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Legato was raised as an omega, one without a name. He doesn’t need one, when he’s given away he’ll take his alphas surname and they’ll refer to him as whatever they please. Until then, it does not matter how he’s addressed. He’s raised alongside several others, primed into the perfect omega who know exactly how to please an alpha. Such a pretty face in the brothel, one of the most popular of them all.
It’s assumed, expected that he’ll be an omega, No one ever thought he’d present as an alpha just a few days before he was gifted to the highest bidder.
No longer profitable, he’s kicked out and left homeless; not that the brothel was much of a home to begin with. The only saving grace is at the very least, he escaped mating with an alpha three times his age.
In an effort to survive he poses as a beta and continues to service some of the more well paying customers, even if they weren’t the most kind. It doesn’t always go as planned, he finds himself in dangerous situations more often than he’d like.
The worst situation of all happens when he contacts the alpha he was supposed to be sold to.
Foolishly he believed the man when he said he’d pay extra for his services. Knowing this man is wealthy, he couldn’t decline the potential payment, no matter the twisted feeling he got in his gut whenever the man spoke. If he couldn’t be this alpha’s omega, he could be his whore for one night and hope it earns him enough for a few days worth of food.
Only when he arrives at the location, the man is already inside, an additional two alphas waiting with him. The moment he stepped foot into that isolated cabin deep in the woods of an abandoned forest, three large alphas surrounding him, he knew there would be no payment.
By some grace of god, divine intervention, or just plain luck, that fateful night Prince Nai Saverem is out on a solo hunting trip in that very forest. An unsuccessful hunting trip, as any potential prey was scared off by distressing noises coming from a nearby cabin.
He does not remember much from that night, it’s mostly a blur. The only clear memory he has is of the Prince looking down at him, the three alphas no longer a threat to his safety. The dim light from the poorly made candles hanging in the chandelier give the illusion of a halo above the Prince’s head.
His savior.
Prince Nai comes home with a new staff member for the castle that night. Someone more devoted to him and the throne than anyone else who has worked with the family for years. A servant with a name given to him by the Prince himself.
Legato Bluesummers.
Prince Nai Saverem was raised as an alpha. Nobody expected either of the Saverem twins to present as omegas until the first born was deep into his first heat. The palace was in shambles for the entire week. Any attempt to make the prince more comfortable during his first heat cycle failed horribly.
Despite being his personal servant, Legato is barred from the prince’s quarters. For the prince’s safety, no alpha is allowed on that side of the castle, not even his own alpha brother.
The prince does not take kindly to this, the only two people he tolerates in any capacity are his brother and Legato. Keeping him away from both of them makes him even more irritable. Any servant that attempts to bring him supplies is hissed and growled at. There’s a reason his childhood nickname Prince Knives has stuck for so long.
To avoid being ridiculed and potentially physically assaulted by the prince, all meals are left outside of his bedroom door for the duration of his heat. Nai rarely takes the trays of food, his appetite is miniscule to begin with, his heat making him nauseous and unwilling to eat anything.
The prince’s first heat lasted a full seven days. After the last wave of arousal passed he was left exhausted and angry with himself for not being strong enough to handle it.
The topic of switching Legato for an omega servant is brought up and immediately shut down by Nai. He’s grown accustomed to his personal servant and knows he is capable of doing his job. Changing him out now just because he’s an alpha would only make things worse for Nai. The topic of a replacement is not brought up again.
Two weeks after Nai presented he stands by his brother’s side in front of the entire Kingdom. Their coming of age ceremony goes off without a hitch, the celebration continues with Vash’s coronation officially crowning Vash king. The kingdom is officially in the alpha’s hands while Nai is left wildly unprepared for his life as an omega.
Over the next year Nai attempts to adjust to life as an omega but it’s more frustrating than anything. There are new aches in his body that make him irritable, having to go through a heat cycle every three months makes him want to hurl. There’s a voice in his head that speaks only in trills and whines, scratching at corners of his mind he didn’t know existed. He doesn’t understand any of it.
It’s overwhelming, being trained your entire life expecting to become one thing only to be blindsided by your own body, launching you into an entirely different life path. It’s like being dropped into a foreign country without knowing the language or any of the customs. Nai never planned for any of this, he doesn’t know what to do and that terrifies him.
The worst part is that he previously shared everything with his brother, but now it’s like they’re part of two different worlds. He doesn’t know how to explain what he’s going through, and the King doesn’t know how to help him. The only thing he’s able to compare it to is his own ruts, which come less frequent and aren’t as bad. He’s been prepared to deal with them his whole life, it’s nothing like a heat cycle.
It’s at the tail end of the prince’s most recent heat that things all come crashing down. Nai has had less of a handle on his behavior, especially during his heats. Vash is able to calm Nai down before he snaps, Legato is more than happy to take care of whoever is bothering the prince and get them out of his sight. With neither of them allowed to be around him during his heat, there is no one to keep him in check.
While most run away at any sign of aggression, there’s one particularly bold beta who has had enough of Nai’s behavior. They demanded Nai stop acting like a child and grow up now that he’s presented. Nai does not take their disrespect very well, lunging at them with no warning.
The tray the servant was holding clatters onto the floor with a large crash, catching the attention of King Vash and his personal servant, Wolfwood. Legato is on his feet before either of them can react, sprinting to the prince’s chambers. Although he technically does not have permission to see the prince, Legato needs to make sure he’s alright.
The King and Wolfwood are on his tail, following him as he pushes open the Prince’s chamber doors. They’re immediately hit with his heat scent, slightly stale as the last wave must have passed a few hours earlier, but fresh enough that the King has to turn away and shield his nose for a moment.
Although he finds it delightful and tempting, the scent does not inebriate Legato the way it would most other alphas. Having been raised with omegas, he’s trained himself not to be affected by their scents.
The prince is on top of the servant that made the rude comments, twisting their arms back as they cry out in pain. His arms shake, although he’s muscular, he’s still weak after his heat, barely able to keep his hold on the beta.
“Nai!” Vash shouts, running towards him “Get off of them!”
Nai only releases his hold when Vash reaches out to grab him. He jumps off, tripping over his own feet and landing on his ass, much less graceful than he normally is. Vash helps the servant to their feet, allowing them to run out of the room, away from the prince.
Legato rushes to Nai’s side, ignoring the Wolfwood’s warning and the King’s protests. He grabs a sheet off the floor and wraps it around Nai’s shoulders, giving him some sort of covering since he is without clothes.
“May I help you up, my lord?” His voice is gentle, not wanting to aggravate Nai further.
Nai lifts his arms up, allowing Legato to pick him up without argument. Normally he insists he’s able to get up and around on his own after his heat. Legato gets the feeling this must have been a rough cycle and it’s taken more energy out of the prince than he’d like to admit.
“I’ll draw you a bath.” Legato bows and makes his leave to the washroom connected to the prince’s bedroom.
Whatever the King was going to say dies on his tongue the moment he watches Legato gently carry the prince to his bed. Vash watches stunned that not only as an alpha, Legato is able to ignore his instincts and continue to serve the prince as if the heat scent isn’t covering him, but that Nai is allowing this amount of contact in general.
“Nai, this is getting out of hand.” Vash sounds defeated. “You can’t attack our servants when they’re helping you during your time of need. The omega and beta servants are refusing to serve you during your heats, possibly in general. This isn’t okay.”
“It’s fine, I don’t want them anyway.” Nai crosses his arms and pointedly looks away from his brother.
“You know I can’t be the one to bring you what you need during this time.” He sighs, wiping his face. “If you won’t accept Wolfwood,”
“Don’t let your dog anywhere near me.” Nai spits out, glaring at Vash’s personal servant who flashes him a smile accompanied by a wink.
Nai growls, nails piercing through the sheet Legato dressed him in. Wolfwood simply grins at him until Vash elbows him in the stomach.
“Don’t aggravate him.” The King huffs. “I’m not sure what you want, you can’t freely roam the castle during your heat. You couldn’t even if you wanted to, you’re far too weak to do this. You need to allow someone to at least bring you meals since you refuse to consider a heat partner.”
“I’m perfectly capable of dealing with it myself.” Nai crosses his arms.
“Perhaps it’s time we look into alternatives.” Vash approaches the subject as delicately as he can, but Nai is onto him immediately, recognizing the tone and narrowing his eyes. “You have had several proposals from neighboring kingdoms.”
“Absolutely not.” Nai cuts him off harshly. “You won’t marry me off just because I cause you problems.”
This isn’t the first time Vash has brought up marriage to Nai. Ever since the omega presented, he’s gotten several offers from powerful kingdoms interested in marrying him into their family. Vash has rejected the bulk of them before Nai was even aware, he would never accept a courting offer unless he thought the alpha would be a good match for his brother.
“I’m not trying to get rid of you!” Vash insists. “I think that having an alpha could be beneficial since your heats are so terrible! I just think that having a mate would benefit you, maybe it’s time you allow someone to court you.”
“I’ve seen the offers and they’re insulting at best. I’m worth more than the pitiful trade agreements they’ve put up. I don’t want to be some trophy wife.” I don’t want to leave you, goes unspoken.
Vash sighs. “If you insist.”
Truthfully, he doesn’t want Nai to leave his side either. Not only is he a valuable asset, having just as much if not more knowledge about their kingdom’s history and their relations with neighboring kingdoms and their trading partners. He’s also his brother, his only blood relative. He’s worth more than anything a royal could offer in exchange for his hand in marriage. Vash doesn’t know what he would do without his twin by his side. He may have the king title in name, but Nai has just as much say in running this kingdom as he does.
Legato comes out of the washroom moments later, interrupting their conversation. “The bath is ready, my lord.”
Nai lifts his arm up again for Legato to comfortably pick him up. In the past he would have declined the assistance and claim he’s fine to make the small trip to the washroom by himself, but after his last heat he collapsed while walking to the bath, Legato catching him just in time. The lack of argument from Nai tells Legato that instinct was correct, this heat took much more out of Nai than he’s letting on.
Vash follows them into the washroom, giving Nai an eye roll when he protests. “Calm down, we literally came out of the womb together and you’re worried about me seeing you in the bath?”
“You’re the one who insists it’s different now because I’m an omega.” Nai grumbles as Legato gently lowers him into the tub.
“Is the water alright?” Legato asks.
“It’s fine. Would be better if the temperature was higher.”
“I know it is not as warm as you usually like it, but a lukewarm bath is the best way to bring down the last of your heat fever, my lord.”
“Yes, yes, so you’ve said.” Nai sighs, sinking deeper into the bathwater.
“You at least need to make amends with one of the omega or beta servants.” Vash continues their conversation from earlier. “They’re refusing to tend to you during your heats, possibly at all because of the way you’ve been treating them.”
“I don’t need any of them. Nai crosses his arms. “Legato can tend to me like he does when I’m not in heat.”
Legato’s head snaps up, eyes wide at the prince’s statement.
King Vash blinks, tilting his head. “He’s an alpha.”
“So? He’s capable of controlling himself. He’s the first one in here when my cycle ends. He’s never allowed my heat scent to get to his head. He’s the only person in this castle that can do this simple job correctly and he serves me during the rest of the year. I don’t see why he isn’t allowed to serve me during the week of my cycle. If anything, not having him around makes them worse.”
“I suppose that is true.” Vash hums, pacing around the bathroom.
Legato has been the only alpha that has been near Nai during an arousal spike and has not succumbed to his primal urges. Even Vash has a hard time ignoring the way his alpha responds to Nai’s heat scent, having to put distance between himself and the prince during the week of his cycle.
Legato is the only alpha who has been able to help Nai into his chambers and close the door behind him without having to be yanked back. It isn’t easy, having to ignore the way his alpha responds to the sweet scent coming from his prince. Legato would never allow himself to give into those urges, not while knowing how disgusting Nai thinks of them.
Legato recognizes that Nai’s heat scent is delightful. Even when he isn’t in heat, Nai’s floral citrus scent fills his nose and makes him want to bury his face in the prince’s neck. Legato knows better than that. He won’t treat Prince Nai the way the sick alphas at the brothel treated him. Nai deserves much better than that. He deserves the world and Legato is going to give him everything he can and some, starting with clean bedding while he soaks in the bath.
“And I’m more than capable of defending myself, even in heat.” Nai adds, as if they need any more proof after the scene they walked into.
The entire castle is well aware of that at this point. After the amount of threats and actual injuries that have come from Nai during his heats, anyone who would make an actual threat against the prince wouldn’t come out alive.
Nai may be an omega but he's not a weakling, especially after his upbringing as an alpha. Anyone who gets the wrong idea about him hasn’t lived to tell the tale. He all but refuses to learn proper omega etiquette, there’s no reason he should. He knows what is appropriate for an alpha and how to act formally, there should be no difference just because of his secondary gender.
Learning the social aspects of being an omega isn’t the only problem he’s run into. He doesn’t know how to interpret his omega instincts. All his life he’s been taught about his inner alpha and what it would feel like, how to know what tug on his brain means what from his alpha. He doesn’t understand anything that comes from the omega that lives inside of him.
Nai hardly even feels them. There are pushes and pulls there, tugs and scratches that get more intense the closer his cycle is but he doesn’t know what any of them mean. At this point he’s beyond frustrated with everything he doesn’t even know where to start so he refuses to try and learn all together. He ignores all of his base omega instincts.
He’s never felt the urge to mother, he's never liked kids, and most alphas repulse him. He's never nested because he's never felt that instinct, he doesn’t even know what that is. His heats are the only time he feels like an omega and all that feels like is pain.
Over the next few months Vash continues to bring up potential alphas for Nai to consider. Every single one is shot down. All of them were decent matches, Nai at least appreciated that. If his brother was going to try and marry him off, the least he could do is pick an alpha that would respect him. It still stings, it never stops feeling like Vash was just trying to get rid of him, no matter how many times he tried to reassure the prince that wasn’t the case.
Legato watches from the sidelines, continuing to do his duty and serve by Nai’s side. He occasionally is asked his thoughts on some of the alphas and gives his honest opinion every time. All of it is based on if the kingdom is in good standing and how their political relations with other kingdoms are doing.
Nothing Nai isn’t already aware of. In fact, he’s the one that told Legato about most of what he knows. He’s the one who taught him how to read back when he first arrived at the palace. Still, it makes Legato feel as if the prince cares about his opinion, even just a little.
The other thoughts he has, the ones about the personalities of the alphas he has met in person, he keeps to himself. He knows that most of these royal alphas would see his prince as a challenge and attempt to ‘tame’ him to prove dominance that they could domesticate such an untraditional omega. He does not voice these thoughts, there is no reason he should insert his personal biases into royal matters. Besides, he knows his prince would never choose to mate with any of these alphas anyway.
When his next heat finally comes around it hits Nai hard. He’s weak, overwhelmed, and nearing heat sickness. The little strength he has left he uses to hiss at any of the servants that attempt to get him to eat, bathe, or do anything to combat his fever.
When the head maid complains to Wolfwood, Vash finally relents and allows Legato to bring him his next meal. He’s hesitant giving another warning to Legato about keeping his alpha in check and reminds him Wolfwood would be standing outside the door, ready to enter whenever he thinks is necessary.
Legato understands the King’s worries, they’re entirely justified. The prince’s heat scent would entice any alpha, it’s the same reason the King isn’t waiting on the prince himself.
“I’ll take care of him, your highness.” Legato bows. “Wolfwoods intervention won’t be necessary, but it is understandable that you’d like him on guard. I’ll report to you when he is stable.”
“Thank you, Bluesummers.”
Wolfwood walks with him to the prince’s quarters, making small talk and comments along the way but Legato doesn’t respond. He’s too busy thinking about the prince and the condition he must be in. It’s only the first day of his heat, usually Legato is barred from his chambers for a full week, he’s never seen him in between arousal waves.
“Don’t do anything stupid, alpha Bluesummers.” Wolfwood teases, shutting the door before Legato can give a snarky comeback of his own. Not that he has one after seeing the state of the prince’s bedroom.
Normally the Prince’s chambers are kept in impeccable condition, neat and organized with a tightly made bed he prefers to do himself rather than have any of the maids touch his bedding. The sight Legato walks into is jarring to say the least.
There are clothes everywhere, all of them belong to the prince except a stray red cloak that belongs to the king. Metal trays with cups of water litter the floor, spilled onto a few pieces of cloth. The only thing on top of the bed was the prince himself.
Nai is laying on his back, an arm thrown over his eyes with nothing but a thin sheet covering him from the waist down. The rest of the bedding is on the floor with all his pillows.
“Master Nai, are you alright?” Legato rushes to his side, setting the tray with the prince’s breakfast on the bedside table.
Nai moves his arm just enough to uncover one eye and glares at his servant. “No. I’m in heat.”
“Please sit up, I have some cool water for you.”
“My bones ache and my body feels as if it’s on fire.” It isn't a refusal, but Legato knows him well enough by now that Nai won’t ask for help when he needs it.
“May I help you sit up?”
Nai doesn’t verbally accept, but he moves just enough to help prop himself up on his elbows. Legato gently places his hands on his side, careful to only touch what is covered by the thin sheet. Even through the cloth Legato can feel the heat radiating off him. Nai sits cross legged, hunched over, and rearranges the sheet to cover just his lap, too hot to bother with modesty anywhere else.
Nai scratches at his neck, tugging at the collar that holds his family seal. Vash insisted if he’s to have an alpha serve him during his heat, he must wear a collar to protect them both. It's not necessary, Legato would never allow himself to succumb to his instincts and bite the prince. He’s not worthy of being the prince’s alpha, but he knows it’s just to ease the king’s mind.
“I thought the leather might irritate your neck.” Legato comments, picking up a small bottle of oil off the tray he brought in. “The material that most collars are made of, even high-quality ones like that, often rub up against scent glands in uncomfortable ways. I have some oil to ease the friction, it’ll also cool the ache on your gland.”
Nai looks at him curiously, not with any doubt, there’s no reason Legato would lie to him. It’s more wondering why he has this knowledge. After a few seconds he makes no move to reach for the bottle, instead he tips his head to the side.
“You may put it on me.”
Legato hesitates, his eyes widening in shock. “Are you sure?”
“Are you doubting your prince, Bluesummers?” Nai narrows his eyes.
“Never, my lord. My apologies.” Legato quickly recovers. “Please let me know if I touch an area you would not like.”
He unscrews the vial and squeezes the top of the dropper, grabbing a generous amount of oil. He leans over and carefully squeezes out the oil between Nai’s sensitive neck and the collar that's irritating his skin.
Legato has to get close to properly apply the oil, gently touching the prince’s jaw to position his head comfortably. Nai’s eyes flutter shut, letting out a quiet sigh through his nose.
He’s in between arousal waves but his scent is still sickeningly sweet, it’s almost nauseating. Any other alpha would drool at his citrus scent and succumb to their primal instincts, but Legato isn’t able to get past the undertone of sour discomfort. The only intense feeling he has is the need to solve his prince’s ailments.
Legato gently massages it in through the collar. It’s difficult, but even over the leather it’s better than nothing. Between the cool oil soothing his uncomfortable neck contrasting with Legato’s warm hand holding his jaw, his familiar scent surrounding him, Nai’s unable to help the quiet whimper that slips from his lips.
Legato freezes, his hand stilling on his neck. Nai’s eyes fly open and glance up at Legato who is looking down at the bunched up bed sheet beside him. Nai clears his throat and Legato steps back, screwing in the top of the vial and setting it down on the bedside table next to the tray he brought.
“I’m not hungry, you did not have to bring me a meal. I won’t eat it.
“I did not bring you a meal. I figured you would not have an appetite, but you need to keep up your strength.” Legato lifts up the tray to show him the assortment of fruits, nuts, cheeses, and crackers along with two cups, one filled with juice, the other plain water.
“I know you don’t care for food much to begin with so I put your favorite snacks on a tray for you. Everything on there shouldn’t be too heavy on your stomach and will replenish your energy. At least drink the juice, it’ll make you feel better.”
Nai allows him to set the tray in his lap, staring at the alpha in front of him as he steps back. Legato is nervous he overstepped, that he did something wrong, put a fruit on the prince’s plate that he dislikes or is allergic to. It’s several moments of a tense silence that is broken only when the prince picks up a strawberry off his plate.
“You know me too well, Legato.” He says before taking a bite.
Legato relaxes, letting out the nervous breath he was holding. While Nai continues to eat small bites off the tray, Legato busies himself with cleaning up the prince’s room.
Having been raised as an omega, one of the things emphasized to him as a child was the importance of nesting. Legato was taught alongside the other young children, learning why a nest is important for an omega to have, especially during their heat cycle and how to build one. Even without an inner omega’s instinct to help guide him, Legato learned the best ways to go about making a nest, presenting as an alpha changed nothing in regards to his skill.
Growing up, he never felt safe enough in the brothel to put the lessons to good use for himself. Whenever he made a nest it was for somebody else. It wasn’t until the prince blessed him with a bed of his own that Legato finally felt safe enough to make his own personal nest, even as an alpha it is something he still enjoys and is comfortable doing.
How foolish of Legato to not realize his prince was not raised the same.
It was shocking to him when he walked in and saw Nai had dismantled his nest and threw all of his bedding across the floor. Now that the omega is calm and occupied eating, Legato takes the liberty to pick up the pieces of what he thought was a dismantled nest, placing them on the bed in a loose half circle shape.
It isn’t until he looks up to see the prince’s confused expression staring back at him that he realizes there was never a nest. For the last several years the prince has never had the comfort of a nest during his heat.
Legato wants to kick himself for not realizing this about his prince sooner. Of course he doesn’t nest, he was raised as an alpha, he’s never had that comfort before, he’s never needed to know. He was supposed to find the perfect omega match for him, they would know all of this, they would provide him the comfort.
“Master Nai,” Legato speaks slowly, hesitant to even ask his question. “Did you not nest in preparation during your preheat? Going through your cycle without the comfort of a nest increases your risk of heat sickness, my lord.”
Nai bristles, like he’s insulted Legato dared to ask that question. His mouth curls back into a snarl. “And what would an alpha know about what's good for an omega in heat, have you experienced one yourself?”
“No, I have not, but I was expected to present as an omega and raised as such.” Legato responds honestly. “I have been prepared for heat cycles for as long as I can remember. I used to prepare nests for the other omegas at the brothel when their cycle arrived, that is if an alpha didn’t pay to spend the week with them.”
Nai calms himself, settling down after Legato explains what he meant. “I was raised as an alpha, I’ve never prepared a nest before. I was never taught how.” He admits, pointedly looking away from him. “I don’t see how piles of clothes could help me anyway.”
“It’s more about the comfort of the soft fabrics and the scents they hold.” Legato gently explains. “Pardon my overstep but, may I prepare a partial nest for you?”
Nai clears his throat and crosses his arms, shrugging. “If you insist, you may.”
Legato quickly gets to work, gathering items scattered across the bedroom floor. Starting with the bedding on the floor, he grabs one of the thicker blankets and lays across the top half of the bed as a base and fluffs up every pillow before placing them in a half circle, forming a nook. He drapes a thin sheet over all of them, it covers the pillows but is made of a cooling fabric that will help prevent overheating when Nai is hot but still wants to be covered. Legato adds more blankets and several other pieces of clothing he finds on the floor, assuming they were from the previous nest Prince Nai destroyed.
It's a little difficult assembling the nest while the prince stares him down. He’s carefully watching Legato’s every move with sharp blue eyes. It’s nothing he isn’t already used to, the prince has kept a close eye on him since they met. Though, in the last year his looks have lingered longer than they used to.
Legato picks up a long throw pillow that isn’t too bulky to hold and wraps one of King Vash’s shirts around it like a pillowcase. It’s one of the few pieces of clothing in the room that carries his scent, something that Legato is sure will be comforting between arousal spikes.
Nai tilts his head curiously at that, his hand twitches, like he wants to reach out and ask for it but won’t. Legato doesn’t let his internal struggle go on for long, instead holding the pillow out and offering it to him.
As Nai holds the pillow to his chest and buries his nose in it, Legato watches the tension melt from his shoulders. It pains him to see how distraught his prince’s omega must have felt. To be dormant for so long only to be denied basic needs because his requests aren’t understood, it must have been awful. Legato knows the feeling, understanding his alpha’s needs was a difficult learning curve.
Legato takes the tray of food off the bed and sets it on the table beside the cups of water and juice. Nai ate more than Legato expected him to, which is relieving. One of the biggest things Nai struggled with during his previous heats was his appetite, he would refuse any and all food and drink, stating he wasn’t hungry. Everything Legato brought him are snacking foods that he’s able to leave for Nai to snack on throughout the night later if he’s up for it, something he wouldn’t have been able to do with the hot meals previous servants brought to him.
There’s shuffling beside him and when Legato turns to look, Nai has crawled his way into the nest and curled up on his side, holding the pillow with his brother's shirt tight in his arms. Legats’s chest puffs with pride seeing how relaxed and comfortable Nai looks in the nest he built him. He stifles the pleased expression that threatens to cross his face.
Legato gathers all of the soiled blankets and clothing into a basket. Between Nai overheating and sweating through his clothes and the usual heat fluids there’s a lot of laundry that must be done. It takes an immense amount of self control on Legato's part to not allow Nai’s scent cloud his brain. He continues to remind himself that Master Nai is a royal omega whose life is worth ten times his own, he is not worthy to breathe the same air as him much less succumb to the disgusting desires his primitive instincts are begging him to. It is a blessing alone to be able to service him and is more than he deserves.
Nai watches him shuffle around, waiting until he’s done to attempt to sit up. Legato is by his side in a flash, big eyes pleading him not to strain himself. The prince lifts up his arm and tugs at the loose shirt Legato is wearing. It isn’t anything fancy, it isn’t even that soft. It's an old shirt another servant gave him when he first started at the palace.
“Your shirt.” Nai speaks before Legato can ask if anything is wrong. “Give it to me.”
Legato’s eyes widen at his prince, that is the last thing he would have expected from him. It’s more of a demand than a request, but one that Legato is more than happy to follow. He quickly pulls his shirt over his head and hands it over without question.
Nai takes the shirt and settles back into his comfortable position, this time holding Legato’s shirt beside his brother’s, both close to his chest. “You’re dismissed.”
“Yes, my lord. Thank you.” Legato quickly picks up the basket of dirty clothes and walks out of the room where Wolfwood is still standing guard.
“God, there you are. Took you long enough, I was about to barge in.” Wolfwood cuts himself off, raising an eyebrow. “Where’s your shirt?”
“You may let King Vash know that the prince has been fed and is now resting. I am going downstairs to wash his bedding.” Legato ignores his question, but confidently sticking his nose up in the air and looking away from him does nothing to hide the deep red blush across the bridge of his nose.
For the next few days Legato is the only one the prince allows into his chambers. He refuses to allow anyone else inside, growling at Wolfwood where he stands guard outside his door whenever Legato is bringing him his next meal.
Now that Nai has made the connection that the increasingly unsettling and loud whining in his brain was his omega begging for a nest, this cycle has been easier to handle than previous ones. It’s still not great, the arousal waves are painful to go through alone, especially because he doesn’t know what his omega is asking for during them. It’s a slow process but he’s learning how to understand his inner omega and listen carefully to his instincts.
His nest has grown by a small amount, Legato notices that aside from the few pieces of the King’s clothing he has brought, only Legato’s clothes decorate the inside of his nest. He refuses to allow himself to think about the implications of this, but he can't help but feel maybe his scent brings his master comfort as much as Nai’s scent brings him comfort.
For the last three days Legato visits Nai in the morning and Nai demands the shirt off his back before he leaves. Every day Legato would hand it over without any hesitation. Nai holds the shirt in his lap and eats his breakfast while Legato clears off the soiled top layer of his nest and together they replenish it with fresh blankets. Nai adds Legato’s clothing to the inside while Legato fluffs the pillows and makes himself comfortable again.
The final day of his heat, Nai has most of his energy back. His appetite is back to normal, which still isn’t much but Legato doesn’t have to fight with him to eat anything. He’s sitting up in his nest while Legato does his usual tidying of the bedroom.
Nai holds out his hand, wordlessly demanding Legato’s shirt. For the first time, Legato hesitates.
Nai narrows his eyes, opening his mouth to make the verbal demand but Legato quickly recovers and takes his shirt off. As he places the fabric in the prince’s hands he explains himself.
“That is my last shirt, Master Nai. I’ll have nothing more to give you after this.” He’s more disappointed he doesn’t have more to give him rather than upset that Nai has taken the last of his clothing. He isn’t upset at all, he would give all of his possessions to Nai if he asked. Legato himself already belongs to him, there’s no question in his mind about it.
Nai turns to look at his nest, the inside lined with four shirts he’s taken from Legato. He adds the last shirt to the pile, not giving it back.
“If you have no more clothes to wear, you will wear mine.”
Legato protests before he can think better of it. “My liege i could never do such a thing. I am not worthy to wear your clothes.”
“You dare defy your prince’s order?” Nai hisses so harshly it has Legato clamming up.
“No sir, never.” Legato bows his head, cursing himself for disobeying his prince.
Nai slips out of bed, still wearing just a thin sheet wrapped around himself. He isn’t running as warm as he was a few days prior, but regular clothes are too thick and uncomfortable to wear right now.
Shuffling through his closet he finds a shirt that will fit Legato’s frame. Nai holds it up to ensure it will fit the alpha before holding it out to help Legato put it on. He doesn’t need any assistance but Nai doesn’t give him a choice and Legato refuses to accidentally disobey an order again.
The material of this shirt is much softer than he’s used to. It’s gentle against his skin, whereas his other shirts were rough, almost scratchy. Nai straightens out the back and has him turn around to face him, buttoning up the front. Standing so close to his prince, Legato feels the need to hold his breath. He’s not worthy of breathing the same air as his master.
Nai adjusts the collar of the shirt after finishing the last button. The inside of his wrist brushes against the scent gland on Legato’s neck. He sucks in a breath, convincing himself it was an accident, it must be. The prince would never purposely rub his wrist against Legato’s scent gland.
It happens again, on the other side of his neck. Forcefully this time, intentionally. There’s no way it’s an accident, not with the way Nai’s scent seeps out of his wrist and is rubbed into Legato’s neck.
Nai is scent marking him, staking his claim on him. Legato’s face flushes a dark red but he makes no move to turn away, allowing the prince to finish dressing him.
When Nai finally steps back, Legato stands tall with a smile on his face. It’s not a large grin by any means, but Nai knows him well enough that a smile like that means he’s absolutely beaming on the inside.
“You may inform my brother that I will be down for dinner this evening. I would like a bath before then.”
“Yes, my lord.” Legato bows. “Thank you for the clothing, your generosity knows no bounds.”
Legato closes the door behind him and walks with his head held high, wearing the prince’s scent proudly.
“Hey, you still have your shirt on!” Wolfwood teases him, joining him in his walk down the hall. “That’s a first, wait. That’s not your shirt.” His nose twitches, finally taking in the scent that’s surrounding the alpha,.
“The prince’s cycle has come to an end. You may let the King know the prince will be joining him for dinner after his bath this evening.” Legato continues to walk, ignoring the way Wolfwood calls after him.
Legato turns a corner, making sure there’s no one around him when he leans against the wall. There’s much to do before he has to draw the prince’s bath, but he can afford to take a small break. He buries his nose in the collar of the prince’s shirt he’s wearing and suppresses a childish squeal, allowing himself a few moments of pure bliss.