alpha lowers and raises it, stimulating it, as he waits for Yeosang’s answer.

Yeosang whines at him until Jongho grins. Then he flicks his thumb off his clit and licks up the slick that trails down trembling legs. “More, alpha.”

“Come here.”

Yeosang tosses off his soaked panties and climbs into Jongho’s strong, wet arms, letting himself be lowered into the water. They nuzzle noses on the way down, both breathy. Then Jongho turns him around and urges him to grab onto the side, running a hand down his back and kissing his shoulder. He parts Yeosang’s asscheeks, then his labia.

“So beautiful,” he whispers.

He palms Yeosang under the water, softly rubbing at his rim and perineum and the soft spots on his inner thighs, making his way to Yeosang’s puffy cunt. It’s leaking into the water but his slick is clear enough it can’t be seen. Jongho knows though. He can feel the difference in viscosity, can feel how the wet that clings to Yeosang is different than the calm pool around them. Yeosang spreads his thighs and leans down closer to the edge of the pool, so Jongho can fully, totally cup his cunt.

His pussy feels safe in the alpha’s hand. It feels protected. Owned.

Jongho leans over his back and kisses his shoulder again. “You want me to finger you?”

“Please,” Yeosang breathes.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

Yeosang is sure it won’t hurt. Jongho is gentle. So gentle.

“Okay.”

The alpha presses into Yeosang’s folds tenderly. Yeosang moans, high-pitched and airy.

Jongho whispers, “Is this what you want?”

“Yes.”

Jongho’s sole fingertip slips into him a little farther. Just to the second knuckle.

“This?”

“Yes alpha, yes.” Yeosang pushes back, trying to get his finger in to the hilt, but Jongho stops his hips from moving.

“Patience.”

“Faster.”

Jongho chuckles into his ear, moving his fingertip in and out of him. “Why? You got somewhere to be?”

Yeosang growls in frustration, head too foggy to come up with a snappy reply.

“My poor omega,” Jongho hums, “wait a little longer.”

Then the finger slips in, all the way in, and his body clenches down on it so tight that Jongho growls.

“I can’t put more in if you’re going to be this possessive with them.”

“Want them inside. Wanted them for a long time.”

“Have you?”

“Yes,” Yeosang nods into his arms still crossed on the ledge. “Want them. Want you. Please.”

“Then let go.”

Yeosang coaches his omega into releasing the finger, convincing it the alpha will give more. Jongho tries to help by bringing his free hand up to Yeosang’s chest and pressing into the perky bud of a nipple. It does help. Yeosang’s attention becomes divided, especially when that nipple gets tugged and softly twisted, pulled like he used to pull at them when he pleasured himself.

Yeosang doesn’t have to pleasure himself, now. He has an alpha to do that.

He unclenches.

They don’t find his g-spot this time but that isn’t Jongho’s fault - Yeosang cums before he has the chance to locate it. The omega was just so pleased that the alpha’s fingers were inside that he got over-excited, nerves spasming with each brush of the alpha’s skin. When he cums he can feel the flood of slick drench the alpha’s fingers. A form of omegan praise. Jongho appreciates it, touching him deeper until Yeosang shakes from sensitivity. The alpha rumbles in satisfaction, draping himself over the omega, nose buried in his neck.

Jongho doesn’t mean to, but as he’s pulling back his cock slides against Yeosang’s rim.

Yeosang moves faster than when he was being chased. He snaps up and presses back against Jongho, tangling one hand in the hairs at his nape, the other holding the arm around his waist. Then he finds a rhythm and rubs his ass against Jongho’s dick, trying to make him feel good. He hopes that maybe the tip will catch.

Much to his dismay, Jongho stops him with a grip on his waist.

“No,” Yeosang whines. “You too, alpha.”

Jongho softly bites the back of his neck and makes Yeosang go limp. He holds the omega to his chest and kisses his clavicle. “Relax, pretty omega. Just relax for me.”

Pretty omega.

He does. He relaxes so fully, crashing so hard from the high of the chase and the tension release that he falls asleep standing there in Jongho’s arms.

When Jongho wakes him up it’s already dinner. He’s wrapped up in furs and seated on Jongho’s lap at the table. Yeosang wants to protest but he realizes they’re sharing one spoon for tonight’s meal, and this is the closest he’s come to swapping spit with the alpha. So he lets himself be fed.

After, he makes Jongho cum twice, once in his mouth and once all over his thighs. His semen tastes thick with want.

In the morning, the pair of city employees come. They’re pretty early but Jongho and Yeosang are ready. They’re cleaned up from breakfast and they’ve tidied up the yard, at least the places their guests will see. It’s not really necessary but Yeosang could tell Jongho was nervous, like even a stray sock could become a problem. He doesn’t seem to realize that no one could take Yeosang away from him. He’s too committed, too...Jongho’s, to consider going anywhere else. But he supports his fretting alpha by rubbing up against him and touching his chest until they arrive. They don’t say much, won’t be there for long. They just want to ask Yeosang a few questions, then Jongho, and then they want the grand tour. They’re impressed by Jongho’s engineering. The beta even says she’ll put in a good word for him.

But it’s on the tour that Yeosang and Jongho realize they’ve made a mistake.

In the corner of the bathroom, tossed beyond the pools, is the small bundle of Yeosang’s slick-wet underwear. It reeks of horny omega.

They must be so used to the scent of each other that neither noticed until there were guests. Until there was another alpha guest.

Jongho immediately stiffens up. The other alpha does too. Then they promptly square off, neither moving, neither speaking, just watching each other’s every flex. Yeosang tries to slip past Jongho to get the triggering item and maybe throw it in one of the pools, but Jongho’s arm flies out and snatches him, pulling the omega flush to his chest. Yeosang shivers. His alpha is so strong. So protective.

The other member of the duo has to intervene. She gets her partner outside and tells him to go clear his head around the grounds. Through the kitchen window, Yeosang watches him slump around and kick rocks in the clearing.

“I’m sorry,” Jongho apologizes to the beta, bowing. “I thought we cleaned up well. My apologies for the mistake. We meant no harm.”

Unexpectedly, the beta throws her head back and laughs. “Are you kidding? We’ve seen so much worse. That poor alpha over there has gotten chased out of so many dens because we accidentally interrupted a couple mid-fuck. Scandalous underwear is nothing.”

Beside him, Jongho seems to breathe easier. He goes back to watching the other alpha walk in circles outside.

“I can finish the tour with you,” Yeosang offers. “Jongho, you’ll stay here and guard the door?” He’s teasing but Jongho nods anyways, glaring out at the offensive alpha. He squeezes Yeosang’s hand as he leads the beta up to their bedroom, the only other furnished branch of the cave.

She’s just as astounded by the view as he was. Respectfully refraining from touching, she admires the mobile and the kaleidoscope window and the generous sunshine. She sniffs unconsciously and Yeosang knows it’s because no matter how many times the furs are washed, they will always smell like him and Jongho. It’s not their fault. When two partners are compatible, the smell of their sex will seep into everything because their pheromones are just that strong. So he takes her short sniffs as a good sign, meaning she can tell just how well they get along. Can tell how well he pleases his alpha.

Yeosang holds his chin higher.

The city matching service did well. Very well, actually. Good for them.

As she looks out the window, watching the slouchy alpha from up above, she asks, “Are you happy?”

Yeosang smiles immediately. “Exceedingly so.”

“You feel safe?” Yeosang nods. “You’re getting everything you’re supposed to? Enough food and clothing? Good sleep? Medical care?”

“More than enough.”

It’s her turn to nod. “Anything we should know about?”

“Like what?”

“Anything. Anything we should look out for when we come back to check up on you. Anything you want us to make note of.”

Yeosang comes up to stand beside her. “Honestly, I don’t think you even need to come back.”

“Well, check-ins are part of his benefits package, so.”

“Oh.”

She looks out the window again, deep in thought. “You’re lucky to be out here. Away from the city.”

“I’m lucky in a lot of ways.”

Turning to him, confirming one last time, she drops her voice to make sure Jongho can’t hear them from below.

“You’re honestly happy?”

Yeosang smiles.

“Happier than I’ve ever been.”

Chapter Text

Jongho is running out of patience.

Who asked him to be patient in the first place? No one. Not Yeosang, not the matching service, and certainly not his inner alpha. So what is he being patient for?

It’s because he likes Yeosang, that’s why.

When he constructed his ideal partner on the application form, Jongho knew he wouldn’t have the time or means to court them, plus they might not even be a courting kind of match. But then they sent him Yeosang, and his alpha snuffled and puffled and decided almost on the spot that he was worth trying for - making that extra effort, going slow, and being ultra respectful. And he’s still trying. But Jongho’s going to have to give up and kiss him because he can’t wait anymore.

He’s starting to have a harder time thinking when Yeosang is out of sight than when he isn’t. Every day he feels a bit more possessive. He wants the omega close, definitely close enough to smell, preferably close enough to see, ideally close enough to touch. It’s when he loses all three of those senses that Jongho gets nervous. He’s begun to consider building another indoor workbench, one just for Yeosang so he can stay inside with Jongho if he wants. Hopefully he wants. Aside from another workbench, maybe he could also furnish one of the unused hallways in the cave? They could take another trip into town and Yeosang could pick out some furniture he likes. Maybe he would want to design his own. Jongho’s seen his furniture designs - they’re sustainable and simple to assemble and they look good. Really good.

Even through his distraction-clouded mind, Jongho can tell how talented the omega is. Yeosang sometimes comes and asks if he can have things, his hands dark with the leftover oil or soot from digging through a scrap metal pile outside. Once, he got a splinter that Jongho had the pleasure of kissing better, but that didn’t stop Yeosang. Usually he takes small bits and pieces, and when Jongho realized he was trying to collect things for a mosaic, he ordered grout and polish and all the things he could think of. Yeosang acted like they were presents, hugging and scenting his cheeks, but the alpha just thought he deserved them. There's no reason he should have to go without.

Jongho wants to show how much he believes in Yeosang.

He starts asking Yeosang for his opinions on things. When he gets stuck and the omega can smell his frustration, he will come nibble Jongho’s neck and calm him down. Jongho will pull the omega to him and breathe him in, hands tracing his ribcage through his clothes. Everything about him feels soothing. Then Jongho will ask for his thoughts on the current project. Sometimes Yeosang will say the question is over his head, but Jongho doesn’t believe him. Yeosang is smart and thoughtful and has a great sense of vision. Quickly, Jongho comes to trust his opinions and runs almost everything by him. Yeosang takes a little more coaxing to do the same, embarrassed by some of the things he calls ‘trivial’ but aren’t trivial at all.

He thinks Yeosang likes being close to him too. He’s often finding things to do nearby, and if Jongho isn’t doing anything dangerous like welding or wielding fire, Yeosang will pull up a chair and sit, maybe with his pastels and sketchpad or with wires and baubles for coiled accents to macramé. It's not long until one of them feels the need to touch, lazily extending a foot to sit on the rung of the other’s chair so they can brush ankles. Sometimes, when Yeosang is working on something small and Jongho needs a break, he asks the omega to join him on the couch for a cuddle. He maneuvers them so that Yeosang can sit between his legs, back to chest, and continue working. His flow shouldn't be disrupted just because Jongho's hit a roadblock. Often, Jongho will wrap his hands around the omega's waist and notch his chin over his shoulder, content to breathe in his delicious, sweet apple scent and watch him work. Yeosang’s hands are pretty. They’re a good size and they’re nimble. They look pleasant while holding a pencil or tying strings or clamping a pair of pliers.

Jongho is content just holding him. However, on some days holding can turn into something more.

For a while, Yeosang will try to act like he’s still sketching. But then he starts going over the same lines, same thickness, same strokes, and his scent perks up and grows fuller. Then, he’ll shift in Jongho’s arms. At first Jongho adjusts too, trying to find a place where the omega won’t feel the oncoming erection against his ass, but then he realizes...it's probably intentional. Yeosang can’t smell so good and not be thinking the same thoughts. Eventually Jongho gives up and pulls the omega flush to his body and Yeosang will make a soft sound. Jongho likes Yeosang's sounds. He wants to hear it again. So he slips a hand beneath the furs and straight under the hem of Yeosang’s shirt. His day-to-day uniform has become some variation of Jongho’s shirts and a pair of panties which drives the alpha mad. He’s definitely doing it on purpose. Jongho thinks it’s a silent request for more affirmations, for the kisses and more intimate touches that are inevitably coming, maybe tomorrow, maybe today. When he slips a hand beneath the elastic around Yeosang’s hips, Jongho finds he’s not wrong. Yeosang is wet. The omega spreads his legs apart, so far his knees drop over Jongho’s, gifting the alpha with access.

Ever gentle, Jongho’s fingers promptly find their way down Yeosang’s body to cup the juiciness between his thighs.

“Is this what you want?” Jongho asks, nipping at his ear.

Yeosang lets his head fall to the side, presenting his neck for the alpha. “Want to please you.”

“Everything about you pleases me.”

Yeosang shudders. He clutches at Jongho’s thighs to find the leverage to push his ass back against the alpha’s erection, then forward into his hand.

His omega likes to be touched. He likes to be licked and caressed and fingered. Previously, when Jongho tentatively asked about his lovers, Yeosang told him he’d had a few but his body had never reacted as provocatively for anyone else. That pleased the alpha immensely. It made Jongho feel special, like they really are as good together as the signs lead him to believe. And Jongho is happy to touch him. If he didn’t have to work, he’d be content to touch Yeosang all day, losing oxygen between the thighs that clench up around his face when he sucks on a particularly delicious spot.

But he’s losing patience.

Jongho doesn’t know when he started referring to Yeosang as his omega. Maybe it was when the city employees came and Jongho got jealous. Maybe it was after that. Maybe it was before, the first moment they met. He doesn’t remember. But that’s what he is to Jongho now.

He hopes Yeosang feels the same.

A few weeks after their visitors, Jongho’s presence is requested at a quarterly office meeting. He and Yeosang have been into the city a few times prior, always to pick up the weekly farmshare the alpha ordered and to buy other things like bread and panties because Yeosang keeps ruining his, but this will be the first time Jongho goes alone. It’s an all-day meeting and he doesn’t want Yeosang to be stuck waiting around in the city for him for so long. Yeosang whines at him but ultimately understands. And maybe he’s a little excited to have the house to himself for the first time - he’ll even get to cook his own meals! That thought makes Jongho nervous, knowing the omega is...not as familiar in the kitchen, but Yeosang promises he’ll be fine. He wants to try to make Jongho a surprise dinner, apparently.

So, after a lascivious scenting from both parties that ends up with Jongho changing his pants from the amount of slick that drips on his thighs, he heads into the city.

The meeting is just as depressing as always.

“Due to recent atmospheric changes and out-of-season temperature shifts, we’re seeing atypical responses to chemical testing of the water filtration levels. At these rates the current pattern of water usage will only be sustainable for the next few days. We can’t predict if the climate will shift again, but we want to be prepared in case it stagnates or angles for the worst. So, we’re asking you to reprioritize your work. We will be handing out new assignments today.”

The entire room groans.

Jongho sighs. Unwittingly, he’s become something of an expert in water filtration systems. It’s because of his innovation with the cave pools. He never should have told them.

Just as expected, when they call out “Choi Jongho,” the folded papers detail work up the mountain. Even though the pipeline spans from almost the summit down through the underground system of branching, they seem to think his proficiency means he should start at the source.

This assignment will probably take just as many days to complete as they have before things could get hairy.

Which means he will probably have to stay up there for multiple days.

Which means multiple overnights.

Which means no Yeosang.

Nope. That's not happening.

As he blankly studies his assignment sheet and thinks of ways to subvert leaving his omega home alone, a small group of other employees start to chat with him. He’s close to the ensuite kitchen where they’ve been brewing complimentary coffee on a stove to placate people, so it happens naturally. They’re filling their mugs, Jongho is just standing around.

“Hey, Choi.”

Jongho nods in response.

“What assignment did you get?”

“Water filtration.”

“Figures,” says an alpha whose name he doesn’t remember. “They always put you on those.”

“Do you enjoy working on those kinds of projects. Y’know, because of your...cave?” The beta asks this time, sipping at his hot, overly dark brew.

He shrugs. “They’re fine.”

Jongho wouldn’t consider himself unfriendly, he’s just used to being alone, and right now his thoughts are focused on something else.

The last of the trio, another alpha, leans in slightly. Then he sniffs obnoxiously. “You fucked an omega?”

Jongho bristles.

The first alpha sniffs too. “Oh yeah, he definitely did. Reeks of one. They smell tasty though. Where’d you find them?”

Jongho does not like the idea of other alphas commenting on Yeosang’s scent. He wants to get this conversation over as quickly as possible, but unfortunately for him he can’t just up and leave - they’ve still got afternoon meetings.

“We met through the cycle matching service,” he says curtly.

The chatty alpha gasps. “We’ve been telling you to use that for years! I can’t believe you finally did! I thought you were going to hold out forever. Good for you.”

It’s true, they have been yapping at Jongho about it for years. That’s not why he finally looked into it though; nothing his coworkers said would have changed his opinion. It was because he was lonely and his ruts had been getting worse. They don’t need to know that though. Clearly, they don’t care.

Chatty alpha hits the beta on the shoulder. “You just started that last year too. How’s it going? What are you on, your second match? Third?”

The beta grins. “Third. There’s so many of them, why not?”

The other alpha joins in. “I’m on my fourth.”

“How long have you been using the service again?”

“Five years come June. Five long, glorious years of all the omegas you can eat.”

Subject to the exchange, Jongho’s hand accidentally clenches down on his paper, crumpling it.

He can’t even imagine.

Gruff, Jongho asks, “What happens to them?”

The trio looks at him funny. “What?”

“What happens to the omegas?”

“They’re not just omegas. You can request anybody.”

Jongho doesn’t care about that. “The vast majority are. If you trade your partner out too many times, doesn’t it seem like no one wants them? Does the city stop offering to place them?”

“I dunno man but it’s probably the same the other way around. We can get rejected too.”

“Yeah,” adds the beta, “I know some people leave because they want something new. They want someone with a bigger house and more money to buy them expensive gifts. So anyone can get rejected.”

“No. Because of where we work we’re guaranteed to have access to this service if we want it. The omegas don’t have the same privilege. They can’t opt in whenever they want.” They don’t seem to have a response, so he pushes again. “So what happens if you keep trading them around? What happens to them?”

“Look, Choi,” responds chatty, “if an omega or anyone else is sensitive to rejection then they shouldn’t sign up in the first place. It's not a requirement.”

“For some it’s their only option.”

“It’s not their only option. There are programs specifically designed for omegas.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

The trio glance around the room. They’ve been standing in an awkward semi-circle pretending to be focused on their tiny stirring spoons while Jongho challenges them.

Chatty alpha frowns. “You know what? You’re an engineer. If you care so much you figure it out.”

Jongho feels like he’s been punched.

He’s an engineer. He can figure it out.

And he knows just the brilliant, considerate omega who can help.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. Jongho’s on edge thinking about everything: spending time away from Yeosang, matching services, and what the others said. Does Yeosang think that will happen? Does he think Jongho will only keep him for a cycle then pass him on?

Or, secretly, is Jongho afraid the omega will leave him? Is his house big enough? Does he give good enough gifts?

Jongho is going to drive himself insane. He filled out that damn profile so he didn’t have to worry about things like this. Yeosang knew what he was getting himself into, right? He could’ve left before now. He didn’t need to stay with Jongho.

If he wanted to leave he would’ve done it already, right?

Suddenly, Jongho is stricken with the thought that maybe that’s why Yeosang always seems to want to have sex. Maybe he wants to know if his knot is worth the wait.

Oh no. Jongho feels like he just set himself an elaborate trap.

He could try to be more obvious in his affection so the omega knows he isn't going to drop him after a cycle. Or they should fuck and get it over with so Yeosang can decide whether, once he has all the variables, staying is worth it or not.

Jongho rubs his face with his hands.

“Choi, focus.”

Jongho spends the rest of the day brooding. He’s trying not to get in his own head but he can’t help it. Things with Yeosang are just going too well.

But when he gets home and sees his beautiful omega trying to cook dinner and accidentally making a mess, he tells himself not to overreact. There’s no point. If Yeosang wants to stay, he can stay. If he wants to leave, well, he can do that too.

But Jongho wants him to stay.

“Hi, Jongho. How was your da—”

Before he can even take off his shoes, Jongho rushes into the kitchen, picks Yeosang up by the thighs, and places him on the countertop. The omega has a slab of raw chicken in one hand and a fist coated in oil in the other but Jongho doesn’t care. He doesn’t care that when he cups Yeosang’s face, Yeosang’s oily hand fists in the back of his coat. He doesn’t care that when he leans in and lets his eyes close, Yeosang drops the chicken straight onto the floor. And he definitely doesn’t care that when he softly, gently, imploringly presses their lips together, Yeosang lets the food on the stove burn.

Yeosang’s lips feel like candlelight. They feel like a warm glow and a romantic mood, like the last flicker of hope on a dark, cold night. They feel like saving. They feel like home.

They kiss until they’re breathless. Yeosang’s hand that held the chicken keeps wanting to come up and tangle in his coat but Jongho holds it down, keeps holding it down, until dammit, the coat can be washed but there’s no replacing the way his heart breaks and heals all in one moment.

He’s in love. Jongho is in love.

He tries to tell himself there hasn’t been enough time. Logically, it’s only been a month, not enough time - but Jongho knows. His alpha knows.

Jongho is in love.

When they part, Yeosang looks dumbfounded. He’s pink-faced and jaw slack, eyes glazed and breath shallow. His hands hang in the air like they’re astonished too. Jongho pulls his body to the edge and scents him up and down and sideways, lips trailing places they didn’t go before, licking and kissing and kissing and kissing.

Jongho is in love.

Yeosang finally remembers how to speak. “My day was good, thanks.”

Jongho laughs into his neck. “I’m glad. What did you do all day?”

“Oh, you know. The usual. Sketch and nap and daydream about my alpha coming home to kiss me senseless.”

Jongho won’t stop nuzzling Yeosang’s neck. He can’t. He’s in love.

The omega nips at his ears playfully. “And yours must have been...something?”

“Bad. But it’s better now.”

“Why? Because you’re happy you ruined my chicken dinner?”

“Yes,” Jongho smiles, “I hated the thought of having a meal made by my beautiful omega.”

“I do remember it being stated in your application that you specifically did not want your omega to do any cooking. I must say this is an elaborate way of stopping me.”

“Mm, you’re right. You know what, just because I’m so mad, let me stop you again.”

After many more kisses, after cleaning up the chicken and the oil and the ruined food on the stove, they cook the meal together. It's perfect.

It’s perfect, because Jongho is in love.

Chapter Text

Now that he’s finally kissed Yeosang, Jongho can’t stop.

It’s addicting. He’s addicting. His scent ripens each time Jongho so much as leans in. Yeosang purrs into his mouth and rubs up against him and sits in his lap. He looks so pleased. Jongho is pleased too, but unfortunately for them both, Jongho has to sit them apart at the table so they can have a real conversation.

They’re eating breakfast. Sausage and eggs. Yeosang’s sock-covered toes are rubbing Jongho’s ankle under the table as he hums around his fork.

Jongho sighs. His pretty baby is so perfect. And he doesn’t want to lose him, which is why he thinks the next few days are even more important.

“Yeosang?”

The omega trills that he’s listening and blinks at Jongho as he eats.

“Yesterday, the point of the meeting was to share updates about how the climate is affecting the city infrastructure and what adjustments need to be made. They asked us all to shift our projects.” Yeosang nods that he’s listening, chewing and watching Jongho diligently. “They've assigned me work with the water filtration system because they know I've studied the mountain springs, but they want me to go see what can be done at the source.” Yeosang swallows blankly as he tries to process the news. “So... that means I need to go to the summit.” Eyebrows furrowing, Yeosang licks a distracting bit of egg off his lips. “Which means I won’t be able to come home for a few days.”

“What?”

Yeosang’s foot stops rubbing against his ankle under the table.

Jongho cringes. “Yeah.”

“For how long?”

“A few days at minimum. If we can find a solution quickly, I guess it depends on whether my team can come up with an emergency plan. If we can’t figure it out fast enough we'll be facing an even bigger issue.”

Yeosang stares at him. Then his expression turns into something so heart-wrenchingly sad that Jongho wants to curl up and cry. “You’re going to leave me here?”

His heart splinters and his alpha starts to quiver when he picks up a trace of panic in Yeosang’s scent. Needing to comfort, Jongho wraps his foot around Yeosang’s ankle and reaches across the table to hold his hand overtop. “Actually, I had an idea.”

Doe-eyed, Yeosang looks at him hopefully. “What?”

“I tried to come up with a better idea but this is the best I got. It’s not ideal, but I thought of a way we could still be together, at least at night.”

“Yes,” he answers immediately, “I’ll go with you.”

“Don’t say yes before you know.”

“If you’re asking, and it’s a way to stay with you, the answer will be yes regardless.”

It makes Jongho shudder to hear it. He still can’t imagine having someone in his life who truly, honestly wants to be by his side. If Yeosang was here just to have his expenses paid for, he wouldn’t care about coming with Jongho. He would probably really like having the house to himself and doing whatever he wanted on Jongho’s coin. He could still do that if he wanted, Jongho would be happy if he would be happy, but this feels much more reassuring.

“Will you go to the onsen with me?” Yeosang intakes a sharp breath. “It’s only about halfway up the mountain, but I think I could manage to travel between the onsen and the summit every day. It will be long, and with the work and the trek I'll probably get tired, but honestly I would prefer that to sleeping in a freezing cold tent just to be closer to the worksite. And then I could see you, and be with you, if you wanted to come. You could enjoy the onsen the whole time. I have a good relationship with the staff there. You’ve been before, right? There’s plenty to do. My cave pools are good, but the warm, herbal water at the onsen is better and I think we both deserve rest and a relaxing cleanse. Not that I don’t like us smelling like each other. I do! I really like it when you smell like me. I do. A lot. It makes me—” Jongho gets distracted, then gets himself back on track. “I just…thought you might appreciate a trip there, and when is a better time? So.”

Jongho hopes the omega will find his nervous presentation endearing rather than annoying.

Yeosang pushes out of the chair and flies around the table to climb into Jongho’s lap. “Of course, alpha. I would love to. I want to stay close to you.”

As Yeosang scents his neck, Jongho sighs.

“Are you sure you can afford to take me?”

Feeling relieved and playful, Jongho pretends to be affronted. “You think I would offer and then take it back?”

“No!” Yeosang backtracks. “What I mean is, isn’t travelling for work covered by the city? So I assume they wouldn’t also pay for me. Actually, if they expected you to stay in a tent, would they even pay for your stay at the onsen?”

“They better,” he laughs. “But if not I can pay. It’d be worth it to come down the mountain into the nice warm bed of a beautiful omega.”

“Then I have to go. I can’t have you climbing into the bed of any other omega.” Yeosang nips at his neck.

“Are you concerned about my infidelity?”

He snorts. “No, I’m concerned about my infidelity.”

Instantly, Jongho tenses up.

He knows it’s a joke. He knows. A day ago he would’ve laughed. But after that encounter in town, after his coworkers got in his head, Jongho can’t help but react.

Yeosang notices right away. He leans back and his eyes search Jongho’s face questioningly. “What’s wrong?”

The alpha opens his mouth and closes it again. How does he say that he’s afraid? He doesn’t want to invalidate all the things Yeosang has told him before, or to take a step back in their relationship.

Fortunately, Yeosang must realize. His eyebrows knit together and he places both hands on Jongho’s shoulders, shaking him a little as if to snap him out of it. “Jongho, I was joking. I would never. You’re my alpha, I don’t need anyone else.”

The tension in his muscles starts to unfurl. It’s good to hear it. He believes Yeosang. But he’s in love, and even just the thought hurts. He pulls the omega close to his chest and squeezes tight.

Yeosang nuzzles into Jongho’s hair. He whispers, “I would never.”

The job is supposed to start early the next day, so for Jongho to be there on time they need to check in to the onsen tonight. They spend the rest of the morning packing up. Jongho stuffs a backpack full of thick clothing and probably too many provisions because he doesn’t know exactly what tools he might need. Yeosang practically fills his bag with art supplies, so much so that he has to take some back out just to fit the bare minimum of clothing, to his chagrin. Not that Jongho minds him naked, but to wander around the onsen he has to wear more than panties.

When they arrive, Jongho books them a room and negotiates the length of stay with the head host. They’ve done business like this before when Jongho had other mountainside projects. They’re always amicable and appreciate that he’s spending the city money there. It’s a fair trade. The room is in the traditional style, lots of woods and paper panelling and soft, white sheets. There are fluffy slippers and robes that Yeosang immediately curls into, and the bathroom is tiled with jade glass mosaic, which the omega also seems to love. The aesthetic is a far cry from the cobblestones and soot of the city - which is probably why the onsen is such a popular spot for relaxation.

But by far, the best amenity in the room is the private, heated spring. The city definitely won’t reimburse him for booking something this exorbitant, but the look on Yeosang’s face makes it worth it. The spring is hidden behind thin wooden paneling directly out from one side of the bed. It’s a small, enclosed area that opens straight up to the sky, providing privacy from other rooms and perfect access to the outdoors. The pool itself is equipped with a few stony steps, the outer edge encrusted with natural rock. At night, it’s lit up by lanterns and natural cave crystals which emit a faint, pink glow. The whole thing wafts continuous curls of steam up in waves.

Like the pools in Jongho’s cave, the spring also has its own means of filtration. The small waterfall on one side is just for decoration. Jongho knows. He helped design it.

Yeosang’s appreciative shock makes him smile. Then he finds his way to Jongho’s chest and pulls him in for a long, purring kiss.

They order the seasonal special off the menu and have it catered to their room, the ingredients fresh and grown close by on the mountainside. Jongho likes to cook. He does. But damn, does he appreciate a restaurant-quality meal. It’s a great change from their usual and the sensuous flavors have both their hands wandering.

After the meal, they both agree to go for a dip. Starting tomorrow Jongho will be spending long days away and Yeosang wants to christen the hot spring together. He’ll have plenty of time to play and explore the saunas and other experiences the onsen has to offer, but he has limited time to join with his alpha.

Yeosang beats him to it. Through the open wooden panels, Jongho watches the robe slip off the omega's body as he steps down into the water. In the moonlight, his plump ass casts shadows down his thighs, making it look even fuller. It’s very distracting. Yeosang looks over his shoulder and practically summons Jongho to join him with his eyes. Jongho is a weak alpha. He tried so long and fought so hard, but in the end he’s impossibly docile to Yeosang’s requests. Quickly, Jongho finishes cleaning up and disrobes, joining him in the nude. Yeosang’s face is mostly submerged in the water, but Jongho can see the way his eyes rake up and down his body, settling on the cock hanging between his legs. It swings from side to side before it, too, is cloaked under the water.

Jongho treads over to him, unable to help his small smirk. “What are you thinking?”

Yeosang rises from the surface and slicks back his hair, dropping his gaze as if he can still make out Jongho’s cock under the dark mirror of the water. “That you look burdened.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, alpha,” Yeosang murmurs as he closes the gap between them, running his hands down Jongho’s chest, all the way down until they gently cup his balls under the water. “So heavy.”

“What are you going to do about that?”

“Help you relieve them.”

Jongho hums as Yeosang starts to lick his neck. Unable to stand being touched and not touching in return, Jongho’s hands find their way to that plump ass, massaging it appreciatively as the omega strokes him hard. Jongho feels bad for defiling the water when his cum shoots straight out into it, but it’s probably already thick with the slick Yeosang’s contributed. He kisses Yeosang’s shoulder and gently pulls the omega's asscheeks apart, running a finger over his puckered rim.

“You have the most beautiful body.”

Yeosang leans into his chest and looks at him through his lashes. “It’s yours.”

Jongho slowly sneaks a finger into his asshole, feeling it flutter and clench down on him as if to keep his fingers inside and feel the probing more intensely. Holding Yeosang to his chest, Jongho fingers him, alternating between ass and cunt until Yeosang claws into his back and cums with a muffled moan, the sounds damped by the burble of the waterfall in the cold night air.

Listening to that same burble when they lay together in bed, Jongho’s thoughts drift back to yesterday. Yeosang’s curled into his side, head resting on his shoulder, the alpha’s arm holding him close by his waist.

Jongho pets down his side and places a kiss to his hair. “Yeosang?”

“Mm?”

“When I was in the city, some of the other engineers were talking about city-sponsored opportunities for omegas. Do you know of any?”

Yeosang props himself up on an elbow and looks at the alpha curiously. As he answers he traces his fingers over Jongho’s chest.

“There are a few. Aside from the housing and the matching, there are some education services. There’s one optional omega-exclusive academy and an after-school tutoring service but I think they’re both unnecessary. It’s just the same education everyone else is getting, but limited to omegas. To me it feels more like an attempt to keep us from ‘distracting’ others than an attempt to better our prospects. I only went to the academy for a year before I switched back into regular schooling.” Jongho hums thoughtfully as Yeosang continues. “Otherwise, after primary education there are supposedly ‘express paths’ to learning a trade, but the trades are all biased. They say they’re not, but if the only options are arts, childcare, and early education, don’t you agree? They also say that omegas already have access to other programs, which technically we do, but why would you admit omegas into your engineering program when you have viable alphas and betas who want the same thing?” He glances up at Jongho. “Not saying you took a seat from an omega. Most of us aren’t taught we can dream big enough to try.”

Jongho squeezes Yeosang again and kisses the back of his hand.

“Is there anything that doesn’t exist, but you wish it did?”

Yeosang pauses, watching the pink-tinted steam roll off the spring as he considers. “Honestly, I think, for the way things are right now, it would just be great to implement more of those express pathways for omegas. Not even things as bold as engineering right away, just more options. Give them a place to start so they can join more fields, so the young ones develop more role models.”

“And what about you? If you could create a lasting impact, what would you want to do?”

Yeosang laughs. “I would want to run that damn academy.”

Jongho hums.

From the onsen, it’s another full hour up the mountain to Jongho’s work site. That means he has to leave early and come back late, and when he returns he’ll be exhausted. But to sleep happily in a warm bed with Yeosang, he would travel even further.

He takes his backpack with tools and a pre-ordered serving of lunch and finds his solitary way to the top. The journey is cold and rocky but he’s done it before. This is also one of those times he’s grateful he’s an alpha and his body temperature naturally runs a few degrees warmer. Omegas and others should be able to hold whatever occupations they like, but he shudders to think about how cold someone like Yeosang might get. Jongho’s already concerned the omega is too cold in their house, and that’s nowhere near the wind chill that’s up here. Maybe he’ll suggest Yeosang design some cold-weather protective gear for omegas too.

The wind chill isn't easy on the alpha either, however.

Jongho works alone, the majority of his team never setting foot up here. They have different skillsets and no one volunteers for this trek if they don’t have to. So he spends the day locating the start of their system, checking the surroundings for obvious changes that could be impacting the environment, and getting started. He runs tests, tinkers with filtration settings, and runs more tests. By the end of day one he already believes there’s no work that can be done up here but he’ll keep trying, knowing someone has to figure out a solution before they run out of time.

Half-frozen, the sloping roof of the onsen is a welcome sight. He’s tired and cold but looking forward to the warmth of his omega is inside.

As he clicks open the door to their suite, he’s gifted with the sight of Yeosang’s bare legs crossed as he sits up on the bed, sketching. The moment their eyes meet Yeosang runs to him, flinging himself in Jongho’s arms. He smells like aromatherapy and relaxation and his signature scent underneath it all. Smells content.

Jongho missed him.

“Hello, beautiful. What did you do today?” Jongho asks as they scent each other.

“Hi alpha. I slept, had an herbal bath, and then went to the sauna. After that they gave me a complimentary message. At least they said it was complimentary. Did you pay for that?”

Jongho smiles into his neck. “I didn’t. You must have charmed it out of them.”

“I didn’t do anything. Otherwise I’ve been here drawing.”

“And did you eat today?”

“I ate in the large dining room. The pasta was delicious.” Jongho nibbles on his scent gland as he continues. “Speaking of eating, just a bit ago I got the dinner menu from the attendant with the cart. I didn’t know their dining schedule so I stopped her in the hall.”

“What did you pick for dinner?”

Yeosang blinks at him. “Nothing. I thought you should order whatever sounded good to you since I’ve been eating warm food all day, and you’ve been living out of a backpack.”

Endeared, Jongho kisses him. “How did I end up with an omega so thoughtful?”

Yeosang blushes and hides in his neck. “You deserve it. But I feel bad that I've been pampered while you're exhausted. Is there anything I can do?"

"The best thing you can do is enjoy yourself. I'd have to do this regardless. Knowing you're having fun is enough."

Purring, Yeosang nuzzles into him.

Jongho orders warm soup with fresh bread, savory tartlets, and stewed apples for dessert. They don’t always eat dessert, or, dessert of the non-sexual variety, but since they’re here Jongho thinks they should doubly endulge. Yeosang seems to appreciate it, licking everything off the spoon.

They take another dip in the hot spring after dinner, standing together and washing each other, his sweet omega taking extra time to run his hands along Jongho’s tired muscles, wishing he knew how to give him a massage just as good as the one he experienced today. Jongho doesn’t mind. Just Yeosang’s touches are enough to make him loosen up.

Insisting Jongho try not to overexert himself, Yeosang comes up with a way to please them both. He places the alpha in the middle of the bed and pushes him back into the pillows. Jongho almost loses his mind when Yeosang carefully lowers himself so that he sits directly on top of Jongho’s cock, pussy lips parting around it. When he slides forward and back, he simultaneously rubs his clit and strokes Jongho’s dick with his slick pussy lips. If the sensation wasn’t enough, the sight has Jongho mesmerized. From this angle, he can look Yeosang’s body up and down, watch as his face contorts and steadily grows more flushed, as his nipples peak and his clitoris swells. He’s so beautiful. Yeosang licks his lips and alternates between tossing his head back and watching the places their bodies touch, hair falling over his eyes. His hands stay planted on Jongho’s chest for leverage and the alpha can feel when the tips of his nails start to press in because he feels so good.

As he gets closer to releasing, Yeosang bites his lip. He growls quietly as his hips start to lose rhythm, stuttering until he can't focus, nipples too hard and clit too fat. He presses it straight into Jongho's dick and snaps his hips to his own completion. When he cums, he cums hard, body shaking and head thrown back to expose his long, beautiful, unmarked neck, cunt squirting all over Jongho’s balls, thoroughly marking them as his, his, his. That’s enough to make Jongho cum too. His spurts are long and white and tacky, all over his abs. When there’s nothing more than dribbles, Yeosang swipes a finger along his cockhead, collecting the slow-rolling pearls and placing them on his tongue.

Jongho is in love.

He wants to mark Yeosang too. Tired and pleasured and hazy, he finds the strength to lift his thumb, coat it in cum, and press it to the omega's quivering clit. Yeosang jolts from the sensitivity but tenses his thighs, silently encouraging the alpha. Then he lays down for kisses, many kisses, until he gets tired and promptly falls asleep, wet and dirty across Jongho’s chest.

This continues for several more days. Each day Jongho returns to the onsen more exhausted than the last, and by the fourth day he's so tired he almost can’t find the energy to get hard. That’s a level of tired he never wants to be. Yeosang is understanding and sweet. When the alpha murmurs apologies, Yeosang shushes him and straddles his thigh, humping it to completion instead. The alpha likes that his omega feels comfortable enough to rut against his body to get himself off, not too shy anymore. He wants his omega to be happy and cum often, and embarrassment should be no barrier.

On a night near the end of his deadline, recuperating in Yeosang’s arms, Jongho works up the courage to continue their conversation from the before. He has to. He has to bring up his insecurities, just one last time.

“Yeosang?”

“Jongho.”

“You know, when I was in the city, my coworkers said some other things.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, they also used the matching service…”

“Mmhmm…?”

“Well, they said..." He tries again. "They said…”

Yeosang sits up and frowns. “Were they mean to you?”

“No! No.”

“Then what did they say, alpha?”

Jongho exhales. Then he swallows, looks at his omega, and gets it over with.

“They said most omegas that use the service only want to stay with their partner for one cycle just to try them out, and then they leave for someone who has a bigger house and more money for better gifts.”

Yeosang blinks at him. “Why are you telling me this?”

Jongho throws an arm over his face and groans. Why is saying it out loud so difficult?

He mumbles into his arm, “I’m afraid you’ll leave.”

“I can’t hear you, repeat?”

Frustrated, Jongho tosses his arm off his eyes and whispers, “I’m afraid you’ll leave! ”

Even though it was hushed, Yeosang still startles, eyes growing huge.

“I’m afraid that after we fuck and after we go through a mating cycle you’ll decide it’s not worth staying and you’ll want to go to someone else and you’ll leave. You’ll find someone who didn’t have to ask for a ‘compliant’ omega and who has the time and the means to shower you with everything you deserve that I can’t give you, and they’ll look better and their cock will be bigger and they’ll have a fatter knot!”

Jongho swears he sees a flicker of a smile cross Yeosang’s lips.

“Are you laughing at me?” Jongho doesn’t mean to whine but he’s being honest and Yeosang has the gall to find it humorous?

Yeosang stops hiding it and full-on grins. He pulls Jongho up so they can sit across from each other, touching knees. “I’m sorry Jongho, it’s not really funny, but it’s funny to me.” It’s Yeosang’s turn to emit soothing pheromones. He takes the alpha's hands and brings them to his face, nuzzling the scent glands on his wrists. “It’s funny because, every moment of every day, I think about how good my life with you is. How happy I am. How lucky I am. But every other moment, I’ve been afraid that it’s all going to get taken away. I’m afraid I’ll be the one to lose you.”

When Yeosang looks at him, eyes and lips and cheeks crystal-pink in the glow, Jongho gets it. He sees it. Yeosang is happy, honestly happy. It's the same feeling Jongho tried to convey back at the beginning, back when he pressed his own soothing touch to the omega's cheek, so long ago.

Jongho feels his chest constrict, but he tells himself he can’t cry. Don’t cry.

Yeosang leans in.

“I’m not going to leave you, Jongho. I love you.”

Jongho cries.

He pulls Yeosang to his chest and he cries. He squeezes him and nuzzles him and licks him and cuddles him and he cries.

“I love you too, Yeosang. So much. So, so much.”

When he pulls back, Yeosang is crying too. He doesn’t like the distance so he clings to the alpha and together they scent and kiss and cry.

They’re in love.

Both of them. Jongho and Yeosang. Yeosang and Jongho. They’re in love.

After the last of their sniffles, after they can finally, finally relax from the weight of their long-withheld confessions, the omega nips at his ear.

“Besides,” Yeosang grins, “I don’t think anybody’s cock can beat yours.”

The next day, just as Jongho’s about to make his last early-morning trek up the mountain, one of the onsen hosts brings him a letter. It’s from his supervisor, reporting that other members of his team found a series of water main breaks beneath the city. Jongho’s body seems to sigh in relief. He’s done. He doesn’t have to go back up there. It’s over. He thanks the host and asks them to send someone to their room in a few hours with a fully stocked breakfast cart to celebrate.

When he sneaks back in, Yeosang has already returned to sleep after their goodbye kisses, now a soft, breathing lump under a pile of blankets. His hair is mussed and his mouth is slightly open. When Jongho strips off all his heavy gear, Yeosang’s nose twitches like it recognizes the scent of his alpha. And when he slides back in bed and wraps his tired body around the omega, Yeosang sighs in his sleep.

An hour later, Jongho awakens to Yeosang rocketing up off the bed. “Jongho! Wake up! You’re late!”

Bleary-eyed, Jongho wraps his arms around the omega’s waist and pulls him back down. “Don’t have to go.”

“What? Are you sure?”

Jongho nods into Yeosang’s tummy. “Yes. Host came, letter on the table,” he gestures lazily because he doesn’t have the words and Yeosang can read it for himself so Jongho can just go back to sleep, soaking up the extra hours.

When the omega looks it over, he makes a sound of content and tosses it away before cozying up to Jongho again.

“Sorry Jongho. When I woke up and you were here, I thought this morning was a dream.”

“S’okay.”

“Sleep, alpha.”

Chapter Text

Yeosang wakes up to a tongue between his legs.

He must’ve fallen asleep again after this morning’s panic when he thought Jongho was late. But now the sun is reflecting off the hot springs, water crackle illuminating the ceiling of their suite, and Yeosang’s body is throbbing.

Jongho had clearly been at it for a while, licking him awake, living out the omega’s wet dream. Yeosang quickly pushed the covers off of his body and revealed Jongho’s head, his face flushed from the heat under the sheets and the natural color he always gets when he’s licking Yeosang’s pussy, all hot and bothered. He looks up with bright eyes but doesn’t stop licking, instead attaching himself to Yeosang’s clit and sucking, sending the omega back and flat onto the pillows to writhe.

If he had to guess why Jongho decided to change up their routine, it’s probably because they had kissed and confessed and were decidedly in love.

“Yeosang,” the alpha calls, kissing his thighs. “Sorry love, I woke up and you smelled so good I couldn’t help it, needed to taste. But my body is too tired to do much else. So, please, will you sit on my face?”

Jongho’s gaze flickers down to his pussy when it tenses up automatically at the question. Of course Yeosang is going to say yes.

Fuck, yes.

Yeosang has never been so relaxed in his life. He’s sitting on Jongho’s face, slowly rolling his hips so his pussy slides across the alpha's mouth, watching the water glisten. He stretches, working out the knots in his muscles and clenching down on Jongho’s tongue. The alpha grabs his hips and pulls him down tighter every so often. Yeosang doesn’t know how he does it. It’s like he’s trying to suffocate himself with Yeosang’s cunt, always wanting his face in deeper, nose and mouth and jaw totally surrounded by wet omega pussy. Especially now, as Yeosang sits on his face and his plump asscheeks effectively cut off all his breathing, Jongho still acts like it’s not enough.

Jongho’s made him feel like royalty, cooking their meals and buying him gifts and pleasuring him like it’s his job. For an alpha that said he didn’t have the time to woo anyone, he’s certainly done a good job of it.

Yeosang cums on his tongue so easily. It’s out of gratitude and lust and pure physical compatibility. As slick spills out and all over the alpha’s face, he throws his head back to whine up at the ceiling and remembers they now don’t have any barriers between them at all. The moment Jongho’s grip lets up, Yeosang slides back, leans down, and kisses him.

“More,” Jongho mumbles, gently tugging Yeosang’s hips back to his face.

They’re naturally more musky in the morning. That must be why Jongho’s so invested in his cunt. Yeosang has always wanted to swallow down his morning dick too, but he didn’t know he was allowed until today. So Yeosang cums on his tongue again and the alpha keeps licking him through it, face impossibly coated in cream that rolls off and soaks into the pillows.

Sorry, cleaning crew.

His thighs shake around Jongho’s head, but the alpha’s insistent.

“Sensitive, alpha.”

“One more, love. Just one more.” When Yeosang whines at him, Jongho explains. “What I really want to do is be inside you but my body is too tired. This is my way of making it up to you. Plus,” he says as he licks a fat stripe up Yeosang's fluttering labia, “you taste sweeter. Happier. It’s making me crazy.”

What I really want to do is be inside you.

Yeosang could cry. Jongho wants that too.

And Yeosang is happy. But if Jongho acts like this now, they’re going to be really, really distracted in the future.

The alpha places a butterfly kiss to his swollen, puffy clit. “One more?”

Drowning in affection, Yeosang runs a hand through Jongho’s hair. The alpha’s mouth clings tight onto his clit, lips and tongue massaging sweetly.

“Can I turn around?”

“Sure, I would love to eat your ass.”

Yeosang blushes. He wouldn’t mind an ass-eating, but that’s not what he meant. “I mean, I want to be able to touch you too.”

“Ah, but that’s the problem. My body’s so exhausted even my dick is tired. I don’t want you to put effort into it if it won’t perform for you.”

Yeosang almost gets his hips away from Jongho’s mouth as he’s speaking but the alpha quickly latches onto him again. He gently tugs the alpha’s hair again but it looks like Jongho won’t budge until he gets a firm yes or no. Yeosang isn’t trying to remove his face to deny him, oh no. Jongho can do whatever he wants with his body, even making him orgasm until he cums dry. That’s fine. Sounds nice. But what he’s trying to do is explain—

“I want to cockwarm you.”

In awe, Jongho detaches. “You do?”

“Please. I don’t care if it’s limp, I just want you in my mouth. Want you in me in some way.”

“Have I told you you’re perfect?”

Yeosang grins. “Once or twice.”

Turning around, Yeosang accidentally pushes too far back and suffocates the alpha between his asscheeks. He quickly finds the right angle before Jongho makes good on that offer to eat his ass. When he looks over his shoulder, he can almost visualize Jongho’s train of thought as he glances between asshole and cunt as if trying to make up his mind. Yeosang wiggles his hips to keep the alpha focused, spreading his labia and sticking two fingers inside. If the sight wasn’t enough the sound does it. Jongho is weak for the soft, wet sounds of his pussy. Growling at the omega’s fingers for doing his job, Jongho carefully nudges them out of the way with his nose and replaces them with his tongue instead. Yeosang melts into it, pushing back until the position is almost too good, until he almost can’t focus on anything but the alpha’s warm, wet tongue pushing inside. He shivers.

When Yeosang opens his eyes, he’s met with the sight of Jongho’s half-hard dick. He’s seen it in all states by now: rock hard, semi-soft, fully flaccid. Even completely flaccid it’s attractive. He’s definitely a show-er, his balls always big and low, cock always thick and long. When it’s hard it gets veiny. That’s nice too.

Tipping the alpha’s cock between his lips, Yeosang sinks down on it as far as is comfortable and cups his slick fingers under Jongho’s balls, caressing them. It’s nice just to warm him and hold him like this. He tastes good, scent strong, so much like alpha. It makes him feel woozy. He’d like to worship Jongho’s body as much as the alpha worships his, but Jongho is persuasive, always seducing Yeosang first. So when these opportunities come around Yeosang has to capitalize on them.

Cock in mouth, ass on face, Yeosang is content.

Had Yeosang been planning on confessing to Jongho? No. Did he even know that what he felt for the alpha prior to that moment was love? No. But when Jongho laid himself bare, when he admitted his fears and vulnerabilities in such a raw moment, Yeosang knew. He loves this alpha. Whatever security he was seeking when he first agreed to this arrangement has long been replaced with true adoration. For weeks, Yeosang has considered Jongho his alpha in all aspects. It’s amazing he hadn’t known it was love beforehand, but maybe it’s because he had been scared, too. So in that moment, admitting his feelings to both himself and Jongho just felt right.

When they make it back to the cave, their cave, Yeosang feels totally at peace. It still smells so much like them in here, their scents ingrained into everything. The stay at the onsen was nice, but this is where their creativity can really flow. And this is where their furs are. Their nice, thick, pheromone drenched furs.

Wrapped in Jongho’s arms, the omega stares out into the starry night sky, counting the spires of the city skyline against the mountains in the distance. He pushes back into Jongho’s chest and lets his head fall, to sleep.

It’s the next day. All Yeosang can think about is sliding that heavy alpha cock into his cunt, but Jongho needs rest. Every day when he came back from the mountaintop Yeosang noticed him looking physically more run down. He tried hard to hide it, showing vigor in their kisses and touches while he could, but eventually it caught up to him. Yeosang hadn’t wanted the alpha to feel inadequate because he couldn’t pleasure his omega, so Yeosang had taken charge. It was very fun and he should definitely try it again soon, but for now, he wants Jongho to recover fully before he tries to sit on his dick. That's why Yeosang is miffed that he’s not taking his own recovery as seriously. Doesn't he understand that's all that's left between Yeosang and getting fucked?

As an alpha, Jongho’s body will heal itself quickly. Since it’s a weekday, Jongho technically has to go to work, and for some reason he decided going into the city and giving his supervisor his project findings is something that has to be done immediately. Was there any problem where he was working? No. So does Yeosang think he needs to report in immediately? Absolutely not. But his alpha is nothing if not dutiful. So even though Yeosang thinks he should preserve his strength for more important things, Jongho decides to go into town.

It surprises Yeosang when the alpha asks him to go with. At first he thinks it’s because he’s been pouting since they first woke up and Jongho figures taking him with will placate him. He’s not wrong.

But then he finds out Jongho has another plan.

Now that they’ve established mutual feelings for one another, Yeosang feels like he can finally stop worrying. They’re not mated or anything, they haven’t had that conversation, but now it truly feels like Jongho is his and vice versa. Any feelings of this continuing to be transactional have fallen away...almost. They still have the stupid second check-in with the agency. Yeosang told that beta they wouldn’t need it and look how right he was. But Jongho doesn’t want to skip it and 'raise any red flags', the law-abiding fool. Apparently that fool reads things like fine print written in benefits materials and knows details like the fact that they can do a check-in at the agency itself and not make a team come out for a home visit. Apparently they like that even better because it removes the territory aspect. He’s not sure why Jongho suggested they go in unless for the sake of convenience - or he didn’t want a repeat of last time. Yeosang shudders just thinking about it. The minute the group had smelled the lingering arousal on his underwear, Jongho was puffing up and squaring off with the other alpha like he was fully ready to protect what was his, including Yeosang. There was something about watching that display that Yeosang found unexpectedly attractive. And then, as he had tried to remove the evidence, Jongho had pulled him to his chest so abruptly, with such firmness and command, alpha command, that Yeosang felt weak. He didn’t know he was into such displays.

When they happened to other people he found them arrogant and intrusive. When they happened to him, well, he found them alluring and intoxicating.

So maybe it is better that they’re going in person.

As Jongho had mentioned to him before, mental, physical, and emotional connection are all important for choosing a heat partner. That’s why he asked to be connected to an omega so early. Now that they’ve said I love you, the next step in their non-traditional pathway to commitment, Yeosang feels like every box has been ticked. Another benefit to being in tight quarters is that their cycles are much more likely to match up. At the very least, with a bond like theirs, it’s likely whoever’s starts first will trigger the other’s. And, if Yeosang is being honest with himself, that’s the actual last event that has to happen for their arrangement to feel totally, inarguably over. He already feels like it is, they’re both so committed, but since that was in the original arrangement it still feels like a final step that they have to do, even if they would do it anyway. He already told himself he won’t bring up a conversation about mating before the actual cycle. For one thing, they’re still so fresh in their relationship it would probably be good to wait until at least the next cycle anyway, and for another it’s Jongho’s turn to confess something. He can ask to mate Yeosang.

Now that he knows his alpha is his, everybody else is a threat. Yeosang feels grumpy when other people look at Jongho. Unless they’re admiring how good they look together as a couple, people can back off.

They’re in the matching service office with the worker with the lace gloves and Yeosang hates her. She’s wearing scent blockers but Yeosang knows she’s an omega, he can smell competition from far away. She’s the one that made his alpha uncomfortable enough to growl the last time they were in here. He hates the way she looks at Jongho, the same as the first time. Is she jealous, wishing she had an alpha like him? Yeah well she should be. But he’s Yeosang’s, so scram.

She keeps looking. The omega decides to take action.

Yeosang tips Jongho’s face toward his and kisses him sweetly. The alpha smiles. The secretary frowns. Good.

Yeosang does it again. More frowning. Good.

Jongho’s hand hovers in mid-air like he wants to pull Yeosang closer but remembers they’re in a public space. Yeosang wishes he would. Show her. Be possessive. Of course his kind, respectful alpha doesn’t, but Yeosang will. He climbs straight into Jongho’s lap, looping his arms around the alpha’s neck and kissing him again.

When their lips part, Jongho laughs. “I imagined something quite similar to this the last time we were here.”

Yeosang smiles, fingers raking through the hair on Jongho’s nape. “Oh?” When he looks over his shoulder, the secretary is absolutely glaring. Smirking, Yeosang leans down to kiss his alpha again, slipping his tongue into Jongho’s mouth. The alpha's chest rumbles.

Abruptly, the secretary stands and gathers some documents up in a flurry. “Omega Kang? Alpha Choi?”

Yeosang gives her the slow up and down, and just as he opens his mouth to snarkily respond, his polite alpha says, “Present.”

“Good. I’ll be administering your check-in. The normal team is out making house calls so I’ll process you since you’re here.”

Yeosang frowns. “Can you do that?”

She looks absolutely affronted. "I run this service, so I most certainly can. Omega Kang, come with me.”

Much like the first check-in, they’re supposed to separately meet with a staff member to answer questions. So Yeosang gives Jongho another kiss and follows the rude, gloved omega into a small conference room.

She places herself on one side of the table and blandly motions for him to sit across from her. She gets herself a glass of water but doesn’t offer anything to Yeosang, doesn’t even look at him. She just sits, rearranges her skirts, and flips his case file open.

“Omega Kang Yeosang. Paired with Alpha Choi Jongho just over one month ago. He’s a hard-working city planner, you do...crafts.”

She takes a loud sip of her water. Yeosang’s hands ball into fists. He should’ve known her superiority complex would stem from the fact that she’s an employed omega in a city agency. Yeosang wants to remind her that that doesn’t make her more significant than anyone else, but the faster they can get out of here, the better.

“The notes from the first home visit say you left your dirty underwear out to try to trigger a reaction out of the alphas. We don’t encourage that kind of low-brow behavior.”

Yeosang gasps. “There’s no way that’s what was written.”

“So you deny it?”

“Well nothing about it was purposeful—”

“Next, it says Alpha Choi reacted appropriately. Five stars.”

“There’s no way you rank people by stars—”

“And then there’s a note about how you said, and I quote, ‘I don’t think you even need to come back.’”

“Yeah, I didn’t think we even needed this second check-in but my alpha follows the rules, so.”

Finally, she looks up at him with an eyebrow raised. “Your alpha?”

“Yes. My alpha.”

She pretends to flick some dust off the papers. “What is it you like about your alpha, Omega Kang?”

“Jongho’s perfect. He treats me better than anyone my whole life, he listens, he takes note of my interests and supports them. He prioritizes open communication and he makes me feel safe. I love him.”

Her lip picks up in a hint of a snarl. Yeosang feels his own doing the same until she blanks out her expression.

“Are you in heat?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve never heard an omega talk so well about their match after just one month. Sounds fake.”

Yeosang scoffs. “Well if you don’t do the majority of the check-ins, I guess you wouldn’t have heard many success stories, would you? And if the service that ‘you run’, apparently, doesn’t do a good enough job at making good matches then that’s your own fault.”

“Yeah, see this behavior? That’s what I’m talking about. Did Alpha Choi put you up to this?”

He growls. “What? Jongho would never.”

“You make him sound too perfect.”

“You just can’t imagine a truly good alpha, can you.”

“Not one who has to find an omega through the matching system.”

Oh no she didn't.

Unable to control it, Yeosang snarls at her again. “Watch your mouth. He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met and you’re lucky you even get to be in his presence.”

“I don’t smell anything of his on you. Doesn’t look like he’s nice enough to give you any scented gifts.”

“We scented the hell out of each other before we came here. We don’t need ‘gifts’ to prove anything.”

Shrugging, she sips her water. “Scenting fades. Gifts are forever.”

“This is the reason omega stereotypes get perpetrated. Your outdated expectations are the reason omegas in the city are left so far behind.”

“Only the weak ones.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Yeosang hisses.

“I read his application. He wanted a compliant omega. You don’t seem very compliant to me. Just another reason I can’t believe that things are working out well.”

“Compliance is earned.”

“Great, then I’m excited to talk to the alpha that made you compliant.”

“Yeah, you should be. Even looking at him is a privilege.”

“Thank you Omega Kang, you can leave. Please exit through the opposite door at your earliest convenience. I don’t want you influencing Alpha Choi’s honesty.”

Yeosang gapes at her. “How can you talk to people like this?”

She leans back in her chair. “I told you, I run this service. And as long as there are sad, lonely people who can’t find their own mates, I plan to continue. Please leave, it’s rude to keep ‘your alpha’ waiting.”

Yeosang slams the door on his way out.

It feels like tortuous long hours before that door opens again. When it does, Yeosang’s face lights up as he sees Jongho emerge, only to immediately fall when she is not only accompanying him out, but is hanging off his arm. Jongho looks mildly uncomfortable but smiles through it like he thinks her opinion matters. It doesn’t matter. Fuck her. Jongho belongs to Yeosang now and her approval or not, they’re not being split apart.

The air in the waiting room shatters on a growl. Yeosang is full on growling at her, eyes glued to where her stupid laced gloves clutch onto Jongho’s coat. Immediately, Jongo tries to come to Yeosang, but the omega hangs on, pretending like she’s scared. Yeosang knows she’s not scared. But Jongho is a good alpha and won't want to start a bigger fight. Yeosang thinks she’s got it figured out and Jongho will tell Yeosang to calm down so she can look like the victim, but then, but then, Jongho surprises them both by wrapping a hand around her wrist and pressing in, manually detaching her claws. One hand, then the other.

“My omega doesn’t like it.”

There are two sharp intakes of breath.

Then Jongho walks straight up to Yeosang, gathers his face between his hands, and kisses him.

Yeosang is in love.

As they turn to go, Jongho’s arm wrapped around his waist, Yeosang turns to get out one last snipe. “That’s why you wear those stupid gloves, isn’t it? Because you can’t keep your filthy hands to yourself.”

Jongho smiles and shuts the door.

Yeosang is fuming. He’s walking by Jongho’s side without any real sense of direction, clinging onto the alpha’s arm like an oil slick on cogs. His scent has to be disgruntled because Jongho’s nose keeps wiggling and he’s looking between Yeosang and the road ahead as if he’s trying to think of some solution to the problem. As they reach one of the streets that leads to the marketplace, Jongho hauls Yeosang to a small snack cart. He buys two fishcake cups, the kind they fill with steaming hot broth and a fishcake on a stick. Yeosang grumbles about how food can’t buy a good mood but eats it down sulkily. Trying to be a good omega in public, he takes small dainty bites until Jongho raises an eyebrow. If Jongho doesn’t care, he doesn’t care. His alpha is the only person he wants to please. They linger near the cart and get their soup cups refilled with big ladles of broth until Yeosang is markedly less pouty and instead warm and complacent and his tummy feels full. Throwing their cups in the small waste box, he turns around and is met with the warm, soup-slick lips of his alpha. Yeosang melts into them. Jongho holds him close, pulling him in by the waist and tilting his head to deepen the kiss as if to remind him there’s nothing to worry about. Yeosang whimpers. The cart keeper grumbles. Yeosang clings even tighter, now both possessive and needy.

Once in the city center, Yeosang starts to veer them towards the grains seller where they usually begin but Jongho halts in the middle of the cobblestones. “I have a different destination in mind today.”

He leads them deep into the throng of tents and stalls and goods on rugs, and suddenly they pop out in the true middle of the marketplace, the center rotunda where the fountain sits. Yeosang looks up at Jongho expectantly.

“I told you that my team found water main breaks under the city, and that they were the cause of the atypical water test results, right?” A nod. “Well, since it's all part of the original system, we learned that with the materials we used something like the damage they found was inevitable. But the underground systems aren’t the only places where water and that kind of metal intersect.” He gestures at the fountain. “Like this fountain. I’ve always wished we could figure out why it looked so dismal after just a few months, even when we refit it. Now we have a reason. This fountain is one of my personal projects you know. So…” he turns to Yeosang again, but this time, his eyes are sparkling. “So what I want to know, my beautiful omega, is if you would like to redesign it.”

Yeosang’s jaw drops.

It takes Jongho’s smile to revive his blank mind. But he’s still speechless, so Jongho continues.

“Since we have to gut the fountain anyway, I think we should make the whole thing even more sustainable. And while we’re at it, why not more beautiful? So I say we skip the metal details altogether and rebuild it with grout and other materials...as a mosaic. What do you think?”

He’s not thinking. Yeosang is not thinking.

He’s feeling. He’s feeling a rush of emotions. Disbelief, excitement, fear of failure, and deep, intense love.

“Are you commissioning me? You want me, me, to actually design and create a functional fountain mosaic? Right here? In the middle of town? Where everyone can see it?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Are you in?”

Yeosang throws himself at Jongho’s chest. “Yes!”

He nuzzles his neck like his life depends on it and purrs purrs purrs. Eventually a laughing Jongho has to pry him off, only to be then attacked by kisses which he does not refute as easily. When they finally part, both flushed, Yeosang presses a last kiss to his lips and looks at the fountain again. No one is even looking in their direction. Here in the city center are people of all kinds, and an alpha and omega kissing is probably an everyday occurrence. That makes Yeosang happy somehow, to know that he and Jongho fit right in.

Then his brain starts rolling. He’s already mentally scaling things, imagining color palettes, considering glass or stones or multi-media features.

Jongho kisses his temple. “I’m going to go turn in my assignment at the office. I figured you might want to take measurements right away. I brought my tape measure and this small bit of paper and pen. I hope it’s enough. If not we can always buy more while we’re here. Actually—” Jongho pulls the items out of his coat pockets and hands them to Yeosang. Then he withdraws his money pouch. Lightly loosening the strings and tipping it over, he taps out two coins. Yeosang holds his hands out expectantly, grateful his alpha would trust him with money and to buy the supplies he needs.

But then Jongho places the full pouch in Yeosang’s hands and pockets the two coins for himself, shrugging and saying, “Just in case.”

Jongho is not like any alpha he knows.

Yeosang’s eyes start to well up with tears. The alpha's go huge and he immediately wraps Yeosang up in his arms, the omega’s hands still full of supplies.

“Yeosang? What’s wrong?”

Yeosang snuffles as two fat tears roll down his cheeks. “I just love you so much.”

They scent just like that. It’s limited and brief, but it helps. Jongho pulls away and kisses the lingering tear tracks. “Should I stay with you for a while? It probably won’t take long to give them my file, I can go later.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m okay. You’ll meet me back here?”

“Of course.”

By the time they get home, Yeosang has a plan. He and Jongho discussed budget and timeline and all the things necessary for a successful build on the walk back. Yeosang is ecstatic. Jongho assured him that he didn’t need permission to commission Yeosang - he could employ whoever he liked and just needed to submit the receipts to his supervisor in the end. His reasoning is sound and he knows a good designer. Amazed, Yeosang applauds his forethought and tries to make it known just how grateful he is for an opportunity like this, his first real opportunity. He doesn’t know if his sincerity comes through, but he hopes so.

He hasn’t forgotten about how angry he is at a certain omega, however. As soon as they’re in the door he tosses all their items onto the table, rips off their coats, and drags Jongho into the bathroom. Yeosang washes him intently, determined to scrub away any scent of that horrid omega that could’ve been left on his skin, until Jongho is pink and tender and captures Yeosang in his arms, kissing him compliant.

If he hadn’t wanted to hop on Jongho’s dick this morning, he definitely does now. But he tells himself to wait, promised himself he would prioritize Jongho’s recovery first, and then find the nearest opportunity to make his intentions known. It’s hard, but he’ll manage. Just for another few days.

Maybe.

If he can make it that long.

Chapter Text

Yeosang was too off-put to explain what had happened during his time with their interviewer at the matching service.

That made sense. His apple scent was sour, usual saccharine replaced with evident upset. When their voices had risen behind closed doors, the alpha had been able to pick up bits and pieces of their conversation. At first he was pointedly trying not to listen in, but when he heard the tinge of a whine in Yeosang’s voice, then the rumblings of a snap, then a snarl and a growl, Jongho’s ears were straining particularly hard to do just the opposite. His hands clung onto the arms of his chair as he debated breaking the door down versus calmly waiting his turn, knowing Yeosang is a strong omega who doesn’t need his alpha to interrupt.

That doesn’t mean Jongho wasn’t tempted. If someone was upsetting his omega, they were upsetting him.

Although most of it was still hard to hear, he’d picked out a few key words, including the emphasis on "my alpha,” and that was all he needed to know. When Jongho went in, he spoke to the woman cordially of course, but was just as eager to get out as Yeosang. She had even filled the room with her alluring pheromones slowly, like a noxious gas, but whether it was to try to make Jongho touch her and prove he wasn’t committed, or just to put her scent on him and infuriate Yeosang further, he didn’t know. So as soon as he stepped inside his office, he filed a formal complaint. Will it do anything? Probably not. If she’s the actual proprietor like she says she is, it’s almost guaranteed that nothing will happen. However, Jongho’s learned from past projects that if you don’t have timely written documentation of an incident, you’ll never have backup for your claims. After he slipped the report into the dropbox outside the city registrar’s office, he quickly wrote a few more letters and used his two coins to buy the appropriate postage from the mail office. Then he sent the notes off to his slew of colleagues, all for different reasons. It’s uncertain what he’ll hear back, if he hears back at all.

When he returned, he stayed among the crowd to watch Yeosang gently run his hand along the contours of the fountain. He watched the omega look critically, step back and imagine, then return to investigating again. Jongho watched him until Yeosang must have picked up on his scent, his head popping up and rotating until he found his alpha. Then he smiled, big.

Beautiful.

The omega is taking a mid-afternoon nap on the couch, sketchbook still laying open on his chest and pen rolled onto the floor. He’s art. His golden hair seems to glow in the light, the rays of the setting sun illuminating his features. Jongho has been distracted by the sight for so long that he gives up and joins him, removing the sketchbook and wrapping himself around the omega.

As Jongho places his nose in Yeosang’s neck, the omega sleepily runs his fingers through the alpha’s hair. Jongho inhales. He can never get enough of that sweet, spiced apple scent.

“What’s wrong, alpha?”

Jongho hides against his neck and shakes his head, the tip of his nose rubbing across Yeosang’s throat.

“Nothing,” he whispers. “Not a single thing.”

The omega smiles into his hair. He knows what Jongho means is that he’s happy. Really happy. Inspired, Yeosang traces a finger down Jongho’s side, tracking between his legs to cup the heavy bulge held in his trousers. Jongho is aware the omega wishes he would also forego pants, but then they’d really never get anything done. When his hand squeezes gently, Jongho jolts.

“Wanna play?” Yeosang whispers, stroking him.

Even though Jongho pushes himself more firmly into Yeosang’s hand, he says, “Just want to hold you.”

So Yeosang lets the hand become a comforting touch, simply cupping him and providing warmth. Jongho does the same, adjusting so that one of his hands can snake behind Yeosang’s back and down between his asscheeks, fingers carefully pressed against his perineum, reaching what he can. And they lay like that, breathing each other in and holding each other’s sensitive places, just as comfort. As possession. As a, ‘you, and this, are mine.’

“Cold, alpha.”

“That’s because you won’t put on pants.”

“Like it better when you keep me warm.”

Over the next few days, Yeosang works hard on the designs for the fountain, seriously devoting himself to making mini models with the supplies Jongho purchased previously and whatever else he can find. He makes pages on pages of sketches and shows the alpha each one, all while seated on his lap on the couch. They toss potential complications back and forth between them. Jongho wants to use his technical knowledge to help Yeosang plan something that’s not only beautiful and functional but also sustainable. It feels like each day the omega is gaining more confidence in himself, and on the days when he crumples papers into balls and lets his head fall into his hands, Jongho’s there to cuddle and kiss until he relaxes again. They’re perfect for one another. Everything about them feels complimentary, and Jongho can’t believe he met someone who understands him the way Yeosang does. Who makes him smile and laugh and feel confident himself. Who makes him feel like he’s worth more than just his contribution to the city planning team.

Jongho tries to focus on his own work as well, but he’s finding it difficult. Even though his body is still in recovery, they both know what’s coming. Each touch lingers a little longer than the last, each kiss holding a few more moments. It’s getting hard to swim through his distracted thoughts.

The one thing that’s tethering him above the waves are his plans. He knows Yeosang is going to do a great job on the fountain, and if Jongho has it his way, he won’t stop there. As one of the few true city planners, and with his training as an engineer, Jongho does almost everything himself. Having someone like Yeosang who has the interest and talent for certain aspects of this work could prove to be an amazing long-term opportunity for them both, other aspects of their relationship aside.

He has also been thinking about what Yeosang said at the onsen. Jongho didn’t know about the pre-existing opportunities for omegas, and he’d certainly never heard them described the way Yeosang had spoken of them. But then again, the only information he had was either from the city itself or alphas and betas like his coworkers, who certainly don’t seem like a reliable source of omega-positive information.

How anyone could be paired with an omega like this and want to let them go, Jongho doesn’t understand. Yeosang makes his small, insular life worth living.

The alpha is trying to figure out how he can make Yeosang’s dreams a reality. After his years of making connections with city employees, clients, and even market vendors, there has to be someone who knows someone else who can support. But Jongho’s never done this before. How does he support Yeosang in a way that doesn’t feel like overstepping? Or like he’s trying to take control? Maybe he’s overthinking it, just like everything else.

At the end of the day, he knows they’ll figure it out together.

Jongho sighs.

....

He’s also been spending a lot of time thinking about Yeosang’s cunt.

And spending a lot of time under it.

When Yeosang sits on his face, Jongho feels like he’s ascended. He loves being surrounded by the ultra-rich scent of Yeosang’s pussy, breath restricted by his full, gorgeous thighs. It’s a good system for when Jongho’s exhausted but is committed to dutifully tasting his omega. All he has to do is stick out his tongue and get drenched in cream. An ideal experience, really. Yeosang seems to like this position too. He moans a lot and touches his own chest, which Jongho finds obscenely erotic.

It was also erotic to see Yeosang get so protective in the face of another omega. She wasn’t competition, Yeosang has no competition, but that’s how deeply they’ve laid claim to each other, even without full-on sex.

But with that newfound intimacy, Jongho’s alpha is committed to further exploring the omega. It wants to know how it would feel to push his cock through Yeosang’s folds, how it would feel to draw in and out of his heat, how it would feel to knot. How it would feel to cum deep, deep inside and flood the omega’s impregnable womb.

He’s spent a lot of time thinking about it. He’s accidentally trained himself so that anytime Yeosang is nearby, his cock twitches at the prospect. It’s like it’s drawn to the omega, wants to be close and up on him. This is not a sensation Jongho is familiar with. He’s not used to his body doing so much...wanting. He doesn’t know how to process. Yeosang isn’t helping. It’s like he knows. He’s drawn to Jongho too, pressing himself up against the alpha, strategically placing their genitals together and humping lightly like Jongho won’t notice, but they both know what he’s doing. The omega will take Jongho’s fingers and guide them between his cheeks or onto his clit or to slide into his cunt. It’s starting to feel like Jongho’s hands are on his pussy more often than not.

Jongho’s not complaining. He’s just having a hard time thinking about anything else.

It seems Yeosang is feeling the exact same way.

One morning, after they spend the dawn waking each other up with soft licks and even softer kisses, he starts to drag himself out of Yeosang’s arms to get ready, but Yeosang doesn’t want to let him go.

The omega rolls on top of his chest and lays flat, an act to keep the alpha down. He starts nibbling on the alpha's collarbones. Distracted, Jongho lays back, holding the omega’s exposed waist in his hands and purring. When the omega starts to awaken further, he playfully nips his way up Jongho’s neck, and in an obscene act of feigned dominance, playfully opens his mouth and closes his jaws around Jongho’s throat.

Yeosang is on his back in an instant.

Enticed, Jongho cages him underneath his own body, legs and arms practically pinning Yeosang’s to his sides, holding him down, his own jaw gently enclosed around the omega’s throat.

Yeosang whimpers. When the omega tips his head to one side, Jongho’s jaws quickly readjust, then readjust again, playfully asserting absolute dominance as the omega tries to wriggle free. But it’s a lost cause. He pins Yeosang down more firmly, teeth indenting, rumbling quietly.

Then he smells it: Yeosang’s slick.

Jongho freezes.

His slick smells good. Really good. Like he’s been a very patient, very good boy who loves his alpha and would love his cock even more. The scent is making Jongho’s head spin with the need to assist, to praise his baby for being so sweet, to worship him with his cock. That’s what he wants, after all. He wants his alpha’s cock.

Yeosang whimpers again, futilely trying to shift his hips.

Overtaken, Jongho sits up and leans over the omega, brushing his bangs from his brows. His eyes rake over Yeosang's body, settling on the peachy, puffy lips of his sweet smelling cunt.

He has to rip them away to find the omega’s face again.

“Yeosang,” he says in a voice that makes the omega’s hands fist into the furs. He licks his lips and tries again, wanting to say it, but how does he say it? “Yeosang.”

“Yes, alpha?”

The voice of an angel, his angel, who wants it, needs it, deserves it—

“I—”

“Yes,” Yeosang blurts. “The answer is yes. Please, yes.”

Jongho knows Yeosang knows, but he wants to say it, he wants to confirm. “Can I—”

“Yes, alpha, yes. Sex. Let’s have sex.” Yeosang’s chest is rising and falling with anticipation.

Fuck.

He didn’t think their first time would be having morning sex, but there’s something about the glow, about being in a bed of furs absolutely coated in their scents, that feels like there was never a better time or place. Everything is soothing.

Everything is right.

Kissing the omega’s hair, Jongho whispers in his ear, “Let’s have sex.”

Yeosang shudders.

Jongho strips him of his sleeping shirt, pulling it up over the omega’s head and kissing him as he falls back onto the nest. Leaning back, the alpha discards his own clothing as he admires the long lines of his omega’s beautiful body, fully displayed for him in the furs.

Yeosang’s waist is small, contrasting the easy curves of his smooth hips. He’s built with these thick thighs that Jongho wants to fall asleep between, crushed and mindless between their lovely golden hue. And his chest - his perky chest, pretty chest, with small, peppery nipples and risen, rounded nubs, perfect for sucking.

He’s a dream. An absolute dream.

The face of his dreams is watching him make love with his eyes, appreciating each divot and angle and curve. He gets stuck looking at Yeosang’s pussy again. He wants to touch it but it’s almost too perfect, too juicy and ripe. There are trails of shimmering slick between the folds as it drools, salivating at the proximity of Jongho’s proud, ready cock that’s sitting nearby.

He wants to be inside.

Jongho doesn’t waste time prepping him. He knows the omega’s body is still relaxed from the three times he came just hours before, all from Jongho’s fingers and tongue. But he couldn’t anyway. Yeosang is already panting, legs subtly enclosing on Jongho’s body to pull him closer, to push him in.

Thrumming with want, Jongho falls onto his elbows, one hand sliding to Yeosang’s hips to lift them up as he gently, so gently, touches just the tip of his dick to Yeosang’s cunt.

The omega moans.

They both do, actually.

“Are you sure?”

“So sure, alpha. I’ve never been more sure.”

Pressing their foreheads together, Jongho nods. Then he lets his body move.

Slowly, Jongho rocks his hips until his smooth cockhead begins to part Yeosang’s soft pussy folds, tapping in, then out as the omega's body readies for him, opens for him. He kisses Yeosang in between, just soft presses, just so his lips don't get cold. Every few rocks the omega’s body will get all riled up and he'll nip Jongho's lips as if torn between asking him to go faster and doing it himself. By the time Jongho's tip gets almost halfway inside him on a sway, his cock is entirely coated in slick. It's flowing out of Yeosang like a plea, desperate to show the alpha how welcome he is, how wanted, how desired.

Finally, on the last gentle rock, his cockhead catches.

Then it begins to slip inside.

Jongho cradles Yeosang’s face, watching his expression.

Eyelids drooping, his mouth falls open as Jongho slowly slides in.

“Does it hurt?”

“No alpha.”

Yeosang watches Jongho with a lidded gaze, unwilling to look away but so obviously focused on the feel of him, on the long, thick cock slowly pushing inside. Jongho brushes his cheek with a thumb, tracking the minutiae of his changing expression, the spill of a wine faded flush that blends into the birthmark by his eye as his body heats up. A soft hand lifts to Jongho’s bicep as if Yeosang needs a way to ground himself, to give himself something to hold on to before his mind drifts off to make room for all the scents and emotions and pure, raw pleasure.

Yeosang turns his head to kiss Jongho’s palm in between panting, giving his love to the alpha in all possible ways.

Enamored, Jongho continues to slide in. He slides slow and easy until finally, finally, his balls touch Yeosang’s behind, but the omega immediately tenses up, cunt clenching down and eyes squeezing shut.

Jongho halts, eyes going wide.

“Do you want me to pull out?”

Yeosang’s lids fly open and he grabs onto Jongho’s biceps. “No! No.”

“Is it too much?”

“No, alpha. I’m sorry, I- I just got too excited. Feels so good.”

Yeosang reaffirms him time and time again but Jongho wants to know, with absolute clarity, that everything is okay.

“Please, don’t stop.”

Jongho’s thumb pets his cheek again. They’ve never been more connected, and Jongho’s never felt so gone. Gone for this omega, his partner, his love. Gone for his body, whatever it wants or needs. Gone for his scent, his alluring, cloying scent.

He’s so gone.

As he pulls out to push back in again, Yeosang’s body thrums and his head lolls, fingers digging into Jongho’s arm.

Pull out, push in, and his mouth is open, brows furrowed, forgetting all pretense of appearance and solely attuned to the feeling of skin on skin.

Jongho’s lips drop to the omega’s neck, to suck.

Yeosang’s pussy throbs around him. It’s warm and ribbed and velveteen, a snare Jongho never wants to find his way out of. He adores it. His precum does too. He feels it leaking out as if it’s not aware that the omega is slick for him, as if both their bodies know how compatible they are, how much they should be doing exactly what they’re doing.

Jongho can’t believe he waited so long.

“I can’t believe you waited so long,” Yeosang pants between moans.

Jongho smiles into his neck.

Comfortable with the way Yeosang’s cunt pulses, he picks up the pace. He leans up and adjusts his hips so that he can thrust long and slow and deep, searching for the angle that will make his omega cum. If Jongho’s not careful, his surging emotions might make him release early, and he’d rather make Yeosang cum four times, five, to each one of his own. So he lifts the omega’s hips and slides him around on the furs, pushes in, pushes in, pushes in, until—

Yeosang gasps.

Found it.

Jongho falls down again and keeps that spot, keeps hitting that spot, until Yeosang is panting and writhing, until the alpha pins him to the furs. Instead of going limp like Jongho expected, Yeosang melts into the fuck, eyes wide and jaw slack as he watches Jongho watch him.

They move together. His hips meet every smooth thrust, hand tight on the alpha’s arm like he won’t let go, never wants to let go. Jongho kisses him. The kiss is hot, more wetly panting into each other’s mouths than anything, but it’s enough. They kiss again, thrust again, until Yeosang wraps his arms around Jongho’s shoulders to cling tight and keep the alpha close. Like this their bodies roll together, hips barely parting, but he’s so deep, Jongho is so deep, that the omega’s head falls back and his spine arches.

“Ah- al, alpha, I’m- I’m going to—”

Jongho latches onto his neck, purring and sucking.

“Jj-Jongho- Jongho, I’m cumming alpha I’m cumming I—”

It feels like every muscle in Yeosang’s body tenses. The arms around his shoulders, the legs around his hips, chest and abs and cunt squeezing down hard, cumming and cumming and creaming onto the alpha.

Jongho sucks his neck purple and thrusts him through it, trying to hold himself back until his baby’s done, until his cunt is done clinging and he can pull out and cum all over the omega, his pussy and pelvis and wherever he lets him—

“Alpha, cum inside.”

Jongho explodes.

His cock ejaculates with such velocity, such a quantity, that even Yeosang is in awe. Jongho's coating his pussy, coating his walls and his lips and everything he can touch, shooting his cum to all the places he can’t, absolutely claiming.

Only when he’s positive that there’s nothing left he can give, Jongho carefully lowers himself onto the omega, covering him. It’s for warmth and protection and just to be close. This part of him, the instinctual part of him, wants to keep the omega plugged so he has a better chance of taking pups, even if he knows that’s biologically impossible. But from the way Yeosang’s hands grab onto Jongho’s ass and keep him in tight, he thinks the omega is acting on instinct, too.

Then they purr like their lives depend on it.

Everything is gold. It’s the early morning light, honeydew and dancing off the copper gilded windows. It’s Yeosang’s hair, his amber eyes, the glisten on his full, full thighs. It’s the feeling. It’s the feeling of finally making love.

Eventually, Jongho forces himself to rise. He gently wipes away the mist that has settled in Yeosang’s waterline.

“How do you feel?

Clinging to Jongho, Yeosang laughs shakily as he smiles through the tears.

“Good, alpha. So good.”

Jongho helps him regain his strength by making extra crispy potatoes with lots of sides. This time, they share the fork.

They make love again later that day.

Three times the next.

Until, somehow, they can’t seem to stop.

They’ve never been more useless. Neither one has any success with productivity. Jongho will go to his workbench and catch Yeosang staring from where he’s trying to sit and behave at the table, but one glance and they’re both smiling and the omega ends up straddling his lap. Jongho is the same. Yeosang will go outside and try to clear his head with some fresh air, staring down at his pastels with purpose. Jongho will go out under the guise of getting more scrap metal and they’ll make eye contact across the yard, before inevitably making out against the cabin and trying to take off their coats. They’re useless. All they want to do is kiss and touch, smile and fuck. And this isn’t even their mating season. Shit, if this is how they are now, how bad will it be then?

Jongho takes a sick day. Then another sick day the next because he’s so, incredibly, useless. Yeosang is the only thing that matters.

Finally, they have to break their cycle of cumming and cuddling because they’ve run out of food. It’s time to pick up their weekly farmshare and Jongho is thankful because with all the energy they’ve been expending, they’ve been eating a lot more.

Today, they’ll go. Right away this morning. First thing.

They make it halfway down the bedroom hall before Jongho slips Yeosang’s panties to the side and fucks him against the wall, holding him up by his thighs. When he pulls out they both shiver and watch the cum drip down Yeosang’s legs. Jongho’s alpha rumbles because it is so damn pleased.

“Jongho,” Yeosang tries, panting and holding his shoulders for dear life. “We have to go get food or we’re going to starve.” Jongho nods in agreement and lets Yeosang down.

They head to the cave pools for a bath. They get through shampooing before Yeosang bends over and presents himself on the ledge.

“Yeosang,” Jongho tries, thrusting in quickly. “We’re going to starve.”

Neither has any words for the other when they fuck on the table after their meager toast and jam, all the food they have left. It’s pointless to speak. They know. They just have to get out of here before the thick, thick scents of sex and cum and arousal cloud their heads for the fourth time. Jongho leaves the windows open when they depart, hoping to air things out by the time they get back. Maybe being in the presence of the rest of society and dispersing their scents will remind them that there are other things to do than fuck and cum.

There aren't, really. Right now, Jongho thinks those are the most important. But a reminder couldn't hurt.

All things considered, they do pretty well. They only end up making out in back alleys twice. Jongho gets snippy when he tries to barter with some particularly stubborn shopkeeps, but only because his alpha is keyed up on the scent of Yeosang’s wetness under his coat. Most people wouldn’t be able to smell it as protected as it is, but Jongho’s so in tune to that sweet, sweet apple scent that every time he breathes it's like his nose is buried in it, but his alpha feels annoyed that he can’t do anything about it. So Yeosang intervenes while Jongho stays flush to his back. Other than that, they manage to finish up and leave quickly, getting as close to home as the treeline before Yeosang throws the basket on the ground and tells Jongho to fuck him against a tree because they’re damn close enough.

Any uncertainties, any insecurities, are long gone.

Chapter Text

“Good morning beautiful.”

“Wanna fuck.”

Jongho chokes on his spit.

“Wanna fuck right now.”

The alpha blushes from the fervent instance in Yeosang’s voice.

“Whoah, okay, hold on—”

“Now.”

Jongho’s eyes grow wide. “Are you going into heat?”

“Dunno, don’t care, wanna fuck.”

The alpha leans in to sniff his neck. Yeosang’s head falls automatically, baring his throat for the alpha’s taking. Whatever he wants to do with it. Sniff it, mark it, bite it. It’s his. Every part of Yeosang is his.

Jongho stiffens. “Smells like you’re in heat.”

Which means there’s a 90% chance Jongho’s about to start a rut.

It’s because once they started making love, they haven’t stopped. While they’re technically over a month early, their biology is designed to match up to a partner’s. And while neither of them are in their cycle, it looks like Yeosang’s body was tricked into thinking he was helping Jongho’s rut because of how much sex they’ve been having.

It’s a good thing they just bought food.

"Alpha please.” Yeosang rolls on top of Jongho and straddles him, humping his naked pelvis against his boxer-covered cock. His fingertips are already pressing into Jongho’s chest and he’s feeling obscenely unstable for just waking up. He needs the alpha to ground him, to soothe him. To fill the need in his bones. He’s already leaking slick profusely, totally soaking the fabric between them and making it rough and harsh against his soft inner thighs. It makes him shiver. “Please?”

Pupils steadily expanding, the alpha stays still and lets Yeosang hump him, hands tense on Yeosang’s waist as if he’s fighting between guiding the omega’s body himself and wanting to flip them over and pin him down. Yeosang loves that look on him. Likes when he looks a little wild, a little unrestrained. It makes Yeosang feel like he has the power to unleash pieces of Jongho that he hides or maybe didn’t even know existed within him. He’s seen a lot of Jongho’s crumbling restraint lately, what with all the times Yeosang’s found himself pushed up against walls or pulled down onto cushions or furs. It wouldn’t be fair to say Jongho started most of their romps though; Yeosang was definitely the culprit. But how could he not be? Jongho smelled like heaven, touched him soft and sweet like he thought he was an angel, and his cum tasted like an omega’s wet dream, thick and rich and heady. It tasted so good that sometimes Yeosang was torn between wanting Jongho to cum inside him or cum in his mouth.

This is not one of those times. Now, in preheat or heat or whatever this is, he desperately needs Jongho’s seed inside of him.

Yeosang can’t get pregnant, has never really wanted to be, but damn if all his biological instincts aren’t begging the alpha to put a pup in him. It’s the best and the worst because he can give in to his instincts and not worry about the consequences, but also because his heat-riddled mind will never feel satisfied. Jongho’s rut-stricken thoughts probably won’t either, knowing the seed won’t ever take and his scent won’t change with the conception of a pup. In some ways it might help their mating cycle go quicker, both aligned around a goal that can’t be met, but it also might be emotional. Fortunately, they’re not just cycle partners anymore. Fortunately, they’re deeply, truly, madly in love and the common sense of abandonment after the cycle won’t pervade here.

That doesn’t mean Yeosang isn’t emotional, however. He’s an omega in heat after all.

Tear-pricked, he begs, “Please, alpha? Please.”

Jongho licks his lips and softly squeezes Yeosang’s small waist, his gentle touches in direct contrast to his hungry, dark pupils. “Please what?”

“Please help me.”

“You want help with your heat?”

“Please,” he whimpers. “Stop teasing. Yes help me with my heat. Need you, alpha. Need your cock and your pups please please. Need you.”

Eyes never leaving his face, Jongho’s hand drops to slide between Yeosang’s dripping cunt and the soaked underwear, fingers interrupting his steady humping. But the omega just grinds against them instead, feeling a small sense of victory that the alpha responds. He drags his clit against Jongho’s fingertips, rolls his hips then repeats, until Jongho tilts up two fingers and they slide inside. Yeosang shudders, lifting up and dropping down again to get those fingers in deeper, to feel fuller. It’s so slick, everything is so slick, that even two fingers feel like nothing, barely a stretch and nowhere near full.

“Not enough,” he whines. He whines and whines as Jongho twists his fingers and scissors inside of him, showing remarkable control in his dedication to prep the omega, even though Yeosang is convinced he doesn’t need it. They haven’t been able to keep off each other, he’s used to the feeling of Jongho’s cock inside him. “I don’t need it alpha, we fuck all the time. I’m ready, I’m ready.”

“You’ll need it if you want to take my knot.”

Jongho’s knot.

He stops breathing.

Then he’s panting. “Yes, yes, please, yes.”

“Shh, love. I know. Let alpha get you ready for it. Trust me.”

Knotting is...intimate. They’d never discussed knotting, but it’s not something people do just for fun. Well, when you get to do it with someone it’s all kinds of fun, but it’s not something you do when you hookup or even date, at least for a while. Knotting is for breeding or for partners.

Luckily, they’re both.

“Pups, alpha.”

“I know love.”

Jongho’s fingers open him, so slick and so sweet, until he must deem it enough and he crooks his fingers to Yeosang’s most sensitive, addicting place. He knows the location well by now, knows the best angles to hit it when they’re fucking or how firmly to press with his fingers, even knows the pattern to lick and suck with his tongue. Yeosang’s convinced Jongho’s training as an engineer somehow prepared him for things like mapping out the pleasure points in omegas’ bodies, because he can make Yeosang orgasm in three minutes flat if he wants to. And because Yeosang has almost no refractory period, he can make him cum four times, five times, in a row.

And he has.

Yeosang’s thighs shake as Jongho fingers him through his first orgasm, slick sprinkling out between the thrusts and the vibrations. He stares Jongho down as he cums, letting the alpha have full view of his flushing, pleasured expressions. It makes Jongho’s scent skyrocket, his face even darker, his body even tenser. Yeosang wants the alpha to see how he makes him feel. Wants him to see how his effort looks across his omega’s face.

“You’re so beautiful when you cum.”

“Want to be pretty for you.”

“You are, love. The prettiest.”

Yeosang’s hips slow as he lets the sensitivity of the orgasm subside so he can prepare for orgasm number two. While debating how he wants it, Jongho decides for him.

He pulls his fingers from Yeosang’s pussy, slipping them out with a loud, wet sound, and bringing them to his face. His blown eyes slide closed as he inhales. A shudder wracks through his body.

Heat slick and cum smells very different, Yeosang knows. But he can’t smell his own. “What does it smell like, alpha?”

Voice shaky, Jongho stutters, “I can’t- it’s so- it’s-”

Yeosang smiles. “You like it?”

When Jongho’s lids slide open again, his gaze is absolutely predatory. Yeosang can’t look away. He’s frozen watching the alpha bring those glossy, shiny fingers to his lips, stick his tongue out, and lick a broad, flat stripe up his fingers. The mix of clear slick and sweet cream looks good on his tongue, Yeosang thinks, before the alpha swallows it up. They both shiver. Slowly, intentionally, Jongho flips his hand over and does it again, licking up the back and showing Yeosang his tongue before swallowing. Then he splits his fingers and does it again, but that’s all Yeosang can take. As the loud whine rips out of him, he sees the alpha’s eyes flare. Then he’s being manhandled, rearranged like his body weighs nothing, until somehow Jongho’s underneath him and Yeosang’s hips have magically landed on top of his face, and then there’s—

Tongue.

Yeosang loves his alpha’s tongue.

He’s been eaten out before, but for some reason, when Jongho does it, Yeosang is like a man crazed. He can’t get enough. His hips gyrate senselessly against the alpha’s mouth. Everything feels good. Somehow Jongho’s lips and tongue are everywhere at once and Yeosang’s back is arching, he’s panting as his folds get sucked into Jongho’s mouth, tongue swiping through them, nibbling, sucking sucking sucking. Yeosang’s long since learned that the alpha can hold his breath through anything so he’s no longer afraid to absolutely suffocate him with his cunt and ass, pushing down to get the most friction, the deepest tongue. The alpha takes control anyway, hands back on his hips, and this time he does move them. Yeosang likes when he does this, likes when Jongho takes control. It frees Yeosang’s hands up so he can cup his own chest, pulling at the peaks of his tits and massaging around them, feeling the pebbling of his nipples under his soft fingertips. There’s something about stimulating his chest while his alpha is devoted to his cunt that always, always makes him cum. Maybe it’s the breeding thing, teasing at himself like he could be milked while Jongho eats his pussy. He doesn’t know, but it feels damn good.

As he cums again into Jongho’s mouth, he whines and eyes the large mound of Jongho’s dick. It’s half hidden under the furs, still covered by his boxers. Those need to go.

As he leans forward, conceding to let go of one teet for the sake of his alpha’s cock, he hears the loud rumble of a growl and loses his balance, falling onto Jongho.

“No.” Jongho grumbles it into his body, tugging him back so his hips stay above his face.

“Your cock, alpha. Want to see it. Don’t like it covered.”

“You’ll get too distracted. I’m not done here.”

“Alpha—” he whines, reaching for it, disobeying—

On the crack of a snarl, Yeosang falls absolutely limp, body conceding to his alpha. Even though it’s a quiet snarl, it’s still an expression of command Yeosang never hears from him. It’s unreasonably attractive.

Jongho kisses the backs of his thighs, licks them to soothe. “Not yet. Come here.” He maneuvers them around so Yeosang is laying on his tummy, now naked, and Jongho is between his thighs, kissing up his spine to nuzzle into his neck. He whispers into his ear, “You’re in heat, Yeosang. You’re going to be seeing my dick for days. Wait just a little while longer while it isn’t too bad, okay?”

“What if you go into rut soon, alpha?”

Jongho chuckles into his ear. “Then you’ll see so much of my cock you’ll get tired of it. Best leave it hidden for now, don’t you think?”

Yeosang disagrees. He could never get tired of looking at that absolute masterpiece. But he’ll listen to his alpha, because his alpha has always taken care of his needs and always shows him love. He loves him.

He whines so Jongho knows he isn’t happy about it, but isn’t going to argue. Jongho laughs again, nibbling on his ear warmly. His mouth makes its way back down from his ear to the tender scent glands, biting them softly even as his hands tense around Yeosang’s waist, as if the thick aroma of his heat pheromones are a craving almost too hard to bear.

“You’re so perfect, love,” he says as he trails himself down between Yeosang’s thighs again, hands gently massaging the omega’s asscheeks. When the chill of the cave hits his asshole, he knows the alpha has parted them, and when suddenly it’s wet, he knows the alpha is going to eat his ass. Before Jongho, getting his ass eaten was something he had the pleasure of experiencing only on the rare occasion. Now, his alpha eats his ass almost every day. The fact that Jongho can orally pleasure all the parts of his body so frequently seems impossible. How does his jaw not get stiff? How does he not get tired of Yeosang’s taste and scent?

A tongue traces his rim and Yeosang stops caring. Eat, alpha, eat.

The cool air on his exposed skin feels delicious, tempering the flush of his heat creeping from head to toe. Jongho massages his plump asscheeks as he licks and enters with his tongue, sending Yeosang’s knees farther apart as he bellies down and lifts his ass to meet him, hands tangling in the furs. It’s such a submissive position, belly to the ground, ass lifted, neck exposed. He wonders if Jongho likes looking over his naked body as he eats his ass, looking at Yeosang sprawled out for him. Yeosang likes it, at least. He likes showing his alpha his devotion in this way.

After he cums for the third time in however many minutes, he lays boneless and hears the sounds of his alpha rustling around behind him. When their bodies touch, he knows the alpha has shed his own clothes and is now draping himself over Yeosang entirely, covering him protectively, making his omega feel safe and small and cared for.

Yeosang begins to purr. Jongho licks his neck.

Winding their fingers together, Yeosang asks sweetly, “Can we make love now, alpha?”

“Just once. Then we need to eat.”

Yeosang nods into the furs and Jongho softly bites the nape of his neck. His omega feels so, so content. So safe.

“Jongho?”

“Mm?”

“I love you.”

Another bite to his nape, then a kiss. “I love you too.”

“Will you knot?”

A pause. “You want me to?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Are you sure you want the first one now? You don’t want to save it for later when your heat is worse?”

“I’m sure. Want to feel the first one with more clarity. Want to really feel you.”

Jongho hums. “You’re so sweet, love. So sweet for me.”

He nods into the furs again. He knows Jongho likes it when he’s clear about what he likes and dislikes, but sometimes it still feels embarrassing. So he musters up the courage and mumbles, “Also...I like when you bite my neck.”

Jongho’s humming intensifies. “Oh you do, do you?”

“Yes alpha. Makes me feel safe.”

The nibbling returns, so Yeosang sighs, melting into it until Jongho bites softly again and Yeosang’s whole body tenses then relaxes, scent turning even sweeter.

“Like that?”

“Just like that.”

He feels the velvety head of Jongho’s cock press timidly at his slick folds. “You want more time, love?”

“No alpha. Want you.” He tries to push back against it but Jongho’s weight is on top of him, holding him down.

Jongho immediately understands his struggle. But instead of letting Yeosang up, he keeps their protective pose and moves himself, gently tapping his cockhead in and out of the fluttering opening of his cunt, as he always does. It’s like he asks Yeosang’s body to dilate, to open for him, to get so drenched in slick it can’t possibly hurt. It never does. Jongho is gentle, even when he’s riled up.

Yeosang squirms underneath him, feeling absolutely erotically small, quietly whining.

Then his cock catches.

When he finally pushes in, Yeosang feels so tender. It’s like his heat-flushed pussy has been waiting so long to feel him that everything is heightened, each nerve lighting up at the drag of his cockhead, at the slide of his shaft, deeper and deeper. Yeosang could cum just from the pleasure of knowing the alpha is inside him. He grabs at the rippling muscles of Jongho’s strong arms and tries to lift his hips, sending the cock further, further. His cunt pulses, so happy. It’s so happy to welcome Jongho inside. It wants to kiss him. He drools at the thought of the alpha’s tip getting close enough to kiss his cervix, especially in this position. That might hurt, but his omega tells him that it would be absolutely, undeniably worth it. The deeper the alpha can go, the deeper he can claim, the better. Yeosang’s feet slide behind Jongho’s ass, trying to push him in further. Jongho laughs breathlessly into his ear, holding his ground. “You’re trying to go too fast.”

“You’re not going fast enough,” Yeosang quips, displaying his neck, trying to pull Jongho’s natural, dominating alpha to the forefront. His omega thinks the alpha would be easier to persuade. He would want cervix kisses. But Jongho remains stubbornly controlled as always. He gently bites at Yeosang’s scent gland to calm him down and focuses on smoothly dragging his cock. Yeosang’s going mad from it. Somewhere deep in his mind he knows he’s just relieved and grateful that they’re finally doing this, that Jongho is finally inside him for heat sex, for their mating cycle, but his omega just went from 0 to 100. Inside means deep inside, apparently, and when he’s under Jongho like this, it’s hard to separate his thoughts. But he lets Jongho decide, trusting his alpha irrevocably, to do what he wants with him.

He loses himself to it, mind blanking until he hears the telltale rumble of Jongho’s impending orgasm vibrate through his back and feels the beginnings of a stretch in places Jongho hasn’t stretched him before. Yeosang tries to arch into it but he can’t, still pinned under Jongho who is biting his neck and thrusting into him. He wiggles and wiggles until Jongho nips at him harder and his knot expands rapidly, pushing against his pussy and making his head spin at how easily he accepts it, how it’s barely a burn to stretch out for him, like they’re made for each other, made for this. And then Jongho’s hips slow and he teases his knot in and out of him, in and out, until it expands so big Jongho has to pop it inside one more time and leave it so it can fully lock them together. Finally, finally, Jongho begins to cum.

When the first hot wave of his knot-induced orgasm shoots out, so far up Yeosang knows it trickles into his womb, the omega loses it. He whines and whines and cums himself, body clamping down on Jongho’s knot to milk it, craving the wave after wave of Jongho’s unending seed slowly filling him, slowly flooding his womb. The alpha bites his neck more firmly to hold him prone, and fuck- fuck does it feel so good to be held still and bred, to be pinned down and taken by the alpha he loves and trusts.

It feels so good, he blacks out.

When he wakes up, he’s wrapped in furs, sitting on Jongho’s lap with a bowl of soup held under his nose. He jolts back into Jongho’s strong chest and arms. The alpha kisses his temple.

“Hi.”

Yeosang gathers himself, realizes where they are, and calms down. He returns Jongho’s kiss. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

Taking stock of his body, Yeosang finds that he feels absolutely wonderful. Well, there’s an underlying hint of heat stress that could resurface any moment, and his hips are a little sore from the onslaught of symptoms, but the rest of him feels like his muscles have been through an intense five-part massage, still tingling with pleasure. “I feel good. You?”

“Good.”

“Any rut symptoms yet?”

“Not yet, but I bet I will soon. Hence the reason we both need to eat.”

Yeosang scoffs at Jongho’s attempt at a smooth transition but he can’t help but be endeared by how much the alpha cares for him. So they share the big bowl of soup, Jongho spoonfeeding them both while Yeosang is tasked with tearing apart little bits of bread to soak it all up. It’s not a lot, but it’s probably a good estimate of what they both can take right now, and it’s nutritious. Smart of him to choose. After they’re finished, Jongho gets up to wash the dishes and prepare a few more snacks in advance, leaving Yeosang in a ball on the couch. It’s not ideal, they’re not touching, but the omega can still see him so it will have to do. His eyes are glued to the alpha, watching him walk around the kitchen in nothing but his low-hung sweatpants. It’s a good thing there’s a counter in the way because every so often, when he walks around it to grab more potatoes or scoop from their container of rice, Yeosang’s eyes are glued onto his round, full ass or the free-hanging bulge at the front, both intoxicating. It’s a good thing he’s not in view for long, otherwise Yeosang’s heat would resurface much earlier, horniness levels rising. But the scents temper him, his heightened sense of smell designed to protect him from any danger he might face while in heat. It makes Jongho smell like an expensive meal he wants to eat up, but the foods on the stove are confusing enough to his brain that he holds off.

He does want to eat Jongho up though. Wants to bite his full buttcheeks and stick that cock down his throat, wants to suck his neck until it’s berry-stained, wants to scent him until he can’t smell anything else—

“Yeosang?”

The omega jolts, eyes snapping to the alpha’s.

“Yes?”

“You okay?”

“Why?”

“Your scent just...exploded. Wondered if your heat came back.”

Yeosang flushes, hoping it looks natural with the state of his already heated skin and not that he was thinking dirty thoughts about his alpha, totally unprovoked.

“I think it’s coming back,” he feints.

But maybe it’s not a lie after all. Because when Jongho smiles and ducks his head, Yeosang feels the most intense urge to fling himself across the counter and bite his neck, claiming Jongho as his mate.

Calm down, Yeosang. Calm down.

Not now.

Maybe sometime. Hopefully.

“Jongho?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I know sweetheart, I love you too. So much.”

Maybe soon.

They mirror the protective pose again, Yeosang on his belly and Jongho pinning him down, but this time they don’t stay that way. Jongho pulls them up into a seated position so that gravity pulls him even further down on his cock as he holds the omega flush. And this time, the alpha massages his chest. He covers his pectorals, squeezing as Yeosang tries to ride his cock, hands bracing themselves on Jongho’s wrists as he feels him up. When the alpha kneads his stiff nipples, tense from arousal, Yeosang’s head falls back onto his shoulder and he pushes his chest out, tits filling the cup of Jongho’s hand. Like this, back to chest and cunt stuffed full of him, Yeosang orgasms again, then again when Jongho gives him his knot. It makes his pelvis puff out, a small swell down low where Jongho’s expanded knot presses against his walls. Yeosang cradles it, feels it kick with each new rope of cum until slowly his whole abdomen is expanded from the sheer quantity of seed and big alpha cock, then fat alpha knot. He’s so full of Jongho. There’s so much of his alpha inside. Yeosang turns his head and captures his lips in a sideways kiss, needing to taste him too, taste the want on his tongue. His lips are a soft, warm reminder to stay grounded.

Yeosang rubs his palms up and down his distended belly. Jongho’s hands join him.

Dreamy, Yeosang says, “This is how I would look if I were pregnant, alpha.”

Jongho’s voice is deep and rumbling, clearly affected. “So beautiful, love. So pretty.”

Inevitably, Jongho pulls out, much to Yeosang’s dismay. He whines and whines at each trickle of slick and cream that dribbles out of him as Jongho’s cock retreats gently, so the alpha pushes him down into the furs and lifts his hips up, gravity keeping the mess inside. Yeosang sighs. His alpha is so smart. He looks back in time to see Jongho’s dirty cock bobble, the alpha looking around for something to clean it with. “No,” Yeosang scolds. “Let me.”

“I have to or I won’t be able to find the plug."

Yeosang’s breath catches. His eyes go wide. “You have a plug for me?”

“I made it. Thought you might want it for your heat. Thought my alpha might want you to have it, too,” he laughs airily, running a tired hand through his hair.

“Alpha—” Yeosang swoons.

“So let me go get it.”

“Don’t clean your dick. I don’t care if it makes a mess on the floor, we can clean it later. But when you come back I want it in my mouth. Want to taste us.”

Laughing, the alpha gets up on unsteady legs still wracked with his orgasm, and moves away. But the minute his back is out of sight around the end of the hallway, Yeosang is whining. His heat-adled mind, even when most coherent, can’t seem to stand Jongho not being in sight. The alpha’s face pops back around the corner. “You okay?”

Yeosang must be quite the sight, chest down and ass up, thighs quivering as he tries not to clench his cunt and accidentally push any of the alpha’s pups out. “Hurry,” he whines.

In an instant, Jongho disappears again, only to come back into sight moments later, jogging up the hall, half-limp dick flinging droplets of their cum along the hallway. Yeosang whines at the sight. He’s making such a mess, a mess that should be taken care of in Yeosang’s mouth, not wasted to the floor. Yeosang doesn’t even see the plug or what it looks like, too distracted by cock, and the moment he feels the plug secure into place and hears Jongho’s pleased sigh, Yeosang is spinning around to deepthroat him.

They taste so good together. It’s cinnamon apples and turmeric and spice, but on edge. Yeosang can’t taste his heat but knows it’s made them more robust, and Jongho is definitely in the first stages of rut, he can tell. His scent is more aromatic. From the way the gruff base of his cock smells against Yeosang’s nose to the taste of sex on his tongue, Jongho’s pheromones are buoyant and will only going to get fuller as time passes.

And they do. That night, Jongho wakes up in rut. His gentle touches take on an edge of emergency, still tender, but intense. They nip at each other’s necks and snap at their throats as Jongho thrusts into him, then they cum and cum and do it again, both growling and purring and scenting. He finally falls asleep stuffed full, and when Yeosang next wakes it’s because Jongho’s cock naturally hardened inside of him again and he’s unknowingly rocking himself on his alpha’s knot.

Eventually he gets to see the plug his alpha made for him. It’s beautiful. It’s definitely hand-carved glass, glittering in the light and so perfectly sanded down and glazed over that it looks like a gemstone that snuggles into him. When Jongho had time to work on this, he doesn’t know. They’ve practically been attached for weeks and there’s no way he would have been so bold as to carve it before then. But it doesn’t matter, Yeosang can ask later.

Even as they eat something Yeosang stays saddled on his cock, sitting in his lap and kissing him between bites.

The only time he’s off of it is when Jongho forces them to take a bath. That’s a hard time. When he pulls out the plug, Yeosang can feel the cum get lost in the water, the potential for pups filtering away. He cries. He clings to Jongho’s chest and cries. They both know it’s just the hormones, Yeosang doesn’t really want pups, but his omega mourns the loss. After that Jongho works doubly hard to nuzzle him, but Yeosang can tell his alpha is affected too. He doesn’t like it either. They cuddle and scent, scent and cuddle, until they fall asleep on the couch by the fire.

And it’s like this, fucked out and emotional, that they get through the next few days together.

One morning, they wake up and sniff each other’s necks and don’t feel the same urgency. It’s over. But they touch for good measure. Jongho doesn’t knot this time, can’t, balls all worn out and cock spent. That’s okay with Yeosang. His cunt has been throbbing, wanting and tired, and just quiet touches are enough.

Finally, after breakfast, they go back to bed and sleep the day away to recuperate.

But the best thing, the very best thing, is that after today, they won’t have a single part of their original arrangement to hold them back.

Chapter Text

A few weeks later, construction on the fountain is complete. It’s beautiful.

Yeosang did an amazing job. Somehow he managed to keep the same specifications and even incorporate the newly designed water pipes but made the whole thing look like a glittering memoriam to where they’ve been and where they’ve yet to be. His incorporation of found objects captures their progress as a community, but the tiers and the way the materials progressively get shinier, colors brighter as they near the top give an overall feeling of hope. And when the sun hits it just right, rainbows are cast across the opening of the market square. The vendors love it. The patrons love it. Even Jongho’s supervisor loves it.

He sends a letter asking Jongho to come into his office soon after the new fountain is unveiled. He asks who the designer is, of course, and that’s when Jongho starts to enact his plan.

Because his supervisor is so impressed with Yeosang, he asks the omega to come in and have a conversation. Later on Yeosang reports that he picked his brain for formal training or other experience that would somehow lend to Yeosang being this talented, but eventually has to concede to it being natural. Jongho’s grateful that he does, not letting his rank pride get in the way of admitting an omega’s given talent. From there, the supervisor asks if he can contact Yeosang directly. The omega is nervous, asks Jongho’s opinion, receives an absolute ‘yes, you have to, please take his offer,’ and Yeosang agrees.

While Yeosang’s contracting on urban design projects for the city, Jongho is sending more letters. He gets in contact with the head of omega services, the head of Jongho’s schooling, and the grand superior of the matching service, the one just above the terrible omega they had their second interview with.

As time passes, he learns that the head of the omega academy is mated to the head of the general city academy, which explains why Yeosang didn’t find the omega pathways to be very omega-forward. Since both the academies are run by a traditional, old-fashioned pair, they didn’t see the benefit to progress, both actually thinking combining paths would actually hinder the success of their city.

Jongho knows this to be true because he went and talked to them.

It had been a day where Yeosang was working on site, now paired with another urban designer - a beta, Jongho made sure, and they were working in the city greenhouse. Jongho got the connect to the heads of academia through his letters and they had graciously invited him for tea. What they considered an opportunity to congratulate him on his work with the water filtration system and other city improvements he turned into a discussion on his experience as a city employee, then the matching service, then the talents of his omega. It worked. Crafting a narrative in that way brought the couple mentally along with him, both cooing at the successes of the procedures their city has in place to make successful matches and to find appropriate work for omegas. He didn’t agree with everything they said, some of their opinions far outdated, but they were in. They asked to meet Yeosang

Jongho received an earful about it when he got home.

As a one-year attendee of the omega academy, Yeosang had never actually met the head. Meeting her seemed to do them both good. Yeosang was shy, nervous, and doubting himself, but when the time came his passions spoke for themselves. Jongho was so proud.

And just like that, she invited Yeosang over for weekly coffee dates.

That’s how Jongho finds himself dropping Yeosang off on his side of the city employment building before he leaves for a meeting at his own. They still don’t go into the office most days, both preferring to work at home, but sometimes necessity requires one or the other to come in, and when one goes, they both do. So Jongho kisses Yeosang’s cheek, scents him one last time, and promises to come pick him up so they can return home before lunch.

Jongho’s work isn’t done, however. Yeosang inspired him to reach out to his networks and further understand the needs of their city, looking more at the human side of urban planning than his current focus on material structures. Every few days there are new letters on his work desk.

It’s as he’s in the process of writing another response, his fourth of the day, that a familiar yet unwelcome face reappears.

“Choi,” says chatty alpha, breezing through the open office door like he owns the place. “Got something for you.” Setting down his formal quill, Jongho appraises him skeptically. “You still with that omega?”

Frowning, Jongho responds stiffly, “Yes, we’re together.”

“Weird. Matching services has something for you. A proposition, I think. I didn’t know city employees were on the proposition list.”

Jongho is decidedly confused. He thought they were long done with matching services, unless it was a message about cancelling their six month check in because the second interview had gone so poorly. But— “You’re a message runner now?”

Chatty scoffs. “No. I’m seeing that cute omega there. The secretary, you know the one?”

Oh, Jongho knows the one. “Uh huh.”

“Anyways, someone came in and gave her this envelope, told her to send it out ASAP. Whatever. She took a look at the name and knew you from your interview, so she gave it to me since I was there. I wanted to be nice and drop it off personally and look how grateful you are,” he scoffs again.

Jongho nods and sets the envelope aside.

“...Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Not right now.”

“But it seems important, said it had to be delivered ASAP.”

“I’m not opening it with you here. It’s my business.”

Chatty deflates. “Come on, man. I’m dying to know. That never happens.”

“Thanks for dropping it off. See you later.”

Pouting, the alpha gives up and leaves. Only then does Jongho open the large envelope.

Inside are two smaller envelopes: one labelled ‘Choi Jongho,’ the other labelled ‘Classified.” Odd. Everything about this is odd. Jongho slices open the one with his name on it. It contains nothing more than a piece of parchment paper with a brief note and an address. And the note, naturally, sends him to said address.

What?

The only other words on the page are to take the classified envelope with him, to leave immediately upon receipt of this message, and to come alone. There’s no signature.

...What?

He racks his brain trying to figure out what all this might be. The address isn’t one he knows, at least he can’t picture the place in his head. It’s not a past project site, not a residential address of someone he’s been writing to. Weirder still is that this is all at the direction of the matching agency. Could this be retroactive punishment for the poor second interview?

Jongho debates ignoring it. But...following procedures is part of his nature, especially if it might have something to do with his omega.

The address leads him to the edge of town, not too far from the pathway to his house, actually. Even so, he’s led to a building he’s never seen before, or at least one he hasn’t paid much attention to. Ominously, it’s unmarked.

No one stops him on his way inside. No guards, no employees, no one.

It’s practically abandoned.

Double checking the address, he sees that it’s directing him to a specific room number. He’ll have to find his way there. The inside of the building smells too sterile, like they’ve used way too many scent blockers. The hallways are dim and the fixtures look old. Why is he here?

481...482...483...found it.

He’s barely breathing. Putting his ear to the door, he listens for signs of life. Somebody talking, papers rustling, even squeaking shoes like they’re hiding from him too would be more welcome than this eerie sense of quiet.

But there’s nothing.

So he pushes it open.

It’s an office. Inside are two chairs facing a desk and a lamp and shelves filled with books, and unlike the rest of the building, this room is pristine. Freshly cleaned, but still scent-blocker thick. But, most importantly, behind that desk rests a tall backed chair.

And someone’s sitting in it.

The alpha clears his throat.

Then the chair slowly spins around and it’s—

Yeosang.

Jongho’s breath gets caught in his throat.

He’s beautiful. Looks like a dream, all amber doe-eyed and pretty blonde hair, golden skin looking like nature’s halo in contrast to the dark oiled pattern on the chair. He looks like he’s trying not to smile. It only makes Jongho love him more.

He opens his mouth to speak but finds it impossible. He has so many questions he can’t ask even one. So instead, he steps forward, automatically drawn to the omega’s side. He gets as far as the two chairs before Yeosang’s gaze goes sharp and he barks out—

“Sit.”

Jongho freezes.

It's a command.

And it’s the hottest thing he’s ever heard.

He’s scanning Yeosang’s face for reasons for the command but there are none. The omega seems calm if not a little fierce, eyes intense, waiting to see if Jongho will listen.

He does.

Only once he’s seated on the edge of a chair does Yeosang speak again. “Thank you for responding to my note.”

Jongho’s eyes go wide. “You sent that?”

“Indeed I did.”

“But...why?”

Yeosang smirks. “Do you know where we are, Jongho?”

The fact that the omega didn’t answer his question has Jongho’s pulse picking back up. There’s clearly something going on.

“No,” he responds, throat feeling dry.

“We’re at the auxiliary building for the omega academy. Do you know why we’re here?”

He doesn't need to answer.

Yeosang comes around the desk, trailing his long fingers along the rounded edge. “This is where the headmistress sits,” he murmurs. “Or, where she used to sit, when this building was in use. But guess what? Apparently they want to reopen it - to implement new pathways. Doesn't that sound...familiar? Do you have any idea how that happened, alpha?” Yeosang purrs dangerously, eyes locked onto his target. “Look at your face. I guess you do. Then I suppose you also know that she appointed me to be the one to run it, don't you?"

He gives the alpha a pointed look.

“I believe you brought something for me.”

Yeosang sits on the edge of the desk, holding out his hand. Slowly, like Jongho forgot how his own body works, he places the confidential envelope in Yeosang’s palm.

“Did you know, Jongho, that taking this position technically makes me a city employee?” He fingers the edge of the envelope, subtly slipping his fingertip inside, gently, loudly, breaking the seal. “Do you know what that means?”

He looks up, and Jongho’s heart stops.

“That means I get my own benefits package.”

It’s in that moment that Jongho realizes exactly what’s happening here.

He’s both terrified and aroused.

“Oh, I can smell you Jongho. I take it you understand, then.”

Yeosang licks the tip of his finger as he removes the contents of the envelope. It’s papers. It’s a form.

It’s the matching service application.

Yeosang hums, pretending he’s indifferent, but Jongho can smell him too. His scent starts to sweeten, starts to perk up, subtle like he’s hiding it. But Jongho knows.

“Does this look familiar? I bet it does.” He glances at Jongho as he crosses his legs on the desk. “How long did it take you to fill this out? Ten minutes? Five? Couldn’t be longer than five. Well, I put a little more care into my application. I know exactly what I’m looking for. And, do you know who they sent me?”

Yeosang’s pupils are large, intense, the omega about to capture his own prey.

“They sent me you.”

Jongho’s frozen. Petrified.

“Would you like to hear what I wrote, Jongho? What made them pick you?” Yeosang stares him down, grip on the folder tensing, unconsciously leaning in as Jongho does the same. He keeps going. “I said I wanted an alpha who did it all. Someone perfect. Someone who would care for me, support me, make me feel like an angel on earth. Someone with just enough money who gives the perfect gifts and has the absolute fattest knot. But, can you guess which one, single trait was the absolute most important?”

Yeosang’s singing his praises but making it feel like a threat, a commanding, sexy, captivating threat. Jongho’s eating out of the palm of his hand.

“Guess, Jongho.”

Jongho can’t guess, he can’t even breathe.

“Compliant.”

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

“Yes, you heard that right. Compliant. I want an alpha I don’t have to woo, one who is already hungry for ass and gets off on licking cunts, one I don’t have to train. Compliant. And I guess, since you already get on your knees for me, they decided you were the best fit.”

Yeosang snaps the papers shut and his gaze locks on, making Jongho ripple with tension.

“Stand up.”

Jongho doesn’t move. Can’t.

He’s frozen, absolutely intoxicated with arousal.

Yeosang tsks. “Not very compliant, are you?”

Even the hint of feigned disappointment in his omega’s voice gets the alpha moving.

“That’s a good boy. You know what comes next, don’t you, alpha?”

Jongho’s muscles clench in tension. He knows what comes next, it’s—

“Time for your inspection.”

Breathe, Jongho. Breathe.

But he stands there uselessly, watching the omega watch him, waiting for a direction, a request, a command—

“Present.”

Fuck.

Jongho doesn’t know how to present. He’s never had to present, never been asked, never been told.

“Tsk.”

The sound of disappointment has him pressing his chest to the desk.

“What am I supposed to be looking at? You’re totally covered up.”

When Jongho whips his head around to gage the seriousness on Yeosang’s face, he finds him standing by the door, fingers on the handle, twisting the lock. He smirks.

And when the omega pushes himself off the door to make his way back to Jongho, he doesn’t walk, he prowls.

“Clothes off, alpha.”

Jongho expects him to come help him take them off, but no. No, Yeosang passes him by without a sideways glance, plops down in the tall-backed office chair, and leans back to watch. He gestures for him to continue.

Unable to control the shake in his limbs, Jongho shrugs the coat off his shoulders and carefully folds it over the back of the chair. Yeosang allows him this. For some reason, that makes his fingers vibrate even harder. Unbuttoning his shirt is next to impossible but the omega lets him struggle, refusing to intervene. Finally, finally he gets it off and tosses it on the chair, too. Yeosang lets out a small sound of approval but remains unmoving.

Undoing the drawstring of his pants is a nightmare. It takes so long, so many tries, with Yeosang’s predatory gaze flicking between his steadily filling bulge and his eyes. His gaze feels hot. The room feels hot.

Finally, his pants drop, pooling around his ankles.

“Boxers too.” The boxers go. Then, “Present.”

Slowly, shakily, Jongho presses his chest to the desk, face only an arm’s length away from where Yeosang sits. He finds the courage to look. Yeosang leans forward and strokes Jongho’s bangs back off his forehead.

“Good boy. Let me look.”

So Yeosang rises, walks around the desk, and stands behind him.

Then, like a typhoon, it hits him.

This is how Yeosang felt the first time he came to Jongho’s house. The first day they met.

He’s naked, bent over a table, feeling small and uncertain and wanting to please, even if he knows he’s already been chosen. It feels like a desperate urge. His senses are heightened, nose full of Yeosang as his scent gradually fills the space.

“Now, as you may know, the inspection is both for me to assess your...capabilities as a heat partner, and for you to decide if you’re going to accept me. I have no doubt that you’ll accept me, however.”

If Jongho could drip like the omega had for him, the floor would be drenched.

“I’m going to touch you.”

Yeosang remembers the exact words.

And then, all at once, the heat is rushing down his back to the place where Yeosang’s hands move to cup his asscheeks.

Fondling them appreciatively, Yeosang draws it out, dragging his fingers over their fullness, dragging them over the tightness of his asshole and down the backs of his muscular thighs before swooping his hands between his legs, nails gently dragging up the sensitive insides and making Jongho shiver. When his body tenses up, Yeosang grabs a handful of ass and squeezes, only letting go when Jongho relaxes again.

And then there’s a pair of hands cupping his balls.

“Breathe, alpha.”

Jongho can’t breathe - how could he breathe through this?

Those hands start to massage. They play with him, they weigh him, they gently, so gently squeeze. Even now, even when he’s the one in control, Yeosang is still obsessed with his balls. Jongho is so endeared. He smiles into his arms but it’s immediately cut off by a moan as Yeosang changes course, leaning over his back and winding his arms around Jongho’s waist, fingers wrapping around his shaft.

Yeosang whispers into his skin. “If I’m going to bare my throat for you, I need to know what I’m committing to. I need to know what I’m getting in a mate.”

Mate.

Mate has been the only word on Jongho’s mind for...a long, long time.

And then Yeosang softly bites the back of his neck.

Jongho cums on the spot.

It’s not a mating bite. Not hard enough, not in the right place, but damn, damn, if that’s not a sign of what’s to come.

Yeosang licks over the bite mark. He purrs, holding Jongho tight.

“Sufficient?”

“Sufficient,” Jongho breathes.

…..

SIX MONTHS LATER

Yeosang is spearheading the reinstatement of the auxiliary branch of the all-omega academy, preparing the unused lot to be home to the new express pathways for omegas, including fields like accounting, engineering, and the social sciences. He stays in contact with his mentor, the former head, who knows just enough about his plans but not enough to worry. He’s well on his way to one day running the full academy, his ultimate dream.

Jongho’s role hasn’t changed. However, he has taken on managing the stock of extra parchment, school supplies, and uniforms for the students of Yeosang’s new branch. One of his letters had been contacting the supplier of his favorite parchment vendor in the marketplace to see if he could offer her a surprise: a regular contract so she could continue to sell back to Jongho. Instead of cutting out the middle man he’s bringing her in, supporting her market stand and helping her expand her inventory. Another letter had been to the seamstress at the clothing shop that specialized in omega goods. Because of their limited relationship, he thought official correspondence would be a clearer sign of his sincerity. He’d arranged for a small fashion show and one day surprised Yeosang by bringing him in to the store, sitting him down on the couch, and presenting a uniform showcase. Yeosang cried. Jongho cried because Yeosang cried. The seamstress almost kicked them out. But when the orders start to come in, she thanks them.

More than that, word gets out about the changes they’re making and the city economy goes up overall, especially when people from the valley start moving up to enroll their omegas in the academy. And where the omegas go, the alphas and betas go too. It creates more of a housing problem but Jongho hasn’t been figuring out how to live on a mountainside for nothing. He’s having a grand old time mapping out the plans for new hybrid cave builds. Yeosang helps by commissioning his old apartment-mates to design the interiors, helping them gain more experience even before the academy opens.

After Jongho recovered from the very unexpected, very sexy christening of what would become Yeosang's new office, he quizzed the omega on how he pulled that off. Yeosang said it was easy - he just picked up a spare application, planned out the timing, and asked his new beta work partner to drop it off in the matching office at just the right time with just the right amount of flare. And of course, he pulled it off without a hitch. He didn't really submit an application, it was all just for show. And oh, how it worked.

By the time of their 6 month check-in, Jongho and Yeosang are already happily mated. Just the beta comes to visit. She calls it ‘a mandatory walk,’ even though they all know she's aware that they are clearly fine. They're mated, after all, but she is just doing her job. So they invite her in and make tea, chatting about how the omega secretary had since been sent to the valley to receive some newly mandated trainings on customer service etiquette and institutional bias. She’ll be back, but hopefully now with the supports she needs. Her replacement surprises them.

“Your partner?” Jongho almost spits out his tea.

The beta nods. It’s her field partner, the one Jongho almost got in a tussle with over Yeosang’s dirty underwear. Apparently they thought office work might be a better fit.

Even with all the new implementations, the city matching service is still useful. Only now, instead of being exclusive to city employees and solely for matching cycle partners, anyone can use it to be matched with a skilled mentor or eager-to-learn mentee. Just another way to build community and share skills.

As she leaves, she commends them for their impact and congratulates them on their mating. She says it’s a good thing her colleague didn’t come, because just as before, they seem to have trouble managing the richness of their scents.

On the night of their mating, several months ago, Jongho had embarrassingly knotted before he was even inside the omega. Yeosang teased him about it for a long time after, but the alpha had just been so emotional, so excited to claim his mate. Yeosang didn’t last much longer but Jongho doesn’t tease him about it. Yeosang says that his premature orgasms don’t matter because he doesn’t delay their lovemaking fifteen minutes. He can orgasm all day.

Tsk. Omega privileges.

For all the new developments in their city, things between the two of them haven't changed. They’re still horny, still clingy, and still desperately in love.

Everything about Yeosang is a beautiful dream. Jongho still can’t believe he’s real.

“You’re going to put me into a rut, Yeosang.”

“Good. Let’s make a pup.”

He positions himself between Yeosang’s legs, draping them over his shoulders. He worships them with kisses to his ankles and calves, all the way down to his glossy, waiting cunt, and begins to eat. Just the way he always does. Yeosang moans airily, hand coming up to play with his hair. Since they already played two times today there’s not much work to be done. He tastes the dregs of their previous romps, all apple scented slick and sweet, creamy release, the physical evidence of their love for one another. He really could eat it all day. But he licks up to Yeosang’s clit and slides his fingers back inside, scissoring until the omega growls at him because he is sufficiently prepped and he wants his alpha’s cock now. He laughs as Yeosang tugs on his hair, impatient.

Jongho thrusts into his mate. His mate. He has the privilege of pushing his dick inside and marking him, deep and thorough and heavy. They kiss and they moan until Yeosang starts thrashing, “I’m cumming I’m cumming I’m cumming,” against the furs. Then he cries out and arches his back, his pussy clenching and pulsing, kissing in it’s own way. Jongho grinds in as much as Yeosang’s clingy body will let him. Then he feels his balls promptly tense up, and let go.

Cumming inside his mate feels so, damn, good.

Growing weak from the physical and emotional stimulation, Jongho drops to his elbows and immediately gets rolled over by Yeosang, still completely on top of his cock, who immediately captures his lips for deep, purring kisses.

Jongho loves Yeosang. He loves him.

Growing chilled from the mountain air, Jongho pulls the furs over their bodies so they can fall asleep connected.