Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cheongsan blearily blinks his eyes open as his phone vibrates against his bedside table. Frowning in misery at having been awoken so early, he reaches over and picks it up to silence his alarm.

He’s beyond tempted to just throw it back and roll over to continue sleeping.

He’s to get up for school, though. If he doesn't get up in the next ten minutes, his Mama will be in to tear the covers off him, and that's never a pleasant way to start his day. Sighing hard, he lies there fighting the urge to fall back asleep and slowly begins to wake up.

With his brain coming back online, he frowns when gradually he becomes aware of a strange pain along his lower back, the unpleasant throb growing stronger now that he's aware of it. Reaching behind himself, he slides his palm down the small of his back and winces when the contact only serves to sharpen the pain. His sleepy brain struggles to comprehend what exactly is going on with him.

Maybe he ate something he shouldn't have. God, he hopes he’s not about to have a day of stomach problems, that’d be just fantastic.

Maybe he just slept awkwardly, or maybe he pushed himself too hard playing basketball with Gyeongsu and the guys yesterday.

Regardless, he's gotta get his ass up for school.

Grudgingly, he drags the covers back and sits up in bed, cringing once he’s upright and the pain sharpens every time he so much as shifts.

He places a hand on his forehead. He doesn't feel feverish or clammy, and even now he's upright, his stomach doesn't roll over with nausea. No headache or runny nose either, so whatever is wrong with him, it doesn’t seem like any cold, flu, or stomach bug he's ever had.

Standing from his bed, and doing his best to ignore the odd pain, he crosses his bedroom to his desk chair and picks up his uniform, neatly ironed and folded by his Mama.

He makes for the bathroom to shower, exits his room and crosses the hallway, the cold tiles under his bare feet helping to wake him up. Closing the door behind him, he places his uniform on top of the laundry basket before turning to scrutinise himself in the mirror.

He doesn’t look sick, or pale, or flushed even. He looks fine if you can ignore the sleep in his eyes and the bedhead.

Stifling a yawn, he stretches and promptly cringes when it sends pain shooting up his spine. Annoyed now that he's woken up to this, he pulls open the medicine cabinet and snags the bottle of paracetamol in there. Unscrewing the cap, he shimmies two out onto his palm before throwing them back, chasing them down with water from the faucet.

He winces as the two tablets go down. For now, he figures he’s done all he can to help with the pain, so until it subsides with the help of painkillers, he starts his morning routine. Brushing his teeth and washing his face, he turns away from the sink, strips off, and steps into the shower.

Maybe the hot water will help some.

Twenty minutes later, he strolls into the kitchen for breakfast, dressed and groomed to his usual standards. His Mama smiles at him in greeting from where she's leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping coffee. Returning the smile, he sits at their small table, grabs the box of his favourite cereal and begins making himself a bowl. He’s starving this morning, even more so than usual, and he’s got quite the appetite as is. Sue him, he’s a growing boy. 

“I'm heading off. A delivery is coming into the restaurant early this morning. I’ll see you.” His Mama tells him, planting a kiss atop his head as she passes by on her way out.

“Bye, Mama,” He replies around a mouthful of cereal.

She waves goodbye with an amused smile as she makes for the door, opening it and leaving. His Papa is likely still asleep, having been up late last night doing the accounts for the restaurant. Putting his finance degree to some use. His father, for a very long time worked in a bank before his mother's dream of opening a restaurant became their dream, and he quit to make it a reality for them.

That's fine and all to him but he sure wishes he wasn't named after the damned place.

Cheongsan continues to wolf his breakfast down and blinks in surprise when his phone buzzes in his pocket. Pulling it out, he’s got a message from Gyeongsu.

Opening it, Cheongsan laughs to himself at the meme his best friend sent him. The guy is obsessed with memes, forever sending them to him at all hours of the day. Even when they’re sitting next to each other in school, he’ll send Cheongsan a meme, then watch in anticipation as Cheongsan opens it, a giddy smile across his face.

He replies simply with a series of laughing faces, before locking his phone and deciding on a second bowl of cereal. He’s freaking starving.

Later, as he lugs his and Onjo’s backpacks to school, having lost their morning game of rock, paper, scissors, he starts to feel steadily worse rather than better. He knew he should've taken an ibuprofen; that bottle of paracetamol had looked ancient. Perhaps they were out of date, or something. He hopes not, that sounds dangerous.

“Jeez, just give me my bag back, would you? You look like you’re about to pass out,” Onjo orders him, pulling on the strap to tug it off him.

“I’m fine, just feel a little sweaty,” He replies, handing her bag back anyway before wiping his forehead with his sleeve. His friend frowns over at him in concern as they continue their walk to school.

“Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to go today? You’re starting to look a little pasty, Cheongsan,” She says, scrutinising his face.

“I’m fine, Onjo. It’s just hot as hell out here today, and your backpack weighs half a ton,” He replies, and winces when a spasm fires up his lower back.

“If you say so,” his best friend replies, looking entirely unconvinced.

Deciding to change the topic, to distract his mind from how shitty he’s starting to feel, he turns to her with a question on his tongue.

“Do you think Suhyeok will be back today?” He asks, slightly out of breath.

“How would I know Cheongsan? He was in his rut, how long do they usually last for Alphas?” she asks him, her cheeks staining red at the mention of why Suhyeok has been out all week.

“A few days, I think. No clue, honestly,” He replies, scrunching his nose up at the idea of a rut. “I gotta say, as Betas, we lucked out that we don’t have to deal with none of that crap,” he continues.

“True. Downright awful heats and ruts sound,” Onjo says, with a weary shake of her head.

“True,” he nods before wincing when stepping off the curb sends another painful spasm along his spine. "You can still get pregnant though, so that sucks for you," He continues and laughs when she grimaces like he's just told her something utterly vile. 

Normally, people present as Alphas or Omegas as they reach puberty. If they don't, they're assumed to be Betas. As 17-year-olds, he and Onjo are out of the danger zone and can safely assume themselves to both be Betas. Much to Cheongsan's relief. Even as a 13-year-old, he’d dreaded the idea of presenting as either, always hoping he'd be a Beta. His whole life, he’s heard the stories of both Alphas and Omegas falling victim to their biology, and he’s always hated the idea of being so controlled by raging hormones that you behave in ways you’d never do with a clear mind.

Now, if he'd presented as an Alpha, it wouldn't have been that bad. Besides the whole 'being controlled by raging hormones' thing, being an Alpha has societal perks: People will fear you, respect you, and even, well, lust after you. Being an Omega, on the other hand, had Cheongsan presented as one would've been very challenging. Not only is being a male Omega extremely rare, but it's also the designation most likely to give you a life of hardship. Whilst the younger generation is generally more open-minded and better educated, a lot of society still believes that you're lesser than for being an Omega, especially a male one. The only male Omega they had in their school, and one of only a few Cheongsan knew of, was a boy named Jin-su. He left school last semester because the bullying was so relentless, his bullies let off with it because of their Alpha designation, or so the rumours go. 

Cheongsan is more familiar with male Alphas, having met far more. One of his friends, Suhyeok, is as Alpha as they come: tall, broad, and strong. And also totally under the influence of his Alpha biology. Only last week, Suhyeok had been cranky and ill-tempered leading up to the weekend, for no discernible reason. He’d snapped multiple times at Namra, the only other Alpha in their friend group, and glared daggers at any Alphas that dared come within the vicinity of them. Namra had rolled her eyes at him and teased him about likely approaching his rut.

Cheongsan had side-eyed his friend with slight wariness, not quite as comfortable with Suhyeok when he got like this. He’s grateful that as a Beta, he couldn't smell his friend because the way Namra and Isak, an Omega, had scrunched up their noses at him, made him grimace in sympathy. Alpha approaching rut must smell awful.

He hopes today his friend is back to himself and in attendance. Cheongsan has missed him, though he’d never admit it. Besides Onjo and Gyeong-su, Suhyeok is his closest friend. Amongst all his friends, he finds Suhyeok the most relaxing to be around. The other boy is charming and affectionate in a way that eases something in Cheongsan.

People gravitate to Suhyeok, and a weak part of Cheongsan has always been jealous of Suhyeok for that quality. The way people desire to talk to the Alpha and be around him, without Suhyeok seemingly even trying. He’s no exception to that charm either. Only last week, their friends had teased them about how touchy-feely they are with each other. Suhyeok always has an arm around his shoulders, hugs him from behind, or holds his hand. His friends may roll their eyes and make insinuations about their relationship, but Cheongsan thinks they’re just jealous.

Entering the school alongside Onjo, Cheongsan is starting to regret his decision to attend today. He has progressively felt more and more like crap. His lower back pain has expanded to include his pelvic region, and the uncomfortable, dull throb has moved deeper into his lower abdomen. He’s beyond confused as to what’s wrong with him. He’s never felt sick like this before in his life. He’s had stomach bugs, he’s had colds and flu, but this is different, feeling nothing like any ailment he’s contracted before. As his brain starts anxiously spiralling down a rabbit hole of what ifs (What if it’s cancer? What if his appendix has burst?”), He forcefully puts a stop to those thoughts, not needing to instil panic in himself.

Entering Homeroom with Onjo, Cheongsan spots Gyeong-su, sitting in his usual seat and smiles when his best friend nods his head in greeting. Onjo leaves his side as they enter to take her seat next to Isak, already chatting away excitedly about something or other. As he approaches his seat next to Gyeong-su, he’s happy to see Suhyeok at the back of the class behind them, lounging against his chair, effortlessly cool. Suhyeok winks at him once he notices Cheongsan, a cheeky smirk pulling at the corner of the Alpha's mouth. Cheongsan grins back at his friend.

Sitting down, he turns around to lean over the back of his seat to chat with Suhyeok, ignoring the pain twisting his body like this causes him.

“Decided to grace us with your presence, did you?” He asks, mock-serious.

Suhyeok grins at him, sitting forward to lean his elbows on the desk in front of him, to give Cheongsan his full attention. “Figured I’d come in today before you missed me too much,” The Alpha replies, a cheeky grin showing off his pearly whites, and Cheongsan can’t resist grinning back, adding an eye roll to suggest he’s unaffected by Suhyeok’s charm.

“Well, you didn’t miss much, Gyeong-su here is still as big an idiot as ever,” He replies, pointing with his thumb to his friend. Gyeong-su loudly protests his comment, and Cheongsan soon has to fight off his friend trying to put him in a headlock, Suhyeok laughing behind them at their antics.

Managing to push Gyeong-su off, he notices Onjo and Isak have turned in their seat a few rows in front of them, directing unimpressed looks their way for their tomfoolery. Cheongsan makes a face at Onjo of exasperation as if he weren’t the instigator of the squabble. She gives him a further unimpressed once-over before turning back around to the front of the classroom.

Grinning, Cheongsan tenses slightly when a pair of arms comes down over his shoulders from behind. Realising the only person it could be, he turns his head slightly to look at Suhyeok, smiling up at the taller boy. His friend has settled around Cheongsan's shoulders, hugging him from behind, head dipping into his neck.

“I don’t wanna be here, Cheongsan, too tired,” He petulantly whines into Cheongsan’s neck.

Cheongsan grins at him for his childish behaviour, raising his own hands to grip Suhyeok’s forearms where they’re draped across his chest.

“You’ve had days off, how can you be tired?” He asks teasingly.

“I wasn’t resting yesterday, I’ll have you know,” Suhyeok replies, raising his head to petulantly frown at him.

Cheongsan feels a blush rise to his cheeks at the reminder of why Suhyeok was absent. A blush that only deepens when Suhyeok laughs at him for the reaction, dipping his head back into Cheongsan’s neck and chuckling.

“Relax, I won’t say anything further. Such a prude,” The Alpha says into his neck, humour in his tone, and Cheongsan feels indignation flare in him.

“Shut up, asshole,” He replies, embarrassed.

Suhyeok laughs into the crook of his neck, hot breath fanning over Cheongsan’s skin. A shiver runs up Cheongsan’s spine at the sensation. He’s very warm all of a sudden. He blinks in surprise when Suhyeok moves his face deeper, his nose brushing against Cheongsan's neck, sniffing repeatedly.

“Uh, Suhyeok? What’re you doing?” Cheongsan asks, laughing nervously, as the other boy continues to nose along Cheongsan's skin.

“You smell good,” Suhyeok murmurs, and Cheongsan, getting uncomfortable now, squirms out and away from his friend, leaning back into Gyeong-su's side as he turns to look at the Alpha with a frown.

“New cologne?” Suhyeok asks him, apparently seeing nothing odd with his behaviour, as he looks innocently at Cheongsan.

“No, actually... no cologne,” Cheongsan breathes.

“New body wash, then?” Suhyeok asks, a slight blush rising to his cheeks, seemingly finally realising how weird his behaviour is.

“Uh, yeah, maybe,” Cheongsan replies, even though he’s pretty sure this morning he used the same body wash he’s always used.

Suhyeok nods awkwardly before retreating to his seat. Cheongsan straightens back and turns to Gyeong-su in complete puzzlement.

“You two get weirder with each other every day,” Gyeong-su says in answer to the look Cheongsan’s giving him, his friend looking away and opening his journal.

Feeling put off by Suhyeok’s behaviour, Cheongsan opens his journal for lack of anything better to do. His skin prickles, a feeling like he’s being watched falling over him, and frowning down at his desk, Cheongsan knows it’s Suhyeok. Pushing thoughts of Suhyeok and his weird ass behaviour out of his mind, Cheongsan picks up his pen.

The first class of the day, Science, sees Cheongsan struggling to concentrate on anything Mr Lee is saying at the top of the class. Swallowing against his dry throat, he squirms in his seat, trying to relieve the pressure on his hips as the throbbing pain from earlier rebounds. The stools they sit upon in the labs are proving to be torturous for him right now, with no back support to relieve his aching lower torso. He’s beginning to run a fever now, too, sweat breaking out across his hairline and under his armpits.

As the pain gradually worsens, Cheongsan’s grip on his pen tightens, and he clenches his teeth, trying to fight through it. He’s not sure how much more of this he can take. He doesn’t know what the hell is wrong with him, but whatever it is, it’s getting worse as the day continues. Slowly inhaling and exhaling through his nose, he tries to breathe through the worst of the spasms.

Wiping his brow with his sleeve, from the corner of his eye, he sees someone lean over further into his peripheral vision as if trying to get his attention. Turning his head, Suhyeok, on the other side of the room, frowns over at him in concern, raising an eyebrow in question. He must have noticed Cheongsan's odd behaviour. 

Cheongsan swallows before shrugging his shoulders, unable to give much else to the Alpha's questioning look. Suhyeok's frown deepens further before he indicates Mr Lee with his pen. Cheongsan surmises he’s telling him to inform Mr Lee of how he’s feeling. He shakes his head in answer. He’s fine, he just needs to get through this class, and off these uncomfortable as fuck stools.

Suhyeok’s mouth thins out in displeasure at his refusal to inform Mr Lee, but Cheongsan just turns away from him. Gyeong-su, beside him, having noticed his exchange with Suhyeok, looks at him with matching concern.

“Man, you don’t look great,” His best friend informs him, as his eyes track over Cheongsan's face.

“I’m fine, Gyeong-su, really,”

Placing his elbows on the desk, he leans his forehead against the palms of his hands. The new angle on his spine only proves to intensifies the pain, and Cheongsan feels nausea begin to roil around in his stomach. Lips parting, he breathes slowly through his mouth and closes his eyes, desperately trying to subdue the nausea and make it through this class.

“Dude, just tell Mr Lee you don’t feel well,” Gyeong-su orders him suddenly, his voice equal parts anxious and annoyed.

Turning his head to look at his friend, the concern in Gyeong-su’s gaze is what finally defeats him, guilt building in his chest. His stubborn ass is only making his friends worry for him, he's being unfair. Sitting up straight, he grimaces before raising his hand to get Mr Lee's attention.

Mr Lee stops his lecture mid-sentence when he notices Cheongsan's raised hand.

“...Yes, Cheongsan?” the older Alpha asks, eyebrows raised.

“Sir, I’m not feeling too well. Would it be okay if I went to the bathroom?” He shakily asks, swallowing against the waves of nausea.

“Yes, of course, do you need someone to go with you?” His teacher asks, concerned, eyes flicking to Gyeong-su.

“No, sir, that’s okay, I’ll be fine,” Cheongsan replies, already sliding off the stool to walk out of the lab. If he starts puking up his breakfast, there won’t be a whole lot Gyeong-su would be able to do to help him anyway.

As he approaches the door to leave, he glances over at Suhyeok and finds the Alpha still directing a look of concern at him. Hoping to relieve some of that worry, Cheongsan smiles warmly at his friend, grateful for the Alpha.

Walking down the empty corridors of Hyosan High, Cheongsan feels marginal relief to be off those uncomfortable stools. The pain is still there, thrumming with every step, but he thinks the nausea is abating. Reaching the boys' toilets, he pushes the door open and enters. Relief passes through him to find them empty: If he's about to vomit up his breakfast, he'd rather do it alone and save some of his dignity.

Making his way over to the row of sinks along one wall, he leans his hands on the porcelain and allows it to take his weight. He sighs with relief when the reduced pressure on his lower spine dampens some of the throbbing. Before him, his dishevelled appearance stares back at him in the mirror; His skin is flushed red, a sheen of sweat across his forehead and down his temples. He’s too hot, his core burning up a fire inside of him. Twisting the faucet, he collects cold water in the palm of his hand and bends over to splash it on his face, the act proving soothing to his too-hot skin.

Standing back up to his full height, he’s contemplating heading over to the nurse's office to see if they have any strong painkillers when a bizarre sensation rolls through his lower abdomen. Grasping the sink tightly again, Cheongsan feels something deep in his pelvis suddenly relax. As if he'd been tensing a muscle deep in his hips, and it suddenly uncoiled. He lets out a relieved breath as the pain begins to ebb away, allowing him to breathe normally again for the first time in hours. Standing there, he’s beyond confused at what it was he just felt, but regardless, he's grateful the pain is beginning to fade. He stays like that, simply breathing for a minute as the discomfort subsides.

Letting go of the sink when he's starting to feel like himself again, he turns to the mirror to scrutinise his appearance. His hair is mussed, sticking up at the front, and his tie is askew. Reaching up, he straightens both, nodding in approval to see himself back to his usual look. Thankful that his body is back to its normal self, he pivots and takes a step to leave the bathroom, planning on returning to class.

A warm liquid trailing down his inner thigh stops him dead in his tracks.

With a gasp, his wide eyes drop to the crotch of his pants.

What in the ever-loving shit was that?!

Running into a stall on the opposite side of the boys’ toilets, he quickly slams the door behind him. Hastily undoing the button of his pants, he tugs both those and his briefs down to mid-thigh.

Staring into his briefs, his confusion doubles upon noticing a…a wet patch? For a few seconds, all he can do is gawk at it, downright baffled. Then, cautiously, he dips his fingers into the pooled wetness and brings it up to his face to examine.

It’s a clear, viscous liquid, and rubbing it between his fingers, its consistency is almost like hair gel or petroleum jelly.

Or lubricant.

Blanching, Cheongsan stares in horror at the warm liquid coating his fingers. A warm, viscous, lubricant-like liquid that had trailed down his inner thigh from behind his balls. Panic grips him at the realisation that’s quickly slotting into place in his mind.

This can’t be happening.

He’s a beta.

He’s not-

He’s a 17-year-old beta!

His breath catches in his throat, and he moves to take a step back, forgetting about his trousers around his thighs. Tripping, he falls backwards, his shoulder colliding with the corner of the cubicle. Throwing out a hand, he grabs the cistern of the toilet, just about managing to stop himself from falling onto his ass.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he tries to calm the panic gripping him, doing his best to take long, drawn-out breaths, even as his heart only seems to race harder in his chest.

Something further relaxes in his groin, and Cheongsan’s eyes pop open when more liquid begins flowing down his thighs. Alongside it, an intense sensation blooms in his pelvic region and gradually spreads outwards, bringing with it a molten heat. His face burns when he glances down to see his cock beginning to fill up, rising from where it’s flaccid against his balls.

No, no, no...

Awkwardly readjusting his stance, he gets his feet back under him and lets go of the cistern. Already cringing, he reaches behind himself with his right hand and hesitantly guides two fingers between the cheeks of his ass. As his fingers brush over his hole, the wetness there confirms what he already knew to be true.

It’s slick.

He’s in heat.

He’s an Omega in heat.

Rubbing the pads of his fingers over the furls of his hole, a moan escapes his mouth before he can stop it, pleasure blooming in him in an intensity he’s never felt before. Yanking his hand away, his attempts to calm himself fail as his suspicion is confirmed. This can't be happening to him. He's seventeen! He was happy as a Beta. He can't be an Omega, he can't be.

Realising what exactly is happening to him at that moment, fear climbs up his throat given his circumstances. He’s trapped in this cubicle, in the boys' bathroom, descending into Omega heat with every passing second. He needs to get home, he's not safe here. He needs his Mama. At that moment, Cheongsan feels so frightened and alone that he wants nothing more than for his Mama to come and save him. He needs her right now, she’ll know what to do. She always knows what to do.

With tears collecting in his eyes, he angrily rubs them away with his sleeve before they can fall. He's not gonna cry, that won't help him right now.

Bending over, he reaches down and pulls up his briefs, grimacing when the now cold slick sticks to his butt. Gripping his trousers, he’s about to pull them up too when the door to the boys’ bathroom suddenly opens. Halting all movement, barely breathing, he listens carefully for any indication of who has entered.

“Cheongsan?”

Dread washes over him like ice-cold water at the sound of Suhyeok’s voice. Why him of all people? Cheongsan listens carefully as the Alpha strolls further into the room, calling out to him again, concern evident in his tone. Slowly and as quietly as he can, Cheongsan takes a few steps away from the cubicle door, pushing himself into the back corner. Putting as much distance between himself and the Alpha on the other side.

“Cheongsan? Where are you, man?” Suhyeok calls out again, confused.

Cheongsan can just about see by his moving shadow under the gap in the door that Suhyeok is looking around the bathroom for him. The Alpha would know he'd have to be in this bathroom with its proximity to the Science labs.

As his friend checks each empty cubicle, Cheongsan tenses when Suhyeok’s sneakers eventually appear under the one he’s cowering in.

“Cheongsan, are you in there?” Suhyeok asks, knocking on the door.

With horror, Cheongsan sees the door open slightly under the pressure.

Realising too late he never bothered to lock it in his haste to check his briefs, he rushes forward, and reaches out to grip the door and slam it shut.

Suhyeok swings it open before he can, the door smacking against the cubicle wall.

Jumping back against the far corner, Cheongsan raises a hand to Suhyeok.

“Stop, Suhyeok, get out. Close the door,” He orders, anger filling his voice from the sheer fright.

Suhyeok’s face in any other situation would be funny. He’s looking down at Cheongsan’s half-naked state with utter bafflement across his features. His eyes travel from Cheongsan’s naked thighs up to his face, complete confusion in them.

“What the fuck…” The Alpha breathes out, a small, amused smile beginning to turn up the corners of his mouth.

“Suhyeok, please, you need to leave,” Cheongsan says nervously, “Like, right now, Suhyeok.” He continues, his voice breaking as he stares up at the other boy pleadingly.

Suhyeok’s face quickly changes from amused to concerned once he finally notices just how anxious Cheongsan is. To Cheongsan’s horror, though, instead of leaving, he takes another step into the cubicle, reaching out to touch him.

“Cheongsan, whats wrong—”

Panicking, Cheongsan reaches out and grips Suhyeok’s outstretched hand in an iron grip.

“Stop. Don’t come any closer,” He demands, panic climbing up his throat.

Suhyeok stares at him in shock for a second before yanking his hand back and taking a step to leave. Cheongsan watches as his friend half turns to go before he stops suddenly, distracted. Angry now at Suhyeok’s refusal to leave, Cheongsan glares over at him to see what’s suddenly caught his attention and is preventing him from exiting the cubicle.

Suhyeok is staring down at his right hand, the one Cheongsan had just gripped. The overhead lights of the bathroom reflect off a liquid smeared across the skin of the Alpha’s hand.

Cheongsan feels the colour drain from his face. Suhyeok frowns down at his hand, tilting it this way and that to inspect the fluid, before he looks up at Cheongsan in mild alarm and disgust.

“What the fuck is this?” The taller boy exclaims, wide eyes flickering between the liquid and Cheongsan.

Cheongsan opens his mouth to say something, anything, but no reasonable answer comes. Mortification fills him from head to toe. Suhyeok continues to stare between him and his hand, and before he can tell his friend to stop, the taller boy raises his hand to his nose to cautiously sniff the liquid.

The Alpha's reaction is immediate. Suhyeok’s confused and slightly disgusted face melts away as his mouth falls open and wanton hunger fills his eyes. As Cheongsan watches, his friend continues to pull the scent into his lungs, Suhyeok’s eyes glazing over.

“Suhyeok-”

“Omega.”

Cheongsan flinches like he’s been hit, squeezing his eyes shut in humiliation. 

“You’re in heat,” the Alpha states and Cheongsan reopens his eyes to see Suhyeok looking him up and down like he's a full-course meal and the Alpha is starving.

“Suhyeok, I need you to do me a favour, okay? I need you to leave and go get Gyeong-su for me.” Cheongsan instructs him slowly, staring hard at Suhyeok.

His words fall on deaf ears, though, as Suhyeok isn’t even paying attention to him anymore. The Alpha is too preoccupied with pulling in the scent of Cheongsan's slick through his nose, his eyes closed in pleasure. Before Cheongsan's horrified eyes, the Alpha then drags his tongue across the skin of his hand, and with a few passes, licks up every bit of Cheongsan's slick. 

Cheongsan feels fear fill him at the look Suhyeok directs his way after. Swallowing hard, he opens his mouth to order the Alpha to get the fuck out, when a scent hits him. Heady and thick, the scent fills up his lungs and begins to cloud his mind. Confused, he looks up at Suhyeok and realises at that moment where the incredible scent is coming from.

Suhyeok is responding to Cheongsan’s current state, his Alpha biology releasing pheromones to entice an Omega in heat. The longer Cheongsan stands there inhaling the scent, the cloudier his mind gets, and the harder it becomes to concentrate on anything other than the need overtaking his mind. Shaking his head, he jumps out of his skin when Suhyeok’s arms encircle him, not having even noticed the other boy move. The Alpha's right arm wraps around his waist, as his left cards through Cheongsan's hair. Holding him in place, Suhyeok dips his head into Cheongsan's neck, inhaling deeply.

“Shhh, it’s okay, Sannie. I’ve got ye,” the taller boy whispers to him "God, you smell unbelievable right now, baby,".

Enveloped in the Alpha's warmth and scent, Cheongsan feels his legs go weak and if not for the way Suhyeok’s arms are wrapped around him, he would’ve fallen on his ass.

“Suhyeok, wait- just wait for a second,” Cheongsan stutters out, mind muddled and eyes half-lidded, finding it impossible to concentrate. He reaches up to grip the back of Suhyeok’s shirt, planning to pull him off, but finds he’s too weak, his arms not cooperating with his brain.

“Shhh, baby, I’ll take care of you. Let me take care of you,” Suhyeok whispers in his ear, pulling Cheongsan's shirt collar back to reveal where his neck meets his shoulder. Where he now knows, an Alpha’s claiming bite is supposed to go. Suhyeok leans down and grazes his canines over the spot carefully, not breaking the skin but suggesting he could.

Cheongsan moans, self-control fully slipping away as his mind falls deep into newly awoken instincts. Spreading his legs beneath Suhyeok, Cheongsan feels slick begin to flow more freely from him, soaking his briefs, his cock hard as a rock against his stomach, leaking sticky precum.

“Jesus, baby, you smell incredible,” Suhyeok says into his shoulder, raising his head to sniff under Cheongsan’s ear, along his hairline. “And you taste… like you were made for me,” Suhyeok continues, readjusting his hold on Cheongsan. His right-hand reaches down and grips Cheongsan's ass, right over his crack, digging his fingers into the sopping wet material there.

Cheongsan moans brokenly as pressure is applied to his ass, so close to where he needs it, but not quite there. He needs something so desperately, so badly, he could cry. Suhyeok grips him harder again and pulls his body flush against Cheongsan’s, their hips meeting in the middle. Cheongsan can feel against his stomach a responding hardness from Suhyeok. A needy whine leaves his throat, his Omega instincts responding enthusiastically to Suhyeok’s arousal.

“You feel me, baby? How hard I am for you? I’m gonna fuck you till you scream,” Suhyeok promises him and Cheongsan reaches up to grip Suhyeok’s hair, a desperate sob leaving him.

“Shhh, baby, I gotta get you ready first,” Suhyeok shushes him and slides his hand up from Cheongsan’s clothed crack to the band of his briefs against his lower back. As he slips his fingers beneath the material to fulfil his promise, Cheongsan’s heart races in anticipation. Finally. Finally, Suhyeok is going to—

A loud yelp sounds from Suhyeok, and Cheongsan goes crashing to the floor as the Alpha is ripped off him. Cheongsan cracks his head off the wall, not prepared to stop his fall, and his tailbone connects squarely with the tiles of the floor. Pain flashes through him like a bolt of lightning, and in a second, as if waking up from a dream, Cheongsan’s rational brain returns.

Cringing on the floor of the bathroom, he looks up to see Mr Lee dragging a fighting Suhyeok away from him, attempting to get him out of the bathroom. Suhyeok is kicking and fighting with all his might, rage across his features. The older Alpha has him from behind, one arm locked around his neck, the other trying to stop his swinging arms, as he yells at Suhyeok to calm down. Suhyeok isn’t listening, though; his eyes are locked onto Cheongsan as he attempts to pull away from Mr Lee, growling like a wild animal and doing all he can to break free. Mr Lee, seemingly realising he’s not getting through to Suhyeok, tightens his arm around his student’s neck and grabs his head with his other arm. Suhyeok’s face goes as red as a tomato, his movements slowing, the fight seeping out of him as he passes out.

Cheongsan feels concern and fright pass through him as his friend goes limp, Mr Lee lowering him to the floor. Attempting to sit up, he grimaces in pain.

“Suhyeok,” He calls out.

Mr Lee looks up at him briefly before turning his attention back to Suhyeok, busy checking him over.

“He’s okay, Cheongsan. He’s just out cold, I had to make him stop,” The older Alpha explains.

Cheongsan is about to reply when the bathroom door slams open and footsteps rush in. Gyeong-su and Onjo stop in their tracks as they take in the scene before them. Him lying splayed out in a cubicle, trousers around his legs. Suhyeok passed out cold with Mr Lee crouching over him. Onjo recovers first and rushes over to Cheongsan, kneeling beside him, eyes anxiously taking him in.

“Cheongsan! Jesus, are you okay?” She asks, concern marring her face.

Gyeong-su runs in after her, kneeling on his other side. 

“I’m so sorry I didn't get here sooner. I should’ve come sooner, I’m so sorry,” He pleads, face full of pained regret.

Cheongsan can only stare up at his friends for a few seconds in silence before he opens his mouth to tell them he’s okay.

“I’m an Omega,” Is what comes out instead.

Then, he bursts into tears, raising his hands to hide his face as sobs wrack his body. Onjo pulls him into her arms, his head on her right shoulder, as he just continues to cry, unable to stop. Gyeong-su hugs him from his left side, rubbing his hand up and down Cheongsan’s back.

Over the next few minutes, his sobs eventually subside, and he pulls away from his friends to scrub at his face, embarrassed. Looking over Onjo’s shoulder, he notices both Suhyeok and Mr Lee are gone. Worry fills him.

“Suhyeok?” He asks Onjo.

“He’s okay, Cheongsan. Mr Lee carried him out of the bathroom, to the nurses' office, I think.”

Nodding, Cheongsan feels relieved that Suhyeok’s going to get taken care of. Looking down, mortification fills every inch of him at what a sight he is in front of his two friends; sitting on his ass in a toilet cubicle, trousers around his knees, a visible wet patch staining his briefs. Indignant anger burns through him then for this entire fucked up situation.

“Get out,” He whispers, too embarrassed to look at his friends, glaring at the tiled floor between his thighs.

“Do you need help? I can-” Gyeong-su starts before Cheongsan interrupts.

“No. Just get out,” He demands.

A pregnant pause passes over them, Cheongsan guessing his friends are conflicted about leaving him. Sighing through her nose, Onjo eventually stands, pulling Gyeong-su with her and out of the cubicle. She swings the door closed, giving him some semblance of privacy.

Drawing his legs under him, Cheongsan reaches up and grips the toilet paper dispenser to pull himself up. Shakily standing, he tries to breathe evenly when the exertion of rising proves a lot for his still-weak legs. Reaching over, this time, he turns the damn lock on the cubicle. He’s still in heat, can feel it thrumming through him even now, but not nearly as overwhelming or enveloping as it’d been with Suhyeok around him. Mind whirling for solutions to clean up his current state, Cheongsan begins removing handfuls of toilet paper from the dispenser.

Shame sinking into his chest like a stone, he pulls his briefs back down his thighs and with the tissue paper, tries to wipe up as much of the slick that’s soaked in. Discarding one handful down the toilet, he collects more and feels tears prick at his eyes as he has to reach back and wipe himself to remove the rest. Throwing them angrily down the toilet, he scrubs at his face with his sleeves before reaching down to pull both his briefs and trousers back up, entirely uncomfortable in these now ruined clothes.

Blowing his nose with more tissue, he pauses to listen when the door to the boys’ bathroom reopens, and for one awful second, he pictures Suhyeok barging back in for him, growling in rage.

It’s Mr Lee who speaks, though, addressing Onjo quietly, trying not to let Cheongsan hear.

“He’s still in there?” Mr Lee whispers.

“Yes, sir, he’ll be out in a minute,” Onjo replies just as quietly.

“Okay. I’ve called his Mother, she’s on the way to collect him now, will you tell him? I’m going to wait out here until she arrives, and then I’ll escort him out.”

“I’ll tell him. Thank you, sir,” Onjo replies, before the door to the boys’ bathroom closes as Mr Lee leaves to act as his guard dog. Cheongsan feels resentment flood him, that he now needs one.

Taking deep breaths, he tries to collect himself emotionally as best he can, before he opens the door. Cheongsan has always felt his emotions intensely, he's never been that guy that can stow away or hide his feelings well, but right then he feels like he's consistently on the verge of breaking down. Hormones, he figures.

Gyeong-su and Onjo are standing over by the sinks when he opens the door to leave. Identical expressions of worry across their faces make Cheongsan want to slam the door closed again, like a brat. Stepping out of the cubicle, Onjo sends him a small smile, though unable to hide the anxiety in her eyes.

“Your Mama is on the way to collect you, she’ll be here soon,” Onjo tells him.

Nodding down at his feet, Cheongsan loathes the awkward silence that fills the space between the three of them. It's never like this with his friends, it's almost like they're strangers to each other in that moment.

“Don’t think I’ve ever really met a male Omega before Sannie, you're a first for me,” Gyeong-su says into the silence, a failed attempt at an amused smile on his face.

Cheongsan doesn’t respond, just continues to stare at his feet, swallowing repeatedly when the urge to burst into tears hits him again. Without looking up, he hears Onjo smack Gyeong-su upside the head, the other Beta yelping.

Realising something, he lifts his gaze to stare daggers at Gyeong-su, the other boy’s eyes widening in surprise.

“Why did he follow me here? Why Suhyeok? Where the hell were you?!” He demands to know, in that moment, finding an outlet for everything he’s feeling in his anger for Gyeong-su.

“Cheongsan, I-I asked to come and find you, but Suhyeok, he interrupted me, told me he’d find you, hopped off his stool and was gone before I could even protest,” Gyeong-su explains, regret plain on his face.

“Yeah, well, look how that turned out,” He continues, still glaring Gyeong-su down. He blinks when Onjo steps in front of Gyeong-su.

“Cheongsan, we know you’re upset right now, but this isn’t Gyeong-su’s fault. I didn’t see any issue with Suhyeok following you to the bathroom either. We couldn’t have known what would happen. Not to mention, Gyeong-su did go and find you. He alerted Mr Lee when he saw- when he saw Suhyeok-" she stops, unable to finish the sentence. 

Cheongsan looks away, turning his glare to a random point on the wall. He’s so upset right now, he just wants to smash something. Or punch someone. He turns his head when the door to the bathroom is pushed open. Mr Lee pokes his head in.

“Cheongsan, your Mother is here,” The man says before stepping into the bathroom and holding the door open wide. His Mama comes rushing in then, deep concern across her face as she searches for him. Seeing her and the obvious worry she has for him proves too much, and the dam breaks once again as Cheongsan rushes into her, hugging her as he sobs and hiccups.

“Shhh, Cheongsan, it’s okay, it’ll be okay,” She tells him, caressing his head to try to console him.

She guides him out of the bathroom as he continues to cling to her, tears soaking the collar of her shirt. Classes are still in progress, but it’s coming close to the hour, so they make their way quickly through the halls and out into the car park. He doesn’t even say goodbye to Onjo or Gyeong-su as he leaves, just climbs into the back seat and lies down, tears flowing freely.

That’s how the worst day of his life starts.

Chapter Text

Lying in the backseat of his Mama's rickety old car, the tears in Cheongsan’s eyes gradually subside as he feels what he now knows as his heat beginning to return. Squeezing his eyes shut, he breathes through the waves of arousal radiating from his groin the best he can. He didn’t think this day could get any more humiliating, but as he lay there, an erection tenting the front of his school pants whilst slick ruins the back, it just has. He can't let his Mama see him like this, no mother should have to see their son like this. Shaking his head, he tries to clear the fog starting to fill every corner of his brain. He won’t lose himself to his biology again, he won’t. Frustration fills him to bursting at how helpless he feels right then, and in another emotional outburst to add to the tally today, he angrily punches the car seat repeatedly.

“Just hold on, Cheongsan, we’re nearly home,” His Mama tells him, briefly glancing at him.

Gripping his hair tight in fistfuls, as his body continues its awful descent into his heat, he focuses on the pain across his scalp and not the burning need in his veins.

As his Mama pulls the car into their parking spot outside the apartment complex, Cheongsan sighs in relief at seeing the ugly building come into view through the back window. He’s nearly home. Nearly safe. She opens the backseat as he slowly sits up, feeling weak all over. With her help, he drags himself out of the car but nearly falls to his knees when his legs give out from under him. She’s just about able to stop him from falling with her hands under his arms, but she’s a small woman, and the strain is obvious on her face.

His Papa's form rushing out of the apartment building towards them makes a mix of emotions flow through Cheongsan upon seeing him. Relief, shame, embarrassment and guilt, war through him in quick succession. Upon reaching them, his Papa takes his left arm and loops it over his shoulder, whilst his mother does the same with his right. His parents then begin leading him into the building and towards the apartment elevators. 

He doesn’t miss how they anxiously survey their surroundings upon entering the building, and then again upon leaving the elevator after it has brought them to their floor. Cheongsan is now a danger to himself. Right then, if he were alone, his condition could see him in some very unfortunate circumstances if an Alpha, willing to take advantage of a heat-addled Omega, were to come along. It mightn’t even matter if he’s alone, an Alpha might try and remove him from his parents anyway. He’s heard the stories. He thinks it’s a collective relief between the three of them once they enter their apartment and the door securely closes behind them.

“C’mon, baby, you need a shower,” His Mama tells him, pushing back his sweaty bangs to look him over.

Nodding, Cheongsan lets his mother lead him into the bathroom. His Papa doesn’t follow, instead, he sets off for the kitchen, and Cheongsan distantly hears him opening and closing drawers within, rushing around.

As his Mama deposits him onto the closed toilet seat in the bathroom, Cheongsan shakes his head again in a feeble attempt to clear his mind. He doesn’t think he can hold off the urge to give in to his instincts for much longer; they’re pushing at the back of his mind stronger with every second, and it’s only through pure willpower that he’s not letting them take over.

“Let’s get these off you, I’ve got the water nice and cool for you,” His Mama says, approaching him, the shower ready for him behind her.

She unbuttons the top three buttons of his school shirt before taking the hem of both the shirt and his sweater and pulling them up and over his head. Tugging his shoes off, she removes his socks and throws them aside. Taking him by the armpits, she helps him stand, his head lolling on her shoulder as he blinks drowsily. When his Mama unbuttons his trousers and pulls them and his briefs down over his hips, he cringes in misery, a sob catching in his throat.

“I’m so sorry,” He sobs out, beyond ashamed.

“Shush, I’m your mother, it’s my job to look after you,” She reassures him as she leads him over to the shower. Squeezing his eyes closed, he tries to hide behind his eyelids, too ashamed to look down at his naked form in front of his Mother.

Unable to stand on his own, she turns and walks him backwards into the spray. As the cool spray reaches his skin, he sighs in relief, the tepid water doing wonders to ease his feverish skin. Sighing in relief, he blearily blinks his eyes open to see his Papa enter the bathroom, the concern on the older man's face obvious.

Coming up to stand behind his Mama, his Father smiles gently at him and reaches up to comb Cheongsan’s hair back with his fingers before cupping his cheek.

“You doing okay, buddy?” His Papa asks him, thumb softly rubbing across the skin of his face.

Cheongsan gives a small shake of his head as more tears pool in his eyes, throat closing up with emotion.

“That’s okay; Your mother and I will look after you,” His Papa reassures him as he swaps places with his wife, supporting Cheongsan’s weight as his Mama reaches into the shower for a washcloth.

Cheongsan closes his eyes again as his Mama begins washing him with the cloth, the sensation of it dragging along the skin of his shoulders relaxing and distracting him from his heat. As she continues washing him, she moves the cloth lower down his back, and when it moves past the small of his back, he can’t stop from sobbing into his Father’s shoulder. He’s so ashamed and embarrassed at that moment, not even able to bathe himself in his condition and needing his Mother to wash the remnants of his arousal away. Both parents attempt to reassure him he’s okay, but Cheongsan is inconsolable, and his sobs don’t subside until minutes later when the shower is turned off.

Stepping out of the shower with his father’s help, his Mama quickly dries him off before his Papa takes Cheongsan’s arm and loops it over his shoulder. His Papa walks him out of the bathroom and into Cheongsan's bedroom. As they approach the bed, on his bedside table, he notices three bottles of water, a stack of energy bars, a bowl with ice water in it and a facecloth. What his father must have been retrieving for him earlier.

He sighs in relief as he reaches his bed and falls into it, his Mama pulling the covers up and over his naked form. Blinking up at the worried faces of his parents, Cheongsan can no longer hold off. Feeling safe, he gives in to his body and lets the fog fill his brain as his Omega instincts flood in like a wave.

Suhyeok, Suhyeok, Suhyeok… Alpha, please….

Cheongsan squirms where he lies in bed, blinking his eyes open to take in his surroundings. His room is dark, and looking at his bedside table and the clock sitting there, he sees it’s close to three in the morning. Breathing fast, he continues to kick his feet and squirm as wanton heat burns in his groin. He’s hard as a rock, leaking precum all over his stomach. Frowning down at his belly, dry stains along his skin pull uncomfortably as he moves. When had he cum today? Moaning miserably, his mind is pulled away from wondering when he'd made a mess on his belly by the throbbing need between his ass cheeks, his hole continuously leaking slick.

His mind is nothing but thoughts of need, need, need. Suhyeok’s taller form flashes through his head as desire fills him, remembering the Alpha’s enticing scent and large hands on him. He needs Suhyeok desperately right then, more than he’s needed anything or anyone before in his life. The Alpha will help him, make him feel better, make him feel right.

Turning over onto his stomach, Cheongsan sobs into his pillow in desperation. Omega instincts demanding he does so, he raises up on his knees, duvet falling away as he presents himself. Something in him settles with how natural the position feels, but more of himself mourns the absence of Suhyeok, and the throbbing between his legs doesn’t subside an inch, only grows stronger.

Biting the pillow in frustration, he reaches back and behind himself. Fingers passing between his spread cheeks, and the warm slick there, he moans loudly at the first graze of his fingers against his hole. Mouth falling open, he can’t hold back the small moans that leave him as he circles his hole with the pads of his fingers, pleasure racing up his spine as precum falls to the sheets below.

Unable to deny the desire within him any longer, Cheongsan presses his finger harder against his hole and feels it sink in. A gasp leaves him with how incredible the small penetration feels, and he wonders why he’s never explored himself like this before. He soon follows the first with a second finger, Omega slick easing the way as they slide in. He’s soaking inside, the walls of his hole velvety soft and burning with heat. Breath stuttering in his chest, his hole suddenly clenches around his fingers, the muscle like a tight, hot band around the digits.

Sweat cools along his skin as he slowly pushes the digits deeper, biting into his bottom lip in anticipation. As his fingers sink up over the second knuckles and stretch his hole wider, his eyes roll back in his head as he locks up and pleasure soars through him. His cock spurts cum repeatedly against the sheets as his hole rhythmically squeezes his fingers tight with each contraction. Bliss passes through him in waves, and he can hardly believe the noises coming from him are actually him as he keens and moans.

His orgasm is the most intense barrage of sensations he's ever felt in his life, completely overwhelming him and leaving him unable to do anything but drown in pure ecstasy.

Falling flat on his belly when his orgasm slowly fades, Cheongsan slides his fingers from his hole and sighs as his need subsides slightly with the release. As his breathing begins to slow down, Cheongsan feels sleep pull him under, and the last thing he remembers before he's pulled into deep slumber is Suhyeok.

The next time he opens his eyes, he’s almost surprised to feel normal again. As he glances down at his naked form, the duvet having fallen off the bed at some point, he blinks slowly as the drowsiness of sleep steadily leaves him and his mind begins to clear. His temperature has come down, and sweat no longer shines across his skin, though he feels clammy as all hell. His head is clear and he thinks freely without a demanding need trying to force its way to the forefront of his mind. Shifting to lie on his side, he grimaces when dried slick catches against the skin of his legs and between his ass cheeks.

With the evidence of his nature dried and sticking to his skin, Cheongsan can’t delude himself into believing what happened was all just a fever dream brought on by some illness. He’s an Omega now. Or rather, he always was one, but just a very late bloomer. How cruel that his biology should wait until he thought himself safe from becoming something he dreaded, before blazing through him like an inferno.

Bitterness and anger fill him as he glares out into his bedroom at nothing in particular. He doesn’t want this, he never wanted this. He was happy as a Beta, and now, in an instant, his life has been turned upside down, and he’ll have to adapt to the world as an Omega.

He starts giggling to himself in what he thinks might be insanity when he realises he’s capable now of getting pregnant, of carrying babies.

What a joke.

As his laughter tapers off, he lifts his head to look over at the bedside table. His phone is there as he thought it would be. Anxiety replaces the humour in him as he contemplates what messages his friends may have sent him... what messages Suhyeok may have sent him. Reaching over, he picks it up and brings it closer as the screen wakes up to his touch.

Several notifications have piled up, but what sends a shock down his spine is the date. It’s been three days since he went into heat. For three days, he’s been lying in this bed. It’d been Wednesday when his heat had started, and it was now Saturday morning. He remembers waking up to a burning need and thoughts of Suhyeok taking over his mind. He remembers how he’d touched himself to quell those thoughts, but that’d been just hours after his parents had left him on Wednesday. Where did the next two days go?

His bedroom door clicking open startles him out of his confused mind, and Cheongsan looks up to see his Papa gazing worriedly at him. Mortified at his current state, he jumps up and reaches over to grip the fallen duvet on the floor and pulls it up over his waist. His father enters the room and gives him a dubious look. Cheongsan realises he’s far past the point of modesty now with either of his parents.

“How are you feeling?” His Papa asks him, hovering awkwardly before him.

“I’m okay,” Cheongsan replies, voice coming out dry and raspy.

His father reaches over and passes him one of the bottles of water, and Cheongsan blinks in confusion to see that three of them are already empty. He doesn't remember drinking any. Twisting the cap, he takes a few pulls from the bottle before placing it back on his bedside table.

“What happened?” He anxiously asks his father.

His father sighs before he pulls Cheongsan’s desk chair over to the bed and sits on it, gazing at him in worry.

“You don’t remember?”

“Um, I remember the first day. Nothing after,” He replies.

His father nods as if that makes sense before continuing.

“You were lost to us for most of it, Cheongsan,” his father starts, before stopping, seemingly finding it difficult to describe what happened. “We tried to keep you hydrated and to feed you small bits, but you were lost to us. You cried out for Suhyeok a lot.”

Cheongsan feels heat rise to his face in humiliation, something he thought he couldn’t feel any more of. Looking down at his bedding, he’s only now realising these aren’t the sheets he first got into. What he’s putting together from reading between the lines of his Father’s words, Cheongsan has spent three days mewling and begging to be fucked and knotted by Suhyeok. He grimaces as the shame flashes through him, gripping his sheets tight in his fist.

“I’m disgusting,” He says quietly, mostly to himself.

“Hey, don’t Cheongsan, don’t do that,” His father gently reprimands him, “You haven’t done anything wrong, son. Not a single thing,”

He wishes he could allow his father’s words to convince him of that, but the weight of his shame is not something right then that could be washed away with words alone. He’s spent the last three days, mewling, begging, and crying to be fucked, in front of his parents, literally a bitch in heat and he can’t even remember any of it. Sitting there, he finds it impossible to look at his father, so he just stares down at the sheets fisted in his hand.

“Cheongsan…” His father murmurs, interrupting his spiral of self-loathing, “Do you need anything? Do you want anything?”

He shakes his head in answer, not trusting his voice. His father gazes at him silently, concern clear in his eyes, before he gets up and leaves.

Wallowing in self-loathing, Cheongsan picks up his phone again and unlocks it to check his messages.

Onjo and Gyeongsu have messaged him a handful of times asking him how he is. They eventually seemed to have realised he wouldn’t be getting back to them soon and left a final message telling him to reply once he was feeling better. Those messages almost make him laugh as if he was just stuck in bed with a stomach bug and not biting into his pillow with his ass in the air. Tempted to throw his phone against the wall, he only stops himself when he remembers he wants to check if Suhyeok has messaged him.

The last correspondence between him and the Alpha was over a week ago, though. When they’d discussed a new episode of a TV show they were both enjoying. An odd combination of worry and anger hit him in the centre of his chest, realising Suhyeok hasn't even messaged him. Worried because Mr Lee had said Suhyeok was okay, that he’d only knocked him out, but what if something had gone wrong? What if he’d hurt Suhyeok? Deprived his brain of oxygen or something? He’s heard that can happen.

Angry because after what happened between them, he’d like to think Suhyeok would be brave enough to ask him how he is. Things will be awkward between them now, no doubt, but had the roles been reversed, Cheongsan would’ve been worried about Suhyeok.

Biting his bottom lip, he contemplates messaging his friend, but anxiety stops him. What if Suhyeok doesn’t want to hear from him after what happened? What if he’s embarrassed about what happened between them? Or angry at Cheongsan?

He raises his arm to throw his phone against the opposing wall, rearing back as tears well up in his eyes. His bedroom door opening is the only thing that stops him as his mother enters with a frown. Looking at her, the anger in his veins threatens to turn to sobs. Breathing raggedly through his mouth, he forces the feelings down, refusing to break down again.

She moves into the room to sit on the edge of his bed beside him. Unable to look at her, he tenses when she cards a hand through his messy hair. He’s tempted to pull away from her, his entire body feeling utterly disgusting.

“How are you feeling?” She quietly asks him as Cheongsan stares at his bedroom floor.

“I’m fine,” he mutters, despite the opposite being true. She silently regards him for a few seconds as he refuses to look at her.

“You had me worried for a while there. Your father and I were half tempted to ring an ambulance,”

“Mama, I don’t want to know,” he replies, “It’s over, I just wanna forget it happened now”

“Baby, I know this isn’t something you saw coming, God knows me and your father thought you were passed the point of presenting, too, but it has happened. You can’t run away from it or try and hide from it now.”

Anger rises in him again at her words. Looking up at her, he dares to shoot her a glare.

“So what should I do, then? Go out and give myself to the first Alpha I see? Get it over with?” He seethes.

“Cheongsan!” his mother snaps, the sternness in her tone having the usual effect it always has on him. It shuts him the hell up. “I never said anything of the sort. Monday morning, I’ve booked an appointment with our family doctor. We’re going to go see him, tell him what’s happened, and ask him how we should move forward.”

Shaking his head, Cheongsan is completely against the idea. “I’m not. I won’t. I don’t want anyone to know about this, I just want to move on with my life.”

Sighing through her nose, his mother looks at him, sympathy clear on her face. “Nobody likes change, Cheongsan, but it can’t be stopped sometimes. Your life has changed, and you need to learn to adapt to this new change. I’d like to say that now you’re an Omega you’ll be able to just continue as normal and things will be the same but it’s simply not true,” She gently informs him, and he wants nothing more than to shake his head and deny, deny, deny her words but he knows she’s right.

“Even now, you might not be able to tell, and I might not be able to as a beta, but you’ll smell like an Omega now. Other Omegas and Alphas will be able to tell, Cheongsan. You can’t hide from this,” she continues, and he can’t refute her words; he’s seen firsthand how Omegas and Alphas react to each other’s scents.

“I hate this,” He says quietly, swiping away a tear as it rolls down his cheek.

“I know, baby, but you’re not alone in this. Me and your father will always be here for you. Always,” She promises him.

Nodding his head, he’s desperately sad in that moment for how much his life has changed, but filled with gratitude for his parents.

“I also want to ask our doctor why your first heat was so intense. I don’t know a lot about Omega biology, but I know it shouldn't have been that bad for you,” She continues, and as he looks at her, he can see she was recounting the past three days.

“I’m so sorry you had to see me like that, I swear I would’ve stopped if I could have. I just couldn’t, it was like I wasn’t even in control of myself,” He tells her, misery colouring every word.

“I’m not judging you. I know you couldn’t control it. Don’t be ashamed, you were only doing what comes naturally.”

She intends for her words to be comforting to him, then, he thinks, but the fact that Cheongsan’s very biology has betrayed him and he couldn’t stop it, couldn’t control it, doesn’t make him feel better, but only worse about what he is now.

At the worried look she’s giving him, he fakes a small smile and nods his head, trying to reassure her. He wonders if she realises that he can see through her own fake smile, as she can see through his.

“Go shower. I’ll sort your bedroom,” She gently orders him.

Pulling the sheet with him as he shakily stands, he uses it to cover himself as he leaves for a shower, very interested in removing the last remnants of his heat sticking to his skin.

Later, as he’s curled up on his living room sofa, watching crappy daytime TV, he finally replies to both Gyeongsu and Onjo via text message, reassuring them both he’s okay. He doesn’t tell them any details of the last three days, simply informs them that he’s okay now and will miss the first few classes of school on Monday morning as he’s seeing his Doctor. Their conversations are succinct and brief, Cheongsan unwilling to even acknowledge how everything has changed for him.

He reopens his messages to Suhyeok and contemplates trying to start up a conversation with the other boy. The trepidation from earlier comes over him again as he contemplates why Suhyeok hasn’t reached out to him at all since Wednesday. Putting his phone down beside him on the sofa, his head swivels around to look over the sofa as a sharp rap comes from the front door.

He and his father share a look, matching expressions of confusion on their faces as to who could be knocking. As his Papa gets up and makes his way to the front door, upon swinging it open, Onjo’s small form can be seen standing outside. He just told her he was fine, and yet there she is, innocently looking over at him like she isn’t being exasperating.

His father turns to him with a question on his face, and Cheongsan nods before Onjo comes barreling in with his father’s consent. She plops herself down on the other side of the sofa and takes him in, whilst Cheongsan looks at her, annoyance clear on his face.

“I quite literally just told you I was fine,” He reminds her.

“Well, I wanted to see for myself,” She says, still regarding him.

“Will you stop looking at me like that? You’re weirding me out,” He chastises her.

“Sorry, I just-” She starts and stops with a sigh. “You had me and Gyeongsu worried sick, you ass! Radio silence for three days. We didn’t know what happened to you,” she tells him, unimpressed.

“I think you can surmise what happened to me, Onjo,” He replies, rolling his eyes.

“Cheongsan, even when Isak is out for a few days with her heat, she still replies to my messages to let me know she’s all good. You didn’t even open any of mine,” She continues.

Heating rising to his cheeks, he thinks about how to word his response without embarrassing himself completely. “I’m going to see my family doctor on Monday. Ask him why my first was so intense,” he replies, hoping she understands what he’s not saying.

Understanding dawning on her face, she nods before the inevitable awkwardness between them rears its ugly head. Glancing over the back of the sofa, he notices his father has disappeared somewhere. Probably helping his Mama make dinner.

Turning back to Onjo, he dares to ask her what he’s been dying to know since he sat down with his phone.

“How is Suhyeok? Was he okay after everything with Mr Lee?”

"Suhyeok?" She repeats, sounding confused. 

Turning to her, he frowns at the look she's shooting him. "Yes, Onjo. Suhyeok? Our friend," He replies, slowly. 

Onjo looks away then, frowning out into the room, and suspicion rises in him at her weird behaviour. 

"Is he okay?!" He asks, slight alarm in his voice. 

"He's fine, Cheongsan. He was back in school the next day like nothing happened," She replies, glaring at the TV. 

"Oh. That's good," He replies, about to open his mouth to ask about him further, like why he hasn't reached out to him, but Onjo suddenly stands up from the sofa. 

"I'm gonna go, let you rest up in peace," She tells him, and he blinks up at her, surprised by the sudden shift in the air. 

"Oh, okay. Is everything alright?" He asks, confused but sensing something off. 

"Yeah, 'Sannie. Everything's great, I'll catch you later," She says with a small smile before heading for the door. 

"Bye," He replies to her retreating form. Seconds later, he hears the front door close behind her. Confused now, he stares at the spot where his friend just was, thinking something just happened, he's not quite understanding yet. 

Trying to figure it out, he's in the middle of mulling their conversation over for anything odd when suddenly his Mama is calling him for dinner. Standing up, he leaves the living room for the kitchen, his stomach directing him toward food. His heat must have taken a lot out of him because since waking up, he hasn't been able to stop eating. 

At this rate, he won't be able to make it out the front door for school come Monday. 

Entering the kitchen, the smell of his Mama's cooking makes him realise he doesn't care, regardless. 

Chapter Text

Monday morning rolls around far quicker than Cheongsan would’ve liked. Sitting at the kitchen table, he pushes his cereal around with his spoon, too anxious to eat anything. He is dreading this doctor's appointment. He’d lain in bed last night, unable to sleep, anxiously thinking about it over and over.

“Eat something, Cheongsan. You’re still recovering,” His mother orders him from where she’s leaning against the kitchen counter, a mug of coffee in her hands. She’s been keeping a close eye on him ever since he came out of his heat. He constantly feels her eyes on him now, a worried expression on her face. He’s not even sure she realises she’s doing it.

Daring to roll his eyes at her, he takes one large bite of his cereal and forces himself to chew and swallow it to appease her. Acting like a spoilt brat, he glares up at her as he takes another obnoxious bite, milk dribbling down his chin to fall onto the table.

“Keep it up, young man, and I’ll give you more reasons to be seeing a doctor today,” she warns him, a begrudging smile pulling at her lips.

Stopping midchew, he has to breathe slowly for several seconds as he tries not to laugh and spew cereal all over the kitchen table. Swallowing roughly around the too-big bite, he can’t stop the smile that pulls the corners of his mouth up.

His mother is quick, he’ll give her that.

“Can’t I just go to school? This appointment is so unnecessary,” He whines, receiving an eye roll in return from his mother before she takes another sip of her coffee. This isn’t his first attempt at persuading her that he doesn’t need to see the family doctor. It seems no amount of whining or pleading is gonna sway her, though.

“You’re going. That’s the end of it. We both know it’s for your own good,” She replies evenly, a stern expression on her face.

Sighing, he can’t argue with her logic, and thinking on it further, maybe this doctor can give him something to make his next heat more bearable or at least, less completely overwhelming. He never wants to go through that experience again. His heat will return, not likely for a few weeks if he’s lucky, but it will return.

He’s been carefully not thinking about the inevitability of that.

An hour later, as he sits with his mother in the waiting area of their local doctors' clinic, he can’t stop anxiously tapping his foot as they wait. Looking around, he decides at that moment that he hates doctors’ offices. Everything is too white, too clean, too bright. The fake plants in the corners of the room don’t do anything to reduce the sterile feel of the surroundings either and as he squints at a notice board on the wall, information leaflets tacked there about ‘Trying for a baby as an Omega’ and ‘Everything you need to know about Male Omega fertility’ Cheongsan feels bitterness slide in alongside his anxiety.

“Baby, I know you’re nervous, but please stop tapping your foot. You’re giving me a headache,” His Mama says to him, rubbing her forehead.

“Sorry,” He replies, stretching his legs out in front of him and leaning back against the squeaky plastic seat.

Looking up at the ceiling, he focuses on the continuous ticking of the clock on the wall and not the anxiety in his belly about what this appointment will entail, or what this doctor might say to him about his new status.

Hearing a door open, he lowers his head to see a middle-aged man step out from one of the rooms. The man is tall and slender, with grey hair along his temples, and a stern frown across his face. From where he’s standing a few metres away, Cheongsan can’t gauge his designation, he could be a Beta but not unlikely an Alpha.

As the man approaches them, Cheongsan swallows nervously.

“Lee Cheongsan?” The man asks, a smile plastered on his face that doesn’t reach his eyes as he looks from his mother to him.

“Yes, this is Cheongsan, Doctor,” His mother replies for him, as Cheongsan just continues to stare up at the older man, lips sealed.

“If you’ll follow me into my office, then,” The man says, the doctor already turning to walk back into the room he’d exited from. Turning to look at his mother, Cheongsan hopes how much he does not want to follow that man into that room shows on his face. She either doesn’t see it or doesn’t care because she stands up and looks down at him in annoyance when he just continues to sit there.

When he glances up at her, a petulant frown on his face, the glare she shoots him convinces him to change his mind. Quickly standing, he trails after his mother into the office, feet feeling heavy as if weighed down with lead.

Upon entering, he quickly takes in his surroundings for anything unseemly. It’s a typical doctor’s office, with a desk chair for the doctor, a computer on a small table, an examination bed, and a series of cabinets and presses holding all sorts of medical equipment. He’s not entirely sure what he was expecting. Unable to smell anything besides the slight aseptic smell of bleach in the air, Cheongsan determines this man must be a beta.

Sitting in one of two guest chairs next to his Mama, Cheongsan anxiously looks back at the door as it swings closed behind them, very much tempted to bolt back through it. The doctor sits down and begins scrolling through something on his computer, squinting at the screen in that way old people do.

“Lee Cheongsan, male, seventeen, newly presented Omega,” the man says, mostly to himself as he reads from what he assumes is Cheongsan's file. “First heat lasted three days, with total incoherence, and complete lack of recollection of the final two days,” He finishes before looking at Cheongsan, his gaze stern.

“Is that correct, young man?” He asks.

Cheongsan swallows before replying, “Yes, sir,” he manages, looking to his mother and back to the doctor. His mother must’ve given all this information when she rang to make the appointment.

The doctor looks away from the computer to give them his full attention, taking up a pen and notepad.

“And how are you feeling since?” The doctor asks him, pen poised to write down his answer.

“Uh, fine, a little tired but fine,” He replies, nervously picking at his nail.

Nodding his head, the doctor jots that down whilst asking his next question.

“Are you in a relationship of any kind, Cheongsan? Sexual or otherwise?”

Cheongsan feels his entire face heat up, embarrassed to be asked such a question with his mother sitting next to him.

“No. No, neither,” He hurriedly replies, wiping his sweaty palms on his thighs.

The doctor doesn’t raise his head to look at him or his mother, just continues jotting down on his notepad.

“Are you a virgin?” He then asks, and Cheongsan blanches, mouth falling open. Are these questions seriously necessary? Mortification fills him as he sees his mother awkwardly shift from where she’s sat beside him. There are certain things your mother doesn’t ever need to know about your personal life, and this is one of them. Annoyance flashes through him, realising that this is only adding to the list of humiliating things his mother has witnessed with him lately. Can’t he catch a break?

“Yes, yes, I’m still a virgin,” He replies, unable to suppress the annoyed frown pulling at his brow. Looking away and to the opposite side of the room, he doesn’t want even a glimpse of his mother’s face right then.

“Have you been in close contact with any Alphas in rut lately?” The doctor then asks, and Cheongsan’s head spins around a ‘No!’ already poised on his tongue when his brain registers something.

“Actually, yeah. One of my friends last week went into rut just before the weekend let out,” He replies, remembering Suhyeok and his cranky self snapping at any Alpha within reach as he’d sat beside Cheongsan during lunch.

“Hmmm” is all the doctor replies with, continuing to write. Cheongsan decides that he doesn’t like this guy and his terrible bedside manners for a doctor. He hasn’t looked up once since beginning this barrage of questions.

“Why?” Cheongsan drawls, earning a frown from his mother for the attitude.

The doctor looks up then, frowning over at Cheongsan, pen halting. “Well, it’s common for an Omega’s first heat to be triggered by the presence of a compatible Alpha’s rut. Not typical at your age, mind,” The man replies, the last sentence mostly under his breath.

"What does that mean?" Cheongsan asks further. Thinking he already knows what the Doctor means, but needing to be sure.

“An Alpha, your own Omega instincts would find alluring,” He replies slowly, looking at Cheongsan like he’s a bit dense.

Cheeks heating, Cheongsan looks away, remembering just how alluring he’d found Suhyeok a few days ago.

“I’d like to take some bloods, run a few standard tests. I’d also like to perform an ultrasound,” The doctor begins saying, and Cheongsan’s heart picks up pace. That sounds kind of scary.

“An ultrasound? What is that exactly?” He enquires, looking from his doctor to his mother.

His mother answers, smiling at him. “It’s just a small device they rub along your belly to see what’s going on inside. There’s nothing to it,” She says, attempting to reassure him.

Cheongsan nods in agreement, trying to ignore the nervous energy swirling inside him. The doctor takes some blood, jabbing him in the arm with a needle and filling a few phials. That doesn’t bother him, needles never have, not even when he was a kid getting his vaccinations in school.

He’s then instructed to lie back on the examination bed on the other side of the room. Hesitantly, he gets up and crosses the room, sitting up on the bed before lying back. As he’s doing that, the doctor stands up and retrieves what looks like an odd computer, attached to a stand on wheels. As the doctor drags it over to Cheongsan, he’s confused as to what the odd-computer-looking thing does, but figures it doesn’t look too scary. No sharp stabby or probing bits attached anyway.

“Lift your shirt for me now, Cheongsan,” The doctor instructs, as he sets up the device. Tugging his shirt from his pants, Cheongsan pulls both that and his sweater up to his chest, exposing his belly.

“This is going to feel cold,” The doctor warns before he uncaps a tube of something and squeezes some out onto Cheongsan’s skin. His muscles jolt slightly when the cold liquid touches his skin, and he frowns in confusion as to what that’s for.

As the doctor then begins to rub the weird end of the device across his stomach, Cheongsan frowns even deeper. Lifting his head, he looks at the screen, and both his mother and doctor are gazing at it. Cheongsan can make nothing out of the bizarre grey images on the screen and nearly wants to laugh at the idea that such images could be useful.

“Ah, here we are,” the doctor says then, mostly to himself as he manoeuvres the device lower on Cheongsan’s tummy.

“What is it?” Cheongsan asks, raising his head again to see the screen, the images therein still meaning nothing to him.

“Your uterus, young man. Just here,” The doctor says, nodding to the screen as if it were obvious.

Cheongsan’s eyes widen before he stares at the screen, trying to comprehend the odd shape on the screen as his freaking uterus. A few days ago, he didn’t think he had one of those, but there it was hiding in his body all along.

“What the fuck,” He breathes out, and then realising what he just said, whips his head around to the two adults in the room. The unimpressed glance the doctor shoots him doesn’t worry him so much as the heated glare his mother sends his way from behind the man. He’s definitely getting a smack upside the head for that.

The doctor spends another few minutes moving the device around his tummy, frowning and squinting here and there at the images. He eventually lifts the device off Cheongsan and hands him a wad of tissues to clean himself with. Pulling his shirt back down and tucking it into his trousers, he sits up and sighs through his nose, a small smile on his lips, relieved it’s over.

“Well, from the ultrasound, everything looks normal, as they should really, but I think an internal examination is necessary,” The doctor says and opens his mouth to continue, but Cheongsan cuts him off.

“An internal examination? What does that mean?” He asks, not liking the sound of it at all.

The doctor frowns at him for the interruption before he stands and walks over to sit back at his small desk, beginning to type something into his computer.

“It’s just a simple procedure I can perform now, Mrs Lee, to get a clear view of Cheongsan’s internal anatomy,” The doctor says to his mother as if she’d been the one to ask. Ignoring Cheongsan altogether. His mother’s eyes flick anxiously between him and the doctor, sensing Cheongsan’s anger at being ignored.

“Will it hurt him?” His mother asks in a whisper, failing to hide the question from Cheongsan’s ears.

“It’s mildly uncomfortable, more so for Male Omegas. Particularly when inserting the speculum, but it’ll be over before he knows it, and it really would allow us to conclude Cheongsan is a healthy Omega, despite being a late bloomer,” The doctor says, squinting at this computer as he types away.

Panic races up Cheongsan’s spine at the barrage of images that rush through his mind then. Inserting the speculum? He doesn’t even know what the fuck a speculum is but he’s already made up his mind on this matter entirely.

“No, I’m not doing that. No,” He says as he gets to his feet, shaking his head resolutely.

The doctor turns around from his computer to frown disapprovingly at Cheongsan, before turning to his mother. The expression he directs at her, Cheongsan reads quite simply as ‘get him under control’.

Blood boiling, Cheongsan sees his mother open her mouth to say something, likely to plead with Cheongsan to hear this asshole out but before she can get the chance to, he’s turning and yanking the door open to storm out.

A few minutes later, as he’s fuming by the passenger door to the car, unable to get in with it being locked, his mother finally leaves the clinic, walking towards him. She looks annoyed with him but doesn’t confront him then and there, simply unlocks the car with her key.

Opening the passenger side door, he gets in, throws his seatbelt across his chest and pointedly glares out the passenger window.

His mother gets in but doesn’t immediately start the car. She sighs, and he realises they’re having this conversation here, then.

“You didn’t need to storm out like that, Cheongsan. It was rude and you embarrassed me,” She tells him, not sounding angry with him, just tired.

“You try listening to a doctor order internal examinations for you whilst ignoring you altogether,” He mutters, still glaring out the window.

“You’re right. He was rude, and I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting it either, but I do think the examination is a good idea, Cheongsan. Your health is my number one priority. It should be yours too,” She says softly to him.

He clenches his jaw in frustration because he knows she’s right. He can’t, though, the very idea of it terrifies him. Tired of feeling so vulnerable all the time now, he doesn’t tell his mother that, though, he simply lets the immature part of himself take over.

“I’d rather chew glass,” He says into the car interior and receives nothing but a disappointed sigh in return.

As his mother starts the car and they leave the clinic parking lot to make their way to Hyosan High, he behaves like a brat the entire ride over, glaring out the window in silence, steadfastly refusing to acknowledge his mother. He even goes so far as to get out of the car when she pulls up to the school, not even muttering a goodbye before slamming the door closed.

Guilt eats him up for that one as he makes his way through the school's hallways a while later toward class. None of this is his mother’s fault. It’s his disgusting biology that’s betrayed him. He couldn’t have just been born a Beta or even an Alpha, and not brought so much embarrassment to himself and his family by presenting as a male Omega.

He’s such a failure.

Approaching the door to Ms Park’s English class, Cheongsan rubs his sweaty palms on his thighs and swallows his nerves down as he reaches out to grip the door handle. Sliding it open and stepping inside, Ms. Park stops midsentence at the interruption, looking over at him in surprise. She smiles at him then, probably wider than necessary, but Cheongsan figures she's just trying to be nice. He smiles back in return, not wanting to be rude. He knows his mother rang the school to let them know he’d be attending today. No doubt the rumour mill in the teacher’s lounge is in working order, and she’s aware of what happened to him last week.

“Cheongsan, glad you could join us. Please take your seat,” She tells him, before resuming her lecture, voice carrying over the class.

He turns away from her then and looks out over his classmates, trepidation swirling in his gut. He wonders if his fellow Hyosan High students are aware of what happened, of his new designation. He knows Onjo, Gyeongsu, and Suhyeok would never tell anyone about him going into heat. He trusts them explicitly, especially with something as delicate as this, but he also knows that whilst his friends respect him enough not to go spreading it around school, anyone else would likely not give a shit. If even one student overheard a teacher talking about it, by five o’clock that very same day, it would’ve spread across the student body faster than a zombie outbreak. The other Alphas and Omegas in the class will be able to clock him soon enough anyway, by scent.

Approaching his seat to the far left of the room, he doesn’t miss the stares directed his way from other students. Nor the murmuring of whispers he can hear some students exchanging as he passes, tones scandalous.

That answers that question, then.

Hackles rising, he clenches his jaw and steadfastly refuses to appear meek or embarrassed before these assholes. Onjo smiles warmly at him from where she sits next to Isak, and he smiles back in what he hopes is gratitude as he passes her to the row of seats behind her, where Gyeongsu is sitting. His best friend has a nervous grin on his face, attempting to appear casual and happy to see him, but Cheongsan can see the nervous crinkle to his eyes. He appreciates the effort nonetheless.

Taking a deep breath, he mentally prepares himself for what he might see next before turning his gaze to Suhyeok’s typical seat at the back of the room.

The Alpha is there, and Cheongsan feels a small amount of relief to see his friend, seemingly recovered from Mr Lee’s actions a few days ago. The relief is soon replaced by anxiety and a degree of hurt, though, when Suhyeok doesn’t look at him. The taller boy resolutely doesn’t look up at all from where he’s staring down at his textbook, hunched over his desk.
As Cheongsan turns away from the Alpha to take his seat next to Gyeongsu and face the front of the class, his anxious mind begins to spiral fast.

That was odd; surely Suhyeok saw him come in. The whole class had gone quiet when he’d entered, he couldn’t have missed Cheongsan. The taller boy always has a smile or a wink ready for him when they first see each other every day, it’s like one of their little rituals between each other; Suhyeok will wink, smirk or smile wide at Cheongsan and Cheongsan will return the smile or pretend to be unaffected by his friend’s charm. Never has he ignored Cheongsan, not ever.

The hurt in his chest at his friend’s cold behaviour toward him only grows the longer Cheongsan worries about it. Suhyeok must be upset with him, angry even. Cheongsan was hoping he’d understand that he didn’t mean to seduce him that day, that he never had any intention of it.

Maybe Suhyeok is angry with him because he’s embarrassed he touched Cheongsan like that? Maybe he’d awoken clear-headed and felt disgusting for having done it? Or he’s furious because he’d ended up having to be knocked out by Mr Lee in the first place. Has Cheongsan destroyed his friendship with the other boy? Can Suhyeok ever forgive him for it and move past what happened? The loss that passes through Cheongsan at the idea that Suhyeok might not want anything to do with him anymore is no small thing.

Sitting there, he’s dragged out of his morose thoughts when he suddenly picks up a scent. Something light and sweet, almost floral. Frowning, he glances around for the source of the smell and realises with surprise that it’s Isak in front of him. Isak is an Omega like him, and he can smell it on her. The scent isn’t overpowering or overly unpleasant, but as he pulls it into his lungs, something inside him recoils from it, unhappy.

He can remember the effect Suhyeok’s Alpha scent had on him a few days ago. He definitely didn’t recoil from that. The more of the Alpha's scent he’d been surrounded by, the deeper his mind had fogged up, becoming muffled and slow, consumed by arousal. It was like a drug to him that day. A drug that made him want to spread his legs and beg. All part of the reason his friend behind him is outright ignoring that he even exists now.

The brief reprieve discovering Isak’s scent has given him from his anxious thoughts is gone as he returns to pondering how much Suhyeok hates him now. By the time the bell rings to signal the end of class, Cheongsan has picked the cuticles of both thumbs, raw and pink.

As his classmates begin collecting their textbooks and placing them back in their bags, he’s just doing the same with his when, from his peripheral vision, he sees Suhyeok move swiftly past him, heading straight for the door before anyone else has even stood to leave. As if he were in a hurry to get out of the room. Cheongsan feels the hurt in his chest throb into a resounding pang with every beat of his heart.

He turns to Gyeongsu with a look, indicating with his head Suhyeok's quick departure. Gyeongsu doesn’t verbally reply, he simply shrugs his shoulders with a frown, seemingly unwilling to discuss Suhyeok’s weird behaviour. Is Gyeongsu uncomfortable with Cheongsan now, too? Too uncomfortable to recount exactly why Suhyeok doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore?

Cheongsan feels anger in his veins at the entire situation. How has his life been so terrifically turned upside down in just a few days? How is he potentially losing one of his closest friends in less than a week? He gets up then, and in combination with the hurt in his chest, feels the anger spur him on to track Suhyeok down and demand answers.

If he’s done with Cheongsan now after what’s happened, he can damn well say it to his face.

As he’s approaching the cafeteria for lunch, he figures he’ll get his chance to pull Suhyeok aside and ask him where they stand now. Suhyeok sits with him and the rest of their friends for lunch. In fact, he sits right beside Cheongsan, to his right. It’s where most of the teasing comments from their friends regarding their relationship come from. Suhyeok will nearly always have his arm around Cheongsan, or they’ll lean heavily into each other, or hold hands, or Suhyeok will even play with Cheongsan’s hair as they chat and laugh with their friends. They’ll share their lunch and sip from each other's drinks, just generally very comfortable with one another.

The two of them have always been like this since becoming friends, and Cheongsan has never thought anything weird of it. Isak and Daesu would make their insinuations about them being romantically involved, but Cheongsan would always just roll his eyes or laugh the idea off. Back then, though he’d thought himself a Beta, and whilst it wasn’t unheard of, male Betas and male Alphas didn’t usually date. Cheongsan in the past would go red in embarrassment at the idea of him, well, trying to please an Alpha. He’s tempted to bitterly laugh as he takes the stairs down toward the cafeteria with Gyeongsu, realising his body is now designed to please an Alpha.

Entering through the glass doors of the cafeteria, he takes up an empty tray and lines up between Onjo and Gyeongsu to retrieve their lunch. As they wait to be served, he scans the students present, gazing around for anyone taller than average. From what he can see, Suhyeok is nowhere to be found, and he’s so distracted trying to find him that Gyeongsu has to push him slightly when he fails to realise the queue has moved on.

A few minutes later, when they sit with their trays full of food, Cheongsan can’t stop himself from continuing to look for his friend. Maybe Suhyeok is simply late, so he keeps his eyes trained on the entrance to the cafeteria as he starts picking at his food. His friends chat loudly around him about something or other, but Cheongsan isn’t listening. They’d all awkwardly waved or greeted him or patted him on the shoulder outside of class earlier, obviously feeling unsure of how to treat him now. He’d in return awkwardly smiled and greeted them back, wishing so badly it was just a regular Monday like the week before.

Ten minutes later, when everyone around him has settled into their seats and is enjoying their lunches, Cheongsan realises Suhyeok isn’t joining them. Looking away from the doors of the cafeteria and to his friends’ faces, he realises that this doesn’t seem surprising to any of them, either. They’re all happily eating away as they talk and crack jokes. Confused, Cheongsan feels the beginnings of a headache in his temples. What is going on?

“Where’s Suhyeok?” He asks aloud, interrupting Daesu's spiel about how much he loves the lunches they’re served here.

Each of his friends looks up at him, then, at the interruption, before most of them awkwardly look away, and down at their meals, the table going suspiciously quiet. He notices Onjo and Gyeongsu pointedly glaring at one another, Gyeongsu indicating Cheongsan with his head to Onjo.

“What’s going on?” He asks Onjo, staring her down, where she’s sitting on the opposite side of the table.

Onjo sends one last heated glare at Gyeongsu before sighing and looking at him hesitantly.

“Cheongsan, I thought you’d realise. After what happened, we don't feel comfortable with Suhyeok sitting with us anymore,” She tells him, frowning seriously, clearly unhappy to be telling him this.

Cheongsan frowns in utter bafflement as he looks from Onjo to the rest of his friends. Trying to gauge if this is some bad joke. None of his friends will meet his eye, though, looking down or away from his general direction, except for Gyeongsu, who nods in agreement.

“This is a joke, right?” He asks aloud, before turning his eyes back to Onjo.

She looks even more uncomfortable, frowning at him awkwardly. “No, Cheongsan. We all agreed that what Suhyeok did to you was unacceptable. None of us wants anything to do with him anymore,” She says, looking around the table for support. Unbelievable to Cheongsan’s eyes, his friends nod, expressions serious, relaying how much they agree.

Cheongsan nearly wants to laugh in their faces. This is ridiculous. They’re blaming Suhyeok for what happened? They seem to think he assaulted Cheongsan! As if Cheongsan wasn’t the one stupid enough to leave the stall door unlocked. Stupid enough to smear his fucking disgusting slick on Suhyeok’s hand when he’d reached out in concern, wanting to check his friend was okay.

“This is ridiculous. None of what happened was Suhyeok’s fault. How you guys can even blame him for this is beyond me. He didn’t mean to do any of what happened. It was just a shitty situation,” He tells them all, annoyance flashing through him when they frown at him in concern like he’s going mental.

“Cheongsan, I’m sorry, man, but what I saw in that toilet and what happened after Mr Lee arrived says otherwise,” Gyeongsu cuts in, gazing at Cheongsan in worry.

Cheongsan feels his entire face burn as his friends look from Gyeongsu to him to see his reaction to that. They probably expect him to grimace or tear up or some other shit from what Gyeongsu is describing. Frustrated and angry now, Cheongsan stands up, and everyone’s eyes zero in on him.

“Where is he? Where is Suhyeok?” He demands to know, looking between Onjo and Gyeongsu.

“Cheongsan, you can’t—” Onjo starts, concern lacing her words, but Cheongsan cuts her off.

“Don’t tell me I can’t go find him. He’s my friend, and I’m straightening this out right now. Where is he?” He asks again, raising his eyebrows, an impatient look on his face.

Onjo and Gyeongsu share another glance, communicating silently, which is really getting on Cheongsan’s nerves, before Gyeongsu turns to him.

“Namra mentioned seeing him in the library yesterday. She’d been returning a book during lunch hour,” His best friend says unhappily.

Cheongsan is already walking away and toward the exit before his friend finishes the sentence. He resolutely ignores Onjo shouting out his name as he makes a beeline for the library. He can’t believe his friends right now. Gyeongsu and Onjo have got it so wrong, and they’ve convinced the rest of something that isn’t even true. For fuck sake, they make it sound like Suhyeok tried to rape him. Cheongsan could feel the small amount of lunch he’d eaten churn nauseously in his stomach at the mere thought.

Nonsense, regardless.

Leaving the cafeteria, he walks out into the open area between the buildings of the school. Cheongsan takes the steps two at a time to the side entrance of the main building. As he enters, he swiftly makes his way down the corridor towards the library. The closer he gets, the more he feels his anger sway as his mind replays his thoughts from earlier, and anxiety creeps up his neck. What if Suhyeok doesn’t want to see him? What if he wants nothing to do with Cheongsan?

Reaching the library, he stops outside the door and tries to mentally prepare himself for the worst-case scenario. Meaning that he’s trying to prepare himself, should Suhyeok look at him in disgust before telling him he wants nothing to do with him ever again.

Turning the handle, he pushes the door open and walks into the quiet space, the average-sized library abandoned for now during lunch hour. Passing by rows of bookshelves, he listens out for any sounds of anything besides the quiet hum of the AC unit in the ceiling. As he’s approaching the farthest end of the library, he’s about to conclude that he’s alone in here when a soft sound reaches his ears from the far left corner.

Peeking around one of the last bookshelves that stand at this end of the library, Cheongsan finds Suhyeok sitting at a desk, in what appears to be a study area. Cheongsan has never had much use for the library, not exactly being the best student, so he was unaware these desks were even back here.

Suhyeok is holding a book open with one hand while he takes bites from a sandwich held in his other hand. On the desk in front of him sits a bottle of orange juice, and Cheongsan smiles, recalling how much Suhyeok loves orange juice. Forever drinking half of Cheongsan’s after finishing his own. The fondness that he has for the boy sitting before him warms Cheongsan, and he realises then how much he misses his friend, not having seen him really for a week. The grief that rips that warmth away from him at the idea that Suhyeok no longer wants anything to do with him is purely awful.

Approaching slowly, he places a small smile on his face as he comes into Suhyeok’s field of vision, hoping to project that he’s happy to see his friend.

Suhyeok’s head whips up in surprise when Cheongsan stops on the other side of the table, the mild curiosity across his features morphing into alarm when he registers just who is standing before him.

“Cheongsan,” Suhyeok says into the air, sounding shocked as if his mere presence before the Alpha is something so utterly unbelievable.

“Suhyeok. Hi. I think we need to talk,” He replies, smiling awkwardly at his friend.

Suhyeok’s alarmed face doesn’t change much as he continues to stare at Cheongsan. Eventually, the other boy visibly swallows before placing his sandwich down and closing the book, eyes falling to the table, as he folds his hands under the table.

“What do we have to talk about?” Suhyeok asks, eyes fixed on the wooden top of the table, no longer meeting Cheongsan’s gaze.

A sigh leaves him to see Suhyeok continuing to give him the cold shoulder. Pulling out the chair opposite the Alpha, he sits down, looking over at his friend. He feels angry at the boy opposite right then, but only because he feels hurt that Suhyeok is behaving like this. An awkward silence stretches between them as Cheongsan tries to think of what to say.

“Are you okay? After Mr Lee…after he…yeno,” He lamely replies, cheeks heating at mentioning anything to do with that day.

Suhyeok frowns down harder at the table, still not meeting Cheongsan’s eyes.

“You’re asking me if I’m okay?” The Alpha replies, tone unbelieving, and Cheongsan blinks, confused. Yes, that was what he just said.

“Yeah, Suhyeok. Those were the words that came out of my mouth,” He says back in answer, annoyance clear in his tone.

“I’m fine,” Suhyeok says and then resolutely closes his mouth, done talking.

Cheongsan feels his frustration peak at that moment, Suhyeok’s behaviour pissing him thoroughly off. “You’re not gonna even look at me?” He asks, leaning forward to glare at Suhyeok.

Suhyeok clenches his jaw in reply, seemingly steeling himself before finally looking up at Cheongsan. The tension between them then is an awful thing, so new, so unfamiliar. Never has he felt like this with Suhyeok, not even when they first met. To Cheongsan, Suhyeok has always been a soothing presence, someone he always felt at ease with, like he could be one hundred per cent himself with him, and Suhyeok would simply smile at him for it and slide his hand across Cheongsan’s shoulder to pull him close. No judgement. No criticisms. Just acceptance.

The hurt that squeezes his heart then that Suhyeok can hardly stand to look at him is so strong that Cheongsan feels tears sting his eyes. Dropping his head and breaking eye contact so Suhyeok won’t see them, he swallows a few times to try to push down the lump in his throat. If Suhyeok is doing this, then fine, but he won’t humiliate himself any further in front of the other boy. His pride can’t take any more humiliation, or whatever is left of his pride can’t anyway.

“I, uh,” He starts and then stops when he realises he has no idea what to say. He’s wasting his time, it’d be best if he cuts his losses and gets out of there. He takes a deep breath before looking back up at the Alpha. Suhyeok is still looking at him, with an uncomfortable expression on his face.

“Never mind. This was a bad idea,” Cheongsan says, before getting up, trying to project that he’s unbothered but likely failing. As he stands and moves to leave, Suhyeok opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something, and Cheongsan pauses, looking over to his friend. The Alpha seems to think better of it, though, his face closing back off as he hunches over, beginning to reopen his book.

Cheongsan nearly wants to yank the book from the boy’s hands and beat him over the head with it. He leaves before the urge to do it becomes too strong, storming out of the library. Bursting into the boy’s toilets a few minutes later, he doesn’t stop the bitter laugh that leaves him then, as the tears pool in his eyes again. Not only because of how fucked his life is now but also because he’s standing in the same bathroom where this mess all started. Scrubbing his eyes with his hands, he refuses to cry anymore, pushing the urge away.

Walking into one of the cubicles, he locks the door behind him. Closing the toilet lid with his foot, he sits down and spends the rest of the lunch hour there, like some pathetic loser wallowing in his misery.

The rest of his classes drag for him, and he finds it hard to listen to anything said by his teachers, his mind still fixated on the fact that he’s lost one of his best friends. He pointedly does not look in Suhyeok’s direction during any of his afternoon classes. When he’d entered Korean literature after lunch, he hadn’t missed the look Onjo and Gyeongsu had shared to see him and Suhyeok still ignoring each other. Dicks. He’s still angry with them, even though he doesn’t feel he has much right to be. They were just doing what they thought was best for him. Still, he’s just angry in general now, so they can put up with him fuming for a little while longer.

When the final bell sounds to end this abysmal day, he packs up his stuff and leaves the class, Gyeongsu by his side. Following the flow of students bustling in the corridors, they head for their lockers to swap out their books. Gyeongsu leaves his side to venture further around the corner of the corridor to where his locker is. Stopping at his locker to his left, he glances out of the corner of his eye to see Suhyeok open his locker on the opposite wall of the corridor to Cheongsan’s. As the Alpha has his back to him as he retrieves his books, Cheongsan can’t help but stare. Longing burns in his chest, taking Suhyeok's tall form in, with his perfectly styled hair and broad shoulders.

“You’re better off without him, Cheongsan,” Onjo whispers as she sidles up to him, her locker a few feet from his.

Looking away from Suhyeok to turn to his locker and swap out his books, he tries to project an unbothered attitude. It’s too late, clearly, by the pitying look, Onjo shoots him. She’d undoubtedly seen the yearning in his eyes as he’d watched Suhyeok. It’s a wonder Suhyeok didn’t feel him burning a hole in his back with how intensely he’d been looking.

Lost in his miserable thoughts, he jumps out of his skin when someone's face is suddenly buried in his neck, inhaling deeply through their nose. Spinning around, he doesn’t know what he expects to find, but it isn’t Gwinam’s smarmy face grinning down at him.

“So it’s true, then. There’s a new bitch in Hyosan High,” Gwinam remarks, as he looks Cheongsan up and down. “I’d heard the rumours but didn’t believe them. Not until I saw you for myself, but here you are; Omega Lee Cheongsan,” He muses, grinning from ear to ear like a shark as he chews obnoxiously on a piece of gum.

Cheongsan feels humiliation coursing through him, his face going crimson. Looking around, he sees that several students have stopped what they were doing to witness the exchange, excitement clear in their eyes. Directly behind Gwinam’s left ear, Cheongsan can still see Suhyeok. He’s stopped moving to retrieve his books, a tension clear across his shoulders. Cheongsan looks away from Suhyeok to level a warning glare up at Gwinam.

“Don’t you usually have detention to attend at this hour, Gwinam? Why don’t you run along and leave me alone, hmm?” He taunts, smiling sardonically. He may be an Omega now, but like hell is he going to let this asshole walk all over him.

Gwinam lets out a small laugh, seemingly finding amusement in Cheongsan’s reply.

“You’ve got a mouth on you. That’s okay, you’re new to this,” The Alpha tells him, placing one arm on the locker above Cheongsan’s head and leaning in over him. “I can teach you, though. Teach you the only actual use an Omega has for their mouth,” He finishes loudly, staring down at Cheongsan’s lips. It's then that Gwinam's scent assaults his senses; a musty, acrid smell, so completely unlike Suhyeok's. Cheongsan's nose scrunches up in disgust as it catches in his throat. 

Hearing laughter around him, his face heats when, with a glance, he notices a few students laughing at Gwinam's crude comment. 

“Fuck off, Gwinam. Go torment someone else, asshole,” Onjo orders the taller boy from Cheongsan’s right, and he glances over to see her glaring daggers up at the Alpha. Gwinam doesn’t answer her much, bar turning his head to return the glare, before turning back to Cheongsan.

“So? Interested? You can be my pretty little Omega bitch. You won’t even need Betas as pathetic as that one to protect you anymore,” Gwinam continues, enjoying this way too much as he grins down at Cheongsan.

Shoving the taller boy away, Gwinam stumbles back a few steps, real surprise flashing across his face.

“Drop dead, you knotheaded asshole,” Cheongsan hisses at the Alpha before turning his back on him to continue retrieving his books from his locker.

Big mistake.

“What did you just say to me!?” Gwinam rages behind Cheongsan, and his shoulders go tense when he hears the Alpha lunge for him.

A hand grips his neck before he can spin around to try to defend himself. Gwinam shoves his head forcefully into his open locker, causing his shoulders to smash into the metal sides. Gasping in pain, he hears Onjo shout in alarm from somewhere to his left. Adrenaline floods his system as his heart starts pounding, his shaking hands searching for something to grip onto to use as leverage to get the Alpha off him.

“You Omegas need to learn your fucking place,” Gwinam shouts down at him from behind as Cheongsan begins struggling in earnest, trying desperately to wrench the Alpha’s hand off him. The taller boy is strong, though, and he has a tight grip on Cheongsan’s neck, his fingers digging excruciatingly into the skin there. His heart starts pounding even harder in his chest with how vulnerable the position is, Gwinam standing behind him as he’s half bent over, trapped and unable to move.

Gwinam’s other hand suddenly gripping his ass hard has panic climbing up his neck to choke him. and as the Alpha’s fingers dig in painfully over his clothed crack, Cheongsan’s struggling becomes erratic, a scream lodged in his throat.

Get off, get off, get off!

A fraction of a second later, the hands on him are gone, Gwinam’s grip disappearing in an instant as if it were never there. Breathing rapidly, his throat dry and his lungs burning, Cheongsan finally pulls his head out of his locker, a loud sound of commotion starting up from behind him.

Turning his head, he blinks slowly as the panic begins to subside. Looking out to the hallway, it takes his brain a few moments to register exactly what he's seeing.

Suhyeok has Gwinam by fistfuls of his shirt, repeatedly slamming him into the lockers on the opposite wall, a murderous look across his features as he tries to break the other Alpha against the metal. Gwinam repeatedly connects with the lockers hard, the sound of him crashing against them deafening in the hallway. Students have moved to give them a wide berth as the Alphas fight, shocked gasps escaping from their lips with the sheer violence of the scene.

As Gwinam connects bodily with the locker again, he manages to recover fast enough to swing his fist at Suhyeok, punching the other boy clean across the cheek. Suhyeok stumbles backwards, nearly losing his footing as he crashes into the lockers, not a few feet from where Cheongsan stands, frozen in shock.

The two Alphas recover at the same time, and as Suhyeok charges, Gwinam rushes forward, spearing his friend around the waist with his shoulders, sending both Alphas crashing back into the lockers before falling to the floor. Cheongsan has never seen such anger as both boys try to destroy each other. Gwinam straddles Suhyeok, where he’s on his back on the glossy tiles, and begins landing successive blow after blow to Suhyeok’s face with his fist. The wet smack of a fist meeting the skin of Suhyeok’s face will be ingrained in Cheongsan’s mind for a long time.

Suhyeok's knee connecting hard with the Alpha’s groin gives him a few seconds to recover from the onslaught as the boy on top of him yells out and curls over in agony. Cheongsan can hardly recognise his friend as Suhyeok grips Gwinam by his shirt and throws him to the floor, rising above the other Alpha on his knees. The pure hatred Cheongsan witnesses across Suhyeok’s face, as he begins laying punches to Gwinam’s face, is something he didn’t even think his friend was capable of.

Cheongsan knew Suhyeok had a shady past. He knew that before he joined their friend group, he had hung out with the wrong people and made the wrong choices. Hell, he’d known from when they’d wrestled outside school that Suhyeok was strong, that no matter how hard Cheongsan tried, his friend always bested him. Left him lying flat on his back or his belly, out of breath, grinning teasingly down at him.

He did not know this side of Suhyeok existed, though. That he was capable of such violence. Not only capable of it but excelled at it. To Cheongsan, the Alpha had never seemed capable of harming a fly, yet there he was, turning Gwinam’s face into minced meat.

“Hey! Hey, stop! Stop right now!” A man's voice orders from somewhere, and Cheongsan glances up to see Mr Kang barge his way through the crowd of onlooking students. Mr Lee is not far behind him, running down the hallway to their location.

Mr Kang attempts to pull Suhyeok by the arm off Gwinam, who isn’t moving much anymore. Suhyeok rips his arm out of the coach's grip, though, not relenting in his onslaught of punches. As Mr Lee reaches him, it takes both him and Mr Kang to physically pull Suhyeok away from an unconscious Gwinam, and even still, Suhyeok’s murderous gaze doesn’t leave Gwinam’s prone form once.

Cheongsan watches as his friend is dragged away from them. Mr Lee is eventually able to get him into one of the classrooms along the corridor before slamming the door closed behind them. The sudden loud slam of the door seems to snap Cheongsan out of the daze he was in, and he looks down to see that Onjo has been gripping his arm this entire time. Turning to look at her, she stares back, mild horror and shock across her delicate features.

Gyeongsu rushes up to them then too, and the three of them look to and from one another in silent disbelief at what just happened. Cheongsan looks past Gyeongsu’s form to see that Gwinam is still lying prone on the floor. Looking closer, the Alpha’s chest rises and falls with each breath, and Cheongsan is genuinely relieved he’s just out cold and not dead. He’s about to suggest someone should retrieve the nurse, when the woman herself comes speed walking down the hallway, Ms Park behind her. Both women stop and kneel beside Gwinam, attending to the Alpha, shock clear on their faces.

Cheongsan turns around and slams his locker shut, not caring about retrieving his homework anymore. He starts walking away, needing to get the hell out of this hallway.

“Where do you think you’re going, Cheongsan?! Get straight to my office, now!” He hears Ms. Park order him from where she’s knelt beside Gwinam. Halting, he closes his eyes and lets out a sigh from the depths of his soul.

He can’t believe this day.

Chapter Text

Rain begins falling against the windows of Ms Park’s office. Slowly at first, droplets appear on the panes of glass to slide down and off the bottom of the frame. Before long, the rain is coming down hard, the rushing sound in his ears proving relaxing as he waits for Ms. Park to show up. He’s been sitting here for going on twenty minutes now. Gyeongsu and Onjo had begrudgingly gone home, sympathetic expressions on their faces as he’d trudged his way towards this office.

As he waits, he figures Ms Park must be busy attending to Gwinam’s unconscious form. Or maybe she’s ringing up Cheongsan’s parents, yammering down the phone about how much of a delinquent he is. That might be a bit melodramatic on his part. He, after all, didn’t even do anything besides defend himself from Gwinam’s entire existence. And his leering offer. He’s pretty sure it wasn’t an actual, genuine offer to be the Alpha’s Omega. He knows the asshole gets a kick out of tormenting any student he feels like, most especially male Omegas. He remembers the torment poor Lee Jinsu was put through by Gwinam and his friends.

Thinking of Gwinam sends a shiver of revulsion through Cheongsan. He can admit that he’d thought the Alpha would back off after Cheongsan made it clear he wasn’t interested. He realises now he’d been naive to think he’d stop there. He feels sick to his stomach remembering Gwinam’s hands on him, even now his neck throbs from where he’d gripped Cheongsan tightly. He’ll have bruises come tomorrow.

They’ll pale in comparison to the bruises Suhyeok will be sporting. Gwinam definitely had his ass handed to him today, but he’d gotten a good few hits in before Suhyeok knocked him out cold. Cheongsan hopes his friend isn’t hurting too badly right now. Trust him to drag Suhyeok into more of his mess. He’s still processing the fact that his friend did what he did. He attacked Gwinam. Saved Cheongsan from the Alpha’s disgusting hands groping him.

Cheongsan was convinced Suhyeok wanted nothing to do with him anymore. That he’d decided to sever their friendship over what happened in the boys' toilets days earlier, but perhaps he was wrong? Why would Suhyeok jump Gwinam to save Cheongsan if he wanted nothing to do with him now? It doesn’t make sense.

However, the more he thinks about it, he wouldn’t be surprised if Suhyeok did it regardless of how he feels about Cheongsan. Suhyeok is a good guy, and this wouldn’t be the first time he’s come between Gwinam and his target, or so he’s told Cheongsan anyway.

God, he hopes Suhyeok doesn’t get into too much trouble. It’s serious enough that Cheongsan wouldn’t rule out expulsion being on the cards. He’d never forgive himself if he got Suhyeok expelled. The taller boy is a far better student than Cheongsan. Not top of the class material, mind you, but he does well, and if his future were compromised over this, it would haunt Cheongsan forever.

His mind begins racing in panic at the thought that he may have irreversibly ruined Suhyeok’s chances of going to college in the near future. Beginning to pick his nails raw again, he startles when the office door to his right swings open. Ms. Park swiftly enters with Mr. Lee following after her, both wearing serious facial expressions.

His insides twist uncomfortably with nerves as he watches the two teachers entering the room, Ms Park taking her seat at her desk whilst Mr Lee stands a little to her right and behind her against the wall. He must be in more trouble than he thought if both are here to see him. Fuck, is he about to be expelled too? His Mama will wring his neck.

Ms. Park sighs tiredly as she takes him in, worriedly looking him over. “We’ve taken the time to review the CCTV camera footage, Cheongsan, and from what we can see, you initiated the fight by shoving Gwinam,” She tells him, expression drawn. She can’t be serious? He didn’t start shit, he was defending himself.

“That’s hardly fair, he-”

“Cheongsan. I wasn’t finished speaking,” She interrupts him, tone harsh and succeeding in shutting him right up. “As I was saying, it appears you initiated the fight, but we also saw the way Gwinam was leaning too far into your personal space. Am I correct in saying that you and Gwinam are not in any kind of relationship that would permit such behaviour?” She asks, raising her eyebrows impatiently at him.

“No, we are definitely not,” He says, disgust in his tone.

“That’s what I thought. So pushing Gwinam away from you, in our eyes, was warranted. What Gwinam did to you after was most definitely not warranted. As it stands, he’s looking at the minimum, suspension, if not expulsion,” She tells him, the serious expression not wavering.

“Good riddance,” Cheongsan mutters under his breath.

“However,” Ms. Park begins loudly, unimpressed with him, “Suhyeok is also facing some very serious consequences. Gwinam has been sent to the hospital. He’s okay, but we’re fairly certain his nose is broken and he’s missing a tooth, not to mention his face is so beat up he’s hardly recognisable. What Suhyeok did to him, Cheongsan, was no laughing matter. Were he an adult, he could be convicted of assault.”

Cheongsan clasps his hands together as a small tremor begins going through them, suddenly very afraid for his friend. Fuck, he’s ruined Suhyeok’s life!

“Now, Suhyeok hasn’t said a word to either of us since what happened. He’s chosen to ignore us both and our attempts to understand what happened out there in the hallway,” Ms Park continues, sighing in exasperation at the Alpha’s behaviour.

Cheongsan frowns at this new information, none of it sitting well with him. Why is Suhyeok not defending himself? Doesn’t he understand the potential consequences he could face here? God, his friend is such an idiot!

“There’s something to be taken into account here, though, something that could help Suhyeok, Cheongsan,” Mr Lee suddenly says, stepping away from the wall to walk around Ms. Park’s desk and sitting down on it, looking seriously at Cheongsan.

“What is it? If I can help him, I will,” Cheongsan tells him, meaning every word. He can’t let Suhyeok take the fall for this.

“Well, as Suhyeok is an Alpha, and, as of last week, you’re an Omega, people would be far more understanding of his actions if it came to light that you two were, well, together,” Mr Lee tells him, looking at Ms. Park who nods before gazing seriously back at Cheongsan. “An Alpha will instinctively feel incredibly protective of their mate, most especially if another Alpha makes certain advances. Suhyeok’s behaviour would look less like a blind fit of rage and more like a young man protecting what he considers his if it were that you two were a couple,” Mr Lee finishes, looking at Cheongsan for his reaction.

Mouth dropping open slightly, realisation dawns on Cheongsan as to what Mr Lee and Ms Park are trying to do for Suhyeok and him right then. Looking between his two teachers before him, he feels a fair amount of surprise alongside a whole lot of gratitude.

There’s only one problem. He and Suhyeok are not together. They’re just friends. He’d have to lie to save Suhyeok from a harsher punishment than he deserves.

Sitting there, though, he finds it’s an easy choice to make. His friend can add this to the list of things he’s angry at Cheongsan for. If it means it potentially saves him from suspension or worse, expulsion, Cheongsan will gladly lie till he’s blue in the face. Besides, only Ms. Park and Mr. Lee have to know. No one outside this room.

“We were hoping to keep it between us. It’s a fairly new development, but we’ve been dating for a few weeks now,” He tells them, disregarding the fact he only discovered he was an Omega last week. They can believe he was one of those odd Beta males who were into Alpha males.

Mr Lee nods his head, a small smile pulling up the corner of his mouth like he’s pleased to hear it.

“I figured as much, I’ve only ever seen an Alpha react with such rage when they thought their mate was in danger,” Mr Lee tells him, before he slaps his thighs with both hands and gets up, “That settles that then,” he finishes, satisfied.

Cheongsan turns his gaze to Ms Park, trying to gauge whether he’s convinced her of his little white lie. She’s regarding him seriously, with no hint on her face of what she’s thinking. Finally, she blinks, seemingly coming out of her thoughts.

“Suhyeok will still face a week's detention for this; Assaulting people, even in self-defence of his mate like this, can’t go without punishment. Thank you for telling us about your relationship, Cheongsan. I apologise that you had to, but I can promise you that information won’t leave this room,” She tells him, Mr Lee nodding to him in agreement.

“Uh, thank you. I’m sorry to have been such a bother for the past while. I’ll try to stay out of trouble,” He tells them, feeling a tiny smidge of guilt for lying to them both, but for Suhyeok, he’d dupe both of them 100 times over.

“Please do,” Ms Park tells him with a smile before standing, signalling with her hand he’s free to leave, ending their little meeting.

Cheongsan stands, bows respectfully to both teachers, and makes his exit. Walking along the quiet hallways of the school to the main exit, he wonders where Suhyeok is. He probably should’ve asked Ms Park or Mr Lee. Most likely, the Alpha is still in the nurses’ office, having his injuries attended to.

Turning the corner, the nurses' office is along this corridor, further down along the right-hand side. Cheongsan thinks he’ll take a quick peek in. See if he can spot Suhyeok. His plan goes out the window, though, when the door to the nurses’ office suddenly opens and Cheongsan stops dead in his tracks, stomach flipping upside down.

A middle-aged man and woman step out into the hallway, both dressed in business attire and looking quite out of place. Cheongsan is about to breathe a sigh of relief when Suhyeok’s tall form follows them out, the nurse just behind him. These must be Suhyeok’s parents. Cheongsan knew they were well off, but looking at them, they carried that air of opulence about them that only wealthy people have. He’s never been to Suhyeok’s home. The Alpha has never offered to bring him around or hang out in his place. They’ve done so at Cheongsan’s place several times and even had sleepovers during the holidays.

Suhyeok looks less than ideal, the whole left side of his face beginning to swell up, his eye disappearing behind the bruised flesh. He looks freaking miserable too, dragging himself out into the hallway to stand beside his father. His mother is speaking to the nurse, likely about how to treat her son’s injuries.

As Suhyeok turns away and looks down the long corridor, Cheongsan sees the moment he’s spotted by the Alpha, his friend’s one good eye going wide. They stare at each other for a moment, both of them seemingly unsure of what to do or how to react. Behind Suhyeok, as his father notices his son is not even listening to the nurse’s advice, the older man himself stares down the corridor to Cheongsan, confusion clear on his face.

“Who is that?” Suhyeok’s father asks his son, looking between them.

The anxiety on Suhyeok’s face is obvious as he opens his mouth to reply to his father.

“No one, Father. No one at all,” He answers the older man, turning around and putting his back to Cheongsan.

Suhyeok’s father gives Cheongsan one more curious once-over before putting his hand on his son’s shoulder and beginning to lead him out of the school. Suhyeok’s mother finishes her discussion with the nurse and follows after them, speed-walking up to her son and husband.

Cheongsan stands there for a while longer, trying to push away the hurt in his chest at Suhyeok’s words to his father.

No one. No one at all.

Is that all he is now to the Alpha? No one at all? He would damn well near believe it, if not for Suhyeok’s actions today. If he were no one to Suhyeok, the Alpha wouldn’t have given Gwinam the beating of a lifetime for touching him. Suhyeok has come in between that asshole and his victims before but from what Cheongsan knows, he’s never beaten Gwinam to unconsciousness for anyone’s sake.

Suhyeok may have just been lying to his father for another reason. Maybe he’s not allowed to associate with Omegas? He’s heard some parents are like that, not wanting their teenage children to be tempted to do something they’ll regret. Or, maybe they wouldn’t approve of Cheongsan? They’re clearly upper class, and Cheongsan is, well, not upper class. His parents get by fine, but there’s a reason they live in an apartment just the same as most everyone else. Classism is very much alive and well these days, maybe Suhyeok knew they wouldn’t approve of him being friends with someone middle-class.

What if Suhyeok was embarrassed by him, though? For him being an Omega? Or for being middle class? What if Suhyeok was too ashamed to admit he was once friends with him?

No, no, definitely not. Suhyeok isn’t perfect; he’s got his flaws, but he’s not classist, nor is he sexist. Cheongsan has seen a lot of his friend, and not once has he ever shown prejudice like that. It’s one of the things Cheongsan loves about Suhyeok, he’s accepting and open-minded to all those around him. Never letting hatred or closed-mindedness stain his character.

Resuming his walk along the corridor, Cheongsan makes it to the main doors and exits the school. He still doesn’t understand where he and Suhyeok stand with each other but he knows now that he’s going to do his damned hardest to convince the Alpha they’re still capable of being friends.

Hours later, Cheongsan frowns down at his Math homework, gnawing on the end of his pen as he tries to figure out the current set of problems assigned for this evening. He’s been sitting at his bedroom desk for nearly 45 minutes now, but he’s nearly finished; he just has these Math problems, and then he’s chilling out for the rest of the day.

Getting increasingly frustrated, he sighs and rubs his forehead, forgetting how they solved these equations in class. A knock at the door pulls him away from his work as he looks up at it opening to reveal his father.

“You’ve got a visitor,” His father says, before opening the door wider.

Onjo comes bouncing into his room, all enthusiasm, as she plonks herself down on his bed to smile over at him.

“Thanks, Papa,” He tells his father, receiving a small smile in return before the man leaves, the door clicking shut behind him.

Turning in his chair, he levels Onjo with an unimpressed look. “I’m trying to do some homework, yeno,” He tells her, bemoaning having to withstand the bounding energy he can see in her face.

“Well, don’t let me stop you,” She replies, all innocent, sitting primly on his bed.

Not buying it for a second, he sighs and puts down his pen to give her his full attention.

“Go on, then.”

“Go on…what?” She replies, playing dumb.

“Go on then, lose your shit over what happened today,” He demands, staring her down.

“Can you believe what happened?! Cheongsan, they nearly killed each other!” She finally explodes, gripping his bedsheets in both hands as if it's the only thing stopping her from bouncing off the walls.

“Yeah, Onjo, I can believe it, cause I saw it.”

“Okay, I still think Suhyeok is… well, what he did can’t just be brushed aside, but Cheongsan, you didn’t see his face when he first turned to Gwinam when he was attacking you. My stomach dropped at the look of pure rage he wore. Then he totally wrecked Gwinam! The guy was out cold!” She practically screeches at him, enjoying this far too much in Cheongsan’s opinion.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen that side of him before. I knew he could fight, but that was pretty brutal,” He muses, recalling the savageness of the punches Suhyeok had laid into Gwinam again and again.

“Brutal! Gwinam is lucky he’s still breathing,” Onjo says, and Cheongsan agrees completely. If Mr Kang and Mr Lee hadn’t come to tear Suhyeok off him when they had, who knows if he still would be?

“What happened with Ms Park?” Onjo suddenly asks like she’d forgotten up until that point.

“Uh, nothing, really. She had the CCTV footage, so she knew that I wasn’t in the wrong for any of it,” He replies, shrugging his shoulders, “Nor Suhyeok for that matter,”

“Suhyeok is getting let off for it? Seriously? I was expecting he’d get suspended at the minimum,” Onjo says, shocked.

Cheongsan doesn’t really wanna tell her he had to lie to his teachers about his relationship with Suhyeok to save him, but Suhyeok getting off scot-free otherwise doesn’t really make sense. Onjo isn’t dumb either, she’ll know there’s something more to it without him needing to even say it.

“Well, uh, it was actually both Ms. Park and Mr. Lee who had words with me. I lied to them, told them Suhyeok and I were dating, and made it seem like he was simply reacting instinctively to his mate being attacked,” He says to Onjo, shrugging his shoulders again like it’s no biggie.

Onjo’s mouth drops open, scandalised. She clearly doesn’t agree.

“You did what?!” She practically yells, looking at him like he’s lost his mind.

“I told them that Suhyeok and I-”

“Yes, Cheongsan, I heard you,” She interrupts, rolling her eyes at him. She goes quiet then, her face telling him she’s mulling it over. She blinks before looking up at him contemplatively.

“Trust you to save the guy that, well- that…”

“Onjo! For the last time, Suhyeok didn’t assault me,” He tells her, anger rising along his neck. He’s still upset with her for what she did to Suhyeok. Ostracising him from his friends at lunch.

She sighs and looks away before she begins picking the polish off her nails. A habit she’s developed when she’s uncomfortable.

“What happened when you went to find Suhyeok during lunch?” She asks him, not making eye contact as she continues nervously picking at her nails.

He sighs, hating the tension in the air between them. “I found him in the library, where you said he’d be. He seemed pretty shocked to see me. When I sat down, he wouldn’t even look at me,” He tells her quietly, staring down at his socked feet.

“And, um, why do you think that is?” She asks him, sounding like she has her own opinions on the matter, but not wanting to upset him.

He’s quiet for a while longer, heat rising to his face as he thinks about telling her. “I imagine he’s upset over what happened. Embarrassed, maybe, for touching me like that,”

“Cheongsan, that is the biggest load of cowshit,” Onjo says suddenly, voice loud in the small room. Surprised, he looks up at her, shocked at her candour.

“What?”

“Suhyeok isn’t embarrassed. He’s ashamed. He found you in a vulnerable position, Cheongsan, and took advantage. He knows it, and can’t handle the guilt.”

“Onjo, you didn’t see him. When he- when it hit him, it was like a different guy in front of me. I don’t think he had any more control of himself than I did.”

Onjo sighs at that, looking away from him. “I still think he’s ashamed, and that’s the real reason he wouldn’t look at you,” She mutters in reply, stubborn as always. “Besides that, Cheongsan, you need to stop being so hard on yourself. Suhyeok or any goddamn Alpha would be lucky to have you,” She tells him, cheeks going red, unable to meet his eye.

“Was that an actual compliment from you, Nam Onjo?” He replies teasingly, not missing this opportunity.

“You tell anyone about this, and I’ll end you,” She replies, threateningly, the corners of her mouth fighting not to turn up.

Grinning, he laughs slightly and looks away, mind circling back to Suhyeok and the clusterfuck of a situation they’re in between them.

“Anyway, I'd better go. My Papa should have dinner nearly ready. I’ll catch you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, see you then,” He replies, nodding, still lost in thought.

She doesn’t immediately get up to leave, though, still sitting there out of the corner of his vision. Looking up at her in confusion, he frowns when he sees her looking between him and his bed sheets, an up-to-no-good look on her face.

“You washed these sheets, right?”

The shoe he picks up to fling at her, as she flees the room with a delighted grin on her face, hits the wall with a thud.

Later that evening, Cheongsan makes his way to his bedroom, exiting the living room where he’s been watching TV with his parents for the past hour. An idea had come to his mind, one he plans to enact now, whilst it’s not too late in the day. Entering his room, he quietly shuts his door behind him before crossing to sit on his bed. Pulling his phone from the pocket of his pyjama pants, he unlocks it and opens the Settings App.

Scrolling down the Settings, he’s looking for one option in his phone's network services. Finding it, he swipes it from ‘On’ to ‘Off’. He feels only slightly guilty for what he’s about to do next.

Closing the Settings App, butterflies suddenly take flight in his stomach. Licking his lips nervously, he opens his Contacts and scrolls down to Suhyeok’s phone number. He hits ‘Call’ before he can chicken out, raising the phone to his ear.

Listening to the ringing tone repeat in his ear, he frowns when it continues for more than four rings, starting to believe Suhyeok isn’t going to pick up.

“Hello?” Suhyeok’s confused baritone answers suddenly.

Cheongsan opens his mouth to reply, his nerves starting to make him feel nauseous.

“Hello?” Suhyeok continues on the other end, sounding impatient and annoyed now.

“Suhyeok,” Cheongsan finally manages, listening intently to his friend’s response down the line. The gasp he registers from the other boy through the speaker of his phone doesn’t surprise him.

“Cheongsan. You have no Caller ID,” Suhyeok replies, almost accusingly, seemingly figuring out that Cheongsan tricked him into answering.

“Would you have answered if I had?” He replies, unable to stop the anger seeping into his tone, the hurt in his chest still raw.

Suhyeok doesn’t answer him, simply sighs down the line to Cheongsan, which is confirmation enough to Cheongsan that no, he would not have.

“What do you want, Cheongsan?” His friend asks him, sounding exhausted all of a sudden.
Cheongsan is very tempted to lean into his anger right then, to unleash on Suhyeok a barrage of how exactly his friend has hurt him the past few days. Instead, he takes a deep breath and attempts to recenter himself.

“How are you? Are you…in much pain?” Cheongsan inquires, genuinely concerned for his friend after the fight with Gwinam.

“I’m okay. A little sore. Gwinam punches like a bitch, honestly,” Suhyeok replies snidely at the mention of the other Alpha.

“That’s good. I imagine he’s feeling ten times worse,” Cheongsan quips, attempting to inject a light, humorous tone.

“Yeah, probably,” Suhyeok replies, not reciprocating in Cheongsan’s attempt at humour. Cheongsan bites his lip, unsure what to say, what’s safe to say then and what might result in Suhyeok dropping the call.

“Are you okay?” Suhyeok hesitantly asks him, concern evident in his tone.

Hearing that concern in Suhyeok’s voice does something to Cheongsan. He is suddenly mortified to feel a lump form in his throat, his eyes stinging with tears. After thinking Suhyeok was ending their friendship, hearing in his voice that he still cares about him is such a relief, it’s nearly overwhelming.

“Yeah, no, I’m okay, I, um…” Cheongsan mumbles, his voice trailing off unsteadily.

“...Cheongsan...” Suhyeok says down the phone, clearly having heard the emotional warble in his voice.

Cheongsan sniffs, wiping his eyes with his other hand, not holding the phone. “Sorry, don’t know why I’m upset,” He complains, fed up with these continued emotional outbursts.

“It’s okay, it’s understandable,” Suhyeok replies, sounding dejected suddenly.

“Yeah,” Cheongsan sighs out, nodding his head as if Suhyeok were before him.

He finds he has one more dirty trick up his sleeve that day. “Suhyeok, could we meet? I’d really like to see you,” He says, knowing he’s manipulating Suhyeok a little.

Suhyeok is silent on the phone for a few seconds. “Cheongsan, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Please? Just for a few minutes, even?” He further pleads, hoping beyond hope he can convince the Alpha.

His friend eventually sighs before replying down the line, “...Okay. Where?”

“How about at that playground we used to always go to? The one Gyeongsu fell off the jungle gym and broke his arm years ago?”

“Okay. I’ll meet you there in 20?” Suhyeok asks quietly like he’s afraid someone will overhear.

“Yeah, yeah. 20 minutes. Thanks, see you in a bit.”

“See you in a bit,” Suhyeok replies, before the line ends.

Pulling his phone from his ear, Cheongsan breathes a large sigh of relief. That’d gone much better than he’d thought it would. Getting up, he begins rifling through his dresser for something to throw on quickly, eventually settling on a blue hoodie with grey sweatpants. Sitting back down on the edge of his bed, he pulls on his shoes before hopping up and leaving his room.

Entering the living room, his parents glance up when he walks in, neutral expressions morphing into surprise when they see him dressed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His Mama enquires, looking him up and down.

“To meet Suhyeok. At the playground just a few blocks over,” He answers, steeling himself for an argument.

“Cheongsan, it’s nearly 8 pm. You’ve school tomorrow, and it’s starting to get dark outside,” His Mama replies, concern lacing her words.

“Mama, it’s fine. I won’t be gone long, and I’ll have my phone.”

“Cheongsan, your mother is right. It’s too late for you to be going out alone,” His Papa interjects, sitting forward in his armchair to frown at him.

Looking between his parents, Cheongsan feels anger and resentment fill him. “This is because I’m an Omega now, isn’t it? You would’ve let me go out before,”

Sharing a look that just proves to make Cheongsan even angrier, both parents turn fully to him. “Cheongsan, you’re not that naive. You’ve heard the stories, just as much as we have. Being an Omega in this world makes it more dangerous. That’s just the reality,” His Mama explains to him, looking at him seriously.

Cheongsan loathes that he can’t even argue with her there. He isn’t naive, he knows the danger he could get into if he were to go out alone at night.

“If I call you guys on the way over to Suhyeok, then you’ll know I’m okay, and after that, Suhyeok and I will be together, so I’ll be safe,” He reasons, looking between them pleadingly.

His Mama sighs, looking away to silently communicate with his Papa, in that way they've always been able to do, to Cheongsan's frustration. His Papa stands then, approaching him. He looks down at Cheongsan, raising a finger to indicate how serious he is.

“You stay on the call all the way over and ring us again all the way back. If anything happens when you’re with Suhyeok, anything seems slightly unsafe, you ring us immediately. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Papa. I promise I’ll be safe,” Cheongsan replies, maintaining eye contact to drive home his sincerity.

“Okay, be back by 9:30, or I’m coming to get you, and you’ll never leave this house again,” He warns Cheongsan, finger still hovering in front of his face.

“Understood. Catch you later,” Cheongsan says, already making for the front door to leave. He’ll need to hurry over to the playground now, his parents kept him longer than he expected. Suhyeok can’t for one second think he’s not coming; that’d be a complete disaster.

Opening the front door, he leaves the apartment, already dialling his Papa’s number.

Chapter Text

The streets of Hyosan are quiet as the sun sets on the horizon, casting everything into shades of oranges and reds. Cheongsan turns around a building corner, pausing briefly to switch his phone from his left ear to his right before beginning to walk up this street. Just across, on the other side, and a little further up, is the entrance to the local park, and within it, the playground he expects to find Suhyeok in.

“I’m just about at the park, Papa. Can I hang up now?” He asks his father down the phone.

An exasperated sigh greets him in response, “Fine, Cheongsan, but be careful. Call me when you’re walking back.”

“I will, I promise. See you in a bit.”

“Bye, son,” His father replies before the call ends.

Pocketing his phone, Cheongsan quickly looks both ways for oncoming cars before crossing the street. Coming up along the park, with its perimeter enclosed in high hedges, he tries not to think too hard about how creepy and quiet this area of the city is at this hour.

Passing through the entrance gate, nervous anticipation runs through him at the prospect of seeing Suhyeok. He decided on his way over here, that he's getting answers out of the Alpha, whether he likes it or not. Suhyeok can give him all the sad stares and silent treatment he can muster, Cheongsan will beat the words out of him if he has to.

Well, not really, but he’s determined either way.

Strolling down the pathway, he muses on how during the day, the tall trees around him usually provide a peaceful sense of being surrounded by nature, but how now, at dusk, they feel enclosing and eerie. The darkness is thicker here, almost blanketing as the trees block what is left of the fading sunlight.

Swallowing, he recalls the conversation he’d had with his parents, aware that now, to some, he’s prey. An innocent, young, Omega male wandering through a dark deserted park at night.

Perfect victim.

Jesus, this is why he doesn’t like horror movies, he's got far too active an imagination.

Starting to speed walk, he keeps his eyes peeled for any movement along the tree line, his treacherous brain conjuring all sorts of terrifying images jumping out at him.

As he turns around a winding path, he sighs in relief when the playground comes into view just ahead. Still and quiet, it’s in stark contrast to how it usually is, in the day; full of screaming kids and their stressed parents, just looking for a few moments of peace.

Cheongsan scans the area as he approaches and squints when a silhouette comes into view. Someone is sitting on one of the swings, idly swaying back and forth. Smiling, he’d recognise Suhyeok’s outline anywhere. He lifts his hand, about to call out to his friend before rethinking it. He’s not sure how Suhyeok’s mood will be. Cheongsan did kind of emotionally manipulate him to get him here.

Taking a deep breath, he tries to steady his nerves as he comes up on the small fence surrounding the playground, stomach squirming.

Suhyeok’s head pops up when he registers Cheongsan’s approach, his bright eyes looking up in surprise.

Cheongsan plasters a small smile on his face as he passes through the entrance gate of the playground, approaching the other boy on the swing.

“You’re late. I was starting to think you’d stood me up,” Suhyeok says to him, returning the small smile. Cheongsan can see in Suhyeok's eyes he's nervous too. He's always been able to read Suhyeok through his eyes.

“Sorry. My parents kinda badgered me about coming,”

Cheongsan takes a seat on the empty swing beside Suhyeok, gripping the chainlink in his hands as he gazes over at the Alpha. His friend’s face is mottled on one side with bruises, most especially under his eye. His lip is also split, a mean angry line running through it.

“Suhyeok, your face. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you to meet me,”

Suhyeok lets out a small laugh at that, gazing over at him with amusement. “It’s fine, ‘San. I’ve had worse. Like I said before, Gwinam punches like a bitch,” the Alpha replies airily.

“Still, that looks painful, though honestly not as swollen as I would've expected,”

“I’ve got some painkillers running through me right now and I’ve been icing it since I got home. I’m good, honestly,” his friend reassures him.

Cheongsan hums in response, guilt only slightly abating.

Suhyeok looks away from him and turns his gaze to the park before them. Cheongsan bites his lip, swinging gently with the wind. He’s unsure how to even start this conversation they need to have. He can’t just blurt out ‘Hey were you disgusted with yourself for touching me?’.

Well, he could, but he’s not that brave.

“You didn’t get in any trouble over the Gwinam thing, did you?” Suhyeok asks him, frowning over at him in worry.

Shaking his head, Cheongsan replies quickly, “No, none at all. Ms Park and Mr Lee had seen on the CCTV what happened,”

“Oh. That’s good,” Suhyeok replies, nodding before frowning down at the ground. Cheongsan is about to enquire about the detention Suhyeok's been punished with when the expression on his friend's face stops him. He looks conflicted, like he’s unsure he should speak what’s currently on his mind, but desperately wants to.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get between you sooner. I should’ve never let him put his hands on you at all. I just didn’t think you’d want me involved,” His friend blurts out, eyes pleading with Cheongsan to forgive him.

Cheongsan frowns over at him in confusion, “You don’t need to apologise for that, Suhyeok. You got him off me, regardless. Thanks, by the way,”

Suhyeok swallows, before nodding once and returning to gazing out at the greenery. “You don’t need to show me any gratitude,” His friend tells him quietly, shame dripping from every word "Not after what I did".

Cheongsan’s frown deepens further at his friend’s words, Suhyeok not making any sense, “What you did?”

Suhyeok doesn’t answer him immediately, his face suddenly turns miserable as he looks up at the sky, breath visibly halting in his chest. Then, he releases his breath all in one go, turning to look at him. Cheongsan is shocked to see tears welling in Suhyeok’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry for what happened that day. I can’t even begin to express how sorry I am ‘Sannie. Y-You needed someone to help you and I-I… what I did...” Suhyeok tells him quietly, tears spilling over to stream down his face. The Alpha quickly wipes them away, breath coming raggedly. Suddenly he stands up and walks a few feet away to the fence surrounding the playground. Cheongsan can see him gripping it tight like he’s trying to get himself under control.

He can only stare wide-eyed at his friend, slightly stunned by Suhyeok’s words. Onjo was right. Suhyeok does blame himself for what happened that day. He thinks he hurt Cheongsan. The evidence of the insurmountable amount of guilt and shame the Alpha’s been feeling is clear in his words and the devastated expression on his face.

Cheongsan is so shocked by the weight of Suhyeok’s words, that it takes him a minute to respond, his brain carefully choosing what to say next. Standing up from the swing, he approaches his friend, coming up to stand behind him.

“Suhyeok, I need you to listen to me, okay? I won’t pretend that what happened in the boys’ bathroom wasn’t a total disaster. God knows I’m still reeling from the fact I went into heat at all but what happened…I’m not upset about it.” He tells his friend or rather his friend’s shoulders.

“Hey,” He continues, reaching up to grip Suhyeok's arm and turn him. The taller boy gazes down at him in misery, still attempting to wipe away his tears. “What happened…” Cheongsan sighs then in defeat, realising he’ll just have to push through the embarrassment, “Getting my…slick on your hand…I could see the effect it had on you, Suhyeok. You weren’t yourself, and... I wasn’t myself either," He admits, the memory clear of how out it he'd been not one he'll soon forget. "We’re only seventeen. This is still relatively new to us both. Learning self-control will hopefully come with time.” He finishes, his face burning in embarrassment but meaning every word.

Suhyeok looks at him with disbelief clear on his face. “You’re not angry at me? If Mr Lee hadn’t pulled me off you, Cheongsan… I don’t think I would’ve stopped.”

“But that’s not what happened, Suhyeok. Heavy petting, that’s about as far as we got,” He replies, with an awkward shrug, pretty sure he's as red as a tomato.

Cheongsan is relieved to see Suhyeok’s cheeks redden too, the Alpha sharing the embarrassment of recounting what happened. At least he’s not alone in that.

“Can’t we just move past this, Suhyeok? Try to put what happened behind us?” Cheongsan asks, fed up with the whole situation at this point.

“Yeah. Yeah, ‘course,” Suhyeok replies, nodding. Cheongsan isn’t wholly satisfied though, the Alpha unable to meet his eyes.

Then there’s the problem of the opinions of Onjo, Gyeongsu and his friends. Frowning up at Suhyeok, guilt rocks his chest. “I’m sorry about Onjo and the others. I’ll get through to them. I will. She in particular is just stubborn.”

Suhyeok shakes his head, staring down at his shoes. “It’s okay, Cheongsan. Their anger is warranted,” He replies, not meeting Cheongsan’s eye.

“Suhyeok, we literally just clarified between us, that it isn’t. They misunderstand, that’s all but you don’t deserve to lose your friends over this.”

“Just leave it, ‘San. I’m okay with them being angry with me,” Suhyeok tells him, annoyance flaring in his voice.

Cheongsan feels his own annoyance build, glaring up at his friend, not understanding why Suhyeok is being so stubborn about this. Gazing intently at his face, Cheongsan feels anger ignite in him when he sees the despondent look in his friend's eyes.

“Will you stop?! You’re not guilty of anything Suhyeok, and I’m not gonna let you punish yourself by hiding away in the library every day.”

“It’s the least I deserve. If I’d just had better self-control…” The Alpha continues, frowning miserably down at the ground.

Cheongsan sighs in annoyance, wondering if a good smack upside the head will fix the stubborn mule he calls a friend. “We’re sitting at our usual seats in the cafeteria tomorrow, me and you both,” He orders with a pointed finger at the Alpha for good measure.

“No can do. I’ve been suspended for the rest of the week,” Suhyeok flippantly responds, finally looking up at him to shrug, unbothered.

Cheongsan’s shocked face must be comical if the way Suhyeok snorts in amusement is any indication. Suspended for the rest of the week!?

“That’s not possible! I convinced Ms. Park and Mr. Lee you didn’t deserve to be suspended!” He protests, looking up at the Alpha for answers.

“My white knight huh?” Suhyeok responds, smirking down at him.

“What happened?” He demands to know, unimpressed with Suhyeok’s attempts to deflect in answering. The Alpha sighs again before walking around Cheongsan to sit back on the swing. Cheongsan turns to face him, both of them wearing matching frowns.

“It seems Gwinam’s family has more sway over the school than initially thought. His parents threatened to sue if I wasn’t punished to the same degree as him. To prevent us both being expelled then, as he was going to be, we’re both suspended for the week,” Suhyeok finishes looking away with a shrug.

“Your crazy rich parents couldn’t have stepped in?” Cheongsan demands, regretting the words as soon as they leave his mouth.

Suhyeok frowns back at him, his expression wholly unimpressed. “My parents did get involved. That was the deal struck. I’m okay with it."

“I’m not,” Cheongsan angrily blurts out, feeling betrayed by Ms Park and Mr Lee. They’d told him Suhyeok would only receive detention. “Those assholes,” He growls out loud to no one in particular.

“Who? My parents?!” Suhyeok demands, gazing at Cheongsan in shock.

“No, ‘Hyeok, Ms. Park and Mr. Lee. They told me you’d only be receiving detention when I’d left earlier,” He replies, crossing his arms and glaring at one tree in particular, imagining it’s his teachers' idiot faces.

“Oh, you mean when you told them we were dating, and the reason I attacked Gwinam was to protect my boyfriend?” Suhyeok asks him, looking entirely unimpressed with Cheongsan.

Cheongsan feels the bottom drop out of his stomach, face burning. “Fuck. I didn’t think they’d tell you that." Internally cringing and wishing the earth would open up to swallow him.

Suhyeok’s face lights up in amusement before he responds, “Oh no, they told me. They also told my parents.”

Cheongsan blanches, staring at Suhyeok in horror. Oh, fuck. That also wasn’t supposed to happen either.

“My parents weren’t too happy I’d been keeping my Omega boyfriend a secret this whole time. Very traditional in their ways, you see. So, they want to meet you. This Friday, for dinner,” Suhyeok tells him, kicking off from the swing to sway back and forth, the annoying smile still plastered on his face.

Cheongsan rushes over to grip the swing, making Suhyeok stop suddenly, only a few inches of space between them as the Alpha looks up at him.

“I can’t do that! I found out I was an Omega only a few days ago. I’m not ready to be anyone’s Omega boyfriend, real or not.”

Suhyeok stands, looking down at Cheongsan in amusement. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have told our teachers we were together, then.”

Cheongsan glares up at the Alpha, indignation flashing through him, “I did it for you, asshole. I thought it would save you from suspension!”

“Well, a lot of good that did.”

Cheongsan growls up at the Alpha before turning away, biting into his bottom lip as he stares out at the swaying trees. Turning back to Suhyeok, who has gone back to casually swinging, he pleads with the Alpha with his eyes. “You can’t get me out of it?”

“Nope. They’re adamant about meeting you, and trust me, my mother? She’ll hunt you down either way, so it’s best to do it the civil way at dinner.”

Cheongsan sighs, raising both hands to his mouth and turning his gaze to the sky. Trust him to get himself into a situation like this by trying to help someone. Dropping his hands, he licks his lips nervously before looking back at Suhyeok, the Alpha regarding him contemplatively.

“Just an hour earlier, we weren’t even on speaking terms, what were you going to tell them then?” He demands to know, figuring he’s got the Alpha.

“I hadn’t a clue! This was just dropped on me today, thanks to you, I’d like to remind you again,” Suhyeok replies defensively, glaring over at him.

“What will they expect from me?” Cheongsan asks, stomach already twisting at the prospect of this dinner.

Suhyeok shrugs one shoulder in response, “Just be polite, compliment my mother’s cooking, dote on me like you’re madly in love with your big, strong, Alpha Suhyeok,”

Rolling his eyes at Suhyeok’s teasing grin, he sighs once more, resigning himself to this. “Fine, I’ll go. If I totally screw it up though, that’s on you! I’m not all rich and proper like you.”

Suhyeok levels him with an unimpressed look after that, jumping off the swing to approach him. “You know, this is why I never told you my family lives comfortably. I knew you’d make these snide comments."

Cheongsan feels guilt and regret grip him. Suhyeok’s right, he’s being an asshole. He has no reason to be bitter or jealous, he doesn’t want for much in his own home. Feeling chastised, he looks apologetically up at the Alpha, “You’re right, I’m being unfair. Sorry.”

Suhyeok scans his face, seemingly searching for something before he nods. “Forgiven,” He breathes out, continuing to gaze down.

Cheongsan maintains eye contact in the silence that follows. The only sound around them is the rustling of trees in the wind. Tension builds between them as they continue to hold each other's gazes. Cheongsan swallows nervously when Suhyeok’s eyes dart down to his lips. Is he going crazy, or is that desire in his eyes? The Alpha’s lips part then. “Cheongsan..?” He asks quietly, the single word loaded with meaning.

Cheongsan sniffs and steps back, looking out into the park. Glancing at Suhyeok, the disappointed frown on his friend’s brow makes him feel slightly dizzy. “I better get back home, my parents will have a hernia if I stay out too late.”

Suhyeok nods in understanding, a sad smile on his face. “C’mon, I’ll walk you.”

“I don’t need an Alpha escort home,” He fires back before he can help himself.

“I know, Cheongsan, but I’d like to walk you home. Is that okay with you?” Suhyeok asks him, raising his eyebrows in defiance.

“Jeez, fine. Walk me home,” Cheongsan replies with a roll of his eyes, turning to exit the playground.

“You’re a prideful little shit, you know that?” Suhyeok asks him, stepping in alongside him.

Cheongsan can only glare in response, not bothering to deny it when he knows Suhyeok’s totally right. Suhyeok grins, reaching over to drape his arm over Cheongsan’s shoulders, pulling him into the Alpha’s warmth. Just like he had always done before Cheongsan’s new designation.

Suhyeok seems to realise then what he’s done, looking uncertainly over at him. “This okay?” He asks, arm going rigid across Cheongsan’s shoulders. Before Cheongsan can reply, Suhyeok seems to think better of it, his arm starting to lift off Cheongsan, but before it can, Cheongsan grabs it, draping it back over.

“It’s fine…just like it always has been fine,” He replies evenly, maintaining eye contact with his friend.

Suhyeok smiles and nods, squeezing Cheongsan to him.

Cheongsan has always thought he fit quite perfectly under Suhyeok’s arm like this, the Alpha’s warmth bleeding into his side. As Suhyeok's scent washes over him, it proves to only solidify that opinion.

Cheongsan sighs deeply, relaxing back into the pillows of his bed as he closes his eyes, a serene sensation overtaking him. Opening his eyes, Suhyeok’s handsome face hovers above him on the bed, smiling warmly down at him. A quick glance down proves what he can already feel to be true; they’re both naked, Suhyeok’s body snug on top of his.

A moan leaves Cheongsan when Suhyeok grinds his hips down on him, looking down to see his cock gliding alongside the Alpha’s, precum easing the way as Suhyeok moves them against each other. The friction between them is ecstatic, his sensitive cock head stimulated with each pass of Suhyeok's hips on his.

“Does that feel good, ‘Sannie?” Suhyeok asks, smirking down at him from above.

Cheongsan can only nod as another moan leaves him when Suhyeok gives a particularly hard grind, his toes curling as his orgasm builds in his groin.

Suddenly, inexplicably, the Alpha is no longer above him, the pressure on his lower body gone in an instant. A fluttering of air passes over Cheongsan's erect cock then, and looking down, Suhyeok's breath fans over him as he laughs up at Cheongsan, his smirking face inches from Cheongsan's manhood. As he watches, the Alpha winks at him before opening his mouth and licking a wet line from his balls to the head of his cock.

A ragged moan leaves him at the incredible sensation that races up his spine, biting too late into his lip to silence himself.

Suhyeok laughs further at his lack of self-control, the Alpha gently swirling his tongue over Cheongsan's cock head, collecting the leaking precum with his tongue. Cheongsan's cock is throbbing between his legs, but even more powerful is the molten heat further down, his ass a wet mess of slick. He grinds his ass into the mattress, a need burning in him for some stimulation there.

Suhyeok, like he can read Cheongsan’s mind, reaches under his knees then and pushes Cheongsan's legs up to his chest, fully exposing him to the air.

His heart races in his chest as he watches the wanton hunger on Suhyeok’s face as he kisses and licks a trail down Cheongsan's inner thighs before his face disappears past his hips. An almost dreadful anticipation builds in Cheongsan.

Feeling Suhyeok lay a chaste kiss on his perineum, Cheongsan's anticipation crests as his lungs still before with the flat of his tongue, the Alpha licks Cheongsan from his tailbone, all the up, his wide tongue sliding over his extremely sensitive hole.

The loud moan that leaves Cheongsan as he squeezes his eyes shut in pleasure is completely involuntary, the sensation so overwhelming that his balls tighten immediately, threatening to spill.

Suhyeok doesn’t give him a moment's reprieve before he begins eating his ass in earnest. The Alpha devouring his hole and the slick escaping it like he’s starving for it. The explosion of pleasure that races up Cheongsan's spine is more overpowering than he could’ve been ready for and in seconds, he’s shooting ropes of cum all over his stomach, his hole rhythmically squeezing with every spurt that leaves him.

Blinking his eyes open, Cheongsan frowns up at his bedroom ceiling in confusion, mind fogged over with sleep. He’s alone, his room dark and still. Swallowing, he shifts slightly and grimaces when he becomes aware of an uncomfortable sensation in his pyjama pants.

Leaning up on one elbow, he pushes the covers back before lifting the waistband of both his sleep bottoms and briefs.

His cock is slowly unhardening, a pool of cum across his hip. Sitting up in bed, the slick that he sits in makes him freeze.

He just had a wet dream.

A wet dream about Suhyeok.

Chapter Text

The solid punch to the arm Onjo lands on him the next morning bruises instantly as they walk to school.

“You idiot. Meeting him in a creepy ass park at night,”

“Would you relax? Suhyeok isn’t some monster, he’s the same guy we’ve always known,” he replies, rubbing his throbbing arm with a grimace.

His response earns him nothing but a frustrated frown from Onjo, his best friend’s lips pursing in anger.

“Besides, I’m happy I went. We’ve moved past what happened,” He continues, glaring halfheartedly over at her in turn.

He’s expecting a rebuttal from Onjo there, for this argument between them to start up again but she doesn’t reply to him, simply frowns down harder at the pavement. He can see she’s not happy with him for meeting Suhyeok yesterday, and nor is she any closer to forgiving the Alpha if the pointed glare to the concrete is anything to go by. Cheongsan supposes he’ll just have to give it time. Regardless of Onjo’s feelings towards Suhyeok, he isn’t dropping one of his closest friends. Onjo can huff and glare and punch him in the arm all she likes, Cheongsan is not losing Suhyeok for her, or for anybody for that matter.

“I suppose you’ll want him sitting with us again at lunch?” Onjo asks him, her face indicating she’s ready to fight him tooth and nail on that matter.

Cheongsan is relieved they won’t have to have this argument after all. A silver lining of Suhyeok being suspended for the rest of the week.

“No, actually. Turns out he's been suspended. Just for the rest of this week, anyway,” He informs her, shrugging his shoulders in a ‘what can ye do’ fashion.

Onjo’s face lights up in surprise. “I thought you said he was off the hook?”

“Gwinam’s family seems to have some sway over the school. They’ve both been suspended for the week,”

Onjo contemplates that for a few seconds before replying. “That doesn’t surprise me, actually. Do you remember Jin-su and how relentlessly Gwinam and his friends bullied him last year?”

Cheongsan finds he doesn’t like to be reminded of Jin-su’s experiences last year, the other Omega’s situation, a bit too similar to his own for his liking.

“Yeah, I remember. Witnessed it a few times firsthand,”

“Yes, well, apparently, Mr Lee took it to the principal. Did everything he could to stop those Alpha assholes from harassing his son. In the end, though, he got nowhere with the school, and was forced to take Jin-su out of Hyosan High altogether,”

An uncomfortable sensation sweeps through Cheongsan with that information. It makes sense considering the facts, and that only makes it harder to hear. If Jin-su is gone, having left the school, Gwinam may think Cheongsan his next plaything, so to speak. Anxiety crawls up his neck at the prospect of having the Alpha and his friends constantly targeting him. Glancing at Onjo, he’s tempted to hide his fears behind bravado. To project a carefree attitude about the whole thing, but he decides to dare risk speaking honestly to his best friend. If he can’t with her, who the hell can he with?

“Do you think I should be worried about Gwinam and his friends?” He quietly asks her, feeling slightly vulnerable.

Onjo maintains eye contact with him as she thinks it over, the steadiness of her gaze proving to be a comfort.

“No, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” She replies, smiling gently over at him.

“No? What makes my situation any different from Jin-su’s?”

“Jin-su didn’t have an Alpha bodyguard willing to throw hands to protect him,” Onjo replies evenly.

Cheongsan isn’t sure why that makes him embarrassed but he looks away from his friend as a blush heats his face, coughing and scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Glancing back up at Onjo, her amused grin at his reaction only proves to further embarrass him, the blush spreading to his ears.

“Shut up,” He mutters at her, looking down the opposite street from her to hide his face. The airy laugh from beside him does nothing to ease his suffering.

A while later, as they walk through the school gates, Cheongsan waves to Gyeongsu, his friend loitering around outside the main steps for them. Gyeongsu immediately walks up to them upon spotting him, a pleased smile on his face.

“Morning,” Gyeongsu drawls at them when they’re within a few feet of each other, stepping in beside them as they climb the steps and enter the school. He and Onjo return greetings to the energetic Beta. Glancing at his friend, his face a mask of barely contained excitement, Cheongsan rolls his eyes in exasperation. This is like Onjo all over again.

“What Gyeongsu?!” He demands, stopping in the hallway with Onjo to face the Beta.

“Dude! Suhyeok totally wrecked Gwinam yesterday! He totally annihilated the guy”

Cheongsan can only sigh in exasperation, pushing past his friends to head for homeroom.

Later, Cheongsan sits down next to Gyeongsu in science, grateful that for today at least, the normality of his life has returned. Today he’s just Cheongsan, sitting with Gyeongsu, with Onjo and Isak a ways away, trying and mostly failing to pay attention in class. No Alpha, Omega or Beta nonsense, just a regular day.

That’s why, when Mr Lee instructs them to turn to page 62 of their books, he stares down at the diagrams before him in silent disbelief.

They’re learning about sex and sexual anatomy today.

Immediately the muscles of his neck tense, as his blood pressure begins to rise. Mr Lee initiates the lecture by breaking down the two primary sexes; male and female, followed by the three secondary sexes; Alpha, Beta and Omega.

He’s waiting for it and yet when Mr Lee eventually mentions the combination of Male Omega, only about every head in the room turns unsubtly to glance at him, or every pair of eyes flick in his direction. The snickers and giggles he hears from a few seats behind him add to his growing humiliation.

Swallowing, he hunches over his textbook, Mr Lee’s droning voice fading in the background as his mind fills with static. Why today? Why would Mr Lee decide to teach this today? Hasn’t he been humiliated enough already? Everyone turning the page in their textbook startles him slightly out of his thoughts, and he hurries to do the same. The colourful diagram before him makes his mouth go dry.

It’s an illustration of the internal genitalia of male Omegas, the diagram drawn as if a person had been cut down the middle from head to groin so you can see inside. Alongside the penis, smaller testicles, and anatomy therein, is the sexual organs found further back, unique to male omegas, including the slick glands, ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.

Shame washes over him in waves, his entire body tense as he stares down at the image. Right then he’s so upset, so angry that he can’t catch a single break from this. That his life seems to now revolve around what's in his pants. His old life, his simple life has been replaced by this unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and jarring reality wherein everyone looks at him differently and treats him differently.

He can only sigh in relief when the class eventually moves on to female Omega anatomy. Sitting there, he’s still lost in thought, still silently fuming when a sound reaches his ears.

“Psst,”

Frowning, Cheongsan turns his head in the direction of the sound, to a few seats across from him. Son Myeong-hwan is looking directly at him, trying to get his attention. At Cheongsan’s confused frown as to why the guy is even talking to him, Myeong-hwan raises his textbook and points at the diagram of Male Omega anatomy, frowning in disgust before then pointing down towards Cheongsan’s groin.

His face burns with embarrassment and all he can do in retaliation is raise his middle finger and turn away from them, the veracious laugh of Myeong-hwan and his friend’s ringing in Cheongsan’s ears from the other side of the room. Gwinam might be suspended, but trust that his asshole friends wouldn't give Cheongsan a break. 

When the bell finally rings later to signal the end of the class, his good mood is ruined. Following Gyeongsu out the door, his friend’s obvious attempts to cheer him up by acting the clown, whilst he appreciates them, do nothing to ease how he feels.

“Where’s your guard dog today, Cheongsan? No Suhyeok to snap at anyone who comes too close?”

Turning around to Son Myeong-hwan, Cheongsan doesn’t bother answering this dickhead, just glares back as Gyeongsu drags him away down the corridor, hatred simmering low in his gut for the shit-eating grin the guy shoots him.

“I’ll let Gwinam know his Omega misses him dearly,” The Alpha shouts after him, laughing alongside his friends.

Cheongsan feels the rage under his skin, the desire for violence thrumming in his veins, even knowing he’d likely get his ass kicked by Son Myeong-hwan and his friends. Starting forward for the guy, it’s only Gyeongsu’s arm quickly across his shoulder and a sudden appearance by Onjo that holds him back.

“Don’t even think about it. You’ll definitely get in serious trouble if you’re caught in another fight,” Onjo scolds him, pushing him on the shoulder to turn him down the corridor toward their next class.

He knows she’s right. Knows that if he were to be caught in another altercation, he’d likely be suspended the same as Suhyeok, Omega status or not. The rage in his veins doesn’t simmer out or evaporate like smoke as he descends the stairs, making for his next class with everyone else. It moves through him and without finding an outlet through his fists, pools in his eyes, angry tears forming there. Taking a deep breath, he shoves the emotion down, absolutely refusing to let those assholes upset him so much. Or at least, absolutely refusing to let them see him upset. Blinking carefully the tears clear as they continue through the corridors of the school.

“Do you wanna take a minute in the restroom, maybe? Take a breather?” Onjo asks him, looking worriedly over at him.

“No, I’m fine. Let’s just get today done,” He replies, keeping his head low as he pushes past her and Gyeongsu, willing the hours to move faster.

His foul mood doesn’t change for the rest of the school day. His usual fun and joking manner are hard to find as they go from lecture to lecture to lunch and more lectures. During lunch, despite Gyeongsu’s and the rest of his friends' numerous attempts to make him laugh and cheer him up whilst they’re sitting eating, he just can’t snap out of it. It feels like every time he tries to just get on with his life, and try and forget about what happened, he's cruelly reminded he can't. 

Later, whilst he's exiting the main building at the end of the school day, he waves Onjo off as she and Isak walk to Isak’s mother's car, planning to study together at Isak's house. He and Gyeongsu continue their walk down the school grounds towards the gate alongside their classmates. His morose mood has even affected Gyeongsu, who quietly walks beside him, whereas his friend is hardly ever able to shut up. Sighing, he feels guilty for being such a downer all day, it’s not Onjo or Gyeongsu’s problem that he’s an Omega now, he shouldn’t be letting this affect them.

Walking out and under the school gate, surprise shoots through him to see a certain someone leaning casually against the surrounding wall, waiting.

Suhyeok smiles when he spots him, dressed in casual clothing that Cheongsan usually only sees him in, on the weekends. The Alpha pushes off the wall to approach them, stopping before them with a small smile for Cheongsan.

Said smile drops into a look of apprehension when his gaze turns to Gyeongsu, who’s looking up at him with dislike clear across his features.

“Hey man,” Suhyeok ventures with Gyeongsu, a nervous smile flitting across his lips.

“Suhyeok,” Is Gyeongsu’s simple acknowledgement, before the Beta turns away from him to face Cheongsan. “I’m gonna head off, man. You good?” His best friend asks, eyes unsubtly indicating the Alpha before them.

Cheongsan nearly wants to roll his eyes at Gyeongsu’s overprotectiveness but he just smiles in gratitude instead, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Yeah, I’m good, honest. I’ll catch you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, man, if you're sure. See you then,” Gyeongsu replies to him before turning away, and with one last mistrustful look for Suhyeok, walks off towards the direction of his home.

Cheongsan watches him go before shifting his gaze back to Suhyeok, an apologetic smile across his lips. “I’m sorry about him. It’s been harder to get them to come around to you than I thought,”

Suhyeok nods, understanding in his gaze as he shifts his feet slightly. “It’s okay, ‘San. They’re entitled to their feelings,”

Cheongsan nods in reply, gripping the straps of his bag. “What’re you doing here anyway? You’re suspended, you know, not allowed past those gates,”

Suhyeok laughs airly at that, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I know, but turns out I’m no good at being home all day. So I decided to come see if you wanted to hang out,” His friend replies, shrugging his shoulder casually.

Cheongsan smiles up at him, amused. He remembers how much Suhyeok hates being indoors all day: One time, he absolutely refused to spend an entire Saturday, watching a movie marathon in Cheongsan’s bedroom. He'd dragged Cheongsan outside with the promise of buying him something in the convenience store a few blocks over.

“Well, we can hang out but I’m heading to Cheongsan Chicken, both my parents are working late tonight so if I want to be fed, I’ve to head over there,”

“That’s cool with me. Plus, your parents love me, I’ll walk out of there full of chicken,” Suhyeok replies to him, grinning winningly down at him.

Cheongsan rolls his eyes, shouldering past the taller boy to head in the general direction of Cheongsan Chicken. “C’mon then, let’s go make my Mama’s day,” He replies, Suhyeok stepping in alongside him. “You know sometimes I think if given the option she’d trade me in for you,” Cheongsan remarks to Suhyeok, mildly exasperated with how happy his Mama always is to see the taller boy, constantly fussing over him and asking him if he’s been eating well.

“Now, now, Cheongsan, don’t be jealous. I can’t help it if I’m just so naturally charming,” Suhyeok replies, grinning teasingly.

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan can’t suppress the smile on his lips all that well. “Yeah, yeah. Well Mr Charming you can help me with my homework too,”

“I get a few days off and you’re making me do homework? You’re a cruel man, Lee Cheongsan,”

“You’ll get all the fried chicken you can eat in exchange so shut it,” Cheongsan fires back.

“Fair, fair,” Suhyeok concedes. “How was your day?”

Cheongsan glances up at the Alpha to see open curiosity there. Suhyeok is genuinely interested in how his day went. With the guilt of dragging Gyeongsu down with his foul mood, Cheongsan decides to lie to the Alpha, a small smile alighting his face.

“Good, just another day really,” He shrugs as he breaks eye contact. The actual events of the day, when they flit through his mind again, resurface all those negative feelings he’d nearly forgotten about when he’d seen Suhyeok. Not wanting the Alpha to suspect anything, he glances back up with a small smile still plastered on his face.

Suhyeok nods, returning the small smile. “That’s good. I’ll be honest, I was a little worried,”

“Nah all good,” Cheongsan lies again, looking away from the Alpha’s gaze, lest his lies be seen in his eyes. As they continue their walk in comfortable silence, Cheongsan can’t stop the day's events rolling through his mind; the entire class pointedly looking at him when Male Omegas were mentioned, Myeong-hwan and his face of disgust, followed by his laughing and mocking comments.

He’s so caught up in his thoughts that he startles slightly when Suhyeok stops him with a hand on his shoulder, frowning down at him with concern all over his face. “Hey, what’s wrong?”.

Cheongsan blinks up at him in confusion. Wrong? Nothing’s wrong, he just told Suhyeok everything is fine...what is he talking about?

“Nothing. What do you mean?” Cheongsan asks, doing his best to act nonchalant.

“Cheongsan, you keep saying that, but I think you’re forgetting something; I can smell that you’re upset,”

Cheongsan blanches a little, looking down and away from the Alpha’s gaze, caught out in his lie. He’d forgotten all about his scent, the fact that Suhyeok would able to smell him now, and from his scent, his overall mood. To Suhyeok’s eyes, he can appear fine, he can plaster a smile on his face and push away the urge to frown in misery but he can’t mask his scent from the Alpha.

He opens his mouth to try lying again anyway, but glancing up and seeing the concern written all over the Alpha’s face, the evidence of how much Suhyeok cares about him, he finds himself suddenly overwhelmed, a lump forming in his throat as tears well in his eyes. Whether in embarrassment or something else, in the next moment he buries himself in Suhyeok’s chest, reaching up to grip the back of the Alpha’s hoodie as a sob catches in his throat.

Suhyeok goes tense all over before his arms jump up to circle him, his left hand carding threw Cheongsan’s hair. “Woah ‘San, what the hell is wrong?” His friend asks, his words full of frightened worry.

Cheongsan can only grip the Alpha tighter, too overcome to voice anything at that moment. Shaking his head against Suhyeok’s chest, he does his best to get himself back under control, trying to steady his breathing and force back the tears.

Suhyeok continues to hold him, murmuring words of comfort whilst he rubs his hand up and down Cheongsan’s back and through his hair at his nape.

He’s eventually able to pull himself away from the embrace, or as far as Suhyeok’s arms around his shoulders will allow. Reaching up, he wipes his tears away quickly, taking a deep breath before looking up to Alpha, mortified. “Sorry, I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me lately,”

“Stop, ‘San. Don’t apologise,” His friend gently chastises him, “Bad day then?”

Cheongsan sighs, before nodding his head, “Just another in a series of bad days,”

Suhyeok nods in agreement, before turning them, his arm a solid weight over Cheongsan’s shoulder as they resume walking. “How about we get you something to eat, and you can tell me about it?”

Cheongsan glances up at the taller boy, seeing the warm, open understanding on his friend’s face.

“Yeah, okay,” He agrees, nodding again.

“Good,” Suhyeok replies before pulling him closer and planting a kiss on his temple. The slightly uncertain expression on the Alpha’s face after, Cheongsan can’t help but find endearing, so with a smile he drops his head on his friend’s shoulder, reaching up with his own arm to pull him even tighter.

He’s so entirely grateful to call Suhyeok his friend at that moment.

“Oh my word, is that Lee Suhyeok sauntering into my restaurant?” Cheongsan’s mother exclaims when she spots them entering together, completely disregarding Cheongsan’s, her son’s presence, much to his chagrin.

“Hello, Mrs Lee,” Suhyeok replies politely, ever the gentleman.

Cheongsan can only roll his eyes when his Mama comes around the counter to hug Suhyeok, looking him over as if to check he’s all in one piece. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, young man. How’re you keeping?”

“Good, Mrs Lee, thank you. How are you?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Always so polite,” His Mama compliments.

“...Hello, yes it’s me, Cheongsan…your son…?” He interrupts loudly, completely unimpressed. Suhyeok and his Mama turn to him then, Suhyeok at least has the decency to look embarrassed for his part, laughing slightly, and looking down at his feet. His Mama however shoots him an unimpressed look before pointing to their regular table, “Sit, and start your homework, I’ll bring you boys some food,”

Doing just that, Cheongsan drops his bag under the table before taking his seat in his usual spot. Suhyeok taking the seat next to him rather than opposite him like usual, doesn’t go unnoticed, by him. They share a slightly awkward glance and smile, both choosing to not comment on the Alpha’s choice of seating.

“Didn’t I tell you? She treats you better than she treats me; her actual son,” He bemoans to his friend, reaching under the table to remove his homework from his backpack.

“What can I say? It’s the Suhyeok charm, all the mothers love me,” Suhyeok gloats, leaning his face on his fist as he turns to Cheongsan with a smug look.

“Suhyeok charm, my ass,” Cheongsan mutters quietly, not wanting his foul language to reach his mother’s ears. Suhyeok laughs at him, before leaning back in his seat as his Mama returns with their drinks.

“A diet Coke for Cheongsan, and a Sprite zero for Suhyeok. That’s still your favourite right?” His Mama asks the Alpha, and when he nods with an ever polite ‘thank you’ his Mama beams, delighted with herself before returning to the kitchen.

Cheongsan resists the urge to roll his eyes again, lest they get stuck like that. Opening his textbook, he starts his homework, frowning down at his selection of Math problems he needs to solve. Suhyeok leans over then, himself frowning down at the math problems.

A few minutes later, they’re arguing about how one problem should be solved when his Mama returns with their meals, setting them down in front of them with a look of exasperation.

“You two? Arguing? I’m shocked,” She sarcastically remarks, looking between them.

“We’re only arguing 'cause Suhyeok’s an idiot,” Cheongsan mutters under his breath, a sly grin pulling at his lips as he finishes the Math problem his way.

“Is that any way to speak to a guest, Cheongsan? I don’t know how you put up with him, Suhyeok,”

“I won’t lie, Mrs Lee, he’s hard work sometimes but someone has to,” Suhyeok replies to his mother, mock-serious.

Cheongsan glares between them as they joke at his expense, reaching over for a chicken wing. Gnawing down, he ignores them, putting his Math homework away.

“Enjoy, boys. Shout if you need anything,”
“Thank you, Mrs Lee,” Suhyeok says smiling up at her.

“Thanks, Mama,” Cheongsan replies around a mouth full of chicken.

Rolling her eyes at his lack of manners, she turns and leaves for the kitchen.

As they eat, they sit in comfortable silence, people watching through the glass windows of the restaurant. Later, Cheongsan leans back against his chair with a sigh, sated and full.

“Is it possible for one man to ever eat enough fried chicken? I don’t think so,”

Suhyeok smiles amusedly over at him, from around the straw of his drink.

“Possible for you? Probably not,” Suhyeok answers, grinning cheekily when Cheongsan punches him in the shoulder.

“Are you calling me fat?”

“You look good with the weight, ‘San, don’t worry,” Suhyeok replies before quickly dodging another punch to the arm.

“Asshole,” Cheongsan mutters.

Suhyeok grins before his expression clears, slowly becoming more serious.

“Do you wanna talk about what happened today, then?”

Cheongsan sighs down at his homework, placing his pen down and leaning his head against his fist to face the Alpha.

“Mr Lee decided today would be the day we’d move on to sexual anatomy. The second we came across Male Omega anatomy, everyone turned and stared at me like I was some sort of freak. Myeong-hwan and his friends also thought it hilarious to laugh at my expense,”.

“He didn’t touch you, did he?” Suhyeok asks him, frowning in concern, a glimmer of anger in his eyes.

Cheongsan can’t help the amused smile he feels on his face. Suhyeok really is turning into his bodyguard at this point. “No, he didn’t touch me. Just made some comments,”

“Do you want me to wreck his face? Cause I’ll wreck his face, just say the word, ‘San,” Suhyeok asks him, amusement clear in the tone of his voice as he leans in to look Cheongsan dead in the eye.

“As much as that would please me to see, Suhyeok, I think you’re in enough trouble as is,” Cheongsan replies. “Besides, whilst I appreciate what you did for me with Gwinam, I don’t want you fighting all my battles for me,” He continues, looking over at his friend seriously so Suhyeok understands he means it.

Suhyeok nods in understanding, “I get that. I wouldn’t want someone fighting all mine for me either,”

“Has anyone ever fought any of your battles for you, Suhyeok? You seem pretty good at it,”

“Some people are good at drawing, singing, dancing; I’m good at fighting. It’s always been something I’ve been good at,” The Alpha replies, shrugging his shoulders before taking a sip from his drink.

“Right,” Cheongsan replies, nodding in understanding. Watching the Alpha, Suhyeok licks the soda from his bottom lip after taking a sip, and an image flashes through Cheongsan’s mind of that same tongue, licking something else in his dream last night.

Flushing, Cheongsan coughs and sits back, reaching over for his own drink, hoping the ice in the soda will cool him down a little. Glancing back up at the Alpha flittingly, the quizzical frown Suhyeok is sending him makes him panic a little. He needs to get his shit together.

“It’s fine anyway, I’m over it,” Cheongsan spits out, nodding down at his soda.

“Okay, good,” Suhyeok replies, nodding before the Alpha takes a deep breath, turning his gaze fully to Cheongsan. “If you ever need someone, ‘San. Like you needed me today. Just call me…okay?”

The weight of Suhyeok’s words and the intensity behind them are a lot for Cheongsan right then. Overwhelmed with gratitude for the boy before him, he leans over for a hug before he can stop himself.

“Thanks, ‘Hyeok,” He whispers to his friend, resting his chin on the Alpha’s shoulder.

“Anytime,” Suhyeok whispers to him in return, his head on Cheongsan’s shoulder. Cheongsan is so caught up in how much he appreciates his friend right then he nearly misses movement out of the corner of his eye. Glancing over to his left, his Mama, her facial expression far too giddy for his liking, pulls his father from the kitchen to point at them. His Papa smiles sweetly at them, smiling down at his mother like it’s the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

Cheongsan fires a heated glare at them over Suhyeok’s shoulder, watching as they quickly disappear back into the kitchen, looking only slightly regretful for their eavesdropping. Pulling back out of Suhyeok’s arms, Cheongsan picks up his pen.

“Wanna help me finish this? You know I’m terrible at this science stuff,” Cheongsan asks.

Suhyeok nods, scooting over so he’s right next to Cheongsan to look down at the textbook. Cheongsan can smell his Alpha scent when he’s this close, and like before, it’s as comforting and intoxicating as ever. Cheongsan has the sudden urge to bury his nose in the Alpha’s neck, the skin there as tan and flawless as the rest of him.

Swallowing thickly, he drops his eyes to his textbook, attempting to focus.

Chapter Text

Cheongsan looks himself up and down in the full-length mirror of his bedroom. Reaching up to straighten his tie, he takes a deep breath and lets it out on a sigh, trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach. It’s Friday night, and this evening he’s heading over to Suhyeok’s to play the role of his doting Omega boyfriend.

He’s so fucking nervous he thinks he might puke.

All day sitting in class, the coming evening had been the only thing he could think about, absorbing absolutely nothing in his lessons. He’s just got so much anxiety filling him, and a million ‘what ifs?’ running through his brain.

The thought of calling the whole thing off and letting Suhyeok down has crossed his mind more than once, but Cheongsan can't do it to the Alpha. Suhyeok had seemed genuinely excited for tonight, and he couldn't bail now because Cheongsan was the reason they were in this mess.

Scanning himself from head to toe, he prays that the modest suit he’s wearing will be well received by Suhyeok’s parents. It’s a few months old, only purchased for the funeral of his great-uncle. It’s nothing fancy, most definitely not designer, and he fears Suhyeok’s parents might judge him for that, that they’re the kind of rich folks who would. He figures he’s being unfair toward them. They might not be that sort at all, but Cheongsan can’t help but riffle through the worst-case scenarios in his mind, in some idiotic attempt to prepare himself should they come to pass.

His phone buzzing on his bedside table pulls his attention away from attempting to comb his hair into something respectable. Walking over and picking it up, Suhyeok has sent him a message.

‘Hey, all ready for tonight? :)’

‘All ready. Are you meeting me somewhere?’

They’d chatted earlier over the phone about this dinner, about the dress code, and what it would entail and what would be expected of him. He’d expressed to Suhyeok his nerves and whilst the Alpha did his best to try to calm him, Cheongsan’s palms were still sweaty as fuck. He’s never done anything like this before; He’s never been someone’s boyfriend before, he’s never been someone's Omega boyfriend before, and he’s never had to meet the parents before.

Suyheok has reassured him he’ll be fine and to just be himself, but Cheongsan doesn’t think that’s a good idea at all. Considering he enjoys fooling around during lunch with the guys by showing them his half-chewed food and flicking peas at Gyeongsu, he doesn’t think Suhyeok’s parents would appreciate that kind of behaviour at all.

He’s decided that tonight, though his inside coil with disgust at the idea, he’s gonna be the perfect Omega male. Quiet, polite, meek, and shy. He shudders just thinking about it, but he suspects Suhyeok’s parents are the traditional sort, and they’ll want that in a boyfriend of their Alpha son. He keeps reminding himself it’s just for tonight, and then Suhyeok can tell them they broke up and that’s that. They can forget about this whole charade and move on.
Glancing down at his phone in his hand, Suhyeok’s reply comes through.

‘No, I’ll pick you up outside yours, say 7?’

Cheongsan frowns down at his phone in confusion. Pick up? On what his freaking bicycle? Suhyeok doesn’t drive.

‘Pick me up with what!?’

‘Just be outside your place for 7, okay?’

Jeez, Suhyeok and his snappy Alpha nature. Replying in affirmation, he throws the phone back down and walks back to the mirror, resuming to criticise his overall look. It’s as he’s grinning wide into the mirror to inspect his teeth that he jumps back when his bedroom door clicks open.

His Mama pops her head in, curiosity all over her face.

“Your father said you’re going over to Suhyeok’s tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m having dinner over in his place,” Cheongsan mumbles, embarrassed to be caught preening himself in the mirror.

“Oh. That’s nice. Different for you guys.” His mother replies, nodding her head but not meeting his eye. There’s clearly something more on her mind.

“What?” He asks, frowning over at her.

“Nothing, sweetheart. It’s just, well, Suhyeok’s a nice boy, you know me and your father have always thought so…” His mother begins before trailing off.

“...yes?” He asks, exasperation climbing.

“Well, have you ever considered… he’d make a good mate?” She finishes, looking over at him expectantly.

He isn’t surprised to hear this from her. He does know that his parents have always liked Suhyeok, and now that Cheongsan is an Omega, he half expected to hear this from her sooner. He’s only surprised she didn’t call Suhyeok her future son-in-law in Cheongsan Chicken the other day.

“Mama, Suhyeok and I are just friends. We’ve been just friends for over a year,” He replies, unable to stop the annoyance creeping into his tone.

“I know, but your father and I were just friends for a long time, too, before we started dating.”

“Yeah, well, that’s different. I don’t think I’m even into Alphas, or guys, for that matter,” He replies, turning away to resume frowning down at his appearance in the mirror. Shame is crawling up his neck. He knows he shouldn’t feel it. He knows it’s perfectly natural for an Omega to be attracted to an Alpha, but something inside him recoils from it, or at least from openly admitting he’s interested in Alphas.

“Cheongsan, baby, there’s no need to be ashamed…”

Turning around sharply, Cheongsan feels his hands clench into fists by his side. “I’m not ashamed. I’m just not some weak Omega bitch that follows Alpha’s around like a heat-sick puppy.”

His mother’s concerned expression morphs into unimpressed anger at his outburst. Cheongsan can’t quite believe he just said that to his own mother, that he just swore in front of her. He’s half expecting her to fly across the room to cuff him upside the head, but all she does is make a show of visibly controlling her anger, taking a deep breath before opening her mouth to reply.

“I know you’re upset, so I’m gonna let you off the hook for that one, but I’m still your mother, and you won’t speak to me like that, Cheongsan.” She tells him, holding eye contact to drive home how serious she is.

Cheongsan feels shame wash over him for an entirely different reason. Before all this Omega crap he would’ve never spoken to her like that. He’s gotta get his shit together, he’s been an emotional mess the past few days, and there’s only so much leeway the people around him can give him.

“I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean to lose my cool like that,” He sighs, running a hand through his hair and totally ruining his attempt at taming it. He feels the urge to lay himself bare to his mother then, to spill to her everything he’s been pushing away, but nevertheless, feeling since he’s become an Omega but the weight of it all is too exhausting to even think about. He doesn’t have time anyway.

“I'd better finish getting ready. Suhyeok will be here to collect me soon.”

His mother nods, looking him over before she turns halfway to leave, “You look handsome, baby,” She says to him, before closing his bedroom door behind herself and leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Cheongsan sighs once she’s gone, deciding he’ll make one last attempt to groom himself before heading down to wait for Suhyeok.

Standing outside his apartment complex twenty minutes later, Cheongsan pulls his suit jacket tighter around himself, shivering slightly as a cold breeze whips by. Checking his phone, it’s just after seven, so he’s expecting Suhyeok any minute. He’ll turn right back around and go inside if Suhyeok dares to show up on his bike. Cheongsan is dressed all fancy, most definitely not for a bike ride.

Clenching his jaw when his teeth begin to chatter, he’s suddenly blinded by bright headlights as a car pulls in alongside his apartment complex. Frowning, the long car drives up alongside the pavement next to him, and as the rear passenger door opens, Cheongsan's shoulders go tense in apprehension. Suhyeok’s head popping up behind the open door, his friend smiling happily up at him, sends his eyebrows shooting up his forehead.

“Hey! Ready to go?” The Alpha asks, looking far too happy in Cheongsan’s opinion.

“Uh, yeah,” Cheongsan replies, hesitantly making his way over to the open door and following Suhyeok in as he moves further back along the seat. Slamming the door closed behind him, Cheongsan glances about himself at the expensive interior of the car. The driver at the front, behind the wheel, without direction, directs the car out of the apartment complex and onto the streets of Hyosan.

“How’re you feeling?” Suhyeok asks him, drawing Cheongsan’s attention away from the driver.

“Uh, I’m good…great. How’re you?” He asks, still slightly dumbfounded over all of this.

Suhyeok laughs quietly at his reply, “I’m good, ‘San. Hungry? I hope so 'cause our dinners gonna be like five courses,” Suhyeok tells him, grinning.

Cheongsan’s gut squirms nervously with that information, but he pushes it down, not wanting to sour Suhyeok’s mood. “Yeah, starving. You know me,” He replies, grinning back.

“Yeah, yeah,” Suhyeok says in reply. “You look handsome,” The Alpha remarks quietly, looking Cheongsan up and down.

Cheongsan laughs, slightly self-deprecating, “Really? I feel a bit ridiculous, honestly.”

“Nah, ‘San, you look great. Formal wear suits you,” Suhyeok replies with a wink, and Cheongsan grins in reply, nodding in thanks, a blush most definitely not heating his face.

Suhyeok is wearing a suit too, most definitely tailored with how well it sits on his shoulders and fits his frame. If Cheongsan had to guess, he’d say it easily cost the Alpha more money than Cheongsan had ever seen in person.

He opens his mouth, about to ask Suhyeok what he’s walking into exactly, but casts a nervous look at the driver at the front. Suhyeok, seemingly noticing this, reaches forward to slide shut a glass window that separates the front of the car from the back, giving them some privacy.

“Don’t worry, he won’t be able to hear a word,” Suhyeok promises him, sitting back against his seat.

“...Right…so what am I walking into here, Suhyeok? I know you said I have no reason to be nervous, but regardless, dude, my stomach’s in knots right now,” He admits to the Alpha, grinning sheepishly.

Suhyeok gives him a sympathetic smile. “We’ll go in, I’ll introduce you to my parents, we’ll sit down and have dinner, then I’ll drop you back home. Simple,” He reassures with a nod, reaching over to squeeze Cheongsan’s hand once before letting go.

Cheongsan nods in response, already knowing all this, but anxiety demands he asks again, just to be safe. There’s nothing to it, really. He just has to be polite and respectful. Use his manners, shower Suhyeok’s parents with compliments, and eat his way through the five or however many courses.

“You’ll be fine, ‘San. I’m telling you, my parents are gonna love you,” Suhyeok reassures him, every inch of his face showing Cheongsan that really means that.

“Yeah, okay. I guess I’m just overthinking it.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I got a look at what we’re having tonight, and I might’ve suggested some of your favourites,” Suhyeok tells him, grinning proudly.

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan can’t suppress the begrudging smile pulling at his lips. “Of course you did. I hope your Mother didn’t go to too much trouble.”

“For you, Cheongsan, it’s never too much trouble,” Suhyeok continues, before reaching over the seat again and interlocking their fingers. Cheongsan blinks in mild surprise when the Alpha raises their hands to kiss the back of his, a warm smile on Suhyeok’s face.

Suhyeok has always been affectionate with him like this. The hand-holding is nothing new, but to Cheongsan right then, it feels different somehow. Suhyeok is gazing at him, the expression on his face betraying something, but before Cheongsan can figure it out, the Alpha looks away to gaze out his passenger window.

Cheongsan turns to look out his window, trees flying past in a blur, his mind confusedly working over the Alpha’s expression.

Not five minutes later, he’s still watching the night pass by, when they stop outside a high wooden gate. As it begins to open, Cheongsan tilts his head to try to see more outside his window, curiosity overtaking him. The car begins moving along a gravel pathway once the gate opens fully, crunching under the wheels, and before Cheongsan’s eyes, an expansive and well-manicured lawn fills his vision, large cherry blossom trees spaced evenly apart along the drive.

They’d left the city to ascend into the rolling hills that surround Hyosan a while ago, leaving the streets behind for the backroads surrounded by towering trees of the forest. Cheongsan knew there were large, sprawling properties up here for the wealthier citizens of Hyosan, but he’s never been near one, never mind in one.

As they come to a stop, a large house, what could only be called a mansion, appears before him, driving home how wealthy Suhyeok’s family is. The facade is a grey brick, accented by white trim, with a large front porch and twin white stone columns sitting squarely in front of the large entrance door. Distracted by the sight of the property, Cheongsan blinks in surprise when suddenly Suhyeok opens his door for him, smiling down at him. Cheongsan hadn’t even noticed him leave the car to come around to his side.

Pulling his gaze away, he returns the smile, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out of the car with Suhyeok’s help. When Suhyeok slams the car door closed, the driver veers off, taking a right and disappearing around the side of the property.

“All good?” Suhyeok asks him, smiling amusedly.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s just...your house…”

Suhyeok smiles shyly but happily like he's enjoying showing off for Cheongsan, looking up to the house once before, back at Cheongsan, “C’mon, let's get you inside, it’s cold out tonight.”

Nodding, Cheongsan lets Suhyeok lead him up the front porch steps with a hand on his lower back. Approaching the large front door, through the glass, he can see an older man open the door for them, ushering them inside. Cheongsan figures this dude must be a butler or housekeeper or something along those lines, as Cheongsan remembers what Suhyeok’s father looked like from the other day in school. As they step inside, the man disappears through a door to his right.

Stopping beside Suhyeok, Cheongsan glances around himself. They've stopped in a large foyer, with high ceilings and a shining marble floor. Light from a huge chandelier above him reflects off every surface to give the space a warm and spacious feel. A round hall table sits in the middle of the room, directly below the chandelier, with a beautiful vase of Calla lilies sitting atop it. To his right, a staircase ascends to the second floor, visible through the railing that travels across the top of the room.

Cheongsan can’t suppress his expression of awe, the grandeur of the space leaving him with his mouth slightly open.

A snort breaks him out of his daze, and he looks to his left to see Suhyeok laughing quietly at him.

“You okay?” The Alpha asks him, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Yeah, no, I’m good. Just, your house is…stunning, Suhyeok,” He comments, going back to admiring the high ceilings.

“Suhyeok, darling, is that you?”

At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, Cheongsan stiffens, mouth closing with a click as he looks toward the open archway where the voice came from.

“Yes, Mother, I’m back,” Suhyeok replies, turning to smile at Cheongsan, before beginning to lead him toward the room.

Cheongsan nearly wants to put both his feet down and stop Suhyeok, or yank the large front door open and sprint away into the night and away from that overly posh voice. He’d be annoyed by the hand across his lower back if the Alpha’s touch wasn’t a comfort to him right then, a solid sensation grounding him, reminding him Suhyeok is here with him.

Instead, he lets himself be led into a dining room, the room no less exuberant than the foyer of the house. Occupied by a long wooden table with six chairs, a large Persian rug, a smaller but no less beautiful chandelier, and a display cabinet filled with fine china. Before the display cabinet, stands a man and woman, both of whom are preoccupied admiring a bottle of wine in the woman’s hands. At his and Suhyeok's approach, the couple turns to them, and Cheongsan gets his first up-close look at his friend’s parents.

They’re an older couple, both in their mid-50s, if Cheongsan had to guess. They’re of similar height, and surprisingly, both are shorter than Suhyeok. Dressed formally, his mother wears a long black dress, with a short salmon-coloured jacket across her shoulders. Suhyeok’s father is dressed in a pristine grey suit, accented by light brown shoes that shine nearly as brightly as the chandelier in the room.

Stopping before them, Cheongsan plasters his most polite smile across his face, trying not to squirm as both turn to him.

“Mother, Father, this is my boyfriend, Cheongsan. Cheongsan, these are my parents, Mr and Mrs Lee,” Suhyeok introduces him, the hand on Cheongsan's lower back never wavering.

Cheongsan, for a split second, feels hilarity almost take hold of him to hear Suhyeok call him his boyfriend with complete sincerity before he pushes past it to bow respectfully.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Mr and Mrs Lee, thank you for having me tonight,” He manages to get out, surprisingly with a normal cadence to his voice and not one of complete nervousness.

Suhyeok’s parents are quiet for a moment as they take him in, both of their gazes scrutinising him from head to toe. His stomach flips over, the attention making him feel lightheaded.

“Cheongsan, welcome. Thank you so much for joining us tonight,” Suhyoek’s mother is the first to reply, reaching out with her right hand for him to shake.

The first wave of embarrassment surfaces in him at how sweaty his palms are as he shakes Mrs Lee's hand, unable to subtly wipe them on his trouser leg before. As she pulls away, her scent registers in his senses and with surprise, her Alpha designation hits him. Female Alphas are rare, nearly as rare as Omega Males.

“So this is Suhyeok’s mysterious Omega boyfriend,” Mr Lee begins, interrupting Cheongsan’s thoughts, “Welcome, young man, I’m looking forward to getting to know you.” He finishes, extending his hand for Cheongsan to shake. As Cheongsan does, he fails to suppress the flicker of surprise across his face when the man’s Alpha scent hits him, too.

Alpha and Alpha bondings, even between men and women, are practically unheard of. The domineering nature of Alphas makes it extremely difficult for a couple to sustain a relationship for a long period, never mind for as long as these two have, and having produced a son.

Glancing up at Suhyeok, he doesn’t miss the warning look his friend sends his father, and Cheongsan can’t deny that the way the older Alpha had said ‘I’m looking forward to getting to know you’ sounded kind of threatening.

Swallowing his apprehension, he pushes this ‘perfect omega boyfriend’ act to the fullest. “Your home is beautiful, Mr and Mrs Lee,” He says, smiling shyly up at the two Alphas.

“Thank you, Cheongsan. How very kind of you to say,” Mrs Lee replies, before turning her gaze away from him to her son, “Suhyeok, what do you think of this bottle for tonight? Your father thinks something different,” She asks, turning the label of the wine to Suhyeok’s eyes.

“That’d be lovely with dinner, Mother, thank you,” His friend replies, “But Cheongsan is only seventeen.”

Cheongsan goes red in the face when three pairs of eyes turn to him, surprise present in Mrs Lee’s.

“Oh, of course. Well, you’re not yet eighteen yourself, Suhyeok. You’re welcome to a glass, Cheongsan. If you’d like, or perhaps a soda?” She asks him, raising her perfectly shaped eyebrows.

Opening his mouth to reply, Cheongsan is stumped as to how he should. If he accepts the wine, will they think him irresponsible? Reckless? If he says no, will they think him rude for turning down their expensive red?

“Uh, s-sure, I’ll have a glass, thank you,” He finally stutters out, praying he’s given her the right answer.

“Lovely,” Mrs Lee replies, a pleased smile on her face. Cheongsan figures he made the right choice.

“Why don’t you boys take a seat at the table there,” Mr Lee suggests, shooting them a diplomatic smile before ushering his wife out of the dining room through a door at the far end of the room.

Once they’re gone, Cheongsan releases a sigh, the tension leaving him all at once. Suhyeok smiles down at him sympathetically.

“You’re doing great, ‘Sannie, don’t worry,” The Alpha promises, reaching down to squeeze Cheongsan’s shoulder.

“Really? I wasn’t sure whether to accept the wine or not, I didn’t wanna come across as rude,”

Suhyeok laughs lightly at that, “Don’t worry about things like that. If you want some wine, say so. If not, that’s fine too. Whatever you’re comfortable with,”

“Right, yeah. Sorry,” He replies, reaching up to scratch his brow.

“C’mon, let’s sit,” The Alpha tells him, tugging him by the shoulder over to the far side of the table, letting go to pull out Cheongsan's seat for him with a winning smile.

Cheongsan laughs at the gesture, sitting down in the comfortable dining chair. As Suhyeok sits in the chair to his left, the Alpha reaches over from under the table to take his hand, intertwining their fingers with a warm smile.

“I’m glad you agreed to come tonight,” The Alpha imparts, radiating happiness as he looks over at Cheongsan. Slightly confused, Cheongsan smiles over at his friend in turn, tempted to remind Suhyeok he didn’t really have a choice. He’s doing this as a consequence of his silly lie.

The return of Suhyeok’s parents pulls his attention away from his friend, though, and he once again plasters that polite smile on his face as they make their way in, joining them at the table. Suhyeok’s father takes the seat opposite Cheongsan, whilst his mother takes the one opposite her son.

“Dinner is just about ready,” Mrs Lee tells them, smiling across.

Just as she finishes speaking, the older man who’d been in the foyer earlier enters the dining room from the door Suhyeok’s parents just exited. Cheongsan figures it leads to the kitchen. In his hand, he carries the bottle of wine in a bucket of ice, uncorked. He fills Mr and Mrs Lee’s glasses before coming around the table to fill his and Suhyeok’s, placing the bucket with the bottle on the table when he's finished.

“Thank you,” Cheongsan murmurs, receiving a smile from the man before he retreats into the kitchen.

Cheongsan reaches out to pick up his glass, but a squeeze from Suhyeok under the table stops him, his hand awkwardly falling below the table. Glancing at his friend, an amused smile flutters across the Alpha’s face, before he looks to his father.

“A toast, to Suhyeok and Cheongsan,” Mr Lee announces, picking up his glass to raise it, Mrs Lee and Suhyeok doing the same. Cheongsan raises his own glass, his face burning, gently tapping it against the glasses around him, before taking a sip. The wine is strong and rich, not overly so, but the alcoholic aftertaste sits on his tongue unpleasantly.

“So, Cheongsan, how did you and Suhyeok meet?” Mrs Lee asks him, her curious gaze locked on him.

Cheongsan suppresses the deer-in-headlights expression that’d nearly come over him then, coughing slightly to rid the dryness of the alcohol in his throat. “We met about a year and a half ago. Suhyeok actually approached me and my friends during lunch. Asked to join us,” He replies, smiling over at the Alpha at the memory, remembering Suhyeok nervously standing before them with his lunch tray, quietly asking if it’d be okay if he sat.

“Really? That’s interesting. Suhyeok never told us he’d made new friends last year,” Mrs Lee replies, eyes sliding from Cheongsan to Suhyeok, appraising.

Cheongsan feels the smile fall off his face as he looks at Suhyeok, wondering if he just messed up already. Suhyeok is holding eye contact with his mother, an unimpressed look on his face.

“I didn’t think the minute details of my social life are all that important to you, Mother,” Suhyeok replies evenly, unbothered.

“Hardly seems minute, Suhyeok, you met your boyfriend, after all,” Mrs Lee continues, eyes sliding to Cheongsan.

“Yes, but I wasn’t aware of that then. We were just friends for a long time.”

“Oh, that’s interesting. Do tell me, who made the first move?”

He and Suhyeok share a look, Cheongsan silently giving the Alpha permission to say whatever lie he needs to appease his mother.

“I did, actually. I’d been interested in pursuing something more with Cheongsan for a while, so I eventually worked up the courage and asked him out,” Suhyeok tells his mother, before taking a sip from his wine.

Cheongsan can admit that Suhyeok is a far better liar than he is, the words passing from his lips with complete sincerity in them.

“I knew it’d be you. You always did go after whatever you wanted,” Mrs Lee says, seemingly impressed with her son. She opens her mouth to say something more when the door opens and their first course is brought in.

Despite his nerves, Cheongsan finds his appetite as reliable as ever, and in fairness to Mrs Lee, her cooking is fantastic. Conversation around the table lulls as they eat, Mr Lee passing comments every now and then on the meal. Finishing his first course, Cheongsan wipes his mouth with the napkin beside him before deciding to try to win Suhyeok’s parents over even further.

“That was delicious, Mrs Lee. Suhyeok is lucky to have you cooking his meals for him every day,” He comments, smiling kindly over to the woman.

The female Alpha's eyebrows raise in surprise at his comment before she airily laughs, as if what Cheongsan just said was hilarious.

“This was all brought in by a caterer, Cheongsan, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” She replies, amused.

Cheongsan feels the heat rise to his face once again that night. Turning his head slightly, he shoots a glare at Suhyeok, the Alpha himself looking amused at his expense. Suhyeok looks away, lest Cheongsan’s glare burn him, turning to his mother.

“I told Cheongsan you’d be cooking tonight, Mother. I forgot about the caterer.”

“Oh. I usually do all the cooking in the house, but tonight, I wanted to relax and enjoy your company, Cheongsan,” Mrs Lee imparts, smiling over at him kindly. “I’ll be sure to pass the compliment onto the caterer, though,”.

Cheongsan nods, smiling in thanks, sitting back when his next course is placed in front of him. As it is, he shoots another quick glare Suhyeok’s way, who catches it and tries to hide his laugh in response behind a cough. Asshole.

“What part of Hyosan do you hail from, young man?” Mr Lee suddenly inquires, looking up from his plate to fix Cheongsan with a look.

Cheongsan blinks, slightly taken aback by the attention from the man. Mr Lee has been awfully quiet this entire dinner, his abrupt question making Cheongsan nervous.

“Jayang-ro, sir,” He replies, the muscles in his jaw going tense in anticipation of how Suhyeok’s parents may react to that information.

“Hmmm,” Mr Lee replies, looking away and back to his plate. Cheongsan glances over at the man, unsure what that response means, but not liking it either way.

“And your parents? What do they do?” Mr Lee continues, raising his eyes to Cheongsan as he takes a bite from his plate.

“My parents run a restaurant, sir,” Cheongsan quietly replies, not liking this line of questioning at all. Feeling like he’s being interrogated.

Mrs Lee interjects then, shooting a glance at her husband before smiling over at Cheongsan. “Oh? What style of food do they serve?” Mrs Lee interjects, smiling with interest over at Cheongsan.

“Fried chicken, mostly,” Cheongsan replies and is about to extend invites towards Suhyeok’s parents when Mr Lee snorts in amusement, shutting Cheongsan down immediately. Humiliation burns through him, his mind filling with static.

“We actually go over to his parents’ restaurant every week.” Suhyeok begins loudly beside Cheongsan, speaking to both his parents but with his eyes locked on his father, “They’re kind enough to have me and Cheongsan’s other friends over, Cheongsan’s mother refusing to take any of our money. We love it there,” He finishes a long look passing between the Alpha and his father.

Cheongsan swallows down his humiliation, looking away from everyone and focusing on eating this course and getting this whole dinner over with. A silence prevails over the table, then, the only sound is the soft thump of wine glasses against the table or utensils moving over plates. Sitting there, Cheongsan isn’t exactly surprised by Mr Lee’s behaviour. The reason he was so nervous, to begin with, was that he half expected it from the man.

He had been hoping to be proven wrong once he got here. That Suhyeok’s parents wouldn’t be classist, that they wouldn’t fall into that cliche, but cliches exist for a reason, Cheongsan knows that all too well.

The rest of the dinner goes by without another awkward interaction between Cheongsan and Mr Lee. The older man seemed content to sit there in silence, only speaking to his wife on occasion. Cheongsan is very much getting the vibe that Mr Lee does not approve of him, which again, wasn’t that surprising. Mrs Lee, however, has been nothing but lovely to him all night. She’s gracious and warm, a smile always alighting her face when she speaks to him directly.

When the last course is finally finished, it’s past 9 p.m. and Cheongsan has an excuse to bail, explaining his parents hold him to a strict curfew, which isn’t untrue. Thanking his hosts, he and Suhyeok get up from the table and, with a final goodbye, make for the front door.

Walking outside, Suhyeok closes the door behind them, coming to stand next to Cheongsan on the front step, whilst they wait for the driver to pull up outside. Suhyeok smiles timidly at him, an unsure expression on his face.

“Thank you for coming tonight. I’m sorry about my father, I hope you enjoyed the food at least,” Suhyeok imparts, guilt swimming in his eyes.

“That’s alright. I had a nice time,” Cheongsan replies, which isn’t entirely untrue, bar the awkward conversation with Mr Lee.

Cheongsan is about to ask if he made a total fool of himself when, through the glass panes of the front door, he spots Mr and Mrs Lee watching them, Mrs Lee holding onto her husband's arm and excitedly whispering something into the man’s ear as she watches them.

“Uh, Suhyeok?” He begins, glancing up at the Alpha and then back to his parents.

“Yeah?” The Alpha replies, smiling down at him, none the wiser.

Cheongsan coughs, looking away from Mr and Mrs Lee to stare out over the lawn. “Your parents are staring at us,” He replies, laughing slightly.

Surprise lights up Suhyeok’s face before he glances back toward the door, glaring over at his parents when he spots them. He turns back to Cheongsan with a small frown.

“Ignore them,” Suhyeok tells him, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“What’re they waiting for?” Cheongsan asks, smiling amusedly up at the Alpha.

A red tint fills Suhyeok’s cheeks, the Alpha looking away from Cheongsan and down to his shoes, scuffing the soles against the ground.

“For us to kiss,” He mumbles in reply, and Cheongsan’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead.

“Uhhhh…” He replies awkwardly, not knowing how to reply.

“Like I said, ‘Sannie. Ignore them,” His friend continues, frowning down at his shoes like he’s angry at them.

Cheongsan nods, looking anywhere but at the Alpha. He knows Suhyeok’s parents are still there, he can feel the weight of their eyes on him and Suhyeok. He supposes they think the two of them are cute? Or at least Mrs Lee seemed to, from the look in her eyes as she’d watched them on the porch. Standing there, Cheongsan feels something race to the forefront of his mind, and before he can think too much about it, he turns to the Alpha.

“Do it then,” Cheongsan orders Suhyeok, the pulse he can feel in his neck starting to throb.

The Alpha’s face alights in surprise, “What?” Suhyeok asks like he thinks he may have just misheard Cheongsan.

“Kiss me,” Cheongsan says, heart racing now as he stands there, “I mean, we should really sell it, you know? That we’re together,” He finishes, swallowing nervously as he looks up at the Alpha.

Suhyeok seems taken aback, eyes wide as he looks at Cheongsan. About to turn away from the Alpha and tell him to forget it, Cheongsan’s breath hitches when the Alpha takes a step closer to him, then another, coming to stand directly before Cheongsan, gazing down at him.

Cheongsan feels caught in that moment, staring up into Suhyeok’s eyes, like he can’t move, can barely breathe, as the Alpha raises a hand to cup his cheek gently. When Suhyeok begins lowering his face to Cheongsan’s, he closes his eyes right before their lips meet, his senses zeroing in on the sensation of the Alpha’s lips on his. Of Suhyeok’s lips on his.

It’s a simple press of lips. Chaste, almost innocent, and yet electricity flies through Cheongsan from where they’re connected, his mind empty but for the sensation of Suhyeok kissing him, how his full lips slot perfectly against Cheongsan’s.

As the Alpha pulls back slightly, breaking the contact to gaze down at him, Cheongsan opens his eyes to gaze into Suhyeok’s own in turn. Before tonight, Cheongsan would tell you that Suhyeok has the most expressive eyes of anyone he’s ever known, that you can always read what the Alpha is feeling through his eyes, just as easily as reading a book.

Right then, at that moment, gazing into the Alpha’s eyes, Cheongsan couldn’t look away from what he could see in Suhyeok's eyes. Can't look away from what he can see there, the weight of it, just for him, just for Cheongsan.

The headlights of the car turning around the corner of the driveway, blind Cheongsan briefly, shattering the moment, as he raises a hand to block it. Pulling away, Cheongsan stares out across the wide lawn as his mind spirals.

Over the time they’ve known each other, Cheongsan has seen a plethora of expressions fill Suhyeok’s eyes. He’s seen amusement, happiness, boredom, anger, and even, thanks to recent events, want and lust fill them, but he’s never seen that expression in Suhyeok’s eyes. The power of it had filled the entirety of the Alpha’s eyes, the weight of it overwhelming to Cheongsan.

No one has ever looked at him like that. It’s a look he’s seen before, though. On old married couples sitting on a park bench together. On the faces of two people sitting across from each other in fancy restaurants. In his own father’s eyes, directed toward his mother when she isn’t paying attention but rambling about some new idea for the restaurant.

Cheongsan turns and blinks up at the Alpha when a hand touches the small of his back. Suhyeok is smiling nervously down at him, indicating with his other hand the waiting car to take him home.

“Ready to go?” The Alpha asks, those very eyes, full of uncertainty.

Nodding, Cheongsan follows the Alpha, allowing him to get his door for him, in case his parents are still watching. Sitting in the backseat, Cheongsan figures tonight was a success; they played the part of boyfriends, madly in love with one another to a convincing degree.

As Suhyeok closes his door for him and comes around to take his own seat, Cheongsan glances over at the Alpha and realises something, something he knows to be true.

Everything is going to change after tonight.

Chapter Text

There’s a fine line crack across the surface of Cheongsan’s bedroom ceiling. He’s never noticed it before, but lying in bed Saturday morning, he wonders how he ever missed it. It’s been above his head this entire time, practically on top of him for possibly months.

Annoying how things can do that.

Looking away from his ceiling, he rolls over onto his side, glancing over at his bedside table before reaching over to retrieve his phone. It’s early, far earlier than he’d usually be awake on a Saturday but he’s had a restless sleep, his mind churning over the events of the previous night.

Not ready to confront that whole situation yet, he distracts himself in one of the best ways he knows how.

Unlocking his phone, he scrolls through social media for a few minutes, opening one App to scroll through before closing it to open another when the previous one proves boring. He’s also just unwilling to get out of bed this early on the weekend, it’s practically criminal to do so in his opinion. Even his parents are still asleep, the apartment quiet and still as he flicks through Reels on Instagram.

Eventually, after exhausting all social media apps, he throws his phone back down onto his bedside table and rolls again onto his back. Pulling his duvet up under his chin, he closes his eyes with a sigh, before snuggling into his bed, planning to doze for a while.

Shifting his legs into a more comfortable position, his eyes fall open when his briefs catch awkwardly on his morning wood.

Glancing down at the mound raising his duvet, he figures masturbating right then is a great way to pass the time and relieve some stress. Plus, he’s a teenage boy, isn’t he expected to jack off whenever he gets the chance? He’s just following society's expectations of him.

Lifting his hips, he shimmies his pyjama pants and underwear down his thighs, his erection springing free to smack against his stomach.

Gripping himself in hand, he closes his eyes with a pleased sigh, starting slow as he strokes up and down his length.

It’s been a few weeks since he’s indulged in this, the urge only coming to him on occasion before. He wonders if it’ll be different now he’s presented as an Omega. His orgasms before had always been a little dry, but he’d always just figured he was just built like that. He never suspected he could be an Omega based on the rumour he’d heard that Male Omegas were not well endowed. He can admit he’s not got a monster swinging between his legs but from what the internet has told him, he’s average size for a Beta.

Turning his mind over to more arousing topics, he tightens his grip as he speeds up a little, his mouth falling open on an airy moan. In his mind's eye, his hand isn’t his own, but someone else’s, some murky figure's hand gripping him tight, whispering dirty things into his ear as they encourage him. He imagines them kissing along his neck, telling him how good he’s being for them, and how sexy he looks right then, as their hand flies over him.

When something deep in his groin relaxes further, he ignores it, biting into his bottom lip as his pleasure grows with each pass of his hand, pausing at the tip every once and a while to squeeze his fist tighter.

When the warmth of slick escapes him, his hand stills instantly, eyes popping open as a frustrated sigh leaves him.

Goddamn it.

He can feel it trailing down his left ass cheek to soak into his bedsheets. Annoyance has him clenching his jaw as he debates what to do now. He could continue, and try to bring himself off whilst ignoring the leaking mess. He’s sure he could manage it.

Or he could stop denying his body what it wants.

Without thinking about it too much, he resumes stroking, starting slowly again. With his other hand, he reaches down past his stomach, past his erect cock, to cup his hand over his balls, massaging them softly. Swallowing, he closes his eyes and slides his fingers down further as his other hand picks up speed.

Gliding over his perineum, a gasp leaves him when the pads of his fingers reach his slick hole. Biting his bottom lip quickly, he just about manages to silence a moan as pleasure blooms intensely. He’s so wet, the warmth of his slick coating his fingers as he rubs them around his hole, the muscle clenching and relaxing as his body works up to orgasm.

Excitement leaving his heart racing, he dares to push one inside before he can think too much about it.

Instantly, pure bliss grips him tight, his mouth falling open on a silent moan as his whole body goes rigid with overwhelming pleasure. Hand flying over his cock now, he slides the digit in and out with the rhythm of his jacking off, his mind filling with nothing but pleasure, pleasure pleasure. Needing more, he groans with the stretch of a second finger, his orgasm dangerously close.

Suddenly, the person in his mind is no longer murky and faceless, a familiar appearance and silhouette taking shape.

Suhyeok leans over him, jacking him off with his left hand whilst finger fucking him with his right, the Alpha watching him with wanton lust in his eyes, his mouth parted as he pants. Filthy words leave his mouth in growls as he praises Cheongsan; encourages him to cum for him, show him how good Suhyeok’s making him feel, how he’s only allowed to feel this good under him, as his Omega.

Cheongsan goes tense all over as he slams his fingers in as deep as he can get them, teeth clenching as wave and wave of ecstasy floods through him, his cock spurting cum all across his stomach. His hole rhythmically squeezes his two fingers with every wave of his orgasm, trying so desperately to milk his fingers as if they were an Alpha’s knot.

When the waves slowly die down to a blissful thrum, his body relaxes, his breathing laboured as he lies there, thoroughly satisfied.

Easing his fingers out, a final shiver runs across his skin as they slip out, his hole squeezing around their absence.

Eyes slipping open, he lifts his head and glances down, semen cooling in pools across his tummy, quickly soaking into the shirt of his pyjamas.

He needs a shower.

Throwing his head back into the pillow, he swallows when the inevitable shame fills him, alongside a fair amount of guilt. He should’ve just finished with his cock. Suhyeok wouldn’t have even entered his mind if he’d just wanked off like a regular guy. What would his friend think of Cheongsan if he knew he thought such disgusting things about the Alpha whilst he pleasured himself?

Sighing in annoyance, he sits up, pushing the covers back lest he get cum on them. Grimacing, slick slides across his ass cheeks as he does, the sticky mess becoming increasingly familiar to him. Scrunching up the front of his shirt, he pulls it then over his head, before getting up and heading for the bathroom.

Probably a good idea he does his laundry himself today.

Pushing a shopping trolley along the isles of the local supermarket about two hours later, Cheongsan wallows in boredom as he follows after his Papa, wondering why he agreed to accompany him to do the weekly food shopping at all.

He’d been showered and dressed, staring at the washing machine and trying to figure out how much fabric conditioner he should add to his, well, stained laundry when his Papa had entered the room to ask him if he’d tag along. He should’ve made up some lie about school work or something but alas, here he is, stopping the trolley behind his Papa as the man frowns down at some bottle of shampoo in his hand.

“...for thick and luscious hair…” His father mumbles under his breath as he reads the label and Cheongsan can’t suppress the snort that leaves him.

Looking up at him, his Papa blinks, “What? You don’t think I could have thick and luscious hair?” He asks, unimpressed.

Trying and failing to suppress his grin, Cheongsan looks between the shampoo bottle and his Papa.

“20 years ago maybe,” He mutters under his breath, grinning cheekily at his father.

“Oh, is that so? I’ll have you know I started going grey and bald when you were born,” His Papa berates him, pointing the shampoo bottle at him threatening.

Shrugging, Cheongsan can only laugh when his Papa calls him a smartass, before adding the bottle to the trolley anyway.

20 minutes later, he navigates the trolley out of the store and toward their car, stopping before the trunk once they reach it. Stepping around the trolley, he grabs a bag and as his father unlocks the trunk, helps to load the bags of food into it.

Trunk full of groceries, he retakes the now empty trolley in hand, turning it in the direction of the trolley bay as his Papa gets into the car. Crossing the parking lot, the rickety old trolley wobbles across the asphalt, Cheongsan gripping it tightly in his hands to steer it straight.

When he reaches the bay with the trolley, he shoves it into an already parked row of trollies, slotting them together for the next respective user. Nodding his head once, he reaches up and combs his hair back in place when the wind whips through it, ruining his tidy fringe. About to turn around and head back to the car, he freezes with a grimace when a repugnant smell reaches his nose.

From where he’s standing at the end of the lot for the grocery store, an alley separates it from the next building, the dank space enclosed in shadow, reeking of...

Before him, a figure hobbles out to the mouth of the alley, to lean against the brick wall, dressed in what can only be described as rags, and stinking of piss and body odour. Coiling nauseatingly alongside that aroma is the unmistakable musk of an Alpha approaching rut.

Cheongsan freezes as a pair of wild, bloodshot eyes lock in on him, the man’s face twitching unnervingly as he takes Cheongsan in.

“Thought I caught a sweet smell on the air,” The man says before pulling in a long inhale, his mouth stretching into a grin of few teeth, “What’s your name, boy?” The Alpha asks, his eyes tracking up Cheongsan’s body.

Cheongsan doesn’t answer, he barely breathes as he watches the man closely. Fear creeps up his neck, the muscles there going rigid, as he tries to think of what to do. Swallowing against his dry throat, his voice comes out a lot more timid than he intended.

“I haven’t got any change, sir,” He replies, hoping the Alpha will lose interest and retreat back into the alley.

“Change? Don’t believe I asked you for change, doll,” The man replies, anger flashing across his face before it vanishes, replaced by that leering grin.

“Hey, kid, you like movies? I sell pirated copies of all the latest movies, even those in the cinema. I keep them just in a box, down here. You wanna come take a look, I’ll give you the student discount,” The Alpha offers, indicating with his hand the dark space of the alley behind him.

Cheongsan feels his fight or flight instinct mounting, his hands beginning to shake by his sides, as he shifts his feet, ready to bolt. “No, thank you, sir. I better be going, my father is waiting for me,” He replies, offering the Alpha a nervous smile, as he starts backing away.

The man’s face drops the exaggerated kindness at Cheongsan’s rejection, his eyes filling with loathing, his thin upper lip pulling back in a snarl. Cheongsan can only stare in shock, the pure hatred in the man’s eyes freezing him in place.

“You fucking Omegas, all the goddamn same. Walking around smelling like that: Unmated, unclaimed. You should be grateful I asked nicely! What I should really do is grab you by that mop of black hair and drag you down here. Lay my claim and fuck you right here in the dirt, as is my right!” The man seethes, spittle leaving his mouth as he glares daggers at Cheongsan, “Fucking whore, c’mere-” The man rages, starting forward towards Cheongsan, hand reaching out.

Cheongsan turns and bolts the second the Alpha moves, terror overtaking him as his feet smash against the asphalt. Sprinting around the building and across the parking lot of the grocery store, his vision narrows to his parent's car when it comes into view, nearly colliding into the back of it when he reaches it at the speed he’s running.

Yanking the passenger side door open, he throws himself into the seat before slamming the door shut and locking it.

“Cheongsan, what the hell’s the matter?” His Father’s concerned voice calls out to his right but Cheongsan is too busy to answer.

Twisting in his seat, he looks back over the car park, his eyes scanning the entirety of the space in seconds.

When the car park remains empty and free of any charging Alphas, he closes his eyes with a sigh, turning to fall back against the seat, his breathing laboured, sweat sliding down his temples.

“Cheongsan?” His Papa's concerned voice asks, a hand reaching over to grip his shoulder.

Cheongsan turns his head to look over at his Father, the older man staring at him, a combination of concern and confusion in his brown eyes.

“Mean old homeless man didn’t take too kindly to me having no loose change,” He lies between heavy breaths, doing his best to calm his racing heart.

His Papa frowns over at him further, “Are you alright?” He asks, looking Cheongsan up and down for any injuries.

“Yeah. I ran,” He explains, trying to swallow down the residual fear he can still feel in his throat.

His Papa nods before he ducks his head to look over the parking lot behind them, “Crazy bastard. I’m calling the police,” He says, reaching into his pocket for his phone.

“Later, Papa, please…I wanna go home now,” He quietly says, something in his eyes convincing his father, who quickly pockets his phone with a jerky nod, before starting the engine and peeling out of the car park.

Cheongsan stares up at the sky as they drive home, his lungs slowing, heart calming in his chest, but the mental image of that Alpha’s seething eyes and the promised violence in his words, playing through his mind, again and again.

That evening, he’s been doing his best to forget about what happened. Even going so far as to busy himself with some school revision, anything to stop his mind from replaying the scene at the grocery store. Sat at his desk in his bedroom, he’s currently working on his Korean literature, trying to draft out an analysis of a poem they’d read last week.

A half-hour in, he’s actually pretty invested in it, pen flying across the page as he writes in his notebook, biting into his bottom lip as he concentrates.

Ignoring the muscle cramp building in his hand, he pushes on, filling page after page with the introduction and body of his essay.

He’s briefly pulled from his concentration when his phone vibrates loudly on his desk beside him, giving him pause as he picks it up to check the notification. A message from Suhyeok lights up the screen, adding to the growing tally of them today.

He’s been intentionally ignoring Suhyeok all day, leaving his incessant messages unopened and unread. Unwilling, or unable, perhaps, to face the Alpha, even over the phone.

A good ten minutes later, he reaches the conclusion of his essay, frowning down at the page, whilst rolling the pen between his fingers, coming up slightly stumped on how to wrap up his final points.

A knock sounds from his bedroom door then, making him blink in surprise. Lifting his head from where it’s been crouched over his notebook, he looks over to the other side of the room as the door opens.

His Mama pops her head through the space, looking sheepish. “You have a visitor, sweetheart,” She tells him before she pushes the door open fully to step into the room, swinging it wider to let whoever it is in.

Suhyeok trails in after her, smiling shyly at his mother before he turns his eyes to Cheongsan. The smile Suhyeok offers him in greeting is strained, barely reaching his eyes at all. Cheongsan can see the tightness of his friend’s shoulders and the tension on his face.

There’s clearly something bothering the Alpha, and when his scent reaches Cheongsan’s nose, he can’t suppress a grimace at the combination of concern and relief within it.

What the fuck is he doing here?

His Mama looks between them as they continue to stare at each other, a tangible energy building between them.

“...okay, you boys let me know if you need anything,” She quietly imparts before shutting the door behind her.

When she’s gone, and the two of them are left alone in Cheongsan’s bedroom, the prevailing silence seems to thicken, neither of them willing to be the first to break it. As Cheongsan watches, Suhyeok stalks over to his bed and takes a seat on the edge, before he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.

Frowning over at him now, Cheongsan is about to break the silence to ask him what the hell he’s doing when his own phone lights up and vibrates repeatedly against the wooden top of his desk, Suhyeok’s number across the screen. He looks away from the device and back to the Alpha, realising where this is going.

“Oh, so your phone is working,” Suhyeok comments, glaring over at the device in question before turning that gaze on him, “I’d thought maybe you lost it, and that’s why you weren’t replying to me,” He finishes, jaw clenching shut in anger.

Cheongsan sighs, reaching over to silence his phone before he turns in the chair to face his friend.

“What do you want, Suhyeok?” He asks, frowning over at the Alpha.

Suhyeok’s expression clears as he blinks at him, his eyebrows shooting up his face in disbelief, “Are you serious? I dropped you off last night and then heard nothing from you all day. I was worried sick, Cheongsan!” He replies, looking over at Cheongsan with exasperation all over his handsome face.

“Why? I’m fine. I’ve just been busy,” He replies with a shrug, eyes flicking from Suhyeok’s intense gaze to where his hands are gripping Cheongsan’s duvet sheet.

“Too busy to reply to a single one of my messages? Don’t bullshit me, ‘Sannie; you’ve been intentionally ignoring me all day,” The Alpha accuses hotly.

His jaw clenching in anger, Cheongsan feels cornered, knowing the Alpha is right but completely unwilling to admit or apologise right then. Suhyeok picked the wrong day to start a fight. Cheongsan is more than willing to provide an argument in his current mood.

“And so what if I have been? I don’t owe you anything, Suhyeok. I don’t need to detail my daily comings and goings every second to you,” He fires back, anger coiling hot in his chest.

Suhyeok looks back at him in complete bafflement, eyes scanning him up and down, “What the hell are you talking about? I never said you did, but we’re friends? No? I can’t worry about you?” He demands to know, eyes bugging out of his head in frustration.

“I don’t need any knot-headed Alpha to worry after me,” Cheongsan replies quietly, an ugly part of him providing the words, even as regret weighs him down before they even leave his mouth.

Suhyeok blinks at him in shock, his eyes wide, his mouth parting slightly, “What did you just call me?” He asks, his tone unbelieving.

Cheongsan feels fear slither through him, irrationally, because he knows Suhyeok would never hurt him. He doesn’t even look angry, just shocked and hurt, but after today, after what happened earlier, his mind doesn’t care. His anxiety mounts as the smell of an upset Alpha reaches his nose.

“You heard me,” He whispers in reply, watching as the shock bleeds from Suhyeok’s features as hurt takes over, the Alpha looking away.

“Why are you being like this? We’ve only straightened things out between us and now you’re being a prick, for no reason,” Suhyeok asks, sounding exhausted, so entirely fed up with Cheongsan.

“And last night, I’d even thought maybe we were…” Suhyeok trails off, courage failing him as the Alpha breaks eye contact, dropping his eyes to the floor.

“You thought what?” Cheongsan asks, watching the Alpha closely.

Suhyeok doesn’t immediately reply to him, conflict on the Alpha's face as he stares down at the floor without really seeing it. When he takes a deep breath before raising his eyes to him, Cheongsan freezes, the pure vulnerability on his friend’s face shocking him.

“That we were better than ever. That we were moving onto something more,” Suhyeok says, his eyes portraying just how nervous he is as those words leave his mouth.

Cheongsan looks away from those eyes, and down to his lap. He isn’t stupid, he knows what Suhyeok is implying, the kiss last night and the weight of what the Alpha felt for him had been clear in his eyes. Revealing something to Cheongsan he’d been blind to before. Unable or unwilling maybe, to see it before, as a Beta.

Cheongsan can feel between them the significance of this moment. He understands that his response, the next words out of his mouth will make or break them. That it’ll determine where they go from here, if anywhere at all.

The weight of what he feels in his chest is overwhelming, a tangled mess of conflicting emotions, squeezing his heart, flooding his throat. It’s too much, all at once, too all-consuming to even try to wade through. Cheongsan can’t handle it.

One emotion wraps around all the others, dampening them, pushing them down as it snakes through his chest to consume his heart.

Fear.

As the silence stretches between them, Cheongsan can’t bring himself to look up at the Alpha, too afraid of what he’ll see there, in those damn eyes. Taking a steading breath, he directs the words down at his lap.

“I don’t know what you thought, Suhyeok, but you’re wrong. Things have changed between us, that’s true, but I’m not convinced they’re for the better,” He says, lies, lies and more lies spilling from his mouth, “Besides, I will never want anything more with an Alpha,”

As each word passes by his lips, a voice inside screams for him to stop, to not do this, but fear prevails over everything, filling him up to empty him out, leaving him hollow.

In the ensuing silence, he dares raise his eyes to his friend and instantly regrets it.

Suhyeok is gazing over at him, his face tense, his jaw locked, like he’s desperately trying to keep himself together. Guilt like nothing he’s ever felt before lashes through Cheongsan at the tears he can see pooling in the Alpha’s eyes.

He looks heartbroken. 

When the Alpha stands, Cheongsan can only watch wide-eyed as his friend nods, quickly reaching up to swipe across his cheeks when his tears spill over. The Alpha releases a ragged breath then, still nodding, almost to himself as he tries to regain his composure.

“I think I’m gonna need some space. Indefinitely for now, ‘San,” Suhyeok replies shakily, the Alpha unable to look at him.

Cheongsan nods before he realises Suhyeok can’t see it, “Okay,” He quietly responds.

“I’ll see you,” Suhyeok replies shortly, making for the door.

Cheongsan watches his friend quickly depart, the Alpha yanking the door open to pass through without looking back. When his front door slams shut, Cheongsan blinks, the finality of what he’s done hitting him.

Standing up, he walks over and closes his bedroom door, before turning and walking back to his desk.

He has an essay to finish.

Chapter Text

To say Cheongsan needs a lesson in how to operate a washing machine and dryer is an understatement. Holding his pyjama top up in his hands, he blinks up at the now three times smaller garment in complete bafflement.

What the hell happened?

Dropping it in the laundry basket full of his clean clothes, he reaches down and riffles through the rest of the load he’d put on yesterday, sighing in relief when only that pyjama set seems to have shrunk like that, the trousers in a similar state.

Balling the set into his hand, he leaves the utility room to enter the kitchen, his Mama drifting in at the same time from the hallway.

“You’re up early,” She comments, frowning at him in confusion.

“Yeah, couldn’t sleep,” He replies quietly, before lifting the shirt for his Mama to see, “What did I do wrong?” He asks, looking over the shirt at her in confusion.

His mother barks a laugh at the sight of his attempt at laundry. When he gives her an unimpressed glare, she raises her hand to her mouth in an attempt to silence herself.

“You’re supposed to read the label on the inside of the shirt, Cheongsan, Here,” She says, approaching to show him the white tag on the inside of the shirt and the instructions therein on how to launder it.

Cheongsan hadn’t even realised he’d put the clothes on such a hot drying cycle. He’d just turned it on with the last setting the machine had, figuring since his Mama used it, it’d be fine for him too.

With a sigh, he walks around his Mama as she goes to make coffee. Approaching the trash, he steps on the peddle to open it, before promptly dropping his ruined pyjamas into it.

He’s so sad, they were his favourite.

“Do you want some tea, baby? Some toast?” His mother inquires as she rifles through the kitchen cabinets for coffee and sugar.

“No, thanks, Mama, I’m not hungry. I’m just gonna go for a shower,”

“Okay. Don’t use up all the hot water, your father will have a hernia if you do,” She shouts after him.

Pausing in the hallway, he backtracks, peeking his head back into the kitchen, “Mama, in the future; if someone knocks for me, please call me to the door, okay? Don’t just let them into my room,” He asks, looking over at her beseechingly.

She pauses making her coffee to gaze over at him, an odd expression across her face at his request. “Everything okay with Suhyeok?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m gonna go for that shower,” He replies shortly, about to leave when she speaks again.

“‘Cause it sounded like you two argued last night,” She goes on, looking over at him, a failed attempt to appear casual on her face, “And he left in such a hurry. He usually always says goodbye,” She finishes, a knowing look in her eyes.

“No. All good,” He lies, shrugging his shoulders like he hasn’t a bother in the world.

She’s quiet for a moment, looking up at him, and for a second he thinks she’s gonna persist in this line of questions but eventually, she nods, letting it go. “Okay, sweetheart, go shower before your father’s up,”

Nodding, he leaves her to resume walking down the hallway, entering the bathroom to close the door behind him.

Hours later, he breathes deeply through his nose in anger when Cal Kestis across his screen gets absolutely bodied by The Ninth Sister, the controller in his hand rumbling with the character's death. Huffing in annoyance, he sits up straight and grips his controller tighter in his hand, determined to kick this boss’s ass.

Deep into parrying swinging lightsabers and dodging attacks, his concentration breaks when suddenly their front doorbell goes off, pulling his attention away enough for The Ninth Sister to once again, absolutely body him. Throwing his controller across his bed in anger, he gets up and peeks out into the hallway to see who’s responsible for the distraction.

Onjo stands outside his front door, smiling politely up at his Mama, as they exchange greetings. When Onjo makes to brush past his Mama, as she always has done for years now, Cheongsan can’t help but laugh when his Mama steps in front of her, halting her entry.

“It’s okay, Mama. Let her through,” He says down the hallway, the two Beta’s turning their heads in his direction at the sound of his voice.

Onjo slinks past his Mother when she steps aside, smiling awkwardly up at her before walking down the hallway to him. Stepping into his room, he resumes his seat at his desk chair, leaving the door open for Onjo to follow him in.

He can’t help but laugh again when the first thing she does is give him a ‘what the hell’ look, before closing the door.

“Did I do something to piss off your Mother or something?” She asks, sitting on the edge of his bed with the same affronted face.

“I told her this morning to stop just leading people to my room; to call me to the door instead,” He replies, smirking over at her.

“Why?” His best friend asks, frowning confusedly at him.

He reaches over for his controller in place of answering, giving him time to come up with a lie. “‘Cause, what if I was changing? Or God forbid, my heat had started? Could happen yeno,” He tells her, nodding seriously.

Sitting back against his desk chair, he’s about to unpause the game and resume getting his ass kicked by The Ninth Sister when Onjo snatches the controller back out of his hand.

“Hey!”

“Oh, so this has nothing to do with Suhyeok paying you a visit yesterday?” She asks, stretching her arm behind herself to keep his controller out of reach.

Caught out, he falls back against his chair, giving up trying to retrieve the device. She smirks over at him, knowing she’s caught him in a lie.

“How do you know about that?” He asks, unimpressed with her.

“We had an awkward moment yesterday, Suhyeok and I. I was leaving the elevator with my Pa when I nearly collided with him trying to get on: Told me you hadn’t answered any of his messages all day and he was worried about you,” She explains, watching him closely, “I told him not to worry, that you were probably just busy being your usual cranky self,”

“Oh, what happened to you hating Suhyeok now? Warming back up to him?” He fires back, attempting to deflect from the line of inquiry he knows is coming.

She shoots him an exasperated look, easily catching on to his attempt to change the subject.

“I don’t like the guy but it was one of those abrupt awkward moments; I was so surprised seeing him standing there that I forgot to be angry with him. Never mind that shithead, stop trying to change the subject! What happened?” She demands, daring him with her eyes to try to be evasive again.

Cheongsan looks away from her, down to his hands as he begins picking at his thumb’s cuticles. He knew he’d have to explain something to her about what happened: With school tomorrow, she’d notice that he and the Alpha were once again, not on speaking terms. He thought he’d have more time to think it over though, think up some believable lie. Looking back over at her and her increasingly impatient expression, he sighs, admitting defeat.

“We had a fight,”

“I thought you two just made up?” She asks, frowning over at him.

“We did,”

“So why did you fight again? Before what happened in the boys’ toilets, you two never fought,”

“Because he pissed me off! Acting all overprotective and concerned for my well-being. Treating me like some fucking damsel in distress,” He rants, his tone heated and annoyed.

Clenching his jaw shut, he glares at the wall recalling the Alpha’s behaviour, how potent the mixture of concern and relief in his scent had been when he’d first walked into Cheongsan’s bedroom. When the silence stretches between him and Onjo after his spiel, he frowns, tilting his head in her direction to see what’s taking so long for her to reply.

She’s yet to respond because she’s too busy giving him a complete look of disbelief.

“What?” He asks impatiently.

“Cheongsan,” She starts, looking over at him like he’s dense, “Suhyeok has always been like that with you. For as long as we’ve been friends with him, he’s been like that with you,”.

“No, he hasn’t, Onjo,” He disagrees, shaking his head, “Ever since I presented, he treats me like I’m made of glass,” He complains.

“You never had a problem with it before,” She fires back, amused disbelief in her eyes, “Do you remember the days leading up to Suhyeok’s last rut?” She asks, raising her eyebrows at him in question.

“Yeah…” He responds slowly, not understanding why she’s bringing that up.

“Remind me what he was like,” She orders, waiting.

“He was…cranky…snappish. Wouldn’t let anyone near him, kept getting short with Namra, growling at every Alpha that got too close,” He recounts, the Alpha’s bizarre behaviour clear in his memory.

When he finishes and looks up at Onjo, she’s looking at him like he’s a complete idiot. Anger flares in his stomach, he can only tolerate so much of that.

“What?!” He snaps, getting pissed.

“Wouldn’t let anyone near him? He was glued to you, Cheongsan. He’d only snap at Namra, an Alpha, when you spoke to her and only growled at any Alphas that came near you,” She fires back, her patience gone as the words leave her in a tirade.

“Bullshit,” He replies, his gut squirming.

“Oh c’mon, ‘Sannie. You can’t be that oblivious,” She remarks, staring over at him in exasperation.

When he doesn’t verbally reply, the silence stretches between them, Cheongsan getting up out of his chair to snatch his controller back off her finally. She lets him, too busy studying him to care. Sitting his ass back down, he unpauses the game, if only to fill the silence with something.

“Cheongsan, wh-”

“I don’t wanna talk about this anymore, Onjo. Did you pop over for something or just to be a pain in my ass as usual?” He mutters, not even bothering to turn his eyes to her.

He hears her huff, annoyed with him, “I came over to see if you wanted to come to the Mall with me. Or would you rather sit in your room playing video games all day?”

He’s tempted to turn her down, just to be even more of an asshole, but he actually would like to get out.

“Let me ask my Mama for a ride. I think she’s going down to the restaurant, anyway,” He replies, saving his game before shutting down the console and getting up to leave the room.

A drive downtown with his Mama later, he and Onjo drift around their local Mall together, wandering in and out of stores for lack of anything better to do. Neither of them has any actual money, except to buy the two small tubs of ice cream in their hands, the cash generously donated by his Mama.

He’d gone for a triple chocolate, a classic, whilst Onjo went with some Mango monstrosity. He’d sampled some of it off her and in fairness, it’s not horrible, nicer than Mint ice cream anyway.

He hates Mint ice cream.

“Let’s go up to the top floor, I wanna check out the bookstore,” Onjo says to him, as they amble through the busy Mall, doing their best to weave around people with shopping trolleys and parents with kids in strollers.

Following her towards the escalators that’ll bring them to the top floor, Cheongsan is so distracted by his ice cream that he fails to see the person stepping out of the Music store beside him. Crashing into them with his shoulder, he stops abruptly, his head shooting up as an apology forms on his lips.

“Oh, sorry. Sorry,” He tells the person in front of him, who has turned to him in surprise.

The person, a guy around his age, shrugs, “That’s okay,” He replies with a smile, “I wasn’t watching where I was going either,”.

“Right. Sorry...” Cheongsan nods, already turning away from the stranger. His Alpha scent had reached Cheongsan’s senses two seconds after he’d offered his apology.

The Alpha watches him go, before one of the two guys behind him, who Cheongsan assumes are his friends, tug on his arm to get his attention.

Turning back to Onjo, who gives him shit for being so clumsy as usual, they step onto the escalator together.

Resuming his enjoyment of the frozen goodness in his hand, he’s more careful as he steps off and heads toward the bookstore, his eyes flicking up every few seconds to ensure he doesn’t collide with anyone else.

Wandering from aisle to aisle in the bookstore, Onjo stops every few minutes to pick up a book and turn it over to read the synopsis, before placing it back down. His friend loves to window shop, she’s practically turned it into a hobby of hers. Cheongsan doesn’t have much interest in window shopping, or reading, for that matter. It takes him the entire Summer break to read the assigned novels they’re given by their Korean literature teacher, Onjo beseeching him to read them faster so she can rant, without spoiling them, about the plot, the characters or the romance, if there is one.

He thinks subconsciously, he intentionally takes his time reading them, to avoid the rant about the romance alone.

Stopping beside her towards the entrance of the bookstore, whilst his friend is busy, he looks about for a rubbish bin, the tub of ice cream in his hand now scraped empty. Spotting one, posted outside the elevators across from the bookstore, he turns to Onjo.

“Hey, I’m just taking this to the trash, want me to throw out yours too?” He offers, the Mango ice cream melting, uneaten, in her right hand.

Glancing up at him from the back of another book, she offers him the tub with a nod, “Sure, yeah. Thanks,”

Taking it, he turns and leaves the store, weaving around people as he approaches the trash.

Stepping on the pedal with his foot, he throws the tubs to their demise, before pausing to lick remnants of chocolate off his thumb and forefinger.

He’s gross, he knows.

Dropping his hand by his side, he's turning back towards the bookstore when an odd scene to his left gives him pause.

Not far from him, a few metres maybe, beside one of those potted trees you’d find in a Mall, a group of teen boys stand, three of them, seemingly arguing about something.

Arguing, whilst intermittently shooting Cheongsan stares.

Freezing where he is, Cheongsan realises it’s the same three boys from earlier, the Alpha he’d collided shoulders with and his two friends. Watching them, he realises that the Alpha himself is arguing with his two friends, the two of them incessantly indicating Cheongsan with their heads as they push the Alpha on the shoulder.

Did they follow him up here? From where they’re standing beside that large tree, have they been watching him in the bookstore with Onjo this whole time?

With cold dread, Cheongsan sees the Alpha leave his friends, turn and begin walking in his direction.

This can’t be happening again.

After the incident at the grocery store yesterday, he’d reasoned that so long as he avoided dank alleys and other unsavoury places, he’d be safe from leering Alphas and their threats of violence. He can’t even come to the Mall now? What is he supposed to do, lock himself in his room for the rest of his life?!

The mirth he can see all over the Alpha’s two friends' faces has his heart picking up speed as he nears.

What sort of sick joke are they about to play on him? Is he about to be assaulted? Cheongsan will smash in this Alpha’s teeth if he thinks for one second—

“uh, hello, again,” The Alpha says, stopping before Cheongsan to look down at him.

When Cheongsan doesn’t respond, too busy carefully watching the Alpha and his two friends he can still see over his shoulder, the guy barrels on.

“I’m Koo Yeon-jun, by the way. What’s your name?” Yeon-jun asks him, smiling kindly at him.

Confused as a motherfucker, Cheongsan frowns up at the guy, wondering what he’s playing at.

“Han Gyeongsu,” He replies, apologising to Gyeongsu in his head, as his eyes continue flicking between the Alpha, and his friends, who he can now see are fucking giggling together.

“Cute name! Regal!” The Alpha responds brightly, before he looks away, and his face scrunches up as he cringes.

Regal?

Seemly pushing past his embarrassment, the Alpha turns back to him, looking determined, “Listen, I’m sorry to bother you, but I just so happen to think you’re really cute,” He states plainly, sincerity across his face and Cheongsan’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead as the guy continues, “And I was wondering…could I maybe get your number?”

Cheongsan can only stare in bafflement at the guy. What kind of sick joke is this? Is this some ploy to mock him? If he gave him his number would he use it to terrorise Cheongsan? What’s fucking worse is the Alpha seems so sincere, smiling at Cheongsan, eyes hopeful. He has to give him credit for his stellar acting but Cheongsan isn’t gonna fall for it.

“No,” He replies flatly.

“Oh,” The Alpha replies, blinking before his face falls, disappointment taking over, “Oh, okay, um, sorry for bothering you,” He mumbles before turning around and walking away, back to his friends.

Cheongsan watches him go. Sees the friends’ faces fall when the Alpha turns to them with a shake of his head. Sees them reach out to pat him on the back in comfort when he walks up to rejoin them. Sees the annoyed glare one of the friends shoots Cheongsan over his shoulder as they leave.

Swallowing thickly, Cheongsan turns back around and resumes returning to the bookstore, eyes on his feet as his mind tries to process what just happened. He nearly walks straight into Onjo, waiting just outside the store entrance.

Looking up at her, she’s watching him with an assessing frown between her brows.

“What was that about?” She asks, indicating with her chin.

“Uh, just some Alpha and his friends trying to mess with me,” He replies, looking over his shoulder to see they’ve gone, “I handled it though,” He tells her, turning back to look at her.

“What did he say to you?” She asks, that frown still present.

“Um, he, well, he asked for my number,” Cheongsan replies, his own frown deepening with the confusion of it all. “I told him no,” He finishes with a shrug.

“I thought you said he was messing with you?” She asks, his friend seemingly only becoming more and more confused.

“Yeah, he was. They were laughing at me behind his back and everything,” He informs her, their stupid ass giggling replaying in his mind, “Assholes,”.

“Cheongsan, did it ever occur to you that, maybe, they were laughing at their friend? I saw the whole thing as he approached you. They were giggling because he was asking you out, and that’s embarrassing,” She tells him, waiting for him to get it.

Frowning down at her, Cheongsan’s brain works overtime as he tries to implement this into what he saw, trying to rewrite the scenario in his head with this new information. The longer he stands there, stumped, the more impatient Onjo seems to get, her eyes beginning to bug out of her head before she finally explodes.

“Uh! You’re hopeless,” She exclaims, before weaving around him, “C’mon, let’s go home, I’m freakin’ starving.”

Following after her, Cheongsan resumes attempting to understand what Onjo is saying as they descend through the Mall, towards the exit, stuffing his hands into his pockets as they walk out into the streets of Hyosan, in the direction of home.

They walk in silence for a long while, both of them seemingly lost in thought, as their feet swing in unison across the pavement. When they’re about halfway home, he thinks he understands now what his best friend was trying to explain to him. Glancing at her, he decides to broach the subject again.

“You really think that Alpha was sincere? That he wasn’t messing with me?”

“Would that really be so surprising to you, ‘San? An Alpha actually being nice to you? Asking you out?”

“Yes,” He replies instantly, kicking a stone across the pavement in front of him.

“I mean, not before I presented,” He backtracks, realising the truth. “As a Beta, it didn’t really matter to me; someone being an Alpha or Omega. I didn’t care. I was as indifferent to it as I am to someone’s eye colour or freakin’ shoe size ‘cause I thought it didn’t affect me,” He explains, glancing over to see Onjo listening to him intently.

“I thought I could ignore that aspect of people because as a Beta, I wasn’t a part of that dynamic: I couldn’t smell Alpha or Omega pheromones or mate with either through rut or heat. I thought I could remain outside all of that, that I was…” He trails off, his throat going tight.

“That you were, what?” Onjo asks him quietly.

Swallowing, he draws in a deep breath, feeling some of the tension in him leave when he releases it in one go.

“That I was safe from it all. Safe from that dynamic between Alphas and Omegas. I mean, I might be stupid, but I knew I’d never present as an Alpha, but an Omega? Well, turns out I had good reason to be suspicious…” He finishes with a small laugh, hating himself in that moment.

“You’re not stupid,” Onjo disagrees quietly.

She’s frowning over at him now, her eyes full of pity and he fucking hates it. He’s so tired of the pitying looks and people tiptoeing around him since he presented.

He’s got a slick ass now, not fucking cancer.

“Stop looking at me like that. Save your pity for someone who actually needs it,” He murmurs, too tired to be truly annoyed.

“It’s not pity, you ass. Stop being so freaking proud all the time, Cheongsan,” She chastises him, her tone exasperated.

“Whatever,” He mumbles back, watching the pavement pass under his feet.

Heaving a sigh, his best friend is quiet for a while as they walk, the only sound around them the passing of cars as they drive by, the swaying of trees in the breeze.

“Why do you think the dynamic between Alphas and Omegas is something you need to be safe from, Cheongsan?” She asks, before continuing before he can answer, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know being a Male Omega in particular is, well, challenging, but you can’t believe every Alpha out there has it out for you,”.

He figured this conversation would lead them here, to this question, and he’d let it happen knowing she’d eventually ask this question but he still doesn’t respond immediately. The words are on his tongue, the memory surfacing in his mind ready to play through like a movie reel, but still, he holds them back, a large part of himself beyond tempted to shrug and throw out an ‘I don’t know’, to end the conversation here, bury it once again like he always has.

Swallowing, he pulls a deep breath into his lungs and opens his mouth as the memory begins playing in his mind's eye.

“Do you remember when we were, I don’t know, about 9? Your Pa took us up to the mountains to go camping for the weekend? He told us we were going into the wilderness, past any point of civilisation for miles, how he was going to teach us some survival skills” He recalls to Onjo, smiling at the memory of Mr Nam kneeling before the two of them, whispering conspiratorially between them about hunting down their own food and exploring the deep woods.

“But it ended up being a big family camping ground? Only a few miles out of the city? Yeah, I hated every second of it,” Onjo replies, rolling her eyes.

The smile falling from his face, he nods in reply. “Yeah, a big family camping ground,”

“What about it, Cheongsan?” She asks when he goes quiet again.

“A few hours after we’d put up the tent and got the fire going, I’d needed to use the bathroom. Your Pa had told me to go find a tree to pee on but not to wander too far, so I’d started walking into the woods,” He recalls, remembering his embarrassment as Mr Nam had handed him a roll of toilet paper and sent him off. “I must’ve walked too far though, because I eventually stumbled across another camping family; an Alpha-Omega couple, with two kids,”.

When Onjo’s hand touches his shoulder and stops him before her other reaches up to turn him, he glances up at her face.

“What happened, Cheongsan?” She asks quietly, her eyes dark with worry.

“I’d heard it at first, but I guess to my ears back then I didn’t know what it was, so I’d approached, and came upon a clearing. The same as ours; campfire, tents, foldable chairs. Except it wasn’t like ours, not at all,” He shakes his head as he remembers, that clearing had been the opposite of a fun, loving space for a family.

“I don’t know what had happened, but the kids were hysterical, huddled together in the tent, a deep red welt blooming on the older one’s face as he’d gripped his little sister. As I’d watched, barely hidden a few feet away, the Alpha beat the Omega to the ground, absolute fury across his face as he’d punched and kicked him,”.

“Jesus, Cheongsan,” Onjo breathes, horror in her eyes.

“He was so angry but worse than the anger was the sick enjoyment I could see in his eyes as he stalked after his Omega, who was trying desperately to crawl away. Like this was some game to him; abusing his mate,”.

He closes his eyes when the image of the Alpha’s face flashes through his mind; full of rage but sick enjoyment too, a twisted smirk pulling at his mouth.

“How did you get away?” Onjo asks him.

“The Alpha had eventually gotten bored and stormed off. Left his mate in a crumpled heap in the dirt. I made my break for it then, running until I’d made it back to our clearing. I realised once I made it back to our tent, I’d pissed myself,” He finishes, surprised to feel nothing from recalling the memory, just an odd empty sensation, totally numb.

Onjo’s grip on his shoulders tightens as she nods, “I remember you coming back. You sprinted straight into the tent, and wouldn’t come out for hours. My Pa told me you’d probably just got spooked by a deer or something, but I’d noticed him bringing you a fresh pair of trousers and really I’d figured you’d just had an accident and were embarrassed,” Onjo tells him, frowning as the memory replays through her mind.

“Not quite,” He replies, a short humourless laugh leaving him.

Thinking they should probably resume walking home, he’s about to tell her just that when suddenly he’s got an armful of Onjo, his best friend hugging him tight, her head over his shoulder.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” She murmurs, and Cheongsan’s throat goes tight as tears finally prick his eyes.

“Yeah, me too,” He replies hoarsely, reaching up to hug her back.

Chapter Text

If there’s one sound in the world Cheongsan hates with every fibre of his being, it’s the incessant sound of his alarm going off during the weekdays. With his eyes closed, he reaches over to his bedside table and blindly searches for the damned thing; quickly silencing it once his fingers find it.

Pulling his hand back, he grips his duvet and pulls it tighter under his chin, thinking he’ll just snooze for a little longer. Just a little snooze…for a little longer…

“Get up, Cheongsan!”

The blankets being ripped off him is the next thing that jars him awake that morning, his body tensing in fright from the most unwelcome interruption to his sleep sometime later. His Mama stares down at him, unimpressed, as she holds his duvet away from him. Lifting his head, he blearily blinks up at her, before throwing his head back down onto the pillow with a groan of misery.

“Mama, please, I’m so tired,” He implores, turning over and curling up into a ball to try to retain the quickly dissipating heat.

“Get your ass up, or next, I’ll let Onjo do the honours of dunking cold water on your head,” She threatens before cruelly throwing his blanket over his desk chair and leaving the room.

Staring at his bedroom wall through puffy eyes, Cheongsan wallows in the misery of being forced awake this early. He usually isn’t this reluctant to get up for school, but last night, like many nights recently, he’d been unable to sleep for hours into the early morning. He’d lain in bed, eyes closed, and given it his best shot but his brain simply refused to descend into slumber, instead too busy agonising over recent events.

At best, he must be running on five hours of sleep.

Figuring he’s just making matters worse for himself and dragging out the inevitable, he heaves himself up to stumble towards the bathroom, thinking he’ll squeeze in a quick shower.

Later as he drags himself towards school with Onjo, he figures things aren’t all bad, as his best friend lugs both their school bags up the street. He might be exhausted and he might be forced to see a certain someone today but at least he lucked out in that regard.

“You have some serious bags under your eyes, Cheongsan,” Onjo comments as they walk side by side, her eyes pointedly looking at the unwanted features.

“I haven’t been able to sleep the past few nights; I’m developing insomnia or something,” He complains, reaching up to rub his dry eyes.

“Got a lot on your mind?” Onjo asks him, casting him a knowing look.

“You know I do,” He replies, rolling his eyes at her lack of subtlety.

Nodding, she looks away and down to the pavement, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“I’ve been thinking about what you told me yesterday,” She cautiously begins.

“Onjo, please, it’s too early for this,”

“Just listen for a second. I was thinking about it, and I think, you should tell Suhyeok what you saw at that camping ground,”

Frowning, he turns his head to her, “You seem to be forgetting me and Suhyeok are fighting, Onjo, as in, not speaking”

“Oh, c’mon, Cheongsan, over him being a bit overprotective? I think you can both move past that,” She replies, exasperated.

He debates telling her the real reason they’re not speaking, the second half of what had happened between himself and Suhyeok that evening. It feels wrong though, like he’s spilling one of Suhyeok’s secrets rather than his own. He also thinks he isn’t ready for Onjo to know what Suhyeok implied he wanted with Cheongsan.

Cheongsan himself isn’t ready to confront that.

“Suhyeok and I just need some space okay, Onjo? Besides, I was a bit of an asshole to him that evening, he’s probably still pissed at me,” He tells her, knowing that Suhyeok is very much still pissed at him.

“I still think you should tell him,” She mumbles, as she adjusts the combined weight of their backpacks.

Dread grows ever stronger in the pit of his stomach the closer he and Onjo get to Homeroom, his insides turning over and squirming at the prospect of seeing Suhyeok. As they walk through the grounds of the school, he can’t stop himself from being on high alert, scanning every head that passes, keeping his eyes peeled for a boy of above-average height with perfectly styled hair.

Climbing the steps outside the main entrance, he nearly goes out on his face when he misses one, Onjo reaching out to steady him.

“Jesus, Cheongsan. Every day you get clumsier,” She complains, exasperated with him.

Not bothering to answer, they continue their walk into the school and with every metre he loses between himself and their class group, the more anxious he becomes.

This fucking sucks.

Entering Homeroom, he can’t even stop himself from checking to see if Suhyeok is in his usual seat, and when he looks and sees the Alpha there, his stomach flips over.

Suhyeok spots him at the same time, the two of them locking eyes in an awful moment of tension before the Alpha looks away. Worse than anything though is the pained expression that flashes across Suhyeok’s face before the Alpha blinks and it’s gone, replaced by a mildly irritated frown.

Approaching his seat beside Gyeongsu, he pointedly keeps his eyes on the floor as he weaves between desks, lest he and Suhyeok make any further awkward eye contact.

Throwing his backpack under his table once he reaches it, he quickly drops into the seat, putting his back to Suhyeok one table behind him.

Gyeongsu leans an elbow across his own desk to face Cheongsan, “Morning,” he drawls, before he yawns in Cheongsan’s face.

“Morning, man,” He replies before his mouth stretches wide as he catches on to the yawn.

“You look exhausted. Everything okay, dude?” Gyeongsu asks, frowning over at him from where he’s leaning on his desk.

“Everything’s great. Just a fitful sleep, that’s all,”

“You want me to steal some sleeping pills from my Grandma? Man, I took one once and woke up at noon the next day,” Gyeongsu offers him, wide-eyed, “Best sleep of my life, honestly.”

Huffing a laugh, Cheongsan shakes his head in bemusement at his friend.

“No, Gyeongsu. That’s okay, thank you. Though I really don’t think you should be taking your Grandmother’s sleeping pills,” He comments, grinning over at the other boy.

“Meh, she won’t miss them. Plus, it was only one time, I’m not stupid ‘Sannie,”

Cheongsan laughs again, thinking to himself that the very act of taking one of your Grandmother’s sleeping pills is the definition of stupid.

“How goes life as an Omega?” Gyeongsu asks him suddenly.

Turning to his friend in shock, Cheongsan’s mouth drops open in outrage, “What the hell, man?!”

“What? Are we supposed to just tiptoe around it forever ‘Sannie? You’re an Omega now, I’m cool with it,” He replies, casually shrugging his shoulders.

Sighing, Cheongsan looks away, and down to his hands as he picks away at his cuticles.

Gyeongsu is right, there’s been this awkward energy between himself and his friends since he presented. Like they’re afraid to even mention the word Omega for fear they will upset him. He doesn’t want that with his friends.

He wants the relaxed, calm and good-natured energy they all had with each other before.

Turning back to Gyeongsu, he nods his head in agreement.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry if I’ve been awkward about it. I’m still not happy about the whole thing, but every day I think it’s getting easier. Or becoming my new normal, anyway,” He tells Gyeongsu, before a small frown pulls at his brow when a thought occurs to him, “I’d wish Alphas would learn to leave me the fuck alone though, man. Just because I’m not mated doesn’t mean I’m on the freakin’ menu,” He complains to his best friend, anger slipping into his voice as he stabs at the skin around his thumbnail.

When Gyeongsu doesn’t reply, he flicks his gaze back over to his friend to see him looking over at him in shock, before his eyes travel backwards, behind Cheongsan to…

The awful scent of an upset Alpha reaches his nostrils then, making his hackles raise instantly, and Cheongsan tenses when a chair scrapes loudly against the floor as it's pushed back.

Suhyeok storms past him in the next second, the taller boy’s entire frame locked in tension as he weaves quickly through desks to leave the room.

Fuck!

He realises too late how that must’ve sounded to Suhyeok, definitely able to hear him from only one seat behind him. He’d been talking about that disgusting Alpha in the alley and the not-at-all-disgusting one in the Mall yesterday with Onjo.

Not Suhyeok.

He’d never be so cruel.

“I never knew you had such a mean streak in you, Cheongsan,” Gyeongsu mumbles, his own gaze moving away from where they’d just watched Suhyeok storm out.

“No, I didn’t mean Suhyeok. I meant— fuck!” He bemoans, throwing his hands into his hair as he leans forward on the desk, a barrage of guilt flooding him.

“I take it things are still sour between you two?” Gyeongsu asks awkwardly, his best friend fiddling with a pen in his hands.

Sighing in misery, Cheongsan sits back against his chair. “We’d actually moved past what happened in the Boys’ toilets, but I…” He trails off, more guilt flooding him. He’d had plenty of time to think over his interaction with Suhyeok in his bedroom, and with Onjo’s insightful words, he’d realised a simple truth.

He’s a dickhead.

Resuming picking at the skin of his fingers, he admits his failings to Gyeongsu.

“I gave him reason to worry about me and then lost my head with him when he showed up to my apartment concerned,” He admits to his best friend, who abruptly reaches over to yank Cheongsan’s hand away from the assault on his cuticles.

“Will you stop that? You’re making me nauseous,” His best friend complains, his face scrunched up in disgust. “So go apologise to him, man. When it comes to you, Suhyeok is very patient,” He tells him, laughing airly.

Frowning, he turns his head over to his friend, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He asks, unimpressed.

Gyeongsu only grins wider, “Never mind. Just go apologise,”.

He wishes it were that easy with Suhyeok, but Gyeongsu doesn’t have the whole picture.

“It’s not that simple,” He admits, shoving his hands into his pockets when the urge to start picking at them resurges.

Gyeongsu nods at that, “Yeah I kinda got the impression you weren’t telling me everything and I won’t press but I hope you guys can figure out a way of moving past whatever it is between you. You and Suhyeok fighting is the equivalent of me and Nayeon getting along; it feels totally unnatural,” Gyeongsu quips with a grin.

Laughing, Cheongsan glances up at the Alpha in question at the top of the class. As if Nayeon can feel their eyes or maybe her ears have started burning, she turns to survey the class with a glare.

Mirth dying down, he wonders where Suhyeok stormed off to. He hopes he isn’t too upset.

Trying and failing to swallow his guilt down, Cheongsan folds his arms across his desk and lays his head down on them, his mind filled with images of his Alpha friend.

Suhyeok eventually returned to Homeroom, sauntering in like he hadn’t a care in the world to apologise to Ms Park, who’d given him an unimpressed once over. Cheongsan had lifted his head and even tried to catch the Alpha’s eye, hoping the crimination on his face would be obvious but Suhyeok hadn’t glanced at him once. The Alpha had weaved through the room to retake his seat, pointedly not looking in Cheongsan’s direction.

He’d upset Suhyeok that evening in his bedroom, he’d seen as much on the Alpha’s face but now his friend just seemed angry, his jaw tight, his eyes cold. Cheongsan’s apprehension grows seeing the Alpha like that, and when Suhyeok’s scent brushes past him when he takes his seat, a chill runs up his spine at the acrid scent of a fuming Alpha.

He needs to speak to the Alpha soon if only to explain he was not speaking about Suhyeok. Suhyeok is the furthest thing from that Alpha in the Alley, and whilst the Alpha in the Mall had been nothing but respectful and kind, he’s like a drop in the ocean of what Suhyeok means to him.

He did cringe last night in bed though with how callously he’d rejected that guy’s attempt at getting his number. A dick move of his in a list of dick moves lately.

Later, as they’re all sat in the Science laboratories, Mr Lee goes through with them the experiment they’re going to perform today on the chalkboard, the Alpha’s crude art skills doing a poor job of illustrating how they’ll be using a Bunsen burner.

Shifting in his seat, Cheongsan glances over at Suhyeok on the other side of the room, trying to be inconspicuous. The taller boy is writing away, his hand flying across the page as he attempts to copy Mr Lee’s terrible drawing into his own notebook. Cheongsan can see the anger still in him; in the way his hand is clenched around his pencil, in the tension in his shoulders and jawline.

Poor Namra who sits beside him seems to be suffering in silence as she attempts to keep up with Mr Lee with one hand, whilst covering her nose with the sleeve of her other. From what Cheongsan understands, an angry Alpha’s scent is extremely stress-inducing for another, their instincts immediately react to it as a threat.

He admires Namra’s restraint as she just keeps writing in her notebook.

When Mr Lee calls them forward to approach the front desk, where he’s set out a demonstration of the experiment, they all get up from their seats to crowd around and Cheongsan realises this is his chance to explain to Suhyeok and calm the Alpha down.

Standing next to Gyeongsu, he listens for a minute to the droning voice of Mr Lee as he begins performing the experiment before he looks over to his left, eyes landing on an irate Suhyeok. Namra, he notices has fled to the other side of the group, away from Suhyeok’s side.

Subtly, he begins inching himself closer to Suhyeok, brushing past Isak and Onjo as he goes, the latter frowning at him in confusion.

As he nears, he sees the moment Suhyeok notices his approach, the Alpha’s eyes widening slightly, his frame stiffening where he stands.

Stepping up alongside him, the scent of his anger is setting alarm bells off in Cheongsan’s own Omega instincts; his brain screaming for him to put distance between himself and the Alpha but he pushes them away and tries to breathe through his mouth.

“Hi,” He begins, glancing up at Suhyeok as they both pretend to be invested in Mr Lee’s demonstration.

Suhyeok doesn’t immediately respond, and Choengsan is beginning to suspect he either isn’t going to or didn’t hear him, so he opens his mouth to try again when the Alpha finally responds.

“Did you want something, Cheongsan?” His friend asks, voice cold, not once turning to look at him, “Because I thought I made it clear I needed some space from you.”

Yeah, he’s pissed.

“I can see you’re angry with me. In fact, I can smell it too, but Suhyeok, you need to know, when I said that about Alpha’s earlier; I wasn’t talking about you,” He explains, his words quiet, only loud enough for either of them to hear.

Confusion mixes into the anger in the Alpha’s scent, a frown between his friend’s brow when Cheongsan looks up at him.

“I thought...” The Alpha starts before his throat bobs in a swallow, “...I thought you were rubbing salt in the wound,” He finishes, the tense anger in his voice being replaced by confused hurt.

Cheongsan feels the guilt burn stronger at the Alpha’s words, he can hear the hurt in his voice.

“I know I can be an asshole, but I’m not cruel like that,” Cheongsan replies, before swallowing down his pride, “‘Least of all to you. I’m sorry for hurting you,”

And he is, whilst he’s not proud of the way he can be an asshole to those who care about him, he knows he doesn’t do it out of a mean place in his heart. It’s his idiotic defence mechanism when people get too close to somewhere he doesn’t want them. He’s not cruel though, and he’d never derive any enjoyment from hurting Suhyeok just for the sake of hurting him.

“Which time?” Suhyeok asks him, a flash of pain bleeding into his features before he blinks and it’s gone.

Looking away, Cheongsan frowns in misery, completely conflicted. Turning fully to Suhyeok, he dares place his hand on the Alpha’s arm and can feel the muscles there tense at his touch.

“Suhyeok, I…”

“Ahem,” A loud male voice interrupts.

“Cheongsan, Suhyeok, unless you two want to set yourselves alight, I recommend you actually pay attention to what I’m demonstrating here. You can have your lovers quarrel later,” Mr Lee snarks at them, numerous class members erupting into laughter as Cheongsan’s face burns in embarrassment.

God, teachers can be assholes.

Turning away from Suhyeok, he pretends to tune his ears back into what Mr Lee is saying as the older Alpha resumes his demonstration but he’s totally distracted, the Alpha standing beside him the only thing running through his brain.

With regret, he walks away from Suhyeok to return to his seat when Mr Lee dismisses them, satisfied at least that he’d managed to smooth out the angry lines of the Alpha’s body, if not the hurt.

Taking his seat next to Gyeongsu, the class around them begin their experiments, the room filling with the smell of burning butane as they light their Bunsens.

Turning to Gyeongsu for guidance, totally lost as to what they’re supposed to do, he freezes when his best friend turns to him with the exact same expression across his face.

“Don’t look at me like that, I always leave this part to you,” Gyeongsu says, crossing his arms to give Cheongsan an unimpressed once over.

Dropping his head into his hands, he groans in misery before sending a silent prayer out to the universe: Please don’t let them burn the building down.

Cheongsan has been so distracted by his little Alpha problem all day that he’d totally forgotten about another Alpha problem he has.

Gwinam.

Leaving the labs with Gyeongsu in tow, his stomach guides him in the direction of the cafeteria, growling when he ponders what might be for lunch today. They’d just about managed to not burn the building down, Onjo and Isak begrudgingly turning around to them to whisper what they were supposed to do. Their results had been total crap but Cheongsan doesn’t care, he’s just grateful he didn’t cause a catastrophe with Gyeongsu's help.

Walking along the bustling halls of the school, they descend to the ground floor, the din of moving feet and chattering students surrounding them as they move. Ignoring all that, and nodding along but not really listening to Gyeongsu’s spiel about how they deserve a snack break in addition to lunch hour, he watches Suhyeok’s gel head disappear into the Boys’ toilets, the Alpha shouldering the door open.

With a sigh, he realises Suhyeok is likely not joining them in the cafeteria. The Alpha probably already has a prepared lunch in his backpack, that he’ll eat in the library. Guilt washes through him once again that day, knowing the Alpha’s isolation from his friends is all Cheongsan’s fault.

Lost in thought, he misses the way the voices around him suddenly go deadly quiet and nearly barrels straight into someone standing stock still in the middle of the corridor. A frown pulls his brows down at this asshole’s idiotic behaviour, but when he lifts his eyes to a pair of badly bloodshot ones, his face goes slack with apprehension.

Gwinam is glaring bloody murder down at him, his jaw clenched, his scent a disgusting barrage of anger and what can only be loathing by how it catches at the back of Cheongsan’s throat and makes his nose burn. The Alpha’s face is marred by a litany of bruises spanning across his right temple all the way to his lower left jaw. The worst of them, a deep purple so dark it’s almost black, centred around his left cheekbone and eye socket.

Suhyeok has got one mean right hook, clearly.

The white of the bandage across the Alpha’s nose sticks out starkly against the wrecked skin of his face.

Cheongsan recovers enough from this unwanted surprise to plaster a warning glare up at the Alpha. Unbelievably, he sees from his peripheral vision Gyeongsu slink away from beside him, back in the direction they came.

The fucking coward’s abandoned him.

“Unless you want to be expelled this time, Gwinam; I suggest you move,” He warns the Alpha, staring him down.

With the amount of anger running through Gwinam, it seems to take him a minute to unclench his jaw enough to even reply to Cheongsan. When he does, his words are deadly quiet.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble you got me in?” He asks Cheongsan, a muscle in his cheek twitching, “My Father was going to pull me from school, and force me to enlist in the Army!” The Alpha growls, his eyes wide with rage.

“You got yourself into trouble, Gwinam. In the future, maybe learn how to keep your hands to yourself,” He fires back, every muscle in his body going tight should he need to move fast.

The Alpha takes another step closer at that, lowering his head to bring their faces within inches of each other. “You might be able to spout that mouth off now, Omega, but someday, you’re gonna get yours. Someday, an Alpha will teach you your proper place: Caught bleeding on the end of a knot. My only regret is I won’t be the one to do it,”.

Cheongsan tries to maintain his glare, his stoicism, but he can’t suppress the effect the Alpha’s words have on him, and when his breath catches and a shiver of fear runs through him, the glare on his face cracking, Gwinam grins nastily, satisfied he’s gotten to him.

A warm presence fills the space to his right in the next second, and as Gwinam lifts his head to look, the Alpha’s glare transferring to the person beside him, Cheongsan looks up to see Suhyeok at his shoulder.

His friend’s entire body is tense, as he glares back at Gwinam, a clear warning in his eyes.

As the two Alphas stare each other down, Cheongsan turns when he feels another presence slide up to his left side. Gyeongsu stands there, throwing his own heated glare at the Alpha before them. He must’ve slinked off to retrieve Suhyeok from the Boys’ bathroom.

Cheongsan feels immense guilt for ever doubting his friend.

Gwinam grins at the three of them, his eyes swaying between Gyeongsu and Suhyeok by his shoulders, a mean laugh leaving him.

“Adorable!” He declares, pointing between them.

“You, though…” Gwinam starts, sauntering up to Suhyeok, that grin ever present as he shakes his head in pity, grin mockingly in his face, “You stand there possessively, protecting him, fighting for him, and yet…” The grin widens even further in delight.

“...he doesn’t even want you…”

Cheongsan’s heart begins to pound in his chest as Gwinam laughs loudly in Suhyeok’s face, the blood rushing in his ears. Suhyeok doesn’t visibly react much, but his scent changes, the rage and warning scent developing an undertone of pain.

“Walk away, Gwinam,” Suhyeok seethes quietly, sounding so unlike himself, so dangerous.

Gwinam gives him and Suhyeok one more psychotic grin, raising his hands in surrender before the guy turns and parades away, not a care in the world.

“Are you alright?” Suhyeok asks him but doesn’t look at him, eyes growing distant.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You didn’t need to come,” He offers, feeling guilty.

Suhyeok sighs at that, sounding fed up, “Always so proud, Cheongsan,”.

Frowning, Cheongsan reaches up to turn the Alpha to him, his friend misunderstanding him, “No, I mean, I’m sorry for always dragging you into my mess. But I’m grateful,” He explains, hoping his sincerity is obvious in his gaze.

“Yeah, man, thanks. Gwinam would’ve totally kicked my ass,” Gyeongsu adds, sidling up to offer Suhyeok a grin.

The Alpha huffs a small laugh at that, before he nods, “Enjoy lunch, guys,” And then he’s gone, retreating back down the corridor towards his locker.

Cheongsan watches him go, guilt eating him up with every step Suhyeok puts between them.

“C’mon man, let’s go eat. All this action has me starving,” Gyeongsu says, throwing his arm over Cheongsan’s shoulder to turn and lead him to the cafeteria.

In Ethics, the final class of the day, Cheongsan is, as usual, not paying attention to the lecture, but rather debating his next move with Suhyeok. Cheongsan hopes Suhyeok, who sits a few rows in front of him in this class, can’t feel the weight of his eyes too much as Cheongsan ponders how to approach the Alpha.

He knows where Suhyeok heads off in the direction of home after school. He’s seen the guy saunter down the path toward the woods and the construction work beyond. Thinking on it further, there’s no way Suhyeok hikes up the mountain to his house. If Cheongsan was a betting man, he’d say the private driver that picked him up and dropped him home the other night parks somewhere to collect Suhyeok after school.

Cheongsan can’t help but smile fondly over at his friend. In comparison to people like Nayeon who flaunt their wealth and weaponise their upper-class privilege to shame and mock others, Suhyeok goes to efforts to downplay his own family’s wealth, clearly not interested in all that can come with people knowing you’ve got money.

Cheongsan half suspects Nayeon would smooch up to Suhyeok in a heartbeat if she learned he’s upper class too.

He’s gonna approach Suhyeok after school. He’s gonna apologise for being a ginormous dickhead and they’re gonna move on from all this, go back to the way things were, back to generously teasing each other, stealing from each other's plates at lunch, and roughhousing until Suhyeok eventually pins Cheongsan into the dirt like always.

Determined now, he startles slightly when his phone vibrates against his thigh in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glances subtly under the table to read the message his Papa has sent him.

‘Hey kiddo, I’m picking you up after school today. Got a surprise for ya!’

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Frowning down at his phone, Cheongsan sends back a quick message in affirmation to his Papa before he repockets his phone. Eyes lingering on the shoulders of his Alpha friend, he sighs despondently.

He was so psyched up to apologise and everything.

Slamming his locker shut a while later, Cheongsan turns to gaze over at the lockers opposite his, where Suhyeok is busy swapping out his own material to take home. When the Alpha eventually shoulders his backpack and closes his locker before turning to leave, Cheongsan steps into his field of view and smiles up at his friend.

“See you tomorrow, man,”

Suhyeok pauses, before giving him a stiff nod and an awkward half-smile before walking away, leaving Cheongsan watching his retreating form, crestfallen.

Onjo glides up to him then, “Ready to go?” She asks, wrapping her hands around the straps of her backpack.

“My Papa is actually picking me up today, Onjo, sorry. Do you want me to ask him to drop you home?” He asks, feeling guilty for leaving his friend.

“That’s odd. He never collects you any other day,” She comments, frowning quizzically.

“He said he has a surprise for me,” Cheongsan replies with an awkward shrug, slightly embarrassed.

“Right. Nah, you’re good. I’ll walk,” She responds, turning with him as they begin heading in the direction of the exit.

“If you’re sure?”

“It’s fine, ‘San. It’s a nice cool day out, I’ll live,”

“Okay,” He replies, letting it go.

Walking side by side out into the evening sun with Onjo, he keeps his eyes peeled for his Papa’s rusted old car. Cheongsan tries not to feel embarrassed about the prospect of his Father’s ancient car idling alongside the brand-new electric cars that some parents drive.

Once past the main gate, a honk sounds to his right, causing him to swivel his head around in that direction.

His Papa smiles and waves at him from behind the wheel, a few paces down the street.

Waving back to let him know he’s spotted him, Cheongsan turns back to Onjo.

“Don’t catch a sunburn,” He teases with an evil laugh as he begins backing away, grinning cheekily at her.

Rolling her eyes at him, she waves overenthusiastically in goodbye, Cheongsan well aware that had his Papa not been watching them, she’d be giving him the finger right now instead.

Turning with a laugh, he jogs the rest of the way down the street to his Papa’s car, sidling up to the passenger side door and yanking it open. Dropping into the seat with a sigh, he swings his backpack off his shoulders and throws it down into the footwell.

“Good day?” His Papa asks him as he directs the car into traffic.

“Was fine,” Cheongsan replies, not entirely lying, he’s definitely had worse in recent memory.

Getting comfortable against the worn passenger seat, he glances into the back, expecting to find this ‘surprise’ his Papa apparently has for him there. It’s empty though, even the footwells bearing nothing.

“Where’s my surprise?” He asks his Papa as he straightens back in his seat, confused now.

“Oh, there isn’t one. I just said that so you’d agree to join me,” His Papa casually responds and Cheongsan frowns over at him.

“Okay… why were you so determined for me to join you?” He asks, slightly apprehensive now.

“I wanted someone to come check out this new fried chicken restaurant downtown with me. We’ve got competition, Cheongsan!” His Father tells him, scandalised.

“Oh. Alright, then,” Cheongsan agrees easily, his mood instantly improving at the prospect of fried chicken for dinner.

Twenty minutes later, they’re both working their way through a family bucket of fried chicken, the car parked in the lot of the respective fried chicken restaurant.

Finishing his final drum, Cheongsan reaches for a napkin in the centre console, his lips and fingers covered in grease.

Cleansing his palate with a sip of his soda a minute later, Cheongsan smiles when his Papa sighs dramatically before falling back against the seat, sated and full as he discards his last chicken wing.

“Your Mama is going to be furious,” He comments, wiping his own mouth with a napkin.

“I think that’s an understatement, Papa,” Cheongsan replies, smiling in amusement around his straw.

“It was delicious, wasn’t it?” His Papa asks him, looking over at him with mild worry in his eyes.

“Yep,” Cheongsan answers, grinning wide as he places his drink back down in the holder.

His Mama won’t be furious about them trying out this new fried chicken restaurant but she will be furious that they enjoyed it, and that they now have competition in the area. He’ll leave the reporting back to her, to his Papa.

“Should we head home?” Cheongsan asks with a small smile, sated but also tired from a long day in school. He wouldn’t mind lying down for a half hour right now.

His Papa glances over at him then, an odd look appearing in his eyes before he attempts to appear casual. Cheongsan frowns; his Papa never was a good actor.

“I lied,” His Father admits, turning in his seat to give Cheongsan his full attention, “I did want to check this place out, but it was also a convenient excuse,”

“A convenient excuse for what?” Cheongsan asks, beginning to get nervous now, the fried chicken in his stomach turning over unhappily.

“I wanted to talk about what happened in the Grocery store parking lot on Saturday, Cheongsan,” His Papa tells him quietly, gently, like he’s afraid Cheongsan will spook and leap out of the car like a frightened deer.

Looking away, Cheongsan shifts in his seat, confused, “I told you what happened: Crazy old guy wanted loose change, I didn’t have any, he got angry, so I ran” Cheongsan says, the lie rolling off his tongue.

His Father doesn’t immediately reply to that, rather he sits there patiently, smiling softly at Cheongsan, when he risks glancing up.

“But that’s not entirely true, is it Cheongsan?” He asks, still with that careful tone.

Hackles rising, Cheongsan attempts to brush his Papa off. Laughing in an attempt to appear unbothered, he reaches for his soda, needing something to put between himself and that patient look his father is giving him.

“Except it is, Papa,” He replies, before taking a sip from his soda, glancing away from his Father’s eyes to survey the empty parking lot.

“I called the Police when we got home on Saturday and told them that you, my seventeen-year-old Omega son, had been chased by some crazy bastard as you’d returned our trolley,” His Father starts, and Cheongsan freezes where he’s casually sipping from his soda to glare over at his Papa.

“You told them I was an Omega?” He demands to know, anger burning in his chest.

“Don’t get upset. It’s an important factor to include, son. Along with your age,” His Father replies, before he pointedly continues when Cheongsan opens his mouth to argue, “They rang me back today while you were in school. The officer I spoke to told me they’d found the crazy old bastard…”.

Cheongsan’s stomach bottoms out with the knowing look in his Father’s eyes as the next words leave his mouth.

“...a crazy old Alpha bastard, on the verge of his rut…” His Father finishes, watching him closely for his reaction.

Successfully cornered and caught out in his lie, Cheongsan drops his soda back into the holder, unable to look back at his Papa and the knowing look he’s watching him with.

Sighing in utter misery, he falls back against the passenger seat and does his best to try to breathe through the emotion flooding his throat. Staring down at his lap, he starts picking at his cuticles again with his nail, the skin there barely given a chance to heal at all.

“What about it?” He eventually demands when his Father doesn’t say anything else, his voice leaving him in an unsteady warble.

Watching a bead of blood bloom on the skin around his left thumbnail, Cheongsan blinks when a pair of larger, older, more calloused hands take both of his in their warm grip, halting his destructive behaviour to hold them steady, as his Father scoots closer to him in his seat.

“What really happened, Cheongsan?” His Father asks him gently as he rubs his thumbs across the back of Cheongsan’s hands in comfort.

Breath catching in his throat, Cheongsan clenches his jaw in an effort to keep himself together. He’s not about to break down in front of his Father. He can already feel the tendrils of embarrassment when tears pool in his eyes, no doubt visible to the older man.

“I don’t wanna talk about this,” He replies hoarsely, wishing his Father would just let him try and forget about what happened and move on.

His Father gives his hands a reassuring squeeze, “Please, Cheongsan…what happened?” He persists, his voice full of concern.

Something in his Father’s voice defeats him then, the older man sounding so worried, even afraid for him. Releasing a ragged breath, the taste of salt hits his lips as the tears in his eyes pour down his cheeks.

“...he threatened to rape me,” Cheongsan admits quietly, the words barely above a whisper. “He threatened to rape me, tried to grab me, so I ran,”.

When his Father moves to pull him into his arms, Cheongsan goes, the comfort proving too much for him as a sob catches in his throat. His Papa shushes him, his hand rubbing up and down Cheongsan’s back in comfort.

Crying quietly, Cheongsan clings to the back of Father’s coat, everything he’d been repressing from that experience in the grocery store parking lot cascading out of him in waves.

When his tears eventually dry up, he sighs and pulls back out of his Papa’s arms, face burning in embarrassment. Sitting back against the passenger seat, he can’t meet his Father’s eyes, can only stare down at his lap as his hands are taken up in that comforting grip again.

“Sorry,” He mumbles into the interior of the car.

“Cheongsan, please, don’t apologise. You have nothing to be sorry for,” His Papa tells him before he reaches down to take up a napkin and wipe Cheongsan’s face clean of tears and snot.

“Thank you for telling me,”

Nodding, Cheongsan risks a glance up at his Father, seeing nothing but concern and worry in his eyes. “I’m sorry I lied,” He offers, his voice thick.

His Father sighs at that, squeezing Cheongsan’s hands in his. “Why did you lie, Cheongsan?” He enquires gently.

Looking away, Cheongsan swallows, finding it difficult to articulate what he’s feeling, why he even lied in the first place. It’d been such a kneejerk reaction in the car that day but it’s one he’s been using more and more lately, not just with his Papa.

“I think I was ashamed,” He begins quietly, watching his Father’s thumbs rubbing against the back of his hands, “I didn’t want you to think less of me. It’s already bad enough I’m an Omega now, I didn’t want you to think I was weak too, a victim” He admits, even now the fear of being a disappointment to his Father builds at the back of his mind.

In the ensuing silence, his Father is quiet for long enough that Cheongsan starts to get scared he was right to be afraid. However, upon lifting his eyes back to his Papa’s, the immense guilt he sees in them freezes him in surprise.

“I’m so sorry I ever made you feel like that, Cheongsan,” His Father tells him, his voice full of regret.

“I’ve tried my best to be a good Father to you, a good husband to your Mother, but I don’t always get it right, and in truth, I have…issues of my own but listen to me, I could never be ashamed of you. Or think so little of you. When you presented, the only thing I felt about the whole thing was concern for you, Cheongsan. But I wouldn’t change a single strand of hair on your head, not one,” His Father tells him fiercely, his eyes ablaze with the conviction he feels behind every word.

Breathing carefully, Cheongsan wills the tears pooling in his eyes to subside, determined not to cry again as he nods, his Father’s words washing away so much fear he had of being a disappointment, a failure to him as his only son.

“You’re really not embarrassed by me now?” He asks, one last clawed hand holding on stubbornly.

“Never. You’re my boy. My source of pride,” He tells him passionately, his voice alight with it.

As that clawed hand falls away, Cheongsan lets the tears spill over, anyway. He realises, this time, they’re the good kind.

They sit in silence for a while longer, Cheongsan lost in thought when his Father speaks again, quietly.

“I’m sorry I wasn't there to protect you from that Alpha,” He says, his voice full of regret.

Shaking his head, Cheongsan frowns over at him in disagreement, “You couldn’t have known, Papa,” He reassures, this time he squeezes his Father’s hands back in comfort, “I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” He admits, remembering his surprise when the Alpha had come lumbering out of the alley.

“...He didn’t… touch you?” His Father asks him, fear and concern across his mature face.

“No, just tried to grab me. But I ran before he could,”.

“Okay, that’s good,” His Papa replies, relief clear in his voice and on his face.

“That officer who rang me? He told me the guy’s been taken off the streets. Apparently, he had some warrants out for his arrest already so he’s locked up for good, Cheongsan,” His Papa reassures him, holding his gaze seriously.

Nodding, Cheongsan holds his Father’s gaze, surprised to feel relief actually pass through him with that news. He knew the chances of ever seeing that Alpha again were slim to none but he’s just relieved in general the man is behind bars and away from other Omega’s too.

Frowning, he glances down at their interlocked hands, not quite done talking about this.

“He was so angry, Papa. He didn’t even know me but it didn’t matter. Because I was an Omega, he looked at me with such hate in his eyes,” Cheongsan tells his Father, just not understanding how someone could hate him so much, for an innate quality about himself he has absolutely no control over.

“Listen to me, Cheongsan,” His Father starts, waiting until Choengsan lifts his eyes again, “What that Alpha said to you, what he…tried to do to you, has nothing to do with you personally. It could’ve been any other Omega standing there. He is simply a twisted, evil human being, and his opinion of you, and Omegas, is worth less than dogshit,”.

Nodding, Cheongsan can’t help but laugh at his Father’s language. His Papa would cuff him upside the head if he swore like that. As his Father grins back, Cheongsan reaches forward to hug him again, before they finally let go to sit back in their seats.

“Ready to go and face your Mother?” His Papa asks, his eyes widening comically in mock fear.

Laughing, Cheongsan nods again, reaching behind himself to do his seatbelt before smiling up at his Papa.

“Yeah, let’s go home."

Chapter Text

Tuesday finds Cheongsan more rested than he’s been in days. He finally managed a decent sleep last night. When he’d gotten home after his eventful evening with his Papa, he’d lazied about for an hour before dragging himself to his desk to do homework. After, he’d felt the exhaustion of days of inadequate rest crash down on him, leading him to fall into bed, asleep within minutes of his head hitting the pillow.

He thinks he was also quite emotionally exhausted, after being honest about what happened with his Papa.

He’s still trying his best to not feel too embarrassed about that. He knows his Papa told him to never feel embarrassed or ashamed about being vulnerable like that with him but Cheongsan thinks it’ll take a while for those words to sink in.

He thinks he has a lot of unlearning of certain thought processes to do.

He’s a work in progress, but he figures it’s okay to be so at seventeen.

Scribbling into the margins of his notebook, the deep voice of his Korean Literature teacher fades into the background as Cheongsan colours each second line in intervals of blue and red. He should probably be doing his best to focus and pay attention but he’s feeling a bit disheartened by Korean literature this morning.

He’d handed in the essay he’d completed the other day and received an underwhelming grade, to say the least. Cheongsan knows he’s not intellectually gifted but damn, he thought he was on fire that evening.

Completing his artwork within the margins of his page, he sits back and tilts his head at it, wondering what else he could add. When someone else’s hand reaches over and closes his notebook pointedly, Cheongsan looks up into the unimpressed eyes of Gyeongsu.

“Pay attention, dude. Whose notes am I going to copy off later if not yours?” Gyeongsu asks in a whisper, before grinning amusedly at him.

With an eye roll, Cheongsan grins back before sitting forward to lean his chin on his hand, attempting to tune back into the lecture.

He’s only got another 20 minutes left of the hour anyway, so he probably won’t gain anything of value from this class but at least he can appease his regret later by telling himself he tried.

When the bell sounds off above his head, he jumps in surprise, managing to completely zone out for the last 15 of the 20 minutes left in the class.

Standing, he stuffs his materials back into his backpack before swinging it over his shoulder and following Gyeongsu out the door.

Anxiety simmers low in his gut for what they’ve got next today; Gym class. Two hours of exercise, in the Government’s weak attempt to keep them all fit and healthy. He doesn’t mind, he oftentimes enjoys the team sports they get to play, ranging from soccer to dodgeball to basketball.

Cheongsan has been trying his best to not agonise over the two hours ahead of him. Usually, before he presented, he'd enjoy Gym class. He even excelled at a few sports, most especially basketball but since he’s presented, there’s one aspect of the whole thing that’s been making him nervous.

The boys’ locker rooms.

He can admit to himself that even before the Omega inside him reared his head, he was quite uncomfortable in the boys’ locker rooms. He’s never been the guy that strolls around in his birthday suit or dares to whip his classmates on the butt with a towel. Cheongsan has always been very strict with his towel use during the showers. The only time he’ll ever be actually naked is when behind the curtain of the shower stall. Between getting into the stall and after getting out of the stall, he’ll always keep his towel around his waist.

The audaciousness of some of his classmates when getting changed and showering in the locker rooms has brought heat to his face more times than he can count. Wujin, in particular, is a menace. Parading around naked and pulling Daesu’s towel off, making crass jokes about his friend’s manhood, or enquiring loudly about who is bigger or other rude comparisons. Gyeongsu can be just as bad at times and often joins in on Wujin’s tomfoolery to torment Joon-yeong too, who barely tolerates it.

Cheongsan steadfastly ignores their immature behaviour by changing as quickly as possible under his towel, his eyes never straying from the bench in front of him if he can help it.

If he can help it, but oftentimes the guys think it funny to steal his deodorant or hide his gym bag somewhere, so Cheongsan, with his face as red as a tomato must turn and demand his things back, whilst trying his very best to not get too much of an eye-full of swinging members or butt cracks.

Wujin and Gyeongsu both know though, not to dare yank his towel off or pull him from the showers. One time, in their first year in Hyosan High, Wujin had thought it would be hilarious to pull back Cheongsan’s curtain whilst he was in the middle of soaping up, and demand to see his pubic hair growth, for apparently the guys were comparing.

Mortified beyond reason and caught completely by surprise, Cheongsan’s fist swung out and met Wujin’s nose before he even knew what he was doing.

After an awkward apology from Wujin later, and a promise to never do that again, they’d moved on from the incident; the message clear to all the boys in their class: Cheongsan is a giant prude.

He wouldn’t say he’s a giant prude, but yeah, he gets really embarrassed and uncomfortable about nudity.

One of the reasons Cheongsan has always felt so comfortable around Suhyeok is because, unlike Gyeongsu or Wujin, the Alpha is very respectful of Cheongsan’s boundaries. In fact, he’s very respectful in his entirety. Whilst Suhyeok isn’t prudish or shy, the Alpha never partakes in the tomfoolery the other guys seem to enjoy. Or at least, Cheongsan has never seen him partake. Suhyeok is similar to him in that he gets changed and showered without any fuss, or stalling, just in and out.

Last Tuesday, Cheongsan hadn’t been ready to rejoin the guys in the locker rooms so soon after his first Heat. He’d falsely claimed to have forgotten to bring his Gym bag to class, and been allowed to sit on the sidelines by Mr Kang, their Gym teacher. The Beta is usually quite unforgiving about being so forgetful, and in fact, Cheongsan has seen the guy provide students in that predicament with shorts and a shirt from the Lost and Found, reeking of dry sweat.

When the Gym teacher had frowned at him for a few seconds before ordering him to sit quietly on the sidelines for two hours, Cheongsan had been grateful. He suspects Mr Kang could see right through his lies but the Beta seemed willing to accommodate him that time. The teacher had most likely heard about his new designation in the Teacher's lounge.

This week, he suspects that excuse won’t fly for a second time, so he’s packed his Gym bag and pushed down his nerves, telling himself he can’t avoid Gym class for the rest of High school anyway.

Following his class group out of the main building, he and Gyeongsu amble down toward the Gymnasium side by side, pondering between them what sport they think they’ll be playing today.

He keeps telling himself that his new designation will change nothing and that he has no reason to be nervous about changing with the guys now. Well, no more reason than usual, but even still his stomach is alight with butterflies, and anxiety creeps along his skin the closer they get to the locker rooms.

He hopes they’re at least playing Basketball today. It’s his favourite.

Entering the building, their class group separates into two streams; the girls flow into one changing room, whilst the boys flow into another.

Following after Gyeongsu, he stops at his usual place near the door of the musty-smelling changing room, dropping his gym bag onto the bench before him. Pulling his sweater up over his head, he keeps his eyes focused straight ahead, as the sounds of clothes rustling as they’re being removed reaches his ears.

Folding his sweater, he places it on the bench at his knees before he starts undoing the buttons of his shirt, his fingers deftly releasing each one. Pulling his shirt from his trousers, he drops it from his shoulders, before folding and placing it atop his sweater.

Anxiety rising slightly, he toes off his shoes under the bench before he undoes the button on his pants and pulls his zipper down.

Wujin, from somewhere behind him, begins his antics by loudly commenting on Daesu’s choice of underwear; they’re bright pink apparently.

Pulling his pants down his legs, his heart thrums a speedy rhythm in his chest as he lifts one leg to pull one trouser leg off before switching feet to do the same to the other. Straightening back up, he folds his trousers as his Mama taught him and adds them atop the rest, before placing the folded uniform into his gym bag to put back on later.

Quickly pulling his gym shorts on, followed by his shirt, he awkwardly balances on one leg as he attempts to put on his trainers. Nearly unbalancing and falling sideways, he grudgingly sits on the bench to get them on, carefully keeping his eyes down, but unavoidably catching sight of long legs and bare skin from his peripheral vision.

Dressed, he makes a beeline for the door, congratulating himself in his head for completing that part without fuss.

—--------------------------------------------

Breathing hard with sweat glistening across his skin, an hour and forty-five minutes later, Cheongsan trails after the guys as they make their way back to the lockers. Basketball it’d been, after all, his luck winning out. He’d played hard and exerted himself with pleasure as he raced across the court with the ball.

“I don’t know how you’re so freakin’ fast, Cheongsan. I swear, man, you should join the track team,” Gyeongsu compliments him, between laboured breaths as they approach the lockers.

“Just good genetics, I guess,” He shrugs, with a smug grin, “But nah, Track and Field is boring,”

“Fair enough,” Gyeongsu replies, walking before him to enter the locker room.

Sidling up to his place by the bench, Cheongsan’s anxiety returns with what he’s got to do next, what he’s always dreaded doing every week with the guys; hit the showers.

This is when the tomfoolery really begins and Cheongsan wants absolutely no part in it. Now more than ever.

Reaching into his gym bag, he removes his folded school uniform and places it back down on the bench, before reaching further down in the bag for the larger of the two towels he brings in. Swallowing nervously, he kicks off his trainers, before pulling his sweaty shirt off his back, the material clinging to his skin unpleasantly.

“Jesus, Gyeongsu, ever think of shaving? I’m surprised you can even find your little guy in there,”

“Shut the fuck up, Wujin, it’s not that bad. Besides, hasn’t anyone ever told you that the plucked chicken look you’re sporting won’t make it look any bigger?”

As raucous laughter sounds around him from the guys, Cheongsan swivels his towel around his hips, knotting it high on his waist before very carefully shimming his gym shorts and briefs down his thighs till gravity drops them to the floor, allowing him to step out of them.

Bending over carefully so as to not undo his towel, Cheongsan throws both his briefs and gym shorts atop his sweaty shirt before grabbing his shampoo, shower gel and washcloth. Mentally bracing, his face already burning, Cheongsan turns and heads for the shower stalls past the other side of the room.

Skin, of varying shades from pale pink to caramel, on body types of all kinds, assaults his eyes as he walks briskly to his shower stall, trying but unfortunately failing to not notice any further details of his friends’ bodies.

Gyeongsu really does need to trim that bush, at the very least.

Stepping into his stall, he drags the curtain thoroughly across, ensuring no gaps are present before he pauses and with the spike of nerves he always gets, loosens his towel around his waist to hang it over the bar of the shower curtain.

Standing there in all his glory, he turns on the shower and goes rigid when the cold spray shoots out across his chest, a gasp escaping his lips from the shock to his skin. As the water almost begrudgingly heats up, he walks under the spray fully to let it cascade down his face and through his hair.

From the shower stalls on both sides of him, the sounds of the guys starting their own showers reach his ears, and someone suddenly lets out a shriek at how cold the water is.

“No jacking off now guys, the pipes can’t handle it. Are you listening, Wujin?” Gyeongsu crudely jokes from somewhere to his right, laughter erupting after.

“Ha, ha. You’re gross, dude,” Wujin replies, his tone attempting to sound unbothered but annoyance creeping in any way. Wujin is notorious for being able to dish it out but for the life of him, cannot take it.

Shampooing his hair, Cheongsan hums to himself in an attempt to drown out their immature behaviour.

As he’s soaping up his body, he begins to relax, realising he has nothing to worry about, the guys' behaviour as annoying but as normal as ever.

Using his washcloth, he drags it across every inch of the skin of his body, before paying particular attention to his nether regions. Feeling refreshed and clean, he rinses himself thoroughly under the spray before blindly reaching over and shutting off the tap. Wiping water from his eyes, he turns and yanks his towel off the curtain rod, patting himself dry before swinging it around his hips, his modesty restored.

Pulling the shower curtain back, he steps out and nearly collides with miles of tan skin and toned muscles across a broad chest.

“Sorry,” He says on reflex, stepping back as he looks up into Suhyeok’s eyes.

Suhyeok stops with the near collision, smiling awkwardly down at Cheongsan as he stands there with a towel wrapped around his own hips, his skin glowing and damp from the shower, his black hair wet and pushed back out of his face.

Effortlessly gorgeous, as always.

Returning the awkward smile, Cheongsan leads the way out of the showers, noticing with annoyance most of the guys have already washed and are currently standing there flaunting it all. They clearly aren’t as thorough with cleaning themselves as Cheongsan. Or Suhyeok for that matter. Dirty bastards the lot of them.

Stepping up to his gym bag, Cheongsan sighs in quiet annoyance as Wujin and Gyeongsu really kick their childish behaviour into high gear.

Pulling his roll-on deodorant out of his bag, Cheongsan begins to apply it under his armpits when he hears Wujin parade up to Suhyeok.

“Suhyeok, my man; I have a request,” The Beta begins, his tone betraying he’s about to do something to annoy the fuck out of the Alpha.

“And what is that, Wujin?” Suhyeok asks tiredly.

“Let me see if what they say about Alphas is true,” Wujin replies lightning fast before Cheongsan hears rather than sees the Beta rip off Suhyeok’s towel.

In the shocked silence that follows, Cheongsan frowns, his roll-on deodorant pausing in his hands.

“Jesus, fuck, Suhyeok. You never said you had a third leg!” Wujin exclaims in the next second, and Cheongsan’s eyes go wide once he registers the words' meaning. Laughter and words of agreement sound around him from his classmates, some bemoaning the Alpha’s endowment.

“Wujin. Can I have my towel back now?” Suhyeok replies calmly, his tone expressing he’s totally tired of the Beta’s carry-on.

“Man, I hope you’re a shower and not a grower because honestly, I feel sorry for any Omega that tries that monster out,” Wujin continues in disbelief, ignoring Suhyeok’s request for his towel.

In the next moment, as Suhyeok demands his towel again, Cheongsan is gripped by a strong desire, the feeling pushing to the forefront of his mind. The disbelief in Wujin’s voice has his curiosity piqued, he can’t deny it. He’s heard the rumours that Alphas are well endowed, the same as everyone else, but he’s never seen the physical evidence of it.

He’s curious, that’s all it is; curiosity.

With his head lowered, his heart begins to race in his chest as he slowly and as subtly as he can, begins turning his gaze in Suhyeok’s direction.

The terracotta tiles of the floor move across his vision as his gaze travels deeper into the space, the calves and feet of the other boys appearing in his field of view of no interest.

With his gaze sliding up to the spot he knows Suhyeok always changes by, a pair of tan feet standing shoulder-width apart confirm he’s found his target.

Following up from those, toned calves, nearly hairless, meet at the knee with thick thighs, the evident strength in their size making Cheongsan’s mouth fall open in surprise. Burning anticipation races through him as he drags his eyes up those legs, and when he lands on his target, his eyes widen comically.

Suhyeok’s cock is both impressive in girth and length, lying flaccid against his large hairless balls. The skin of his genitals is darker than the rest of him, especially the head of his member, which Cheongsan could just about see wrapped snugly in his soft, subtle foreskin.

Swallowing against his dry throat, Cheongsan blinks when the Alpha’s muscles on view suddenly flex, his thighs and stomach going tense.

Frowning, Cheongsan lets his eyes raise fully and then, in the next second, he’s holding eye contact with a surprised-looking Suhyeok.

Suhyeok is staring right back at him, an unreadable expression on his blushing face.

Yanking his head back around, Cheongsan’s face burns in turn, the blush rising to the tip of his ears.

Suhyeok caught him looking.

Mortified beyond reason, Cheongsan reaches into his bag for his other smaller towel, as he mentally begs the universe to strike him dead where he stands.

His only comfort is that everyone else was looking too. He’s not weird if everyone was eyeing the Alpha up.

Rubbing the small towel into his wet hair, through his right ear Cheongsan hears Suhyeok successfully yank his towel back from a still disbelief-struck Wujin, the Beta persisting in his crude comments.

He thought the disbelief in the voices of the boys around him must be exaggerated but now, upon seeing it, Cheongsan stands there drying his hair in a similar state of disbelief. Wujin was right, how could anyone handle that monster? Surely even an Omega would struggle. He’s felt the sting of two fingers himself, Cheongsan can’t imagine what being split open by that thing would be like, Suhyeok’s cock looking even too big when soft.

Maybe mating with an Alpha would be different though than when Cheongsan had explored himself alone. He still remembers the effect Suhyeok’s scent had had on him when he was in heat: He had spread his legs wantonly and felt slick slip out of him in increasing amounts the longer he’d been enveloped in his friend's scent. Maybe with some lengthy fingering from Suhyeok, and being surrounded by that beautiful scent, Cheongsan could manage to take that cock.

Jesus, he can only imagine how that stretch would feel as he slid down inch by inch, his hole taut around that massive girth as it penetrated him deeper, opened him wider. Suhyeok would fuck him nice and slow at first, giving him time to adjust, before gradually speeding up, pounding him harder until Cheongsan was a gasping, moaning mess astride his lap.

Until he was on the verge of coming untouched all over himself. Then the Alpha would drive home deep with a growl, clasp Cheongsan’s hips in a steel grip and hold him in place as his knot grew and expanded ever larger until Cheongsan’s mouth would fall open on a silent scream as it locked them together. Suhyeok would breed him then, fill him with Alpha seed, and with his Omega instincts thoroughly satisfied, Cheongsan would shoot cum all over Suhyeok’s chest, milking the Alpha’s knot with his contracting hole in the process.

As his cock starts rising under his towel, he startles slightly where he’s stood drying his hair. Cheongsan hastily pulls his mind away from such lewd thoughts. He’s not even sure why he let his imagination get away from him like that, he’s quite literally surrounded by his classmates right now. This is the last place for that.

Willing his half-hard cock down with the unsexiest thoughts he can muster - Mr Kang naked - Cheongsan drops the small towel from his hair, satisfied the strands are as dry as they're going to get.

Shifting forward, he bends over slightly to reach into the bottom of his Gym bag for his clean underwear.

When slick slips out of him to begin sliding down his right leg, he straightens with a cut-off gasp of horror, clenching his butt where he’s stood. His blush vanishes completely as his face drains of colour, dizziness rocking through his head with the unexpected shock.

“Cheongsan? You okay, man?” Gyeongsu quietly asks from beside him, frowning concernedly at him.

“Y-yeah, I’m good. Must’ve strained a muscle, my calf just locked up real bad,” He attempts to lie, his voice coming out less casual than he’d like.

Gyeongsu frowns further at him with the reply, his eyes relaying he knows something’s not right. When Cheongsan silently beseeches his friend with his eyes to let it go, the Beta eventually nods subtly before his face lights up. “You miss one week of Gym class and you’re already falling apart, man”.

Doing his best to laugh sincerely in reply, Cheongsan turns back to his Gym bag.

What the fuck was that about?! When he’d jacked off the other day, it’d taken minutes into it for slick to become an issue. He’d only been thinking about sex, he’d barely gotten half hard, why did he produce slick so quickly?

It hadn’t been enough to travel far down his leg thankfully. Halting about mid-thigh and hidden beneath the towel around his waist. How is he to discreetly clean it off though with everyone around him? He’s still holding his butt clenched, afraid if he relaxes, more will slip out.

It must’ve been the thoughts of Suhyeok’s girthy cock that triggered such a reaction. It makes sense that, pondering what a challenge it’d be to take that up his ass, that his ass would respond accordingly.

When two of the guys trail past him to leave the locker room, already dressed back in their uniforms, Cheongsan realises he’s taking far too long himself. He’s usually the first one out. Not seeing any other option, he continues with his routine as normal, relaxing his stance incrementally to ensure his body is done producing slick.

When his hole makes no more attempts to prepare him for large Alpha manhoods, he slowly lifts each leg to put his briefs on under his towel, trying not to cringe as the slick along his crack immediately sticks to the fabric.

Entirely uncomfortable now, he pulls up his school trousers hastily under his towel too, before letting it finally drop to the floor around him. Grabbing his shirt and then his sweater, he dresses the rest of the way fast, dying to escape this locker room.

Stuffing his sweaty clothes and damp towels into his gym bag, he throws it over his shoulder before making a beeline for the exit, relieved to be finally leaving.

As it turned out he had no reason to be so worried about Gym class, or the guys’ tomfoolery. It was his traitorous, horny brain he needed to watch out for.

—-------------------------------------------------

Shovelling food into his mouth at lunch not long later, Cheongsan listens to the conversations of his friends going on around him, too busy clearing his tray by inhaling his food to contribute. He’s sitting at the end of the long table filled with his friends. Gyeongsu is sitting to his immediate left, whilst Onjo is opposite him.

The twelve of them hadn’t always sat together like this, but from growing more acquainted and friendly with each other, they’d slowly all migrated to one long table. The six girls: Onjo, Namra, Isak, Hyoryung, Jimin and Miniji, graciously tolerate the general childish behaviour of the boys: Cheongsan, Gyeongsu, Daesu, Wujin, Joonyeong, and until recently, Suhyeok.

A pang of guilt still strikes his chest every time Cheongsan blinks in surprise when instead of Suhyeok taking the seat immediately beside him, Gyeongsu fills it. Gyeongsu is his best friend and Cheongsan loves him like a brother but he misses Suhyeok’s presence beside him at lunch dearly. The Alpha has always been very affectionate with him during the hour, sharing his food with him and robbing from Cheongsan’s tray in return, throwing an arm over his shoulder or playing with his hands in his two large ones.

Cheongsan has never minded Suhyeok’s affections. In truth he doesn’t receive much in the way of physical touch from anyone else so he always welcomed the arm across his shoulders or the warmth of his hands around Cheongsan’s. He’d never admit it aloud but he really misses it.

Somehow his lunch is not as satisfying without Suhyeok’s warm presence.

Pondering on it further, he still needs to clarify to his friends around him that what transpired between Suhyeok and him when he went into heat wasn’t what they thought it was. He’s quite embarrassed to admit that though, to admit he’d wanted Suhyeok that day in the Boys’ toilets.

He was out of mind in heat-lust but he’d still wanted it.

Swallowing, he shifts in his seat before clearing his throat loudly, interrupting a verbal sparing match between Jimin and Daesu in the process. As everyone turns to look at him, he’s very tempted to back down on the idea but in that moment, thinking of Suhyeok eating alone in the library gives him the conviction he needs to open his mouth.

“I wanted to clarify something with you guys. Something that got totally misconstrued from the actual truth,” He starts, before pausing, a blush burning in his cheeks, “The day I went into heat, what… occurred, between me and Suhyeok in the Boys' toilets was completely consensual,”.

His friends around him absorb that information slowly, before Cheongsan notices a number of them look at Onjo. As if they’re waiting for her to provide a counterargument. When he turns to face his best friend opposite him, Onjo’s eyes are conflicted as she drops everyone's gazes to meet his.

“Cheongsan, you weren’t thinking clearly then. You weren’t fully in your right mind, and Suhyeok should’ve never touched you in such a vulnerable state,” She disagrees gently like she’s trying to reason with someone delusional or even crazy.

Sighing in annoyance, Cheongsan tries to not get too angry with her, knowing she’s only saying all this because she cares about him.

“Onjo, you’re right; I wasn’t in my right mind that morning but neither was Suhyeok. You don’t know exactly what happened, you’re missing key details. I saw Suhyeok’s reaction to my… heat. He was completely overwhelmed by it. It’s not his fault,” He finishes, holding her gaze as he tries to convince her of his friend’s innocence.

Conflicted, Onjo breaks eye contact with him to look around the table, for support or something else, he isn’t sure.

Namra cuts in then, looking at Onjo meaningfully before facing Cheongsan. “I think, given what we know about Suhyeok,” She begins, pausing as she directs a meaningful look to all his friends which confuses Cheongsan before she continues “It’s understandable that he could’ve become overwhelmed and acted not in his right mind, as Cheongsan said,” She finishes, smiling understandably at him from the other end of the table.

Nodding, he turns back to Onjo, pleading with her with his eyes to be as understanding as Namra. Onjo holds his gaze, still conflicted before she sighs, “He really didn’t… take advantage of you?” She asks quietly, her face tense at even the idea of that.

“No, Onjo. The whole situation was just one unfortunate occurrence after another, but Suhyeok is entirely blameless…innocent,” He tells her lastly, completely unwilling to defend his friend anymore to her. If this doesn’t convince her, Cheongsan doesn’t know what he’ll do. He can’t even fathom having to choose between her and Suhyeok.

With a sigh, she begins nodding to herself and his heart races in his chest with excited anticipation.

“Okay. I believe you. I’d be okay with Suhyeok rejoining us for lunch,”.

Reaching over, Cheongsan squeezes her hands in thanks, a delighted smile across his face. Pulling back, he’s about to ask the rest of the table if they’re all good with it too when Wujin interrupts loudly.

“Cheongsan, did you really take that absolute monster in the Boys’ toilets that day?” He leans over to ask, looking Cheongsan up and down, scandalised, like he couldn’t imagine it fitting in his skinny frame.

“Wujin!” Jimin squeals opposite him, her face roaring red.

“Seriously, dude?! The mental image you just gave me,” Gyeongsu bemoans behind his hands.

“Shut the hell up, man,” Isak berates, reaching over in an attempt to smack him.

“What?! It’s a valid question. You girls would understand if you saw what Suhyeok’s packing, I mean that thing is HU-”

“Shut up!” Multiple voices exclaim at once.

Cheongsan’s own face is on fire but he can’t help but laugh under his breath at his friend’s familiar lack of tact. Leaning over so he can see Wujin beside Gyeongsu, he replies with amusement colouring his tone. “Not that it’s any of your business, Wujin, but Suhyeok and I never even got our clothes off that day,”.

As the Beta frowns confusedly at him before he asks if they did it clothed, Cheongsan rolls his eyes and sits back, leaving Joonyeong to explain to the guy that no, Suhyeok and Cheongsan did not do the deed that day.

Sitting there in his success of redeeming Suhyeok to his friends, Cheongsan smiles to himself, delighted. Not long after though, he remembers it doesn’t matter anyway; Suhyeok doesn’t want to be anywhere near Cheongsan right now. His exact words were that he needed space, indefinitely.

A frown replacing the smile on his face, he lifts his juice to his lips to sip, staring down at the plastic surface of the table. With the success of redeeming Suhyeok, he’s determined to find a way past their current problem. Cheongsan is so close to having his old life back from before he presented.

The absence of Suhyeok by his side is the only missing part. And it’s a noted absence. Suhyeok means too much to him for Cheongsan to just try to move on without him. He knows what Suhyeok told him about needing space but Cheongsan can reason with him. Make him see that they can go back to the way they were.

It’d be so easy if the Alpha would just agree.

He’s going to try his damn hardest to convince him once school lets out for the day.

—----------------------------------------------------

Naturally, that means his afternoon classes drag by, but in English, when the final bell does ring out during the last class of the day, Cheongsan quickly stands and begins getting his things together.

Turning his head, he glances subtly at the Alpha behind him who is placing his own material away.

As his classmates begin filing out of the room, Cheongsan is about to follow after Suhyeok when Onjo steps in front of him, halting his momentum.

Blinking at her in surprise, he frowns slightly when she awkwardly shifts before him, a conflicted look on her face. Gyeongsu takes one glance at the two of them and promptly high-tails it out of there.

“Onjo?” He asks, somewhat impatiently as he sees from the corner of his eye Suhyeok disappear down the corridor.

“I know you’ve been going through a lot lately, and I’ve realised with the whole Suhyeok situation, that l may have added unnecessarily to your stress,” She begins awkwardly and Cheongsan frowns in confusion… is Onjo apologising to him right now? “Sorry, Cheongsan. I’ll try to be less hard-headed in the future,” She finishes awkwardly.

Eyebrows atop his forehead in astonishment, Cheongsan feels the need to pinch himself. Onjo apologising to him is nearly as shocking as the first time slick slipped down his legs.

“Uh, thank you?” He replies, tilting his head in disbelief.

Nodding, she goes to turn around before stopping. With a solid punch to the arm, she sends him stumbling back, before with a heated glare she points into his face, “Don’t ever tell anyone about this,” She warns before turning and skipping out of the class.

Cradling his bruised bicep, he follows after her, the Suhyeok-plan reentering his brain. Speeding up, he passes out of English class and into the corridor, heading in the direction of his locker, opposite the Alpha’s.

When he gets there, he hastily opens his locker the very second Suhyeok slams his shut behind him and begins walking away to head home. Cursing under his breath, Cheongsan, as quickly as he can, swaps out what homework material he needs before quickly shutting his locker.

Throwing his backpack over his shoulders, he makes to follow the Alpha when Onjo notices him bypassing her swiftly.

“Hey! Where you going?” She demands to know, confused. Gyeongsu beside her, frowns confusedly at his retreating form.

“I’ll catch up with you, I just gotta do something first. Don’t wait for me,” He tells them over his shoulder before turning and beginning to speed walk down the corridor.

When he reaches the main exit, he looks out across the wide campus for Suhyeok’s tall form. Failing to see him anywhere, Cheongsan curses under his breath again before he jumps down the steps two at a time and begins jogging after the Alpha, hoping today, Suhyeok doesn’t decide to change his route home.

Following the dirt path down toward the building site adjacent to the school, he scans his surroundings constantly for the taller boy. The forest that backs up against the school surrounds him the further he follows along the path, the tall trees gently swaying in the breeze with the wind.

Seeing the Alpha walking calmly just up ahead, Cheongsan smiles in relief before beginning to run to catch up the rest of the way with his friend.

Suhyeok’s shoulders go tight in tension when he hears Cheongsan’s running approach, the Alpha turning swiftly with apprehension all over his face like he expects to be jumped. When he realises who has followed him, the apprehension disappears in place of wariness, Suhyeok looking completely unhappy to see him.

“Cheongsan?” Suhyeok asks, turning fully to face him.

“Hey! Thought I’d lost you there for a second,” Cheongsan replies in between breaths, his lungs burning slightly from jogging all the way down here.

Suhyeok frowns at that, shifting uncomfortably where he’s stood. “What do you want, Cheongsan?” He asks outright, sounding almost annoyed.

Swallowing, Cheongsan grips the straps of his backpack, the unfriendly demeanour radiating off the Alpha making him nervous. “I wanted to talk,” He explains to the taller boy, before perking up, “I have some good news,”.

“What’s that? Suhyeok asks him, breaking eye contact to stare off into the trees surrounding them.

“I spoke to our friends about, um, what happened between us when I went into heat. I explained to them how you were never at fault, how it was all just a big misunderstanding,” He starts before smiling excitedly up at the Alpha when he finally turns his gaze to him, “They’ve realised - even Onjo - how wrong they were for what they did to, and they’d be happy for you to join us again for lunch,”

Cheongsan’s smile slowly falls from his face when he notices the very lack of reciprocal excitement in the Alpha’s eyes. Suhyeok nods then, an attempt at a pleased smile pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“Thanks, Cheongsan; for doing that,” He starts, some of the brightness returning to his eyes before they dim again when he continues, “But I won’t be joining you guys for lunch anytime soon,” He finishes, swallowing visibly after.

Sighing, Cheongsan suspected this but he’d been hoping beyond reason to be proven wrong and that Suhyeok would simply agree to come back to his side for lunch. He’s gotta get the Alpha to see sense.

“Suhyeok, don’t you understand? This means we can go back to our lives before I presented and fucked everything up,” He explains, looking beseeching up at his friend, “You can stop sitting alone in the library every day and I can go back to using your arm as a neck warmer,” He finishes in a poor attempt at a joke, a blush alighting his face admitting he enjoys Suhyeok’s touch.

When the Alpha drops his gaze again and sighs miserably, Cheongsan’s stomach turns over in disappointment, sensing Suhyeok’s not about to agree. “I don’t think so, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok replies quietly.

Swallowing his disappointment down, Cheongsan frowns miserably up at his friend, watching the Alpha closely, trying to figure him out.

“But everything was great before, Suhyeok. I was happy. You seemed happy,” He reasons, looking up at the Alpha in confusion before swallowing apprehensively when the next words poise on his tongue, “I know my... being an Omega now has… created some new feelings for you but finding me in heat like that, it probably just confused you,” He lamely finishes, shrugging awkwardly.

When Suhyeok laughs bitterly, before turning his gaze to clouds like he’s asking the universe for strength, Cheongsan blinks in surprise as his hackles raise, feeling like Suhyeok’s laughing at him.

“What’s so fucking funny?” He demands to know, anger rearing in self-defence.

Suhyeok drops his eyes to him then, looking incredulously at Cheongsan, a degree of tense anger across his face too.

“Oh, I’m just confused, Cheongsan? Is that it? I’m just some knotheaded Alpha who can’t help but drool after his Omega friend? You know, you really are as thick as people say sometimes,”

Cheongsan flinches before he can help it, the words cutting him deep, more so because of who’s saying them. He’s used to these comments from Onjo and Gyeongsu at times but Suhyeok has never partook in using his lack of intelligence against him. Not once.

Hearing them flung from his mouth with such venom behind them hurts more than Cheongsan wants to admit. When anger floods over the hurt, Cheongsan pushes it aside, not wanting to add any more to the divide between them by fighting. Left with just the hurt, he stares at the centre of the Alpha’s chest this close, trying to think of a reply that isn’t along the lines of “fuck you”, or “drop dead,”

When Suhyeok’s hand gently take his chin to tilt his head up, the regret in the Alpha’s eyes is obvious.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I even said that; I didn’t mean it, ‘Sannie,” He says, cupping Cheongsan’s cheek softly.

“It’s alright, you’re not wrong,” Cheongsan replies despondently, beginning to regret following Suhyeok after school.

“Hey, stop. You’re the furthest thing from stupid. I was just…frustrated…hurt,” The Alpha finishes quietly, his thumb rubbing gently across his cheek as he pleads with his eyes, “You don’t understand, Cheongsan,”.

“It’s just a crush, Suhyeok. It’ll pass, and we can go back to being friends,” Cheongsan tells him, nearly begging the Alpha to agree.

A sad smile stretches Suhyeok’s mouth as he steps back, his hand falling back to his side.

“Cheongsan, the truth is, I’ve felt this way about you even before you presented,” Suhyeok admits, and Cheongsan blinks in surprise, his mind beginning to race in confusion.

“But, I was a Beta then. Or at least, I thought I was. You thought I was,” Cheongsan replies, not understanding.

Suhyeok grins then, a small laugh leaving him, “I didn’t care, ‘Sannie. You could’ve been an Alpha and I still would’ve felt the same,”.

If Cheongsan’s brain was a train speeding along a track, at that very moment, it would’ve derailed, crashed, and piled up, to explode into flames.

Suhyeok has… even before he presented… but…

“How long?” Cheongsan asks, staring up at the Alpha with wide eyes.

Suhyeok shifts on his feet, looking away as his face goes red. “Since… the first time you invited me to your parents’ restaurant,” The Alpha admits quietly, hesitantly.

Cheongsan’s mouth falls open slightly, disbelief rocking through him, “That was like a month after we met, Suhyeok!” He protests, shocked.

The past year and a half of being Suhyeok’s friend is flashing before his eyes in quick succession. Every interaction, every smile, every laugh, every touch, being viewed through a new lens, and Cheongsan feels his core rocked with the information.

“You never said anything!” He blurts out, looking up at the Alpha in mild shock.

Suhyeok nods at that, “You’re right, I didn’t,” He admits, frowning over into the distance before the crease in his brow deepens and he turns to Cheongsan accusatorily, “If I had, what would you have done? Refused to let me sit with you at lunch? Ignored and avoided me every chance you got?” He demands to know.

Cheongsan looks away from those angry eyes, the hurt behind the anger obvious. Swallowing, he shifts uncomfortably, before returning his gaze back to his friend, “Suhyeok, I thought I was a Beta. Before I presented, I’d never even imagined being with an Alpha. Only other Betas,” He admits, guilt simmering in his gut with the realisation that yeah, he probably would’ve ostracized the Alpha if he had admitted his feelings at the beginning of their friendship.

“Yeah, I know. I realised pretty soon you didn’t return my feelings,” Suhyeok replies quietly, almost to himself before an exhausted sigh leaves him.

“You hid it very well,” Cheongsan attempts to joke, his smile weak though.

Suhyeok grins anyway but something about it is sad.

“No, I didn’t, ‘San. You just never noticed, what with being a Beta, then,” Suhyeok contradicts, still with that pained smile.

Frowning, Cheongsan tries to think over their interactions in the past for any obvious signs but can’t find any… except for one. Blushing, he coughs awkwardly before glancing up at the Alpha, suddenly remembering insinuations Onjo had made about Suhyeok a few days ago.

“Onjo kinda suggested you, um, behaved, a certain way around me when approaching rut,” Cheongsan informs the Alpha, watching as Suhyeok drops his head and nods down to the floor.

“It was always at its worst then. Usually, I was subtle, only obvious to other Alphas and Omegas but with my approaching rut, I found I didn’t care for subtlety,” He admits, his eyes somewhere over Cheongsan’s shoulder before they turn to meet his, an intensity burning in them, “To my Alpha instincts: you were mine,”.

Cheongsan swallows thickly, eyes locked with Suhyeok’s, the intense possessiveness in them making his guts squirm with a combination of nerves and something else. Coughing, he breaks eye contact, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck awkwardly.

“What did you mean you were usually subtle?” Cheongsan asks the Alpha, his eyes surveying the current state of the building site next to them.

Suhyeok laughs then, causing Cheongsan to look back at him, real amusement in his friend’s eyes “If you’d been more educated on Alpha behaviour, you would’ve caught on. I’m pretty sure quite literally everyone else at the lunch table did, or at least suspected,” Suhyeok tells him, still grinning.

“Caught on to what?!” Cheongsan demands, confusion morphing into annoyance the more the Alpha laughs at him.

Suhyeok grins before he approaches, and promptly throws his arm over Cheongsan’s shoulder, smiling down at him smugly. “This,” He says, squeezing Cheongsan to him once.

“Throwing your arm over my shoulder? Lots of people do that, lots of friends do that,” Cheongsan argues, frowning up at Suhyeok’s smirking face.

Suhyeok releases him then, lifting his arm to return to facing opposite Cheongsan and with a pang in his chest, Cheongsan already misses the contact, the closeness.

“I was scent-marking you, Cheongsan. I used to do the same with your wrists, cover them with my scent, mark you as mine,” Suhyeok admits, his grin fading into an embarrassed smile, as a red tint fills his cheeks.

“You sly bastard,” Cheongsan breathes out, shocked but not displeased. “You were practically peeing on me like a dog!” He continues, his eyes wide with the revelation.

Suhyeok’s face scrunches up at that, “Fucking hell, Cheongsan, that’s a bit much. I only ever did that when you were in the locker room showers, you never noticed then,” Suhyeok jokes, laughing as he dodges Cheongsan’s attempt to smack him.

Laughing together, an almost normal moment passes between them for the first time in weeks. For a few seconds, they’re just two joking friends again, happy to be in each other’s company.

Their amusement eventually dies down to a simmer, Suhyeok smiling over at him fondly, “I would feed you off my tray too, that used to make me really happy. Like I was providing for you,” The Alpha says, his fond smile growing sad, “When you’d reciprocate, I could almost pretend you were… doing the same...felt the same” Suhyeok finishes, looking away from Cheongsan, the pain in his eyes obvious.

“You really like me, don’t you?” Cheongsan asks quietly, taken back and almost in awe of the weight of Suhyeok’s feelings for him.

“I love you, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok tells him evenly. No hesitation or doubt in his voice.

For the first time, since the night Suhyeok kissed him on his porch step, Cheongsan can see it clearly in his eyes again, even as they go misty with tears.

Suhyeok tells him he loves him like it’s a fact of the universe. Something as immutable as how the moon controls the tides, or how the sun heats the Earth.

Lee Suhyeok loves Lee Cheongsan.

In the ensuing silence, Cheongsan’s throat is tight with something, and his heart pounds in his chest as he gazes into Suhyeok’s eyes. He feels frozen, so overwhelmed he can barely draw air into his lungs.

“I know you don’t feel the same, It’s okay, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok says, looking down at the ground as he reaches up to swipe his eyes, “I thought maybe I could continue on like before. Love you in secret. But I knew you didn’t feel the same way then, being a Beta and all. When you presented, I’d foolishly begun to hope maybe you’d see me in a new light and when you asked me to kiss you that night, I’d started to believe it was finally happening…”

“Suhyeok,” Cheongsan whispers, pained.

“That all my pining wasn’t for nothing,” The Alpha continues, the pain clear in his voice, “But when you… made it clear you’d never want something like that with an Alpha… it was too much for me, Cheongsan. I can’t go through that again…and I can’t go back” Suhyeok finishes, eyes dropping to the ground.

Cheongsan understands what Suhyeok is telling him, trying to get him to understand. The meaning behind the Alpha's words is clear, even if painful.

“You’re not sitting with me at lunch any time soon, are you?” Cheongsan asks, a well of sadness opening up in his chest.

“No, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok sniffs, with a small shake of his head.

“Will you… will you ever?” Cheongsan hesitantly asks, his heart squeezing in his chest, afraid of the answer.

“...I don’t know, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok replies, frowning miserably at the ground, “I don’t know if I’m capable of being around you, and not loving you,” He confesses quietly.

Tears burn Cheongsan’s eyes as it all rushes up his throat, his lungs halting in his chest.

“You’re a real shithead, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan mumbles thickly in a rush, his breaths coming raggedly as sobs threaten to overtake him.

“I know, but I won’t apologise for that. I won’t apologise for loving you,” Suhyeok replies, smiling even with tears of his own in his eyes.

Pulling in a shaky breath, Cheongsan looks away from those eyes, his vision filling with green leaves but not really seeing any of it. He feels lost, set adrift. Desperately trying to anchor himself to something but failing and continuing to fall into a dark, deep abyss.

“I better go, Cheongsan. My parents’ driver waits for me parked just atop the hill. He’s probably wondering where I am,” Suhyeok tells him hesitantly, both of them understanding that this may be the last time they speak to each other in a long time.

Cheongsan’s throat locks up tight with emotion, “Yeah, okay” he shakily says, before reaching up to wipe his eyes before the tears spill over, “I’ll see you,”.

“Yeah,” Suhyeok replies quietly, with a small sad smile, before he steps back, turns and resumes walking down the path, away from Cheongsan.

“I don’t think you’re a knot-headed Alpha. I’m sorry I said that,” Cheongsan calls to his retreating form, needing Suhyeok to know that, at least.

The Alpha looks over his shoulder at him then with a smile, “I know, Cheongsan. I forgive you,” He says, still with that handsome smile, before he winks at Cheongsan and turns back around to resume leaving.

Cheongsan watches him go, his chest full to bursting with colliding, swirling emotions, many of them producing tears that slide down his face to leave salt on his lips.

He stands there, even after Suhyeok’s form disappears, for a long time. Just listening to the trees in the breeze, and trying to understand how he’s just lost his friend, how he’s just lost Suhyeok.

Chapter Text

Days go by after their discussion in the woods, Cheongsan doing his best to accept and respect Suhyeok’s wishes. They can’t exactly avoid each other, what with being in the same class group but when they do make eye contact or nearly bump into each other, the most interaction between them is a small awkward smile before they go back to ignoring each other.

Cheongsan would like to say it's easy to accept and grant Suhyeok’s wishes. That being without the Alpha is easy, but he’d be lying. Suhyeok’s absence, the lack of his vibrant personality, gentle touch and warm smile, eats away at Cheongsan. The more time passes and the longer he spends without even speaking to the other boy, the loss in Cheongsan’s chest grows ever bigger, expanding in his chest with each day, invisible to everyone but him.

He wonders often if the absence of Suhyeok by his side is exacerbated by the fact that he sees the Alpha every weekday, sitting only a seat behind him in Homeroom or only a few feet across from him at his locker. His friend is right there, close enough for Cheongsan to touch and yet he can’t. He wants to. Every day he wants to, more and more, yet he can’t.

If he did, if he walked up to Suhyeok and attempted to strike up a conversation, he’d understand one thing about himself: That he’s a selfish asshole who disregards his friend’s wishes to make himself happy.

Cheongsan knows that if he ever wants Suhyeok back as his friend, he needs to give the Alpha time and space. As much as he needs.

He doesn’t dare contemplate the idea that Suhyeok may never be able to be near him again. He’s not thinking back on how unsure the Alpha had sounded when Cheongsan had asked if they’d ever sit with each other at lunch again.

The only aspect of this whole situation that is making it bearable for Cheongsan is the hope that Suhyeok will one day - hopefully soon - sidle up to him with a smile and ask if he can join Cheongsan for lunch.

He can’t contemplate the idea that that day may never come.

It whispers at the back of his mind anyway.

Despite his best efforts to get on with school as normal as ever, his friends haven’t failed to notice his change in mood. Both Onjo and Gyeongsu have asked him repeatedly if he’s okay when he gets quiet for particularly long stretches of time. He always smiles and reassures them he’s fine when they ask, a pang of guilt hitting him for making them worry but he can’t help it.

He feels so off-kilter and jarred ever since he presented, and his life changed in more ways than one. Like his world has been violently disrupted, left spinning, and even now as it slows to a near stop, it’s painfully obvious to him that some things have come loose, broken off to be flung far out of his reach.

When he thinks about Suhyeok’s request for space, thinks about the reason why, a weak part of himself wants to be angry with the Alpha. It tells him they had a good thing going, how dare that gel-haired, handsome bastard fuck it up by falling for him?

He always silences that small voice in his head. Reminds himself that Suhyeok can’t help how he feels.

As the weekdays passed, Cheongsan felt a constant mixture of feelings when he caught sight of Suhyeok or when at any particular moment, he felt his friend’s absence with sharp clarity.

Wednesday, he’d felt a lingering sadness and longing throughout the day, Cheongsan’s eyes finding the Alpha's tall form seemly without his permission to gaze mournfully at him.

Thursday, he’d felt more of that but also an almost panicked need to try and think of a solution to their problem, spending his lunch hour agonising over how they could get past this. When the rational part of his brain had cut through to inform him there weren’t any solutions, he’d just felt defeated and depressed.

Friday, he’d let anger and bitterness win out, his friends quickly understanding that day, he should be left alone to stew in his anger, their attempts to cheer him up earning them nothing but glares and quick dismissals.

The feeling is only intensified as he walks home from school that Friday evening. Onjo, in step beside him.

Typically, as they walk home through the streets of Hyosan, they’d usually be chatting amicably away about anything, or arguing lightheartedly or teasing each other to no end but not that Friday. Cheongsan simply stares moodily out at the cars that rumble past or glares at the pedestrians weaving around him and Onjo, like they’re all to blame for his friend’s absence in his life.

When a lady holding the hand of a small child comes up to him and Onjo, Cheongsan glares particularly hard when the woman waits expectantly for him and Onjo to split down the middle rather than walk around them.

He’s still glaring angrily after the entitled old crone even when she’s gone.

“Jesus, Cheongsan, you frown any harder and your face is going to get stuck like that,” Onjo comments beside him, eyeing him warily. “Why’re you so pissed off right now?” She asks, confused.

“I don’t know. I’m a hormonal teenager. I’m allowed, no?” He asks, glaring down at the pavement.

“Are you coming up on your heat?” Onjo asks, trying to catch his eye by leaning forward.

Cheongsan stops where he’s walking at that, turning to her, his face going slack with fright.

“It’s been, what? Two weeks, since my heat?” He asks her hurriedly, trying to count the days in his head.

“Yeah, about two weeks,” She replies slowly, frowning up at him confused and concerned.

“A month, right? That’s the gap between them typically, right?” Cheongsan asks her further, trying desperately to remember his biology lesson on this.

“Yeah, ‘Sannie, for most people; a month,” She assures, eyes widening with worry at his sudden panic.

He sighs in relief at that, reaching up to grab his racing heart in his chest as the panic starts to subside.

“So I have another two weeks. Thank God for that,” He replies, releasing a breath.

“I’m sorry, which one of us is the Omega here? Me? Or you? Shouldn’t you already know all this?” Onjo asks, her face completely confused.

Cheongsan shrugs, turning to resume walking home, “To be honest, I’ve been carefully not thinking about my next heat,” He admits sheepishly.

“Smart, Cheongsan. You do know the first few can be really unpredictable? Arriving a lot sooner than expected or much later?” She questions, looking over at him like he’s an idiot.

“Don’t tell me that! I just calmed myself down by telling myself I have two weeks!” He moans, his heart picking up speed, again.

“I’m just sayin’, expect the unexpected,” She replies, shrugging casually like she hasn’t just instilled a boatload of anxiety in him.

Throwing his head back in complete frustration, Cheongsan’s hands find his hair, pulling the strands taut, “God, I am so sick of this crap! Not only do I lose Suhyeok but I have to go through that hell again soon!?” He seethes, between clenched teeth.

Onjo lets him rage in peace, unable, he thinks, to provide any comfort past telling him it’ll be okay or everything will work out, neither of which Cheongsan wants to hear right now. The simple truth is his heat will return, whether he likes it or not. Onjo can’t stop it any more than he can.

Following her into their apartment complex, his anger fades to bone-tired exhaustion as they step into the elevator, just beyond fed up with this whole situation.

“Do you wanna hang out later? We could watch a movie?” Onjo offers beside him, looking worriedly over.

“No, not today, Onjo,” He replies quietly, unable to even summon an excuse.

They don’t speak again that day except to exchange goodbyes before entering their apartments.

Cheongsan drags himself through his front door, the desire to curl up into a ball and not move propelling him towards his bed.

“Hi, honey,” His Mama greets him as he passes by the kitchen doorway. She is standing at their small stove, stirring something in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Pausing, he smiles politely up at her in reply, “Hi, Mama.”

“How was school?”

“Uneventful,” He replies, shrugging.

“You okay?” She asks, a small concerned frown appearing on her face.

“Yeah, all good. I’m gonna go lie down for a while.” He tells her, indicating with his head his bedroom down the hallway.

“Okay, sweetheart, I’ll call you for dinner.”

“Cool,” He replies, turning away from the doorway to resume walking to his room.

—--------------------------------------------------

Laying on his bed a short while later, Cheongsan scrolls through social media on his phone for lack of anything better to do. The apartment is quiet, save for the sounds of his Mama cooking in the kitchen. His Papa is still at the restaurant for another little while, finishing early on a Friday to leave the restaurant in the support staff’s hands.

Getting bored of his feeds on Facebook and Instagram, Cheongsan is about to throw his phone aside and maybe get started on his homework when an idea comes to mind.

Hitting the Facebook search bar, he types in Suhyeok’s name, clicking his friend’s profile when it pops up. He isn’t sure what he’s expecting to find on the Alpha’s social media but he’s soon disappointed when nothing new or of value is present on his friend’s page. Onjo often wonders aloud to Suhyeok why he even has social media, he uses it so infrequently, and honestly, she has a point, the last posts on the guy’s profile were for his birthday months ago.

A cold sinking sensation passes through Cheongsan when he views Suhyeok’s profile header photo: A photo Onjo had taken of him and Suhyeok in Cheongsan Chicken, sitting beside each other, Suhyeok’s arm across the back of Cheongsan’s chair, both of them smiling at the camera.

When he checks the comments under the photo, an older woman - who Cheongsan assumes must be Suhyeok’s aunt or something - asks Suhyeok if Cheongsan is his boyfriend.

Suhyeok’s reply under it that they’re just friends makes guilt rise in Cheongsan. He wonders how much it hurt the Alpha to reply with that.

Cheongsan doesn’t have anything to feel guilty for. He didn’t ask Suhyeok to fall in love with him. He didn’t go out of his way to try and make his friend fall in love with him.

Yet, regardless, he still feels that guilt. For causing the Alpha pain, unintentionally or not.

Studying the photo, Cheongsan takes in Suhyeok’s smile, and his bright eyes, and tries to see any hint there that the Alpha had harboured secret feelings for him all along. But all Cheongsan can see is two carefree friends, happy to be sat next to each other.

“Cheongsan, dinner’s ready,” His Mama shouts down the hallway to him, her voice startling him slightly.

Getting up, Cheongsan pockets his phone as he leaves his room to head to the kitchen, the smell of dinner wafting down the hallway.

His Mama smiles at him when he enters, and he does his best to smile back, even if smiling is the last thing he feels like doing right then.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, as if on cue a key jingles in the front door before his Papa pushes it open and enters from the small foyer, smiling at them.

“Good timing, eh?” He asks, delighted with himself.

Cheongsan nods mildly in reply, summoning another smile for his Father. As his parents greet each other with a peck on the lips, Cheongsan rolls his eyes, very tempted to make gagging noises at the kitchen table, because c’mon, they’re about to eat.

As his Mama lays the last plate of food on the table, his Papa takes his seat opposite Cheongsan, whilst his Mama fills the one to his left, at the head of the table.

Sitting around the table, his parents begin a conversation regarding the restaurant, the price of supplies, the insurance on the car, and Cheongsan does what he always does when they start talking business; he zones out.

Eating away, he takes his time with his food, his usual urge to wolf everything down like a starving man nowhere to be found. The act of eating for him has felt like more of a chore today than anything else, his low mood impacting his appetite. He manages to eat a decent amount of his dinner but isn’t surprised when one of his parents notices his behaviour. So unlike his usual self.

“You okay, Cheongsan?” His Papa asks him, frowning between Cheongsan and his plate. “By this point, I’m usually fighting you off for the last scraps of dinner.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” He replies, looking away from his parents' worried gazes lest they see the lies in his eyes.

“Everything okay with Onjo?” His Mama asks, and Cheongsan finds it curious that she should think that’d be the reason for his quiet mood.

“Yeah, all good,” He succinctly replies, giving his parents nothing.

“What about Suhyeok? We haven’t seen him around here in a while.”

Cheongsan stabs at his dinner in anger, perturbed now that his parents have asked about the Alpha.

“Everything’s fine with Suhyeok,” Cheongsan replies lowly, glaring daggers at one piece of broccoli in particular.

His parents are quiet for a while after that, but Cheongsan can feel the weight of their eyes on him. He refuses to look up though, and refuses to give them an opening to discuss the Suhyeok situation. They can ponder and worry all they like, Cheongsan doesn’t want them sticking their noses in it. He's feeling a little too angry today to accept anything looking like advice or help.

Eventually, they move on to talking about visiting Cheongsan’s grandparents at some point this month. He relaxes, figuring the conversation has moved away from him and his personal problems, for now at least.

As his Papa gets up to begin clearing the table, Cheongsan rises to help, collecting their utensils and empty glasses and bringing them to the dishwasher across the small kitchen. It’s as he’s returning to the kitchen table to collect the coasters that his Mama decides to lay a blow to him.

“Cheongsan, I’ve booked in to see our family doctor first thing Monday morning. We never did go back,”

Freezing where he’s stood beside her, Cheongsan stares down at her in silent disbelief before throwing the coasters back down on the table and stepping away.

“I’m not going back to that quack,” He spits, more angry than he needs to be but unable to help it.

His Papa pauses where he’s loading the plates into the dishwasher to look up at him in surprise, whilst his Mama sighs in irritation, her face relaying she expected this reaction.

“Cheongsan, I know the last visit wasn’t exactly pleasant but this is for your health. We need to make sure you’re okay. Especially after your last heat was so unusually intense,” She tries to reason with him.

All Cheongsan can remember though is the way that Doctor had disregarded him, and disrespected him so casually. Treated him like his Mother’s property and not a young man of seventeen, nearly an adult.

That’s without even mentioning this ‘internal examination’ the Doctor had proposed.

Fuck no, he’s not doing it.

“I don’t care. I’m not going back. Besides, I’m fine. I’ve been fine since my heat finished,” He argues, eyes flicking between his parents, not sure where his Papa stands on the issue.

“And what if your next heat is as bad, Cheongsan? What if there’s something wrong and your body is hurting itself? This could affect your fertility. Don’t you want children in the future?” She demands to know, her voice becoming exasperated.

Horror fills Cheongsan at his Mother’s words, the very idea of him being pregnant making his heart stutter in his chest. Even contemplating it, panic threatens to rush up his throat to choke him. When he’s silent for too long, his throat too tight to get words around, his Papa approaches him worriedly, reaching out to touch him.

“Cheongsan..?”

Stepping away from that comforting touch, Cheongsan does his best to swallow down his fear, his voice when he does manage to summon it, is quiet and hoarse.

“I won’t ever be doing that,” He manages to whisper, looking between his parents.

“Okay. That’s okay,” His Father tells him gently, staring at him with such worry. His Mama watches him with that same worry but also sadness lingering in her eyes.

“I have homework,” Is what he tells them before he promptly rushes from the room, speed walking down the hall to enter his bedroom and close the door resolutely shut.

Leaning his forehead against the wood, he closes his eyes and simply breathes for a long while, his heart eventually slowing down in his chest.

—-----------------------------------------------

Later, as he’s lying in bed under the covers, in his new pyjamas and casually watching an episode of a Netflix series he’s only mildly enjoying, a gentle knock sounds at his door. Sighing tiredly, Cheongsan knew one of his parents would eventually want to talk further.

Rolling over onto his back, he pauses his Netflix show, and turns his eyes to the door, in his mind, he guesses it’ll be his Mama on the other side.

“Yeah?” He calls out, waiting.

Sure enough, his Mama pokes her head in a second later, not bothering to mask the worried frown on her face.

“Can we talk, sweetheart?” She asks, waiting at the threshold of his door.

Cheongsan suppresses the desire to sigh again, wishing he could just continue watching his show but knowing either way, his Mama is not going to drop this, that she will want to speak about it with him again.

“Yeah, okay,” He replies, reaching up to lock his phone.

His Mama approaches, taking a seat on the edge of his bed to look down at him. Cheongsan finds his duvet spread very interesting all of a sudden and begins picking at a thread of it.

“You understand why I want you to see this doctor, don’t you?” His Mama asks, empathetic eyes roaming over Cheongsan’s face when he flicks his own up to glance at her.

“I understand, Mama,”

“Explain it to me,” She prompts gently.

“You care about my health,” He replies, and he does understand that she only wants him to get checked out to make sure he’s healthy.

Especially the new parts of himself he wasn’t aware he even had until recently. It’s unfortunately common for Omegas and females in general, to suffer from a range of reproductive issues.

“Exactly. Because I care about you and your health, Cheongsan. Because I love you. Please put yourself in my shoes for a moment. You’d want the best thing for your child, wouldn’t you?” She continues, beseeching him to understand her motives.

Cheongsan does understand, he does, but he just can’t stop replaying how it felt being treated by that Doctor.

“He treated me like I wasn’t even there, Mama. Like my body didn’t belong to me or I wasn’t the one who’d be making decisions about it,” He complains to her, glaring angrily down at his duvet as he pulls threads loose from it.

“I know. It caught me off guard too. So I rang after dinner and arranged for you to be put under a new doctor's care,” His Mama tells him, surprising Cheongsan enough for him to look up at her, “I can’t promise this new doctor will be perfect but from what I know, she’s young and a few of the parents I’ve spoken to tell me she’s wonderful.”

Cheongsan is surprised. He didn’t think they could so easily switch Doctors like that. He does feel relief he’ll never have to see that Doctor again but as he lays there quietly, another element of their last visit still plagues him.

“It’s not just the doctor though, is it?” His Mama softly asks him, as if she can read his thoughts.

“That…internal examination, Mama. I can’t do that,” He admits just as softly, giving voice to his fears.

Cheongsan doesn’t even know what the internal examination would entail exactly. All he can remember glaringly though was how that Doctor described it’s typically quite uncomfortable for Omegas but more so for Male Omegas. When Doctors say pressure, they mean pain. When they say uncomfortable, they mean agonising.

A hundred and one images of horror had flashed through his brain of being strapped down to a table and violated. Of having a stranger's hands on him, in him, leaving searing pain in their wake with every touch.

“Okay. We can ask about alternatives. See if there aren’t other, less invasive tests,” His Mama concedes, sensing that he won’t budge on the issue.

When Cheongsan doesn’t say anything further, neither confirming nor denying his willingness to go, his Mama reaches out to stop his hands from pulling apart the duvet.

“Will you please go see this Doctor on Monday? I promise if you don’t like her, we’ll leave and look for another Doctor until we do find one you like,” She pleads with him, her eyes portraying how much this matters to her.

Swallowing, Cheongsan feels his reluctance outweighed by the guilt his Mother is inspiring in him.

“Okay, I’ll go,” He concedes, his heart already starting to speed up in his chest with anxiety.

His Mama smiles warmly at that bending down to kiss him on the head, before sitting back, the worry and concern gone from her face. “Thank you, baby.”

For a while, they both just sit in silence, Cheongsan beginning to wonder why she isn’t getting up to leave. When he glances up at her, she seems lost in thought, her eyes distant. Watching her, he frowns slightly in concern when sadness forms on her face. She sighs then, before turning to him, her mouth turned down.

“You really don’t want children in the future?” She asks cautiously. A note of sorrow in her voice.

Cheongsan feels an awful pressure on his chest with that sorrow in her voice, and when he shakes his head minutely, his Mother’s responding sigh of deep disappointment doubles the feeling.

“It’s just…I’ve always imagined myself with grandchildren,” She murmurs, almost to herself.

The guilt that crushes Cheongsan’s chest makes him feel like he’s been pressed in on all sides. When he looks up at his Mother’s face and sees the sadness there, the near mourning there, he feels fucking awful.

It’s not fair. She’s not being fair.

“You’re not being fair, Mama,” He tells her as much.

She blinks out of her morose thoughts at the sound of his voice, looking over at him, before the sorrow in her eyes is replaced in a blink by regret.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” She apologises but without sounding completely contrite.

Cheongsan would like this little conversation to come to an end now.

He thinks, for today, he’s had his fill of his Mother emotionally manipulating him, even if it was for a good reason.

“I’d like to go to sleep now, Mama,” He informs her gently.

Nodding in ascent, his Mother gives him one more kiss on the head and a quiet goodnight before leaving the room.

Cheongsan watches her go, a relieved sigh leaving him when the door closes behind her.

—---------------------------------------------

Saturday finds Cheongsan in Onjo’s company, the two of them atop the roof of their apartment complex. When they were younger, they’d snuck up and stolen the keys to the roof from one of the maintenance men, and since then, they’ve periodically come up here to hang out.

Cheongsan is surprised they’ve never changed the lock, but he figures since he and Onjo always leave the space clean and undisturbed and have never been caught, the people who manage the complex see no reason to.

It’s actually fairly dangerous up here, the flat roof not enclosed in any guardrails or fencing, a clear view of Hyosan for miles around before them. If Cheongsan’s parents or Onjo’s Pa knew they were up here… he doesn’t even wanna imagine the consequences.

They’re currently sitting on the floor, backs against the small structure that leads down to the top-floor apartments below. If they’re not careful, they’re both going to get heat stroke sitting in the sun like this, its glare making it hard to not squint.

“I’m glad to see you’re in a better mood today,” Onjo comments, eyes out on the horizon.

“I was just upset over that scolding Ms Park lay on me that morning. Yeah, Gyeongsu and I had been joking around all class but damn, she didn’t need to lay into us like that,” He complains, remembering her standing above them, face tense as she berated them.

“Cheongsan, you and Gyeongsu get told off by a different teacher on any given day. I think we both know the real reason you were so upset,” Onjo replies. Her voice exasperated with him.

“That was the reason,” He persists. Frowning with annoyance at her.

“Yeah, right,” Onjo replies, sadonically.

Sighing in further annoyance, Cheongsan drops the subject, not willing to push his best friend’s patience any further lest she start laying into him herself about how much of a coward he is.

“My Mama’s making me return to the Doctors again. First thing Monday morning,” He tells Onjo, a suitable topic to change the subject with.

Onjo turns to him with a frown of concern this time, rather than annoyance. He’d informed her one evening, days ago, about how humiliating and condescending that Doctor had been to him. Her own outrage on his behalf had validated how he felt immensely. Everyone else seemed to think he was the one being difficult.

“Are you gonna go?” she asks, watching him closely.

“I have to. She pulled out the motherly emotional manipulation. Started asking me how I’d feel if my child refused to get his health checked out,” He grumbles, frowning across the wide space of the apartment roof.

He figures he’s being a little unfair though. His Mama had done a lot to make him more accepting of the idea. Plus, she isn’t forcing him to do any examinations he’s not comfortable with.

“She’s switched my Doctor though, to some new female Doctor. She’s also promising to not pressure me into anything I don’t want to do,”

Onjo hums at that. “I suppose she only wants what’s best for you. And you can’t avoid Doctors forever, anyway. Well, not unless you want health problems,” She reasons, seeing his Mother’s point of view clearly.

“Yeah, suppose so. But I mean, maybe my first heat was just, how it’s going to be for me. Maybe that’s just how I’m built,” He ponders, caught between never wanting to be lost like that to his heat again, and not wanting to have some underlying health problem to explain why it was so intense.

“Was it really that bad?” Onjo whispers, morbid curiosity in her eyes.

Cheongsan swallows down the mortification that rushes up his neck remembering what he can from those three days.

Mostly he remembers how he felt, and he felt a lot, those three days. His skin had burned with heat, leaving him sticky with sweat, enough that his bedsheets had clung to his body when he moved. He’d slipped in and out of a lust-filled haze, his eyes searching the room as if he expected to find an Alpha in a corner. He remembers hearing sounds, keening and moaning, sometimes even words begging, and then abruptly he’d realise, in a moment of clarity, that they were spilling from his lips, unbidden, even with his parents so close by.

It was the thrumming, molten heat from his ass that he could remember the most though, the compulsion to satisfy that fire, unrelenting and inescapable.

At a certain point, he would’ve bent over and begged any Alpha alive to fuck him.

“Yeah, it was bad. Trust me, Onjo, you don’t want the details,” He warns her, knowing that regardless of how close they are as childhood friends, some things, you don’t need to know about each other.

“Say no more,” Onjo replies, throwing up a hand to halt him should he try.

“I wonder if ruts are as bad,” Onjo muses, her mouth flattening into a line of disgust as she thinks about it.

“Who knows…” Cheongsan mumbles, shrugging.

“You’ve never asked Suhyeok?” Onjo enquires, raising an eyebrow.

“Eh, no, Onjo. I’ve never asked Suhyeok the details of his ruts,” He replies, mildly put off she’d think he has.

“Have you asked Namra?” He fires back.

“No,” His best friend casually replies shrugging.

“Exactly.”

“It’ll be interesting…” Onjo begins before she glances at him and then seems to think better of it, “Never mind.”

Cheongsan frowns, his curiosity piqued, “It’ll be interesting what?” He asks, leaning forward to look at her a little.

“Never mind, Cheongsan,”

“You can’t just say that and then expect me to let it go,” He frowns, annoyed now.

Sighing, Onjo relents, turning to him with a defiant look on her face, “It’ll be interesting to see how Suhyeok behaves approaching his rut, now that he’s not around you anymore,”.

Cheongsan should’ve never pushed her to answer. “Why would you even think that?”

“Didn’t I tell you to forget it? You persisted, don’t be angry at me,” She replies evenly.

Cheongsan turns away then, the Alpha taking centre stage in his mind, as he has for days on end now. Glancing at Onjo, he remembers something Suhyeok had stated that evening after school in the woods.

“Suhyeok said you all already knew, or suspected at least. You did, didn’t you, you knew?” He asks Onjo, turning his head to look at her.

Onjo sighs, folding her legs under her as she leans back against the wall to let the sun on her face, her eyes closing.

“Honestly, Cheongsan, we don’t know how you missed it,” She says, slightly exasperated with him, “I mean, even the way Suhyeok looks at you sometimes, how he touches you.”

Huffing, Cheongsan turns away from her to look out over the view of Hyosan, “Maybe, I didn’t want to see it.”

Maybe Cheongsan didn’t want to see it because he knew it’d lead him and Suhyeok here; divided, separated, forced apart to not cause the Alpha any more heartbreak.

Cheongsan is still struggling to accept that Suhyeok loves him. That the Alpha doesn’t simply have a crush on him or isn’t simply in lust with him but rather that he loves him, and has for pretty much the whole time they’ve known each other.

“Me and Namra confronted him about it, once. About six months ago.” Onjo says abruptly, still tanning her face in the sun.

At that, Cheongsan turns to face Onjo fully. “What happened?”

“Well, you weren’t in that day. It was that day you made it as far as the apartment elevators before puking your breakfast up, remember?” She asks, opening her eyes to turn and look at him.

“Yeah, Onjo, I unfortunately do remember.” He replies, shuddering when he recalls the burn of the stomach acid in his throat and the foul taste in his mouth afterwards.

“Yeah, well you should’ve seen how disappointed Suhyeok looked when I got to Homeroom and told him you would be out for the day. You’d swear I told him his puppy died, Cheongsan,” Onjo says with an amused smile.

“And at lunch?” She continues, “I kid you not, he kept looking longingly down at your empty seat. It was honestly gross. But yeah, we confronted him once school let out. He stammered and tried to deny it at first, but Namra got the truth out of him. He made us swear to keep it to ourselves though.”

Frowning, Cheongsan turns away from her, drawing his knees close to lean his elbows across them and dropping his chin on them.

“I just don’t get it, Onjo. Why me? I mean, before I presented I was just another Beta like Gyeongsu or Wujin,” He wonders aloud, mystified as to why Suhyeok feels so strongly about him.

He’s not special; He’s not wicked smart, he’s of average height, he’s on the thin side, and he’s quite plain in the face if you ask him.

“I don’t know, Cheongsan. Maybe he has a thing for Twinks,” Onjo replies.

Directing an unimpressed glare at her, Cheongsan rolls his eyes and turns away when she grins back innocently. In the distance, the mountains stretch on as far as the eyes can see, the terrain covered in the deep green of the forests. He wonders if he can see Suhyeok's home from up here.

Onjo sighs beside him, dropping her head to mimic how he’s sitting, pulling her sleeves over her hands.

“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Cheongsan. Suhyeok would be lucky to have you,” She tells him quietly, a red tint rising in her cheeks, unable to look at him.

Smiling softly at her, Cheongsan is very tempted to tease her for the compliment, to rib her about being such a softie but he decides to let the moment remain sincere and honest.

“Thanks, Onjo,” He replies, equally as quiet.

The silence that follows is comfortable, the two of them surveying their wide view of Hyosan from atop their apartment complex, absorbing sunlight and basking in its warmth all the while.

Suddenly, raised voices pull their attention to their left, to the top floor of the apartment across the street from them. Before their wide eyes, a woman charges out of her apartment after a half-dressed man, who’s fleeing with everything he’s got. The slipper clasped tightly in the woman’s hand as she chases him seems to be the very thing he’s running from.

He and Onjo watch the chaos for a few seconds before turning to look incredulously at each other and promptly bursting out laughing.

When their howling eventually dies down, they watch with tears of laughter in their eyes as the woman trudges back to her apartment, alone, slipper missing from her hand altogether.

“That’s you, and your future spouse, Onjo,” Cheongsan teases, before quickly leaning away to avoid the smack upside the head she aims at him.

“Yeah, right. That’s you and whichever woman decides to tolerate you in the future,” She fires back.

Cheongsan’s laugh dies down at that, his eyes diverting from his friend’s teasing grin to the grey uneven surface of the roof.

Onjo seems to sense his change in mood and waits patiently for him to speak.

“I don’t like women,” He admits quietly, barely loud enough to hear.

Onjo is silent for a while after that confession, quiet enough that Cheongsan’s nerves start climbing, before she finally responds gently, “This isn’t just because you’re an Omega now, is it? Plenty of women will still want you, Cheongsan, especially female Alphas.”

Cheongsan understands why she thinks that he’s only saying this because he’s an Omega now. Many people in society think Omegas are only suitable for Alphas, and there’s an even larger number of people who find the idea of Male Omegas with any female that isn’t an Alpha, unnatural. Or laughable. Joking that no woman could ever be pleased by an Omega Male.

Cheongsan hates those people in particular.

He isn’t saying this out of insecurity though or trying to convince her of it so she won’t feel sorry for him in the future. It’s just simply true.

“No. Even before, it was only ever guys,” He admits, recalling the only times he’d ever felt heat in his belly.

“How come you never told me before?”

“It was easier to ignore it before. To not confront it. Presenting has changed that though,” He replies, the implication that he’s finally a fully fledged horny teenager embarrassing to admit.

“Well, since we’re being honest and all…I’m bisexual,” Onjo admits to him, sitting there with a smug smile, pretty sure of herself.

“You totally have the hots for Namra,” He accuses, and tenses for the barrage of smacks he expects coming.

When Onjo just hums and smiles wistfully up into the air, Cheongsan blinks in surprise, he hadn’t been serious with the accusation. “You do totally have the hots for Namra,”

“Oh c’mon, Cheongsan, she’s totally gorgeous,” Onjo states, her tone leaving no room for argument.

“Huh,” He replies, surprised but pleased. “You should ask her out.”

“Maybe at some point. I’m working up the courage.”

He grins at her in response, hopeful for his friend.

“Any guys in particular caught your eye?” She slyly asks, trying and epically failing to look the picture of innocence.

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan pushes up onto his feet, turning to grin menacingly down at her.

“Yeah: your Pa,” He replies, before promptly running through the door down from the roof, Onjo hot on his heels demanding he take that back.

Cheongsan evilly shouts back he’s looking forward to giving her siblings.

—--------------------------------------------------------

Sunday rolls around far quicker than Cheongsan would’ve liked, but that’s always the case. He’d spent the entirety of Saturday with Onjo, loitering around on the roof, and then eating their weight in takeaway after. In the evening, they’d lounged around watching episodes of a Horror series Onjo is really into. Cheongsan had begrudgingly sat with her throughout it, half hiding behind a cushion of the sofa.

He still doesn’t understand the appeal of the Horror genre.

He’s alone today though and has spent the majority of the day laying around in his pyjamas whilst playing his gaming console. He’d completed Jedi Survivor this morning and is now making his way through Ratchet and Clank.

Typically he’d spend his Sundays with his friends, either here in his apartment, or at theirs, or out in town somewhere. Onjo had informed him yesterday though that she and Isak were planning on seeing some Chick Flick in the cinema. She’d invited him but Cheongsan wasn’t interested; not in Chick Flicks and not in being a third wheel to Onjo and Isak.

Gyeongsu is never available on Sundays either. His Grandmother is deeply religious and makes him spend half the day in Church. Choengsan has had to listen to him bemoan the whole thing countless times, but every time Cheongsan suggests he ask his Grandmother for a reprieve from attending Mass, his best friend mumbles about it not being so bad and how she needs him.

Cheongsan thinks Gyeongsu is a closeted Christian and won’t admit it. The cross he wears under his school shirt only solidifies Cheongsan’s opinion on the matter further.

In truth, Cheongsan would usually find himself in Suhyeok’s company on Sundays. Never in Suhyeok’s home, but oftentimes the Alpha would appear at his doorstep, or ring him to inform Cheongsan the two of them are heading into town or that Suhyeok’s booked them two tickets to see a movie. Cheongsan would berate his friend playfully about his bossy Alpha nature but he never truly minded.

It’s for that reason, that this Sunday, alone and Suhyeok-less, his mood has hit rock bottom.

He feels overwhelmed today, like with each continued day without the Alpha, the reality of his loss floods Cheongsan that much more. The voice inside his head that tells him he’s lost Suhyeok forever has been extra loud all day. He misses the anger from Friday, it'd be easier. This loss and expanding sadness in his chest is unbearable.

When Ratchet dies on screen from another successful shot from an enemy blaster, and Cheongsan’s frustration with the game leaves him with the desire to pull out his hair; he decides to call it quits.

He ambles into the kitchen instead for a snack, the interim between Lunch and Dinner proving too much for his stomach. His Mama smiles at him in greeting when he enters, busy peeling potatoes into a bowl in the sink.

“You okay, sweetie?” She asks, watching him with amusement as he opens the fridge to survey its contents.

“Yeah, just a bit hungry. Is it okay if I make a sandwich, Mama?” He asks, after surmising he could pull something together with what’s in the fridge.

“I suppose,” She relents good-naturedly, “I’d be worried you’d ruin your appetite for your dinner if I didn’t know my son so well,” She continues, amusement in her eyes.

“Are you calling me fat?” He jests as he pulls food stuffs from the fridge, before walking to the kitchen table to lay them out.

“Somehow, Cheongsan, even with your appetite, you’re still on the thin side,” She replies, baffled amusement in her tone.

“Maybe I’ve just got a fast metabolism,” Cheongsan reasons as he lays out two pieces of bread and begins throwing his sandwich together.

“Maybe you’ve got worms,” His Mama mutters under her breath in reply.

Nose scrunching up in disgust, Cheongsan pushes away the vile images that reply inspires and continues stacking bread with sandwich fillers. Sitting down, he bites into his sandwich, humming in satisfaction as it hits his tongue.

A quarter of the way through his sandwich, his Mama moves on to peeling and chopping carrots, Cheongsan watching her knife skills with silent praise.

“No Suhyeok today? Haven’t seen his tall form around here lately, you guys usually spend one day at the weekend together,” His Mama suddenly comments, glancing back at him curiously.

“No. No Suhyeok,” Cheongsan replies, his sandwich suddenly tasting a little bland in his mouth.

He doesn’t miss the glance his Mama gives him over her shoulder like she’s trying to figure him out.

“You guys still haven’t made up, then?” She asks, her mouth thinning out in worry.

Cheongsan turns to look at her in confusion, wondering how she knows he and Suhyeok aren’t speaking. At his confused frown, she directs a small smile at him before turning back to her carrots.

“I know you two argued last weekend. That much was obvious through the thin walls of the apartment. Not to mention, Suhyeok, being the polite boy he is, always bids us goodbye before leaving. When he didn’t that evening, I knew he must’ve been upset.” She tells him, before finishing with her carrots and turning to look at him whilst she dries her hands on a towel.

Cheongsan doesn’t really know how to reply to that. He could wrack his brain for some semi-believable lie, or rudely tell his Mother he doesn’t want to talk about it, for her to mind her own business, but he thinks that’ll just make her worry more.

“Things between me and Suhyeok are complicated right now,” He admits, dropping his half-eaten sandwich to the table, appetite up and leaving him instantly.

His Mama nods at that, before throwing the dish towel aside and approaching. Pulling out a chair beside him, she sits down, hesitating before replying.

“Does this have something to do with you being an Omega now?” She asks, her eyes full of careful patience like she’s doing her best to get him to open up but without being too abrupt and sending him careening out of the room.

Cheongsan wants to be annoyed at how predictable her reasoning is. He’s an Omega now, so of course, that’s why he and Suhyeok are having issues. It’s all just typical. It’s both true and untrue, but what could be the underlying issue between an Alpha and an Omega, if not that there have been feelings unravelled pertaining to more than friendship?

Cheongsan stares down at the wooden grain of their kitchen table, the words leaving his mouth quietly.

“He loves me, Mama.”

His Mama doesn’t immediately react to his words, verbally anyway, Cheongsan doesn’t lift his eyes from the table to see any physical reactions. When she shifts in her seat beside him, he finally lifts his eyes to hers and finds them full of a combination of amusement and bafflement.

“And that was a surprise to you, Cheongsan?” She asks, a small grin beginning to pull at her mouth.

Frowning, Cheongsan sits up straight, incredulity flooding him, “You knew too?” He demands, staring at her with wide eyes.

His Mama breathes a small laugh at that, tilting her head fondly at him, “Yes I knew, sweetheart.”

“How?” He questions, annoyance surging in him at how everyone around him could see it when he himself was completely oblivious.

His Mama gets a faraway look in her eyes, sitting back against her chair.

“There were times when you’d have him over, and I’d peek in on you two; just to check if you needed something. The both of you would be wrapped up in each other; falling over yourselves laughing, or playfully arguing or teasing each other,” She begins, and Cheongsan feels embarrassment spark in his belly.

“Yeah, and?” He interrupts, the intimacy of what she’s describing making heat rise to his face.

She gives him a small exasperated smile before continuing softly, “And I’d see Suhyeok’s gaze linger on you, even after you broke eye contact. He’d pause for just a few seconds, just to watch you, and his eyes would go so soft, and he’d blink slowly like even those brief interruptions of taking you in were too long.”

Cheongsan can only stare at her in reply, his chest full to bursting, the images making it hard to breathe. When he raises his hands to the table surface to start ripping his cuticles apart his Mama sits forward herself to reach out and still them, maintaining eye contact as she holds him in her warm grip.

“Why am I the only one who could never see it?” He asks her in a whisper, frowning miserably.

She smiles gently, “I don’t think you’d let yourself see it, Cheongsan. I think there’s a lot you’re not letting yourself see. Or feel,” She tells him, her eyes full of compassion.

He doesn’t understand.

“What do you mean?” He asks.

She smiles patiently at that, “Do you remember the day you met Suhyeok?” She asks him gently, gazing steadily at him.

Cheongsan nods, as the memory surfaces in his mind.

Suhyeok sat beside him at lunch, quietly eating his food, only speaking when spoken to by the others. In such deep contrast to his talkative and joking manner, he’d soon become comfortable enough to show to them.

He remembers watching the Alpha, so curious about this boy who’d recently distanced himself from the wrong sort of crowd. Suhyeok had looked up from his lunch, his mouth full of food to lock eyes with Cheongsan, catching him staring. Cheongsan had felt his heart stutter in his chest but he’d offered the taller boy a nervous smile, and received one in return around a full mouth of food. It had made him laugh, a spark of fondness already growing in his chest for the guy.

“Yeah, I remember,” He admits, glancing up at her.

“So do I. Do you wanna know how I remember?” She asks him, raising her eyebrows with a small teasing smile.

“Sure, I guess,” He says with a small shrug.

She sits even closer at that, her soft hands bleeding warmth into his.

“At dinner that evening, you went on and on about this new boy, this Alpha who’d sat beside you at lunch. How his name was Lee Suhyeok, how he was taller than you by a few inches, how he styled his hair into a side part. Even how he wore the school blazer rather than the sweater. You went on and on about him, barely pausing to eat, and I knew, this boy, this Lee Suhyeok, he must be very special if my son has been so quickly enamoured by him.”

Cheongsan swallows thickly, looking away finally as tears sting at the back of his eyes. Her words remind him of a simple truth. One he’s felt today with a sinking loss in his chest: How much Suhyeok means to him. How much he’s always meant to him.

Reaching up, his Mama brushes the hair back along his temples, before cupping his cheek as he turns his head to look across at her again.

“Even before you presented, the truth has always been plain to me, and I think it’s time you stop denying it to yourself, sweetheart,” She gently tells him, her thumb softly stroking against his cheek. “There’s no shame in it, Cheongsan, no need to be afraid. It’s a beautiful thing, my baby.”

As the first tear spills over, she’s quick to wipe it away, her eyes full to bursting with how much she needs him to understand this, how much she wants it for him.

“He could make you so happy, Cheongsan. If you only let him…” She finishes in a whisper.

He looks away when his face finally falls, a sob catching in his throat, everything proving to be too much. She’s laid him bare, her words softly working past all his defences to spill his truth. She’s quick to stand, to bend over and hug him to her. Her warm scent fills his nose as he cries softly into her shoulder, feeling emotionally exposed and raw. She holds him and just lets him cry it out, her hands comforting him along his back in gentle touches.

When he’s finally cried everything out, she lets him go to sit back down, retaking his hands in hers. He almost wants to laugh at how similar this situation is to how he and his Father had sat opposite each other in the car yesterday. Turns out that both his parents are masters of undoing him emotionally.

Sniffing, he looks away from her kind understanding eyes, his mind full.

“What am I going to do, Mama? I never meant to, but I really hurt him,” He admits quietly, shame in every word. “He doesn’t want me near him but I miss him so much. It’s only getting worse every day.”

“I think, once your Father comes home with the car, paying Suhyeok a visit sounds like a good idea, no?” She asks, smiling warmly, hopeful.

Cheongsan looks at her and can see how much of a good idea she thinks it is, and he wants to agree, wants to nod and smile too but he’s afraid. In so many ways he’s afraid.

“I’m scared, Mama. All the time, I’m so scared,” He admits in a whisper, confessing his greatest shame, his heart racing in his chest.

“I won’t sit here and tell you, that you have nothing to be afraid of. Life often lays frightening challenges at our feet but Cheongsan, there is one thing I know you don’t have to be afraid of, and that’s Suhyeok. He adores you, baby.”

When he simply nods in reply, thinking on it, she squeezes his hands.

“Do you know his address?” She asks, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

“My phone. It’d be able to tell me; it tracks my location.”

“Well then, let’s hope Suhyeok’s not too busy for a visit.”

Chapter Text

Cheongsan’s stomach is in knots as he sits in the backseat of his parent's car, watching the trees of the Hyosan forest fly past in a dark blur. In the front, said parents are chatting away casually about his Father’s work day, completely oblivious to their son’s growing panic not two feet behind them. Sitting forward in his seat between his parents, Cheongsan glances from his phone giving them directions, to the forests currently surrounding them on both sides.

Clasped in his Mother’s hand for his Father to follow, Cheongsan’s phone dutifully guides them towards Suhyeok’s home. Cheongsan had been able to discern the Alpha’s address by checking his location history in his phone’s settings. It had told him where exactly Suhyeok’s house had been the night they went for dinner with the Alpha’s parents.

On the screen, directing his Papa higher and higher up the Hyosan mountains, the map's little green arrow points the way, Cheongsan’s ears beginning to pop with the change of altitude and pressure. It also, helpfully, relays the time left till arrival; 7 minutes.

He’s so fucking nervous he might pass out.

“You okay, sweetie?” His Mama asks, turning to look at him with a smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m two seconds away from shitting myself but otherwise, yeah I’m good,” He replies, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Well, I don’t think Suhyeok would appreciate that, but if you ask Mr and Mrs Lee, they might show you to their bathroom,” His Mama replies, grinning amusedly back at him.

“You’re hilarious, Mama,” He replies dryly, with an eye roll.

“I’m still confused as to why it was so important we pay Suhyeok a visit. It’s dinner time, too,” His Papa bemoans, sullenly. His poor Father hadn’t even gotten out of their car before his Mama had come barrelling down with an anxious Cheongsan trailing her. She’d then loudly directed her husband back onto the street, Cheongsan begrudgingly providing Suhyeok’s address.

“I have our dinner made, honey. Don’t worry. Cheongsan just needs to have a word with Suhyeok,” She assures her husband, reaching over to squeeze his knee.

“Maybe this is a bad idea. It’s late; dinner time as Papa said. We should turn back,” Cheongsan reasons, the anxious voice in his head growing louder and louder the closer they get to the Alpha.

“You’re doing this, Cheongsan. It’s about time you were honest with Suhyeok,” His Mama fires back, no wiggle room in her words.

Blowing out a breath, Cheongsan falls back against the middle seat, wondering if he should jump out of the car now, would he survive?

He is so beyond nervous; He’s fucking terrified.

Seven minutes later, as his phone delightfully tells them they’ve reached their destination, through the darkness, the high hedges and even higher gate of the Lee residence come into view.

Stopping before the large wooden gate blocking their entry, Cheongsan’s Mother glances back at him as if he knows the magic words to get them past the barrier. He, in fact, does not.

Alongside the gate, to the right, a wooden door stands shaded in darkness, and if Cheongsan squints, next to it he can make out what looks like an intercom.

“Well, looks like we can’t get past. Best we head home,” He says into the interior of the car, glancing between his parents.

“It looks like there’s an intercom just there Cheongsan. I bet if you buzz, someone will answer and let you through,” His Papa helpfully points out with his finger, turning to smile back at Cheongsan in encouragement.

Goddamn it.

“Go on, sweetie. We’ll wait out here or drive around for a bit whilst you and Suhyeok chat,” His Mama smiles, her eyes so hopeful for him.

Nodding in defeat, Cheongsan swallows as much of his nerves as he can and pushes the door open.

It’d been raining for a good part of the day earlier, the ground still wet and the air heavy with moisture. Approaching the closed gate, the wind whips through his hair, the frigid coldness of it making his eyes water and a shiver race across his skin.

Pulling out his phone, he uses his torch to light up the intercom clearly, allowing him to see the call button.

Before he can stop himself, he presses it hard once. It buzzes for the duration of the time he has his finger on it. When he lets go, he stands there in the cold wind, wondering if he did that right as his teeth threaten to begin chattering.

As the seconds tick past, he turns to frown at his parents - watching from the car - when a voice suddenly comes crackling through the speakers.

“Yes? Hello?” A female voice asks, sounding confused and slightly put out.

Caught by the surprise, Cheongsan’s mouth dangles open for a second as he tries to think of what to say. He’d been expecting Suhyeok to answer but of course, the Alpha doesn’t.

“Uh, hello. This is Cheongsan? Is Suhyeok there by any chance?” He asks, sounding completely unsure of himself, cringing when he’s finished speaking.

There’s even more silence on the other end of the line before the woman responds, a hint of anger in her voice.

“Cheongsan…the Omega,” She begins, not phrasing that as a question, “I’ll buzz you in, and wait at the front door to meet you,” She finishes, before beside Cheongsan, the wooden door, clicks open loudly.

Not wanting to pause for too long and miss his chance to get past the opened door, he turns to his parents with a wave and a semi-awkward smile, receiving thumbs up and smiles in return before he pushes the door open and passes through.

The door swings shut behind him, the resolute sound of the lock clicking back into place, as Cheongsan turns his gaze to the wide lawn before him. It’s as manicured and perfect as the first time he saw it driving up here with Suhyeok.

Following the pavement up to the house, the cherry blossom trees sway above his head, the only sound reaching his ears bar the crunch of his feet as he trudges on up the lengthy driveway.

When the grey brick of Suhyeok’s house comes into view, Cheongsan takes in the various windows across its face and side. Some are lit from within, warm light leaking out onto the pavement, whilst others are shrouded in darkness and Cheongsan can’t help but wonder which Suhyeok may be in. Or maybe the Alpha is waiting for him on his front porch.

However, as he approaches the front porch and main entrance, Suhyeok is nowhere to be found. Instead, Mrs Lee steps out when he gets close enough for her to spot, closing the front door behind her as she steps out onto the porch.

Cheongsan feels his nerves rise for a different reason looking at the impassive Alpha. She looks wary of him as if she isn’t sure his being here is a good thing at all. Cheongsan wonders how much she knows about what went down between him and Suhyeok. Considering she believed they’d been dating, Cheongsan wouldn’t be surprised if Suhyeok had told her they’d broken up.

How he'd told her they’d ‘broken up’ is what worries him.

“Hello, Mrs Lee,” He greets politely, standing before her.

She eyes him, and from her vantage point above him on the porch, Cheongsan squirms under the weight of her gaze, feeling very much like a mouse under a cat at that moment.

“I’m not sure if I’m making the right decision here; letting you through my gate,” The Alpha admits, her arms crossing over her chest.

Not exactly as friendly and welcoming as the first time he’d met Mrs Lee, but it’s clear to him that she is at least aware he and Suhyeok have ‘broken up’. She continues before he can scramble up a response to that.

“I do know one thing though. Ever since you two broke up, he’s been more miserable than I’ve seen in a long time,” She tells him, frowning down at the ground with worried concern for her son clear on her face.

“Tell me one thing, Cheongsan; are you here to help with that? Or make it worse?” She asks him seriously, lifting her gaze to eye him warily.

Cheongsan looks away awkwardly, his eyes falling to her high heels as he thinks about how to respond to that. He’s standing here, before Suhyeok’s home for one reason. But now that he’s here, Mrs Lee before him has really made it clear to him that he needs to know if he can do this or not. She’s making it clear that if she lets him walk through her door now, and he leaves with Suhyeok in a worse state than he already is; he’ll never be allowed back.

“I’m here to help. I’m here to… make things right,” He promises her, lifting his eyes to meet her stern ones.

She takes him in for longer at that and really studies him, practically looking right through him with how intently she stares. Maybe to see if she can detect any lies in his words, in his face or eyes. Eventually she looks away, nodding to herself.

“Come along, then. I’ll show you where his bedroom is,” She directs with a turn of her head.

Sighing shakily, Cheongsan follows after her, stepping up onto the porch to enter the house.

It’s as beautiful as he remembers, the floors shining brightly, the chandelier twinkling delicately, a bouquet of sunflowers sitting atop the centre table in place of the calla lilies that’d been there before. Following her, she stops at the bottom of the stairs and turns to him with a nervous smile.

“Suhyeok’s bedroom is in the attic. If you climb the stairs and go right, at the end of the corridor is another set. Those stairs lead to his room,” She tells him quietly, her nails anxiously tapping against the bannisters of the staircase.

Nodding, Cheongsan shares an awkward smile with the Alpha before he begins ascending. As his own nerves rebound, his palms becoming sweaty whilst his mouth dries completely, he realises this is his last real chance to turn back. To turn around, go home and continue living his life without Suhyeok. Without knowing if the Alpha will ever be by his side again, in any capacity.

He reminds himself how awful the past few days have been without him and continues walking.

Walking along the corridor, he passes by several closed doors and Cheongsan mildly wonders what’s behind them or where Mr Lee is right now. He’d rather not bump into the older man, remembering his less-than-friendly welcome the last time.

He imagines, given the size of the house, that Suhyeok and his family must have all sorts of rooms Cheongsan doesn’t have in his two-bed apartment. They probably have something ridiculous but totally cool like a cinema room or a gaming room.

Reaching the end of the corridor, sure enough, another set of carpeted stairs turn upward to the left. Gripping the support rail, Cheongsan takes each step up, his heart rate climbing in his chest with his ascension.

At the top, a landing leads to a white wooden door, the contents of the room behind it obvious.

Stepping up the last step, Cheongsan sucks in a deep breath before releasing it with a long sigh, attempting to alleviate his anxiety. Swallowing, he walks down the landing before he lifts his hand and turns the handle, pushing the door quietly open to step into the room.

The first thing he notices is that Suhyeok’s bedroom is huge, the entire attic taken up as the Alpha’s personal space. The dark wood floors stretch into the wide area, the slanted ceiling’s support beams of the roof on full display. The walls are a forest green colour, adding to the earthy and natural feel of the space, along with the natural wood of the furniture in the room.

Stepping further inside and releasing the door to let it close behind him, the next thing Cheongsan notices is the scent permeating from every corner of the room.

Suhyeok’s scent.

Breathing deeply through his nose, his nerves calm almost against their will with the scent of the Alpha, the masculine and airy aroma sending a shiver of pleasure along his skin. He could get used to spending time in here.

Moving his eyes over the room, a large TV sits against the left wall with a wide sofa across from it. Furthest from him, against the back wall, a king-sized bed stretches across the space, above it a circular window puts the stars on full display, twinkling gently. A long desk occupied with stacks of books, schoolwork, and a computer setup occupies the space along the right wall.

Before the computer monitor, sits Suhyeok, casually leaning back against the leather of his desk chair, his bare feet resting up on the surface of the desk. The music playing on the screen of the monitor streams through headphones set atop the Alpha’s head.

Smiling in fond amusement, Cheongsan stands still and simply watches the other boy for a while.

Suhyeok, not yet having noticed his presence, quietly sings along to the lyrics playing in his ears, his eyes closed as he nods his head in time with the music. The Alpha’s hair is damp, looking freshly washed, the strands of his fringe hanging over his forehead casually. He looks comfortable, stretched out across his chair in a soft white t-shirt and plaid blue pyjama pants.

When his friend’s face scrunches up passionately and his voice rises at what must be a particularly climatic moment in the song, Cheongsan can’t help but laugh, the scene before him far too cute.

Suhyeok’s eyes pop open at that, the Alpha apparently having heard him laugh, and after, when the relaxed expression on his friend’s face drops in exchange for one of shock upon spotting him, Cheongsan feels the happy moment vanish, snuffed out instantly.

Suhyeok stares at him for a few seconds, his mouth hanging slightly open with the surprise of finding Cheongsan suddenly standing in his bedroom. As Cheongsan shifts uncomfortably under that gaze, the Alpha lifts his feet off his desk to sit up straight, before pulling off the headphones still playing music in his ears. Dropping them atop his desk, Suhyeok slaps a key to silence the music on his computer before he stands and turns to Cheongsan.

“Cheongsan…what’re you doing here?” He asks, disbelief clear in his voice.

“Uh, hi. Your Mother let me up, I hope that’s okay,” Cheongsan awkwardly replies, pointing back down the way he came.

Suhyeok blinks from him to his bedroom door as if he expects his Mother to be standing there, before the Alpha looks away, his expression conflicted. When he visibly swallows before raising his eyes again, the obvious discomfort at having Cheongsan in his room is written in every line of his face.

“I’m sorry ‘Sannie but I don’t think it is. I’ve asked you so many times for space now,” The Alpha tells him, a hint of exhaustion in his voice, “To be completely honest with you, the way you keep disregarding it…it’s starting to piss me off,”

Breaking eye contact, Cheongsan nods down at the floor, guilt swimming in his stomach knowing the Alpha is right.

“You’re right to be pissed off. I’ve been an asshole to you the past few weeks, when you’ve done nothing but try to be there for me. I mean, damn, you literally took a beating for me,” Cheongsan smiles, his eyes falling to the floor again when Suhyeok simply frowns harder in response.

“I’m sorry for all of that by the way. I’ve lashed out at you. I’ve ignored your request for space. I’ve hurt you, probably more than I know,” Cheongsan confesses, feeling it necessary to speak truthfully of his failings.

“Mostly I’ve been a coward,” He admits quietly, glancing nervously up at the Alpha, who’s still frowning in confusion.

“‘Sannie, an apology isn’t going to change anything, it’s–”

“I just…I need you to understand, Suhyeok,” He interrupts quickly, trying to maintain his courage, “I never wanted to be an Omega. My whole life I’ve heard nothing but people bad mouth Omegas or make disgusting jokes about them behind their backs. Ever since I could remember people have filled my head with the idea that there was nothing worse you could be, than a Male Omega.”

“They were all idiots, Cheongsan. There’s nothing wrong with it,” Suhyeok interjects softly, frowning with righteous anger.

“I know I should think that but I’m so ashamed, Suhyeok. Every single moment I remember what I am now, what I’ve always really been. It eats at me,” He replies, his hands meeting in the middle to begin picking at his cuticles, before yanking them apart when he realises.

Looking up at Suhyeok, the compassion and sympathy in his eyes, the lack of judgement, the obvious love and understanding he holds for him, it’s enough for Cheongsan to be able to confess fully what he’s been feeling.

“I’m also just really scared, ‘Hyeok,” He whispers, shrugging helplessly as his mouth twists in discomfort even admitting it.

"Why?" Suhyeok asks quietly.

“...When I was a boy, I witnessed an Alpha violently beat his Omega to a bloody pulp. Right in front of his two kids, with a manic grin on his face the entire time,”

Even standing there now, that disgusting Alpha’s grin flashes through his mind, the edge to it, slightly crazy but full of sick pleasure, still terrifying to him all these years later.

“That’s horrible, Cheongsan. I’m so sorry,” Suhyeok whispers into the silence following, Cheongsan blinking out of images of raging twisted Alphas at the sound of his friend’s voice.

“I need you to understand, Suhyeok,” He continues, pleading with his eyes, “It’s all I’ve ever been exposed to; society's opinions of Male Omegas, their prejudice, and I even thought I’d gotten over seeing that Alpha beat his Omega like that but after Gwinam and this other fucking Alpha…” He trails off, anger of his own resurging remembering how he’s been treated by these Alpha’s since presenting.

“Other Alpha?” Suhyeok interrupts, fearful concern across his face.

“It’s nothing, believe me, I’m fine,” He reassures, shaking his head to dismiss the issue.

“My point is; I’m a total mess. And to be honest, I probably need a lot of therapy but please just know one thing; I have always felt safe with you, Suhyeok. Since knowing you, I’ve always felt safe by your side. Protected, even. And I’m sorry I let being afraid, being ashamed, stop me from telling you the truth.”

“The truth?” Suhyeok asks quietly, his eyes not moving an inch from Cheongsan.

“You’re my friend. Gyeongsu and Onjo are my friends. Yet the way I feel about them is different to how I feel about you. I told myself the reason I always wanted to be near you, to… touch you, feel your touch... was because we were just that comfortable with each other. But I’ve always been drawn to you, in a way I shied away from admitting to myself,”

“Cheongsan…what’re you saying?” Suhyeok asks shakily, visibly swallowing.

“I feel the same way,” Cheongsan admits in a rush, his heart pounding in his chest, “I love you too, Suhyeok,”

Eyes comically wide, Suhyeok freezes where he’s stood, his chest barely moving to breathe.

“...You love me…?” He asks, his voice cracking as tears well in his eyes.

“I do,” Cheongsan admits thickly, nodding as tears sting his own eyes, “I think I always have.”

Right as tears spill over Suhyeok’s cheeks, a smile brighter than the sun lights up the Alpha’s face. Quicker than Cheongsan can blink, the taller boy is across the room and suddenly Cheongsan is airborne, lifted into Suhyeok’s arms as the Alpha laughs in joy.

Laughing along, Cheongsan wraps his arms around Suhyeok’s neck as he spins them, the tears spilling from his own eyes of pure love and relief.

When Suhyeok eventually slows, Cheongsan is promptly readjusted in his arms so his legs are wrapped around the Alpha’s waist, securely locking them in place. Suhyeok’s joy ebbs away back into awe, his eyes never leaving Cheongsan’s face.

“Tell me again,” The Alpha whispers into the small space between them.

Grinning, Cheongsan drops his forehead to meet Suhyeok’s, holding his gaze as the words leave his mouth softly.

“...I…love…you…”

In the next second, full lips rise to meet his, Suhyeok seemingly no longer able to hold back as he brings them together. Suhyeok’s lips are firm but soft, slotting perfectly against Cheongsan’s just as they had that night on the porch. It’s a full press of lips as if Suhyeok is pushing his love through the connection, pushing his happiness through where they’re joined.

Pulling back slightly, the barest space separates them as they share air, happy to just take each other in for a moment.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for being too ashamed, too afraid, to admit how I felt.” Cheongsan apologises softly, needing Suhyeok to know that he is, in fact, sorry for hurting him.

Suhyeok is quiet for a few seconds, before the Alpha walks over to sit on the edge of his bed, Cheongsan securely in his lap.

“You’re heavier than you look,” The Alpha teases, with a breath of laughter.

“Fuck you, I’m compact,” Cheongsan replies, laughing too.

Smiling fondly up at him, Suhyeok reaches up to brush his fringe back, “I forgive you, Cheongsan. In your place, with what you’ve experienced, with what you’ve seen, I can’t say I wouldn’t be tempted to push it all away too.”

“I always knew you’d never hurt me, but my fear just didn’t care. It’s so irrational, Suhyeok,” He laments, shaking his head with a sigh.

Suhyeok hums in reply to that, looking away as his brow creases with thought. Cheongsan watches him think on it, how carefully the Alpha is trying to be with his words and only loves him more for it.

Suhyeok’s eyes eventually clear as he comes up with a reply, smiling softly up at Cheongsan. “You’ve got baggage, that much is clear, but if you’d let me, I wanna be by your side as you work on it. I wanna help where I can,” The Alpha asks, hopeful eyes looking up at Cheongsan.

“I’m still struggling, Suhyeok. I need you to realise what you may be agreeing to here; I can’t say I’ll always be the perfect Omega boyfriend. There are still many aspects of my being an Omega I’m not comfortable with, or… ready to share with you,” He finishes quietly, anxiously holding eye contact to ensure the Alpha understands what he’s saying.

Suhyeok smiles warmly up at him at that, his arms sneaking around Cheongsan's waist to encase him in warmth.

“Cheongsan, if you recall, I’ve only ever wanted you. As a Beta, as an Omega, it didn’t matter to me; I just wanted you,” The Alpha reassures, squeezing Cheongsan in his arms once, “I’ll never pressure you into anything. We’ll take this at your pace. Believe me, I’ll just be happy to be with you,”

Cheongsan nods at that, a relieved smile pulling at his mouth. The smile turns into a full grin when the Alpha in his arms snuggles closer to him, burying his face in Cheongsan’s neck to breathe deeply.

“You smell so good this close,” The Alpha murmurs into his skin, before he suddenly pulls back to look up at him, “Could I ask you one thing though?”

“Yeah?” Cheongsan replies, flicking his eyes over Suhyeok’s face nervously.

“How do you feel about kissing?” The Alpha asks around a cheeky smirk.

Cheongsan laughs, relief passing through him. Looking down, he cups Suhyeok’s face in his hands and lowers his head to bring their mouths together, satisfaction racing up his back when their lips meet. Suhyeok hums into the kiss, seemingly as satisfied.

Breaking the kiss, Cheongsan hugs Suhyeok to him, the Alpha’s scent surrounding him completely as he buries his nose in his neck in turn. Being here, in his arms, fills Cheongsan’s chest with what he can only describe as peace. If he was able, he would stay here forever, secure and safe in the Alpha’s arms.

In his Alpha’s arms.

He can’t believe he denied himself this for so long.

“How did you even get up here?” Suhyeok asks suddenly, tilting his head down to look at Cheongsan.

Cheongsan laughs airly into the Alpha’s neck and feels the responding shiver from Suhyeok the sensation seems to trigger.

“My parents are actually idling outside your front gate,” He admits with a snort.

“Oh. So you can’t stay long then?” Suhyeok asks disappointment clear in his voice.

“I can stay as long as my phone stays quiet of calls from my parents,” Cheongsan responds with a smirk, knowing when he really needs to go, his Mama will ring him.

“That works for me,” Suhyeok replies before he shifts a little, “Would it be okay if we lay down, Cheongsan? My back is starting to cramp a little.”

Grinning in amusement, Cheongsan pulls back to face the Alpha again in his lap. “Lee Suhyeok, are you trying to get me into your bed?” He questions jokingly.

Cheongsan can only find it adorable when Suhyeok blanches, his eyebrows shooting to the top of his forehead, “No! I just meant, to lay down atop the covers. Clothes on. I swear,” He replies, hastily.

Laughing, Cheongsan begrudgingly climbs off the Alpha’s lap, “Go on, then,” he instructs, then when Suhyeok plops back against his pillow, Cheongsan happily inserts himself into his side.

Suhyeok immediately pulls him tighter, his arms closing around him, as he smiles down, “You’ve always fit well under my arm, but this is even better. As if you were made to fit snugly by my side.”

“You’re a sap,” Cheongsan teases, grinning up at the other boy.

Suhyeok laughs in response before he reaches over to gently brush Cheongsan’s hair back across his temples, “You love me though,” He says quietly, gently.

Cheongsan leans up on an elbow, and plants a chaste kiss on Suhyeok’s lips before pulling back to look at him, “More than even I know,”

Snuggling back under Suhyeok’s chin, Cheongsan closes his eyes with a contented sigh, not wanting to get up from this bed or out of these arms any time soon.

—------------------------------------------------

“...Cheongsan,”

Blinking his eyes open, Cheongsan’s brain drifts in confusion for a few seconds before he remembers where he is. Lifting his head, he frowns sleepily up at a grinning Suhyeok, “I fell asleep?” He asks, even though he can see that much is obvious.

“Yeah, and your phone has been vibrating against the mattress for the past while,” Suhyeok tells him, his voice full of humour.

“Ugh, my Mama,” Cheongsan laments, shifting awkwardly so he can reach into his pocket to pull out his phone. Tapping the screen, sure enough, a missed call from his Mama comes up. Smiling apologetically at Suhyeok, he calls her back.

“Hello, Mama,” He says once the call goes through, reaching up to rub his eyes.

“Cheongsan, sweetie, ready to head home? It’s been nearly an hour now,” She replies, sounding guilty for calling.

“Yeah, I’ll be down in a few, Mama. Sorry, I fell asleep in Suhyeok’s massive bed,” Cheongsan admits with a wide yawn.

“Fell asleep? In Suhyeok’s bed? Cheongsan, you’re not on birth control, I hope you haven’t done anything you’ll–”

“Mama! Please stop talking. I’ll be down in a second,” He interrupts, mortified.

“Okay, sweetie. Talk then,” She replies before hanging up.

Glancing up at Suhyeok as he repockets his phone, Cheongsan doesn’t need to ask whether the Alpha heard that; the red tint to his cheeks confirms he very much did.

“Sorry,” Cheongsan says awkwardly into the space between them.

“It’s okay, ‘Sannie. No need to apologise,” Suhyeok replies, his hand reaching up to card through the hair at the back of Cheongsan’s head.

“I better go,” Cheongsan regretfully admits, dropping his chin onto the Alpha’s chest, his lips turning down.

Sighing, Suhyeok nods, before both his arms wrap securely around Cheongsan and hug him tight, “Can I get a goodbye kiss?” He asks, pouting his lips.

Laughing airly, Cheongsan leans forward to happily oblige.

As his lips move slowly over Suhyeok’s, the Alpha reaches up to card his hands through Cheongsan’s hair and a shiver races up his spine with the feeling against his scalp. Deepening the kiss, Suhyeok releases a sigh of pleasure as their mouths open to each other's and when their tongues smoothly meet in the middle to slide over each other, Cheongsan feels desire ignite in him.

Cock twitching in interest, he pulls back, breaking the kiss to stare down into Suhyeok’s eyes, the Alpha’s pupils wide in arousal. Swallowing, Cheongsan kisses him once more, chastely before pulling away to stand.

Suhyeok sits up, eyes never leaving him as a happy smile alight his handsome face.

“Only an hour ago I’d wanted you to leave, and now I hate that you’re doing just that,” Suhyeok admits, grinning sheepishly as he pulls his knees up to wrap his arms around them.

“You’d like me to stay, huh?” Cheongsan dares to ask, a cheeky smirk on his lips.

Suhyeok shrugs casually, attempting to appear unaffected, “Only if my Omega wanted to,” He replies, and Cheongsan feels his heart skip a beat at the use of possessive language.

Smiling, Cheongsan insides are bursting with fondness for the boy sitting atop his bed, “One day, I’ll stay over. Seems only fair, you’ve stayed over in mine countless times before,”

“True, I owe you a few sleepovers,” The Alpha replies, grinning.

Nodding, Cheongsan decides this is as good a time as any to leave, “I’ll see you tomorrow?” He still asks, just in case.

“You will. See you then, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok promises.

“See you then, ‘Hyeokie,” Cheongsan promises in return, before turning and walking for the door.

“Cheongsan,” Suhyeok calls to him once he’s swung the door open.

Pausing with the door in hand, Cheongsan turns to him.

“I love you.” Suhyeok proclaims, eyes ablaze with it.

“I love you too,” Cheongsan replies with just as much conviction, watching the minute way Suhyeok’s shoulders relax.

He’ll tell the Alpha a million times over if that's what it takes to convince him.

Turning, he leaves the room with one last smile for the other boy.

As he takes the route back down through the house, he expects to find Mrs Lee waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs but she’s nowhere to be found as he descends. Considering it’s been an hour, he can’t blame her for not waiting.

Climbing into his parent’s backseat a while later, Cheongsan closes the door, before sighing contently. When he’s strapped his seatbelt across his shoulders he sits back and blinks when two pair of eyes watch him expectantly from the front.

“Well?” His Papa asks, impatient as ever.

Shifting in embarrassment, and unable to find the words, his Mama seems to take pity on him.

“All is right in the world?” She asks, waiting with a smile.

“Yeah, all is right,” He replies, with a nod.

“Good,” His Mama replies quietly before turning back around in her seat, his father doing the same and starting the car.

“What does that mean exactly?” He hears his Papa quietly ask his Mama as he begins reversing.

“It means exactly that, honey; All is right in the world,” His Mama replies patiently.

Smiling out of his passenger window, Cheongsan can’t help but wholeheartedly agree.

Chapter Text

“So Cheongsan, you’re here today because you have some concerns relating to your last heat?” His new doctor asks him upon sitting down opposite her.

“Uh, yeah. I was kinda out of it, for most of it. Delirious, really,” He tells her, shifting uncomfortably where he’s sat as he struggles to maintain eye contact.

This new doctor seems nice enough. She’s younger, like his Mama told him she would be and so far she’s been nothing but respectful and kind. He’s still tense in apprehension should she turn on him, that other doctor hadn’t really shown his true colours till toward the end of the last appointment.

Despite the anxiety that’d swam nauseatingly in his belly this morning when he’d woken up and remembered this appointment, he’d slept well last night. The events of the previous evening did wonders to carry him, relaxed and happy, into a deep slumber.

He still can’t quite believe Suhyeok is his boyfriend now.

“We just want to make sure there isn’t a health concern,” His Mama tacts on, interrupting Cheongsan's thoughts from where she’s sat beside him.

“Well, I’ve looked over the ultrasound on file and everything looks fine. From the results of your blood tests, your hormones are a little high but from what I understand these were taken a few days after your heat, correct?”

At his nod, she smiles and continues.

“Okay. Well if you’re comfortable, I’d like to take some more blood today. How would that sound?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Cheongsan replies, attempting to smile back.

“Good. How’ve you been feeling since your last heat?” She asks, poising her fingers over her keyboard in preparation for his answer.

“Fine. Honestly, no different than before I presented.”

“That’s good. Any stomach problems? Nausea? Diarrhea?”

“Nope,” Cheongsan replies, shaking his head mildly.

“Any hot flashes? Night sweats?” She asks further, raising an eyebrow at him.

He answers with another shake of his head.

His new Doctor hesitates at the next question poised on her tongue, her eyes flicking over to Cheongsan’s mother.

“These next few questions are fairly personal to you, Cheongsan. Are you comfortable discussing them in front of your Mother?”

“Uhhhh,” Cheongsan stalls, looking from the Doctor to his Mama, awkwardly, as he tries to think of how to ask his Mama to leave without sounding completely rude. Before he can suffer for too long, his Mama picks up her purse and is already moving to leave.

“I’ll be just outside, feel free to call me back in if you need me Cheongsan,” She smiles, petting him on the head once before heading for the door.

Cheongsan watches the door click shut behind her with relief. He can’t handle any more embarrassing moments with his Mama.

“Now, if you could answer these next questions as honestly as possible, Cheongsan that’d be perfect. There’s no judgement here, I’m just interested in your health,” His Doctor promises, her eyes kind.

“I’ll try,” Cheongsan replies, an awkward breath of laughter leaving him as he squirms uncomfortably where he’s sat.

“Good,” She responds before looking back at her computer screen.

“How has your slick production been? I know this is very new to you but would you say normal? Dry? Or excessive?”

“Um, normal, I think?” He replies, looking down at the tiled floor as his face begins to burn in embarrassment.

“Okay, that’s good. Has there been any changes in your libido? Increase? Decrease?”

“...Increase? I guess...” He admits, figuring he better just be honest, despite the embarrassment.

“Okay. Last time you were here, you answered that you were single and also a virgin, have either of those changed?” She enquires, turning away from her monitor to look at him.

“Well… I have a boyfriend now but I’m still a virgin,” He responds, eyes flicking from the doctor’s face to literally anywhere else.

“Congratulations on the boyfriend,” She replies, with a small teasing grin that only makes him blush harder, “What’s his designation?”

“Alpha.”

“Any sexual activity at all since your last appointment?” She continues, face as open and kind since he stepped into the room.

“Nope, none,” He mutters, wondering if she thinks he’s a whore now. I mean, only a few weeks and he’s already got an Alpha boyfriend? She must think he’s such a typical Omega; stuck on the first knot he could find.

“Okay. Would you like to invite your Mother back inside?” She finishes, her face giving nothing away, even as Cheongan studies her for judgment.

“Uh, sure, I’ll get her,” He replies, hopping up to open the door and wave his Mama back inside. When they’re both sat together again, the Doctor continues.

“Right, well, from everything you’ve told me, you seem like a perfectly healthy Omega, and it’s very plausible that your delayed designation is what triggered such a strong heat cycle: An accumulation of hormones in your body. I can’t promise that your next heat won’t be any less…overbearing, but they should become less so as you cycle through them a few times.”

Cheongsan’s heart sinks at that.

“There’s nothing I can do, or take, to make them less intense?” He enquires, dread swimming in his gut at the idea of going through another heat like that.

“I’m afraid not, Cheongsan. It’s important to let your body’s natural processes carry out without interruption or interference. There is always the option of letting your boyfriend help you through them if you’re comfortable with the idea,”

“I’m not,” Cheongsan immediately responds with a head shake.

“Okay, well there are also toys you can buy…”

“Uhhh, yeah…right,” Cheongsan replies, beginning to sweat with his Mama sitting right there beside him.

“Okay,” His Doctor replies, smiling in amusement at him before she moves on, “I’d like to take some blood and to be totally, completely sure... how would you feel about an internal examination, Cheongsan?”

Nerves instantly spiking, his mouth going dry, he shifts uncomfortably where he’s sat.

“Is it really necessary? I’m not comfortable with the idea.” He admits, frowning miserably over at her.

With a look of understanding she leans toward him slightly, to give him her full attention, “Can I ask why you’re not uncomfortable with the idea?”

“It sounds... Invasive…painful,” He admits, swallowing roughly.

She nods before replying, her voice gentle.

“I can understand why you’d think that. It is uncomfortable, that is true but if we went ahead with it, I’d take it at your pace, Cheongsan. Whenever you wanted to stop, we’d stop. If you wanted it to end at any time, you’d only have to say the word. The internal examination would allow me to check everything looks healthy but I’m not forcing you into anything, this is entirely your choice,” She reassures him, her eyes full of compassion.

“Can I think about it?” He asks, glancing between his Mama and his Doctor.

“Of course. Your Mother can ring the clinic if you decide to go ahead with it, and I’ll schedule you in,” She nods, turning to make a note in his file.

“We also wanted to discuss birth control,” His Mama interjects after, giving him an unimpressed look for forgetting.

His Doctor looks over at her in surprise before nodding.

“Oh, of course. Well, I’m sure you’re familiar enough with condoms but we also offer contraception in pill form or through a patch."

“Through a patch?” Cheongsan asks, never having heard of it before.

“Yes. It’s a small patch that you stick to your upper arm. Over a month, it releases the birth control into your blood and your system. After 30 days, you peel it off and slap on a new one.”

“Huh. I think I’d like to go with that one,” He nods, much preferring the idea of that than a pill he needs to take daily. He's far to forgetful for that. 

“Sure thing. I’ll just add it to your file,” She offhandly replies, typing again into her computer but she stands, “And be right back,” she tells them both with a smile before disappearing from the room.

“So you and Suhyeok last night…didn’t..?” His Mama asks once his Doctor has left, her eyebrows raised with meaning.

“We talked Mama, and… cuddled for a while. That’s it. Don’t worry.” He awkwardly replies, looking away.

“Okay, that’s good,” His Mama says under her breath, relief obvious in her voice.

“But I thought you wanted grandchildren?” Cheongsan snarks in a mocking tone.

“Watch it, young man. I do, but I meant in 10 years when you’re not living under my roof,” She fires back, eyes narrowing.

Looking away, Cheongsan rolls his eyes. Typical.

His head snaps up as the door reopens, his new doctor returning with a small box in her hand that she offers him with a smile.

“These should be suitable for you, Cheongsan.”

Taking the proffered box with thanks, Cheongsan flips it over in his hands, reading the front as the doctor continues speaking.

“Side effects are uncommon but usually; slight dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or headaches. Rare side effects include weight gain, blood clotting, decreased libido and excessive slick production. If anything unusual occurs after applying one, I'd recommend removing it and ringing us here in the clinic for advice” She informs, looking between his Mama and him.

“But it won’t affect his fertility?” His Mama asks, and Cheongsan turns from reading the box to frown at her in disbelief.

“No, no evidence of it ever affecting someone’s fertility,” His Doctor reassures with a nod.

“Wouldn’t matter either way,” Cheongsan mutters into the room, “I won’t be having children,” He promises, pointedly staring at his Mama.

She sighs in disappointment at that, looking away from him to frown at the wall.

“...okay, well Cheongsan, I’ll take those bloods, and then you’re free to go,” His Doctor offers, and Cheongsan readily agrees, already pulling up the sleeve of his arm.

She takes a few vials of his blood, quickly and painlessly, skillfully able to find his vein without issue. Standing up from his seat once she’s done applying a small plaster, he thanks her and makes to leave, ready to get to school.

He’s been dying to see his Alpha all morning.

—----------------------------------------

Waving his Mama off as she pulls away from the curb twenty minutes later, Cheongsan turns to the school before him, eagerly taking the steps up to the main entrance.

It’s mid-class so the campus is quiet, save for a soccer team practising in the field behind him. Entering through the main doors, his shoes squeak on the linoleum as he ambles down the hallway towards English, a spring in his step happily taking him towards his friends and boyfriend.

That’s still so surreal to even think. He has a freakin’ boyfriend!

Pulling up to class, he peeks into the room through the window in the door, his eyes immediately moving to the chair Suhyeok always occupies. When the Alpha’s handsome face fills his vision, the taller boy locked in concentration on the lecture happening before him, Cheongsan grins, giddy.

Sliding the door open, he interrupts Ms Park midsentence, smiling apologetically at the older woman.

“Sorry, Miss.” He says to her, smiling apologetically. 

“Cheongsan, that’s okay. Take your seat,” She replies, unbothered as she resumes her lecture.

Turning away from her, a wide smile lights up his face as he locks eyes with the handsome Alpha at the back of the class. Weaving between desks and his classmates, he can’t take his eyes off Suhyeok.

His boyfriend grins back, the other boy's face bursting with delight to see him and Cheongsan feels his heart race, beyond tempted to run up and rugby tackle Suhyeok with a hug. At the curious glances between them from Gyeongsu, he decides to rein it in a bit. With one last smile, he pulls out his chair and sits down, reluctantly putting his back to the Alpha.

Throughout English, he tries to take in something from the lecture, but the heavy weight of Suhyeok’s eyes on him is obvious and very distracting. Twenty-five minutes later, when the bell rings above his head, he’s busy packing up his backpack when suddenly, but unsurprisingly, there’s an arm across his shoulders and a grinning Alpha by his side.

“Good morning,” Suhyeok greets, eyes round and happy.

“Morning,” Cheongsan replies breathlessly, shifting from under the Alpha’s arm to sling his backpack onto his shoulders.

Eyes locked in silent praise for one another, Gyeongsu behind them doesn’t fail to notice the shift in their relationship.

“I see you two have finally made up. It’s about damn time, the moping from both of you was getting old real fast,” the Beta comments, tone exasperated.

“I don’t mope,” Cheongsan fires back, turning to glare halfheartedly at his best friend.

“‘Course not,” Gyeongsu replies sarcastically, stepping up behind them as they begin exiting the class.

Walking out into the hallway, the Alpha’s arm not moving an inch from across his shoulders, Cheongsan turns to his boyfriend with a small smile.

“How was your morning?”

“Same as always. Never mind me though. How did your appointment go?” Suhyeok asks, face open and curious.

Shrugging, Cheongsan downplays the appointment, not interested in letting it take up any more of his morning. He’d told Suhyeok before school via text message he was seeing a new Doctor today.

“It was fine. I’m perfectly healthy apparently.”

“That’s good to hear. Why did you even need to go exactly?” Suhyeok asks him, frowning confusedly.

Cheongsan smiles shyly at that. “I’ll tell you later, okay? Not stuff you really say out loud in a hallway full of teenagers,” He laughs, giving Suhyeok a meaningful look.

At Suhyeok’s reddening face and jerky nod, Cheongsan laughs harder, the bashfulness of his boyfriend very endearing right then.

Growing up, Cheongsan was always made to believe that Alphas were utterly confident in the sex department, that they were the aggressive pursuers and just naturally took to courting Omegas but from what Cheongsan knows, Suhyeok is as big a virgin as he is and just as shy about sex.

Entering Science together, they reluctantly part ways, Suhyeok squeezing his shoulders once with one last smile for him before taking his seat next to Namra. Cheongsan smiles back, a thrill of desire rushing through him to get closer to the Alpha. To stay by his side, to hug him, kiss him again. It’s only been a day since they last kissed and already Cheongsan misses it. Misses being that close with Suhyeok.

—------------------------------------------------------

A few hours later, Cheongsan wonders idly - as he washes his hands in the Boys’ bathroom sink - if he’ll always feel as hungry as he does nowadays. It’s lunch hour, and he’s broken off from his friends to go pee but standing there before the sink, his demanding stomach nags him incessantly, his mind wistfully mulling over what could be for lunch that day. Ever since he became a teenager, his appetite, in general, has been voracious. He must be costing his parents a small fortune in grocery shopping each week.

Shaking his hands off in the sink before drying them on his pant leg, he leaves the bathroom to walk out into the hallways, the crowd thinning out as people head in the direction of the cafeteria. Following them, anticipation builds lowly in his gut at the hour ahead of him. It’ll be the first time since he presented that he’ll spend it with Suhyeok again and he cannot wait.

Leaving the main building, he crosses the small outdoor space to enter the cafeteria, picking up an empty tray once inside and lining up behind other students to receive his lunch. As he stands there, incrementally moving forward, he turns to gaze over at his friends and immediately smiles when he locks eyes with a pair of warm brown ones already watching him.

Suhyeok, sitting with their friends, occupies his rightful place; the seat left to Cheongsan’s. The Alpha smiles over at him in return, lifting his hand in a small wave. Cheongsan nods back, finding it very difficult at that moment to suppress the happiness soaring in his chest and the smile on his face.

Finally, Suhyeok is back where he belongs.

Thanking the lunch lady as she finishes filling his tray, he turns and walks between tables to reach his friends. Stopping before them, all conversation halts at his arrival and several pairs of eyes turn to look up at him. He, however, only has eyes for one person. Suhyeok leans his chin in his fist, gazing up at him, carefree.

“You ever abandon me at lunch again and I’ll kick your ass,” Cheongsan warns, standing over the Alpha with a mild glare.

Suhyeok grins wide at the threat, the corner of his eyes crinkling. Cheongsan glare disappears as he slowly grins back, plopping down beside the Alpha.

“Missed me that much, did you?”

“Fuck no. I just got tired of listening to Gyeongsu’s rambling,”

“Hey!” Gyeongsu protests from Suhyeok’s left.

When Suhyeok laughs airly before leaning over to plant a quick kiss on Cheongsan’s cheek, giddiness rushes through him even as colour rises to his cheeks, an embarrassed laugh leaving him. His friends’ eyes widen in realisation around the table, bar Onjo who looks unsurprised but pleased.

“Finally!” Wujin practically exclaims further down the table, leaning forward to look over at them. “I thought we’d all be old and decrepit by the time you two sorted your shit out and got together,” He continues, exasperated.

Frowning, Cheongsan looks at Wujin in mild annoyance, before turning to ignore the Beta and beginning to eat his lunch.

“Fuck off, Wujin,” Suhyeok replies offhandedly, resuming eating his own lunch.

His friends clearly share Wujin’s opinion if the way some of them nod or give each other knowing looks is any indication but Cheongsan ignores them all, allowing his appetite to make satating his hunger his only priority.

When the solid weight of an arm falls across his shoulders, he smiles around a mouthful of food, glancing up to see one satisfied Alpha smiling down at him. Suhyeok’s Alpha scent is mild as they eat their lunch, barely reaching Cheongsan’s nose over the smell of food. Still, when he scoots himself closer to his boyfriend, the unmistakable undertones of one content and happy Alpha are obvious.

Looking down at his tray, Cheongsan deftly picks up some of his food between his chopsticks and pointedly turns to the Alpha, raising it in offer.

Suhyeok glances between the food and Cheongsan, the meaning behind the gesture obvious to the two of them. As the Alpha, opens his mouth and takes the food into his mouth, Cheongsan feels his heart squeeze in his chest.

After causing Suhyeok so much pain and distress, this gesture feels like a fresh start since everything that’s happened. A promise from Cheongsan to Suhyeok that he won’t falter or hide away in fear of his feelings for the Alpha anymore.

“It’s good,” Suhyeok comments around the bite, reaching up his left hand to wipe the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

Nodding with a pleased smile, Cheongsan turns back to his food, feeling lighter than he has in weeks.

—--------------------------------------------

“What’re you getting up to later?”

Cheongsan turns from his locker to blink up at Suhyeok, the Alpha having already finished gathering his homework material for the evening. Their afternoon classes had felt like they’d flown by, Cheongsan doing fairly well in paying attention in most of them.

“I don’t have plans, actually. Besides homework and that,” Cheongsan replies, eyes drifting from Suhyeok to the books he’s currently swapping from his locker to his backpack.

“Well, do you wanna hang out? We could chill out in mine? Or yours? Whatever you’d prefer,” Suhyeok asks with a smile, eyes hopeful.

“Uh, yeah. Sure. My place.”

He thinks his parents would be happy to see the Alpha and the physical proof the two of them are on good terms again. Better terms even.

“Great,” The Alpha replies with a nod before he removes his phone to message his driver. Or that’s what Cheongsan assumes Suhyeok is doing.

“I’m guessing you’re joining us then, Cheongsan’s boyfriend,” Onjo saunters up to them to say, eyes locked on Suhyeok’s tall form.

Face reddening again, Cheongsan glances between his best friend and his… yeah his boyfriend. Damn, that’s gonna take a while to get used to.

Suhyeok laughs nervously, reaching up to readjust his backpack across his shoulders as he smiles down at Onjo. “Yeah. Yeah, I am, actually.”

Onjo glances between them, looking smug before she nods in acceptance. “Okay then, let's go, lovebirds.”

Blush reaching his ears, Cheongsan glares heatedly at his best friend for the teasing, already thinking up ways he can get her back for this in the future.

Following after her, he blinks in surprise when Suhyeok reaches over to interlace their fingers, the Alpha smiling warmly over at him.

Glancing between their interlocked fingers and his Alpha's face, he smiles in return, squeezing his boyfriend's hand.

—-------------------------------------------------

“Uhhh, I’m tired, man,” Suhyeok proclaims once they reach Cheongsan’s bedroom before the Alpha promptly drops his backpack to the floor and falls backwards onto Cheongsan’s bed, bouncing once.

Grinning in amusement at Suhyeok’s dramatics, he drops his own backpack down beside his desk before he rolls his chair out from his desk to sit backwards on it, leaning his chin on his hands to peer over at the Alpha.

Suhyeok sighs where he’s lying atop Cheongsan’s duvet, his eyes closing as he relaxes atop the covers. Watching him with affection, Cheongsan finds he really loves how comfortable and relaxed Suhyeok always is in his bedroom, the Alpha familiar enough with the space, that he treats it like his second home.

Unable to help himself, however, he opens his mouth as teasing words come to mind, “Comfortable enough? Didn’t your Mama ever teach you it’s rude to lay atop someone else’s bed without asking,” Cheongsan grins, watching in anticipation as Suhyeok opens his eyes and turns his head to him.

When a matching playful grin doesn’t immediately rise on Suhyeok’s face, Cheongsan’s own one falters a little. Blinking, he gazes over at the boy in his bed, as Suhyeok rolls over onto his side to face him fully, an intensity in his brown eyes.

“You don’t like me in your bed, Cheongsan?” The Alpha asks quietly, his eyes locked onto Cheongsan’s.

His heart picking up speed in his chest, Cheongsan swallows down the feelings the wanton look Suhyeok is giving him inspires and laughs awkwardly.

“Suhyeok,” He warns, leaning back to rub his sweaty palms on his thighs.

“...I think you should join me,” The Alpha continues in a low whisper, the expression on his face intense.

Cheongsan’s eyes widen comically at that and he’s two seconds away from telling the Alpha off when suddenly Suhyeok reaches forward to grab the desk chair and pull it across the small space to the bed. When the chair collides with the frame, Cheongsan tips forward with the sudden loss of momentum and the next thing he knows, Suhyeok growls before pulling him over the back of the chair and into the Alpha’s arms.

Shocked and full of disbelief, Cheongsan goes tense all over in Suhyeok’s arms before a squeak leaves him followed by a barrage of laughter as the Alpha’s fingers tickle him relentlessly. Squirming uncontrollably against the Alpha’s frame, the torture continues until Cheongsan, with tears of laughter in his eyes is finally able to put enough space between himself and the Alpha by falling back against the wall along the bed.

Both of them breathing rapidly, they stare each other down in a playful standoff, Cheongsan’s hands raised should the Alpha try to attack him again.

“I have to say,” Cheongsan begins, between pants, “I nearly forgot how freaking fond you are of tickling me like that.” He finishes with a laugh, tensing when the Alpha grins and flops over onto his other side to face him.

“That was your mistake, ‘Sannie; Forgetting. Left yourself wide open,” Suhyeok replies, with a smug grin, wiggling his fingers in the air.

“Fucking asshole,” Cheongsan laughs, reaching up to straighten his shirt that’d been knocked weirdly across his shoulders.

Laughing, Suhyeok’s delighted grin gradually falls into a small smile, the Alpha simply gazing over at him.

“Hey,” Suhyeok says, a contemplative look across his handsome face.

“Yeah?” Cheongsan responds, reaching up to push his hair out of his eyes.

“Kiss me.”

Freezing, Cheongsan stares over at his boyfriend, the easy confidence radiating from the Alpha giving him butterflies. Not backing down from the challenge, he leans forward on his knees, eyes flicking between Suhyeok’s irises and his full lips.

Breathes beginning to mingle, Cheongsan pauses with a touch of space between them, gently caressing Suhyeok’s nose with his own by rubbing it side to side.

When the Alpha pushes forward to close that space and brings their lips together in a full kiss, Cheongsan's eyes close as he sighs through his nose, the delight of being connected to Suhyeok like this again ringing through him.

Breaking the kiss briefly, Cheongsan drops down onto his hips so he’s lying alongside Suhyeok before quickly resuming his exploration of the Alpha’s mouth. When Suhyeok’s kisses go from slow and gentle to hungry and demanding, Cheongsan’s pulse throbs in his neck with excitement, the Alpha’s wet tongue sliding across his in a sensual dance that has shivers racing across his skin.

He has never kissed anyone like this before.

Suhyeok turns his head to deepen the kiss further and Cheongsan moans without even meaning to when the Alpha quickly reclaims his mouth, his wide hands coming up to card through Cheongsan’s hair.

Cheongsan has only ever really experienced chaste kisses before, with neighbourhood girls at the behest of his childhood friends or on a dare. This kind of kissing, this wanton, passionate kind of kissing, is new and totally blowing his mind. Suhyeok is clearly more experienced than Cheongsan in this department, the Alpha laying on him tricks with his tongue and teeth Cheongsan didn’t even know possible.

When Suhyeok eventually slows the kisses to closed-mouth pecks and presses of his full lips against Cheongsan’s, as the Alpha pulls away, Cheongsan finds himself too dazed to do much of anything but breathe, his eyes still closed.

Suhyeok laughs quietly beneath him, causing Cheongsan to open his eyes, his boyfriend smiling up at him.

“You okay?” The Alpha asks, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Fine,” Cheongsan mumbles in reply, swallowing and trying to get his brain back online.

“You’re very good at that,” He comments, watching as Suhyeok shrugs, smugness obvious in his eyes.

“I’ve had some practice,” The Alpha admits, smirking with his sharp canines on full display.

“Anyone I’d know?” Cheongsan asks quietly, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

“No, ‘Sannie. No one you’d know.” Suhyeok grins with a shake of his head.

“Whore,” Cheongsan jokes, laughing wholeheartedly and dropping his head to his Alpha’s shoulder when Suhyeok’s mouth drops open in outrage and his eyes widen in shock.

“Excuse me? Did you just call me that?” The Alpha asks, mock-outraged.

That’s all the warning Cheongsan gets before the tickling resumes again and he’s left screaming in laughter as Suhyeok climbs on top of him to trap him.

“OKAY, okay, okay, okay…” Cheongsan pleads, right back to being a frazzled mess from Suhyeok’s expert tickling hands. The Alpha laughs above him as he halts the assault, his boyfriend’s breathing laboured as he places both hands beside Cheongsan’s head to stare down at him.

Gazing at each other, both breathless and flushed, Cheongsan imagines they look quite the picture right then.

“Cheongsan, are you–” His Mama starts as she swings the door open, stopping abruptly to stare at them with wide eyes.

“Uhhhh,” Suhyeok starts, with wide eyes as he looks between Cheongsan and his Mama.

“Mama! You’re home early,” Cheongsan practically squeaks, sitting up to push Suhyeok back off him, the Alpha leaning back on his haunches.

His Mama crosses her arms, an unimpressed expression filling her face, “Weren’t expecting me, were you, Cheongsan?” She asks, glaring at him.

“Mama, we were just fooling around, it’s not like that,” He beeches quietly, his face turning even more red.

“This door?” She says, turning to grip the wooden barrier in question, “Stays open when Suhyeok is over. Understand?”

Standing up from his bed, his mortification rolls into anger, Cheongsan's fists clenching by his side as he glares at his Mama, “I told you it wasn’t like that. Will you stop embarrassing me?”

“There won’t be any teenage pregnancies in this house. Have you even applied the birth control patch yet, Cheongsan?”

Mouth falling open in shocked disbelief, Cheongsan's anger ignites into an ugly ball of rage, unable to believe his Mama just said that in front of Suhyeok. He’s two seconds away from spewing words he knows he’ll regret later when his Papa walks into view from behind his Mama, distracting him enough to halt the words on his tongue.

When his Papa spots Suhyeok, the older man's face lights up in delight.

“Suhyeok! It’s good to see you, young man. How are you?” His Papa asks, oblivious to the stand-off going on between Cheongsan and his Mama or the tangible tension in the room.

“I’m good, Mr Lee. Thank you, sir. How are you?” Suhyeok replies unsurely, the Alpha standing up beside Cheongsan.

“All good. Hey, are you staying for dinner? We’d love to have you,” His Papa continues, eyes flicking between Cheongsan and Suhyeok in question.

Moving his gaze from the locked glare he’s been holding with his Mama, he smiles saccharinely happily up at his Papa, “He is, actually. You don’t mind me having Suhyeok over for the evening, do you, Papa?”

“No, of course not, Cheongsan. Suhyeok is always welcome,” His Papa replies, frowning in confusion to be even asked.

“Thought so,” Cheongsan replies smugly, eyes moving back to his Mama.

She sighs in annoyance and what sounds like disappointment before turning and leaving the room, shoulder-checking her husband who frowns after her in confusion.

When his Papa gives them an awkward smile before reaching for the door and closing it with a click to leave them in peace, Cheongsan turns to Suhyeok.

“I’m sorry about her. Let’s just pretend that didn’t happen, okay?” He asks, mortified.

“It’s fine, Cheongsan. She’s just looking out for you,” Suhyeok replies, shrugging.

Sitting down on the edge of his bed, Cheongsan sighs as he leans his forehead on his hands, the anger from earlier fading into a mild throbbing headache in his temples.

“She worries so much about my fertility yet hates the idea of me getting pregnant,” He mutters mockingly under his breath before he realises the implications of what he just said and his head shoots up to stare at Suhyeok.

“I didn’t mean— I’m not trying to get pregnant! That’s not what I meant,” He stutters out, his face burning in mortification as he looks up at the Alpha.

Suhyeok laughs at him before dropping down beside him on the edge of the bed, smiling sweetly.

“I know, ‘San. Relax.” He reassures, reaching over to drape his arm across Cheongsan’s shoulder, squeezing him to his larger frame.

Groaning in misery, Cheongsan drops his head into his hands again.

“How did that doctor's appointment go this morning? You never did tell me much.”

Shrugging, Cheongsan sighs tiredly before replying, “It went fine. She was nice. An improvement on the other guy that’s for sure.”

“That’s good. You went to go on… birth control?” Suhyeok asks, an adorable red tint visible on his cheeks when Cheongsan peeks up at him.

Cheongsan can’t help but airily laugh at his embarrassment, not expecting Suhyeok to be so bashful.

“Yeah. That, and to try to find out why my first heat was so intense and downright awful."

Suhyeok nods at that, his brow furrowing as he thinks, “Did they find anything?”

“Not yet. They did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine. My blood tests were fine too. She told me it may be from my delayed presentation; that they’ll eventually taper off into something less awful.” He replies, sitting up to lean his temple on Suhyeok’s shoulder as a yawn overtakes him.

“That sucks, ‘Sannie. There’s nothing they can do for you? Or give you?” Suhyeok asks. His concern warming Cheongsan.

“Apparently not. She also wants to do an…” He starts before tapering off, unsure he wants Suhyeok to know about the little procedure he may endure soon.

“She wants to do what?” Suhyeok gently asks.

“...An internal examination,” Cheongsan admits, squeezing his eyes shut as he cringes.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you… going to do it?” Suhyeok asks, his left hand interlacing their fingers together, the touch comforting.

Opening his eyes, Cheongsan sighs, lifting his head off his boyfriend’s shoulder to look over at him.

“I don’t know,” He replies, shrugging, “Would you?” He asks, watching as Suhyeok laughs awkwardly.

“I mean, if a doctor turned around to me now and told me she needs to go poking around inside my ass, I wouldn’t be thrilled,” Suhyeok says with a snort before regret replaces the amusement on his face. “Sorry. That was insensitive,” He apologises, eyes tight with guilt.

Rolling his eyes with a smirk, Cheongsan gazes back at his boyfriend “Why don’t we get it done together? We can hold hands as we’re equally violated,” He asks sardonically, widening his eyes comically.

“Sorry,” Suhyeok mumbles again, the regret heavy in his tone.

Snorting, Cheongsan leans over to plant a kiss on the Alpha’s cheek, “It’s okay, Suhyeok. You can make jokes at my ass’s expense.”

Suhyeok’s attempt at a smile in reply is weak at best, the Alpha clearly not wishing to make light of the subject, the big thoughtful, considerate idiot.

Leaning his temple back on his boyfriend’s shoulder, they sit in silence for a while, both of them lost in thought, the Alpha softly caressing Cheongsan’s right hand with the thumb of his left ring.

“You know… if you’d like, I could go with you. If it’d help, I’d be there for you during it, ‘Sannie.” Suhyeok offers him quietly.

Lifting his head, Cheongsan takes in the serious and honest expression on the Alpha’s face, the offer genuine.

Caught off guard, Cheongsan blinks in surprise at his boyfriend, the idea of having Suhyeok there for support never having crossed his mind. He’d always pictured himself having to do it alone, most definitely not willing to have his Mama there with him. Suhyeok is different though. It might be embarrassing still, but Cheongsan figures if all goes well the Alpha will eventually see him naked in the future anyway.

“You’d… do that?” He asks the Alpha, slightly struck with disbelief.

“Of course, Cheongsan. If you wanted me there, I’d be there. You can squeeze my hand during it till it’s purple if you need to. If it’d help.”

Snorting lightly, even though the idea he’d need to do that isn’t funny, Cheongsan feels gratitude and a whole lot of love floating around inside his chest for the boy beside him.

“You’re sure?” He asks quietly, just to be safe.

“Yes, Cheongsan. Time and place; I’m there,” Suhyeok reassures, his tone relaying he means every word.

Swallowing against the lump in his throat, Cheongsan nods, and unable to help himself, lifts his arms and leans over to hug his boyfriend to him fully.

“Thank you,” He murmurs into Suhyeok’s neck.

“Anytime, baby,” Suhyeok replies, equally as quietly.

Chapter Text

Stretched out on his side in bed, Cheongsan dozes with his head lying on Suhyeok’s chest, the Alpha’s fingers combing through his hair doing quick work of relaxing him. They’d had dinner and finished their homework a while ago, and were currently watching a Netflix series for lack of anything better to do.

Suhyeok, more invested in what’s happening on screen than Cheongsan, mumbles commentary under his breath as Cheongsan struggles to keep his eyes open.

Shifting above him, the Alpha leans his neck forward to plant a kiss atop Cheongsan’s head and he can’t help but smile. He’s not at all surprised to find out that Suhyeok is such a softie, always having suspected as much with how caring and gentle the Alpha is, even when they were just friends.

Lifting his head and resting his chin on the Alpha’s chest, Cheongsan smiles tiredly up at his boyfriend.

“You keep that up with your fingers and I’m gonna start drooling on your shirt,” He warns, a small grin pulling at his mouth.

Shrugging slightly, Suhyeok returns the smile. “I’m okay with that, ‘Sannie; Sleep if you like.”

“Tempting, but I’d just wake up all grouchy from a nap this late anyway.”

Suhyeok hums in response, his fingers coming around to tidy Cheongsan’s fringe.

“Do you want me to go? It is getting late,” Suhyeok asks, his eyes flicking over to the clock on the opposite wall.

Frowning, Cheongsan pushes himself further up along his boyfriend’s side, throwing his arm across the Alpha’s chest to grip his shoulder and hug him closer.

“No, not yet,” He lightly protests, shaking his head. “Unless you want to go?” He asks Suhyeok, the words whispered against the Alpha’s warm neck.

“No, I’m good here,” Suhyeok replies, his arm coming up to squeeze Cheongsan to him and cuddle closer as if to emphasise the point.

Smiling happily against the other boy’s neck, Cheongsan sighs as he relaxes fully against the Alpha, his eyes slipping shut. Breathing through his nose, Suhyeok’s scent passes through him with every inhale, the aroma instilling a sense of contentment in him.

“I love your scent so much,” He murmurs into Suhyeok’s skin, wiggling closer till his nose brushes along the Alpha’s skin.

When Suhyeok shivers in response, Cheongsan laughs airly against the Alpha’s neck, the reaction endearing.

“Sensitive, here?” He asks quietly, eyes still closed as he dares rub his nose gently over the soft skin.

Cheongsan hears Suhyeok’s breath hitch slightly, the Alpha’s arms going slightly tense around him before they relax again and his boyfriend sighs roughly above him.

“Cheongsan,” Suhyeok warns unevenly, his voice slightly strained.

Alongside the scent of a content and happy Alpha, notes of arousal flow through Cheongsan’s nose. Blinking his eyes open, Cheongsan pauses, feeling slightly awkward.

Glancing downward, a noticeable bulge in Suhyeok’s crotch makes Cheongsan’s eyes widen as he stiffens against Suhyeok.

The next thing he knows, Suhyeok tenses all over before Cheongsan falls off the Alpha’s chest and to the pillows of his bed, his boyfriend sitting up abruptly to drag his knees to his chest.

“Sorry, sorry,” Suhyeok blurts out, the redness of the skin of his neck giving Cheongsan some idea of what the Alpha’s face must look like.

Lying there in slightly stunned silence, Cheongsan wracks his brain for something to say that’ll ease the awkwardness and his boyfriend’s discomfort.

Sitting up, he comes up to kneel behind the other boy, circling his arms around the Alpha’s shoulders and planting a kiss on his reddened cheek.

“It’s okay, Suhyeok,” He comforts, smiling gently at his boyfriend as the Alpha eyes him warily.

Suhyeok visibly swallows before nodding, his eyes uncertain.

“You’re sure? I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable, I swear. I just… can’t always control it.” Suhyeok admits, the Alpha cringing visibly.

Laughing airly, Cheongsan snuggles closer, squeezing Suhyeok in his arms.

“I’m a teenage boy too, Suhyeok; I know how it is,” He replies, smirking.

Anxiety fading from his boyfriend’s eyes, Suhyeok laughs alongside him, his two hands coming up to grip Cheongsan’s forearms where they’re draped across his chest.

“You mean, you pop awkward boners too?” The Alpha asks, laughing even as a red tint refills his cheeks.

Groaning, Cheongsan shakes his head melodramatically, “All the time, man, and for some miserable reason, always before the bell sounds between classes,” He bemoans, feeling his boyfriend’s back move as he laughs.

“Up behind the waistband trick?” Suhyeok asks. Mirth throughout his handsome features.

Grinning, Cheongsan nods, unsurprised Suhyeok has had to pull that one too. He thinks all teenage boys have had to at one point or another.

“Yep. Works like a charm,” He jokes, both of them laughing at their shared awkward experiences of being horny teenage boys.

Amusement tapering off, they sit in comfortable silence for a while, both content in the other’s company.

When Suhyeok glances nervously up at him a few times, the Alpha opening his mouth before closing it with a frown of annoyance, Cheongsan tilts his head.

“You okay?” He asks. The Alpha’s bashful expression very endearing right then as a blush returns to ruddy Suhyeok’s cheeks.

“Does it… does it make you uncomfortable?” Suhyeok asks him, the Alpha only seemingly brave enough to glance up at him once before his eyes return to his lap.

“Does what make me uncomfortable?” Cheongsan frowns, thinking he knows what the Alpha is asking but wanting to be sure.

Sighing in defeat, Suhyeok squirms under him before the Alpha’s jaw clenches and a resolute look rises on his face, his brown eyes lifting to lock Cheongsan’s gaze.

“Does it make you uncomfortable that I’m turned on by you?”

Eyebrows jumping up his forehead, Cheongsan feels as if the shyness must have slid from Suhyeok to himself with the way he can’t help but look away as his face burns.

“No. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable.” He admits, eyes eventually rising to meet the Alpha’s again when the worst of the embarrassment wears off.

Nodding, the Alpha takes that in for a few seconds, an unreadable expression on his face before a small smile lifts his lips.

“Good,” Suhyeok declares quietly. “Are you… do you feel the same?”

Laughing nervously, Cheongsan drops his forehead to the Alpha’s shoulders. “Why do you wanna know, Suhyeok?” He mutters, stalling.

Laughing at the awkwardness, Suhyeok turns sideways a little, pulling his arm up to wrap around Cheongsan’s waist and bringing their faces closer together. “So I know you don’t think me ugly,” The Alpha grins, his large palm rubbing Cheongsan’s lower back.

Rolling his eyes in fond amusement, Cheongsan leans forward to plant a kiss on Suhyeok’s lips before pulling back.

“If you must know, I find you very sexy,” He nervously admits, watching Suhyeok’s reaction carefully.

The Alpha kisses him in response, a pleased sound leaving his mouth, before he pulls back with a grin, “Good.”

“Good,” Cheongsan agrees, admiring the details of Suhyeok’s handsome face up this close.

—--------------------------------------

Jittery with nerves, Cheongsan sighs shakily as he approaches the kitchen of the apartment, the sounds of his Mama pottering about inside reaching his ears. Suhyeok had left an hour ago, the Alpha kissing him senselessly on the walkway of the apartment before leaving with a cheeky wink, promising to see him tomorrow in school. Cheongsan had watched him go, breathless from the makeout but happier than he’d felt in weeks.

Coming up to the doorway of the kitchen, Cheongsan leans his shoulder on the doorframe, watching silently for a few seconds as his Mama pokes through her kitchen cabinets. When she turns and catches sight of him, she startles slightly, her hand coming up to clutch her chest.

“Cheongsan. You scared me,” She chastises him before returning to her browsing.

“Sorry,” He smiles, pushing off the kitchen doorframe to stand before her, “Mama, I’ve decided on if I’m going ahead with the internal examination.”

Halting with a can of peas in one hand, his Mama sets the food back into the cabinet before turning to give him her full attention, her gaze steady and serious, “Okay. And?” She asks, observing him.

“I’ll do it,” he starts, watching as she relaxes visibly in relief, a smile coming to her face. “On one condition,” He continues.

“Which is?” She asks with a small frown.

Slightly embarrassed, Cheongsan shifts on his feet, choosing to push past the feeling. “I want Suhyeok there with me when it happens,” He tells her, clenching his jaw resolutely, ready should she try to argue against the idea.

Surprised, his Mama’s mouth parts slightly as she thinks that over, the nails of her left hand beginning to clack against the surface of the kitchen counter.

“I’m not sure that’ll be allowed, Cheongsan,” She replies, with a small shrug.

“That’s my condition. Otherwise, no; I’m not doing it,” He responds, folding his arms across his chest.

His Mama nods once, seemingly realising there’s no further point in arguing with him on the matter. “If that’s what you want, then fine: I’ll ring tomorrow and see what your Doctor says, see if she’ll allow it.”

Nodding, Cheongsan thanks her before turning and beginning to leave the room. He makes it to the door before she calls back out to him. Looking back at her, Cheongsan raises his eyebrows in question.

“Have you applied that birth control patch yet?” She asks, her face stern.

Sighing, thoroughly annoyed, Cheongsan reaches up and pulls up his shirt sleeve, the stark white of the patch obvious against his tan skin.

Nodding in acquiescement, his Mama eyes him in mild disapproval. “Good,” She says before returning to sorting through her cupboards. She still thinks he was getting up to no good earlier with Suhyeok, that much is obvious.

Leaving the kitchen and safe from her catching him, Cheongsan rolls his eyes.

—---------------------------------------

The next day, Cheongsan nods along as Onjo complains loudly about a remark Isak made yesterday about her hair, his best friend rambling at such speed nearly too much for him this early.

“And then she said ‘I wouldn’t get your hair trimmed back too far, Onjo, you’d end up looking like a little boy’, Can you believe that!?” Onjo says, aghast as she looks over at Cheongsan.

Widening his eyes in what he thinks is an appropriate amount of outrage on her behalf, Cheongsan shakes his head in disbelief. “Uncalled for.”

“I know!” Onjo replies, glaring daggers down at the pavement.

“Maybe you should demand an apology?” Cheongsan suggests, not sure what else he can offer his best friend in advice.

Sighing, Onjo glances at him, the anger seeping out of her features. “Maybe,” She mutters, shrugging her shoulders.

“How did your romantic evening with Suhyeok go?” She asks, a sly grin pulling at the corner of her mouth.

A short stuttered laugh leaves him, embarrassment burning through him as Onjo’s eyes light up with mischief. “Is that a hickey I see on your neck?” She asks, leaning forward to squint at the skin of his throat.

“What?! No!” He exclaims, his right hand flying up to cover the skin that Onjo is eyeing.

Mortified, Cheongsan’s whole face burns, only to remember… Suhyeok wasn’t anywhere near his neck last night.

Frowning in confusion, he’s about to call Onjo out on her bullshit when from beside him she breaks out into giggles, her short stature bending over as raucous laughter spills from her.

“That’s not funny, Onjo,” He grumbles, dropping his hand from his neck as he glares at her, his friend still in the throes of laughter.

“Oh my God, your face! I’ve never seen you go so red!” She cackles, tears in her eyes as she points up at his crimson skin.

“Will you shut up?” he growls, rolling his eyes when she just continues laughing.

Eventually, she recovers from her laughing fit, reaching up with her sleeves to wipe the tears from her eyes. Glancing over at him, she seems to finally relent in torturing him. “I was just kidding, you big baby,” She says, pushing him on the shoulder.

Shrugging awkwardly, he shoves his hands into his pockets, still not quite recovered from his embarrassment.

“Seriously though, how was your evening?” Onjo asks, her eyes honest this time and lacking any teasing.

“Fine,” Cheongsan mutters, turning around a corner of a convenience store, “The same as any evening I’ve hung out with Suhyeok.”

“Well, it’s not quite the same, is it? You’re a couple now,” Onjo replies, watching him.

“Yeah, but we still do all the usual shit together; Netflix, homework.”

Onjo nods at that, absorbing the information before curiosity rises on her small face. “Have you kissed yet?” She asks quietly.

Scratching the back of his neck, Cheongsan nods, glancing over at his friend to see a small pleased smile on her face.

“With tongue?” She continues, eyebrows raised.

“Onjo!” Cheongsan protests, not needing another blush across his face this early in the morning.

“What? I’m just curious! God, you’re such an old lady,” Onjo laments with an eye roll, looking away as she drops the subject.

Sighing, Cheongsan smacks the crosswalk button as they come up to it, Hyosan High visible now before them. Crossing the street when the light goes green, as they reach the pavement on the other side, a crowd builds around them as more students approach the school.

Lost in thought, Cheongsan’s entire frame locks up in tension when suddenly rapid footsteps speed up to him from behind. Lifted into the air bridal style, Cheongsan yelps as he locks eyes with a pair of excited brown irises.

Suhyeok grins up at him, the Alpha panting slightly as he holds Cheongsan up in his arms.

“Morning,” His boyfriend greets, a winning grin across his handsome face.

“You shithead! You scared me,” Cheongsan lightly complains, his heart beginning to slow down as a smile tugs at his lips.

Laughing, Suhyeok continues walking up toward the school building with Cheongsan in his arms, several pairs of eyes peering at them curiously as they pass.

“Morning, Onjo,” Suhyeok greets, Cheongsan hearing from behind his best friend returning the greeting, though with amusement clear in her tone.

Frowning down at the Alpha, Cheongsan squirms in his arms, “Will you put me down? I can walk, you know.”

“But I like having you in my arms,” Suhyeok replies, a delighted smile across his face, his boyfriend very much exuding Golden Retriever energy right then.

“Suhyeok,” Cheongsan begins, locking eyes with the Alpha, “Put me down,” He orders, his tone serious.

Smile dampening, Suhyeok nods before lowering Cheongsan to the pavement, allowing his feet to hit the ground first, so he can right himself. The Alpha doesn’t lift the arm across his shoulders, rather he adjusts it more securely across Cheongsan.

“Sorry,” The Alpha murmurs, an apologetic smile across his face.

“It’s fine,” Cheongsan replies, smiling so Suhyeok knows he’s not upset.

Entering the school grounds together, Cheongsan tries to not let what feels like too many eyes watching them bother him. People have seen Suhyeok with his arm across Cheongsan’s shoulder before, it could easily be a platonic gesture but nevertheless, whenever he catches someone gazing curiously over at them, he can’t help but grow a little more tense.

Passing under the main entrance doorway, Cheongsan squirms out from under his boyfriend’s arm, earning himself a confused frown from Suhyeok. Stopping before his boyfriend and best friend, he points towards the boys’ toilets with his thumb.

“I gotta pee, I’ll catch up with you guys.”

Nodding, Onjo leaves, her attention seemly elsewhere anyway; probably wondering where Isak is so she can ask for that apology.

Suhyeok doesn’t move though, his face conflicted as he looks between Cheongsan and the directions of the toilets.

Beginning to feel exasperated now, annoyance crosses Cheongsan’s face as he waits for the Alpha to walk off.

Catching the look, Suhyeok looks only mildly chastised as he nods and with one more worried look, leaves for Homeroom.

Watching him go, Cheongsan sighs before turning in the direction of the toilets.

Pushing the door open once he reaches it, he freezes upon entering the tiled room when Myeong-hwan looks up at him from where he’s washing his hands in a sink.
As the Alpha’s neutral expression shifts into one of cruel intent, Cheongsan debates turning around and leaving.

His ego won’t let him though, so he sends the asshole a warning glare before making for the urinals on the other side of the room.

Myeong-hwan steps in his way before he can make it, the Alpha’s hands dripping water onto the tiles.

“Omega,” The dickhead grins, looking Cheongsan up and down mockingly like the identifier is a slur and not just a part of his biology now.

“Did you want something, Myeong-hwan?” Cheongsan asks, eyeing the Alpha with little interest.

“Gwinam said you had a mouth on you. Still haven’t learned your place, huh?” The Alpha grins, shaking his head minutely in disapproval.

“Guess not,” Cheongsan shrugs, stuffing his hands into his trouser pockets.

Snorting, the Alpha eyes him with disdain, before his eyes light up as if he’s thought of something. “Hey, do you remember Jin-su? He must’ve been in your year a few semesters ago.”

The mention of the other Omega and what little Cheongsan knows he went through unnerves him some, but he does his best to not let this asshole see it. “Yeah. What about him?” Cheongsan asks casually.

Grinning like a shark, Myeong-hwan leans forward, putting himself closer to Cheongsan as he opens his mouth to whisper excitedly. “Myself, Gwinam, and Chang-hoon once had him over in the construction site just down the trail? Do you know it?”

His Insides locking up, Cheongsan nods jerkily, his attempt to appear bored cracking as deep unease slides inside him from the psychotic look in the eyes of the Alpha before him.

Noticing Cheongsan’s discomfort, delight shines in Myeong-hwan as he leans even closer, his foul scent nauseatingly reaching Cheongsan’s nose.

“The three of us took turns–”

Someone shoulders their way into the Boys’ toilets from behind Cheongsan, the sudden interruption making both himself and Myeong-hwan turn to see who it is.

Suhyeok stands at the threshold, his eyes locked on Myeong-hwan. As Cheongsan watches, anger builds in his features before his boyfriend charges forward for the Alpha, who is still leaning too close into Cheongsan’s personal space.

Throwing his arm out, Cheongsan catches his boyfriend around the waist, straining to hold him back as Myeong-hwan quickly retreats away from Cheongsan.

“Suhyeok! Calm down,” Cheongsan orders, still pushing the Alpha back as he keeps renewing his attempts to get to Myeong-hwan.

“Yeah, Suhyeok, listen to your bitch; Calm down,” Myeong-hwan mocks, Cheongsan glaring back at the Alpha to see him grinning at Suhyeok.

“You think you’re funny? You go near him again and I’ll fucking kill you,” Suhyeok seethes, charging forward again.

Anger of his own ignites in Cheongsan as he strains to hold Suhyeok back. Reaching up, he grips the Alpha by the jaw and yanks his head down to lock eyes with him.

“Calm down.” Cheongsan orders, enunciating each word as he sternly gazes up at his boyfriend.

Holding the gaze, the fury in Suhyeok’s eyes begins to fade, his breathing calming as Cheongsan shifts his grip from the Alpha’s jaw to gently hold the curve of his neck.

Snickering, Myeong-hwan takes it for the opportunity it is and leaves unscathed, the door swinging shut behind him.

“Are you okay? He didn’t touch you, did he?” Suhyeok asks the second he’s gone, the Alpha’s hands coming up to hold his waist.

Stepping out of the Alpha’s arms, Cheongsan turns away from Suhyeok to finally go pee.

“No, I’m fine. I had it handled,” He mutters, stepping up to the urinal.

“That fucking prick. What did he say to you?” Suhyeok growls, the anger returning to his voice.

Peeing, Cheongsan ignores the Alpha, the idea of making this into a bigger deal than it is, the last thing he wants. Zipping up, Cheongsan walks up to the sink to wash his hands.

“Cheongsan?” Suhyeok asks, stepping up beside him to look down at him, his eyes full of concern.

Sighing through his nose, Cheongsan turns away to grab tissue paper to dry off his hands.

“Nothing,” He mutters in reply, discarding the tissue paper in the rubbish and weaving around the Alpha as he makes to leave.

Stopping him with a hand on his chest, Suhyeok frowns worriedly down at him. “Hey, you can tell me.” He says reassuredly.

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan knocks the Alpha’s hand away, turning to him. “He didn’t say shit, he didn’t do shit, Suhyeok. Okay? Can you drop it?”

Blinking in surprise, Suhyeok shifts on his feet uncertainly “I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.”

Spreading his arms wide, Cheongsan looks down at himself and then back up at his boyfriend. “I’m good, see? Can we go to Homeroom now?”

Swallowing, Suhyeok breaks eye contact with him to stare down at the floor.

“Yeah, ‘course,” The Alpha mumbles, nodding.

“Great. Let’s go,” Cheongsan responds, already making to leave.

—-----------------------------------------------

Not paying attention in Math a few hours later, Cheongsan stares out the wide windows to the school grounds, watching as the Archery team makes their way down to the gymnasium. He’d bet top dollar that if he looked behind himself, Daesu would be staring longingly down at Hari.

Turning around in his seat, he has to clench his jaw shut when, sure enough, with hearts in his eyes, Daesu watches her go. Struggling to push down his laughter, Cheongsan bites into his inner cheek, needing the distraction. Facing forward again, he catches sight of Suhyeok on the other side of the room, the other boy already watching him.

Smiling over at the Alpha, Suhyeok returns the smile before looking away.

Cheongsan doesn’t fail to notice how it doesn’t reach his eyes. Sighing, he leans back against his seat, fiddling with his pen as guilt swims in his chest.

He’s had time to think over his behaviour this morning and realises he’d be an asshole to his boyfriend. Without even meaning to he’d fallen back onto being a prideful, stubborn dickhead. He’d been embarrassed, thinking people could tell they were together, and then had gotten angry with Suhyeok when he’d tried to protect him from Myeong-hwan.

Glancing back over at his boyfriend, the urge to apologise nags at him hard.

It’s not until two hours later when the bell above his head rings out for lunch that he finally gets the chance to. Swinging his backpack over his shoulder, he follows Suhyeok out the door, the Alpha in conversation with Minji.

Walking out into the hallway, Cheongsan speeds up to approach the other boy, wrapping his hand around Suyheok’s forearm to stop him.

Suhyeok stops at the touch, glancing back in curiosity to see who’s got a hold of him. When he realises it’s his asshole boyfriend, Cheongsan watches as the Alpha plasters a smile of greeting on his face, another one so unwholly genuine.

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” Cheongsan asks, smiling in apology at Minji who looks between them before slinking off to join the others heading for the cafeteria.

Stepping up to him, Suhyeok stuffs his hands into his blazer pockets, the Alpha bouncing on his feet once. “What’s up?”

Students stream around them, including their classmates, reminding him they’re not alone. Glancing around for somewhere to talk privately, he spots the janitor's closet just up ahead. Indicating with his head for Suhyeok to follow him, he walks in that direction, the other boy frowning in confusion but trailing after him.

Pulling the door open, Cheongsan steps inside, turning to see amusement on Suhyeok’s face as he joins him in the small space, the door clicking closed behind him. Light streams through the clouded glass set within the door, making the space feel slightly less claustrophobic.

“If you wanted to get me alone, ‘Sannie, you needn't be so sneaky about it,” The Alpha grins, leaning his butt against a shelf along one wall.

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan gives the Alpha an unimpressed once over. “Behave,” He warns, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You’re the one pulling me into this dusty closet to…?” The Alpha asks, his eyes teasing.

Sighing, a more sombre mood settles into Cheongsan as he remembers the actual reason he did just that.

“I wanted to talk about this morning,” Cheongsan says quietly, guilt returning to swim around in his chest.

Blinking in surprise, Suhyeok’s mirth fades as the Alpha nods seriously, before he steps away from the leaning against the shelf, coming closer to take one of Cheongsan’s hands.

“Was I being too much? Overbearing?” The Alpha asks, regret in his brown eyes.

Frowning, Cheongsan shakes his head, feeling miserable that the Alpha thinks so. “No, ‘Hyeokie. You didn’t do anything wrong,”

“Oh,” Suhyeok replies, looking surprised before he frowns confusedly. “Then why…?”

“I was in the wrong. You were being sweet, and just your protective self and I was an asshole to you for it,” Cheongsan admits, taking both of Suhyeok’s hands in his own, “I’m sorry, I’ll try be less of a prideful jerk in the future.”

Smiling small, Suhyeok nods, squeezing Cheongsan’s hands in his. “I don’t think I know how to not be protective of you, Cheongsan,” The Alpha tells him, shrugging slightly, “It comes to me naturally when I love someone.”

Feeling thoroughly remorseful now, Cheongsan drops Suhyeok’s hands to snake his arms around the Alpha’s neck, coming to rest his forehead against the taller boy’s.

“I know. I won’t give you shit for it anymore, I promise.”

Smiling, Suhyeok’s hands come up to rest on his waist, before a mischievous glint rises in the Alpha’s eyes.

“What?” Cheongsan asks, already grinning at the playful Alpha’s antics.

“I think I deserve a kiss in apology.”

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan laughs airly before happily closing the distance between them, a thrill of delight racing up his spine as Suhyeok moans into the kiss.

Starting chaste, maybe it’s the hiding in the closet and the potential of being caught or maybe it’s just teenage hormones but pretty quickly, Suhyeok tilts his head, and Cheongsan gladly opens his mouth wider, allowing the Alpha’s tongue to enter as it slips into his mouth.

Tightening his arms around the Alpha’s neck, Cheongsan tries to keep up with the tongue plundering his mouth, a wave of something far from innocent rushing through him when Suhyeok wraps his arms around him fully to pull them flush together.

When two large hands slide down beyond his back to squeeze his ass, Cheongsan's eyes pop open, pulling back to look up at the Alpha in surprise.

“Too much?” Suhyeok asks, his innocent little face giving nothing away even as his fingers squeeze Cheongsan’s butt again.

Blushing, Cheongsan breaks out into laughter, his head dropping into the crook of the Alpha’s neck.

The touch is unfamiliar, that’s for sure. He’s never had anyone handle his butt like this before but the blush isn’t entirely from just being embarrassed, it’s also in response to how much he’s enjoying the Alpha’s exploratory fingers.

Laughing quietly with him, Suhyeok tilts his head down to try to catch his eye, still looking for an answer.

Unable to meet the Alpha’s gaze, Cheongsan shakes his head into the taller boy’s neck.

“No. Not too much,” He murmurs, darting his eyes up to catch Suhyeok grinning down at him.

“You’re adorable when you get all red and blushing,”

“Fuck off,” Cheongsan complains, stepping away to shove the Alpha lightly, his face only burning harder.

Laughing, Suhyeok recovers quickly enough to grab him around the waist again, hugging him to his larger frame, and getting Cheongsan right back where he had him.

Holding each other, they spend a few minutes just enjoying the other's warmth, the physical closeness new to the both of them but unexpectedly extremely enjoyable. When Cheongsan’s stomach gives a loud rumble of complaint about still being empty, they laugh together, finally separating.

“We better get to lunch,” Cheongsan says, looking up at the Alpha.

“Right,” Suhyeok responds, ever the gentleman as he steps ahead of Cheongsan to open and hold the door for him.

Offering his hand out to Cheongsan, the Alpha smiles hopefully, eyes round and bright.

Returning the smile, Cheongsan steps out into the hallway, clasping his boyfriend’s hand in his as they begin walking toward the cafeteria.

Walking hand in hand down the empty corridors, with his mind returning to the prospect of food, Cheongsan blinks in surprise when his phone vibrates against his thigh. Looking down, he removes it from his pocket, a message from his Mama lighting up the screen.

The contents of which halt in him his tracks, his appetite up and leaving him in a second as dread fills him.

“What’s wrong?” Suhyeok asks, frowning at him in concern as Cheongsan stares down at his phone.

Fingers clenching around the phone in his hand, Cheongsan looks up from the message across the screen into his boyfriend’s eyes.

“The good news is, my Doctor approved you joining me during the internal examination.”

“...and the bad news?” Suhyeok asks, moving to stand closer, worry heavy in his eyes.

“It’s happening first thing tomorrow morning,” Cheongsan replies, feeling an enormous weight of anxiety and fear slam down on top of him.

Chapter Text

Barraging into his apartment, Cheongsan lets anger guide him as he calls out for his Mama, bursting into the kitchen when she calls back out in response. Suhyeok trails after him, anxiety all over the Alpha’s face as he tries to keep up with him. Cheongsan had practically run home to catch his Mama before she left for the restaurant that evening, knowing she and his Papa won’t be home till late.

“Hello, sweetheart. How was your–”

“Tomorrow morning?!” He interrupts, a tension across his face as he looks at his Mama with outrage. “You couldn’t have gotten a later appointment?”

Slightly taken back, his Mama gapes at him for a second, before she recovers enough to cross her arms and straighten, a defensive look filling her face. 

“Your Doctor’s holidays start this Friday, Cheongsan. She will be gone for two weeks and only has tomorrow morning available,” His Mama replies, doing her best to calm him down. “I thought it best to get it done and over with before your next heat arrives.”

“You thought it best?! That's easy for you to say. You’re not being strapped to a table and violated!” 

Jaw clenching and unclenching repeatedly, his Mama struggles to come up with a reply, the delicate features of her face locked in frustrated and defensive anger.

“You’ll have Suhyeok,” She offers gently, glancing at the Alpha hovering awkwardly in the kitchen doorway before returning to Cheongsan. “You’re a lot stronger than you think, Cheongsan; You’ll be fine.” 

He reasons she’s just trying to be comforting in that moment but to Cheongsan, already beyond pissed off, she just sounds condescending and he promptly loses it. 

“Trust you to drop this on me like this. Papa would never be so cruel,” 

Feeling betrayed and hurt, he regretfully lets the next words hiss out of his mouth. “I hate you sometimes.” 

“Cheongsan.” Suhyeok chastises him, Cheongsan looking back to see the Alpha staring at him in outrage. 

Glancing back at his Mama, who’s either unaffected by his cruel words or putting up a very good front, he does the best thing his teenage brain conjures up next and storms out of the kitchen. Passing Suhyeok on the way out, he stalks down the hallway to his bedroom, slamming the door shut after he enters it.

Throwing his bag to the floor, he falls onto his bed, bouncing a few times before settling to glare daggers at the wall. 

Hearing the front door open and close shut, a pang of loss hits him as he pictures Suhyeok leaving with his Mama, the two of them figuring he’s better off alone right then. 

When his bedroom door clicks open and someone walks softly into the room, hope rises in his chest that Suhyeok hasn’t gone after all. 

“Do you want me to leave?” His boyfriend asks quietly, visible in Cheongsan’s peripheral vision as he comes to a stop above him.

Staring at the wall, sliding alongside the anger, the desire to have Suhyeok close floods him, making him feel unsteady. Being the prideful asshole he is though, Cheongsan is unable to verbalise that no, he does not want Suhyeok to leave and that actually, Choengsan could do with some comfort cuddling right now. 

When Suhyeok sighs again before muttering a quiet “Okay,” and beginning to leave, his footsteps moving away, desperation rushes through Cheongsan and he turns to catch the Alpha’s eye.

Locking eyes, without needing words, Suhyeok gazes at him for a few seconds before nodding and beginning to approach the bed. 

The Alpha reaches over to slip off Cheongsan’s sneakers, watching as his boyfriend discards them to the floor before doing the same with his own. Laying down behind him, the taller boy snuggles close. 

Unable to deny himself now that Suhyeok is so near, Cheongsan flips over, immediately burying his face in the Alpha’s neck. 

Squeezing his eyes shut, Cheongsan breathes raggedly into Suhyeok’s skin as he becomes emotional, a lump forming in his throat. 

“‘Sannie, it’s okay, you’re okay,” Suhyeok comforts, pulling him close whilst his left-hand reaches over to caress the skin of Cheongsan’s face. 

Shaking his head into the crook of the Alpha’s neck, Cheongsan feels safe enough to admit the truth. 

“I’m scared, Suhyeok.” He whispers into the Alpha’s neck, his voice wobbling. 

“I know. I know you are. You don’t have to go ahead with it, Cheongsan,” The Alpha offers, his thumb gently rubbing over Cheongsan’s cheek. “Tomorrow can just be a regular school day for us if you want.” 

Opening his eyes, Cheongsan pulls back to blink up at his boyfriend, seeing the sincerity there, the promise to support him in whatever he decides to do. 

“Am I a coward?” He asks, watching the Alpha’s face intently. 

Suhyeok frowns down at him, confused or outraged or annoyed, Cheongsan can’t tell. 

“No, Cheongsan.” He says, resolute. 

Studying him, Cheongsan finds no lie or doubt on the Alpha’s face and satisfied for now, snuggles back into Suhyeok’s neck, heaving a sigh.

“You are an asshole though,” Suhyeok imparts, making Cheongsan pull back to blink in surprise before the Alpha continues speaking, “Your Mama didn’t deserve that, ‘Sannie.” 

Swallowing thickly, regret sticks to his throat as he nods, knowing his boyfriend is right. 

“I know. I’ll apologise.” 

“Good,” Suhyeok whispers, before planting a kiss on Cheongsan’s forehead. 

Allowing the aroma of Suhyeok’s scent to provide comfort, Cheongsan closes his eyes and snuggles back into Suhyeok's neck, not lasting long before the pull of sleep drags him under. 

—-------------------------------------------------

“Cheongsan.” 

Squeezing his eyelids hard, Cheongsan moans unhappily at the incessant voice calling him to wakefulness, burrowing down deeper into the warm pillow beneath him. 

“ Cheongsan .” 

Cringing, Cheongsan’s mind puts itself back together slowly as he realises his pillow is talking, grumbling at him unhappily. Begrudgingly, he lifts his head, blinking his eyes open to gaze upon the sight of Suhyeok, looking at him with impatience.

“Sorry but I needed to pee like 20 minutes ago and am two seconds away from pissing myself,” The Alpha tells him, squirming where he’s trapped. 

Trapped underneath Cheongsan, who realises with a glance down has nearly pulled himself sideways onto the Alpha, his right leg draped across him, his arm over his chest. 

Groaning in his half-awake state, Cheongsan rolls off his boyfriend to his other side, smacking his head down on the cold pillow as he recloses his eyes. 

The bed moves as Suhyeok pulls himself up and off it, jostling Cheongsan slightly as he goes. 

Dozing in semi-consciousness, Cheongsan registers the moment the Alpha rejoins him on the bed a few minutes later, the mattress dipping behind him. 

Warmth begins to seep into his back as Suhyeok snuggles up close, his boyfriend nosing at his nape before placing a kiss on the skin there. The chaste contact lights up happiness in Cheongsan’s chest, the feeling thrumming steadily through him as he smiles.

“Are you awake, baby?” Suhyeok asks, his soft voice moving close enough to speak directly into his ear.

Suppressing a grin, Cheongsan feigns sleep, adding an odd snore or two for believability. 

Laughing at him, Suhyeok nips at his earlobe playfully before speaking again. 

“I just spent an hour listening to you sleep, Cheongsan. I know what you sound like and that ain’t it.” The Alpha purrs, his breath fanning over Cheongsan’s ear, eliciting a shiver. 

Maybe it’s the nip at his ear that sent a bolt of electricity up his spine. Or maybe it’s the fact that something awful is ahead of him tomorrow and he needs to be close to Suhyeok. Either way, nothing but a thrill runs up Cheongsan's spine as he pushes his butt back into Suhyeok’s hips, and begins slowly rotating his hips. 

Suhyeok goes tense immediately, the Alpha’s breath audibly catching in Cheongsan’s ear.

“Cheongsan,” The Alpha squeaks, his boyfriend’s voice strained and sounding utterly scandalised. 

Unable to suppress his grin this time, Cheongsan grinds back harder, clenching his teeth when a rush of excitement burns through him. The heat of Suhyeok’s hips seeps through the back of his pants to the skin of his ass, igniting desire in Cheongsan and only making him want to get closer. 

In the next second, Suhyeok’s hand flies down to grab his hip in a steal grip, the contact immediately halting any further movement from Cheongsan. 

As the seconds pass and tension builds in the air, the grin fades from Cheongsan’s face as he waits, starting to think he went too far and freaked Suhyeok out. 

His heart leaps in his chest when Suhyeok sighs heavily before using his hold on Cheongsan to grind forwards against his ass. 

Something large, hard and insistent nudges at his butt, an almost overwhelming rush of arousal flaring in Cheongsan as he begins to harden in his briefs in response. 

Biting into his bottom lip, Cheongsan pushes his hips back, meeting Suhyeok’s every forward thrust with a backward grind. 

Heart racing in his chest, Cheongsan keeps his eyes closed as they move, listening with rapt attention every time a breath gasp or whimper leaves the Alpha’s mouth. 

Shoving his face alongside Cheongsan’s from behind, Suhyeok groans quietly into his ear on a particularly long grind, the small sound making Cheongsan throb in his school trousers. 

“‘Sannie,” Suhyeok breathlessly moans, before the Alpha begins laying an assault of kisses and nipping bites on his exposed neck. 

Mouth falling open, Cheongsan moans almost against his will with the intensity of the sensation, before in the next moment, he’s being gripped bodily by the Alpha and pulled backwards. 

Suhyeok pulls him across his chest as the Alpha comes to rest on his back. Atop the Alpha now, Cheongsan blinks his eyes open to look up at the ceiling, the manhandling going straight to his dick.

Gravity assisting him, he doesn’t relent in moving his ass against Suhyeok’s groin, the hardness of the Alpha under him spurring him into an intense arousal he’s never felt before. 

He knew Suhyeok was big from his curious glance in the boys’ locker rooms but that had been when the Alpha was flaccid. Feeling him now, grinding insistently up into Cheongsan’s clothed butt, the hardness working up against him is leaving him in awe. The length of it is easily moving against the top of his crack, all the way down to where his ass meets his thighs. 

He’s fucking huge. 

Feeling lost in his arousal as he lays across Suhyeok, not even able to summon the thought that maybe he’s weighing a little heavy on the Alpha, Cheongsan closes his eyes and moans happily as they move. Suhyeok doesn’t seem to mind his weight though, happily nipping and biting at the sensitive skin of Cheongsan’s neck as he thrusts upward.

When the Alpha’s canines scrape teasingly across the junction of his neck and shoulder, Cheongsan feels at that exact moment he begins producing slick, something deep in his groin relaxing before wetness begins slipping out of him.

Tensing atop his boyfriend, Cheongsan turns his head to look at Suhyeok, about to tell him to wait for a second but freezing upon catching the look the Alpha is giving him. 

Suhyeok’s pupils are blown wide, his cheeks flushed a cherry red as he pants through his parted lips, the Alpha looking completely lost in arousal and unbelievably sexy. 

When the Alpha leans over to lick him broad-tongued from his jaw all the way up his cheek, Cheongsan shivers heavily in response, the sensation so unfamiliar and yet in the back of his mind, something vibrates with happiness, and he registers the possessiveness of the act; Suhyeok scent marking him like never before. 

Closing his eyes again, Cheongsan throws his inhibitions to the wind and resumes grinding against his Alpha’s arousal, feeling the exact moment his slick seeps throw the back of his pants. 

“Fuck,” Suhyeok groans in his ear, the Alpha’s movements stuttering a little in surprise. “Oh god, I can feel you.” He says, his voice full of awe. 

Laughing airly, Cheongsan’s hole enthusiastically continues leaking slick, the viscous liquid soaking into the back of his pants and no doubt, the front of Suhyeok’s, if the continued gasps of delighted surprise are any indication. 

Moaning loudly, Cheongsan doesn’t let up, just pushes harder back against the Alpha as Suhyeok thrusts upward, the two of them moving in unison. 

Releasing his hand from where it’s holding Cheongsan’s hip, Suhyeok’s fingers push up his shirt and sweater together, the Alpha’s palm sliding along the skin of his belly and making him gasp. Sliding back down, the hand pauses at the waistband of Cheongsan’s pants, silently asking for permission to enter. 

Nodding fast, a shudder flies over Cheongsan when Suhyeok’s hand slips into his pants, the sensation of someone else’s skin there completely unfamiliar but extremely exhilarating. 

When Suhyeok grips him in hand, they moan together, Cheongsan realising he isn’t going to last much longer with the combined feeling of Suhyeok’s hand around him and the Alpha’s arousal pushing incessantly against his ass. 

Squeezing his eyes tight, Cheongsan begins to move quicker against Suhyeok, feeling the edge of his orgasm building. 

Seemingly getting the idea, Suhyeok humps his ass with quicker ruts, breathing heavily into Cheongsan’s ear as he drives himself up into his clothed crack. 

The Alpha’s hand in his pants can’t move much because of Cheongsan’s buttoned trousers, but with what little movement Suhyeok can manage, Cheongsan moans happily with every stroke, finding it enough. 

“‘Sannie, I’m close,” Suhyeok whispers desperately to him. 

Nodding, Cheongsan opens his eyes and turns his head to the Alpha, twisting his neck a little.

Smashing their mouths together, Cheongsan feels the exact moment Suhyeok cums, the Alpha’s body going rigid beneath him as he grinds up into him hard as if trying to get as deep as possible.

Suhyeok’s gasping moans and unsteady groans ring like music in Cheongsan’s ear, bringing an elated smile to his lips.

When a hard, round mass begins growing and nudging between his cheeks, Cheongsan gasps in surprise, and realising what it is, immediately his climax slams into him, the feeling of Suhyeok’s expanding knot against him the most erotic thing he’s ever experienced.

Moaning unashamedly, Cheongsan pushes back hard against the knot, getting it between his ass cheeks as much as he can still fully clothed whilst he cums all over Suhyeok’s fist. 

Cheongsan has experienced orgasms before. Always with the help of his own hand and never with anyone else but all those times pale in comparison to the wave after wave of ecstasy that pass through his entire body in those few seconds. 

Breathing rapidly, his heart pounding in his chest, he goes limp against Suhyeok when his orgasm releases him of its grip, his eyes still shut as he drifts in the aftershocks. 

Suhyeok licks and sucks at his neck, the Alpha nuzzling and still moving his hand gently over Cheongsan’s spent cock, wringing every last drop of cum out of him. 

Post-orgasm clarity comes as Cheongsan lies there, his breathing starting to return to normal as the blood in his veins slows and calms.

Strewn across Suhyeok, his school uniform sticking to him from sweat in some places and slick in others, Cheongsan finally opens his eyes, sighing softly in pleasure. 

Suhyeok pulls his hand from Cheongsan’s school pants, the Alpha hugging him close with both arms around his middle, and nuzzling happily against his sweaty hairline. 

A serene sense of contentment and peace flows through Cheongsan, a feeling of rightfulness settling into him as he lies in Suhyeok’s arms. 

“Are you okay?” Suhyeok hums into his skin, sounding slightly unsure. 

Twisting his neck, Cheongsan brings their foreheads together, looking into the Alpha’s eyes as the next words leave his mouth. 

“I love you,” he breathes, never more sure of anything in his life. 

Blinking in surprise, Suhyeok recovers quickly to push forward and kiss him, the Alpha pulling back with an intensity shining in his brown eyes. 

“I love you too, Cheongsan,” The Alpha declares, his voice thick. “So much.”

Humming happily, Cheongsan allows his eyes to slip back shut and basks in this moment; this perfect moment between him and his boyfriend. 

His Alpha. His mate. 

“Don’t fall asleep,” Suhyeok says, nudging him gently, the Alpha playfully kissing him once as if to wake him. 

Grinning, Cheongsan opens his eyes to gaze at his boyfriend. “Why not?” He asks, the temptation to doze back off not far from his mind. 

Laughing quietly, Suhyeok pointedly looks downward before returning his eyes to him. “We’re a mess,” He snickers, his tone almost scandalised. 

Humming, Cheongsan straightens his neck, lifting his head to glance down at himself. 

Suhyeok has pushed up his shirt to just below his chest, the Alpha’s hands resting on his exposed tummy. The wet smear all over Suhyeok’s right-hand makes Cheongsan’s heart skip a beat, and when he looks further down to the obvious wet patch on his pants, Cheongsan falls into fits of giggles. 

That’s only the front of his pants.

His ass is soaked with slick, he can feel it even now against his cheeks, the movement of the two of them having spread it all over. Suhyeok’s front must be just as drenched, and biting into his bottom lip, Cheongsan knows, not just with his slick. 

The still large and round pressure nestled right up into his crack is proof that Suhyeok reached his climax just as successfully as Cheongsan did. 

Turning back to his boyfriend, curiosity lights up in Cheongsan as he gazes at the Alpha. 

“What?” Suhyeok asks, scanning his face with a small grin on his lips. 

Slightly embarrassed, which is ridiculous considering what they just did, Cheongsan goes red in the face. 

“Does that happen every time?” He asks quietly, raising his eyebrows in question. 

“Does what happen every time?” Suhyeok questions, frowning quizzically. 

Figuring, he doesn’t have to cringe through asking, Cheongsan wiggles his butt against the Alpha knot between his cheeks. 

Suhyeok moans hard, pleasure taking over his face as Cheongsan feels the Alpha beginning to–

“Again?!”

Nodding, Suhyeok rides the waves of his second orgasm as Cheongsan watches in rapture. Well, not really a second orgasm but his Alpha body attempting to ensure a successful breeding by releasing another load of cum. 

Watching him closely, Cheongsan marvels at the fact Suhyeok could very well be knocking him up right now, if not for the patch on his arm and the no actual penetration going on. 

When the Alpha eventually comes back down, his breathing having sped back up, Cheongsan waits patiently for him to answer. Swallowing, Suhyeok sniffs before opening his mouth to answer, a blissed-out expression all over his handsome face. 

“No, ‘Sannie. Doesn’t happen every time. Wasn’t expecting it to happen but…” The Alpha finishes, shrugging like he’s too zonked in the head to speak. 

Snickering, Cheongsan finds he very much enjoys this look on Suhyeok, a small crease in the Alpha’s brow, his full lips parted slightly, and a gorgeous red tint to his cheeks. 

A beautiful, sweaty, fucked out Suhyeok. 

Nuzzling closer, his boyfriend kisses him happily on the corner of his mouth before his eyes drift closed.

Sensing that if Cheongsan doesn’t act now he may have a sleeping Suhyeok on his hands, he nudges him. 

“Do you wanna shower first or shall I?” He asks, watching as Suhyeok slowly reopens his eyes to frown contemplatively. 

“My clothes, ‘Sannie. They’re ruined. How will I get home?” The Alpha asks, Cheongsan watching as anxiety forces the sleepy features of Suhyeok’s face into alarm. 

“If you strip now, I should be able to wash and dry them for you in an hour or two?” 

“You know how to do laundry?” Suhyeok asks in disbelief. 

“You think me so useless?” Cheongsan asks, mock offence in his voice. 

Laughing softly, Suhyeok shrugs. “Just can’t picture you being any good at that stuff.” 

“I manage,” Cheongsan mutters, righting his head as he recalls his lesson on how to operate a dryer correctly at the expense of his favourite pyjamas.

“Maybe I’ll make a housewife out of you yet,” Suhyeok says, grinning teasingly. 

Turning his head slowly, Cheongsan narrows his eyes threateningly at his boyfriend. 

“I’ll kick you out of this apartment just as you are now, Alpha.” 

“You wouldn’t dare, Omega,” Suhyeok replies, eyeing him with playful suspicion. 

Raising his eyebrows slowly, Cheongsan stares his boyfriend down, Suhyeok’s eyes flitting over his face before the Alpha finally breaks. 

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry, please don’t throw me to the streets,” Suhyeok laughs, pecking his cheek repeatedly with kisses in apology.

Humming in acquiescence, Cheongsan smiles smugly up at the ceiling. 

“My pretty little housewife would never be so cruel,” 

Closing his eyes with a groan, a reluctant grin pulls at Cheongsan’s lips as Suhyeok laughs full-bodied under him, the movement rocking Cheongsan. 

—-------------------------------------------

Returning from the utility room where he had left their uniforms to complete their cycle in the tumble drier, Cheongsan smiles at his boyfriend sitting on the edge of his bed. Suhyeok returns the smile, a white towel around his hips, his black hair damp and hanging messily over the Alpha’s forehead.

Cheongsan’s hair is in a similar damp state, his pyjama-clad self only having finished showering a while ago.

“Shouldn’t be long now till they’re dry,” Cheongsan informs the Alpha, sitting down beside him on the mattress.

“Cool.” 

An awkward silence fills the room then, neither of them sure how to talk about what just happened. It doesn’t help that Suhyeok is covered only by a towel, the plains of tan skin before Cheongsan looking so smooth and tempting to touch.

“I like your pyjamas,” Suhyeok compliments suddenly, eyeing the garments on Cheongsan in question. 

Looking down at them himself, Cheongsan nods, raising his eyes to the Alpha. 

“Thanks… I like the bumblebees on them,” He admits and then looks away to cringe at himself. 

“They’re cute,” Suhyeok agrees, smiling softly. 

Awkward silence resuming, the two of them eye each other, the tension in the air mounting till Cheongsan becomes beyond frustrated. 

“I don’t regret it,” He blurts out, his face reddening when Suhyeok’s eyes locked onto him widen in surprise. 

“Me neither,” The Alpha responds, both of them staring at each other. 

“Good,” Cheongsan replies, looking away and down to his lap. 

The bumblebees are cute. 

“You surprised me,” Suhyeok admits, watching him intently. 

Nodding, Cheongsan finds it hard to lift his eyes from his pyjama pants as the next words leave him. “I guess I just felt… ready to be close to you.” 

Suhyeok scoots closer then, the Alpha reaching out gently to take one of Cheongsan’s hands in his pair of larger ones. 

“Remember what I said, ‘Sannie; we do this at your pace,” The Alpha reminds him, his voice sincere and patient. “It makes me happy you felt ready though; that you trusted me enough.”

Frowning, Cheongsan lifts his head to gaze at his boyfriend, a small pang of pain in his heart. 

“I always trusted you, ‘Hyeokie. I know you’d never hurt me.” 

Smiling small, Suhyeok nods, looking down at their joined hands. “I know, Cheongsan but still, it’s a big step.” 

Thinking that’s fair, Cheongsan nods once, looking away to stare out at his room before a thought occurs to him and he anxiously looks back at his boyfriend. 

“When it comes to… the main event,” He says, his meaning clear, eyeing Suhyeok nervously, “You might have to be a bit more patient with me.” 

Moving closer to plant a kiss on his cheek, Suhyeok’s eyes never lose the love in them or the understanding, remaining that way as he opens his mouth to reply. 

“Cheongsan, I mean it. At your pace,” The Alpha tells him, a hardness to his words as if he’s trying to drill the understanding into Cheongsan, “Tomorrow. In five years or never. I’m just happy to be with you.” 

Scoffing, Cheongsan frowns at his boyfriend, “You’re an Alpha. How could you be okay with never?” 

Sighing through his nose, Suhyeok pauses for a minute, obvious annoyance filling the Alpha’s face before he blurts out, “Hell, you can fuck me instead if you want, I don’t give a shit.” 

Eyes wide, Cheongsan stares at his boyfriend in disbelief. 

“That’s not–” He stutters, mouth and brain not lining up as he gapes at Suhyeok, “Alpha’s don’t do that!” He blurts in shock, shaking his head. 

Face scrunching up, Suhyeok shrugs casually, “Says who? I’ve got an asshole the same as you, ‘Sannie.” 

Blushing, Cheongsan looks away, feeling the heat burn the skin of his face as images of Suhyeok like that, flash through his mind. 

“You’re a weird Alpha,” He murmurs, staring out at his bedroom. 

Laughing quietly, Suhyeok lifts his leg to wrap it around Cheongsan, scooting even closer till he can speak directly into Cheongsan’s ear. 

“You thinking about fucking me, ‘Sannie? Am I on my front or back?” He asks, his teasing voice brushing over the shell of Cheongsan’s ear. 

Face absolutely on fire now, Cheongsan jumps up and away from the Alpha. 

“Fuck off,” He groans, escaping the room to check on their laundry, leaving Suhyeok cackling like a Hyena behind him. 

Chapter Text

Cheongsan stares out the car window as Hyosan moves across his vision, the early morning light rousing people from their beds as they begin milling about, heading to work for the adults or, for the teenagers and children, school. 

Spotting two teens in the deep green uniform of Hyosan High, he cranes his neck to follow them on the sidewalk, wishing beyond measure he could swap places with them. That he, just like them, could be on his way to school like any other weekday and not sitting in the backseat of his Mama’s car, driving towards his doom. 

Okay, that might be a little dramatic but it feels like his doom. 

A soft touch to his hand draws his attention from the events outside the window, Cheongsan turning away to look into the worried eyes of Suhyeok across from him. 

“You okay?” The Alpha asks, his larger hand reaching over fully to intertwine their fingers.

Nodding, Cheongsan smiles the best he can up at the Alpha, the effort proving to be more difficult than he’d hoped. Suhyeok’s own responding smile is as weak, the Alpha looking completely unconvinced. 

Releasing his seatbelt in the next moment, Suhyeok scoots across the backseat to sit hip against hip with him. 

“C’mere,” Suhyeok instructs, dropping his hand to guide his arm around Cheongsan’s neck, almost forcing him into the Alpha’s embrace. 

Going gladly, Cheongsan drops his head into Suhyeok’s neck, breathing shakily into the warm skin there. His scent is as comforting as always but the events ahead of him are weighing heavily down on him, preventing him from fully relaxing. 

“Pop that middle seatbelt across your chest, Suhyeok, please,” His Mama instructs from the driver's seat, quirking an unimpressed eyebrow at the Alpha. 

“Sorry, Mrs Lee,” Suhyeok murmurs, doing as he’s told and pulling away from Cheongsan for a second to yank the belt across his body. 

Settling back against his boyfriend, Cheongsan does his best to focus his mind away from the Doctor’s appointment ahead of him and instead tries to just exist inside the safety of Suhyeok’s arms. 

“You’ll be fine, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok whispers down to him, his right hand rubbing up and down Cheongsan’s arm. 

“I hate this,” Cheongsan breathes, keeping his eyes closed as he exhales shakily. 

“I know.” 

It’s not a long drive, and even with his eyes closed, Cheongsan still registers the moment his Mama pulls into a parking spot outside the clinic, the sound of the handbrake being yanked up a dead giveaway. 

There’s a stretch of silence as he feels the weight of his Mama’s gaze on him as she audibly turns in her seat, Suhyeok above him also tilting his head down. 

“We’re here, sweetheart,” His Mama eventually says when Cheongsan doesn’t move nor open his eyes. 

When he still doesn’t respond, Suhyeok pulls away a little to look down at him fully, the warmth of the Alpha’s embrace dissipating in seconds, ripping away Cheongsan’s sanctuary. 

“‘Sannie?” Suhyeok asks concerned, as the Alpha’s hand reaches up to brush his hair back along his temples. 

Clenching his jaw, Cheongsan admits defeat and opens his eyes, the worry on Suhyeok’s handsome face the first thing he sees. 

“I’m okay,” He murmurs, casting a glance at his Mama for good measure. 

“Let’s go,” He says further, pulling fully away to undo his seatbelt and shove the car door open.

Indignant anger fills him as he stands in the car park outside the clinic, the white facade of the one-story building becoming too familiar to him now. The very fact he needs to be here at all to undergo this fucking procedure fuels bitter rage in him. 

Glaring out at the building, he turns when Suhyeok leans into his field of vision, the crease of worry between the Alpha’s brows not having shifted an inch. 

“Why are you looking at me like that? Let’s just get this done,” Cheongsan mutters, his irate gaze falling unfairly on Suhyeok. 

Turning, he ignores the way the Alpha frowns harder, putting one foot in front of the other as he marches up towards the entrance of the clinic. 

“Hey,” 

A strong hand on his elbow stops him, and Cheongsan swivels around to glare down at the Alpha’s grip on him, before directing that glare up at its owner. 

“Wait a second, ‘Sannie,”

“Ready to go in?” His Mama asks as she approaches them, readjusting her bag on her shoulder and none the wiser to the tension between Cheongsan and his boyfriend. 

“Uh, Mrs Lee, would it be okay if I have a quick word with Cheongsan?” Suhyeok asks her, smiling kindly. 

She blinks up at the Alpha for a second before finally seemingly feeling the tension in the air, tentatively glancing between them. 

“Of course,” She hastily replies, nodding once before heading into the clinic alone, the automatic doors opening and closing around her. 

Once she’s gone, Cheongsan drops his gaze to Suhyeok’s grip on his elbow, the hand barely holding him at all but feeling rather unwelcome right then. 

“Can you let go of me?” Cheongsan requests sternly, pointedly looking down at the hand on his arm when Suhyeok frowns confusedly down at him. 

“Oh. Right,” Suhyeok replies, dropping the touch a second later. 

Arm free, Cheongsan folds both across his chest, unable to stop the tense look he’s shooting the Alpha as he waits for Suhyeok to talk. 

Suhyeok sighs, his worried gaze dancing over Cheongsan’s face, and only further annoying him. 

“Did you want to stand out here for a bit more fresh air, Suhyeok? Or was there an actual reason?”

Suhyeok steps up to him then, the Alpha’s arms coming up around Cheongsan’s waist to hold him, Cheongsan’s crossed arms pushing up against his boyfriend’s chest.

Looking up into his boyfriend’s loving eyes, the embrace unsettles Cheongsan, his anger dissipating as everything else behind it floods in. Exhaling shakily, he drops his gaze to Suhyeok’s chest, unable to handle what he can see in those brown irises.

“‘Sannie,” Suhyeok says softly, his right hand coming up to gently tilt Cheongsan’s chin back up to align their gazes. “It’s okay, baby.” 

The love and concern for him in the Alpha’s eyes, in his voice, does the rest of the damage and Cheongsan’s breath catches as tears pool in his eyes. 

“Don’t,” He manages, reaching forward to grip fistfuls of Suhyeok’s hoodie. 

“It’s okay, Cheongsan,” The Alpha repeats, his eyes resolute, “You’re gonna be fine.” 

Shaking his head, Cheongsan sniffs, his throat thick and finding it hard to swallow down the emotions crowding behind his tongue. 

“You can’t know that,” Cheongsan says, dropping his gaze with another shake of his head. 

“Hey,” Suhyeok urges again softly, knocking their foreheads together so Cheongsan is forced to look into his boyfriend’s eyes. “I can. You’re gonna be just fine. Just. fine.” 

The sheer conviction in Suhyeok’s eyes, the resolute way he speaks with no shred of doubt or uncertainty in his tone, encourages strength to grow in Cheongsan, his faith in Suhyeok allowing him to grip onto some of that conviction. 

Gazing into his eyes, Cheongsan’s fingers clenched on Suhyeok’s hoodie tighten till they hurt, unable to look away as he pulls as much strength from the Alpha as he can. Suhyeok’s eyes don’t move an inch from Cheongsan’s own, his boyfriend steady and strong before him. 

Eventually, he nods, his grip loosening on Suhyeok as a small smile pulls at his mouth. 

Suhyeok grins sweetly down at him in response, the Alpha quick to push forward and kiss him hard, Cheongsan’s entire frame leaning backwards in his boyfriend’s arms.

Sliding his hands into the hair at Suhyeok’s nape, Cheongsan kisses back just as hard, before he’s righted on his feet by Suhyeok again as he pulls back. 

“Ready?” Suhyeok asks, stepping back and offering his hand. 

Licking his lips, Cheongsan nods, reaching out to grip Suhyeok’s palm as they turn and walk into the clinic together. 

—-------------------------------------------------

Staring into the full-length mirror, Cheongsan finds the sight of himself in a medical gown bizarre, the white fabric entirely unflattering. He’s in a small changing room, his Mama having checked him in with the receptionist before they’d been led to a waiting area. A nurse had approached him then as he’d sat with Suhyeok, their hands still grasped, to direct him here, asking him to undress and slip into this hideous garment. 

Turning, he twists his neck to look over his shoulder at the mirror, the image of his naked back and legs making him snort. He’s still got his briefs on so his butt is still clothed, and he’s probably supposed to have removed those too but Cheongsan steadfastly refuses to walk out of this small room with his ass out. 

Taking a deep breath to try quell his nerves some, he approaches the door and twists the handle to slip out of the room, reassured already by the nurse he could leave his clothes in there to change back into later. 

Walking out into the waiting area, Suhyeok sits up straight when he spots him, the Alpha’s gaze moving up and down him in a second. His Mama folds the magazine in her lap that she’d been reading to eye him too, the attention from the two of them making him slightly uncomfortable. 

“You look ridiculous,” Suhyeok breathes, mirth dancing in his eyes as he looks Cheongsan up and down again. 

“Thanks,” Cheongsan deadpans, giving the Alpha an unimpressed glare. 

“He’s not wrong,” His Mama murmurs under her breath but still loud enough for Cheongsan to hear before she goes back to her magazine, unfolding it on her crossed legs. 

Crossing his arms, Cheongsan leans against the wall rather than sitting down, unwilling to reveal the back of this ridiculous get-up to his boyfriend, lest he fuel any more of the teasing he can see ready in Suhyeok’s gaze. 

Too late he realises it won’t matter if he physically turns around or not because the Alpha has seemingly figured the garment out, his brown eyes scanning up and down it, as a slow grin spreads across his lips. 

Before Cheongsan’s eyes, Suhyeok glances at his Mama and when he notices she’s preoccupied with her magazine, he looks back to lock eyes with him before raising his right hand and swivelling his finger in the air in a circular motion. 

Facing burning, Cheongsan glares at the Alpha, his reaction only amusing his boyfriend even more as he continues motioning for Cheongsan to turn around, a delighted smile on his face. Subtly, out of his Mama’s field of view, Cheongsan drops his hand by his hip and gives Suhyeok the middle finger. 

Suhyeok barks a laugh when he sees it, the reaction loud enough for his Mama to glance curiously up at the two of them before she returns to her magazine. 

Smiling at Suhyeok, the two of them grin at each other, looking away quickly when the urge to laugh fills Cheongsan overwhelmingly. 

“Cheongsan?” His nurse suddenly says, appearing around a corner out of nowhere to smile at him. 

His humour disappearing in a second, Cheongsan stands up straight, nodding quickly. Suhyeok jumps up to stand beside him, the Alpha eyeing the nurse. 

“You must be… Suhyeok? You’re joining Cheongsan during the examination today?” The nurse asks, looking down at his binder before smiling up at the Alpha. 

“Yep, that’s me,” Suhyeok confirms with a smile. 

“Great,” the nurse says before he points back down the corridor from which he just came. “If you two wanna follow me?” 

Nodding, Cheongsan glances back at his Mama, finding her already looking up at him. 

“Good luck, sweetheart,” She smiles, giving him a thumbs up. 

Taking a breath, Cheongsan smiles in thanks, before Suhyeok’s hand sliding into his pulls his attention up to his boyfriend. 

The bright reassurance in the Alpha’s eyes doesn’t move an inch as Cheongsan holds his gaze, before taking another deep breath and leading the way down the corridor. 

—----------------------------------------------

“Cheongsan, it’s so lovely to see you again,” His Doctor greets him once he steps into the small examination room. 

That’s what he hears her say anyway, he only briefly smiles at her before the examination table in the centre of the room grabs his attention. It’s long, taking up the majority of the room in the small space, and of a deep blue colour you always see in hospitals. It’s elevated in the middle by a cushioned mound but what holds his attention is the way the leather is creased down the centre at the lower end, like it spreads apart. Cheongsan can guess why.

He can’t take his eyes off it as the nurse closes the door behind him and Suhyeok, sealing them in the room. 

“How are you?” The Doctor asks, setting something down on a small table before approaching him with a smile.

“Uh, fine,” Cheongsan mumbles, still unable to hold her gaze, the small table of metal instruments stealing his attention now. 

As she comes to stand before him, she blocks his view of said table, and he blinks, coming out of his reverie to notice she’s greeting Suhyeok with a handshake, his boyfriend as polite and charming as ever as they exchange introductions. 

“You did well, Cheongsan,” She beams down at him, her eyes flicking to Suhyeok pointedly, “He’s both handsome and charming.” 

Looking up at the Alpha, Suhyeok laughs bashfully at the praise, his gaze sliding to him. Cheongsan smiles up at his boyfriend, not failing to notice the careful way Suhyeok watches him. 

“So, Cheongsan, I know you had some anxiety about the examination today, which is understandable,” His Doctor tells him, smiling warmly at him with her hands clasped in front of her, “But let me reassure you that you’ll be fine. I’ve carried out this simple procedure so many times, and yes, it is mildly uncomfortable but at any point you want me to stop, just say the word and we’ll stop, okay?” 

Eyes moving from her open and kind face, Cheongsan zeroes in on the examination table again as he nods, the cushioned pillow at the top where his head is supposed to rest, black in colour, he notes. 

“Okay. Would you like to take a minute or shall we start?” The Doctor continues, eyes still locked on him for an answer. 

“Um…” Cheongsan mumbles, unable to concentrate on anything but the examination table filling the room, filling his mind. 

A squeeze against his hand drags his mind away from it, his head turning to look up into Suhyeok’s warm brown eyes.

“Let’s start,” He says quietly, moving his eyes back to the Doctor to nod once. 

“Okay, perfect,” She smiles, moving to take a seat on a swivel chair, before beckoning him forward. 

Hesitating, he drags his feet forward, Cheongsan squeezing Suhyeok’s hand the whole time as the two of them come to a stop at the end of the examination table. To the left, at the top of it, another chair exists, unoccupied and Cheongsan realises it’s for Suhyeok at the same time the nurse points it out to the Alpha.

Turning to his boyfriend, Cheongsan slowly relaxes his grip on his hand, and when he finally drops his hold, Suhyeok is quick to move forward and plant a kiss on his temple, before moving around to sit on his waiting seat. 

The Alpha sits forward, his eyes locked on Cheongsan, open and bright and reassuring. 

Swallowing thickly, Cheongsan’s eyes move from his boyfriend to the Doctor, finding the woman smiling patiently at him. 

Nodding, Cheongsan lifts one leg shakily and begins climbing up onto the table. 

“Oh, Cheongsan, dear, you’ll have to remove those,” His Doctor interrupts him suddenly, and Cheongsan frowns at her in confusion before blushing hard, realising he still has his briefs on. 

Pulling back off the table, he anxiously glances at every occupant in the room, before reaching back and sliding them down his thighs to fall to the floor. His face burning for a different reason now, as Cheongsan’s heart pounds in his chest, he pulls himself up onto the table to lie down flat on his belly.

Exhaling shakily through his mouth, he rests his head on the pillow, locking eyes with Suhyeok who immediately rolls closer on the chair till he’s right next to Cheongsan. The middle of the table has raised his hips and Cheongsan’s mortification doubles when he feels the fabric of the garment slip sideways down his hips, his ass no doubt sticking out. 

Suhyeok’s eyes don’t move in that direction once though, the Alpha smiling down at him.

“I’m just going to readjust your feet a little bit, Cheongsan, is that okay?” His Doctor asks from somewhere behind him, and Cheongsan frowns but agrees, giving her a small nod. 

Her touch is gentle on his ankles as she lifts his legs, his feet suddenly sliding into something soft and cushioned. He notes, with a shaky exhale, it makes it hard for him to move his legs. 

“The table you’re laying on is designed for this type of examination, Cheongsan, and in the next second, it’s going to move to readjust your legs a little and allow me easier access to begin.” 

Closing his eyes briefly, Cheongsan swallows thickly, before opening his eyes and nodding jerkily. 

It hums under him at first, the vibrations running through his body before it begins to move, or more specifically, before it begins to separate his legs, whatever his feet are secured it doing a fantastic job of pulling his thighs apart. 

Trying to breathe calmly, Cheongsan strains to look over his shoulder, catching sight of one leg bent at the knee and protruding further out from the sides of the table. 

Suhyeok’s palm on his cheek draws his attention back to the Alpha, Cheongsan relaxing against the table as his boyfriend’s thumb rubs over his cheek. 

“I must look ridiculous,” He murmurs to Suhyeok, feeling like a frog about to be dissected in biology class. 

“No more than usual,” Suhyeok murmurs back, the teasing in his eyes obvious. 

Letting out a breathy laugh, Cheongsan smiles up at his boyfriend. “Asshole,” He mumbles, enjoying the grin Suhyeok shoots back at him in response. 

It’s someone rolling on a chair between his legs that suddenly makes him tense, his eyes trying to catch who it is out of the corner of his peripheral vision. 

“When you’re ready for me to begin, you give me the word, Cheongsan,” His Doctor says from directly behind him, Cheongsan realising she’s the person who’s currently sitting between his spread legs. The sound of gloves snapping onto her hands rings through his ears, making a sweat break out across his skin. 

Moving his eyes back to Suhyeok, who’s moved to caressing the side of his neck now, Cheongsan latches onto the Alpha’s gaze, filling every part of himself with what he sees in those brown irises before he parts his lips. 

“I’m ready.” 

Her touch is gentle at first, her gloved hands coming to rest on his ass cheeks, parting them a little more. He still tenses all over, almost without meaning to, like a reflex. 

“This is going to feel cold, Cheongsan,” 

He cringes when said cold liquid drips into his crack to slide down over his hole, absolutely nothing sexy about the way it drags down his skin. Clenching his jaw, Cheongsan resolutely stares up at Suhyeok, not letting his eyes move an inch even as gloved fingers touch him right there. 

At the first gentle penetration, his nostrils flare as he feels his blood pressure rise, his head beginning to thrum with the rush of blood coursing through his skull. His doctor is methodical and intentional, working slowly to ease him open. At the press of a second finger alongside the first, the twinge of immediate pain makes him wince, and without meaning to, he clenches up all over.

“Just try and relax, Cheongsan,” His Doctor says, her fingers having paused where they were inside him. 

Trying his best, Cheongsan attempts to breathe deliberately through his nose and out of his mouth, his eyes moving from Suhyeok’s gaze to try to look back over his shoulder without thinking. 

“Hey,” Suhyeok says gently, his wide palm successfully guiding Cheongsan’s face back to him, their gazes locking as the Alpha stares down at him, “You’re doing so good, ‘Sannie, just breathe, baby.”

Nodding slightly, Cheongsan releases one hand from under his head and Suhyeok immediately clasps it in his, the reassuring grip of the Alpha’s palm, allowing him to incrementally unlock all his muscles. 

Including the one tight around his Doctor’s gloved fingers. 

She wastes no time resuming her work, Cheongsan feeling every press of her fingers inside his channel. He notes he’s not producing slick, the only thing easing the way the lubricant he assumes she dropped into his crack earlier. Despite knowing that for him, that area, in particular, can be a source of immense pleasure, Cheongsan feels nothing arousing or pleasurable from the touch. 

In fact, it feels just like having someone’s fingers up his ass, in the most unsexiest way imaginable. 

When her touch suddenly slips out of him, he shudders, unintentionally clenching back up from the strange sensation. 

“You doing okay, Cheongsan?” His Doctor enquires, Cheongsan hearing her tinkering with something on the metal table of objects. 

“Fine,” He manages to get out, anxiety mounting at what she could be holding from that array of metal instruments. 

“Good man. This is going to feel cold again, just try and stay relaxed,” 

Easy for her to say, Cheongsan thinks bitterly, she’s not having her ass probed like in some freaky Alien movie. 

In the next second, something cold, hard, and metal arrives at his hole, the device poising there, immediately taking his breath away in fear. 

Heart pounding in his chest, Cheongsan’s eyes widen as he stares up at Suhyeok, the Alpha immediately lowering his head to bring their faces close together. 

“Hey, just look at me, ‘Sannie. I’m right here. Right here,” Suhyeok whispers, his eyes ablaze with all the comfort he can put into them. 

The metal device is applied with more force against his hole, and as he parts around it, his mouth opens wide with a grimace, the stretch continuing horribly until it’s fully seated inside him. 

Panting harshly, the urge to push it out and leap off this table brims in Cheongsan’s mind, Suhyeok’s gaze the only thing stopping him from fleeing. His grip on the Alpha’s hand must be painful, the skin of his fingers clasped around Cheongsan’s an angry red.

The device, which Cheongsan realises suddenly must be this dreaded speculum, is lodged deep in his ass, the hard edges of it touching places Cheongsan didn’t know he could feel so acutely. 

His Doctor leaves him like that for going on over a minute, either taking pity on his quivering form or not yet prepared to move on to the next dreaded step.

As the seconds tick by, Cheongsan feels his grip relax around Suhyeok’s fist, the pain radiating up his back fading to a dull throb. Dragging air in through his nose, this close, Suhyeok’s scent flows through him, Cheongsan’s eyes slipping shut as he relishes every inhale of it. 

It oddly seems thicker in the air as Cheongsan breathes it in, the aroma filling his lungs to provide desperately needed comfort. 

“You smell good,” Cheongsan mumbles, catching the smirk on Suhyeok’s face as he gazes down at him.

“I’m glad you think so,” Suhyeok says with a laugh, his boyfriend pushing the sweaty bangs of Cheongsan’s fringe along his forehead. 

“Cheongsan, you’ve done amazingly so far, young man. I need you to concentrate the best you can for the next part…” His Doctor suddenly interrupts, Cheongsan almost forgetting she was there. 

“The next part?” He asks, biting hard into his bottom lip. 

“Yes, Cheongsan. I just need you to try as best as you can to remain relaxed around the speculum, okay?” She instrusts, a more serious edge to her voice immediately doing the exact opposite of relaxing him. 

“You’ve got this, ‘Sannie. You’re doing incredible,” Suhyeok encourages, nodding at him. 

The surety in the Alpha’s gaze props up Cheongsan’s failing courage and with a nod for his boyfriend, Cheongsan parts his lips to give the go-ahead. 

“Okay, I’m ready,” He says out into the room. 

He stares into Suhyeok’s eyes like they’re the only thing in his universe right then, his grip on the Alpha’s hand tightening in preparation for whatever's next. 

When the device in his ass begins parting him wider, stretching his rim around the hard metal, Cheongsan pushes the panic away repeatedly, his breathing becoming shallow in his chest as he does his best to stay still, relaxed, and calm. 

As the seconds tick by, and the speculum just slowly keeps stretching his hole wider and wider, it’s only his tight grip on Suhyeok’s hand and the Alpha’s comforting eyes filling his vision that stop him from seizing up. It just keeps going, opening him wider and wider, stretching his rim so much Cheongsan is amazed he hasn’t torn yet. Unbelievably though, he doesn’t tear. The pain is there but his hole adjusts around the stretch incrementally. 

“You’re amazing,” Suhyeok breathes when the device eventually stops inside him. 

“I don’t feel it,” Cheongsan admits, squeezing around Suhyeok’s hand as pain migrates up his back from his ass. 

He reckons his Doctor must have a right clear view of everything he’s got going on back there now. Over the next few minutes, he cringes ever so slightly as he feels her fingers inside him, inspecting every inch of his internal anatomy. 

“Well done, Cheongsan.” She praises behind him before Cheongsan hears something being dragged on wheels closer. “If you can remain just as still for me a little longer,” 

“No problem,” Cheongsan manages between his teeth, the desire to clench up around the device holding him open pushing increasingly harder at the back of his mind. 

Something hard but thin enters him then, glancing off his walls uncomfortably before pausing at his entrance and Cheongsan frowns, whatever it is feeling far too much like a probe. Laying a questioning frown on Suhyeok, he indicates with his head. 

“What is that?” He whispers, only loud enough - hopefully - for the Alpha to hear. 

Suhyeok bites his bottom lip before looking away, lifting his head to look behind Cheongsan, an odd look rising on his face. 

Glancing back down at him, Suhyeok hesitates before answering. 

“It’s a camera,” He finally admits, his eyes flicking from Cheongsan to something behind him. 

“Is there a screen?” He asks, and when the Alpha nods, Cheongsan very carefully twists his neck to lay his head on the other side of his face, noticing immediately what had Suhyeok’s attention.

The device on wheels he'd heard earlier is in full view to him now, some sort of imaging instrument. Its long camera disappears outside the edge of Cheongsan’s peripheral vision, but he can see it moving as his Doctor guides it along. 

Guides it deeper into Cheongsan’s ass, he realises with a wave of dizziness. 

On the widescreen, Cheongsan watches in fascination as it moves further inside him, the reddish pink of his inner channel parted around the speculum bringing a slight grimace to his face. 

He’s half tempted to order Suhyeok to look away but figures there’s not much point now, this far along. 

“...just a little further…” His Doctor murmurs under her breath, the nurse standing by the screen, adjusting small knobs along a keyboard. 

On-screen, the inner walls of his body part before the camera seem to arrive at an end, making Cheongsan frown in worry before he notices something within the centre of the wall of tissue. 

Two openings, one tiny, and looking far too small to fit even a pinky finger inside alongside a larger opening, both sealed closed. Mortified beyond measure, Cheongsan realises one must lead to his bowel whilst the other smaller one must be his… cervix?

The hair on his arms raises with goosebumps seeing both in clear view on screen.

What the hell is even going on right now?

Not ending their little journey down Cheongsan’s internal anatomy there, his Doctor moves forward again, guiding the camera towards the smaller opening and when it touches his cervix, Cheongsan feels it in real-time. Squeezing his eyes shut, he moans unhappily, the pressure inside him the most uncomfortable thing he’s ever felt. 

Unrelenting, the moment the camera gets past that barrier, Cheongsan sighs heavily, blinking his eyes back open. His uterus in all its glory comes into view on screen, the walls inside here looking much smoother and of a lighter pink colour. Blinking lazily, starting to feel overwhelmed and utterly exhausted now, Cheongsan turns his neck to search out Suhyeok, coming to rest back on his other cheek. 

Suhyeok drops his eyes to him once he’s settled, smiling gently down at him. 

“How’re you feeling?” The Alpha asks, his hand returning to caress Cheongsan’s cheek. 

“Tired,” Cheongsan admits, sighing pointedly with sheer exhaustion, “And like I’ve got a camera filming up my butt,” He mutters, watching as Suhyeok airly laughs at him. 

“You’re not hurting too much?” Suhyeok asks, his eyes moving over Cheongsan’s prone form. 

“Nah,” He admits with a small shrug of his shoulders. In truth, his hole has gone completely numb around the speculum, and whether that’s a good thing or not, Cheongan isn’t sure but he’s glad it’s stopped hurting. 

“Good. Shouldn’t be much longer,” Suhyeok says with a small smile in comfort. 

The Alpha is right, not soon after he says it, does Cheongsan feel the camera beginning to retreat out of him, the sensation of it popping out of his cervix making him whine in discomfort. 

“Very good, Cheongsan,” His Doctor offhandly praises as it’s removed altogether before he hears her shift behind him. 

As the imaging device is rolled away, Choengsan gasps when the speculum begins to contract slowly. 

As if the blood has returned to the region, spasms of pain radiate from his abused hole, causing him to clench his teeth as the device continues to retract inside him. 

Finally, it’s slowly dragged out of him, Cheongsan moaning unhappily again as it leaves, feeling every inch as it goes. 

Opening his eyes again when it finally slips out of him, he sighs heavily in relief, the realisation it’s over, nearly overwhelming him. So relieved, he can’t even summon any embarrassment when his doctor wipes his ass clean of lube for him before rolling away. 

Suhyeok leans down to kiss his temple, the Alpha’s eyes shining with pride. “You did it, Cheongsan,” 

“I did it,” Cheongsan nods, the relief the most amazing thing in the world right then.

He jumps in surprise when the table hums underneath him, before it begins returning his legs to how they were to start, his thighs coming together. His feet are removed from their confines next, the padded material around them slipping off of him. As he lies there, he notes, from the waist down everything feels slightly numb. 

He may need Suhyeok’s help getting up. 

His hole also feels bizarre, the muscle tingling right around the rim, Cheongsan’s attempts to clench up making him frown in worry when the muscles hardly cooperate. 

“Uh, I feel weird,” He admits, squirming a little where he’s lying. 

“Weird how?” Suhyeok asks, his brows coming together as he frowns in concern. 

Face burning, Cheongsan searches his mind for an elegant way of describing what he’s feeling but comes up blank. 

“Feeling a little weak in the knees, Cheongsan?” His Doctor enquires, the humour in her voice obvious. 

“There and other places,” Cheongsan replies, his blush reaching his ears as they burn alongside his face. 

“Go home, rest up. You’ll feel just like yourself again in a few hours. I’ll give you a call tomorrow,” His Doctor promises, amusement still colouring her tone, “You can get up now, Cheongsan.” 

“Right,” Cheongsan replies, nodding once before he tries to bend his knees under him. They shake like they're made of jelly, Cheongsan feeling entirely like a newborn foal trying to walk for the first time. About to fall back on his belly, Suhyeok suddenly has him under his arms and with the Alpha’s help, Cheongsan slides off the table to his feet. 

Securing Cheongsan’s arm over his shoulder, Suhyeok grins at him. “I’ve got ye, ‘Sannie,” The Alpha promises, holding him tight. 

Smiling back at his boyfriend, Cheongsan then turns to his doctor. Nodding his thanks to her.

She nods back, a pleased smile on her face as she watches them approach the door to leave. 

Cheongsan, with Suhyeok’s help, begins walking out of the room, the nurse holding the door open for them as they pass through. 

Not two feet down the corridor, the nurse calls out to them suddenly, and Suhyeok turns them to see the man offering Cheongsan his briefs. 

“Oh,” He says, mortified as Suhyeok reaches out and takes them. “Thanks.”

Walking down the corridor toward the waiting room, Cheongsan imagines they look quite the pair; Suhyeok supporting him as they slowly walk down the narrow space, with Cheongsan’s entire ass out at the back. 

“My ass is out,” He says out loud as if to remind Suhyeok. 

Huffing a laugh, Suhyeok nods, stopping in the corridor. “Do you want me to try get your underwear on?” 

Thinking on it, Cheongsan nods, stepping gingerly away from Suhyeok to grab the rail that runs along the wall. Putting his back to the wall, he grips the rail in both hands, breathing shakily as he tries to will the numb sensation down his thighs to disappear. 

Suhyeok drops to his knees before him then, Cheongsan’s briefs in hand. 

Taking hold of one of Cheongsan’s ankles gently, Suhyeok encourages him to lift his leg. Doing so gingerly - after he’s sure he’s got a tight grip on the railing - Suhyeok slips the leg through one of the holes in his briefs. 

Dropping one leg, Cheongsan lifts the other, Suhyeok directing his foot through the fabric by his ankle. 

As the Alpha pulls them up his legs, Suhyeok stands as he goes, eventually to his full height before Cheongsan, as the Alpha shimmies them up the curve of Cheongsan’s ass and over his junk, holding his eye as he does so. 

“Thanks,” Cheongsan mumbles, his eyes closing to hide behind them in embarrassment. 

A peck on his lips has him reopening them to see Suhyeok smiling sweetly at him. “Welcome.” 

“Let’s go home,” Cheongsan sighs, pushing away from the railing despite his shaky legs, with complete faith that Suhyeok will immediately retake his weight. 

—----------------------------------------------------

Laying atop his bed an hour later, Cheongsan’s fingers fly across his phone as he converses with both Onjo and Gyeongsu, informing them both he’s okay.

Onjo had blinked at him in surprise when he’d appeared at her door this morning, not in his school uniform but in regular clothes, and he’d walked with her down to the street explaining he was going for a small examination today, before waving her off for school. 

He’d minimised the whole thing to just a routine kinda examination but his anxiety must have shown in his eyes if the way she’d bombarded his phone with messages not a few hours after. He’s unsurprised she spilled to Gyeongsu. Knowing his best friend, Gyeongsu probably badgered her all morning till she revealed the truth of his absence. 

Grinning, he replies quickly to the barrage of love hearts of various colours Gyeongsu sends him, with a litany of his own, glancing away when Suhyeok re-enters his bedroom, carrying a plate of sandwiches.

He hopes his Mama made those and not the Alpha. Suhyeok is a notoriously bad cook. 

The Alpha slides the sandwiches onto Cheongsan’s bedside table before flopping down next to him, jostling Cheongsan. 

“Careful,” He chastises, glaring briefly at his boyfriend with little heat. 

“Sorry,” Suhyeok murmurs, pecking him on the cheek before settling to watch Cheongsan exchange heart emojis with Gyeongsu in ever larger amounts. 

“Should I be jealous?” The Alpha asks, smirking up at him from under his lashes. 

“Jealous you don’t have Gyeongsu as a best friend? Maybe,” Cheongsan mutters, finally dropping his phone to the bed, giving up on their little competition as he turns to his boyfriend. 

“Why would I need Gyeongsu, when I have you,” Suhyeok whispers into his skin, the Alpha snuggling close to inhale deeply from the crook of his neck. 

“True,” Cheongsan agrees, his hand reaching over to run through Suhyeok's hair. He’d arrived at Cheongsan’s door this morning with it product-free, hanging over his forehead naturally. Cheongsan likes it a lot. 

Snuggling closer, Cheongsan buries his nose in those black locks, the scent of Suhyeok’s shampoo tingling his senses. 

“How’re you feeling?” Suhyeok murmurs into his skin. 

After today, Cheongsan finds it hard to feel embarrassed in front of Suhyeok, so honesty comes to his tongue easily. 

“My ass is sore,” He admits, cringing slightly when with a clench, pain burns through the muscle in question. He’s got a hot water bottle nestled under his butt, the heat radiating into his skin helping to relieve some of the pain. The Ibuprofen his Mama had supplied him was helping too. 

Humming under his jaw, Suhyeok pulls back to look up at him, before scooting up the bed till they’re face to face. “You’ll be back to normal in a few days.” 

Nodding slightly, Cheongsan hopes the Alpha’s right. If there’s one place a person shouldn’t be in pain, aside from their genitals, it’s their ass. 

“Did you enjoy your view of my reproductive organs?” He asks the Alpha, whose eyes widen slightly before he snorts out an embarrassed laugh. 

“Cheongsan,” Suhyeok breathes, still laughing but sounding slightly taken back. 

“What?” Cheongsan asks, shrugging his shoulders. “I saw you looking,” 

“I wasn’t looking,” Suhyeok protests, his cheeks turning an adorable red. 

“Uh, yes you were. I’ve never seen you so focused on something.” 

“No, I wasn’t,” Suhyeok laughs again, unable to meet Cheongsan’s gaze. 

“Right, ‘course not,” Cheongsan relents, rolling his eyes as he reaches over for a sandwich on the plate. Cringing only slightly when rolling onto his side and off the hot water bottle has an ache shooting up through his rear. 

Taking a bite, Cheongsan offers a corner to Suhyeok, whose skin is slowly turning back to its regular parlour. The Alpha inches forward, opening his mouth to take a bite, all the while holding eye contact. 

“How’s your hand?” Cheongsan asks, eyeing the Alpha’s fingers in question as he finishes the sandwich with a final bite. 

Suhyeok raises the appendage, turning it this way and that, as he chews. 

“I think it’s starting to turn green, ‘Sannie. It’ll probably fall off soon,” 

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan reaches out and snatches the Alpha’s wrist, pulling the fingers closer to get a better look as he swallows down the sandwich. 

The Alpha’s long fingers look unchanged, Suhyeok’s trimmed nails clipped short and clean, the veins on the back of his hand running through his skin like purple tributaries. 

Intertwining their fingers, Cheongsan smacks a kiss on the back of Suhyeok’s knuckles before tucking it under his chin, feeling Suhyeok squeeze reassuringly around his hold once. 

“Thanks for being there today,” Cheongsan murmurs, holding the Alpha’s gaze seriously. Cheongsan does not doubt in his mind that he wouldn’t have done it without the boy opposite him right now. 

“Anytime, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok smiles, shimming closer to bring their lips together. 

The kiss is gentle and slow, the two of them in no rush but simply enjoying the connection. Suhyeok’s lips are so soft, so plump against his own, the Alpha’s mouth closing perfectly over Cheongsa’s upper lip.

Pulling back, Suhyeok eyes his mouth, the gaze locked on Cheongsan full of desire. 

“Your lips drive me crazy, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok whispers, only briefly glancing up into Cheongsan’s eyes before his appreciative eyes move down again. “Your upper lip especially is…” The Alpha trails off, a visible shiver running across the Alpha’s shoulders. 

Laughing in embarrassment at the attention, Cheongsan ducks his head, breaking eye contact with the Alpha. 

Suhyeok grins alongside him, scooting closer to knock their foreheads gently together, the two of them falling into a comfortable silence. Cheongsan releases his grip on the Alpha’s hand to play with his boyfriend’s fingers, bending the fingers gently and admiring their size and how masculine they are. 

“I’m proud of you,” Suhyeok says then, drawing Cheongsan away from his appreciating the Alpha’s hands to look up at him in surprise. 

Registering the words meaning, Cheongsan smiles, the praise meaning a lot to him from Suhyeok, his heart squeezing in his chest. 

Chapter Text

When he opens his eyes the next morning, squinting against the bright morning light, Cheongsan stares out across his mattress, the absence of Suhyeok beside him not what he expected to wake up to. 

He had dozed off last night, Suhyeok nestled under his chin, the warmth of the Alpha in his arms and the clean scent of his shampoo lulling Cheongsan to sleep. They’d stayed in bed all evening, Cheongsan pulling out his cheap laptop for the two of them to stream Netflix, wasting hours just snuggled up to each other and laughing along to episodes of Derry Girls. 

Sliding his palm across the cold sheets beside him now, his boyfriend’s disappearance makes him sigh dejectedly.

That boy better have a good reason for not staying with him.

Lifting up onto an elbow, Cheongsan reaches over to his bedside table for his phone, his movements stuttering to a stop when pain spasms fire up from his backside. 

Damn, his ass hurts even more today. 

Gingerly, he picks up his phone, tapping the screen to wake it up as he settles back against the pillows. 

A message from Suhyeok is the first thing that catches his attention.

‘slipped out whilst you were asleep, didn’t wanna upset your Mama. I’ll see you tomorrow. love u x'

Cheongsan frowns down at the words on his phone, noticing the Alpha had sent them to him close to ten last night. Dropping the phone to his chest, he glares at his bedroom door, hoping the heat of his anger will pass through to his Mama, who he can hear down the hall in the kitchen. 

He should be waking up to Suhyeok’s bright eyes and easy smile right now. 

Reaching up, he brushes his fingers through his hair, smacking his lips to the most unpleasant taste lingering in his mouth. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep in Suhyeok’s arms last night, and as a consequence, he hadn’t brushed his teeth before bed, hence the rancid taste across his tongue. 

Aware now of the pain in his lower half, carefully, Cheongsan drags himself across the mattress, sitting up on the edge and doing his best to not put too much pressure on his injured bum. Wincing only slightly, he stands, quick to rifle through his dresser for clean clothes, before walking out of his room to the bathroom across the hall.

Showered clean with minty breath not long later, Cheongsan strolls into the kitchen, idly thinking about how he’ll spend his second day off school. Spotting his Mama at their small table, annoyance flares in him, the desire to confront her over Suhyeok, brimming in his chest. 

“Morning, Cheongsan,” She greets upon spotting him, busy filling a notepad with her messy scrawl--probably some new ideas for Cheongsan Chicken--before turning a concerned frown on him, “How’re you feeling today?” 

Coming to lean against the back of a chair, Cheongsan shrugs. “I’m fine. Only a little sore.” He admits, not really willing to go into much detail about his sore asshole with his Mama. 

“Do you want some breakfast?” She asks, her eyes bright and genuinely interested in looking after him. 

The anger in his chest over the Suhyeok issues fades, finding it hard to be upset with his Mama when she only ever has his best interests at heart. He also hasn’t forgotten those venomous words he’d spat at her the other day, the guilt returning to sink low in his chest.

“Maybe in a bit,” He replies before psyching himself to swallow his pride and apologise. “Mama, when I came home from school the other day with Suhyeok,” He starts, glancing at her to see if she understands which day he’s referring to. She nods slightly, waiting for him to continue, “I didn’t mean what I said, I was just upset and…I’m sorry.”

Sighing softly, she reaches over to squeeze his hand on the back of the chair, a slightly amused expression on her gentle face. “I know, Cheongsan. I didn’t take it to heart but thank you for apologising.” 

Nodding his head, Cheongsan feels relief pass through him, “I was just freaking out over the examination but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I could never hate you.” He swallows, staring down at the wooden table in place of meeting his Mama’s eyes. 

Standing up, his Mama ruffles his hair in a way he does not find amusing. “I know, Cheongsan. Now, let's make you some breakfast.”

Turning, he follows her with his eyes as she approaches the kitchen counter, watching as she begins pulling ingredients from the cupboards and fridge. Glancing at the kitchen door, he’s contemplating returning to his room to message Suhyeok when the pressing need to confront his Mama over the other boy weighs down on him. 

“Mama, can we talk about Suhyeok?” He blurts, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets.

“Suhyeok? What about him, honey?” She asks, her back to him as she continues preparing his breakfast for him.

“He snuck out last night because he didn’t wanna upset you, Mama,” Cheongsan explains, his tone emphasising how much he doesn’t like that. “You never had any problem with him sleeping over before.” 

Her movements slow to a stop upon registering his words, his Mama turning to lean back against the counter, her arms crossing over her chest. “Suhyeok wasn’t your boyfriend then, Cheongsan. Nor were you, an Omega.” She explains, quirking an eyebrow at him.

“Mama, I don’t know what you think is going to happen but you can relax,” Cheongsan replies, staring defiantly at his Mother. “Suhyeok staying over now would be no different than before I presented or he became my boyfriend.” 

The guffaw his Mama releases in response, immediately annoys Cheongsan, the amusement in her eyes setting him on edge. “Do you think I was born yesterday, young man? I was once a teenager too, Cheongsan. I remember what teenage boys are like, most especially Alphas .” 

Now he just feels offended on Suhyeok’s behalf. “Suhyeok’s not some sex-crazed animal, Mama. He’s never once pressured me into anything or been disrespectful of my boundaries. Not once.”

“That’s good to hear. He’s not staying over, Cheongsan. End of discussion.” 

Exhaling angrily through his nose, Cheongsan swallows down the urge to lash out at his Mama. 

“Why do you even care, anyway?” Cheongsan asks, frowning quizzically, “Even if we were…” He trails off, embarrassed. “I have the contraceptive patch on. You have nothing to worry about.” He finishes, shifting on his feet and unable to hold his Mama’s gaze for long. 

“That’s so not the point, young man. Under my roof; no funny business.” 

Muscles tensing along his neck and jaw, several colourful words come to his mind in response. He starts walking out of the room before they can push past his lips. 

“Your breakfast!” His Mama yells after him as he’s storming down the hall. 

“I don’t want it.” He huffs back, walking into his room and kicking the door closed behind him. 

—--------------------------------------------

“I was hoping you’d call.” 

Cheongsan can hear the smile in Suhyeok’s voice, and it immediately eases his stress hearing the Alpha’s voice. Sitting on his desk chair, Cheongsan leans back, a grin stretching his mouth as he replies. 

“Missing me already?” He teases, listening as Suhyeok laughs lightly. 

“Maybe. It’s been a quiet day without you here. Gyeongsu has been particularly despondent about your continued absence.” 

“Get your ass back to school, Cheongsan!” He hears Gyeongsu yell in the background before Suhyeok tells him to shut up. 

Laughing, Cheongsan jumps off his desk chair, wincing when pain shoots up his back. He keeps forgetting about his tender bum. 

“Well, tell him I’ll see him tomorrow. What’s for lunch today?” Cheongsan inquires, walking up to his window to stare out at the grey buildings of Hyosan, the sky blue and huge above him. 

“Well…we’ve got radish kimchi, bibimbap, some white rice, seasoned spinach, and kiwifruit!” Suhyeok enthuses in his ear, Cheongsan easily picturing the tray laid out before him.

“Mmm, sounds delicious,” He replies, raising a hand to his stomach when it growls pointedly.

Suhyeok hums in reply before there’s a shuffling sound in Cheongsan’s ear next, followed by who he thinks is Namra asking Suhyeok where he’s going. 

A few seconds later, the background noise fades to a quiet static, Suhyeok’s breathing the only sound in his ear before the Alpha speaks. His boyfriend has obviously moved to somewhere more private. If Cheongsan had to guess, he’d say a deserted corridor. 

“How’re you feeling today?” Suhyeok asks, the concern evident in his voice. 

Watching two birds swoop and dive around one another in the sky before him, Cheongsan knows what his boyfriend is pointedly asking about. 

“Still sore,” He admits, shrugging uselessly, “But I suppose that’s to be expected.” 

“Yeah, will probably take you a few days to heal up,” Suhyeok agrees, his voice still low in Cheongsan’s ears. “Sorry about sneaking out last night.” 

Cheongsan takes a deep breath, not liking at all that Suhyeok feels the need to apologise. “Hyeok, it’s fine. I’m sorry you felt you had to sneak out.” Cheongsan sighs, turning to lean back against the window sill. 

“That’s alright. I can understand where your Mama is coming from, ‘San.” 

Pinching his mouth, Cheongsan doesn’t want to agree but unfortunately, he too, can somewhat see where she’s coming from. “Yeah, I suppose.” He begrudgingly admits, eyeing his bedroom door, knowing his Mama isn’t far beyond it. 

If his Mama is not comfortable with him and Suhyeok getting… familiar with each other under her roof then Cheongsan is just gonna have to accept and respect it. 

She doesn’t need to know about the mess they’d made of each other only a few days ago. 

“Oh. Did you hear from your doctor yet?” Suhyeok quickly asks, his tone suggesting he just remembered. 

“No, not yet,” Cheongsan replies, he’s been busy trying to forget about it all morning. “It’s only lunchtime though, I’m not worried.” He admits, trying not to think too hard about his results lest his anxiety about his health plague him all day. 

“I’m sure she’ll call soon and I’m sure, she’ll give you a clean bill of health.”

“Here’s hoping.” Cheongsan quips, crossing his socked feet where he’s stood. 

“How about you come over to mine later? I think it’s about time I have you over, seems only fair.” Suhyeok offers, the smile in his voice bringing a matching one to Cheongsan’s face. 

“Sure,” He replies easily, very much liking the idea of being in the Alpha’s huge bedroom again. “If my Mama will drive me though. It’s a bit far.”

“Don’t worry about that, ‘Sannie. I can swing around and pick you up on my drive home from school.” 

Snorting, Cheongsan grins up at the ceiling. “You mean, your fancy driver can swing around and pick me up?” He teases, smiling wider when Suhyeok’s embarrassed laugh sounds in his ear. 

“Yeah, whatever,” The Alpha mumbles, Cheongsan’s teasing having the desired effect. 

“Spoiled little rich boy.” He continues, laughing down the phone. 

“Cheongsan, baby, you are so gonna regret that,” Suhyeok playfully warns down the phone.

Laughing, feeling ten times better than before he called his boyfriend, Cheongsan glances at the clock on his wall, noticing disappointingly that Suhyeok doesn’t have much time left for his lunch. 

“Go enjoy your lunch,” He smiles down the phone, already missing the Alpha, “I’ll see you in a few hours.” 

“Hmm, that you will. Bye, ‘Sannie.” 

“Bye,” Cheongsan breathes, pulling the phone away to hang up. 

Throwing it onto his mattress, Cheongsan sighs softly, deciding to hold on to the warmth inspired by Suhyeok in his chest rather than any anxiety he has about this call from his Doc. Walking back to his desk, he drops down onto the chair, forgetting again about his injury, a hiss of pain leaving him. 

“Fuck, that hurt.” 

His Mama pushes the door open at the same time, her eyebrows shooting up her forehead, having caught his explicit language. 

“Sorry,” He quickly says, before the tray in her hands catches his attention. 

The food sitting across its surface as she places it on his desk immediately sends gratitude through him 

“Thanks, Mama.” He sighs, his hunger gnawing at him all morning from skipping breakfast.

“You’re welcome.” She quietly replies, before turning to go. 

“I might be…” Cheongsan starts, about to tell her he might be hanging out at Suhyeok’s later before he thinks better of it. “I might be going to the Mall later with Onjo,” He finishes, figuring his Mama has forced him to lie and swallowing down the guilt that rises in his throat. 

She blinks back at him from the doorway, before she nods with a small smile. “Have fun.” With that she leaves, his door clicking closed behind her. 

Relaxing against his chair with a sigh, the food in front of him catches his attention again and with his ravenous appetite returning with a vengeance he sits up to dig in. 

—--------------------------------------------

After his lunch, Cheongsan props his butt on the hot water bottle again and lays down to scroll through his social media feed, hoping it’ll speed along his recovery. 

He’s still waiting to hear from his Doctor, he thought by now she would’ve rang to give him his results but he knows she must be a busy woman so he’s giving her some leeway. 

He’s anxious about it. He can’t lie to himself and say he isn’t. He’s getting ever closer to his next heat and if he finds out today that something is wrong with him, well, he’ll crawl under his duvet, pull it over his head and block the world out for…he doesn’t know how long. 

He keeps imagining his Doctor telling him down the phone that he’s sterile, infertile, barren. Useless. He keeps hearing her voice in his head saying the words and the panic he feels press down on his chest doesn’t make sense to him. Why would he care if he were infertile? He’s never getting pregnant, so why does the mere idea of being unable to, make horror still his lungs in his chest? 

Maybe he just doesn’t want the choice of that to be taken from him. His body is his own and if he found out today that no, he can’t have children regardless of whether he wants them or not, it’d hurt, that’s for sure. 

He and Suhyeok still haven’t talked about it either. Babies, kids, all that jazz. He loves Suhyeok. A small smile pulls at his lips even thinking about the Alpha but Cheongsan worries how his boyfriend will react to the news he doesn’t plan on having children. Not the old-fashioned way anyhow. 

This transition from friends to boyfriends is still relatively new for them, and yet already Cheongsan can only ever picture himself with Suhyeok. It makes him anxious to admit even in his head but Cheongsan wants to spend his life with Suhyeok. 

If he tells Suhyeok that he doesn’t want children only for the Alpha to turn around and say that he, in fact, does, Cheongsan doesn’t know what he’ll do or what they’ll do. Would that be it then? Would they be unable to move past that obstacle and realise there’s no future for them together? 

Even imagining that happening makes Cheongsan’s heart sink like a stone in his chest. 

Maybe they could foster or adopt? That way, Cheongsan would remain pregnancy-free and they can still have those experiences of supporting and guiding a young person through the early stages of life. Suhyeok may not want that though. He may want a biological child, for numerous reasons. 

Sighing, Cheongsan drops his phone to the bedsheets, staring up at his ceiling as these fears plague his mind. 

He nearly wishes he were in school, at least he wouldn’t have time to agonise over thoughts like these if he were busy in class. 

Tomorrow is Friday and he plans on going in, for no reason other than to keep himself busy and to see his friends.

—------------------------------------------------------

He startles awake sometime later to his Mama standing over him, Cheongsan not having meant to fall asleep. Staring up at her, he’s confused as to why she’s disturbing his nap until her words register in his brain and he sees the phone in her hand. 

“Your doctor’s on the phone,” She repeats, offering the small device to him. 

He goes from half-awake and confused to instantly anxious and alert, sitting up in bed to take the phone from his Mama. As he raises it to his ear, his mother walks out of the room, muttering under her breath. 

“I swear that boy is more house cat than anything else. All he does is eat and sleep.” 

Frowning at his mother's retreating form, Cheongsan blinks when a voice sounds in his ear. 

“Cheongsan?” 

“Uh, yes. Hi.” He greets his doctor, swallowing nervously. 

“Hi, young man, how are you?”

“Uh, fine. All good.” He nods, the hand unoccupied by the phone clenching and unclenching in the sheets beneath him. 

“A little tender, I’d imagine?” She further asks, a knowing tone in her voice.

“Uh, yes but I’m using the hot water bottle and painkillers as you recommended and it’s already feeling better.” 

“Good man, give it a few days and you’ll be right as rain,” She promises before she continues “Listen, I’ve reviewed your blood work, I’ve gone over the footage from the internal examination and it’s as I suspected…” 

Cheongsan’s heart squeezes in his chest as he waits for her to continue, his hand gripping the sheets so tight it hurts. 

“...you’re a perfectly healthy male Omega if there ever was one.” 

Sighing in relief, Cheongsan falls back against his bed, letting the sheets clamped in his hand go to massage his forehead as his blood pressure begins to return to normal. 

“Thank god.” 

“Indeed.” His doctor replies, her tone slightly amused. “Regarding your heat, I know you were disappointed to hear you might just have to cycle through them a few times before they mellow out but I still think that’s the best course of action, Cheongsan.” 

“Right, yeah.” He replies, nearly having forgotten that was the whole reason he went for the internal examination to begin with. “There’s no pill I could take or anything to calm them?” 

“Well, there is something but I know you weren’t very receptive to the idea the last time you were in my office.” 

Frowning up at the ceiling, Cheongsan recalls that appointment but no such recommendation comes to mind. 

“What is it?”

“It’s a well-known fact that Alpha semen helps abate Omega heat,” She says, and mortification immediately fills Cheongsan, “At least for a few hours. The hormones within Alpha ejaculate satisfy that demand within an Omega’s body.” 

“Oh,” He replies simply. “I know what you’re suggesting but me and Suhyeok, uh, we’re not quite there yet.” He mumbles, rubbing his eye of crusty sleep.

“I understand but I’m afraid that’s the only remedy I know of. Well, besides a hysterectomy”

“I guess…I’ll just cycle through them then,” Cheongsan sighs, dread in his bones at the mere idea.

“They should get easier with time. Sorry, I couldn’t be of more help.” She replies, not exactly sounding very sorry. 

“No, that’s– you’ve been a great help.” Cheongsan awkwardly replies, frowning in embarrassment.

“Glad to hear it!” His doctor chirps in his ear, “Well, Cheongsan, unless you have anything further to ask me, I best get back.” 

“Uh, no, I think that’s all. Thank you, Doctor. For everything.” 

“You’re very welcome, young man,” She responds brightly, “Do tell your handsome Alpha I said hello and don’t hesitate to book in to see me in the future should you feel the need to.” 

“I’ll tell him and I promise to,” Cheongsan awkwardly replies, cringing at himself, “Uh, bye then.” 

“Goodbye, Cheongsan.” She replies, laughter in her voice before the call is dropped in his ear. 

Sitting up, Cheongsan places his Mama’s phone on his bedside table, his mind racing. 

He’s perfectly healthy.

His heats are unbelievably, awfully intense, and he’s dreading the next one but he’s perfectly healthy! 

Smiling, he jumps up from the bed, planning on getting ready to see Suhyeok after school and giving him the good news. 

He hisses when his backside protests the sudden movement. 

Goddamn, his ass is sore. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

Leaving the elevator of his apartment complex, Cheongsan smiles when he spots Suhyeok out front, standing before the back passenger door of his family’s car. 

Walking out of the lobby, he pockets his phone, his smile widening when he locks eyes with his boyfriend, who sends him a small wave despite only being a short distance away. 

“Hi,” Cheongsan greets, coming to a stop before the Alpha. 

“Cheongsan,” Suhyeok nods, a shyness to his expression that immediately endears Cheongsan. 

“These are for you,” The Alpha says in the next second before his arm swings out from behind his back and before Cheongsan’s eyes, a bouquet of red roses fills his vision. 

Cheongsan is pretty sure his heart stutters in his chest, his eyebrows jumping up his forehead as surprise washes through him.

“I know you had an anxious day, an anxious few days really, so I thought you deserved these,” Suhyeok continues, smiling bashfully as he glances from the roses to Cheongsan. 

Swallowing down the emotion crowding his throat suddenly, Cheongsan takes the bouquet carefully, this moment feeling so surreal. No one has ever gotten him roses before. 

Exhaling shakily, he steps forward and kisses Suhyeok hard, before hugging him with one arm, holding the roses by his side to not crush them. 

“It was an anxious day,” Cheongsan says, pulling back to lock gazes with Suhyeok, “But everything’s okay, Suhyeok. I’m perfectly healthy.” 

“I knew you would be,” Suhyeok replies with a grin, nodding slightly. “Didn’t doubt it for a second.” 

Smiling back, Cheongsan lifts the roses back up to view them, taking in the deep red colour, the soft curve of the petals and when he raises it to his nose, the beautiful fragrance. 

“They’re called Mister Lincoln roses. The guy in the florist said they’re his most popular,” Suhyeok tells him, swallowing nervously, “Uh, do you like them?” 

“No one’s ever gotten me roses before.” Cheongsan feels the need to admit, for Suhyeok to understand how special this is for him. 

“Is it… should I have gone with chocolates instead?” Suhyeok replies, his eyes filling quickly with regret. 

“No, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan is quick to reply, and for good measure, he reaches up and pecks a kiss on his boyfriend's lips, “I love them.” He reassures, lifting them to his nose again. 

“Oh,” Suhyeok breathes, happiness lifting the corners of his lips, “Good,” He nods, looking very pleased with himself all of a sudden. 

Grinning up at the Alpha, Cheongsan’s eyes move to the sleek black car behind him. “Should we get going?”

“Oh, yeah! Here,” Suhyeok replies, stepping back to open the passenger door for him. 

Smiling his thanks, Cheongsan leans down and gets in, scooting across the seat to settle comfortably against the leather. Pulling his seatbelt across his chest, he’s grateful for the closed partition window he can see separating them from the driver. The fact that Suhyeok even has a private driver is still so surreal to him. 

Roses in his lap, he smiles over Suhyeok as he gets in the car himself, pulling the door closed behind him before strapping in.

“You’re too good to me,” Cheongsan laughs slightly, looking from the bouquet to his boyfriend. 

Reaching across, Suhyeok offers him his hand, and without hesitation Cheongsan takes it, holding the roses with the other. 

“Don’t be silly, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok simply says in reply. 

Cheongsan isn’t sure he could fit any more love for Suhyeok in his chest if he tried, and yet when the boy beside him lifts their joined hands to kiss the back of his, he manages, his heart overflowing. Feeling like the luckiest Omega alive.

—------------------------------------------------------------

“Is it the same as you remember it?” Suhyeok asks him as Cheongsan stands in the middle of his massive attic bedroom, the soft, lush carpet cushioning his socked feet. The Alpha smiles over at him from where he’s settling the bouquet, now in a vase, on top of the coffee table before the massive TV and couch.

“It’s bigger than I remember, honestly,” Cheongsan replies, his eyes scanning the entirety of the room. 

There’s something so cosy and warm about the space up here too, the sunlight streaming through the windows in the roof only adding to the pleasant feeling. Suhyeok’s scent in Cheongsan’s nose no doubt helps buoy that feeling, the room full of it. 

Walking over to Suhyeok’s desk, Cheongsan eyes the contents across its large surface, the numerous books, some he recognises are for school assignments, having them at home himself, whilst others he assumes are simply for Suhyeok’s enjoyment. 

His computer setup is impressive, Cheongsan knowing just by looking at the hunky, sleek machine under the desk that it cost a fortune.

Depositing himself in the large leather chair, Cheongsan spins to face Suhyeok, who’s been watching him thus far. He pointedly chooses to ignore the pain it causes his ass when he drops too hard into the seat. 

“I think I could get used to spending time up here,” He grins, swivelling from side to side.

Suhyeok grins back in response, the Alpha walking over to his large dresser on the far left wall next to his bed. “Good, 'cause I hope to see more of you up here.” The Alpha replies, sincerity in his eyes. 

Insides lighting up with happiness, Cheongsan nods once, spinning back around and picking up a random book Suhyeok seems to have started reading, if the bookmark slotted between pages is any indication. Scanning the cover, he flips the book in his hands, reading the synopsis at the back.

A horror book. Yikes. 

Picking up another book, Cheongsan warily eyes this one too, the front cover not suggesting anything other than horror either. Reading the back of this one, this lovely little tale about…a monster? trapped in a museum?…immediately makes him snort in humoured exasperation. He spins around, a bewildered question for Suhyeok on his tongue. 

“What is it with you and the horror genre, you–” 

His words trail to stop when he turns fully and notices what Suhyeok is doing. 

The Alpha is naked down to his briefs, standing before his dresser with his back to Cheongsan as he changes out of his uniform. So much of his tan skin is on display to Cheongsan’s eyes that his mouth immediately goes dry. Oh, boy.

“What?” Suhyeok asks over his shoulder, smiling in amusement at Cheongsan.

Those white briefs hugging Suhyeok’s round little ass is all Cheongsan can see. 

Turning fully to further raise an inquisitive eyebrow at him, the Alpha pulls a pair of grey shorts on then, Cheongsan noting his uniform neatly folded atop his dresser. It makes sense that Suhyeok would want to change out of his uniform and into something more comfortable when he came home and yet Cheongsan is still surprised to see his boyfriend with so little on. 

The way his junk moves in his underwear when he lifts a leg immediately makes Cheongsan blush, the skin of his face burning.

“Uh, never mind.” 

When Suhyeok pulls a shirt up over his head next, Cheongsan swallows when the muscles in Suhyeok’s torso flex in full view, the Alpha’s dark nipples and hairy armpits stealing his attention before they’re hidden beneath white cotton. 

Dressed now, and seemingly none the wiser to the effect Suhyeok is having on him, Cheongsan eyes up the Alpha as he crosses the room to pick up the book lying limp in Cheongsan’s hand. 

“This is a classic, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok says down to him, throwing the book back on the pile on his desk, “Even you should read it, regardless of your aversion to horror.” 

Shifting in the leather seat, Cheongsan pulls himself upwards to sit up straight, “I’m not averse to horror. I’ve just got an overactive imagination.” 

“Oh, is that all it is?” Suhyeok replies, his hands gripping the wooden arms of the chair to lean down into Cheongsan’s personal space, a teasing smirk on his mouth, “I just thought you were a little wuss .” 

His mouth dropping open in outrage, Cheongsan jabs Suhyeok in the belly, causing the other boy to exhale sharply in surprise, “I’m not a wuss, you dick!” 

Laughing under his breath, Suhyeok rubs his belly before exaggerated shock rises on his face. “You’ve become so violent lately, ‘San,” He breathes, scanning Choengsan up and down, scandalised. “You’ve got hands, Omega. Especially for someone...who’s such a wuss!” 

Cheongsan is out of the chair a second after the words leave the Alpha’s mouth and Suhyeok cackles as he runs away from him, around the couch on the opposite side of the room, Cheongsan fast pursuing him. 

Suhyeok may be bigger than him, and he may be stronger but Cheongsan has always been faster and it isn’t long till he’s caught up with his boyfriend. 

As Suhyeok attempts to run up onto his massive bed, Cheongsan jumps onto the Alpha’s shoulders, off-balancing them both enough to send them careening downward. Twisting in mid-air, Cheongsan lands on the mattress on his back with a thump, Suhyeok landing halfway on top of him, his shoulders against Cheongsan’s left side. 

The sudden stillness in the room is filled solely with their laboured breathing, Cheongsan feeling the ache of mild pain the exertion caused him. Despite the ache, when he glances down to already find Suhyeok looking up at him, it’s not a second later that they both burst out laughing. 

Suhyeok turns and rights himself, still laughing as he crawls up Cheongsan’s torso. 

Full lips halt the amusement spilling out of Cheongsan as Suhyeok suddenly kisses him hard. 

Recovering from his surprise, Cheongsan kisses back, carding his fingers through the back of Suhyeok’s hair, the silky stands feeling amazing between his fingers as the Alpha devours his mouth. Tilting his head and opening his lips wider, Cheongsan sighs in pleasure when their tongues meet in the middle, Suhyeok shifting above him to slot his legs between Cheongsan’s. 

Things get heated quickly as they continue to make out and it isn’t long before Cheongsan feels a shiver of arousal down his spine, the sensation of Suhyeok suddenly gripping his hair in a tight grip, making his cock twitch in his pants. 

Abruptly breaking the kiss, Suhyeok attacks his neck next, the sucking kisses and gentle nips along Cheongsan’s skin making him moan softly. The passion behind his boyfriend’s actions is taking Cheongsan by surprise but as Suhyeok continues attacking his sensitive neck with his lips and teeth, he can’t say he minds when pleasure tingles across his nerves. 

When the Alpha pulls his hoodie aside to expose the skin between Cheongsan’s neck and shoulder to his ravenous mouth, Cheongsan feels his body’s immediate response to the canines that teasingly scrape across his flesh. Blood starts filling his cock fast, his groin further relaxing deep inside. He can tell now when that happens–when something further back in his pelvis, suddenly unclenches–he can expect to start leaking slick soon. 

“Suhyeok, wait.” He breathes, pushing a little on the Alpha’s shoulders. 

The Alpha licks him broad-tongued across the junction of his neck and shoulders - Cheongsan not missing the significance of that action right there - before he lifts his head away to gaze down at Cheongsan. 

Gazing back, Cheongsan blinks in surprise at the wide pupils and flushed skin of his boyfriend. The laboured breathing and wild hair. Cheongsan has only ever seen Suhyeok look this aroused when they… made a mess of each other a few days ago.

“Someone’s eager,” he says, reaching up to cup Suhyeok’s very warm cheek. 

Swallowing, Suhyeok nods, even the skin of his forehead looking moist with sweat to Cheongsan’s eyes. 

“Sorry,” The Alpha exhales, looking unsure suddenly. 

“Hey no, it’s fine,” Cheongsan reassures quickly, combing Suhyeok’s hair back along his temples with his fingers. “You just surprised me, that’s all.” He smiles. 

“Guess I… just missed you,” Suhyeok shrugs, returning the small smile. 

His chest filling with warmth, Cheongsan kisses the back of one of the Alpha’s hands before moving to sit up. Suhyeok crawls back to plop down at the end of the mattress, brushing his fingers through his black hair as he exhales hard. 

“Do you wanna order that takeaway now?” Cheongsan asks, folding his legs under himself. 

“Sure, yeah.” Suhyeok nods, still breathless. 

The Alpha doesn’t move though, and Cheongsan tilts his head curiously, bemused when Suhyeok gives him an awkward smile. 

“Just give me a minute,” Suhyeok mumbles, which only confuses Cheongsan further until his boyfriend briefly glances down at his lap before looking away, his face red.

“Oh,” Cheongsan breathes, his eyebrows shooting up his forehead as understanding dawns on him. Thinning his lips out into a straight line, Cheongsan tries to suppress his amusement the best he can. 

“Don’t laugh,” Suhyeok says, eyeing him. 

“I’m not laughing,” Cheongsan replies, fighting for his life to hold his laugh at bay.

“It’ll go down in a minute,” Suhyeok nods out into the room, almost to himself more than Cheongsan.

Okay, then Cheongsan bursts out laughing, falling back against the pillows as he rolls around in hysterics. 

“I don’t know why you’re laughing! You did this to me!” Suhyeok complains, and Cheongsan only laughs harder, tears in his eyes.

Chapter Text

‘...And whose fault's that? If your lot had stopped invading us for five fucking minutes, there'd be a lot less to wade through. English prick…’

Cheongsan rolls into Suhyeok’s side with laughter, feeling the other boy chuckle just as heartedly under him. Locking eyes with Suhyeok, they share a grin, before Cheongsan settles his head back on his boyfriend’s shoulder to continue watching. 

They’d eaten their takeaway not long ago, Cheongsan stuffing his face from both his and Suhyeok’s containers, the other boy protesting halfheartedly about his insatiable appetite. Grinning around a mouth full, Cheongsan could tell Suhyeok still enjoyed taking care of him, the contented glances from the Alpha as he and Cheongsan shared food were a dead giveaway. 

Now, appetite sated, they’re two and a half episodes into their marathon of Derry Girls, Suhyeok’s far more impressive laptop upon the Alpha’s lap as they cuddle on his bed. With Suhyeok’s arm around him, and his firm chest nestled under his head, Cheongsan is very much enjoying his evening.

Suhyeok’s fingers in his hair, relax him further, Cheongsan feeling boneless as the Alpha’s hand moves across his scalp. Sighing softly, he feels the temptation to fall asleep creep into his mind, the steady thrum of Suhyeok’s heart under his ear lulling him into a doze. 

Footsteps outside the bedroom door have him blinking his eyes open, not even having noticed he’d closed them. Tensing all over, Cheongsan stares as the door is abruptly pushed open, and over the laptop’s screen, Suhyeok’s parents walk in. 

Sitting up together, Suhyeok pushes the laptop aside, Cheongsan watching as a frown of annoyance rises on his boyfriend’s face. 

“You guys could knock first, you know,” Suhyeok complains, scowling at his smartly dressed parents. 

The two Alphas have paused just beyond the doorway, peering between their son and Cheongsan. 

“I didn’t know you had Cheongsan over, sweetie,” Mrs Lee breathes, recovering from her surprise a second after Mr Lee, who’s frowning in Cheongsan’s direction. “We just got back from the office.” 

“You should still knock,” Suhyeok replies quietly, an awkwardness stretching between the two boys sitting on the Alpha’s bed and his parents across the room. 

“Right. My Apologies,” Mrs Lee nods, smiling amusedly, “Hello again, Cheongsan.” She greets him, waving a hand. 

“Hello, Mrs Lee, Mr Lee,” Cheongsan replies, quickly standing up alongside the bed to bow respectfully before he awkwardly sits back down. 

Suhyeok gets up off the bed in the next moment too, placing his laptop on his bedside table before crossing his arms across his chest and raising his eyebrows pointedly. 

“Did you guys need something?” 

“Mind your tone, Suhyeok,” Mr Lee snaps back at his son, “We couldn’t have known you had a friend over.” 

“He’s not my friend, Father,” Suhyeok replies slowly, “He’s my boyfriend.” 

Cheongsan blushes slightly, three pairs of eyes turning to him in succession before they look away. 

“Friend, boyfriend, regardless, we couldn’t have known,” Mr Lee continues, his unimpressed features wandering from Cheongsan to Suhyeok, “Your mother and I have an important business dinner tonight. By the smell in here, I’m assuming you already ate and don’t want to join us?” 

“No, thank you. I’m good,” Suhyeok nods, walking pointedly over to open one of the windows in the slanted ceiling. 

It does kind of smell like takeaway food in here. 

“Okay, well, we’ll be off then,” Mr Lee finishes, already turning to leave the room. 

Suhyeok’s Mother pauses, smiling between them before she slinks over to her son’s side quickly. 

“No sex without safe sex, Suhyeok,” She whispers to her son, patting him on the arm. 

Cheongsan imagines that was supposed to be quiet enough that he wouldn’t hear it. He very much did, however, hence his crimson face and his eyes staring anywhere but Suhyeok and his Mother. 

“Mama,” Suhyeok growls, his voice full of embarrassment. 

Mrs Lee strolls out of the room, “Have a nice night, boys.” She bids, enjoying embarrassing her son far too much.

The door clicking shut behind her, Cheongsan tugs at a loose thread in Suhyeok’s bed sheet, an awkwardness hanging in the air. When the Alpha sits down on the edge of the bed not far from him, Cheongsan glances up, unsure just how red he’ll find his boyfriend’s face. Suhyeok smiles apologetically over, his cheeks pretty red. 

“Sorry,” The Alpha mumbles, unable to hold Cheongsan’s gaze for long.

Nodding, Cheongsan smiles, hoping to relieve some of that awkwardness, “It’s okay, Suhyeok.” 

With his legs under him, Suhyeok lifts himself into the air to crash down onto the bed beside Cheongsan. Unable to suppress a grin, Cheongsan peers down at his boyfriend, seeing the embarrassment lingering on his handsome features. 

“It’s good to know it’s not just my parents who behave like that,” Cheongsan admits, laughing lightly. 

Suhyeok smiles up at him, his white cotton shirt having ridden up a little to reveal a strip of tan skin along his belly, his grey shorts slipping down his bent legs, long thick thighs on full display to Cheongsan.  

“The day after my first rut ended, I came home from school to a box of condoms on my desk.” Suhyeok cringes, his nose scrunching up adorably. 

Spluttering, Cheongsan laughs hard, relating hard to Suhyeok’s mortification. “My Mama’s first concern after my heat was contraceptives too.” 

“So embarrassing,” Suhyeok declares, shaking his head minutely.

Cheongsan agrees completely, and a look of understanding passes between them.

“God, can you imagine having a baby though? I can barely take care of myself, I can’t even imagine the stress of raising a tiny human.” Suhyeok replies, his face turned over in tension even just contemplating it. 

“The part that stresses me out more is the pregnancy bit,” Cheongsan admits nervously, a shiver of revulsion running up through him, “I can’t imagine anything more unpleasant.” 

Suhyeok hums quietly at that, his eyes turning to rake up and down Cheongsan’s body. 

Observing the Alpha, seeing the way his eyes practically melt in his head, Cheongsan can tell his boyfriend is picturing it and liking the image his mind has conjured. 

“Don’t,” Cheongsan warns, Suhyeok’s gaze snapping up to meet his and away from his skinny frame. 

“What?” Suhyeok laughs, acting none the wiser. 

“You’re such a fucking Alpha,” Cheongsan complains, a small begrudging smile on his lips. 

“I’m not doing anything!” Suhyeok continues, laughing when Cheongsan just keeps glaring down at him. 

“Bullshit,” Cheongsan responds, crossing his arms, “You were totally picturing me all fat and round with your baby.” 

By the way Suhyeok’s face reddens, and guilt rises in his eyes, Cheongsan knows he’s one hundred per cent right. 

“You’d look so adorable, Cheongsan.” 

“Such a typical Alpha,” Cheongsan bemoans, turning to scoot off the bed, maybe to point down at the Alpha and chastise him further but he barely gets his socked feet on the carpet before a strong arm wraps around his waist and he’s pulled backwards. 

Falling on his back across the bed, he blinks up at Suhyeok above him, the Alpha grinning mischievously, 

“You’re so sensitive,” Suhyeok muses, descending on Cheongsan to nose at his neck. 

Mouth dropping open in offence, Cheongsan gapes at the Alpha currently nuzzling him. 

“Sensitive?!” He yelps, squirming under his boyfriend, “I’ll show you sensitive, asshole.” 

He delivers a pointed jab of his finger to Suhyeok’s belly, a shocked laugh ripping out of the Alpha giving Cheongsan the opportunity he needs to grip his boyfriend and flip him onto his back, coming to straddle his narrow hips, holding his arms atop his head by the wrists. 

Grinning at each other, Cheongsan’s eyes flick to those full lips and not able to deny himself, he narrows the space between them, kissing Suhyeok hard. 

Humming happily, Suhyeok kisses back, a familiar rhythm starting up between them, having done this enough times now. Cheongsan lets go of Suhyeok’s wrists to cradle his boyfriend’s jaw, tilting his face and opening his mouth wider to deepen the kiss. 

Tongue’s meeting in the middle, Cheongsan shivers in pleasure, the intimacy of kissing like this still so new to him and never failing to send a thrill through his core. 

Suhyeok’s strong arms wrap around him next, one coming up to slide into his hair whilst the other holds him steady by the small of his back. Breaking the kiss slightly, Cheongsan beams down at his boyfriend before changing the angle, rubbing his nose over Suhyeok’s briefly before plunging back in. Kissing is so wet and warm and incredibly messy in a way that should almost be gross but totally isn’t. 

Nibbling on Suhyeok’s bottom lip, the Alpha sighs, Cheongsan noting the way his boyfriend’s breathing picks up in his chest, how his heart pulses in his neck against the skin of Cheongsan’s palm when he slides his hand down. 

Getting lost in the sensations and connection between them, pain pulls him away from enjoying the moment when Suhyeok’s hand suddenly grips his ass, squeezing a cheek so hard it sends sharp hurt up Cheongsan’s nerves from his sore hole. 

Hissing, he pulls back, cringing when the dull throb fires through him in waves. 

Suhyeok realises instantly what he’s done, and with a gasp, the Alpha yanks his hand away.

 “Cheongsan! I’m so sorry! I completely forgot!”

Nodding, Cheongsan figured as much, knowing Suhyeok wouldn’t intentionally hurt him. “It’s okay, I kinda forgot too, honestly.”

“I’m really sorry, I just got so caught up in the moment, I didn’t even think,” Suhyeok continues, his eyes all wide and full of guilt. 

“It’s okay, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan reassures, knocking their foreheads together, “Really. The pain is already fading.” 

The Alpha exhales hard, guilt-stricken still but not looking so alarmed anymore. A warm pair of hands rub up and down Cheongsan’s back in a caress, the touch washing away any residual hurt.

Carefully, Cheongsan drops down on his side next to his boyfriend, aware again of his tender bum. Snuggling into Suhyeok, he kisses the Alpha on the cheek, wanting to be sure Suhyeok doesn’t harbour too much guilt for a simple accident. 

“I thought it’d feel a lot better by now, honestly.” Cheongsan sighs, idly running the pads of his fingers over Suhyeok’s Adam’s apple. 

Humming, Suhyeok wraps an arm around him, squeezing softly. “Do you need some painkillers? I have some paracetamol lying around somewhere.” The Alpha offers quietly. 

“Nah, I’m okay. It only hurts when I move too fast, or unruly Alphas get too handsy.” He grins, nipping at Suhyeok’s jawline. 

"Sannie, you’re not helping me feel any better right now.” Suhyeok moans, running a hand through his hair. 

Laughing lightly, Cheongsan pecks him on the cheek again, just to clarify he’s not actually upset with the Alpha. 

Swallowing, he snuggles back into Suhyeok’s hold, his mind thinking on the condition of his injured rear. He is worried about it. He has all these terrible images running through his mind of permanent damage, like what if he’s torn down there? Or what if he’s injured somewhere really deep he can’t obviously tell? 

He goes so still and quiet in his anxious imaginings that Suhyeok seems to notice, the Alpha’s face turning to him. “...Cheongsan? You okay?” 

Blinking out of the horror show flashing through his brain, Cheongsan nods, sliding his palm down Suhyeok’s pec. 

“You know, I can tell when something’s bothering you. What’s going on in that little mind of yours?” Suhyeok asks quietly, nudging him softly with his chin. 

“Little mind, huh?” Cheongsan deadpans, lifting his head to give Suhyeok an unimpressed look. 

“Big mind, then. Regardless, what is it?” Suhyeok asks, watching him closely. 

Dropping his chin on the Alpha’s chest, Cheongsan debates voicing his fears. With the barrage of embarrassment it will cause him, he could just lie and brush Suhyeok off, pretend everything’s a-ok. 

Glancing up from the skin of his boyfriend’s neck to his concerned eyes, Cheongsan sighs, the knowledge that Suhyeok has never mocked or ridiculed him in a vulnerable moment enough to convince him to be honest. 

“What if… what if she like damaged me down there? What if I’m not healing correctly ‘cause I’m…torn or something?” He asks anxiously, pinching his mouth in worry. 

Frowning, Suhyeok’s eyes grow distant for a moment as he thinks before he sighs heavily, “She let you go home without a fuss, ‘Sannie. If anything had gone wrong during the examination, she would’ve noticed. I mean, she was all up in your business during it.” 

Humming, Cheongsan ponders that, idly swaying his head from side to side from the point of his chin on Suhyeok’s chest. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. I’m just being anxious and overthinking.” He replies, dropping his cheek back on Suhyeok. 

He’s fine. His asshole is fine. He just needs to chill out, stop overthinking it and give his body a few days to heal up. In all honesty, it just feels like a bruise, but a bruise around the ring of his hole, which is an incredibly odd pain to have. It doesn’t even hurt unless he puts real pressure on it, he’d showered this morning and his body had only reacted with interest when he’d run the pads of his fingers over his entrance.

It’s fine. Totally fine.

“If you want…I could take a look for you?”

Eyes widening, Cheongsan raises his head back up on his chin, staring at Suhyeok. His boyfriend’s face is cautious and slightly anxious but there’s no amusement in his eyes or the shape of his mouth.

“Are you fucking with me?” Cheongsan questions, glaring suspiciously. 

Shaking his head, Suhyeok raises his hand, palm out. “Scouts honour.” 

“How do I know you were even a boy scout?” 

“I can pull out the family photo album if you’d like,” Suhyeok grins, his palm still out. 

Contemplating it, Cheongsan eyes Suhyeok seriously, the idea of having his boyfriend’s gaze in his most private place making his heart pick up speed in his chest. He knows he can trust the Alpha, in more ways than one but Cheongsan isn’t sure he could handle the humiliation. 

“That’s so humiliating,” He laughs awkwardly, dropping his face into the space between Suhyeok’s chest and arm. 

“‘Sannie,” Suhyeok begins, slowly, “I’m not being a dick but yesterday, I quite literally saw your hole in ways I never expected to.” 

Raising his head, Cheongsan gapes at his boyfriend, tempted to smack him upside the head. 

“Suhyeok!” 

Shrugging, Suhyeok gives him a small smile, unperturbed. 

Sighing hard, Cheongsan decides on the matter in that moment, nervous energy firing up through him. 

“Um, how should we do this?” He asks, his throat clicking when he swallows hard. 

“Just take your pants and briefs off and pull your legs up to your chest, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok instructs, sitting up, as Cheongsan rolls onto his back. 

The unflappable manner in which Suhyeok is behaving takes Cheongsan by surprise but watching him closely, he can see the blush high on the Alpha’s cheeks, and the way his breathing is a little too intentional. He’s nervous about this too and it calms something in Cheongsan. 

His boyfriend kneels beside him, waiting patiently for Cheongsan to undress. 

Biting in his bottom lip hard, Cheongsan slips his thumbs under both his sweatpants and briefs, unintentionally holding Suhyeok’s gaze as he slides them down his legs, baring himself to the air so suddenly it makes his pulse throb in his neck. 

Holy shit, he has his cock out in front of Suhyeok.

Swallowing, Cheongsan breaks eye contact with his boyfriend to sit up slightly, slipping his clothes down his legs enough till he can tug them off, dropping onto his back again and discarding his sweats and briefs off the side of the bed. 

Turning his gaze back to the Alpha, Cheongsan does not miss the way Suhyeok is eyeing his junk before they lock eyes again. His cock lays flaccid against his hip, and Cheongsan is too embarrassed to break eye contact and look down at it. As if acknowledging he’s bare to Suhyeok’s eyes will make it too real. 

He’s already struggling to breathe calmly, his heart racing in his chest. 

“Um, you’ll have to lift your legs, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok says quietly, his eyes moving between Cheongsan and his legs lying flat on the bed. 

“Right,” Cheongsan replies, his voice shaky. 

Unable to keep up the eye contact for this next part, Cheongsan stares up at the ceiling as he bends his knees, before pulling them upwards. Reaching down, he grips his legs under his thighs and pulls, baring himself completely to his boyfriend as the cool air arrives at his crack. 

Settling his knees on his chest, Cheongsan breathes carefully through his mouth, tensing only slightly when Suhyeok moves, the bed dipping under the Alpha’s knees as he positions himself between Cheongsan’s spread legs. 

“I’m just gonna…” Suhyeok murmurs shakily and in the next second Cheongsan feels the Alpha’s hands on his inner thighs, his boyfriend using them to balance as he lowers his head to look. 

Holy shit, Cheongsan is either about to pass out or pass away completely. 

Face burning, Cheongsan eyes the white ceiling as Suhyeok inspects him, the stillness in the room heavy with tension. 

When the Alpha’s exhales ghost over his crack, Cheongsan gasps quietly, immediately biting into his bottom lip to silence himself. 

This is so like that dream he had, where Suhyeok had him spread his legs like this and then proceed to…

His cock twitches in interest in the next second, and Cheongsan cringes, feeling his blood rushing south whilst equal amounts of it rushes to the skin of his face. 

“You look fine, honestly, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok says loudly, sounding perfectly normal and unaffected in comparison to Cheongsan who’s about to combust. 

Cheongsan’s eyes go wide when one of the Alpha’s hands moves to gently part his cheeks wider.

“Maybe a little red but no tears or anything truly to worry about.” Suhyeok continues, his tone so casual as if he’s inspecting a cut on Cheongsan’s finger and not his actual asshole. 

The more the Alpha speaks, the more his exhalations dance across Cheongsan’s crack, the proximity of Suhyeok’s face to his entrance the most intimate thing he’s ever experienced. 

His cock is hard as a rock against his belly, Cheongsan doesn’t know how the Alpha hasn’t noticed yet, it’s the only thing Cheongsan can notice. 

“Honestly, it’s kinda cute,” Suhyeok laughs airly, the puffs of air right over Cheongsan’s hole, his voice fond, “Is it weird I think your hole is cute? It’s so tiny and rosy pink.” 

Cheongsan and Suhyeok gasp in unison when he starts leaking slick, the Alpha’s grip on his thighs going tight, a pregnant pause so intense surrounding them that Cheongsan thinks his heart may stop in his chest. 

“Oh, my god,” Suhyeok breathes, an unreadable note in his voice. 

Cringing, Cheongsan drops his legs to either side of the Alpha, his ass cheeks meeting in the middle to instantly get wet with slick. Throwing both his elbows up, he covers his humiliated face with his arms, wishing the mattress would open up and swallow him whole. 

“‘Sorry,” He mumbles into his arms, the best he can manage as he drowns in mortification. 

Suhyeok had been so kind and caring, offering to check he wasn’t seriously hurt and Cheongsan couldn’t control his horny brain for five minutes. He got hard so quick he made himself dizzy and that must be a record time for him producing slick. What a little Omega slut he is, he should just throw himself out the window-– 

A soft kiss on his knee pulls him out of his spiral of self-loathing, a wet tongue sliding out to taste the skin there. Peeking out behind his arms, Cheongsan warily glances down, his eyes widening at the sight before him. 

Suhyeok gazes up at him, continuing to kiss along the skin of Cheongsan’s left knee before his mouth moves the right knee, the soft caress of his tongue to the skin there making a shiver race up Cheongsan. The Alpha’s pupils are blown wide, a flush high on his cheeks as he nuzzles his skin. 

“Do you want me to stop, ‘Sannie? Just say the word and I’ll stop. Or would you like me to continue?” Suhyeok asks quietly, watching him intently. 

Stomach squirming, Cheongsan chews on his lip, not sure he can voice what he wants, not sure if he has the nerve. Lowering his arms, he grasps the sheets under him, an intense conflict inside him.

“I want this, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok continues, crawling upwards till they’re face to face, pecking him on the lips before pulling back to lock eyes with him, “If you don’t, we’ll stop here and go back to watching Netflix. No big deal.” 

Face burning, Cheongsan looks away, down his body, to where Suhyeok’s kneeling between his spread legs, his cock still hard and now wet at the tip. 

“I want you.” 

The words slip past his lips in a single exhalation, looking up to hold the Alpha’s gaze, his heart hammering so hard in his chest it feels like it might burst. 

Exhaling softly, Suhyeok descends to kiss him hard, quickly ravaging Cheongsan’s mouth with his tongue before drawing back. “If I do anything you don’t like, you tell me to stop, okay? Anything at all, baby.” 

Nodding, Cheongsan’s breath stutters in his lungs when Suhyeok crawls down his body again, the anticipation mounting in him the most thrilling sensation.

He can’t look down. If he looks down, he thinks he might cum, then and there, from just the image of Suhyeok’s face so close to his hard cock. 

A gasp rips out of his mouth when Suhyeok’s exhalation washes over his cock, the knowledge he’s not going to last long a sure thing in Cheongsan. 

“I’ve got a lot to play with down here, don’t I?” Suhyeok says softly, humour in his tone. 

“Did you expect me to be small?” Cheongsan gets out in a rush, knowing the rumour regarding Omegas. 

“Maybe,” Suhyeok admits, and Cheongsan appreciates the honesty. “But I’m happy you’re not.” 

With that, Cheongsan tenses all over when a wet tongue slides up his cock, Suhyeok licking him from the base all the way up to the head. The moan that stutters past his lips is a broken small thing, the tension in him freezing his lungs in his chest as his back bows upward off the bed. 

Suhyeok sucks his cockhead into his mouth, the swirl of Alpha’s tongue around his glands so intense, Cheongsan drops the sheets in his hands to grip his boyfriend’s hair tight, holding on for dear life. 

Suhyeok is hesitant in sucking him down further, the inexperience of the Alpha showing up in his cautious progression of taking Cheongsan deeper but he barely notices. The smooth, wet and warm glide of his boyfriend’s lips down even half his length makes Cheongsan moan so loudly he can’t believe the sounds are spilling from him. 

Suhyeok hums around him in response, and glancing down, Cheongsan locks eyes with the Alpha, swallowing thickly at the sight of his boyfriend’s mouth around his cock. 

He’s gonna cum so prematurely, he’s about to embarrass himself. 

Suhyeok actually has the audacity to wink at him, before the Alpha focuses back on sucking him deeper, the repeated slide of his plush mouth over Cheongsan’s cockhead on every upward drag eliciting little gasping moans from him. 

“Oh, my god,” Cheongsan breathes closing his eyes as his head falls back against the mattress, Suhyeok working him over, his entire body lighting up in pleasure. 

Suhyeok gags, Cheongsan’s eyes popping open when he feels his cockhead hit the back of the Alpha’s throat. He’s about to tell Suhyeok to take it easy, when upon glancing down, he pauses at the look of sheer determination that rises on his boyfriend’s face. 

Suhyeok goes for it then, forcing Cheongsan’s cock deep into his mouth, so deep it slides into his throat. 

Cheongsan’s grip on the Alpha’s hair must be painful but when Suhyeok’s lips slide the final inch down till his nose nestles into his pubic hair, it’s only the grip in his boyfriend’s hair keeping him ground enough not to explode in his mouth. 

Suhyeok holds himself like that for a few seconds, Cheongsan whimpering at the feel of the Alpha swallowing around him before he pulls up and off fast, gasping when his mouth pops free. 

“Fuck,” Cheongsan utters, nearly delirious with arousal as he stares down at his boyfriend, the Alpha’s mouth, glistening wet, the sparkling tears in his eyes; it’s only the most erotic thing he’s ever witnessed. 

“That’s not easy,” Suhyeok laughs breathlessly, and Cheongsan doesn’t need clarification on what he’s talking about.

Swallowing visibly, Suhyeok breaks eye contact, his gaze moving back down to Cheongsan’s groin, the Alpha pecking a kiss on his cock before his eyes flicker lower. 

“I can smell your slick, Cheongsan,”  The Alpha exhales, his voice wrecked, “I know you’re sore but can I taste you? Please?” He asks, the lust in his eyes locked on to Cheongsan. “The scent is driving me insane, baby.” 

Running his fingers through Suhyeok’s sweaty hair, pushing it off his forehead, Cheongsan nods, far past the point of modesty now. 

He wants Suhyeok’s tongue up his ass more than anything in the world right then. 

Suhyeok moves slowly, his hands creeping under Cheongsan’s thighs, breaking eye contact as he gently lifts them. Reaching out Cheongsan takes them under the knee, holding himself open for his boyfriend. 

Spread for the Alpha for the second time in as many minutes, the energy between them this time is far different. The awkwardness and embarrassment gone and in their place exists only arousal and unrelenting desire. 

Suhyeok stares down at Cheongsan’s hole, the Alpha’s bottom lip trapped between his teeth as he wantonly takes in his boyfriend spread out for him. 

“Don’t hate me for telling you this,” Suhyeok murmurs, the Alpha only briefly glancing up at Cheongsan before his eyes return south, “But I could never forget how you tasted that day in the boys’ toilets,” He swallows thickly, looking up finally to hold Cheongsan’s eye, “I’ve jerked off so many times just remembering your slick on my tongue.” 

Whether it’s Suhyeok’s confession inspiring his own bravery or just madness induced by raging teenage hormones, Cheongsan doesn’t know but what he does next surprises them both. 

Pulling his thighs up higher, he tilts his hips slightly off the mattress, holding Suhyeok’s gaze as he presents himself wantonly for the Alpha. 

Exhaling shakily, Cheongsan can’t look away as the Alpha lowers himself, Suhyeok’s head coming closer and closer to where he needs that gorgeous mouth. The blowjob has left him soaking between the cheeks, Omega slick escaping him even now in a trail down his crack. 

“Say the word, and I’ll stop, Cheongsan.” 

Closing his eyes, Cheongsan nods, arousal thrumming through him.

When Suhyeok’s tongue makes contact with his tailbone, the wide flat surface of it poising there before it drags upward, Cheongsan’s world narrows down to the sensation of that muscle collecting his slick as it goes. 

The Alpha’s tongue caressing over his hole is so overwhelming, the explosion of pleasure inside him so intense, that words alone could not describe the experience. 

His mouth falls open on a soundless moan as Suhyeok begins eating him out, each broad lick and swirl of that wet muscle across his entrance so mind-numbingly good, that he can barely form thoughts. 

His balls immediately tighten against the base of his cock, his orgasm rising in him fast. Reaching down, he grabs fistfuls of his boyfriend’s hair, glancing down to a sight that threatens to send him over the edge. 

Suhyeok has his eyes closed, his face turned over in pleasure as he eats Cheongsan out, the movements of the Alpha’s head working in tandem with his tongue as he laps happily at the slick freely flowing from him. 

Moaning brokenly, Cheongsan closes his eyes and tries to hold off on his orgasm, not wanting this to end yet. Suhyeok pulls his head away in the next second, Cheongsan looking down to lock gazes with his boyfriend.

Looking happier than a kid on Christmas, Suhyeok smiles up at him, his lower face shining wet with Cheongsan’s slick. 

“I’ve found my happy place,” The Alpha grins, his pink tongue sliding out to do a poor job of cleaning himself up. 

When Suhyeok notices just off breathless and overwhelmed Cheongsan is, his grin widens further, laughing softly, “You okay? Or would you rather I stop?” He teases, wagging his tongue like a dog. 

Looking away and trying to catch his breath, Cheongsan should’ve known his boyfriend would be a freak in bed. He’s feeling very overwhelmed and about two seconds away from shooting his load. 

“‘Sannie?” Suhyeok asks, the delight in his eyes fading as real concern bleeds into his features. “Are you okay? I’m not hurting you, am I?” 

Cheongsan sees the worry light up in Suhyeok’s eyes, so he’s quick to shake his head, not wanting to ruin this. “No, no, quite the opposite,” He breathes, swallowing a few times before continuing, “I’m not gonna last much longer,” He admits with a slightly embarrassed laugh. 

Grinning mischievously, Suhyeok inches his way back down, “Shoot ropes for me, baby boy.” 

Baby boy

Cheongsan’s definitely not gonna last much longer. 

The pleasure resumes roaring through him like it never stopped when Suhyeok gets his face and mouth back where he wants it, Cheongsan moaning loudly with each ministration of that beautiful tongue against his hole. 

Suhyeok moans in response as he eats him out, Cheongsan taking the other boy’s hair back up in his hands as the Alpha drive his face up his crack. His boyfriend shoves his mouth so hard between his legs, Cheongsan slides a little up the bad, Suhyeok taste for him insatiable. 

The Alpha’s tongue pushing inside him is what causes his orgasm to begin to crest, Cheongsan stares up at the ceiling, his mouth open on desperate moans as Suhyeok drives his tongue further and tastes him deeper. 

Tensing all over, his hole clamping down on Suhyeok’s wiggling tongue, Cheongsan’s orgasm explodes inside him, his grip on the Alpha’s hair tight as he squirms on Suhyeok’s face, practically riding his boyfriend’s tongue as he cums. His cock jumps with every shot of cum out of him, his climax so intense, cum hit his chin to collect along the skin of his neck. 

When it fades, Cheongsan goes limp, breathing fast as he loosens his hold on Suhyeok’s hair. His heart is pumping in his chest so hard he can hear it in his ears, his blood only starting to slow now as his cock begins to soften across his tummy. 

Suhyeok’s tongue slipping out of him makes him whimper, his cock jerking a final time with a dribble of cum. Lifting his head completely away, Suhyeok stares down at him, the weight of the Alpha’s gaze heavy on Cheongsan even with his eyes closed, basking in the afterglow. 

Clothing rustles in his ears, and with Suhyeok moving atop him, Cheongsan opens his eyes the same moment the Alpha claims his mouth in a deep kiss. And holy fuck, he can taste himself on his boyfriend’s tongue, the flavour of his slick being shared between them. 

Sliding his arms around the Alpha, Cheongsan’s hands meet the smooth skin of Suhyeok’s lower back and sliding lower, his eyes widen when he grazes the top of his bare ass. 

Breaking the kiss, Cheongsan looks down at a view that immediately makes him suck in a sharp breath. 

Suhyeok’s cock in his hand is an incredible sight as the Alpha jerks himself off over Cheongsan, his fist moving rapidly over his shaft. The size of the member in Suhyeok’s hand makes arousal reignite in Cheongsan, something like awe in his chest for the impressive length and girth hovering above him. 

Sliding his hand poised on Suhyeok’s back lower, Cheongsan grips one of the Alpha’s cheeks tight, encouraging his boyfriend. Suhyeok moans, his eyes heavily lidded, his lips parted as he pants harshly. 

Suhyeok stares down at the entirety of him as he brings himself to orgasm, the Alpha’s eyes moving from Cheongsan’s flushed face down his cum soaked shirt to his spent cock and open legs. Gaze intensifying, Suhyeok’s brown eyes lock onto the skin of Cheongsan’s throat, his head diving down, his wide tongue lapping up Cheongsan’s seed that’s pooled there.

With a grunt, the Alpha starts cumming, Suhyeok biting hard into his bottom lip to silence the sounds erupting from his mouth. 

In awe, Cheongsan stares eyes wide as he is ejaculated on, Suhyeok’s spend coming down with heavy spurts to land all over his cock and balls. 

Watching raptly, Cheongsan’s mind races with how intimately the Alpha is scent-marking him, and just where he’s doing so. Even some of the Alpha’s cum trails down his balls, down his taint to slide across his hole, mixing into his slick there. 

Staring up at the Alpha, Cheongsan can only lie there, amazed, and watch as Suhyeok rides the waves of his orgasm before his boyfriend is finally released from its grip and drops, landing atop Cheongsan, his head wedged next to his, his softening cock against his hip. 

Grunting from the Alpha’s weight, Cheongsan hugs Suhyeok close to him, one arm locking securely around his boyfriend whilst the other slides up through his sweaty hair, listening to the harsh pants in his ear slow and relax. 

Lifting his head, Suhyeok stares down at him, the Alpha’s gaze flicking all over his face. 

“You okay?” Suhyeok asks quietly, nuzzling his cheek. 

Biting into his bottom lip, Cheongsan nods, before he promptly bursts out laughing. 

Surprised, Suhyeok looks down at him like he’s gone insane before his boyfriend starts laughing too, the contagiousness catching onto him. In no time at all, the two of them are hysterical, tears in Cheongsan’s eyes trailing down into his hairline as he loses it. 

Reaching up, he wipes his eyes as his chuckles come to a slow stop, the hilarity still thrumming through him. 

“I’m going to assume that’s a good kind of laugh and not you’ve gone bat-shit kinda laugh,” Suhyeok grins, moving bodily to prop himself up on an elbow, his now flaccid cock laying against his hip. 

“I just…can’t believe that happened. That we did that,” He murmurs, biting into his bottom lip when the urge to break out laughing rises again. 

Smiling, doubt creeps into Suhyeok’s brown eyes, the humour disappearing altogether from his features. “You don’t regret it, do you?” He asks, staring at Cheongsan. 

Shaking his head, Cheongsan is quick to lean up and kiss his boyfriend. “I don’t. Not even a second of it.” Choengsan breathes, and he knows in his heart he means every word, “That was incredible. You were incredible” 

Blushing, Suhyeok nods lightly, a pleased smile tugging at his lips as he looks away, suddenly bashful. “Thanks. You were pretty incredible yourself.” 

Snorting, Cheongsan gives his boyfriend an incredulous look, before he glances down at himself. “All I did was lay here like a total pillow princess.” 

“I seem to remember you riding my face some,” Suhyeok grins, the teasing edge back to his smile as he lowers his head. Meeting his boyfriend halfway, Cheongsan kisses him languidly, feeling like they’ve all the time in the world.

Lying there, Suhyeok wrapped around him, Cheongsan feels sure down to his core that they’ve reached a new level in their relationship. That the friendship dynamic they were still running on has taken a backseat to something far more intimate, far more centred solely around the two of them. 

He’s beyond excited to explore it further with the boy in his arms. 

Chapter Text

“How does a shower sound?” 

The words are spoken softly against the skin of Cheongsan's neck, where Suhyeok has his face nestled. Carding his fingers through his boyfriend’s sweaty hair, Cheongsan smirks up at the ceiling, the teasing edge to the other boy's voice amusing him. 

“I’m covered in…” Cheongsan says, lifting his head to glance down at himself before blushing furiously, “Yeah, I think a shower is a great idea,” He admits, falling back to the mattress. 

“One together?” Suhyeok continues, a slightly hesitant edge to his voice. 

Cheongsan’s stomach does a low swoop at the idea of showering with Suhyeok, being totally naked and wet with the other boy. He can’t deny the buzz of excitement that lights up in his belly alongside a whole lot of nerves. He wouldn’t be able to…go all the way with the Alpha. Whilst his tongue had felt incredible, there’d been a dull edge of pain with it too. 

Cheongsan definitely couldn’t handle anything, well, harder. 

He knows that Suhyeok isn’t pressuring him into anything though, and the idea of showering together sounds so wonderful and intimate that Cheongsan wants it, despite his hesitations.

“Okay,” He accepts quietly, smiling up at Suhyeok when he lifts his head to peer down at him. 

With a grin, his boyfriend lowers himself to kiss him briefly before pulling back. “I should have a shirt somewhere that’ll fit you.” 

Cheongsan nods in thanks, watching as the Alpha pulls away from him, Suhyeok’s appreciative gaze dragging down his nude form. 

Cheongsan would be lying if he said he didn’t appreciate Suhyeok’s goods in return, right before his boyfriend stands and tucks his soft member back into his shorts. Now flaccid, it looks just like how it had that day in the locker room when he’d totally been in denial about why he wanted to look. 

“I’ll get you a cloth, hold on.” Suhyeok offers, jogging across the room to the ensuite bathroom Cheongsan hadn’t even noticed existed on his first visit. 

Lying there, strewn out on his back on Suhyeok’s king-sized bed, naked from his belly button down and covered in several different bodily fluids, the urge to break out laughing rises again in Cheongsan. 

He knew he wanted to explore more with Suhyeok. He’d been equally anxious and exhilarated about potentially doing it but now, after the fact, he regrets not taking that step with the Alpha sooner. It had been the most thrilling and pleasurable experience of his life and he can feel now the new level they’ve passed in their relationship. 

Thinking back on it, recalling the sensation of Suhyeok’s face between his cheeks makes his cock twitch, not quite ready to reharden but still very much interested. 

The other boy reenters his vision as Cheongsan gives up and starts giggling to himself, vaguely noticing the white cloth in his boyfriend’s hands when he glances down. The Alpha has rid himself of his shirt and shorts, approaching Cheongsan in only his briefs.

“You’re laughing again? Maybe you have gone nuts.” Suhyeok jokes, crawling up the mattress on his knees. 

Shrugging, Cheongsan isn’t entirely sure he hasn’t lost his mind a little either. 

Reaching out for the cloth when Suhyeok nears, the Alpha frowns slightly before brushing his hand away. 

“Let me do it,” Suhyeok says, bringing the warm damp cloth down on Cheongsan’s belly. 

Tensing briefly with the wet touch, Cheongsan grins up at his boyfriend. “I can do it myself, you know.” 

“You can, but I want to,” Suhyeok responds mildly, cleaning Cheongsan’s stomach before guiding the wet fabric lower.

As the other boy cleans the cum off Cheongsan’s cock and balls, he can’t help but sigh softly, the cotton feeling very stimulating on his sensitive parts. 

Biting into his bottom lip to silence his enjoyment, he closes his eyes and spreads his legs for Suhyeok when the fabric descends even lower. As the slick is wiped away along his crack, Cheongsan opens his eyes to lock gazes with Suhyeok, an intensity to the Alpha’s face as he works. 

Suhyeok cleaning him of their combined release and Cheongsan’s slick is nearly as intimate as having the Alpha eating him out. 

With one final pass of the cloth along Cheongsan’s tailbone, Suhyeok lifts it away, scooting back till he can stand. Offering out a hand, his boyfriend smiles down at him. 

“Your shower awaits, my love,” Suhyeok announces in an overly posh voice. 

Breathing a laugh, Cheongsan takes the Alpha’s hand and drags himself to standing, scooting down the bed till he can get his shaky legs under him. 

On his socked feet, he leans over and pecks Suhyeok on the cheek, appreciating the effort his boyfriend is making in taking care of him. 

Gripping the hem of his shirt in hand, Cheongsan gingerly pulls it over his head, careful to not get any cum in his hair as he removes it before balling it up in a fist. 

“Um…you can just throw this away,” Cheongsan offers, awkwardly holding the shirt out to Suhyeok. 

Nodding with an amused grin, Suhyeok takes it in hand before walking over to his trash can by his desk and throwing it and the used cloth in. 

Standing there now, naked save for his socks, Cheongsan can’t help but feel somewhat shy when Suhyeok turns and rakes his gaze up and down him. Ridiculously, he becomes so shy he can’t stop himself from covering his groin with his hands and scooting along the bed’s edge to his discarded clothes. 

Retrieving his briefs from the pile on the floor, he quickly slips them on, his junk flopping around as he lifts his legs causing his face to burn.  

Stalking forward, the Alpha locks eyes with him, a growl leaving Suhyeok as he approaches before, Cheongsan is wrapped up in his boyfriend’s grip. 

“Shy now, are you?” Suhyeok teases, his two arms around Cheongsan’s frame, holding him steady. 

Winding his hands around his boyfriend’s waist in turn, Cheongsan shrugs, laughing slightly as he buries his face in the Alpha’s neck in embarrassment. Suhyeok’s Alpha scent is sharper here, a new edge to it he’s never smelled before. Cheongsan guesses it must be a post-sex-only aroma, which is very arousing in and of itself. It’s thick and distinct and as Cheongsan breathes it in, he finds he can’t get enough.

Slipping his arms out from Suhyeok’s waist, Cheongsan slides them around his neck instead, plastering his front against Suhyeok’s and fully embracing the Alpha. Suhyeok hums, a happy sound, before Cheongsan is rocked gently in his boyfriend’s arms, the two of them basking in each other for a while.

“I don’t suppose there’s a point in asking you to stay over?” Suhyeok murmurs, nudging his nose against the shell of Cheongsan’s ear. 

“Hmmm, no,” Cheongsan replies disappointedly, “I told my Mama I was going to the mall with Onjo.” 

“You told her what?” Suhyeok frowns, pulling back to look at him in surprise. “...Why would you do that?” 

“You’ve seen what she’s like, ‘Hyeok. I wasn’t risking telling her I was coming here so that she could tell me no.” 

Frowning at him, Suhyeok pauses for a few seconds, long enough to make Cheongsan a little anxious. “I don’t know, ‘Sannie. I don’t think lying is the best idea.” 

Snorting, Cheongsan shrugs. “She left me no choice. I don’t regret it.” 

Suhyeok continues the staring thing, eyeing him worriedly but this time Cheongsan just feels annoyed rather than anxious under that gaze. “Suhyeok, It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.” 

“If you say so,” Suhyeok responds quietly, unconvinced. 

Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan reaches around and slaps his boyfriend on the butt, earning a startled yelp from the Alpha. “I thought we were going for a shower?”

“Right!” Suhyeok nods, his face crimson before he turns toward the ensuite. When Cheongsan doesn’t make to follow, the Alpha swivels back around with a look. 

“I’ll be there in a second,” Cheongsan promises, shooting a grin at the Alpha. He has no idea where all this newfound confidence is coming from. 

“Right,” Suhyeok says again before finally slipping inside the ensuite. 

Walking back to the bed, Cheongsan picks up his discarded sweatpants off the floor, rifling through them for his phone. It’s been hours since he arrived here at Suhyeok’s. His Mama isn’t going to believe he’s still in the Mall for much longer, so he’s gotta make some adjustments. 

Opening up his Mama’s contact, he types out a message to her, telling her he’s ordering takeout with Onjo and Mr Nam in their apartment and to not expect him home till late. Finishing the message with a heart emoji, Cheongsan nods to himself, satisfied with the believability of his lie. He’s always in Onjo’s eating takeout, there’s absolutely nothing weird or suspicious about him doing so today. 

Dropping his phone to the mattress, Cheongsan hears the shower start up behind him and a buzz of excitement flits through his gut. Holy shit, he’s about to shower with Suhyeok. 

Trying and failing to suppress his smile, he turns to make for the ensuite at the same time Suhyeok pops his head out. 

“Ready?”

Nodding, Cheongsan smiles up at the Alpha as he pushes the door open, pecking Suhyeok on the lips as he passes him by to walk further into the ensuite. It’s a narrow, uncomplicated room, with the left side first occupied by a bath, followed by a shower, whilst on the right there’s a counter with a sink set into it, followed by a toilet. The white marble tiles of the walls and floor are simple yet the rectangular space, whilst small, feels lavish to Cheongsan. He shares a bathroom with his parents back home, he can’t imagine having a private one attached to his bedroom. 

The shower is already on, steam billowing from behind the glass walls as the spray of water hits the base. Cheongsan smiles appreciatively at the entirety of the room, feeling a twinge of jealousy for his boyfriend’s fortune. 

He tenses slightly when a kiss lands on the skin of his neck, Suhyeok stepping up behind him to snake his arms around Cheongsan. 

Letting his eyes slip closed, Cheongsan tilts his head to the side to give the Alpha more access to his sensitive skin as he’s layered with chaste kisses. A sucking kiss to the juncture of his neck and shoulders, followed by the scrape of teeth makes his mouth fall open with a gasp, his arousal quickly returning. 

His cock begins to harden in his briefs, now recovered enough from his refractory period to refill. Biting into his bottom lip to silence a moan when Suhyeok increases the fervour of his kisses, Cheongsan lifts his hand and cradles the back of the Alpha’s head, encouraging. 

Suhyeok steps even closer, the Alpha’s front meeting the skin of Cheongsan’s back, his ass cushioning a rigid length that immediately grinds forward towards him. It makes his heart race, how close Suhyeok’s cock is to his entrance, only his briefs separating them from going all the way. 

Well, that, and his injured asshole. 

When the Alpha’s palms caress down his sides to his hips and slip inside his briefs, Cheongsan’s excitement continues its sharp incline. Suhyeok wedges his thumb between the fabric, forcing them lower to slide down Cheongsan’s skin, over the curve of his ass before gravity pulls them to the floor. 

Being naked in the Alpha’s arms is almost too much for him, Cheongsan’s anticipation burning through his chest with every squeeze of his racing heart. Anticipation for what, he’s not sure. He knows Suhyeok won’t try to penetrate him, on account of his injury but just the vulnerability of it all is overwhelming. Cheongsan feels completely safe in his boyfriend’s arms, even when Suhyeok drops his own briefs and that thick cock of his comes up to nestle into Cheongsan’s crack. 

Fuck, despite his reservations, the mere thought of bending forward a little, reaching back and spreading himself to let the Alpha in, is painfully arousing, his hole choosing that exact moment to begin leaking slick. Cheongsan wants it. He wants to be connected to Suhyeok like that. The Alpha has spent so much time lately spoiling him, being there for him completely, even getting him off with such enthusiasm and Cheongsan wants to return the favour.

He wants to show Suhyeok how good he is; how grateful. 

His horny teenage brain is also just completely in control right now and wants Alpha cock.

God, he's so close to giving in to that powerful lust.

It’s with that in mind, that Cheongsan steps away to turn in his boyfriend’s arms, afraid the temptation will overpower him and he'll start begging the Alpha to fuck him. Not wishing to kill the moment, however, he slides his arms around Suhyeok’s neck as he claims those luscious lips with his, tilting his head and diving straight into a deep kiss. 

Their cocks collide as they meet in the middle, both of them gasping into the other’s mouth with the shock of the sensation. 

Cheongsan steps back once he starts to feel himself becoming lost to his desires, knowing they’ll never even get into the shower at this rate. Pulling off his socks, he grins up at the Alpha with meaning, Suhyeok returning the smile as he reaches down to yank his socks off too. 

Taking his boyfriend’s hand, Cheongsan walks backwards, holding Suhyeok’s eye as he leads the Alpha into the shower. Pulling the shower door open and doing his best to watch where he’s going, he steps into the steam, trying to not get too distracted by the other boy’s cock bobbing with every step he takes. 

With a pleased sigh, Cheongsan slides under the shower spray, blinking rapidly once it cascades over his hair and down his face. Dragging Suhyeok forward, he pulls the Alpha under with him, both of them giggling to each other as they’re drenched in seconds. The shower’s water pressure is glorious, the temperature just hot enough. Slipping his arms around his boyfriend’s shoulders, Cheongsan is embraced around the waist in turn. 

“I’m already dreading you leaving me later,” Suhyeok murmurs, his palms sliding up and down Cheongsan’s sides. 

“Me too,” Cheongsan replies, slipping his fingers into the wet strands of Suhyeok’s hair and massaging his scalp a little. 

Suhyeok sighs in response, his eyes closely briefing in pleasure before the Alpha opens them to intensely lock eyes with him. Cheongsan is kissed hard in the next moment, eagerly parting his lips as he sighs into the kiss. Suhyeok’s lips under his, feel as luscious and soft as ever, the supple flesh moving against Cheongsan’s in a familiar dance now. 

It’s intimate and so addictive to be connected to another person like this and Cheongsan thinks he could make out with the Alpha for hours, exploring each other’s mouths, seeing how many sounds they could cause the other to make. 

When his bottom lip is caught between Suhyeok’s teeth, he outwardly moans, his hand in his boyfriend’s hair tightening. 

Suhyeok nibbles on his lip softly, the sensation sending a shiver down Cheongsan’s spine before the teeth retract and the Alpha sucks on the swollen tissue as if in apology. 

Breaking the kiss, Suhyeok smirks at him, Cheongsan quickly losing himself to his arousal again as he’s enveloped in strong arms, and his chin comes to rest on his boyfriend’s shoulder. 

The embrace is unlike anything Cheongsan’s ever experienced before, the feeling of their naked bodies connected in so many places thrumming, of all things, contentment through him. He never knew touching another human being like this could be so sensual but also so peaceful. If it weren’t for his raging boner and arousal fueling it, Cheongsan could nearly fall asleep on his feet wrapped up in Suhyeok like this. It feels like they have all the time in the world under that spray, even though logically, he knows he’ll need to leave the Lee residence eventually.

It’s minutes later that Suhyeok finally shifts and pulls away, dragging Cheongsan a step or two out of the water with him. Despite both their obvious states of arousal, the Alpha reaches over to the shelves built into his shower wall and retrieves a bottle of shampoo. Cheongsan expects his boyfriend to take some for his own hair before passing the bottle to him but he shouldn’t really be surprised when Suhyeok reaches up with the dollop in hand to begin working it into Cheongsan’s strands. 

He raises a questioning eyebrow at the Alpha, a begrudging smile tugging at his lips. 

Suhyeok shrugs with a smirk, looking up and away as he concentrates on his fingers now foaming up the shampoo into Cheongsan’s hair. It soon starts to feel amazing, Cheongsan tipping his head forward to give his boyfriend better access as he’s essentially given a head massage. 

On a particularly wonderful pass of Suhyeok’s fingers over his scalp, he groans, about to start moaning like a whore with the effect the Alpha’s hands are having on him. 

An airy laugh sounds in front of him, Cheongsan blinking his eyes open to see Suhyeok grinning amusedly at him. Cheongsan laughs shyly back, slightly embarrassed. He’s soon guided backwards by the Alpha and the spray of water rinses the shampoo from his hair, sudding water sliding down his skin. 

Reaching up, Cheongsan wipes his eyes clear of water once he’s sure the suds are gone, eyeing Suhyeok once his vision clears, who has taken up the shampoo bottle again to do his own hair. Cheongsan reaches out to snatch the bottle from him. He appreciates all the effort his boyfriend is making to look after him but he would also like to reciprocate. Because he wants to and because he’s tired of everything feeling so one-sided. 

He’s soon grinning as he rubs his fingers into Suhyeok’s scalp, eliciting similar sounds of enjoyment from the Alpha that he’d made. Cheongsan runs his fingers through the soapy strands, the sensation of them sliding through his fingers pleasant as he cleans the other boy’s hair. 

Once satisfied with his work, he takes Suhyeok by the shoulders and rotates their positions, allowing the spray to rinse clean the Alpha’s hair. It’s enjoyable to be taken care of by someone, Cheongsan knows but the satisfaction buzzing behind his ribs for getting to do even this small task for Suhyeok lights him up inside. 

With that wide smile on his lips, Cheongsan nestles closer to his boyfriend, who’s currently wiping water out of his eyes. 

“Hi,” He greets, sliding closer as amusement rises in Suhyeok’s gaze, “I like taking care of you. You should let me do it more often.” 

Returning the smile, Suhyeok lowers his face to lessen the distance between them, their lips inches apart. “You’re always welcome to take care of me, Cheongsan.” 

Cheongsan hums into their next kiss, stepping close enough for their groins to collide again. Both of their erections have waned a little as they'd shampooed each other's hair but It doesn’t take much for them to return to their previous states of excitement as they make out. 

Suhyeok’s reply has given him an idea. An idea that fuels the stiffness between his legs whilst making his stomach squirm with nerves. Washing his boyfriend’s hair is easy but taking care of Suhyeok in another way, might not be so easy. 

The thickness and length of the cock against his hip is sure to not make it easy. 

Cheongsan wants to try anyway. He’s afraid he’ll make a fool of himself. That he’ll be so bad at it, that Suhyeok will cringe through it before eventually telling him to stop. Cheongsan understands the basics of it; suck, watch the teeth, and try not to gag so hard you vomit. 

Breaking the kiss to glance down, the cock next to his only increases his trepidation, not exactly what Cheongsan would consider a cock for a beginner. Suhyeok’s fully erect now, the length of him pressing hotly against Cheongsan’s skin. The Alpha’s shaft is long, long enough Cheongsan could likely grip it with both hands stacked on top of each other. He’s thick too, the girth likely to stretch his lips wide, never mind anything of his that’s…tighter.

“You’re staring,” Suhyeok leans forward to whisper in his ear, a smirk visible from Cheongsan’s peripheral vision.

He is and he continues to do so without shame. Suhyeok’s manhood is intimidating and Cheongsan’s cock looks suddenly inadequate next to it, even though he’s large for an Omega, comparable to most Beta’s, according to the internet.

The Alpha’s cock also just looks fucking delicious and Cheongsan’s mouth waters when a bead of precum appears at the tip before the shower washes it sadly away. 

Cheongsan’s hands lift to pull Suhyeok out of the spray a little, enough so the water is no longer running down his front. 

Before Cheongsan can let his reservations overwhelm him into inaction, he drops down onto his knees. 

Suhyeok audibly gasps above him, his abdomen flexing in surprise. “Cheongsan.”

Purple cock head now before his face, Cheongsan reaches out and grips the length in a fist, Suhyeok’s muscles flexing again as he gives the Alpha an experimental squeeze. Looking up at his boyfriend, he’s met with wide eyes and parted lips. 

“This is likely going to suck,” Cheongsan admits, shrugging a shoulder, “And not in a good way.” 

“You don’t have to,” Suhyeok breathes, sounding wrecked already as if even the sight of Cheongsan on his knees is too much. 

Cheongsan breaks eye contact, shrugging again. He knows he doesn’t have to but as he scoots closer and the musk of the dick currently held in his hand fills his nose, he knows he wants to. So he says as much. 

“I want to.” 

Opening his mouth, he seals his lips over the head of Suhyeok’s cock, the flesh smooth and hot in his mouth. The Alpha moans above him and Cheongsan’s eyes widen a little when a hand is suddenly gripping his hair. 

Tentatively, he lifts his tongue to the sensitive flesh as he slides more of it past his lips until the entirety of the glands are in his mouth. The taste that registers is unique, but not unpleasant. Closing his eyes, Cheongsan sighs through his nose as he uses his grip on Suhyeok’s hips to pull himself down onto the Alpha’s length. 

His own cock is rigid between his legs and alongside it slick slides down the back of his thighs in increasing amounts the higher his arousal climbs. Swirling his tongue over the cock head, the Alpha’s hand tenses in Cheongsan’s hair as Suhyeok groans above him. What must be precum coats his tongue in the next second and the sensation and taste of it makes Cheongsan moan, his inhibitions falling away as he gives in to his desire. 

With about a quarter of Suhyeok in his mouth, he hollows out his cheeks and pulls back, the suction dragging his lips along the Alpha’s cock until he’s solely got the head on his tongue. Sliding back down, Suhyeok releases a long moan that crescendos into a near yell as Cheongsan moves, and his confidence grows hearing the sound. He continues his push forward with determination, more of Suhyeok’s member filling his mouth until he feels it nestle into the back of his throat. Cheongsan pauses then, already the urge to gag budging in the back of his mind. 

When it becomes nearly overpowering, he finally does gag, sliding back along the Alpha’s length to prevent himself from becoming totally overwhelmed. It doesn’t deter him though. He can fit about half of Suhyeok into his mouth without gagging and with that newly acquired knowledge, Cheongsan begins bobbing his head up and down his boyfriend’s length, breathing the steamy air through his nose. 

Suhyeok’s other hand soon joins the first as Cheongsan sucks him off, these cut-out moans and breathy gasps reaching his ears from his boyfriend. Increasing his speed, Cheongsan blinks his eyes open to look up at Suhyeok as he continues blowing him, and when they lock eyes, Cheongsan blushes red. 

“Oh, my god. Look at you,” Suhyeok exhales, his eyes tracking over Cheongsan’s face. 

Cheongsan is close to feeling mortified holding the Alpha’s eye with his cock in his mouth, a voice whispering in the back of his mind that he must look like such a whore. It’s probably not wrong but Suhyeok isn’t staring down at him with disgust or cruelty in his eyes. He’s staring down at Cheongsan with pure awe and overwhelming desire. It’s empowering more than anything and only proves to spur Cheongsan on. 

He’s soon moving his lips up and down Suhyeok’s shaft the fastest he’s able, squeezing his eyes shut as he focuses on giving his best effort to the Alpha. 

Cheongsan knew that receiving head would feel good. He knew–being the proud owner of a cock–that he would enjoy being on that stimulating end and only earlier, that was proven correct. Now though, with a dick in his mouth, he never thought he’d enjoy giving just as much. 

It’s ticking all his horny boxes though, the intimacy of the act, the feel of his lips around Suhyeok, the taste, the musky smell in his nose. 

Pleasuring his Alpha, being… a good Omega. 

It’s more than enough to have his own cock painfully hard and his hole a mess of slick. 

Now, all he needs is what those smooth balls under Suhyeok’s cock promise they hold in their large size. 

It’s with that goal in mind that he raises his hand to caress Suhyeok’s sack, not stopping in his bobbing but encouraging the Alpha to orgasm by massaging the two orbs gently. Suhyeok curses loudly above him, his usual baritone an octave higher than usual. 

“I’m g-gonna cum,” Suhyeok groans desperately, and Cheongsan glances up to see the Alpha's face turned over in pleasure, his eyes closed, his mouth parted as he breathes raggedly. 

Determined now, Cheongsan gives it everything he has, lifting his tongue to slide it along Suhyeok’s shaft as he sucks, increasing the pressure of his lips around the girth, and raising his other hand to jerk off the length of the Suhyeok’s cock he can’t fit inside his mouth.

It’s with that Suhyeok cums, his grip on Cheongsan’s hair pulling tight enough to be painful as that cock is driven forward. It hits the back of his throat at the same time the Alpha begins to shoot his load, Cheongsan trying his best not to gag from the pressure on his soft palate. Continuing to slide his hand up and down the base, Cheongsan encourages his boyfriend through his climax, the sounds spilling from Suhyeok above him ringing in his ears. 

When the Alpha’s jets of cum slow to a trickle, Suhyeok’s member stops pumping in his mouth and Cheongsan stills his hand around the girth, sliding his mouth back to pop off. 

His mouth is positively full of the Alpha’s cum, some of it trickling out of the corner of his lips. It slides over his tongue, hot and viscous without tasting like much of anything. Tilting his head back, Cheongsan locks eyes with Suhyeok at the same time he swallows it down. With two bobs of his throat, his mouth is clear and behind his own heavy arousal, a buzzing sense of satisfaction and contentment fills Cheongsan. He did it. He pleased his Alpha.

Suhyeok looks positively wrecked post-orgasm; slightly bent forward, his eyes half-lidded, panting breaths being pulled in through his mouth open. 

Cheongsan did that and he can’t hold back the smirk that pulls at his lips. 

“That was good, wasn’t it?” He gloats, dropping his hand to take his own erection in hand, giving himself a few slow tugs to take the edge off. 

“I don’t think…” Suhyeok breathes, still struggling to catch his breath, “...I’ve ever came that hard before.” 

Feeling entirely smug now, Cheongsan looks away as he grins wide. It was good.

He tenses in surprise when Suhyeok suddenly reaches down to pull him up under his armpits.

“Woah,” Cheongsan says as he’s pulled to standing before any more sounds from him are silenced by Suhyeok’s claiming mouth on his. The Alpha immediately licks into him as if searching for the taste of himself and Cheongsan gladly lets him, sliding forward in the shower to wrap himself around the Alpha, strong arms slinking around his waist in turn as they make out. 

Cheongsan’s slick is a mess down his legs, and he breaks the kiss with a hard gasp when Suhyeok slides his hands around, through his crack to collect it along his fingers. The pads of the Alpha’s fingers run across his hole and Cheongsan tenses with a groan, the pressure balancing between pleasure and pain. 

Suhyeok pulls away from his ass though in the next second, his hand shiny with Cheongsan’s slick to reach down and grip him. He bites hard into his bottom lip as bliss blazes through him, Suhyeok wasting no time jacking him off hard and fast. He falls forward to rest his chin on the Alpha’s shoulders as he’s worked over, his eyes closing as his orgasm builds and builds until with a shaky moan, he’s shooting his load all over Suhyeok’s fist, his eyes rolling in his head as he drifts through the waves of ecstasy. 

He feels boneless and sated once he comes down, Suhyeok’s hands falling off him to wrap around his back. A kiss is planted into his wet hair before the Alpha inches them backwards and they’re both under the spray again. 

He does little more than nuzzle and kiss the skin of the other boy available to him as Suhyeok drags a washcloth over his body. Post orgasm, his arousal taken care of, his boyfriend’s work with the wet fabric feels amazingly relaxing and soon, Cheongsan is dozing with his head in the crook of Suhyeok’s neck. 

It’s only the unfairness of it all when Suhyeok turns a second washcloth on himself that has Cheongsan drawing back to tug it out of his boyfriend’s hands. Suhyeok laughs airly at the action before he gladly relaxes into Cheongsan's touch. This close, with the washcloth in hand, Cheongsan blinks away the drowsiness to explore the plains of his boyfriend’s body. 

Suhyeok’s skin is bronze, evenly toned across subtle muscle and so smooth as Cheongsan guides the cloth along. His nipples are dark and small and respond eagerly to his touch, perking up into hard nubs. The Alpha sighs happily with the attention and Cheongsan saves that piece of info away for later. 

With the cloth lathered with soap, Cheongsan’s heart warms as he cleans his boyfriend, taking care to map out all the parts of the other boy new to him. The time he spends bathing Suhyeok thrums with a quiet intimacy he’s never experienced with another human before, and Cheongsan reflects in wonder at how they could never have done this with one another only a few months ago. Their connection has deepened in ways he could never have imagined but also could never have dared dreamed either. 

They grin mischievously at one another when he drags the fabric around the Alpha’s flaccid cock, giggle like little kids when Cheongsan crouches to scrub his boyfriend’s feet in his lap and laugh loudly into each other’s mouths when he reaches back to slide the cloth between Suhyeok’s ass cheeks.

They love each other and getting to express it this way is wondrous.

“I love you,” Suhyeok murmurs. 

“I love you, too,” Cheongsan murmurs right back. 

Twenty minutes later, they’re both ready to step out, clean from head to toe with satisfaction buzzing through them in more ways than one. Yet, Cheongsan doesn’t wish to leave this glass cage with Suhyeok. They’ve existed in their own world of just each other for the last hour and if not for the time and water wastage, he’d stay here easily for another. 

They step out together, the bathroom quiet now with the spray of water having been turned off. With a cushy bath mat under his feet, Cheongsan watches as Suhyeok reaches over to the radiator on the wall to retrieve one of the towels resting there before offering it to him. It’s toasty warm and fluffy when Cheongsan wraps it around himself, not thin and painfully dry like his towels back home. Wrapping himself fully in it, he dries himself as Suhyeok does the same, the two of them smiling at each other. 

“It’s killing me that you have to leave soon,” Suhyeok admits, approaching as Cheongsan rubs the towel into his wet hair. "Can't I just keep you with me here forever?" The Alpha laughs. 

He feels the same, completely. If he could, he’d get dry and snuggle into bed with the Alpha in a heartbeat. 

Unfortunately, that can’t happen tonight.

“Believe me, Suhyeok, I’d stay if I could,” Cheongsan admits, meaning every word. 

“One night soon? In the not-so-distant future?” Suhyeok requests, stepping forward to kiss him on the forehead before tilting his head back for an answer.

Cheongsan is about to nod in affirmation when a familiar noise behind him grabs his attention. Twisting around, through the half-open door, he can see his phone lighting up on Suhyeok’s bed. 

Frowning, Cheongsan wraps the towel around his waist before he ambles out of the ensuite bathroom to approach the bed.

His Mama’s contact lights up the display, his phone repeatedly vibrating against the mattress. Anxiety immediately fills Cheongsan’s content and relaxed mind as he stares down at his phone.

“Who is it?” Suhyeok questions, coming up behind him to frown over at the incessant device on the bed. 

“My Mama,” Cheongsan answers, and they share an uneasy glance. “I’m gonna answer and you just…be quiet, okay?” 

Nodding, Suhyeok watches as Cheongsan ambles up to the bed, and picks up his phone. It’s been ringing out for a while now so as soon as it’s in his hand, he swipes to answer with a defeated sigh.

“Hello, Mama,” He greets, smiling down the phone, hoping the tone will carry in his voice. 

“Hello, Cheongsan!” His Mama responds, her tone bright and upbeat, “How is your day with Onjo going?” 

Swallowing, Cheongsan musters the best acting performance of his life. “It’s going good, Mama. We’re actually just settling down to watch a movie now.” Cheongsan lies, hoping his Mama will think she’s interrupting and conclude the call. 

“Oh, wonderful, honey. And how is Onjo today?” 

“Uh, she’s good. Same as always.” Cheongsan murmurs, reaching up to anxiously push back his damp hair. 

“That’s great,” His Mama replies, her voice continually excessively sweet.

“And how is Suhyeok?” 

What? 

“What?” 

“Suhyeok? How is he today?” His Mama continues, and Cheongsan’s heart picks up momentum in his chest as he glances at the Alpha behind him. 

“Um, I don’t know, Mama. I haven’t seen Suhyeok today but I’m sure he’s good.” 

“You have five minutes to meet me outside Suhyeok’s front gate. Five minutes, Cheongsan. Or I’m driving through his fancy wooden gate and going in to get you myself.” 

Cheongsan’s head immediately starts pounding with stress, his throat closing up with anxiety, his stomach turning over with dread.

“Mama, I’m not–” 

“I swear, Cheongsan. If you lie to me one more time today, you’ll live to sorely regret it. Get out here. Now.” 

“Yes, ma’am,” Cheongsan murmurs, the call dropping in his ears a second later. 

Locking gazes with Suhyeok, the Alpha’s face is tense, his eyes full of trepidation.

“She knows?” He asks, observing Cheongsan carefully. 

“She knows,” Cheongsan moans, dropping his head back to look at the ceiling with utter regret barreling through him. “Get a good look, Suhyeok. After I leave today, you may never see me again.” He says, not entirely sure if he’s joking. 

Suhyeok sighs heavily in annoyance, “Cheongsan, I told you–” 

“Don’t,” Cheongsan warns, huffing in irritation as he approaches the ensuite to recover his underwear and socks. 

By the time he’s got those back on, he exits the ensuite to march over and angrily pull on his sweats. Shoving his phone in his pocket, he proceeds next to retrieve his hoodie from where he’d discarded it on Suhyeok’s desk chair but then he recalls he has no shirt. Turning, Cheongsan finds his boyfriend presenting him with one of his. 

“It’ll be pretty big on you but if you tuck it in and throw your hoodie over, it shouldn’t be noticeable. It’s white too, same colour as the one you came in.” Suhyeok says, smiling awkwardly. 

“Thanks,” Cheongsan expresses, taking the shirt, and weaving his arms through it, the scent of Suhyeok immediately billowing off it to swirl in his senses. It does a fine job of soothing some of his frayed nerves. 

Dragging on his hoodie, he stands fully dressed before his boyfriend, the two of them peering at each other without knowing what to say. Eventually, Cheongsan risks even more time by stepping forward more and reaching out to squeeze Suhyeok’s hand in his. 

“I still don’t regret it,” He admits, shrugging some, “Coming over here or…what we did.” 

“I’m glad,” Suhyeok beams, approaching enough to lean down towards him. Cheongsan tilts his head back to accept the kiss, closing his eyes. 

It’s a short chaste thing, a press of lips in farewell, before Cheongsan pulls back with a defeated sigh. “I’ll see you soon,” He promises, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand once more before moving to leave. 

“Bye, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok bids, with a small sad smile. 

Cheongsan makes it down the stairs to the long hallway of the second floor before his name is called out from behind him. Looking back, Suhyeok, with Cheongsan’s bouquet of roses in his hand makes surprise and shame flood him. 

“I’m so sorry. I forgot about them,” Cheongsan confesses, taking them in hand once Suhyeok comes close enough. They’re enveloped hastily in a cloth, the fabric damp from soaking up the vase water they’d been settled in. 

“It’s okay, ‘Sannie. I just didn’t want you to leave without them.” Suhyeok replies, eyes flitting between the bouquet and Cheongsan.

Cheongsan pecks his boyfriend on the mouth once more, sharing a brief smile, before he turns away with the roses, their beautiful scent in his nose as he leaves the Lee residence to what feels like his doom. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Mama, please, will you just listen?” Cheongsan beseeches from the backseat, trying to break through the lecture he’s currently being given. 

“...and lying to me! About that! Lying to me so you could sneak up here to Suhyeok’s and do God only knows what!” 

Cheongsan promptly blushes scarlet, his reaction only making his Mama’s eyes enlarge in outrage, practically confirming her worse fears. It doesn’t help his hair is still damp from their shower. The roses in his lap suddenly match very nicely with the blood filling his cheeks.

“You’re seventeen!” She shrieks, staring between the road Cheongsan feels she’s travelling far too quickly down and the mirror with his flushed face in it. “It was only yesterday you were crawling into our bed when you had a nightmare and now you’re… you’re–” 

“Mama!” Cheongsan interrupts, really not wanting her to finish that sentence. “It’s not a big deal. Plenty of kids at my school are having sex.” 

That earns him nothing but a jaw drop and impossibly wide eyes, his Mama shocked into silence. He thinks she even pales a little.

Cheongsan truly doesn’t think it’s that big a deal. 

“What are they teaching you at that school?!” His Mama exclaims, finally driving out of the forests of Hyosan and back into the city. “When I was your age, we would kiss at best… maybe a little groping.” 

“Mama, please!” Cheongsan bemoans, throwing himself against the backseat, tempted to plug his ears and start yelling just so he won’t have to hear anymore. 

“You just wait till your father hears about this, young man,” His Mama warns, a stern finger pointed up at him through the rearview mirror, “And to drag poor innocent Onjo into it? She was so confused when I saw her earlier.” 

Cheongsan has since learned his Mama had been working alongside his Papa when Onjo had popped into the restaurant to say hello, having been out in town with her father and close enough to decide to drop by. His best friend probably expected to find him there but really all she'd found was a baffled Mr and Mrs Lee. He’s still confused as to why Onjo didn’t warn him his Mama was onto him but she perhaps didn’t realise what he’d tried and failed to do. 

“Onjo didn’t know, Mama. She has nothing to do with this.” 

“Of course, she doesn’t. Onjo is an obedient, respectful child,” His Mama responds, before murmuring something under her breath that sounds a lot like ‘unlike my own child’. 

Blowing out a breath, Cheongsan thumps his head back against the headrest, staring out the window as the streets pass him by, already longing to be back in Suhyeok’s arms. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In his room, hours later, Cheongsan eyes the wood of his door, the muted sounds of his parents arguing seeping under the gap. He’d gotten home to be immediately sent to his bedroom like a grounded child but he wasn’t complaining. He needed to get away from his Mama. She hadn’t stopped raging about his disrespectful, unacceptable behaviour all the way up to their apartment. 

He’d only dared sneak out to use the bathroom a while later, tip-toeing to the toilet to finally pee when sounds of his Mama busy in the living room had reached his ears. Bladder empty, he’d stepped back into the hallway to awkwardly lock eyes with his Papa coming home from the restaurant, Cheongsan hesitantly offering a smile, that, unsurprisingly, wasn’t returned. 

His Papa was unimpressed with him for lying to his Mama, that was for sure. He’d told him as much, barraging into Cheongsan’s bedroom, hands on his hips, after his Mama had spilt the full details of his behaviour. Things had taken a turn though when his Mama had attempted to ban him from seeing Suhyeok. Cheongsan had leapt off his bed in an instant, downright refusing to do so, arguing hotly with his Mama, their combined voices crescendoing in volume. 

His Papa had calmed him down before the arguing had moved from Cheongsan and his Mama to his Papa and his Mama. Similarly to Cheongsan, his Papa thought it completely unreasonable to ban him from seeing his boyfriend and that’s how the current bickering between his parents had begun. 

His parents are, thankfully, not the shouting and throwing household items type but rather the level-toned and lengthy debating type. It’s been nearly a half hour and they’re still going back and forth somewhere in the apartment. Cheongsan isn’t sure who’s winning but he knows one thing regardless; should his Papa turn on him and suddenly agree that Cheongsan is forbidden from seeing Suhyeok, he’ll disregard that order faster than he’s ever done in his life. 

Suhyeok is his. Not even his parents can take the Alpha away from him now. Especially not after earlier. Cheongsan had never felt so close to the other boy before; he’s never felt so close to anyone like that before. He’s not letting anything get in the way of the relationship between them. 

Not that they really can ban him from seeing Suhyeok anyway; the two of them are in the same class group. His parents can’t do much about that. Well, except perhaps move Cheongsan to another class group. The thought of that transpiring makes his tummy squirm unhappily. 

Irrespective of whatever his parents decide, Cheongsan is not being ripped away from Suhyeok. Not now. Not after it took them this long to get here. 

Took Cheongsan this long to get himself here. 

They may not be bonded yet; he may not have Suhyeok’s bite on his neck yet, but regardless, Suhyeok is his and Cheongsan is not losing him for anyone. 

Chapter Text

Cheongsan edges around the hallway door leading into the kitchen, scanning the space for any sign of his Mama. The room is empty. Creeping forward, he relaxes when the coast remains clear, walking fully into the kitchen to begin making himself a bowl of cereal. 

Eventually, his parents stopped arguing last night, their voices ceasing altogether as Cheongsan put his head down to sleep. He has no clue what came of their bickering but he’s hoping for a positive outcome for him. Missing two days of school now has given him enough time to heal from the injuries to his bum. He’s feeling a lot more sound this Friday morning, with only a minor twinge when his butt hits the kitchen chair. 

Taking a bite, Cheongsan pulls his phone out of his pocket, flicking through his notifications absentmindedly as he chews.

“You could’ve taken today off too,” His Mama says behind him, strolling into the kitchen in her work clothes. 

Cheongsan nearly chokes on his cereal, coughing around a bite as he hunches over his bowl. 

He flicks his gaze in his mother’s direction, eyeing her as she goes about collecting her belongings before she leaves for the restaurant. She seems busy, distracted and too occupied to pay him much attention and for that he’s grateful. 

Pulling his phone closer to his face, he pretends to be equally distracted, hoping she’ll let him be for the morning. 

When she pauses suddenly from where she’d been collecting her keys and purse before pulling out a seat next to him, he inwardly groans.

“We need to talk.” 

God, he wishes he’d just skipped breakfast and gone straight to school. Curse his insatiable appetite. 

Lifting his eyes to her, she stares at him steadily, her mouth pinched unhappily. 

“Mama, it’s barely eight in the morning, can’t this wait till later?” He asks, pushing his cereal around in his bowl. 

“No, it can’t wait,” She replies evenly, finally breaking eye contact with him as she sighs hard down at the table. 

Cheongsan waits for her to speak, seeing the tension on her face and not knowing what way this is going to go. 

“Your father and I had a long conversation last night–” 

“I heard,” Cheongsan interrupts, earning himself an unimpressed glare, that quickly sends his own gaze back down to his bowl. 

“...and I realised maybe… I was a bit overbearing.” 

Cheongsan’s wide eyes whip to his Mama’s face. 

“Really?!”

Still looking none the happier for it, his Mama nods, her arms crossing over her chest. “I’m still not happy about you lying to me yesterday but your father’s… right. You’ll be eighteen soon, an adult, and free to make your own life choices.” 

Cheongsan is so dumbfounded hearing this from his Mama, one of the most stubborn people he knows, that he can only blink back at her in reply. Eventually, he snaps out of it when he realises something. 

“So does this mean Suhyeok can stay over again?” 

Guffawing, his Mama stands, amusement in her eyes as she shoulders her handbag. “No, Cheongsan. It means, you’re free to pay Suhyeok visits at his home but here? No hanky panky.” 

Cheongsan scrunches up his nose at her use of ‘hanky panky’, disgust roiling through him every single time his parents even suggest something of a sexual nature. He would very much like for his sex life, as budding as it is, to remain out of his parents’ mouths in the same way he likes to pretend they’re both sexless beings and he was just delivered one evening to their door by a stork. 

Pausing at the door, his Mama turns to him, a critical eye running up and down his frame. “Suhyeok… If he ever hurts you, in any way…you can always come to us for help.” 

Cheongsan nearly wants to be offended on Suhyeok’s behalf but he can see in his Mama’s eyes she isn’t insinuating anything about the Alpha but rather making it simply clear to him that his parents are always here for him. 

Throat tight, he nods, smiling softly at his Mama. “Thanks, Mama.”

Smiling at him, she nods once in finality before she’s out the door, the lock clicking behind her. 

Cheongsan falls back into the dining chair with a large breath, a lot on his mind but a weight lifting from his shoulders. He’s surprised, that’s for sure. He was not expecting his Mama to have such a change of heart but he supposes he underestimated his Papa’s ability to get through to her. Cheongsan had half expected her to lock down the gilded cage she’s been trying to trap him in even harder. 

He sits up to finish his now soggy cereal with a small, relieved smile on his lips. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------

He barely gets one rap of his knuckles against the door of the Nam residence before Onjo yanks the door open and glares at him in suspicion.

“Morni–” 

“Don’t ‘Morning’ me! Thanks to you, I had the most awkward interaction with your Mama yesterday!” Onjo chides, striding out of her apartment and shouldering past him. 

Rubbing his shoulder, Cheongsan stares at Onjo’s retreating back, kicking his feet into action to catch up with her and explain. 

“I’m sorry I put you in an awkward position, I didn’t think you’d run into my Mama.” 

“That’s your problem, Cheongsan,” Onjo says, rolling her eyes at him as she jabs her finger into the call button for the elevator, “You never think .”

Rolling with that, Cheongsan releases a frustrated breath, a part of him fed up with these jabs at his intelligence. About to open his mouth to explain further, Onjo’s palm in his face halts his attempt. 

“Don’t bother. I can already guess what you’re going to say. You were with Suhyeok, weren’t you? In his fancy house?” 

Stepping into the elevator alongside her, Cheongsan nods, slightly embarrassed. “Uh, yeah, actually I was,” 

Side-eyeing him, Onjo’s face, screwed up in annoyance at him, cracks a little with the obvious curiosity brimming in her eyes. When Cheongsan remains pointedly silent, staring back at her expectantly, he sees the exact moment her curiosity wins out and she turns to him with demand in her eyes. 

“Well?! What happened then? Did you guys…go all the way?”

Cheongsan pushes down on the smug smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, crossing his arms and turning away as the elevator doors open on the ground floor. 

“Nevermind…” He shrugs, sighing dramatically before strolling out of the elevator and leaving a scandalised Onjo following behind. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

In the end, Cheongsan doesn’t spill the full details of his evening with Suhyeok to Onjo. She may be his best friend and they do share a lot of their private lives but last night, it had been something special between himself and Suhyeok. It feels too monumental, too important to gossip over with Onjo. 

So as they’re waltzing into the school grounds, the most she’s gotten out of him is that he and Suhyeok got familiar but didn’t go all the way. 

“I can’t believe you’re going to lose your virginity before me, that’s so embarrassing.” Onjo comments, glaring mildly over at him. 

Shooting his best friend another unimpressed glare, Cheongsan shoves her lightly on the shoulder, “Why wouldn’t I lose mine first?! I am older!” 

“By a few months, Cheongsan,” Onjo dismisses, and he can agree it was a weak point, “But you’re so awkward and uncool! It’s not right you’re losing yours before me!” 

“Hey! Maybe I am lying to you and I already have lost mine.” Cheongsan replies offended, walking sideways to smirk annoyingly in Onjo’s face. 

“Please,” Onjo grins, her eyes mischievously flicking down to his legs, “You’re walking perfectly fine right now, ergo; no cherry popped.” 

Jaw on the floor, Cheongsan feels his whole face burn with that, his tongue tied up in his mouth in outrage! About to reply, it’s only Suhyeok’s tall form appearing out of the tree line across the school’s grounds that distracts him enough from his outrage. 

The Alpha stalks out of the woods, a crease between his brows, an angry set to his shoulders and Cheongsan frowns to see it, Suhyeok’s usually happy demeanour nowhere to be found that morning. When he turns his head and spots Cheongsan a second later however, a wide grin rises on his handsome face and Cheongsan relaxes a little, returning Suhyeok’s grin with a small smile of his own and an awkward wave. 

Pausing atop the hill of the school grounds, students stream past him and Onjo as they wait for Suhyeok to cross over to where they’re standing.

“Although by the grin on Suhyeok’s face, maybe you have boned after all.” 

“Onjo!” 

Readjusting his bag across his shoulders, Cheongsan turns his burning face away from his giggling friend to his fast-approaching boyfriend. 

Suhyeok comes up to them, comes up to him, and keeps coming. 

He realises a second too late the Alpha is coming in for a kiss, a happy glow in his eyes as he leans down into Cheongsan’s personal space. After last night, with what they experienced together - the intimacy of it all - it’s not surprising Suhyeok would think it a totally fine thing to do and Cheongsan rationally knows it is totally fine. 

So why he turns his head to the side causing Suhyeok’s lips to awkwardly bounce off his cheek, he doesn’t know. 

His gaze on the Alpha, Cheongsan registers the happy glow vanish in a blink as hurt blooms on his boyfriend’s face. 

It’s the annoyance, no, anger, that follows after which worries him more. In the awkward silence that follows, Cheongsan clears his throat before risking a smile up at the Alpha. 

“Morning,” He hedges, his anxiety climbing as the anger in Suhyeok’s eyes continues to simmer. Casting a glance at Onjo, the anxiety on his best friend’s face tells him she hasn’t missed it either. 

“Morning,” Suhyeok replies lowly before the Alpha turns and marches away. The scent of one angry Alpha that drifts from his retreating form makes Cheongsan’s shoulders lock up. 

A tense silence pulls between him and Onjo as they stand there, both of them staring after Suhyeok till he disappears into the school’s interior. When he’s gone, Cheongsan turns to Onjo, and they share a look. 

“I fucked up, didn’t I?” He asks, already knowing the answer. 

Nodding her head, no humour remains in Onjo’s eyes as she replies, “Yeah, Cheongsan. You fucked up.” 

Sighing hard, Cheongsan wallows in regret for a few seconds longer, before turning and following after his boyfriend, determined to fix this before it can fester. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------

Making a beeline for where he’d last seen Suhyeok, Cheongsan speed walks into the school, quickly approaching the stairs to ascend to the second floor. With Onjo struggling to keep up behind, he takes the steps two at a time, reaching the top with only slightly burning thighs. 

He finds his Alpha glaring into his locker, eyeing the contents like they’re personally responsible for the scowl on his face. Pausing a few metres away, Cheongsan turns to Onjo with a look and without needing to say anything, she nods once in understanding and whizzes past the two of them to head to Homeroom alone. 

By the tension in Suhyeok’s shoulders and the way he’s steadfastly refusing to look Cheongsan’s way, it’s obvious his boyfriend is aware of his presence and unwilling to even acknowledge him. 

It’s only when Cheongsan comes to stand directly beside Suhyeok does the other boy shoot him a glance. It’s one of aggravation but a glance nonetheless. His scent is still sharp, irritating Cheongsan’s nasal cavity like hay fever in the summer. 

“Usually I’m the cranky one this early in the morning,” 

The joke falls flat, if anything only proving to deepen the crease in Suhyeok’s brow. Cheongsan’s own attempt at a humoured smirk drops off his face, the tension and awkwardness between them torturous. With a small defeated nod, Cheongsan kicks his stubborn pride to the curb and settles for a good old-fashioned apology. 

“I’m sorry, okay?” He murmurs, tilting his head to try to catch Suhyeok’s eye, “I freaked out for a second, I don’t know why…I just did.” 

Suhyeok shuffles the last of his books into his backpack, roughly zipping it up before his eyes finally turn to Cheongsan. The Alpha scans him head to toe in an oddly critical way, assessing him like he’s an enigma Suhyeok’s trying to figure out. 

“After last night, I figured you’d be able to handle a simple kiss.” 

It’s said with little inflexion in Suhyeok’s voice, rather a statement of fact than a barbed comment. Regardless, Cheongsan still feels embarrassment crawl up his neck, his insides coiling up. 

“I already told you, I didn’t mean to do it, it just came on me,” Cheongsan says in reply, doing his best to pull back on the embarrassment-fueled anger threatening to creep into his voice. “With everyone around us, I just get… embarrassed, anxious… I don’t know.” 

“Embarrassed? Of me? Of kissing me?” Suhyeok questions, his round eyes full of hurt anger. 

“No, Suhyeok. Jesus, just… of kissing and being all lovey in public.” 

“You care too much about what people think, Cheongsan.” 

With that, the Alpha slams his locker shut and attempts to turn away. Unsatisfied with the continuing downward spiral of their interactions today, Cheongsan reaches out and grabs his boyfriend’s forearm, halting his attempt to leave. 

Suhyeok stops, half turned away but the visible tension in his body lets Cheongsan know his boyfriend is very tempted to pull away completely and storm off. His confusion is growing, for the anger in Suhyeok’s frame, on his face, is starting to feel unwarranted.

At a loss for what to say to appease his boyfriend, from somewhere inside Cheongsan, his next move is inspired and he wraps his arms around Suhyeok from behind, plastering his chest to the Alpha’s back and coming to rest his chin on the other boy’s shoulder. He needs to stand on his tippy toes to do it, but with his arms secured around the toned torso of the Alpha, he’s balanced well enough. 

“I’m sorry, okay? You can kiss me in public. I won’t freak out next time, I promise.” 

He doesn’t get much of a verbal response but when he physically begins to feel the tightness of Suhyeok’s muscles unwind, Cheongsan nuzzles his nose into the hair behind his Alpha’s ear, and it does the rest of the job, the tension leaving Suhyeok completely with an exhale. 

“You’re playing dirty, Omega,” Suhyeok whispers, turning his head to smile slyly at Cheongsan with narrowed eyes. 

Cheongsan dips his head to hide his triumphant smirk. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar,” Suhyeok grins, amusement rising in his voice, “Surrounding me with that scent, nuzzling me like that. You know exactly what you’re doing,” 

In truth, the whole thing had come to Cheongsan out of the desire to mend the rift between them. It had been an instinctual thing, something he’d acted on without thinking much about it. 

“Is it working?” Cheongsan allows Suhyeok to see his smile this time, leaning forward to whisper the words into the Alpha’s ear. 

With a growl, Suhyeok turns and Cheongsan finds himself airborne, lifted under his thighs to stare down at the Alpha in surprise. He recovers fast enough to wind his arms around his boyfriend’s neck, and a second later, he’s guided backwards and deposited on the first-floor window sill, Suhyeok settling between his thighs. 

The hallway is empty, that much he can see from his peripheral vision but when Suhyeok leans in for a second attempt at a kiss, Cheongsan, almost as if he’s under a compulsion, can’t stop himself from looking left and right to see if anyone is around.

When he straightens his head to receive the kiss, satisfied they’re alone, he registers instantly by the expression on Suhyeok’s face that the damage is already done. The anger’s nowhere to be found, or perhaps it hasn’t arrived yet but in its place, the hurt sits heavily on his boyfriend’s features. 

Desperate to erase that hurt, Cheongsan leans in to initiate the kiss but misses Suhyeok’s lips when the Alpha turns his head away. The need to apologise sits on the tip of Cheongsan’s tongue again, poised there but it feels useless, empty. Instead, he tries to explain, maybe on a slightly desperate note. 

“I just… panic for a second… I don’t know…” 

As usual, his way with words is terrible, and knowing Suhyeok deserves better, the frustration and annoyance with himself boils over into his own anger. 

“It’s okay, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok sighs, stepping away to readjust his backpack. The smile that tilts up the corners of his boyfriend’s mouth is weak at best. 

“It’s not okay,” Cheongsan growls, almost wishing the anger on Suhyeok’s face would return, feeling more than justified. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” 

Looking down to the ground, Suhyeok nods minutely, seemingly lost for words. 

“You can be angry with me. I’d deserve it,” Cheongsan declares, stepping closer to Suhyeok to try catch his gaze. 

That sentence earns him a heated glare from the Alpha, and Cheongsan thinks good, let Suhyeok be angry with him. Expecting a reprimand or scathing comment, the frustrated sigh followed by Suhyeok scrubbing his face with his hands leaves Cheongsan feeling hollow. 

“Let’s just get to homeroom,” Suhyeok says, smiling that awful sad smile again whilst hesitantly offering Cheongsan his hand. 

Taking it, Cheongsan nods, following his boyfriend to homeroom with guilt sitting in his stomach like a rock. 

—---------------------------------------------------------

The rest of their day carries on like normal, Cheongsan dodging one hundred and one questions from Gyeongsu about why he was out, whilst ignoring the curious glances Daesu keeps sending him. Nosey shit. 

His interactions with Suhyeok himself carry on as normal too but Cheongsan can sense the undercurrent of awkward tension between them. He’s clearly hurt Suhyeok with his reluctance to show PDA and Cheongsan can’t say he’s surprised the Alpha reacted with such anger earlier. He’s more surprised that Suhyeok’s patience and understanding with him has stretched this far without snapping. 

“You should go with the rolled omelette today, the protein will help you heal.” 

Glancing back at his boyfriend behind him, Cheongsan glares a little, quickly redirecting his eyes to scan the students around them and make sure no one heard that. 

“I’m nearly fully recovered, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan replies, annoyance slipping into his tone, “If I want something less nutritious, I’m having it,” 

“Trust you to make bad decisions,” Suhyeok bites back in reply. 

Cheongsan’s eyes widen upon hearing that comment, half turning to stare in disbelief at the Alpha. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“Nothing,” Suhyeok dismisses, glancing away to glare out at the room. 

Temper building, especially now that Suhyeok’s decided to cowardly back down on that comment, Cheongsan goes to fully face the Alpha when a loud cough interrupts his irate thoughts. Facing forward, the expectant lunch lady gives him an impatient glance. 

Slamming his packed lunch - of the least nutritious food options available - onto their table thirty seconds later, everyone startles and turns to him in surprise. Reeling in his temper, Cheongsan awkwardly gives everyone a smile of apology, except for Suhyeok, who sits down next to him at that moment and earns himself nothing but a cold shoulder. 

The tension doesn’t let up as they dig into their food, the whole table seemingly sensing it enough for there to be an awkward lull to any conversation. 

Staring down at his meal, Cheongsan eats his lunch without enjoying any of it, the unhappy weight in his stomach making little room for an appetite. Daring to side-eye his boyfriend to his left, finding Suhyeok already examining him makes his heart jump a little, and he quickly drops his gaze back down to his tray, knowing regardless he’s been caught.

The friction between them fades as the lunch hour continues, their friends’ conversations around them eventually returning to their usual cadence. Cheongsan doesn’t feel much like talking, replying shortly to any attempts to involve him. Even Onjo gets little out of him but he’s not so much of an ass to be rude to her when he gives her next to nothing in reply to a question about his interest in a new K-Pop band. 

It’s towards the last twenty minutes of their lunch that something weird happens, something Cheongsan hadn’t expected, though he was stupid not to. He and Suhyeok aren’t official. Thanks to Cheongsan’s hesitation to show public displays of affection, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when someone saunters up to their table and hits on his boyfriend.

Kim Hyeon-ju struts up to them, her hair hanging loose around her face, her makeup done up flawlessly, and her school shirt? Barely done up at all.

Cheongsan’s embarrassment on her behalf ignites heat across his face when he accidentally glances right at her cleavage. He’s not even interested in women so it’s not as if he was looking but it’s still shameful that he caught an eyeful at all. For half a second, he thinks she’s going to speak to him but her eyes only glance disinterestingly in his direction before finding her target to Cheongsan’s left. 

“Hi, Suhyeok,” She purrs sweetly, placing her hands on the table's edge to lean towards the Alpha, doing an excellent job of revealing more of herself. 

“Uh, hello, Hyeon-ju,” Cheongsan hears Suhyeok mumble from beside him, too busy counting grains of rice left on his tray to look up at the other boy. 

“You’re looking particularly handsome today, Alpha.” 

Oh. 

Cheongsan’s on his forty-fourth grain of rice when he registers the Omega’s words and her intent behind them. 

She’s openly flirting with Suhyeok. She’s openly flirting with Cheongsan’s boyfriend. 

“Um, thank you, Hyeon-ju,” Suhyeok replies, a flare of something unpleasant lighting up in Cheongsan’s chest hearing even that much. 

Looking up at his boyfriend, Cheongsan doesn’t glare at Suhyeok in warning, he doesn’t dramatically drag his thumb across his throat or worse, reach under the table and threaten to castrate the Alpha. They simply lock eyes for a few seconds, watching each other intently.

“You’re looking pretty good yourself,” Suhyeok grins up at Hyeon-ju, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hand and smile flirtatiously up at the Omega. 

Cheongsan’s stomach drops out of his ass, a cold feeling crystalising in his veins. Staring in shock at Suhyeok, the teasing, playful back and forth that follows between his boyfriend and Kim Hyeon-ju, he barely hears, a throbbing in his temples deafening out the rest of their conversation until the Omega finally skips away, happy with herself. 

A pin drop could be heard at their table after, and Cheongsan doesn’t need to look up from where he’s staring into space to know every one of his friends’ is staring at them, at him. 

He launches himself out of his chair and across the cafeteria to get away from it all but mostly to get away from Suhyeok. 

Bursting into the boy’s bathroom, Cheongsan glares at a younger student making his way out, the guy’s eyes widening in alarm from the heat in Cheongsan’s gaze. Stalking into a cubicle, he turns and slams the door closed, locking it before kicking the toilet’s lid down with his foot roughly and dropping down onto it. 

With his head in his hands, Cheongsan breathes through the anger crackling along his skin, beyond tempted to smash or throw something. He kicks the cubicle door once hard, startling someone taking a piss at the urinal enough that they release a squeak.

Reeling in his temper, though it desires nothing more than continued lashing out, Cheongsan doesn’t feel much up to garnering the attention of school staff by damaging school property. 

“Cheongsan?” 

His stomach tightens hard hearing a male voice call out his name but when he registers the timbre as Gyeongsu’s and not someone else’s, he relaxes, releasing a breath. The Beta’s worn sneakers appear under the gap in the door, not a second before a knock comes. 

“Cheongsan? You in there? If you’re taking a shit, remember to wipe front to back and not back to front, man.” 

The crude joke actually breaks through Cheongsan’s foul mood enough for him to crack a smile. Trust Gyeongsu to go straight to toilet humour to cheer him up. 

“I’m not taking a shit,” Cheongsan unimpressedly responds, rolling his eyes for his own benefit. 

“Are you crying?” Gyeognsu asks next and Cheongsan wishes his best friend would go back to making poop jokes. 

“No,” Cheongsan replies dryly, standing up finally to unlock the cubicle door. 

Gyeongsu tries to step inside when Cheongsan gets the door open wide enough, the Beta clearly thinking he’s being invited in but Cheongsan pushes him out, looking back at the surprised expression with one of annoyance. 

“You’re not freaking joining me in a cubicle, Gyeongsu, God.” 

“Afraid someone will get the wrong idea?” Gyeongsy quips, but the smirk dies on his lips when Cheongsan doesn’t humour him. “Are you okay, man? Suhyeok… I can’t believe that asshole.” 

“I’m good,” Cheongsan nods, crossing his arms over his chest and periodically glancing between the floor tiles and his friend’s face. 

“You guys were fighting before, right?” Gyeongsu asks, awkwardly sliding his hands into his pant pockets in an attempt to appear casual. “Is that why he did it?” 

Thinking about it, Cheongsan doesn’t know why the Alpha did it. It felt purely vengeful in the moment, the way they’d stared at each other momentarily before a flash of cruelty had risen in Suhyeok’s eyes and he’d turned to Hyeon-ju with that coy smile. Cheongsan has always known that Suhyeok isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, the Alpha has a history that he’d rather everyone forgot. Cheongsan hasn’t forgotten though. Suhyeok is capable of being cruel. It’s been a long time since that mean bully his friend used to be has made an appearance and Cheongsan can admit he’s shocked to see it now.

“I don’t know, Gyeongsu. You’d have to ask Suhyeok.” 

“Yeah, not likely. He stormed off not long after you did but if it’s any constellation, he looked like he regretted it.” 

Absorbing that, Cheongsan finds he has little use for that information. Who cares if Suhyeok regrets it, he still did it. 

“I don’t…” Cheongsan begins, trailing off when he realises he doesn’t know what he is going to say. “Let’s just forget about it. I just wanna get today done and over with.” 

“Fair enough,” Gyeongsu nods solemnly, starting to walk towards the exit before his eyes light up and he turns to Cheongsan with a smile, “Hey, I just remembered! We’re all going camping tomorrow, me, the guys, even the girls! You have to come, Cheongsan!” 

“Camping?” Cheongsan frowns, perplexed by the sudden appearance of the idea. 

“Yeah, man! We’ve been talking about it for days. You were out and we weren’t sure you’d be in any mood for it but what do you say?” Gyeongsu grins, looking excitedly over at Cheongsan. 

Biting his lip, Cheongsan loathes to admit his hang-ups, with how transparent they are but he finds no other way around saying them but saying them. “I don’t know, Gyeongsu… is Suhyeok going?” 

Gyeongsu deflates with that, a crease of worry appearing in his brow before he reluctantly responds, “He was sorta invited. yeah…” Gyeongsu admits, and Cheongsan's about to reject the offer completely when the Beta interrupts him before he can, “But after today, it’s completely unlikely he’ll show up at the meet-up point! Everyone’s mad at him, Cheongsan.”

Debating it, Cheongsan gnaws at his lower lip, pondering whether it’s worth it to take the risk that Suhyeok will show up. Right now, Cheongsan needs space from the Alpha, at least until things cool down between them. He’s not… breaking up with Suhyeok but he won’t be making any moves to speak or contact the other boy first, not after what he did. 

He does enjoy camping though, despite the traumatising experience he had when he was a kid. It seems that encounter with that abusive Alpha scared Cheongsan away from Alphas more than it did camping itself. He’s actually already been camping with his friends once before. They’d all hiked up into the Hyosan forests together around six months ago. It’d been a memorable event. 

Cheongsan had regretfully ended up sharing a tent with a farting and snoring Gyeongsu, Daesu had gotten so drunk on the bottle of Vodka that the guy had puked all over his hiking boots, whilst Namra had unexpectedly gone into rut on their last day, forcing them to return earlier than planned all the while trying to maintain as large a distance between her and Suhyeok. The two of them had been glaring and baring teeth at each other even more so than usual. Cheongsan had been charged with keeping Suhyeok separate and calm and thinking back on it now, he’s not entirely surprised he so easily succeeded. 

“Okay, I’ll go,” He nods, tensing a little in surprise when Gyeongsu jumps for joy before throwing his arm around Cheongsan. 

“Great, man! You won’t regret it!” Gyeongsu delights, leading them out of the bathroom.

“I’m not sharing a tent with you again! I never knew it was even humanly possible for someone to fart so much in their sleep!” 

“I fart a perfectly normal amount! It was those damn hotdogs we roasted!.” 

Chapter Text

His bed appeals to him for far longer than normal on Saturday morning, Cheongsan lying in it staring out at his room for going on an hour. Usually, he’s up, showered and eating breakfast within twenty minutes of waking but today he’s spent the start of his weekend thinking about his boyfriend, thinking about Suhyeok.

It seems to be the only thing he does anymore.

He hasn’t got much time left to waste, Gyeongsu and the others will be waiting for him at their agreed meeting point come eleven o’clock. Very soon, he needs to be up and out the door with his backpack of camping essentials. He prepared his backpack last night and it’s currently staring at him from beside his doorway so he’s not in any real panic.

He’s just so confused about what happened yesterday, at how quickly it had all happened. Everything between them had finally been going smoothly, their relationship continuing to grow into something new and exciting. For it to backpedal so fast, for them to be on not speaking terms again, it’s wrecking his mind trying to figure out the how and why. 

So far, laying in bed for this long has allowed him to conclude that something was definitely wrong with Suhyeok that morning. There had to have been. Cheongsan remembers clearly the glower on his boyfriend’s face when he’d emerged from the forest, Suhyeok glaring out into space like the morning sunlight had personally offended him. 

Cheongsan knows the Alpha, and in saying that, he knows that Suhyeok can become volatile when he’s upset. The other teen isn’t perfect. Suhyeok’s shady past of practically being a delinquent not too dissimilar from Gwinam is proof of that. Cheongsan hadn’t really known Suhyeok when he was still hanging around with that crowd, only ever seeing them from a distance and knowing to stay away. 

Suhyeok has confessed to Cheongsan some of his past mistakes and misdeeds, the Alpha shamed face murmuring to him one Sunday evening about the students he used to bully, the people in town he used to terrorise or torment with Gwinam and Myeong-hwan egging him on. Cheongsan vividly remembers the humiliation on the Alpha’s face when he’d admitted with a stilted shrug that he just wanted to impress the other boys, that he wanted them to accept him. 

That evening Cheongsan’s heart had gone out to him, not a few weeks into their budding friendship, understanding what it’s like to desire to fit in, to find your friends. They’d had the first of many vulnerable, quiet moments with each other then, Cheongsan smiling gently with pride that Suhyeok had pulled away from those bullies, that he’d chosen to change. Suhyeok had stared back at him with his big round eyes all soft and laid bare, a glimmer of something in his gaze that Cheongsan had thought to be gratitude at the time but perhaps, in hindsight, was something a little… more. 

That side of the Alpha didn’t just up and disappear into the ether, however, Suhyeok has still occasionally fallen back into that angry, spiteful boy whenever he’s really upset. That’s why Cheongsan is convinced something that morning, or maybe the evening prior, greatly upset his boyfriend. He’s tormenting himself really because it’s all well and good to speculate and theorise about this but without actual answers from Suhyeok, he’ll never know what happened.

That brings him to the silence emanating from his phone. Suhyeok hasn’t so much as messaged him an awkward ‘hello’ followed by a lengthy apology. Cheongsan’s stomach turns over with anxiety wondering why not. The Alpha fucked up, surely Suhyeok can see that? Surely he understands there’s a whole lot of apologising and kissing Cheongsan’s ass to do to earn his forgiveness. 

Biting into his lip nervously, the thought that maybe Suhyeok doesn’t want to apologise or fix things between them flits through his brain, the ball of anxiety in his gut growing. 

Shaking his head minutely, scoffing at himself, Cheongsan silences that thought, recognising it as his own insecurities rearing their ugly head. He’s getting better at that, spotting those thoughts before they can grip him.

Suhyeok loves him. He knows that, and the Alpha will mend things between them. He just… hasn’t yet. 

Cheongsan is far too proud to reach out first though, admittedly that is one of his vices but he’d rather walk on hot coals than appear that pathetic and needy, even to Suhyeok. 

Plus, he truly is deeply hurt by the Alpha’s actions, cringing as he lays in bed remembering the scene that’d unfolded at lunch yesterday. 

Cheongsan had been embarrassed for Kim Hyeon-ju and her desperate attempt to flirt with Suhyeok. He’d been so sure that Suhyeok would gently reject her that the whiplash he’d experienced when the Alpha started flirting back was astounding. 

The shock of it had quickly been overridden by the humiliation he’d felt, all their friends staring over in disbelief, their eyes swivelling from Suhyeok’s leering grin to Cheongsan’s frozen state, eyeing him hard to catch his reaction. 

It’d been the salt rubbed into the deep wound of Suhyeok flirting with that Omega, Cheongsan’s senses unable to comprehend what he was seeing and hearing right before him.

Is Suhyeok seriously so petty and cruel that he would hurt Cheongsan like that because of a turned-down kiss? Or an argument over his eating habits? 

He never thought the other boy that mean, that hurtful. Most especially not to him.

Maybe, he’s just really naive about who Suhyeok is. 

“...Cheongsan?” 

He’s so preoccupied daydreaming about kneeing Suhyeok in the balls that he doesn’t hear his Papa enter his room, the Beta frowning over at him. “...You feeling okay? You’re usually up by now.” 

Taking that for his sign to get out of bed, Cheongsan nods, pulling the covers back to sit up, his bare feet landing on the cool hardwood floors. “I’m good, just woke up late.” He lies, shrugging a shoulder. 

“Well, go get showered, you’re going on that camping trip, no? It’s nearly ten.” 

“I know, Papa,” Cheongsan replies, reaching up to brush aside his messy bedhead, “I’m going for a shower now.” 

Nodding, his Papa retreats to the doorway before pausing, his hand on the frame as he turns back to Cheongsan with a question in his eyes. “I’m assuming Suhyeok’s going?” 

Frowning at the mention of the Alpha, Cheongsan sighs in annoyance as he stands to walk over to his dresser to find something to wear. “No, actually. Suhyeok’s busy this weekend.” He says shortly, not inclined to elaborate further on his lie. 

“Oh,” His Papa replies, surprise in his tone, enough that Cheongsan glances at him. When his Papa continues to study him, the gears behind the older man’s eyes turning, Cheongsan grows uncomfortable. 

“What?” He questions, attempting to leave his bedroom with his clothes in hand. He’s blocked in the doorway by his Papa’s frame. 

“Cheongsan,” His Papa starts, staring down at him softly, “You don’t have to lie to me. It’s okay if Suhyeok’s going. I remember what being a hormonal teenage boy was like.” 

Eyes widening in alarm and disgust, Cheongsan dodges under his Papa’s arm, escaping into the hallway and fleeing into the bathroom. “I don’t wanna hear about that!” 

He’s got the bathroom door closed and locked in the next second, staring warily at the wood grain like his Papa will continue talking through it about his… teenage hormones. Cheongsan thinks he might retch. 

He’s cleaning behind his ears in the shower a little later, his mind adrift as he goes through the motions of his routine. Unsurprisingly, being in his shower at home keeps reminding him of the evening spent in Suhyeok’s, and all the details of what they’d gotten up therein. Being angry with his boyfriend, however, Cheongsan ignores his boner that pops up when he spends a little too long recalling being on his knees for Suhyeok. 

Needing to check to see how he’s healing from his invasive doctor’s appointment, he tries to not let himself enjoy it too much. After some slow circling of his rim, with a heavy exhale he sinks his index finger inside himself, a shiver of pleasure racing along his skin. Thankfully, no pain greets him as he explores, slick responding to his actions to help ease the way. 

Biting into his lip, when he realises he’s enjoying himself a little too much and not just inspecting himself anymore, he retracts the finger, already knowing where this will go if he continues. 

He’s not getting off to the thoughts of his jerk-ass boyfriend. 

There’s a weird, awkward energy between him and Onjo as they walk toward the agreed meeting point. The two of them clearly have the exact same thing on their minds but neither of them seem willing to confront or acknowledge it. Cheongsan stares down at the passing pavement under his feet, adjusting his backpack on his shoulders. It’s lighter like this, books proving to be far heavier than a few changes of clothes and other essentials like his toothbrush. 

Onjo is the first to break the awkward silence, her voice not sounding all that casual. 

“Do you think this time will be as entertaining as the last?” She smirks over at him, a tightness around her eyes. 

Shrugging, Cheongsan returns his gaze to the ground. Recalling momentarily the ‘entertaining’ events that had transpired the last time they’d all gone camping; Daesu puking his guts out, Namra going into rut. He hopes this time around, it’s just a simple camping trip for them, though he doesn’t think he’ll mind if Daesu or one of the guys gets embarrassingly drunk again. It was funny. 

“I’d say it’s likely. Although without Suhyeok, we may not have any alcohol,” He replies without thinking, addressing the elephant in the room. 

Onjo hums with a nod, and Cheongsan deflates inwardly when the interest in her eyes that lights up can only mean one thing. He’s unsurprised of the next words that leave her. 

“What if he shows up? He wasn’t exactly uninvited yesterday after the whole…” 

She trails off, her mouth pinching awkwardly, her eyes sympathetic to even hint at the humiliating experience Cheongsan was put through. 

“I doubt he’ll make an appearance. He knows he’s not welcome,” Cheongsan replies quietly, keeping his eyes straight ahead to save himself from seeing any more pity on his best friend’s face. 

Turning a corner, they close in on the school, the streets here looking odd without the usual stream of students and stressed parents dropping them off before work. 

They’d decided to meet at the school gates and to walk further north toward the forest boundary with the city. It’ll be a hike from that point onward to the camping grounds and Cheongsan smiles to himself imagining the whining Daesu will no doubt commit to about the effort.

“What’re you going to do if he does show up?” 

Cheongsan’s smile drops with that question from Onjo, his stomach tightening uncomfortably. Shrugging uselessly, he grunts in reply, not entirely sure how to answer. He’s been carefully not thinking about what he’ll do if Suhyeok shows up. A big part of him wants to rudely order the Alpha to go home, to glare his boyfriend down until he understands his invite has been revoked. He knows should he do that, his friends will have his back. 

A smaller but insistent part of himself wants desperately to talk to Suhyeok, to get the Alpha to explain why. It’s been eating away at Cheongsan, not understanding why Suhyeok would hurt him so callously like that. Maybe if the Alpha explains, it won’t be so bad, maybe Suhyeok had a reason for behaving as he did. A reason other than to hurt and embarrass Cheongsan. 

“Maybe it’d be a good idea for you guys to get some space away from each other,” Onjo suggests, her face relaying she thinks that’s a great idea.

“Maybe,” Cheongsan responds, not entirely convinced. 

Crossing the street together, they jog over to the path along the school boundary, the entrance gate just up ahead. A squirming pit of anxiety grows in Cheongsan’s belly, making his palms begin to sweat where they’re gripping the straps of his backpack. 

Getting closer, he sees Wujin first, looking to be arguing playfully with someone, the beta’s face turned over in annoyance. Daesu’s the unsurprising source of that annoyance, the other teen animatedly explaining something to Wujin. 

Gyeongsu appears after that, his best friend walking up to lightly shove Daesu. Isak is laughing, alongside Jimin, the two girls blushing red and giggling behind their hands. Namra and Joonyeong are paying the others no mind, chatting a short distance away, the two of them staring at something on Joonyeong’s phone. 

Cheongsan is standing before his friends when he finally realises Suhyeok’s not here, the Alpha’s taller form nowhere to be found. He tries to ignore the horrible pang that hits him in the centre of his chest.

“Hey man,” Gyeongsu walks up to greet him, casually throwing his arm over Cheongsan’s shoulder. 

Cheongsan is still staring around the school gates, his frown deepening the longer Suhyeok’s absence drags on. He’s almost expecting the Alpha to jump out behind a wall with a laugh or to sneak up behind Cheongsan and frighten him. 

“He’s not here. Didn’t show up after all,” Gyeongsu leans over to whisper in his ear, and Cheongsan turns his head to see sympathy in his friend’s eyes. It snaps him out of looking helplessly around for his boyfriend, enough so that he coughs and shakes Gyeongsu off, a mild frown drawing his brows together. 

“Shouldn’t we get going? At this rate, we’ll arrive at the camp by midnight.” 

His friends all stare at him concernedly or glance at him worriedly in his direction, enough so that Cheongsan’s annoyance grows into anger and he clenches his jaw, pivoting and marching away from the group toward the the forest tree line. He’s making quick progress, the feeling burning in his chest fueling him on, his thighs burning and a throbbing beginning to form in his temples as he walks. 

Gyeongsu jogs up to him from where the group is following a few metres behind, the beta out of breath like he ran two miles up to Cheongsan and not two metres. 

“Slow down, dude,” Gyeongsu protests, gawking at Cheongsan. 

Burning holes into the concrete, Cheongsan flicks his eyes toward his friend, the worry in his gaze like cold water over the sizzling anger in his veins. With embarrassment, he realises how melodramatic he’s being, so with a careful inhale, he slows his stride, breathing evenly as he recentres himself. 

“I hope the last spot we set up camp is free,” He says to Gyeongsu, attempting to move on from his dramatic behaviour. “I liked the view.” 

“Me too,” Gyeongsu replies, swinging his arm back over Cheongsan’s shoulder. He’s given a squeeze by the other boy and Cheongsan unashamedly leans into the touch, allowing himself to take the offered comfort. 

Glancing behind, Cheongsan smiles carefully at any of his friends who catch his eye, trying to reassure all of them that he’s okay. Namra and Daesu lock eyes with him, the female Alpha offering him a small smile whilst Daesu grins heartedly back at him.

Turning back around, as they walk to the forest border, Cheongsan’s mind returns to Suhyeok of its own accord. He feels relieved Suhyeok’s not here, or at least, some part of him does. The angry and hurt part of himself is thankful he has a weekend ahead of him with just his friends. A weekend of uncomplicated fun and easygoing camaraderie. 

He can’t quiet the part of himself anxiously pacing over the fact that Suhyeok… really mustn’t care. The Alpha not messaging him an apology had confused and concerned Cheongsan to begin with but he told himself Suhyeok was just planning on showing up today and begging for his forgiveness in person. Now, as their group crosses the street together without the taller teen, Cheongsan’s been let adrift realising that Suhyeok doesn’t plan on trying to apologise. 

Suhyeok doesn’t care to apologise. Suheyok doesn’t care. 

It’s as he’s lingering on that realisation, letting it fill the expanse of his mind, that they step into the tree line, the ground already beginning to slope upward, Cheongsan carefully placing one foot in front of the other. 

“Hey, wait!” 

His heart squeezes in his chest so hard he loses his breath hearing Suhyeok’s voice, spinning around to stare down past his friends to where he can just see the street they’d left behind. 

The Alpha comes running into the forest a few seconds later, jogging up the slope towards them all red-faced and breathless, like he’d run a mile. In a t-shirt and shorts, Suhyeok’s toned arms and legs on display make for stark contrast to the usual school uniform get-up he’s forced to wear Monday through Friday. Cheongsan is so distracted by the realisation the other teen is here and in such a fashion that he’s left blinking in a daze at the other boy’s chest when Suhyeok stops before him. 

Raising his eyes, Cheongsan can see the weary-looking on Suhyeok’s face, the doubt on his features. He knows his place here is in question. 

Looking to the right, Cheongsan notices the frowns on several of his friend’s faces to see the Alpha, Namra and Onjo both looking to be two seconds away from escorting Suhyeok back down the hill.

“Morning,” Suhyeok greets breathlessly, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat, a sheen of sweat still glistening across his forehead and down his temples. 

Cheongsan realises at that moment he needs to decide on how he’s going to respond to Suhyeok’s presence. From the corner of his eye he can see his friends waiting for his reaction, waiting to take his lead should he tell Suhyeok to go back to where he came from, that he’s no longer welcome. Onjo in particular is giving him a look, and in it, she’s practically ordering him to punish Suhyeok for what he did.

The silence drags on as Cheongsan ponders what to do, staring at the blue pattern on Suhyeok’s shirt.

“I don’t… think…” He murmurs, shifting uncomfortably on his feet, his gaze swivelling back to Onjo; nodding her head in encouragement. Namra sidesteps around Onjo, a fierce expression on her face locked onto Suhyeok, the Alpha clearly ready to confront the unwelcome addition to their group. 

Cheongsan swallows nervously, his vision flicking between Suhyeok, Onjo, and Namra, his mind racing as he tries to do the right thing by himself, stand up for himself, to not let Suhyeok get away with hurting him. 

As Namra comes even closer, Cheongsan sees Suhyeok tense, the Alpha clearly aware of her approach but pretending otherwise, his eyes locked onto Cheongsan’s. Maybe he’s insane, maybe he’s just stupid but Cheongsan swears he can see pleading in that gaze, the other boy’s eyes practically begging him. 

Namra opens her mouth, her voice when it leaves her a low growl. “Suhyeok, you should– ” 

“Morning!” Cheongsan yips, jumping forward to squeeze Suhyeok’s hand and peck him on the lips. 

Interlocking their fingers, Cheongsan continues up the slope with Suhyeok in hand, putting his back to the shocked audience behind him, Namra and Onjo, in particular, staring at him with slack jaws. Even Suhyeok seems dumbfounded, wide-eyed and following clumsily after Cheongsan, stumbling like a newborn foal over exposed tree roots.

It’s an awkward trek to the campsite after that, Cheongsan’s hand in Suhyeok’s quickly becoming sweaty and uncomfortable. He continues to hold on to the Alpha though, marching past towering conifers and skittering wildlife till the terrain starts to level off and his calves burn less with the effort. 

They don’t talk as they walk, both of them silent and barely making eye contact. Behind, the rest of the group is slow to resume conversation but eventually, Cheongsan’s effected shock on his friends wears off and they’re once again chit-chatting to no end. 

He knows they’ve just about reached the clearing when they come to a dirt backroad, other campers often driving up to the site rather than hiking. With collective relief, they cross over it, and soon the camping clearing is before them, the circular space empty and appearing as if it hasn’t been used since the last time they were here. 

Slowing to a stop before it, Cheongsan releases a breath, reaching up with his free hand to wipe his sweaty brow. His friends weave around him and Suhyeok, dropping their gear and backpacks into the clearing, Wujin and Gyeongsu dramatically chugging their water bottles like parched men. Daesu tips his bottle over his head, almost in competition with the other boys for the most ridiculous behaviour and Cheongsan can’t help but amusedly grin, already knowing Wujin is about to give the guy shit about wasting water. 

“Cheongsan, can we talk?” Suhyeok turns to murmur, ripping Cheongsan from his good mood. He’d almost forgotten the Alpha was there. 

Not dignifying Suhyeok with a response or even a glance, Cheongsan continues walking forward, leading his boyfriend through and past the clearing into the forest beyond. He catches Onjo’s eye as he passes, his friend frowning at them concernedly. He gives her the most reassuring smile he can muster.

Twenty metres into the forest, the voices of their friends fading away, Cheongsan stops before a large fallen tree, dignifying this as good a place as any to have this out. Letting Suhyeok go, he immediately rubs his palm against his shorts, grimacing at how clammy and gross it is now. 

“Cheongsan, I–” 

“Shut up, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan sighs, still with his back to the Alpha. Closing his eyes, he tilts his face back into the dappled sunlight streaming through the canopy, enjoying momentarily the cool breeze that rushes past him to flow through his hair. 

Opening his eyes, he figures he’s dragged this out long enough, the inevitability of it weighing on him. Turning around, he slips his hands into his pockets, locking eyes with Suhyeok. There’s a pitiful tilt to the Alpha’s lips, his eyes all big, round and puppy-like. Cheongsan wants to throw dirt at it. 

Suhyeok drops his gaze - the coward - reaching up to scratch at his nose and hunching over slightly in a very submissive gesture. It only proves to annoy Cheongsan further. 

When the Alpha still doesn’t speak, the seconds dragging on, Cheongsan’s patience runs out completely. 

“Get on with it,” He demands, throwing out a hand. Suhyeok lifts his head back up to him, swallowing and nodding jerkily. 

“I, um, I have–” Suhyeok starts before he frowns down at himself, the Alpha’s brow creased, the frustration with himself obvious. Sighing hard, Suhyeok stares at him, all wide-eyed before he blurts. 

“I am so sorry about what I did yesterday.” 

It’s said in a rush, the words falling out of the Alpha’s mouth to trip over each other, muddled and barely legible.

Frowning, Cheongsan stares at Suhyeok in disbelief when the Alpha stops there as if that were enough.

“What is it you’re sorry for, exactly?” Cheongsan asks, unbelieving that he’s helping Suhyeok with this. 

Suhyeok cringes, his cheeks going red, looking increasingly shame-faced. “I was a complete asshole to you yesterday. I… behaved in an incredibly hurtful way.” 

Still nowhere near satisfied, Cheongsan doesn’t do or say much but glare the Alpha down, praying that for Suhyeok’s sake, the other teen understands there’s more to be done. More grovelling to be had.

Suhyeok takes a step toward him, a hand raising as if to touch, and Cheongsan tenses, glaring hotly at the appendage until the Alpha’s feet stumble to a stop and he reaches up instead to grip his bicep. 

“I am so unbelievably sorry, ‘San. I don’t even know why I did it, I… just lost my mind for a brief second.” 

“Oh, fuck off, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan bites back with an eye roll, this conversation not going in the direction he was hoping for at all. “You know exactly why you did it! You wanted to hurt me. Because I rejected your kiss!” 

“That’s not true!” Suhyeok shoots back, with a desperate shake of his head. When Cheongsan feels rage flash through him with Suhyeok’s rebuttal, it's clear the Alpha sees the reaction in him by how he tacks on hastily. “Just let me explain, Cheongsan!” 

“I have been letting you explain, asshole!” Cheongsan yells, gesturing hotly, “So far your attempts have been shit!” 

“I’m trying!” Suhyeok fires back, frustrated, “It’s complicated.” 

Left staring at the Alpha, a new fresh hurt emerges behind Cheongsan’s sternum, not understanding how Suhyeok could find it so difficult to simply apologise sincerely. It’s like the Alpha can’t be bothered. 

“Thursday night, after you’d left and gone home, I’d been in bed about to sleep when my father knocked on my door…”

Cheongsan blinks, lifting his eyes slowly from where he’d been staring at the centre of Suhyeok’s chest to frown confusedly at the Alpha.

“...He walked in and perched on my bedside all serious and business-like and I’d known what he was about to say wouldn’t be good.” Suhyeok barrels on, his eyes pleading as Cheongsan listens confusedly. 

“Suhyeok, I don’t understand what…” Cheongsan trails off, thinking the Alpha’s gone a bit mental. 

“You’ll understand in a second, Sannie, just let me finish,” Suhyeok promises, nodding seriously. 

Figuring he has nothing to lose but time, Cheongsan nods back. 

Breaking eye contact, Suhyeok sighs, biting into his bottom lip before lifting his eyes to stare anxiously at him and Cheongsan knows whatever the Alpha is about to say he isn’t going to like. 

“He ordered me to stop seeing you,” Suhyeok informs him quietly. 

Surprised, Cheongsan’s mouth parts a little, shocked though he knows not why, he should’ve seen that coming. 

“Oh.” 

Suhyeok nods, as if Cheongsan offered him something substantial, opening his mouth to continue. “He ordered me to stop seeing you. That… I’d had my fun, and needed to find someone more… to my class…” Suhyeok relays with a cringe, the words leaving him as if it pains him. 

Cheongsan takes that hit with a slight grimace, having already known Mr Lee wasn’t fond of him but still feeling the sting of being judged like that, as if he were lesser than them, than Suhyeok. 

“I told him to go to hell.” Suhyeok finishes, a flush to his cheeks. Whether from anger or embarrassment, Cheongsan can’t be sure. 

Cheongsan moves on from the sting of Mr Lee’s words to being mildly shocked by Suhyeok’s actions, finding it hard to picture that level of disrespect from the other boy toward his parent.

“Uhh,” Cheongsan intelligently replies, the scenario replaying in his mind repeatedly. “You did?” 

Nodding, a hint of pride seeps into Suhyeok’s face, the Alpha readjusting his stance to stand all tall and proud in front of Cheongsan. 

A warm glow lights up in Cheongsan’s heart seeing Suhyeok practically preening for him but reality slams down on him a second later when he realises something. 

“What the hell does this have to do with anything?!” Cheongsan frowns, half suspecting Suhyeok’s just trying to butter him up, make it easier for him to forgive the Alpha or something. 

“Oh, right,” Suhyeok coughs, deflating as he explains further. “He didn’t take that too well, as you can imagine, but he’d left without another word so I’d figured that was the end of it.” The Alpha shrugs, looking to see if Cheongsan’s following. 

“Uh huh,” Cheongsan replies, nodding for the Alpha to continue. 

“The next morning though,” Suhyeok says lowly, dejectedly, “I’d come downstairs to have breakfast when he’d… informed me that he’d…” 

When Suhyeok looks away to stare off into the forest, an uncomfortable expression on his face, apparently finding it hard to finish that sentence, Cheongsan’s impatience dries up completely. 

“He what?!” Cheongsan blows up, wide-eyed and close to yelling. 

“...he’d arranged a date for me with his friend’s… Omega son…” 

Cheongsan freezes, an awful bolt stabbing through his chest, making every effort in the world to not let the feeling show on his face. 

Yet, he can picture it; Suhyeok on the date in some fancy restaurant, in a dapper suit opposite a beautiful, rich, pampered Omega, the two of them sharing smiles over dinner and after, walking hand in hand through a stunning, picturesque park, before sharing a kiss against the backdrop of the full moon–

“Cheongsan!” Suhyeok is suddenly saying, two fingers snapping in front of his face pulling him out of that awful imagining. 

“What?” Cheongsan manages, couching to clear his throat when his voice comes out strained. 

“Did you hear any of what I said after Omega son?” Suhyeok inquires, lifting a doubtful eyebrow. 

“‘Course I did,” Cheongsan snaps back, shoving the Alpha on the shoulder. 

“I refused, Sannie,” Suhyeok repeats anyway, carefully watching him. 

“Oh,” Cheongsan breathes, nodding as relief bounds through him, “Good but this still doesn’t explain anything, Suhyeok.” 

“It does, actually. It’s related to it.” Suhyeok murmurs, walking a little away to sit atop the fallen tree, staring out at the canopy. “He wasn’t happy with me, and my Mama, whilst she doesn’t care so much about where people come from, their class and all of that, she lets my Papa make the decisions for me. Some odd idea that only an Alpha male understands what an Alpha male needs growing up.”

Still listening, Cheongsan walks over to sit sideways on the fallen tree facing Suhyeok to give him his full attention.

“My bank account was frozen, my driver ordered to only take me to and from school, until I see, as he calls it, reason, I’m only allowed to leave my room for school.” 

“Did you sneak out to come here?” Cheongsan interrupts, curious how the Alpha managed that. 

With a tilt of his lips into an amused smirk, Suhyeok eyes him fondly. “I’ll get there, Cheongsan,” He says with a breath of laughter. 

“Right, sorry.” 

“Anyway,” Suhyeok continues, the amusement dying on his face as he eyes Cheongsan hesitantly. “We’d gotten into again that morning, nearly shouting at each other over the whole mess. I’d told him I didn’t give a single shit where you came from or what your parents did. I’d told him you were… important to me, that I wasn’t giving you up and that I loved you. And that you loved me.” 

Looking down at the decaying bark of the fallen tree, Cheongsan nods, swallowing as he begins picking bits of lichen off the surface. He’s a barrage of conflicting emotions sitting there, wanting to reassure Suhyeok whilst also holding onto his anger. He stays quiet and just continues listening. 

“In the end, neither of us had budged on our positions and I’d stormed out in a rage. It’d put me in an awful mood that morning, the cold, casual manner my father ordered me to end things with you replaying in my head, again and again, like my life is some business he’s carefully running, like I’m nothing more to him than an investment.”

“That’s why you were glaring bloody murder when you emerged from the trees that day,” Cheongsan murmurs, the pieces connecting in his mind. 

Suhyeok nods, shrugging helplessly, “I couldn’t shake off the mood, he’d really gotten to me, when I shouldn’t have let him.” 

“Parents do that better than anyone,” Cheongsan agrees, knowing the frustration and headaches his own parents have caused him. 

Suhyeok hums, staring at him, “When I’d spotted you that morning though, standing there, waving and smiling over at me all shy-like, it’d lifted my mood instantly, ‘Sannie, you can’t even imagine.”

Cheongsan smiles, despite himself, the love he can see in Suhyeok’s eyes melting his heart a little. It fades in the next second though as Suhyeok’s gaze turns despondent, the Alpha dropping his head back to sigh up at the clouds. 

“But when I went to kiss you, and you turned away from me, the rejection combined with everything else just slammed down on me. I know you didn’t do it to hurt me but I’d already been so angry fighting for you and when you turned away from me… an ugly part of myself asked me why I’d bothered.” 

There’s an awful heavy silence that prevails after that, Cheongsan unable to lift his eyes to Suhyeok, feeling like he’s moments away from shattering into a thousand tiny pieces with how tense he is.

“I’m not perfect, ‘Sannie,” Suhyeok whispers, a pleading edge to his voice, the other boy clearly begging for understanding. Cheongsan is trying but in that moment, the Alpha is asking for a lot. 

“And…what happened later at lunch?” Cheongsan says, trying to move past the uncomfortable energy between them. He realises maybe he doesn’t wanna know the reasoning for what happened after if it's anything like what Suhyeok just confessed. 

“I’d pulled myself back from thinking like that. I’m usually better at staying mentally out of that hateful, spiteful part of myself. That Suhyeok, the one I was before I met you, he’s not gone completely though.” 

“I know that, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan frowns, finally lifting his gaze to meet the Alpha’s eye. “I’ve always known you’re not perfect. And I never expected you to be. Hell, I’m far from perfect, that much we’ve established over the past few months but why…Kim Hyeon-ju?” Cheongsan asks, the anger in his chest unable to mask the pain in his voice. 

Suhyeok looks away from him, shame-faced, looking to all the world like the most remorseful boy in all of South Korea. It isn’t enough for Cheongsan, he needs to know why or he doesn’t think they’ll be able to move past this.

“You were being your usual, stubborn self, and whilst usually, I’d find that amusing, even cute, that morning, you just made me even more frustrated.” Suhyeok murmurs, his tone tired, his posture defeated.

Cheongsan’s hackles raise at that, very tempted to lash out at Suhyeok, the Alpha for all intents and purposes sounding as if he’s shifting the blame. Suhyeok continues talking before he manages to call the other boy out on it though. 

“Kim Hyeon-ju, she’d strutted up to us at the worst possible moment, honestly.” Suhyeok exhales, shifting uncomfortably. “I know you don’t feel comfortable showing PDA, it’s fine, Cheongsan, and really, I can accept that but I guess there’s more of those stereotypical Alpha traits in me than I thought because all I wanna do is show you off, Sannie. I wanna lay claim to you before everyone at school, kiss you silly and hug and touch you and make sure everyone understands that you belong to me, that you chose me.” 

“Why does that matter to you, Suhyeok?” Cheongsan enquires, not understanding why anyone else’s opinion on their relationship matters. 

“Because I sometimes fear I haven’t really got you, Cheongsan. There’s still a big part of me so afraid you’ll change your mind about us, about me, so yeah, I’m insecure. It took us a long time, it took you a long time to get here and there’s still a voice inside my head that whispers to me that you’ll realise you’ve made a mistake.” 

“That’s ridiculous.” Cheongsan sighs, shaking his head.

“I know, Cheongsan. I know it is, but regardless, I feel that way sometimes.” 

Cheongsan can’t exactly judge Suhyeok for his insecurities, being chock-full of them himself. Guilt squirms into his insides realising he may be responsible for a lot of that insecurity, the tumultuous way they became boyfriends not exactly a smooth journey. Suhyeok’s fears that Cheongsan may one day wake up and change his mind about their relationship, considering everything, isn’t shocking. 

“Kim Hyeon-ju…” Suhyeok murmurs into the silence between them, “She’d strutted up to our table and initially I’d been amused, maybe embarrassed for her overt attempt at flirting but then with the mood I was in…” The Alpha trails off, swallowing thickly, suddenly looking so nervous Cheongsan’s own nerves climb in tandem, even Suhyeok’s facial muscles begin quivering slightly. 

“With my fight with my father defending you, to you then rejecting me, arguing with me when I was trying to look out for you, I’d… figured if I flirted with Hyeon-ju….you’d realise what losing me would feel like.”

Cheongsan’s gaze drops to the log as pain slices straight through his heart, his hand pulling tight on the fabric of his shorts as he tries to keep his reaction in check. 

He wanted to know why Suhyeok behaved the way he did and now that he does, Cheongsan curses himself. He can’t believe he thought Suhyeok's explanation would bring him some relief from the pain the Alpha inflicted. Instead, it has driven that knife deeper and opened the wound further. 

“Sannie, I regretted it instantly once my anger faded and I am so sorry I let myself hurt you like that.” 

Swallowing, Cheongsan exhales shakily, the effort he’s making in reeling in his hurt nearly too much for him. Lifting his eyes to Suhyeok, he finds the Alpha staring at him, so much fear in his gaze.

Cheongsan slips off the tree, needing to put space between himself and Suhyeok before he says or does something he’ll later regret. Suhyeok visibly panics beside him and Cheongsan doesn’t make it two feet before the Alpha springs to his feet and reaches out to grab him by the wrist. 

“Cheongsan, wait! Please, I’m so sorry, please just… don’t hate me…” 

The hurt in Cheongsan is rebounding through him repeatedly, bouncing around inside his chest to smash into his heart every time he takes a breath. With Suhyeok’s hand around his wrist, he so badly wants to turn around and shove the Alpha off him whilst lacerating him with cruel words. 

Instead, he yanks himself free from Suhyeok’s grip and strides away into the forest.

Chapter Text

The forest is quiet as Cheongsan strides through it, his mind so caught up with everything that’s happened, he lets his feet wander where they may. He’d stormed away from Suhyeok and just kept walking, desperate to put some distance between himself and his boyfriend, unable to trust the hurt in his chest wouldn’t have him lashing out in anger. Eventually, after dragging himself up another incline with his calves burning, he spots a boulder up ahead and sits atop it to think. 

Resting his forearms on his knees, he stares out at the skyline, his mind a million miles away. Not a few metres ahead, a sharp drop-off descends into the deeper forest below, and above it, a wide view of the horizon is visible. Staring out at that landscape, alone and free to feel everything overflowing inside him, Cheongsan shakily exhales when it all winds up in his throat and tears pool in his eyes. 

He supposes he shouldn’t be so surprised by Suhyeok’s behaviour, he did know the Alpha had a mean streak but they’d gone so long without it making an appearance that Cheongsan had foolishly let himself believe it no longer existed. Or at least, that he’d never be the recipient of its wrath. Sniffling, he wipes the tears that roll down his face away, their salty taste on his lips. 

The frustration and disappointment he feels with Suhyeok is overwhelming. The both of them should be having an awesome camping trip with their friends now. They should be having the best time but the Alpha’s stupid behaviour has spoiled everything. He’s an idiot for allowing the other boy to come, Cheongsan should’ve pushed him back down the hill or allowed Namra to do it for him. He doesn’t feel much up to the camping trip now, wishing he’d just stayed home, maybe lay in bed feeling sorry for himself. 

He doesn’t know where Suhyeok went. He’s assuming back to their friends. It’s been a good hour since Cheongsan stormed off and he’s heard nor seen any sign of the Alpha. Or any of his friends for that matter. He should probably head back, they might be worried about him and in truth, wandering the woods alone probably isn’t the smartest thing he’s done recently. 

Yet the idea of sitting amongst all of them with Suhyeok feels torturous. Cheongsan needs to get away from the Alpha for a while. Spending the next few days within proximity to him is most definitely not what he needs. He’s here now though. He supposes he could make the trip home alone. It’s not too late yet, he should get back before sunset anyway. 

Or he could make Suhyeok go home. He’s sure the Alpha would be obliging if Cheongsan asked. Right now it seems Suhyeok would do anything to earn his forgiveness so giving Cheongsan some space would surely not be a problem 

It’s only the thought of all their friends catching on, that makes his stomach squirm uncomfortably. He’d basically given them whiplash earlier when he’d kissed Suyheok on the mouth and then dragged the Alpha by hand to the camping site. To have to explain where Suhyeok’s gone if Cheongsan were to tell the other boy to go home, it’d be too embarrassing.

Tipping his head back, he sighs up at the sky, closing his eyes as his brain rattles around inside his skull for a solution to his problem. His goddamn problem by the name of Lee Suhyeok. Cheongsan can’t stop recalling the desperate way Suhyeok had begged him not to hate him, to forgive him. The wide panic in his eyes, the nervous quiver in his face as he confessed his motives behind hurting Cheongsan, trying to maliciously manipulate him. 

He wonders what Suhyeok’s thinking now, what he’s feeling now. Cheongsan storming off sure didn't relieve the Alpha of his panic or guilt. In his shoes, Cheongsan would be pulling out his hair right now. 

Good. 

He hopes Suhyeok’s gnawing at his lip, pulling out strands of hair, agonising over what Cheongsan’s potentially thinking. It’s the least he deserves. 

Glaring out at the horizon now, Cheongsan lets his hurt roll into a ball of anger, tension rising in his arms as he clenches his hands into fists. The anger is bright and throbbing in his temples, it sharpens his mind and gives him clarity from his muddled thoughts. Most importantly, it’s a lot easier to feel than the pain. 

Then, the rage snuffs out like a candle in the wind and Cheongsan is back to tearing up and hiding his face in his arms. 

—---------------------------------------------------------

He slinks back to the campsite not long later, a nagging feeling in his mind that his friends may be worried about him. His tears dry, his feelings safely tucked away somewhere in the back of his head, Cheongsan casually strolls back into the clearing, all his friends quick to turn to him in surprise. 

“There you are!” Gyeongsu says, walking up to Cheongsan to eye him bodily, “Where were you? You were gone over an hour. Where’s Suhyeok?” 

Frowning, Cheongsan scans the clearing for the first time since returning and frowns harder when he realises the Alpha’s not here. “He didn’t come back?” 

With a doubtful look, Gyeongsu shakes his head minutely. “No, dude. We all thought he was with you. You two were taking so long we… thought… ” 

At the meaningful expression on his best friend’s face, Cheongsan thinks he can gather what his friends thought they were doing. Rolling his eyes, Cheongsan half turns away from Gyeongsu to scan the forest. Begrudgingly, almost against his will, a sliver of worry for Suhyeok lights up behind his sternum. 

“I’ll be right back,” Cheongsan mumbles, glancing at his friends briefly before walking back into the greenery, heading for the fallen tree he was at, with Suhyeok earlier. 

His boyfriend better not have gotten his ass injured or lost, that’d be just fantastic and exactly what they all need. Brushing a low hanging branch away from his face, Cheongsan squints into the clearing next to the fallen tree when he reaches it, keeping his eyes on the lookout for tan skin and the blue shirt Suhyeok was sporting. 

Spotting the other teen still sitting atop the fallen conifer, Cheongsan heaves a sigh, halfway between relief and annoyance. Suhyeok hasn’t spotted him yet, and looking closer, Cheongsan pauses at the expression on his boyfriend’s face. 

Staring down at the forest floor, his shoulders hunched, his eyes distant and a glassy sheen over them alongside wet tracks down his cheeks could only be one thing. He’s been crying. Cheongsan is not used to seeing Suhyeok cry; the other boy very seldom moved to tears. 

He can distinctly remember, him, Gyeongsu, and Suhyeok watching Big Hero 6 together one evening in Gyeongsu’s grandma’s living room. Toward the end, Cheongsan had been struggling to hold back tears, a knot in his throat, and similarly, Gyeongsu beside him had been nearly sobbing into his pillow. Suhyeok, however, when Cheongsan had glanced over, had been totally dry-eyed. He’d looked sad, sure, but no tears could be found in the other boy’s lashes.

It’s an odd sight to see the Alpha like this. 

Recently, it seems only Cheongsan can move Suhyeok to tears.

The other teen hasn’t noticed him yet, and figuring he’ll leave Suhyeok to it, Cheongsan takes a step back to retreat. 

A twig snaps loudly under his sneaker and Suhyeok’s head flies up in his direction. 

Goddamn it.

“Cheongsan?” Suhyeok questions, his voice all thick and shaky.

Sighing internally, Cheongsan walks out into the clearing, throwing awkward glances at the Alpha until he’s a few feet away. “You should come back to the clearing. Everyone’s worried.” He mumbles, his gaze directed anywhere but at his boyfriend. 

“Right, yeah,” He hears Suhyeok reply, followed by a sniffle before he climbs off the dead tree. 

Longing to end this uncomfortable interaction, Cheongsan nods before turning to trek back to camp, not having been joking when he said he needed space from Suhyeok. 

“Sannie, wait,” Suhyeok pleads, that desperate edge returning to his voice. 

Cringing, Cheongsan slows to a stop, wishing he had the callousness in him to just keep walking. Not bothering to reply, he half turns to eye Suhyeok wearily. 

“Are you– ” Suhyeok hiccups, blinking rapidly like he’s going to break down again and Cheongsan’s discomfort levels reach new heights. “Have I ruined everything? Are you… breaking up with me?” 

Cheongsan tracks the tear that runs down Suhyeok’s face to fall off his chin, his brain coming up empty in what to reply to that. He doesn’t think it’s a particularly fair question to ask him either right then. 

“We’re here now, okay? Let’s just pretend everything’s fine,” Cheongsan murmurs, his vision returning to the trees around them. “We don’t need to make this uncomfortable for our friends so let's just carry on like normal until we go home.” 

From the corner of his vision, Cheongsan catches Suhyeok’s jerky nod, relieved the Alpha is willing to go along with him on this. 

“And then? When we go home?” The Alpha still has the nerve to ask. 

“I don’t know,” Cheongsan replies, a flash of annoyance burning into anger as his eyes return to Suhyeok in this pitiful state, “Maybe Kim Hyeon-ju will be waiting for you?” 

Suhyeok flinches as if Cheongsan struck him, the force of his slight forcing the Alpha back a step. 

Despite his anger, he instantly regrets letting his rage take over, the words flying off his tongue before he could catch them. Gazing at Suhyeok, Cheongsan is unsure of how the Alpha will respond. 

The other teen has gone very still, his eyes fixed on the ground, not even looking to be breathing as the seconds tick by. Another tear rolls down his cheek but Suhyeok is quick to reach up and wipe it away before he takes a deep breath and begins nodding fast. “I deserved that. You’re right, let’s just carry on as normal till this weekend’s over.” 

Cheongsan clenches his jaw against the apology in the back of his throat, the temptation to admit he didn’t mean that rising from his chest. The moment passes though, Suhyeok offering him a miserable attempt at a smile before he weaves around him to walk toward the campsite. 

Watching his retreating form, Cheongsan wonders how he’s going to survive the next few days. Following the Alpha, he keeps a good two metres between them until they’re just at the campsite, and then he speeds up to walk just behind his boyfriend. As they reenter the clearing together, all eyes swivel in their direction, their friends halting what they’re doing to study them. 

Onjo slides up to him, casting a curious glance at Suhyeok before raising a brow at Cheongsan. “I’ve left a space over there for your tent, you guys are next to Wujin and Daesu though so enjoy the snoring.” 

Tilting his head, the confusion in Cheongsan’s mind must show on his face if the way Onjo frowns back at him is any indication. It clicks a second later that she means him and Suhyeok, and Cheongsan’s stomach bottoms out with the realisation. 

Of course, he’s been paired with Suhyeok. 

They’re freakin’ boyfriends! 

Trying to play it cool, Cheongsan nods hastily, twisting his neck in the direction Onjo was pointing, to see his and Suhyeok’s backpacks placed together in a small patch of dead grass. Flicking his eyes in Suhyeok’s direction, he finds the Alpha staring at him, a tense line along his jaw giving away his anxiety. 

Strolling around his boyfriend, Cheongsan walks over to their spot, trying to shake off the dread filling up his mind at the idea of sharing a tent with Suhyeok. To the left is Wujin and Daesu’s tent, already erected, Wujin sat in the open zippered entryway with a smile of greeting on his lips. Cheongsan smiles back briefly, looking away to examine the other side of the clearing, the opposing side holding two other tents, one being shared by Jimin and Isak, the other, by Onjo and Namra. At the far back is Joon-yeong and Gyeongsu’s tent, where the two boys are arguing hotly about the correct way to assemble the nylon structure. Its current state makes Cheongsan snort hard. 

Remembering Onjo’s small crush on Namra, Cheongsan searches the clearing for his friend and sure enough, finds her locked in conversation with the Alpha. He can’t tell much by the way they’re talking but he hopes there’s something going on between them, Cheongsan will finally be free of hearing Onjo's rant about being single, if there is. 

In the middle of the small space, a firepit is set into the ground, now cold and unused, it’ll soon be their only source of warmth as the evening stretches long and the temperature decreases at night. Around it, three logs, cut down their length in half, have been placed as makeshift seats, Cheongsan remembering how uncomfortable they were last time and already regretting not figuring out a way to bring their own seating.

Turning back to his backpack, he drops down into a crouch and loosens the tie holding his tent secure. Pulling it free, a pair of tanned legs appear next to him to the left and Cheongsan doesn’t need to look up to know who it is. 

“Need some help?” Suhyeok offers, the Alpha’s voice sounding only minutely stilted and awkward. 

“Sure,” Cheongsan smiles, or attempts to, offering the tent to Suhyeok and standing to help the Alpha put it together. 

After five minutes of working tensely together, Cheongsan forces the tent into the ground with some metal pegs and a rock, Suhyeok on the other side doing the same thing. Unzipping it once it’s finished, he climbs in before turning and dragging his backpack in with him. Laying out his bedding consisting of his beat-up old pillow and sleeping bag, Cheongsan momentarily lays down, heaving a sigh against the soft cushioned material of his sleeping bag. Suhyeok shuffles in next to him, the other boy doing the same with his own sleeping bag and even though the tent is designed for two, it’s still a tight fit and Cheongsan inwardly groans. 

Not exactly the space he needed from Suhyeok. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After that, he’s left alone by Suhyeok, the Alpha exiting the tent to join Gyeongsu and the guys. Cheongsan can hear them chatting not a few metres away from him, their conversation revolving around how difficult the chapter on ecology in their science textbooks is. 

Gazing up at the tent interior, he lets himself relax against his sleeping bag, pulling slow deep breaths into his lungs. Truthfully, he could go for a nap after the hike up here and the subsequent drama with Suhyeok. Maybe it’d help him clear his mind a little if he dozed for an hour. 

Closing his eyes, he doesn’t manage to so much as begin to drift off before someone’s ripping the tent flap open and startling him. Gyeongsu eyes him from the entryway, an unimpressed expression on his face. “Were you seriously about to nap? Get your ass up, ‘San! We’re going to the lake!” 

Returning Gyeongsu’s unimpressed gaze with his annoyed glare, Cheongsan heaves a sigh, knowing that his best friend is most definitely not going to let him sleep. Struggling up onto his elbows, he offers the other boy a doubtful look. “Now? I figured we’d go to the lake tomorrow?” Cheongsan responds, not entirely sure he’s feeling up to it. 

“Yes, now .” Gyeongsu fires back, reaching out to pull on Cheongsan’s ankle briefly, “Now get changed into your bikini, we’re leaving in five.” 

He launches towards his best friend for that comment, hoping to land a smack upside the Beta’s head. The other boy dodges him fast though, pulling away from the tent with a hearty laugh. Grumbling under his breath, about what an idiot his best friend is, Cheongsan grips his backpack, pulling it toward himself. He’s wearing shorts that double as swimming trunks, so he doesn’t need to hurriedly change in this tent, thankfully. 

Retrieving his towel, he tucks into under his arm before continuing to search for his sunscreen, positive he brought it with him. Last time, he’d neglected to do so and had been scalded along his nose, at the back of his neck, and across his thighs. It’d been agony in the shower when he’d gotten home, the bright stinging sensation pulling a yelp out of him.

Finding the small yellow bottle, he exits the tent, coming to his feet just as Suhyeok ambles up to him. With how the Alpha awkwardly tries to sidestep around him, Cheongsan catches on that he’s trying to get to the tent. He sidesteps around the other teen, both of them sharing a stiff smile.

Joining in his friends, who are all now waiting on Suhyeok, he and Onjo lock eyes before she walks up to him, manoeuvring around the guys to stop before him. She scans him critically, her eyes intently studying his face and Cheongsan does his best to appear neutral, cool as a cucumber. 

“Is everything okay?” 

“Everything’s fine,” He shrugs, pretending to be none the wiser to her concern. 

She’s about to say something else, her lips parting before she halts, her attention switching to something behind Cheongsan. Turning, Cheongsan momentarily forgets himself when Suhyeok exits the tent in just his swim shorts, all his lean, tan skin on display. Striding toward them, Cheongsan yanks his gaze away from the Alpha when he’s caught looking, coughing and twisting away to begin following his friends as they make for the lake. 

It’s a short walk down through the forest greenery, Cheongsan sticking close to Onjo and Isak but listening intently to Suhyeok behind him, who ends up quietly talking to Namra. He can’t help but be curious about what they’re saying, when only a few hours earlier, Namra was ready to escort the other Alpha out. 

The guys in front of them argue loudly or tease each other lightly as they walk, Joon-yeong only barely tolerating their antics. Cheongsan smiles watching them horse around, and when the lake comes into view through the trees, he full-on laughs when Gyeongsu jumps on Daesu, piggyback riding him down to the shore, hollering all the while. 

As Cheongsan trots onto the shoreline, he’s still grinning alongside Onjo and Namra watching the guys sprint into the water, Wujin hollering about how cold it is, Joon-yeong begrudgingly letting a drench Gyeongsu pull him into the waves. Watching them alongside the girls, he turns his head when someone comes to stand by his side, and unintentionally grins up at Suhyeok, the Alpha wearing a matching smile. 

There’s an awkward moment where their smiles dim, both of them blinking at each other wearily before Cheongsan faces forward, hating every second of this tension with Suhyeok. 

“Cheongsan, get your scrawny ass in the water!” 

Gyeongsu earns himself a deadpan look for that comment, Cheongsan glaring at his friend where he’s neck deep in the lake. He’s beckoned with a wave and heaving a sigh, Cheongsan gives in to his friend’s demands, reaching down to unlace and pull off his shoes and socks.

Trying and failing not to feel self-conscious, he removes his shirt, pulling it over his head before folding it and placing it atop his shoes. He avoids everyone’s eyes as he walks carefully down to the water, hearing rather than seeing the girls strip down to their swimsuits behind him. 

The waves wash in to soak his toes and he cringes mildly at how truly frigid it feels, not entirely sure he wants to continue. He startles when with piercing screams, the three girls run past him, giving in to their own excitement as they dive into the water. He’s splashed heavily as they go, tensing when the cold water hits his chest. Onjo pauses from her progress into the water to turn and lock gazes with him. She’s soon running back to him and Cheongsan can already see what she intends to do before she’s even reached him. 

Grumbling the entire way, he’s pulled into the lake by his best friend, an involuntary sound leaving him when the water closes up around his torso, its cold embrace making his teeth chatter. 

“It’s freezing,” He complains through a clenched jaw, swimming forward till he’s in it up to his neck. 

“Do you ever stop complaining, Cheongsan?” Isak comments, smirking at him from behind Onjo. 

“Yes!” He responds testily, tossing a mild glare at Isak for good measure. 

Her smirk widens into a full-on grin, a devilish glint lighting up in her eye and before Cheongsan can warn her not to, she splashes him right in the face with a flick of her hand. 

Spluttering, Cheongsan gasps, a raucous cacophony of laughter sounding around him as his friends laugh at his expense. Wiping water from his face, he zeroes in on Isak, vengeance simmering in his veins.

He throws out his hand and splashes Isak back, the Beta shrieking.

All hell breaks loose then, his attempt to retaliate against Isak mistakenly hits Namra, who accidentally splashes Onjo trying to get back at him. Before he knows it, every one of his friends is trying to drench the other, the sound of hands slapping water and screams and gasps of surprise coming from all directions. 

Dripping wet, Joon-yeong eventually yells out desperately for a ceasefire and Cheongsan clears his vision to see each of them looking as soaked as the other. He’s grinning wide though, out of breath and feeling lighter than he has all day. Even Suhyeok’s presence not a few metres from him couldn’t dampen his high, putting the Alpha out of his mind.

They settle into an easy camaraderie, Cheongsan drifting on his back as his friends partake in their activities. Staring up at the blue sky, he can hear Onjo and the other girls chatting and the boys, from what he can tell, have continued to horse around. He’s content being left alone for a while, floating away from his friends, the water lapping at his ears, feeling weightless, as light as a feather, if only in his body. 

The entire situation with his boyfriend sucks ass but right then, this quiet moment makes the camping trip with his friends not a complete waste of time. Closing his eyes, a small smile stretches his lips, Cheongsan sighing softly through his nose. 

His peace doesn’t last forever, unfortunately, but he hadn’t expected it to. Daesu and Gyeongsu eventually start screaming at him to join them, Wujin swimming to shore to retrieve a ball that Cheongsan hadn’t even been aware the Beta had brought along. 

“C’mon, man, you have to join us!” Gyeongsu moans at him, beckoning Cheongsan over for a game of throw and catch. He’s not against the idea so with an eye roll at Gyeongsu’s whining, he swims over to the boys. When Wujin swims back to them, they spread out with five metres between them and they begin the game, throwing the ball in Daesu’s direction. It goes over his head, Daesu jumps up in the water to try get it but the ball skimming his fingers. 

“Terrible throw,” Daesu complains lightheartedly to Wujin. 

“Let’s see you do better then,” Wujin replies.

Daesu does throw better, his aim sending the ball right into Gyeongsu’s hands. Cheongsan readies himself to catch it once his friend turns to him, and when it comes flying towards him, he realises it's a little too high and he’s not gonna make it. He jumps up out of the water with all the strength in his legs, and the ball collides with his fingertips, spinning in the air before falling straight into his hands. 

With a grin, he wipes water from his face, the ball securely in his hands. 

“Nice catch, man!” 

“Awesome, Cheongsan!”

Slightly embarrassed by all the praise, Cheongsan nods in thanks. Turning to Suhyeok, preparing to throw the ball to the Alpha, they lock eyes, a lingering unwelcome feeling shimmering in his boyfriend’s eyes. Ignoring it, he’s met with an expectant look, the other teen’s face alert and ready for the catch. Shuffling the ball in his hands, Cheongsan focuses on the distance between him and Suhyeok, judging the weight of the ball and the force he’ll need to get it to the other boy. 

“Ready?” He asks, raising his eyebrows expectantly. 

“Ready!” Suhyeok confirms with a nod, his game face on. 

Cheongsan throws the ball, needing to use more force than expected, the water limiting the leverage he’d usually have on land. The ball flies away from him, right for Suhyeok, its trajectory a straight line for the Alpha’s hands.

It speeds past Suhyeok’s hands, the Alpha’s fingertips grazing the surface before it smashes right into his face, a pained grunt leaving the other boy as it connects solidly with his nose. 

Cheongsan gasps, tensing in horror, a multitude of other shocked gasps ringing out around him, a girl’s voice to his right releasing a frightened shriek. 

He’s swimming over to Suhyeok in a panic in the next second, beside the Alpha in no time at all. 

Suhyeok’s gripping his face, moaning quietly in pain, his skin reddening from his neck all the way up his head. 

“Suhyeok! God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to throw it that hard!” Cheongsan rants, beside himself with guilt. 

The others swim up to them, concern on each of their faces, watching the injured teenager closely. 

Swimming up to him, Cheongsan reaches out and takes hold of the Alpha’s arms, encouraging him to pull his hands away so he can see the damage. Suhyeok blinks his eyes open from where they’re squeezed shut to stare at him. 

He’s eventually able to guide Suhyeok’s hands down after some insistence and Cheongsan squints at the red skin of the Alpha’s nose. 

“It doesn’t look broken,” He murmurs, though truthfully, he has no idea what a broken nose would look like. 

Suhyeok nods, still cringing lightly, before the Alpha abruptly tenses, “Ah, damn .” 

Blood starts flowing out of both of his nostrils then, the sight of all that red spiking Cheongsan’s concern. 

“Oh, fuck!” Cheongsan exclaims, trying not to panic as Suhyeok’s lower face and his lips begin to get covered in blood. “Let’s get you ashore, you’ll need a towel.” 

“Yeah, okay,” Suhyeok agrees, his voice all nasally.

They swim slowly away, Isak and Gyeongsu voicing their well wishes for the Alpha as they move away. Feet touching the shore, Cheongsan guides Suhyeok onto the beach, the other teen preoccupied with holding his head back. 

“Here, take a seat. I’ll get my bag,” Cheongsan encourages, leaving Suhyeok sitting on the shore to run over for his backpack. Digging through it, he pulls out the smaller towel he usually uses for his hair, returning to Suhyeok’s side to kneel next to his boyfriend. 

“Hold still,” Cheongsan instructs, focusing in on the crimson mess of Suhyeok’s upper lip as he begins wiping the blood away. 

He works quietly, keeping his eyes trained on the towel in his hand beginning to turn red. He doesn’t fail to miss the weight of Suhyeok’s gaze on him, the other boy going very still as he stares at Cheongsan. It gets uncomfortable quickly for him, so much so that when the final smear of blood is wiped away, Cheongsan sits back, lifts his eyes to Suhyeok’s and frowns. 

“What?” He demands, perfectly able to see something in the Alpha’s eyes. 

Suhyeok doesn’t tense and look awkwardly away but his stare does turn sad, an intensity to his eyes. 

“Do you hate me that much now?” The injured teen breathes, his voice barely audible. 

“What?” Cheongsan replies, frowning in confusion rather than annoyance before he connects the dots of what the Alpha is implying and his face goes slack in surprise followed by tense in outrage. 

“You think I did it on purpose?!” 

“Did you?” 

“No, you asshole!” Cheongsan spits, disgusted Suhyeok thinks he’s physically capable of hurting him in what? Retaliation? “You think I’m like that? That I’d hurt you like that?!”

Suhyeok’s face shutters, his sad stare collapsing before he drops his head between his shoulders, the Alpha lifting his arms to place them atop his bent knees. “No, of course not… I don’t know why I said that.” 

“It was an accident, Suhyeok,” Cheongsan replies testily, his temper simmering, “I may be pissed at you right now but that doesn’t mean I’d do something like that.” 

“I know, Sannie. Forget I said anything,” Suhyeok mumbles at the sand, the sad and sorry state of him only infuriates Cheongsan further. 

With a frustrated sigh, Cheongsan drops down beside the other teen, staring out at the water where their friends have resumed their game. He starts to calm down as they sit together just watching their friends, Cheongsan’s anger cooling down to nothing until all he feels is fed up with this entire situation.

Caught up watching Wujin atop Daesu’s shoulders wrestling Gyeongsu atop Joon-yeong’s, Cheongsan is drawn out of his thoughts when Suhyeok’s stomach loudly growls beside him.

He has to clench his jaw hard not to laugh or even smile in amusement at the embarrassing sound, Suhyeok next to him coughing and shifting awkwardly. 

“Hungry?” Cheongsan enquires, unable to deny himself as he turns to the Alpha with raised eyebrows. 

The other boy blushes instantly, an embarrassed laugh leaving him as he nods. “Yeah, man. I didn’t get to eat breakfast this morning…” 

“Hmm,” Cheongsan acknowledges, sobering a little remembering why. “How’s the nose?” He asks, the skin still red but blood, thankfully, has stopped dripping from either of Suhyeok’s nostrils. 

“I think it’s stopped bleeding. Throbbing a little still but getting better,” Suhyeok shrugs, lifting a hand to touch it.  

“Don’t touch it, you idiot,” Cheongsan reprimands, reaching out to yank Suhyeok’s hand back down. 

Getting to his feet, he half-turns and offers his hand to the Alpha, the other teen blinking up in surprise. “C’mon, I’m done with the lake for the day, if you are. Let’s head back and eat.” 

Suhyeok recovers from his surprise to nod hastily, pulling himself to standing with Cheongsan’s help. 

—--------------------------------------------------------

Cheongsan gets his nap in after all, dead to the world for going on an hour until he’s pulled from sleep by a crackling and popping sound. Reaching up, he rubs sleep from his eyes as his mind clears, registering the sounds as a wood-burning fire. His friends are back at the clearing, he can hear that much too, though he appreciates how they’re trying to be quiet, their voices low.

Rolling over onto his back, he finds himself still alone, wondering next where Suhyeok may be. They’d gotten back to the clearing and he’d shared some food with the Alpha. It’d been prepared by his Mama and placed into a Tupperware for him to take along. After they’d finished it together, he’d retreated to the tent, no longer able to deny himself a nap with his belly satisfyingly full. Suhyeok had stayed out in the clearing, pulling a book from his backpack to begin reading. Forgetting himself momentarily, Cheongsan had almost asked the Alpha to join him in the tent. 

He most certainly has not forgotten what Suhyeok did but pretending to be on good terms with the Alpha for his friend's benefit is confusing his brain. 

He’s not left to contemplate that long before the zipper to the tent suddenly moves, dragging up and over with that annoying sound to reveal… the boy himself. 

Suhyeok blinks at him, probably expecting Cheongsan to still be asleep. They share hesitant smiles in greeting, Cheongsan pulling himself up onto his elbows, reaching up to push aside his fringe when it falls weirdly across his eyes. 

“Sorry, I didn’t wake you, did I?” Suhyeok asks, crouched where he is at the tent entrance. 

“No,” Cheongsan responds, yawning wide before turning his attention fully to Suhyeok, “Everyone’s back?” 

“Yeah. Namra’s got the fire going, and Daesu’s apparently going to try to cook us something. Should be interesting.” Suhyeok quips, his lips tilting up into an amused smirk. 

With a snort, Cheongsan shakes his head mildly, already knowing he won’t be trying whatever Daesu’s cooking up. Pulling himself up onto his knees, he makes his way out of the tent, Suhyeok backing up to let him out. The Alpha offers his hand once Cheongsan’s at the entryway. 

He takes the offered help, smiling back in thanks as he gets his feet under him, looking around Suhyeok to see what his friends are up to.

Just as he’s coming to stand, Wujin and Gyeongsu return from the forest with branches and twigs in their arms, more wood for the fire already lit in the centre of the space. The crackling and popping sound that had awoken Cheongsan before him. 

Stretching, he lifts his arms over his head, another yawn overtaking him as he does away with the last lingering sleepiness of his nap. Spotting Onjo sitting on the other side of the fire with Isak, Cheongsan offers her a nod, receiving one back before his best friend returns her gaze to Isak. By the campsite entryway, Namra and Daesu are chatting with each other, the Alpha frowning concernedly at something Daesu is animatedly explaining, her brow creasing further and further the more the Beta talks.

Suhyeok walks away to plop down on the plank acting as a seat, the Alpha picking up a book waiting beside him that he must have been reading before he chose to wake Cheongsan. 

Joon-yeong returns from the forest as Cheongsan is debating sitting next to Suhyeok, the teen hurriedly walks into the clearing to head straight for his own tent. Something white in his hand catches Cheongsan’s eye, the odd, hasty behaviour by the Beta concerning him until he notices it’s toilet paper gripped in his left fist.

He supposes the embarrassed flush on Joon-yeong’s face makes sense as he disappears inside his tent. 

Realising Cheongsan’s own body is notifying him of a call of nature -- a full bladder, that is -- he turns and begins walking out of the clearing, thinking he’ll find a tree a good thirty metres away to pee on. 

“Hey, where you going?” 

He twists back around at the sound of Suhyeok’s voice, the Alpha frowning at him worryingly. 

“To pee, Suhyeok. Is that okay with you?” Cheongsan snarks, pointing out at the trees. 

“Oh,” Suhyeok deflates, nodding hastily in response to Cheongsan’s annoyance. 

Resuming his journey into the greenery, Cheongsan can tell Suhyeok is trying very hard to appease him, to not annoy or anger him any further. Good, he thinks, Suhyeok should be walking on eggshells around him, the Alpha deserves nothing less. 

Feeling a crease forming between his brows as thoughts of his boyfriend roll through his mind, Cheongsan shakes his head with a weary sigh, deciding to give himself a break. 

It’s as he’s returning to the campsite, bladder empty, that he’s met with a situation he wasn’t expecting. 

All of his friends are sitting around the fire now, laughing and talking amongst themselves. Suhyeok’s given up on his book to join in, sniggering alongside Daesu and Wujin. As Cheongsan pauses on the outskirts, he notices a problem for himself he isn’t too sure how to solve. 

There are no seats left. 

His friends have taken the three logs up, Daesu sharing one with Wujin, Namra, Onjo and Isak shoulder to shoulder on the next, and Suhyeok, Gyeongsu and Joon-yeong on the one opposite. No one has noticed his return yet, so Cheongsan is left to consider his options without any pressure. Standing there, watching his friends share smiles and jokes, he half-smiles till his gaze rounds to Suhyeok, a dampener immediately crashing down in his chest. 

The Alpha was angry at Cheongsan for not being willing to do public displays of affection.

Narrowing his eyes at his boyfriend, he decides he’ll show Suhyeok that his anger was for nothing, that this whole disaster between them was for nothing. 

Striding forward, Cheongsan manoeuvres around Joon-yeong and Wujin, his eyes locked in on his boyfriend. Suhyeok sees him coming, the smile he’s aiming at Wujin cracking a little when he catches Cheongsan’s eye. 

Cheongsan walks up to the Alpha, spins and plops down on the ground between Suhyeok’s legs, nestling back into his boyfriend’s chest, forcing him to take his weight. 

He feels Suhyeok tense immediately under him, his body a rigid board against Cheongsan’s spine as he relaxes into the other teen's hold, the fire not a few feet from him warming his front as his boyfriend does the same for his back. 

He stares into the flames to avoid any smirking mouths or teasing eyes, willing to do this in front of his friends but not quite in the mood to tolerate any goading, feeling it’d hit too close to his sensitivities. 

Suhyeok eventually relaxes behind him, the Alpha leaning forward, two arms snaking around Cheongsan’s waist to hug him. 

Before their friends’ eyes, they’re the perfect picture of a happy couple, if only they knew of the miserable tension between the two of them.

Conversation resumes eventually, Cheongsan braving his friends' potential goading and teasing by joining in. Surprisingly, it doesn’t come, and it isn’t long until he’s forgotten about the cuddling and is laughing along to something Gyeongsu said to Isak. He can feel each time Suhyeok breathes, each time he laughs. It reverberates through Cheongsan and he soon notices that they’re breathing in sync, their chests moving together.

Daesu whipping out the infamous hot dogs he’d brought along on the last trip makes half their friends groan in misery, Cheongsan included. He steadfastly refuses the Beta’s offer of the pork, going so far as to speak for Suhyeok when Daesu extends the invitation to the Alpha. He’s given a moody pout by Suhyeok in reaction but Cheongsan doesn’t care. 

He’s not tolerating a farting Suhyeok all night. 

He’s unable to hide his face of disgust when Gyeongsu is soon enough chowing down on the hot dogs, the Beta as ravenous as ever. Cheongsan’s sympathy extends out to Joon-yeong, the other boy having no idea what he’s in for come bedtime. 

Fortunately, Onjo had the great idea of bringing powdered hot chocolate with her and although it’s a bit flat made up of just boiled water, Cheongsan enjoys the beverage nonetheless, practically cuddling the cup to himself as he sips the sweet drink. Instead of the hot dogs, simple sandwiches which Isak generously prepared are passed around, and he and Suhyeok both enjoy a few with their hot chocolate.  

They chat, and joke, and banter with each other for over an hour, the night sky descending over them till the sky above is a tapestry of stars and wispy clouds, the forest around them developing an eerieness to it, it lacked in the day. 

Despite his nap, Cheongsan soon feels the pull of sleep, the comfortable position in Suhyeok’s arms and the hot chocolate in his tummy encouraging him to call it a day. Onjo beats him to it, his best friend yawning wide before getting to her feet to bid them good night, disappearing into her tent with a sleepy smile on her face. 

Suhyeok yawning wide over his shoulder is what convinces Cheongsan to give in, sitting up to pull himself up onto his feet. His legs protest the movement after having been folded under him for so long but ignores the discomfort. 

“Time for bed?” Suhyeok asks, rising behind Cheongsan to smile at him softly. 

Nodding, Cheongsan lets the Alpha intertwine their fingers, facing his friends to bid them good night.

“We’re pretty beat, gonna call it a day. See you guys tomorrow,” Cheongsan nods, already stepping around the log in the direction of their tent. 

He’s bid good night in return by his friends but doesn’t make it far before the inevitable teasing words are tossed at his back. 

“No funny business now, guys, I’d actually like to get some sleep tonight.” 

“No sex without safe sex!” 

“Is that what they’re calling it these days? Sleep?” 

He rolls his eyes at the words, Wujin, Daesu and Gyeongsu just unable to help themselves. Without looking back, he throws out a middle finger, the loud cries of approval and barking laughter begrudgingly making him smile. Suhyeok behind him snickers under his breath, the Alpha still with a grin on his lips as they climb into their tent. 

Unzipping his sleeping bag, Cheongsan sits in the middle of it, scooting over to ensure Suhyeok has enough room on his side to do the same. Pulling his backpack into his lap, he pulls from it his sleep pants and shirt, not understanding why he feels awkward as he changes in front of Suhyeok. 

Considering the positions Suhyeok has seen him in, Cheongsan shouldn’t feel odd about being nude with the Alpha anymore. 

Pulling his head through his shirt, he’s pulling off his socks when he notices Suhyeok next to him, stripped down to his underwear and… getting into his sleeping bag. 

“Where’s your sleep clothes?” Cheongsan blurts, frowning confusedly. 

Suhyeok blinks back at him, a big innocent lost expression in his eyes. “...I don’t have any? I sleep in my underwear, Sannie. Is that…okay..?” 

“Oh,” Cheongsan replies, feeling his face heat as he awkwardly nods, knowing that shouldn’t make him feel any particular kind of way. 

Laying down on his back, Suhyeok pulls his sleeping back up to his chest, the Alpha blinking up at the roof of the tent seemingly lost in thought. 

Sliding into his own, Cheongsan lays himself down, readjusting his pillow under his head before shifting into a comfortable position also on his back. He’s about to roll over away from Suhyeok, the quiet between them extremely heavy and growing more tense by the second when the Alpha abruptly turns to him. 

“I love you,” Suhyeok says, quietly but firmly, staring at Cheongsan. 

Dropping his eyes from the intensity he can see in Suhyeok’s, Cheongsan nods, sighing softly before he rolls over onto his side, the tent's wall the only thing before him. 

“I love you too, Suhyeok,” He murmurs back, swallowing hard after the words pass his lips. 

There’s a heavy relieved breath from behind him, Suhyeok shifting in the dark too, Cheongsan unsure if the Alpha’s moving away from him or not. 

“Goodnight, Sannie.” Suhyeok whispers, the sound of his voice telling Cheongsan he’s rolled over to face him. 

“Night, Suhyeok.” 

He’s left staring into the dark after that, his mind plagued and in turmoil over the boy just beside him. Eventually, Cheongsan drifts off to sleep, the crackling of the fire a few metres away lulling him into sleep. 

He’s unsurprised and unimpressed with himself to awake the next morning plastered to Suhyeok, his face buried in the Alpha’s neck, blinking his eyes open to tan skin and the beautiful scent of his boyfriend. 

He thinks it may be his favourite aroma in the world.

Chapter Text

Cheongsan tenses immediately when he realises how intimately he’s snuggled Suhyeok in the night, his face nestled right into his boyfriend’s neck. The realisation clears his mind of sleep instantly, waves of embarrassment the most unwelcome thing to be greeted by that morning. Listening carefully, Suhyeok’s deep, slow breaths inform him the Alpha is still asleep and he releases a breath, beyond relieved. 

The challenge now is untangling himself from the Alpha without waking him. He’s got one arm over Suhyeok’s chest, which won’t be too difficult to lift off but his leg is securely wrapped between Suhyeok’s two and in fact, his hip is protesting the position entirely. His boyfriend’s arm is also hugging him to his chest, which is another obstacle to remove. 

Shifting minutely to test how tightly he’s wrapped around the other boy, Cheongsan’s mortification only quadruples when he realises he’s got morning wood. 

His boner nudged right into Suhyeok’s hip. 

God, he hates having a penis sometimes. 

Laying there, his mind spinning for solutions to his little problem, he spends far longer deliberating than he should because Suhyeok suddenly shifts, groaning in sleep before he rolls over toward Cheongsan and practically crushes him to the Alpha’s chest. 

His boyfriend smacks his lips a few times before dozing back off and Cheongsan blinks at the skin of Suhyeok’s throat, baffled as to what he’s supposed to do now, truly trapped in his arms. 

“You gotta be fucking kidding me.” He whispers, before he bites the bullet and starts pulling away and out of Suhyeok’s grip. 

The Alpha frowns unhappily in his sleep as Cheongsan shuffles up onto his elbow, that frown deepening before Suhyeok starts blinking his eyes open, a hand reaching up to rub at the sleep in the corners. 

Cheongsan watches him, their legs still caught between each other. When Suhyeok notices him, turning his head slightly to smile warmly at him, Cheongsan clocks the exact moment the Alpha remembers the situation between them. His smile dims, a weary expression bleeding into his features before he breaks eye contact and begins pulling himself upward, untangling their legs in the process. 

“Good morning,” Suhyeok manages, his voice low and rough. 

“Morning,” Cheongsan replies, turning away to crawl out of the tent, the air inside far too stuffy for his liking. 

Undoing the zipper, he pulls himself out with a sigh of relief, for both the fresh air that breezes past him and the distance he’s gained between himself and the Alpha. 

He’s the first awake, surprisingly. The clearing is empty, the firepit cold, the other tents still fully zipped up and quiet. 

Turning back around toward his tent, Cheongsan reaches down and grabs his backpack sat just at the front of the tent flap. 

Kneeling, he rummages in the small front zipper for his toothbrush and toothpaste, needing to clear away the taste in his mouth. 

He glances up at Suhyeok as he’s feeling through the bag, noticing the Alpha shifting up onto his knees. His boyfriend stretches, his arms coming up to either side of his head as he elongates his torso, the bare skin of his chest and abs on full display and quite a sight. White briefs hanging low on his hips, the sharp points of his pelvic bones are somehow incredibly sexy, the short tuft of hair in the centre even more so. 

Cheongsan wants to bury his face right there and pull lungfuls of Suhyeok’s scent in through his nose. 

Taken aback by that thought, he gives up trying to find his toothbrush and just stumbles away with his backpack in hand, needing to put space between himself and his boyfriend’s… pubic hair? 

What the fuck is wrong with him? 

Into the forest, he stops by a tree once he’s safely away from any half-naked Alphas, finally managing to locate his toothbrush and toothpaste. 

Scrubbing his teeth, Cheongsan is still shocked by how quickly his thoughts had gotten away from him there. He’s only a teenager, so he can’t be too surprised by his horny brain but still, that erotic imagining had sprung into his mind out of nowhere. 

Shaking his head minutely, he leans back against a tree as he continues freshening up his breath, spitting his mouth free of excess toothpaste when he’s done. Rinsing his toothbrush with a bottle of water from his backpack, he leaves both by that tree as he walks further into the thicket, looking for somewhere to relieve his bladder. 

On his way back, he picks up his backpack and returns to the camp, walking into the clearing to find Onjo and Namra now awake, offering Cheongsan a brief wave as they scrub their own teeth clean. 

Waving back, he leans down once he reaches his own tent to peek inside, hoping Suhyeok’s dressed and decent. 

Instead, he finds the Alpha stretched out on his back, one arm behind his head as he dozes. Frowning, Cheongsan eyes his boyfriend critically. “Are you just gonna lay around all day?” 

Suhyeok startles slightly at his voice, the half-naked teen glancing down at him. Shrugging, the Alpha looks away to reclose his eyes, shifting a little on his back to get more comfortable. “I’m in no rush.”

Giving his boyfriend one last unimpressed flick of his eyes, Cheongsan drops his backpack inside the tent before straightening, figuring he’ll leave Suhyeok to his laziness. 

Stepping over one of the seats around the firepit, he wonders how to get this thing going again, thinking he’d kill for some tea and he needs hot water for that. Namra walks over a little while later as he’s poking the ashes with a stick, thinking maybe they need to clean the pit out first. 

“Need some help?” she smiles, sitting down opposite him. 

Shrugging, he pretends to be unbothered, a small part of him annoyed at the idea of asking an Alpha for help, even one as kind as Namra.

After gathering some kindling together from the surrounding woods, they return to the clearing to deposit the firewood and lichen into the pit. 

Looking around, he notices most everyone is up and about, Daesu and Wujin grouchy and huddled together at the entryway of their tents. 

Kneeling next to Namra, Cheongsan assists her in getting the fire going, creating a little structure of dried sticks stuffed with even drier lichen. Setting her lighter to the little structure, they share a smile as the flame catches. 

It’s not long later he’s sipping his tea, starting to wake up as he wraps his hands around the mug. 

Suhyeok sits down next to him, finally dressed, and they share a stilted smile. Lifting the cup in his hands, he raises his eyebrow at the Alpha, despite everything not unwilling to share his tea. 

“Nah, I’m good, Sannie,” Suhyeok replies, raising a water bottle in his hand. 

Nodding, Cheongsan turns back to his mug, taking a hearty sip as lastly, and finally, Gyeongsu crawls out of his tent to join them around the fire. He can’t help but grin amusedly into his next sip at the sight of Gyeongsu’s hair sticking up in every direction possible. 

“Did anyone bring coffee?” Wujin suddenly asks, glancing around the group. 

He’s met with frowns in reply, some shaking their head in answer. 

“None of you brought coffee?!” Wujin whines, looking to be about two seconds from throwing a tantrum. 

“Why didn’t you? ” Suhyeok shoots back, looking across at the guy haughtily. 

“I thought one of you guys would have…” 

The whine in the Beta’s voice makes it very hard for Cheongsan not to roll his eyes. Thankfully, Namra, ever the saviour, produces a tub of instant coffee in the next second, much to Wujin’s delight. “Hope you like it black.” 

There’s a lull in conversation as the group sits there, each of them waking up in turn. Lost in thought, Cheongsan stares into their small fire, the flames keeping his attention until Joon-yeong’s voice pulls him away. 

“We’re still going on that hike today, right?” 

Immediately Daesu and Gyeongsu voice their protests at the idea, despite this being their plan for today. There’s a hiking trail not far from where they are now, just a short trek down the road beside them. It leads deeper into the forest, up an incline to a pivotal point in the mountain. Apparently, the views are supposed to be awesome, and all going well, it shouldn’t take them that long. They should be back well before dark anyway. 

After much complaining from Daesu and Gyeongsu, both boys are eventually silenced by the voices of Isak and Onjo, even Suhyeok reminding them that they agreed to the hike only days ago. Eventually, they’re all on board, preparing for the trek, though some admittedly, with less enthusiasm than others. 

Cheongsan doesn’t mind the idea of the hike. What else are they supposed to do way out in the middle of the Hyosan mountains? The lake is fun but there’s only so much watersports he can partake in before that gets old fast. 

Lacing up his hiking boots, he scrunches his toes in them, standing up to bounce in the soles a little. They’re new, so he hopes they will prove useful. He’s had them for a while but they’ve sat in the back of his wardrobe collecting dust for months. After their last camping trip, his Mama had purchased them, telling him he’d need them for the next. Turns out she was right. 

“Did you bring sunscreen?” 

He blinks out of admiring his new boots when Suhyeok ambles up with those concerned words, his eyes all attentive and caring. 

Unable to help himself, Cheongsan rolls his eyes, giving his boyfriend an exasperated smile. “Yes, Suhyeok. I already applied it and everything.” 

“Oh, okay,” Suhyeok nods, and Cheongsan grins fully seeing the Alpha try to put a bottle back discreetly in his pocket.

“Ready?” Onjo calls out, already with one foot out of the campsite, Namra beside her tying her hair up in a ponytail. Turning his attention to his friends around him, Cheongsan surveys their hiking attire, approving of Isak and Namra’s get-ups but slightly concerned about the beat-up sneakers Wujin has on, not imagining they’ll serve the beta well.

Suhyeok, unsurprisingly, is wearing only the fanciest hiking boots Cheongsan has ever seen, alongside sand-coloured shorts and a deep green shirt. In truth, Suhyeok looks good in anything. 

They head out, after carefully dousing the fire, the group of them beginning their walk in silence as they step out of the clearing and onto the dirt road nearby. Aiming for the hiking trail just further down the road, they walk single file along the edge, not expecting anyone to drive by way out here but unwilling to risk it. 

Enjoying the silence, only broken by the sounds of their feet and birds, small mammals and other wildlife underbrush close by, Cheongsan smiles mildly, the filtered sunlight through the trees creating a peaceful atmosphere. 

“I can’t believe you guys are making me drag myself through the forest…” 

And then the silence ends, Cheongsan reaching for his earbuds as Daesu begins arguing fervently with everyone. 

It doesn’t take long for the whole group to start to feel the exertion, Cheongsan himself developing a sweaty brow as they meander through the path. Sensing the need for a break, they all stop at a widening in the trail, large boulders on either side of them providing somewhere to sit. Pulling his earbuds free, Cheongsan plops his butt down on one of the boulders and takes off his backpack in search of his water bottle. 

Guzzling some of it, instant relief flows down his dry throat. 

Worryingly, an ache on the back of both ankles has started to build as they’ve hiked and although he’s done his best to ignore the discomfort, he grimaces as he reaches down to pull one sneaker off. 

Lo and behold the skin of his Achilles tendon on both feet is rubbed raw, stinging in agitation as he pulls his sock away to assess the damage. 

“I told you!” Onjo is suddenly before him to say, a critical edge to her gaze, “You should’ve broken those hiking boots in first.” 

Cheongsan tenses a little, his pride getting the better of him, not liking the criticism directed his way, most especially because he’d replied tiredly to Onjo only days ago that he didn’t need to break in the shoes. He doesn’t like to be proven wrong but who does? 

“It’s fine,” He shrugs, looking away from Onjo’s judgemental eyes to slip the sneakers back on, “It’s only mildly uncomfortable…” 

“Right,” Onjo replies sceptically before she twists and struts away. 

Watching her go, Cheongsan sighs hard through his nose, slightly miffed. 

“You don’t need me to carry you, do you?” 

Turning his head to a smirking Suhyeok, Cheongsan locks gazes with the Alpha. He’s a little annoyed and yet seeing the nervous tension on Suhyeok’s face, as if his boyfriend doesn’t know how Cheongsan will respond to such a joke, he doesn’t have it in him to be mean. 

“I don’t think so,” He responds, not entertaining Suhyeok’s joke but not shooting him down either. “I should be okay, thanks.” 

Taking back up his water, he takes another sip and hopes his lie might prove true. As they’re only a quarter of the way to the highest point of the mountain, he doubts it very much. 

He decides three-quarters of the way through the trail that Yang Daesu is wise beyond his years, and that next time the other boy suggests not going on a three-hour hike, he’ll listen and agree.

Breathing hard through his mouth, Cheongsan swallows against the dry expanse of his throat, his calves burning as he tries to keep up with his friends. Staring up the trail past Namra, Isak, and Suhyeok in the lead, he wonders when this torture will end, the elevation truly at a steep angle now. 

The trees have thinned out for the most part this far along, the grass and small greenery of the forest floor replaced with exposed rock and dusty soil. Looking briefly behind himself, he can admit the view even this high up is both jaw-dropping and kinda frightening. 

“Guys, please,” Wujin suddenly gasps through ragged breaths, “Can’t we just call it already? I’m about to keel over and die!” 

Cheongsan looks away, reaching up to grab the front of his shirt and billow it out in an effort to get cool air along the skin of his chest. In truth, he agrees wholeheartedly with Wujin and damn if he isn’t grateful to the beta for cracking first and saving Cheongsan’s pride. 

Because he’s exhausted, sweaty as all hell and… 

He’s persevered but he hasn’t failed to notice the growing pain in the back of his ankles. 

Pausing, they all sort of eye each other in turn and it's clear from the exhaustion on each of their faces how Wujin’s suggestion will be received. 

“I mean...” Suhyeok starts, swallowing hard before the Alpha drops his eyes to the ground, “I’d be okay with returning to camp if you guys are too tired to continue.” 

Cheongsan gives his boyfriend a deadpan look, seeing right through Suhyeok’s bullshit. The Alpha is just as done with this little adventure as the rest of them, regardless of him being the most athletic of them. 

“Finally!” Daesu practically shouts, making Cheongsan startle slightly where he’s stood. The beta begins storming back down the trail, and the rest of them are left staring after him with wide eyes, the light grey shirt he had on now dark down the back with sweat. 

With that, they all admit defeat, slinking back down the trail, and Cheongsan can feel some demoralisation from his friends. They gave it their best shot, that’s what really matters. He supposes.

Besides, he has more pressing matters. 

Literal, pressing matters. 

The downward slope is now grinding the back of his boots into his Achilles tendon, the pain intensifying with every step he takes till he’s sure he’s not just sweating from the exertion anymore. Daring to peek down, the red he can see on the back of his sock makes him wince. 

He’s ignoring it well, so much so they make it back under the tree canopy of the forest before he starts to feel nauseous from pain and that’s what finally breaks him. 

Tripping to a stop, he cringes openly, dropping his hands onto his bent knees as he lets himself feel the pain. 

Gyeongsu is the first to notice his sudden stop, slowing to stare confusedly at him, “Cheongsan?” 

The entire group pauses then too, even Daesu taking a break from his march back to camp to frown worriedly at him from the front of the group. 

Suhyeok’s already approaching him before he can tell anyone what’s even wrong. 

Releasing an embarrassed laugh at nine pairs of eyes staring at him, Cheongsan reaches up to grip his left bicep, hating this next part already. “I’m okay, guys. I just need to take a quick break. You guys continue on without me.” 

Suhyeok frowns harder at that, and then he’s before Cheongsan, reaching out a hand to place it gently on top of his. “Sannie, what’s the matter?” The Alpha asks lowly, and he appreciates his boyfriend’s attempt to be discreet. 

Going red in the face still, Cheongsan shifts on his feet, swiping at his sweaty brow as he shrugs uselessly, “I might’ve… made a mistake wearing these hiking boots today.” He admits, loud enough for everyone to hear. 

Suhyeok’s eyes immediately drop to his feet, and Cheongsan cringes internally when the Alpha dramatically gasps at the just visible red soaked into his socks. 

“Cheongsan, you’re bleeding!” 

“Yes, Suhyeok, I’m aware,” He responds, his eyes anxiously moving from one of his friends to the next, hating the undivided attention from all of them, their concern for him. 

Onjo comes storming up to him, nearly elbowing Suhyeok out of the way and Cheongsan opens his mouth and snaps at her before he can help it. “Don’t!” he growls, his jaw clenching in anger, “Don’t tell me I’m an idiot and all the rest of it. I know that already.” 

She stares at him, easily matching his stubborn glare with one of her own, their standoff lasting for a few seconds before she cracks first, the worry in her eyes filtering through her anger. “How bad is it?”

Shrugging, Cheongsan gives his friends little else, knowing they probably want him to reveal the extent of his injuries before everyone’s curious, and admittedly worried, eyes but not abiding by that, finding the idea far too embarrassing. 

He and Onjo communicate without words in the way two people who’ve known each other their whole lives only can. Sighing, she turns away from him to the group behind her. “Namra… you brought that small first aid kit, didn’t you?“

Namra nods hastily, approaching and swinging her backpack around to her front to search through it, not ten seconds later producing a small, dark green box. “Here. There are alcohol wipes, gauze, and plasters. Basic stuff but it should help.” 

Cheongsan reaches for it but Suhyeok takes it from her first, dropping it by his side without a word. 

“Let’s keep going, guys…” Onjo begrudgingly insists, turning away from Cheongsan with an interesting mix of anxiety and annoyance on her face. 

“...but Cheongsan..?” Gyeongsu squeaks, his head swivelling between Onjo and him. 

“I’ll catch up, Gyeongsu,” Cheongsan reassures, his gaze moving to the Alpha beside him with a facial expression like hard stone, “...besides, I have Suhyeok…” 

The Alpha visibly relaxes, his shoulders unwinding, his jaw unlocking, the relief clear that Cheongsan isn’t going to order him to leave, to fight him on this.

“Oh,” Gyeongsu frowns, assessing Suhyeok beside him before he jerkily nods and returns his eyes to Cheongsan with a soft smile, “Don’t take too long, Sannie. There are werewolves out here…or something,” 

Grinning, Cheongsan nods, smiling affectionately at his best friend, Gyeongsu's antics having the usual effect of cheering him up. 

“I won’t…” He promises, watching his best friend nod before slowly turning around and walking away with the others till they turn a corner in the trail and vanish from sight. 

Alone with Suhyeok, Cheongsan sighs, dropping his head back to close his eyes against the afternoon light. 

“Here, Sannie,” Suhyeok says quietly, and when Cheongsan looks, he indicates a large rock jutting from the hill’s incline, “Take a seat. I’ll have a look at your foot.” 

Nodding once, Cheongsan walks over to the rock, cringing when the back of his ankles seems to peel away from his socks as if the mere few minutes he stopped for, allowed the blood to dry. Carefully, he sits down on the rock and noticing the way Suhyeok’s watching him like a hawk, tries to smooth out his features. 

The Alpha kneels before him, and Cheongsan tenses unintentionally at the first touch of his boyfriend’s hands on one of his calves. Not because the touch is unwelcome but simply dreading this next part. 

“I’ll try to do this as gently as possible, Cheongsan…” Suhyeok assures him quietly, his face serious. 

“Yeah, okay,” Cheongsan smiles slightly, before he clenches his jaw, breathing through his nose carefully as Suhyeok’s hands slip down to his boot. 

He still cringes badly when the sneaker is gently pulled off, and hisses through his teeth when the Alpha slowly rolls off his blood-stained sock. 

Thankfully, it’s not that much blood and when the worn-away injury on his skin is revealed, Cheongsan sighs in relief to see it isn’t that bad. More gross-looking than anything. 

The other sneaker is removed just as softly, and before Suhyeok, Cheongsan offers the Alpha his feet, not entirely sure why he feels heat rise to his face when his boyfriend ever so gently takes one foot into his lap, nearly cradling it. 

“Sorry,” Cheongsan blurts without meaning to, his embarrassment doubling when Suhyeok’s eyes jump up to him from where they’d been popping open the first aid kit. 

“For what?” Suhyeok laughs lightly, removing some items from the pack to examine. 

“Bet you didn’t expect to have to deal with my sweaty feet today.” 

Cheongsan cringes after the words leave his mouth, wishing he could be carried away with the wind to disappear into the forest, forever.

Suhyeok chuckles, ripping a small packet open with his teeth before replying. “Would you do the same for me?” The Alpha asks, raising an eyebrow. 

Recovering from his embarrassment, Cheongsan nods, knowing the truth; he would, without hesitation. “Well, then,” Suhyeok replies, lifting his foot by the sole with his left hand, a small white square of something in his right hand, “Don’t be sorry,” The Alpha finishes, before to Cheongsan’s shock, he plants a small kiss right on the top of his foot. 

“Suhyeok!” Cheongsan nearly shrieks, mortified, and only becoming more so when the Alpha simply laughs in reply. 

“I’m sorry about this next part though…”

Cheongsan cringes when with the arrival of that small square cloth to his damaged skin, a sharp stinging pain has him tensing all over. 

“Fuck! ” He exclaims, clenching his jaw shut against the pain. 

“Sorry, again,” Suhyeok mumbles, his face indeed apologetic as he pulls away what Cheongsan now realises is a disinfectant wipe. 

“Asshole,” Cheongsan mutters, the sting subsiding far too slowly in his opinion as he wipes his eyes clear of tears. 

Suhyeok smirks, huffing a laugh before he holds up another, new, fresh, disinfectant wipe. 

“Ready?” The Alpha asks, waiting for his go-ahead. 

Blowing out a breath, Cheongsan bites into his bottom lip before hesitantly nodding. 

He still moans in pain when it’s applied to his ankle but doesn’t call Suhyeok any more expletives so he gives himself a mental pat on the back. 

They sit quietly as Suhyeok wraps and bandages his ankles, watching the Alpha work with such focus, ever so diligently taking care of him. 

It’s a simple act of love and all it does is make Cheongsan sad. 

How dare this beautiful boy before him hurt him so callously and then love him so gently. 

The anger doesn’t come when Cheongsan lingers on the divide between them, just a sinking, heavy sadness. Zoning out, he pulls his gaze away from Suhyeok to stare into the canopy, a despondency opening up in his chest. 

“Cheongsan?” 

Swallowing against the emotions flooding his throat, he turns back to Suhyeok to find the other boy studying him carefully, anxiety in his gaze. 

“Thanks for patching me up,” Cheongsan says, shaking off the feelings inside him, breaking eye contact with Suhyeok to reach down for his socks, blood stains and all. 

“Sure,” He hears Suhyeok mumble, a slightly confused edge to his tone as he starts stuffing the first aid kit into his backpack.

With both socks back on, Cheongsan reaches for his traitorous hiking boots, attempting to slip them onto his feet when a warm hand halts him. 

“Wait, Cheongsan,” Suhyeok says, surprising Cheongsan enough to have him looking up at the other boy, “I can’t have you making your way back to camp in those damn shoes again. That’d be ridiculous.” 

Frowning, Cheongsan stares at Suhyeok for a few seconds, not seeing any other option. “What am I supposed to do? Sit here till rescue comes? I don’t have a choice, ‘Hyeok.” 

“Yes, actually, you do.” Suhyeok disagrees, taking both of Cheongsan’s shoes in his hand before he smashes them into his backpack, swings it onto his front and promptly turns his back to him to hunch forward, “Hop on.” 

Bemused, Cheongsan eyes the line of his boyfriend’s spine, thinking the Alpha can’t truly be serious. “Be for real, Suhyeok,” He complains, tempted to try to kick the back of his legs. 

“I am being for real! Hop on!”

“You can’t carry me–” 

“Just …get on, will you?” Suhyeok interrupts, exasperation in his voice.

Huffing in annoyance, Cheongsan heaves himself onto his injured feet, wincing a little. 

Carefully stepping up behind Suhyeok, he debates just trying to wrangle his shoes from his boyfriend but in the end, decides to accept the offer of the piggyback ride. Even if he thinks the option is silly. 

“Are you sure?” 

“If you don’t get your scrawny self on my back right now, Lee Cheongsan, I’m carrying you down that hill, bridal style.” 

God forbid, Cheongsan thinks. 

Placing his hands on Suhyeok’s shoulders, he takes a deep breath and then hops onto his back, wrapping his legs around the Alpha’s waist. Suhyeok reaches out to grab them as he does, shuffling him around as he assures Cheongsan is secure. 

Winding his arms around his boyfriend’s neck, Cheongsan settles his chin on his shoulder as the Alpha begins taking the first tentative steps back to camp. There’s no way Suhyeok will manage to carry him all the way there but Cheongsan smiles with the knowledge the Alpha will try. Will get him as far as he can. 

Unable to help himself, he snuggles closer as Suhyeok starts walking, the taller boy careful to step over exposed rocks and tree roots. This close, the Alpha’s scent swirls in Cheongsan’s nose, and he closes his eyes breathing it in, not entirely dismayed about this, despite his pride.

Suhyeok is warm, the exertion from the hike and the overall heat of the day producing a clean sweat over the Alpha’s skin. The heat amplifies his scent, the expanse of his neck visible to Cheongsan practically radiating it straight at him. It’s a mild, masculine aroma and something inside him purrs with every inhale of it. Admittedly, the Omega inside him purrs, finding it very appealing and compatible. 

“Finally! I thought we’d need to get Onjo’s father up here to rescue you two!” 

Cheongsan smiles mildly at Gyeongsu’s words, turning his gaze a little to his right and locking eyes with an equally amused Suhyeok. 

Amused, and exhausted. 

Suhyeok pants, a drop of sweat on his nose as more slides down his temples. The Alpha carried him the entire way back to camp, resolutely refusing to let Cheongsan down even when he demanded so, seeing the clear strain on the Alpha. 

“We’re fine.” Cheongsan smiles, finally stopping with Suhyeok before the camp and their friends, already sitting around the fire pit. 

Leaning over, Cheongsan plants a kiss on Suhyeok’s cheek, finding it impossible not to show some gratitude to his boyfriend. Letting him go finally, he drops down onto the ground, a little stiff in several places and stretching with a long groan to try to relieve some of the aches. His ankles come to life with mild pain but he ignores them, thinking he’s had it easy. 

He knows what he wants right then and despite the inviting faces of his friends around the fire, he heads straight for his tent, needing to lie down for a bit. “I’m just gonna rest for a little while guys,” He calls out, uncaring if anyone hears him or not. 

“Is it okay if I join you?” Suhyeok speed walks up to him to ask, equal parts exhaustion and nerves in his eyes. 

“Sure,” Cheongsan replies, shrugging.

Unzipping the tent, he drops his backpack at the door and crawls in, his eyes nearly rolling in his head at the idea of lying down on his sleeping bag. Dropping onto it like a sack of potatoes, he exhales hard, closing his eyes as the effects of a long day slam down on him. 

He senses Suhyeok’s presence within the tent but frowns a little when the Alpha himself doesn’t immediately fall over to nap for a bit. Opening his eyes, he tilts his head at the sight of Suhyeok kneeling close to him, a frown between the Alpha’s brows as he stares down at himself. 

“You okay?” Cheongsan wonders, turning on his side towards his boyfriend. 

“Yeah,” Suhyeok exhales, reaching up to brush back his fringe as he shifts uncomfortably, “I’m just… a sweaty mess right now, Sannie. I don’t feel comfortable lying down like this,” Suhyeok laughs, his face cringing a little toward the end. 

Humming, Cheongsan can’t deny the Alpha is a dishevelled mess, his hair limp and flat, his once forest green shirt darkened under his arms and the centre of his chest with sweat. 

An opportunity to take care of Suhyeok, to reciprocate some of the devotion he’s been shown today arises in that moment and Cheongsan jumps at it. 

Sitting up, despite the protest of his muscles, Cheongsan pulls himself onto his knees, asking Suhyeok to hold on a minute as he crawls to the front. Poking his head out, he pulls his backpack closer, quickly unzipping it to find a water bottle and in the front pocket, one of the smaller towels he’d brought along. Tugging it out, he throws his backpack out of his way before glancing up. 

He locks eyes with all his friends staring at him in confusion, an awkward beat passing between him and them. 

Giving them a winning smile, he yanks himself back into the tent before zipping it shut. 

Shuffling over to Suhyeok, he kneels opposite the Alpha within the small space, holding the towel between his teeth as he uncaps the bottle. 

“What’re you doing?” Suhyeok asks, a bemused smile on his lips. 

Taking the cloth in hand, Cheongsan does his best to soak it and not their bedding with the water bottle, holding the top flush with the fabric to try to control the flow. “Take your shirt off,” 

Catching on, Suhyeok hesitates for a second, a mix of surprise and something else on his face before he reaches down and does what he was told, pulling the shirt over his head to throw it aside. 

Momentarily distracted by the sudden appearance of so much of Suhyeok’s warm skin, Cheongsan spills water all over the tent floor, cursing under his breath as he sops up as much of it as possible with the cloth. 

Tightening the lid back on the bottle, Cheongsan reaches over to place it down at the front of the tent. Straightening up, he unintentionally locks eyes with Suhyeok, finding intensity in those dark pupils that wasn’t there only a few minutes ago. 

Swallowing, he brings the wet cloth in his hand forward, pausing an inch away from the Alpha’s chest. “Sorry if it’s cold,” He mumbles, blushing hard.

“It’s fine,” Suhyeok murmurs back, barely blinking as he stares at Cheongsan. 

Bringing the cloth down, Cheongsan drags it over the skin of his boyfriend’s chest, the heat radiating off the Alpha vibrating against his fingertips. Suhyeok sighs quietly above him, the muscles in his chest contracting and relaxing every few seconds, from the cold cloth or simply the touch alone, he isn’t sure. 

Over his boyfriend’s ribs, Cheongsan guides the fabric, feeling their slight ridges under his fingers till he drags it up and it slides back over the muscle of his pecs. One dark nipple hardens after a few passes of the cloth and he blushes even harder seeing it, his mind straying further and further into the gutter. 

Across that chest the cloth slides, down to the other pec and nipple before descending lower over the smooth expanse of Suhyeok’s tummy. Smiling, contentment hums through Cheongsan to do this for Suhyeok, reminded so clearly of that evening bathing together under the Alpha’s ensuite shower. 

Reaching Suhyeok’s belly button, Cheongsan’s hand freezes to an aborted stop seeing the profound bulge in his boyfriend’s shorts. 

Pausing for too long, he can’t pretend he didn’t notice it, his eyes finding it for far longer than to be anything but nearly studying it. 

Glancing up, he and Suhyeok lock gazes, a nervousness growing on Suhyeok’s face. 

“Sorry,” the Alpha murmurs, a red tint in his cheeks. 

Shaking his head, Cheongsan looks away, back down to the cloth in his hand as he resumes what he was doing. Bringing the fabric back up, he tucks it under the Alpha’s arm, trying to get at the other boy’s armpits. Taking the hint, Suhyeok lifts his arms, looking to be flaunting his torso as he exposes his pits to Cheongsan. 

Immediately Cheongsan registers the musk of Alpha arousal, the scent emanating from Suhyeok’s skin in billowing waves, in particular from around his neck and armpits.

Starting to sweat for another reason now, Cheongsan feels his body respond in kind, unable to help himself as his biology registers such an alluring and promising scent. He’s rocking a matching boner by the time he finishes wiping his boyfriend down, and he’s tense, afraid if he relaxes he’ll… 

…respond further. 

“Thanks,” Suhyeok says once Cheongsan pulls his hand back, that heated gaze still locked onto him.

Smiling stiffly, Cheongsan breaks eye contact as he reaches over to throw the cloth to the front of the tent. On his hands and knees, he can’t say he’s shocked when he relaxes too much and suddenly… 

Slick slips down his thigh. 

Cringing, he straightens back up onto his knees before Suhyeok, his mouth open to apologise. 

And then he has an armful of Alpha, Suhyeok planting a hungry kiss right on his half-open mouth. 

In surprise, Cheongsan tenses but almost without thinking, kisses back. Rough hands reach around to grip his ass and drag him forward, sliding along the tent till his groan collides with Suhyeok’s. Gasping at the sudden friction on his cock, Suhyeok’s own against him, the Alpha wastes no time plunging his tongue into Cheongsan’s mouth, and he scrambles to kiss back and keep up with that passion.

Suhyeok kisses him like he’s desperate for it. Like he’s been deprived of him and Cheongsan supposes he has been. In the throes of it, a part of him lights up with happiness to be accepting his Alpha’s affection like this, a relief in his chest to have this back. 

With the Alpha’s arms locked around his waist, one of his own in Suhyeok’s damp hair and the other on his neck, Cheongsan gets lost in the intoxicating dance of his kiss meeting Suhyeok’s, those full lips slotting so perfectly against his own. 

The hand around his back reaches down to squeeze his ass, and Cheongsan moans under his breath, knowing Suhyeok can smell his arousal, unable to stop the way it’s even slid down past his shorts. That hand slips up his ass to push up his shirt and when it attempts to slide down the back of his shorts, those thick fingers diving right into his ass crack, reality slams down on Cheongsan and he remembers their friends only a few metres away. 

Throwing out an arm, he pushes Suhyeok away, putting distance between them as he pants into the sudden space between them. 

“Stop, Suhyeok,” he exhales, licking his lips as he holds his boyfriend at bay. Eyeing the tent flap, he nods towards it, his implication clear. “Not here,” He finishes, letting Suhyeok go as he sighs hard. 

Looking slightly lost and completely bamboozled, Suhyeok blinks hard a few times, before the Alpha drops his head and nods. “Sorry,” He breathes, a shamed-faced look rising on his handsome face. 

“Hey, no.” Cheongsan corrects, reentering Suhyeok’s personal space to catch the Alpha’s eye, reaching out to hold his face. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Just… not here,” He smiles kindly, waiting for Suhyeok to rid himself of that expression before he leans forward to plant a final long-lasting kiss on that mouth. “Let’s nap for a bit, I’m exhausted,” He says with a breath of laughter. 

“Sure,” Suhyeok smiles, shuffling forward on his hands and knees to approach his sleeping bag. 

“Can I… take these off?” The Alpha asks, tugging on his shorts in question, “It’s still really hot in here.” 

Laughing under his breath, Cheongsan nods, and feeling slightly giddy, divests himself of his own shirt and shorts, a sense of freedom rioting through him as he rolls over onto his belly on the tent floor, snuggling up to his pillow with a soft sound. 

He doesn’t miss the way Suhyeok pauses to eye him long and hard. 

Closing his eyes, Cheongsan’s breathing turns slow and deep, feeling every inch of muscle in his body finally begin to unwind, soften and relax. 

He’s asleep for the night before he can find a moment to regret it. 

He wakes up feeling like he can’t breathe, gasping desperately as if he’s suffocating. The heat surrounding him is heavy, blanketing and clings to every inch of him. He inhales through his mouth and that heat floods his lungs, saturates his throat, sticks to his teeth. Cringing, he rubs his face into his pillow, squirming where he lays as a groan of misery leaves him. 

He registers past the haze of sleep… that heat, that fever…it’s not coming from around him, or outside him. 

It’s burning him up from the inside. 

The realisation explodes behind his eyelids and he swears he feels his heart stop in his chest, his eyes slamming open as panic awakens in his head like a long-deprived beast. The pitch black darkness of night he barely registers, as he stares unseeingly into the tent interior. 

A sob falls from his mouth to feel the proof of what he knows to be true, the sensations roiling through his body impossible to misunderstand. 

The sweat that makes his sleeping bag adhere to his skin, the sticky mess that’s ruined his briefs, but most terrifyingly, the blazing arousal in his groin, the pulse he can feel deep inside him, nestled right in the centre of his groin, deep in his ass. 

Cheongsan sobs again and then he can't stop. 

Chapter Text

Cheongsan can’t curtail the tears as they spill from his eyes, waves of panic washing through him. The shock of waking up in heat hasn’t waned, his mind spiralling fast.

He’s mid-sob when a powerful surge of lust flows through him, and he groans halfway with arousal and discomfort. Slick escapes him to slide down his taint and coat his balls, soaking into his already-drenched briefs to add to his humiliation. On his belly, he tries not to move, the combination of his sleeping bag adhering to his sweaty skin, and his briefs sticky with his slick only increasing his distress.

He’s deeper into his heat than he’d like to acknowledge. It's only the alarm and shock of having awoken in this condition that's keeping him coherent. Nevertheless, it drives at the forefront of his mind, and Cheongsan battles against the desire to let go and give in to it.

Another swell of arousal floods him and this time it intensifies from pleasure into pain, the pulse between his legs becoming a throbbing ache. He bites into his pillow to muffle the noise that escapes him.

Movement to his left makes him tense, his anxiety sharpening as Suhyeok shifts in his sleep. 

“Cheongsan..?” 

The Alpha’s voice is sleepy and confused, Suhyeok sounding as if he’s barely awake at all. Turning his head, Cheongsan’s vision has adjusted in the dark and with dread making his heart clench, he stares as Suhyeok leans up onto an elbow and lifts one hand to rub at his eyes. 

His boyfriend blinks his vision clear, frowning in bewilderment before their gazes lock. Suhyeok’s eyes widen to saucers then, his nostrils flaring as he no doubt inhales a lungful of Omega heat.