Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pouting at his reflection and twisting blond locks of hair around his fingers, Felix knows he should resist the urge to dye it again. His stylist warned him that his hair was starting to break at his last three appointments, but what does that really mean?

The colour at his roots has faded into his natural darker shade, and he should decide soon if he’s going to dye it again or try to get it healthier. He’s been pushing the decision off for too long.

“Lee Felix?” a voice calls, pulling said Lee Felix from his thoughts. He tears his gaze away from the mirror in the waiting room to spin and see the man waiting.

“Hello,” Felix greets, adjusting the straps to his backpack. He follows the man down the hall and into a small room with a couch, a coffee table, and a few bucket chairs.

“I’m Jeongin.” The man smiles gently, and Felix can quite tell what his secondary gender is. He has dimples and his eyes scrunch up when he grins. “I’ll be working with you to set up your files, and hopefully get you your first contract today.”

Felix feels nervousness swirl in his stomach, but he nods and sits on a chair facing the couch. Jeongin seats himself across from him, setting a stack of papers down on the coffee table.

“So…” Jeongin trails off as he flips through the papers, “it looks like you completed a majority of this already at home. That’s great! Very helpful and means we can get started quicker. You’ve never been a comfort omega before?”

“No,” Felix truthfully responds, watching as Jeongin clicks a pen. “Uh, but I was a waiter for a bit.”

“Mm.” Jeongin doesn’t write it down. He flips to the next page and hovers his pen over an empty box. “You didn’t answer on when your last heat ended.”

Felix left that blank for a reason. It felt too personal, and he feels… not quite embarrassed, but the idea of sharing his heat information with a company is uncomfortable. He knows that there’s obviously a reason for it, but still.

Jeongin looks up, making eye contact. “Is there a problem? You haven’t signed anything yet, so you can walk out if you don’t want to do this. I want that to be very clear before anything is signed.”

“No, I-“ Felix clears his throat, shaking his head. “No, I want to do this.”

He needs the money. University isn’t cheap, and neither is the cost of living. Being a comfort omega doesn’t pay as well as a doctor, but it comes with its perks. Many alphas choose to spoil their omegas, even if they’re not mated. And the health benefits are a big plus.

“The second. It ended on the second,” Felix says, bringing his gaze down to his lap. “Uh, they last for three days.”

“Alright, I think that covers everything then.” Jeongin quickly scans the page before smiling at Felix, leaning back into the couch cushions. “We’ve had some of our clients look at your file, and a few of them have shown interest. I have their information here so that we can match you with someone by the end of day.”

Felix takes the files from him, trying to tamp dowm the queasiness stirring in him. He’s not a sex worker, since an omega who helps alphas through ruts is a whole other deal, and he doesn’t have anything against sex workers to begin with.

But he can’t help but feel… dirty. He’s going to be letting some stranger scent him, and stay in his nest. Sure it’s not his real nest at home, but Felix has always been possessive of his nests.

He picks up one of the folders, peering inside curiously. There’s no obvious red flags, and the information gathered on the client is more about his likes and dislikes. His hobbies and interests, which don’t majorly clash with his own.

“Here,” Felix finds himself saying, handing the file back to Jeongin. The man’s eyes flick over it before his forhead creases. It’s a moment of hesitation before his expression smoothes right out, but Felix notices.

“Oh, Bang Chan-nim.” Jeongin shuts the folder and gathers the rest of them back into a loose file. “A fine choice. He can be particular, though. But he’s very open to new things!”

It seems contradictory, but Felix doesn’t comment on it. Not when this paycheque could greatly impact him for the better.

He’s sent home just like that, with the promise that they’ll be in contact if there’s any updates. Felix is halfway through reheating leftovers for dinner when his phone buzzes. He puts his spoon down on the counter and pauses the microwave so it doesn’t beep during the phone call.

“Hello?” Felix presses speakerphone, taking his bowl out of the microwave.

“Felix-ssi,” Jeongin’s voice carries into the kitchen, “we have a contract for you if you’re willing to sign. Bang Chan-nim has agreed to have you. It’s a year long commitment, after which you can leave or sign for a longer term.”

Felix grips his counter, knuckles turning white. He wasn’t expecting to make this decision so soon. It’s eight o’clock at night for goodness’s sake, who does that alpha think he is?

The health benefits, he reminds himself. Think about the dental coverage.

And so he agrees.

The very next day he’s back at the company office with the contract laid out in front of him. Jeongin sits across from him with a patient expression.

Felix reads the words for the fifth time, chewing the inside of his cheek anxiously. His duties are to offer emotional support to the alpha, which is often physical. But sex is a whole other thing, banned from the contract. Felix is relieved that there is something firm preventing things from going too far.

He scribbles his signature on the dotted line and pushes the paper away before can rip it up. “Here.”

“Thank you, Felix-ssi,” Jeongin says, sounding all too formal. “He’s actually here, if you want to meet him before you arrive at his home tomorrow. He’s dealing with an error in his file about his work hours. He’s very… Well, you’ll see for yourself.

Felix nods, springing to his feet perhaps a bit too eagerly. “Yes, I would enjoy meeting him now.”

“Alright, let’s go find him.” Jeongin leads the way down the hall, turning a left past reception. They enter the office space, going even father until they reach a meeting room. Joengin raps his knuckles against the door before turning the handle and waving Felix in.

Two figures are hunched over a computer, one of them a short beta woman with glasses and a crooked nose, and the other…

Bang Chan is the same height as Felix. It’s surprising and comforting at the same time. He’s built thicker, with broad shoulders and full lips. His black hair is neatly styled as to not fall into his eyes, and he has ears pierced with small hoop earrings.

“Bang Chan-nim,” Jeongin politely says, closing the door as he steps into the room. There’s a finality to the sound that makes Felix tense up. “This is the omega that you selected, Lee Felix.”

Felix does an awkward half-bow, unused to someone else introducing him. Is he supposed to stand there silently? Is he expected to add something to this greeting?

“Felix-ah,” Bang Chan says as he straightens to his full height. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I was expecting our first encounter to be tomorrow, but I certainly don’t mind seeing you before then.”

“Everything is sorted.” The beta pushes away from the desk, the rolling wheels to her chair making a swishinf sound as she moves. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.”

Jeongin pauses, lingering in the doorway. “I’ll be outside if you need anything. Either of you.”

Felix nods, comforted by the assurance. He doubts that this alpha will attack him since companies like this most likely do background checks, but he’s never loved being left in a room with a stranger. He smiles as best he can and faces Bang Chan.

“Bang Chan-nim,” he begins, being cut off by a light snort.

“Hyung is fine,” Bang Chan tells him lightly. “Chan-hyung. Or just Chan.”

Felix can’t bring himself to skip the formalities when he’s literally dealing with a client. “Chan-hyung,” he continues, tacking on the more casual honorific, I’m looking forward to this- this, um…”

“Me too.” Chan sits back down, using his foot to roll the abandoned chair over to Felix. “I’d like to get to know you, if you have the time. I know that I read your file, but it’s so impersonal, don’t you agree?”

Felix thinks that it’s pretty personal, considering he put in his heat information, but he just nods.

“What I’m looking for,” Chan says, checking his watch quickly, “is a companion. I know there’s a lot of alpha bullshit about how to treat omegas, but I want it clear that this isn’t because I was to be in charge of you. My job leaves me busy, so I don’t have time to date. Therefore I don’t have an omega around.”

“Makes sense,” Felix mumbles.

“I’ve tried a few omegas, but nothing ever clicked,” Chan admits. “It was my fault, since my schedule can be unpredictable. I do want someone to treat well, and an omega with a soothing scent would work best.”

Felix remembers the basic information in the file that stated Chan is a music producer. He makes a mental note to see if he’s heard of any of his music before.

“-I’d appreciate being able to get to know your scent,” Chan finishes, and Felix realizes that he zoned out. “Would you mind?”

“Oh, um, go ahead.” Felix extends his hand, tilting his wrist up. His scent is weak, which he’s always been self-conscious about.

Chan gently takes Felix’s hand in his own, rubbing his thumb into the palm of the omega’s hand. He applies enough pressure to get Felix to unclench his fingers.

“Relax,” Chan murmurs, bumping his nose against Felix’s wrist. His lips accidentally brush across the scent glands there, causing Felix to shiver. He hasn’t had an alpha touch him since his shitty ex two years ago. That alpha trampled his nest a few too many times and had to go.

Felix suddenly notices that Chan’s scent… it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s definitely there, and appealing to say the least, but he can’t put a finger on it. Scents usually smell like citrus, or cinnamon, or even detergent, but Chan is so just uniquely Chan that no other label fits.

Chan releases Felix’s wrist and smiles. “I’ll have a driver pick you up tomorrow. I have some nesting supplies at home, but feel free to bring anything that will make you feel comfortable. Oh, and I have a few rules for you.”

“What kind?” Felix warily questions.

“After you leave my place, you text me when you get home safely. I don’t expect constant texts from you since I’m not your alpha mate, but when you go home after being with me anywhere I want to know that you’re safe,” Chan says, sweeping some loose hairs from his face.

“Oh, okay,” Felix agrees. It’s not overly possessive or overstepping any boundaries. “That’s okay.”

“Great.” Chan flashes dimples as he grins. “And if I ever make you uncomfortable, I want to know immediately. We’ll add more rules as we go and get used to each other, but those are my two big ones. Does that work for you?”

“Yeah.” Felix nods and lets out a breath he didn’t know that he was holding.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Felix-ah.” Chan stands up and opens the door for him.

“See you tomorrow, Chan-hyung,” Felix responds, ducking his head as he slips out of the room.

Chapter Text

Felix sits in the back of the sleek black car, hands clasped tightly together in his lap to prevent himself from fidgeting. Chan stayed true to his word and sent a driver, who seems nice enough. Seungmin, is his name, and he barely paid attention to Felix as he climbed into the back of the vehicle.

Felix wonders where Chan lives. Felix himself is in a dorm that he shares with Jisung, so he’s curious as to whether or not Chan has a roommate. He can’t imagine that he does, if he’s wealthy enough to afford a comfort omega service.

“We’re here,” Seungmin calls, the beta rolling down the partition. “I’ve been asked to escort you upstairs.”

“Oh, thank you.” Felix opens the car door, stepping foot into the concrete parking garage. He follows Seungmin to the elevator, observing as the beta punches in a code, keys clicking. He tries to look away once he realizes that it’s a code, but Seungmin speaks up.

“You need to know the code,” Seungmin says, glancing over his shoulder at Felix. “If I didn’t want you to see it I would have covered the keypad with my body. But Chan-hyung wants you to know the code so you can come and go easier. It’s two-eight-six-four.”

Felix commits the code to memory as the elevator begins to move, bringing him closer to the inevitable. Will it be awkward? Will he even be good at his job?

What if Chan hates the way that Felix nests and gets rid of the contract? What if Felix discovers that this is all a front for an omega smuggling ring that Chan is in charge of because he’s a mafia leader and-

Felix blows out a breath, pressing fingers against his throat to check his pulse. He reminds himself that he’s fine, and to not let him imagination get the best of him.

The elevator doors open, revealing a luxurious penthouse unlike anything he’s ever seen before. Except on Pinterest, that is.

The floors are a shiny dark oak, stretching across the entire penthouse. The kitchen is modern, the living room has sleek furniture, and all the doors to the other room are shut.

In short: un-lived in.

Felix isn’t entirely surprised. An alpha that turns to an omega condor service because they don’t have enough time to court an omega is likely to not spend a lot of time at home.

“I’ll be going home now, so you can order a car ride home,” Seungmin absentmindedly says, reaching for the elevator button.

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” Felix distractedly wanders inside, peering around a bit nosily. There’s a single plate next to the sink, a blanket thrown over the side of the couch, and everything smells like Chan. It’s a bit dizzying how the scent is everywhere.

Peeking at a framed portrait of Chan either his arm thrown around someone’s shoulders, Felix bends down. Who is this? Chan’s best friend? A relative, maybe?

“Felix-ah?”

Felix ships around, feeling just the tiniest bit guilty for snooping. But he clears that off his expression and smiles nervously. “Hi, Chan-nim.”

“Hyung,” Chan gently corrects, closing a door behind him. “Sorry, I was just on the phone. Would you like a tour?”

“Yes please,” Felix agrees, all too curious about how rich people live. Chan doesn’t seem like one of the out of touch wealthy people- grounded and kind instead of eccentric and skinning rare animals for a hobby.

Chan leads him through the different rooms, all of which are standard. No sex dungeons to be found. There’s a bathroom, and an additional one attached to the master bedroom. The second bedroom is the guest bedroom, the bed perfectly made without wrinkles There’s an office which is the only chaotic room of the house, loose papers and scattered files everywhere.

“And that’s about it,” Chan says when they’re back in the living room. He sticks his hands into his pockets and leans against the wall. “Unless you want to see the closets?”

“I think I’m good.” Felix shakes his head, all too aware of the pounding of his heart in his chest. “Uh… What- What do you want us to do now?”

Chan studies him, gaze sharpening from the casual way he had been staring at the omega. “Well, I did hire you for a reason. And again, tell me if anything makes you uncomfortable, but I would appreciate it if we could if you would let me… uh…”

“Right, yeah.” Felix nods, squeezing his fingers into the material of his hoodie. It bunches up and he forces himself to let go and smooth the fabric out. “Um, how do you want to- to do this?”

“We can do something while you just it on my lap,” Chan suggests. “Would you like to watch a movie? Or you can scroll on your phone, I really don’t care. It’s up to you.”

“A movie sounds good,” Felix replies, voice cracking at the end.

Chan mercifully ignores the embarrassing noise in favour of walking to the living room. Felix shuffles behind him, staring at Chan as he turns the television on and goes to Netflix.

“You can choose what we watch.” Chan holds the remote out to Felix before settling on the couch. Felix spends a decent five minutes choosing something to watch before landing on a Studio Ghibli movie. It’s lighthearted and casual, nothing too heavy for what might be a nerve-racking encounter.

“How are we- You said you wanted me on your lap?” Felix whispers, gaze trained on the ground.

“Mm.” Chan doesn’t move, waiting for Felix to be ready.

Felix slowly lowers himself onto Chan’s lap, tense and coiled tight. He has his back to the alpha’s front, facing the mounted tv. He watches the beginning, hype focused on how he can feel Chan’s breathing, the way his chest rises and falls.

“Relax,” Chan murmurs, rubbing Felix’s shoulder. His thumb digs into him, and his knuckles brush across the scent glands at his throat when he lifts his hand.

Felix shivers, unused to the sensation. It’s been so long since he’s had an alpha’s attention on him.

“You cold?” Chan asks, mistaking the shiver for one of cold. He reaches for a blanket and drapes it over Felix, covering the both of them in fuzzy warmth.

“Thanks,” Felix mumbles. He finds himself sinking back into Chan’s chest, tilting his head to catch more of Chan’s scent. Oh, it’s even better straight from the source. Felix could get scent-drink off of it easily .

The movie progresses, and Chan plays with Felix’s hair. His fingers run through the strands and he scrapes his fingernails across the omega’s scalp. It’s so nice , and Felix is getting paid for this? It’s utterly mind-boggling.

“Your hair is practically dead,” Chan quietly says, his voice taking on a tender edge. “I should book you with my hairdresser. Who does your hair, baby?”

The pet name flies over Felix’s head. “I do it myself. I watched YouTube tutorials because salon’s are expensive.”

Chan clicks his tongue, lips tugging downwards inti a frown. “I’ll get you an appointment, and we’ll fix this. My treat, so don’t worry about it.”

“Felix-ah,” Chan gently says a while later. Felix grumbles and blinks as he opens his eyes, lifting his head. When had he fallen asleep? “Felix-ah, can hyung ask you something?”

“Mm.” Felix melts back into Chan when his hand is lifted up so he can inspect the scent glands on his wrists.

“Do you have an alpha? A boyfriend, or mate?” Chan questions, carefully setting Felix’s hand back down in the omega’s lap. He sets Felix down on the cushions next to him, laying the blanket over him.

Felix’s head clears once he’s away from Chan’s scent. He blinks and sits up as he rubs his face. “Uh, no. I don’t.”

“Okay, thank you for telling me.” Chan stands up and stretches, making a soft sound when his back cracks. It’s very similar to a moan, and Felix feels heat pool in his belly. “You just fell so close to an omega headspace so quick, I wanted to ask.”

Felix frowns and fists at the blanket. “Oh, sorry. It’s just… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s completely fine.” Chan shrugs and pads into the kitchen, and Felix notices the adorable wolves on his socks. They’re drawn in a cute style that totally suits Chan, now that he thinks about it.

“Really?” Felix says in surprise, a bit shocked that Chan is so relaxed about this. And why isn’t he himself more concerned on how easily Chan got him like that?

“You aren’t so tense anymore.” Chan rummages through his cabinets and brings out a pot. “Have you had dinner yet?”

“No, I haven’t.” Felix slips off the couch, folding the blanket up and placing it where he was. He walks to the kitchen and hovers nearby, unsure of what to do with himself. “You don’t have to cook, Chan-hyung. I’m not that hungry.”

“But I am, and I might as well feed you while I’m at it.” Chan grins, flashing dimples as he pours water into the pot. “I’m afraid that I’m a shit cook, though. We’ll be having ramen tonight, and for a lot of nights thay I cook for you.”

Felix swallows thickly, something familiar aching in his chest. “Can I- Where do you want me to make a nest?”

“Oh, you don’t have to today.” Chan frowns, crouching as he tries to figure out which burner to put the pan on. He curses under his breath as the wrong one turns on, switching the location of the pot. “I know that it’s a big deal for some omegas, so you don’t have to do that right away.”

It’s kind and sweet that is making effort to make Felix more comfortable, but Felix wants to make a nest. He needs to make this lifeless penthouse more comfortable and warm.

Chan glances up, brushing his hair out of his face as he tips his head. “Oh, unless you want to. Um, it can go either in my room, or the guest room. I’m sure that my nonexistent guests would mind.”

Felix snorts out a laugh and hesitates briefly. “Do you have… a lot of nesting things?”

“Oh, check the hallway closet.” Chan pulls packets of ramen from his cupboard, hitting his head on an open door. “Fuck!”

Felix rushes over, grabbing Chan’s head and checking for blood. He sighs when there’s none, stroking his thumb over the crown of the alpha’s head. “You’re fine.”

“Yeah, but it hurts.” Chan huffs and nudges Felix’s waist. “I have some extra blankets, and you can use my pillows. I’ll come get you when dinner is ready.”

Felix finds a whole stack of blankets in the linen closet, dragging them all to to the guest bedroom, he piles them on the bed before getting to work.

When he’s finished carefully arranging them, nothing is right. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong ! Felix doesn’t know how to fix it, either.

“Felix-ah?” Chan pokes his head into the room, forehead furrowed in concern. “Is something wrong? Your scent… Are you upset?”

Felix’s mind momentary lingers on the scent comment. It’s usually so subtle that you have to directly sniff his glands to notice it, but Chan knew he was distressed from the kitchen?

“I just-“ Felix waves his hands vaguely at the mess of a nest. “It’s not good.”

Chan hums, not patronizingly telling him that he thinks it’s fine. Instead, he tilts his head and asks, “How can I help make it better?”

Oh, how Felix nearly swoons.

But bad. He shouldn’t be thinking like that when this is a professional relationship, and Chan is simply being helpful.

“Can- You wouldn’t mind if I used your bed?” Felix mumbles, glaring at the shameful nest attempt. Felix should be ashamed of how bad he is, when alpha is being so good and making dinner.

Felix shakes his head, listing to Chan’s assurances that it’s perfectly fine. Why did he… Is he…

“I’ll help you move it,” Chan offers. “Am I allowed to touch the nest?”

“It’s not much of a nest,” Felix grumbles, shoving at least three blankets into the alpha’s arms. He gathers a few pillows and starts carrying them in the direction of the master bedroom.

It’s better here, with Chan’s scent. This is a room where the nest will actually be of use, which automatically makes it five times better.

Felix builds a new nest, all across Chan’s king-sized bed. Pillows are strategically placed in the corners, because that’s where heads go when people lie inside the nest. It’s the rules, and Felix lets out a small snarl when Chan moves one.

“Oh!” Felix gasps as soon as he realizes. “Chan-hyung, I’m sorry! I didn’t-“

“It’s my fault,” Chan quickly tells him. “I shouldn’t have moved anything without permission. I totally deserved it.”

Felix is fairly certain that his entire face is burning red. “Hyung, I’m so sorry. I- I really didn’t mean to- to-“

“Hey, I already said it was fine.” Chan smiles softly. “If you’re done, let’s just eat, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Felix fusses over his nest one last time before trailing after Chan to the kitchen. He’s herded to the living room to sit and wait while the ramen is finished.

“Here,” Chan says as he holds out a bowl. “I hope that you don’t mind that I don’t buy the spicy types. I’m, uh, not so great at handling it.”

“Me neither.” Felix grins crookedly. “Thank you for dinner, hyung.”

Chan sits next to him and wordlessly chooses another movie.

Chapter Text

“Oh hey, you’re back,” Jisung says, placing his Switch controller down in his lap. He purses his lips and narrows his eyes at Felix as he comes home after classes. He hasn’t seen his roommate since two days ago, with the way that their schedules align. “You… Why do you smell like an alpha? Holy shit, are you an alpha and you never told me? Aw, imagine how many times you could’ve knotted me by now.”

“What?” Felix shuts the door behind him and locks it, setting his bag down on the nearby table. “No, of course I’m an omega. I was just with an alpha.”

Jisung gasps and leaps up to his feet, the controller falling with a clatter. “Oh my god! Who is it? Wait, actually, I want to try and guess. Is it that hot alpha from the gym? The lady with the thick thighs because I told you that I had dibs! I was just…waiting.”

“You’re a coward and wouldn’t have asked her out,” Felix dryly responds, sitting on the couch. He tucks his legs beneath him and glances at the Mariokart that Jisung had been playing. “But no, it’s not your muscle mommy.”

Jisung pumps his fist and hands Felix an extra controller. He exits out of the game to add a second player, curling up next to the blond man on the couch. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re dating someone? I’m honestly insulted. It’s a blow to my honour as your best friend.”

“Because I’m not dating anyone.” Felix shrugs and chooses his character, waiting for Jisung to pick.

“Then why do you smell like alpha?” Jisung demands, whirling around to stare at Felix with wide eyes. “Come onnn, tell me!”

“It’s just my job,” Felix mumbles. “Remember I told you that I’d be looking for something that fit my schedule? Bills aren’t cheap.”

“Oh.” Jisung settles down, expression relaxing. “Yeah, and you can’t find a full-time job while getting your bachelors degree.”

Felix nods, turning his attention back to the game. The match is starting and he needs to beat his roommate. The countdown begins, and just as the karts start moving, Jisung pauses the game.

“What’s your job?” Jisung suspiciously asks. “Are you… Do you help alphas in rut? Is that what this is?”

Felix feels his cheeks heat and he frantically shakes his head. “No! Absolutely not! I- I mean there’s nothing wrong with that, but I can’t- I wouldn’t-“

“Oh, so you must be a comfort omega,” Jisung realizes. He’s surprisingly shrewd for someone who’s so… Jisung. “So what are they like? Wait, actually, scratch that. I need to know how rich they are. How rich are we talking?”

“Um…” Felix trails off, unsure of what the answer is. “He’s a music producer and lives in a penthouse. But we had ramen for dinner, so I don’t know.”

“Mm.” Jisung purses his lips. “But he didn’t hurt you, right? Just manhandled you or whatever it is he pays for?”

“It’s not manhandling,” Felix grumbles, trying to grab Jisung’s controller so he can unpause the game. “We watched a movie, I got a little bit hazy on his scent, we ate dinner, and then he sent me home.

Jisung scoffs. “Yeah, it’s not manhandling until he’s bending you over every flat surface he has and tossing you around his sex dungeon. Does he have a sex dungeon? Please tell me he has a sex dungeon.”

“You have your muscle mommy.” Felix rolls his eyes. “Stay away from him.”

“Oh, someone’s possessive.” Jisung wiggles his eyebrows teasingly.

“I’m not possessive,” Felix replies, his ears burning. “I just don’t want you being more of a slut than you already are.”

Jisung laughs loudly and accidentally hits his own face with his controller. He curses and sets it down on his lap. “Hey, which of us has a closet full of miniskirts, huh? Which one of us is really a slut?”

Felix manages to steal Jisung’s controller, unpausing the game and shooting ahead of everyone. Jisung scrambles to grab it back and catch up, but ends up in fourth place. Felix sticks his tongue out at his friend as the next round starts.

“Let’s make a bet,” Jisung excitedly suggests. “Loser has to wear one of your skirts to work.”

There’s a flicker of nerves in Felix’s stomach at the thought and he quickly twists his lips into a scowl. “You don’t even have a job.”

“I totally do.” Jisung puffs his chest out. He sees the look on Felix’s face and his ego instantly deflates. “Fine. Uh… If you win, I have to wear a skirt when I go over to my parents’ house next week. If I win, then you have to wear it to whenever you see him next.”

Felix debates it for a minute before agreeing. He’s confident enough in his Mariokart skills, and he might just invite himself along to dinner to see Jisung’s mom react to her son in a miniskirt. One that, Felix has to admit, is quite slutty.

And so the battle commences. Felix drifts, and uses turtle shells, and slips on banana peels. But unfortunately, he loses. The blue shell hits him at the end and Jisung speeds past, cheering in victory.

“Yes!” Jisung falls to his knees, throwing his head back. “Yes, thank you! Thank you!”

“Oh, shut it.” Felix swats at the back of Jisung’s head, getting to his feet and stretching. “I’m going to take a nap before Seungmin gets here.”

“Seungmin?” Jisung echoes, a smirk spreading across his face. “Is that this alpha’s name? Oooh, what if I googled him? Haha! I have the advantage now, sucker!”

“That’s the driver’s name. Who has the advantage now?” Felix mocks, slipping away to his room. He changes into something more comfortable, slipping under his covers. He doesn’t have a nest at the moment since he just had to wash his sheets, but he’ll make one soon.

Even if it won’t smell like Chan.

“Felix!” Jisung screeches, slamming the napping omega’s bedroom door open. “He’s here! Your mysterious alpha’s driver is here!”

Felix jolts awake, sitting up and rubbing his face. “Wha- But it’s not even-“

“He’s here early,” Jisung agrees, leaning in closer as if about to share a juicy secret. He lowers his voice to a whisper as he says, “Apparently your alpha had a bad day, and asked for you to be there when he gets home. You think he’s already that attached to you? Oh, I wonder if he’s gonna be sexy and angry when he gets there, mmm.”

“What the actual fuck is wrong with you?” Felix rolls out of bed, scowling at his friend. He ignores the flutter in his stomach at the words ‘your alpha’ and opens his closet. “You’re so weird, moaning at me about angry alphas. I think you need to get laid.”

“Maybe.” Jisung grins. “So get the hell out of here so I can invite one of my booty calls over here.”

Felix pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I- Okay. Do you know where my tan pants are?”

Jisung doesn’t respond, turning on his heel and marching over to Felix’s drawer. Felix watches curiously as Jisung rummages around, horror striking through him when Jisung pulls out a skirt.

“No,” Felix breathed out, a hint of a whine in his tone.

“Yes,” Jisung argues, holding the skirt out. “We made a bet, and you lost. Either put the skirt on for tonight, or- or-“

“Or?” Felix dryly asks.

“Or I’ll ask that alpha who lives across from us to scent you before you go,” Jisung finishes. “Mm angry sex, yeah?”

Felix changes into the skirt, hurrying to grab his things and leave the apartment before Jisung says anything else weird. Seungmin is outside the front door, scrolling on his phone. He looks up at Felix with mild interest before leading the way to the car outside of the building.

The drive blurs by, and Felix can’t tell if he’s nervous or excited. He grasps at his skirt, trying to tug it down. It covers everything, but if he bends over (which why would he ever do that) then he’ll be in trouble.

“He’ll be home soon,” Seungmin tells Felix as he parks. “You remember the code?”

“Two-eight-six-four,” Felix answers. He receives a nod in response and exits the vehicle.

Felix walks inside, immediately rushing to the bedroom. His nest is still fully intact, looking a bit rumpled, but the heavy scent of Chan emanating from it shows that it’s due to the alpha spending the night in it.

Felix nearly purrs contently before clearing his throat. A comfort omega would do… comforting things. And if Chan is living off of instant ramen packets, then maybe cooking for him would be nice.

Felix opens and closes some cupboards for a bit, wondering what to make. He sets a pan and a pot out on the stovetop and slices some carrots while he waits for the water to boil. A stir fry is simple to make, and delicious.

“Felix-ah?”

Felix whips around in surprise, holding a knife in hand. He nearly slices Chan straight across the middle, but the alpha jumps back.

“I’m sorry, hyung!” Felix gasps and sets the knife on the counter. “I’m sorry! I didn’t hear you come in and-“

“It’s okay.” Chan chuckles casually. Too casually for someone who was nearly just murdered. “Can I scent you real quick?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Felix nods, remembering how he had a bad day. It makes sense that he would need this sooner than later.

“Thanks,” Chan murmurs, pulling the onega into his arms. He buries his face against the scent glands on Felix’s neck, breathing in deeply.

Felix shivers, craning his neck to allow for Chan rubbing their scent glands together. Usually only mates do that, since it’s direct scent to direct scent. It’s intimate, marking each person strongly with one another, and Felix probably shouldn’t be allowing this…

Instead of pushing him away, Felix fists at Chan’s shirt, holding him closer. He lets out a breath sound as Chan’s head dips down so he can press a gentle kiss to Felix’s scent glands.

Chan gently eases Felix’s grip, holding him carefully as the omega sways in place. “I’ll finish dinner, alright? Why don’t you sit down?”

That’s a good idea, except Felix can’t bring himself to leave. He loops his fingers through Chan’s belt, just needing to be close.

“What is this, stir fry?” Chan peers at Felix’s cooking, letting him just hang on. Chan spends the next ten minutes cooking, while Felix wordlessly holds on, occasionally leaning on him or adjusting his grip.

Felix is still feeling spacey by the time that the meal is over, so Chan prepares one big bowl of stir fry, sitting on the couch with Felix on his lap. They share, with Chan spooning mouthfuls into Felix’s mouth.

“I’m sorry,” Felix whispers when his head clears a bit. He doesn’t make a move to leave Chan’s lap. “You hired me for- for comfort, and you always end up taking care of me.”

“That’s why I hired you,” Chan assures him, him circles into his back. “It mimics… like a bond, in a way. So I can have someone to take care of like my instincts want. I promise you that this is what I want.”

Felix’s bladder twinges, so he stands up, albeit reluctantly. “I have to go pee, but-“

Chan chokes on the bite he was taking, face turning red. His gaze is trained on Felix’s legs for some reason and-

Oh. The skirt.

Felix covers his face with his hands and darts away to the bathroom. He has a mini crisis before taking a deep breath, peeing, washing his hands, and stepping out of the bathroom ready to face the world.

“I booked a hair appointment for tomorrow,” Chan says, his voice strained. He’s pointedly looking at the top of Felix’s head, his cheeks flushed. “I’ll pick you up and take you for it, and then I need to go shopping. I’ll take you along and buy anything that you need.”

“This skirt is short,” Felix says.

Chan nods, a bead of sweat dripping down his neck. “Oh, is it? I haven’t noticed?”

“Why didn’t you see it before I stood up?” Felix demands, eyes narrowing into slits.

“Because I was focusing on dinner!” Chan throws his arms up in the air and groans. “I don’t- I’m not great witj noticing things, okay?”

Felix huffs, mildly insulted that Chan hadn’t noticed sooner. He is embarrassed to be wearing this in front of him, yes, but he also knows that he looks hot as fuck in it.

“I’m sorry, Felix-ah.” Chan pulls Felix in for a hug, pressing their bodies together. “If I buy you dessert will that make you feel better?”

Felix considers the offer before nodding. “I’ll take it.”

“Good.” Chan leans down to kiss Felix’s scent gland, but the omega dodges. An irritated growl rumbles from Chan’s chest, his lips tugging downwards.

“Earn it back,” Felix says, half-joking. The other half is dead serious.

“Fine.” Chan snatches his phone off of the table and storms to the door. “I’ll drive to the bakery.”

Felix winces as he watches the alpha choose the stairs over elevator, going two at a time. Did he push too far? Oh god, did he break his contract?

“Hyung,” Felix quietly says as they walk through the parking garage. He sprints to catch up, grabbing Chan’s hand. “Hyung, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad. You can scent me. Please scent me.”

“It’s fine.” Chan taps his foot impatiently, tugging his hand away so that he can type on his phone. The rejection stings, and Felix ducks his head. He needs to remember that he’s not actually Chan’s omega, he’s practically just hired help. He needs to know his place.

The both of them are silent until Seungmin arrives, unlocking the car doors.

“Yah!” Seungmin snaps as they get in, startling Felix. “You said I could have the night off, asshole!”

Felix sucks in a breath. He’s never seen an alpha get yelled at and not take it poorly.

“Things change,” Chan coldly replies, buckling himself in. He doesn’t yell or hit or do anything aggressive. Felix fumbles with his own seatbelt, so Chan reaches over and clicks it in. “We’re going to the bakery across from Hyunjin’s studio.”

“Got it.” Seungmin starts the engine, backing out onto the road and beginning to drive.

Felix’s fingers curl into his skirt to avoid trembling. Chan had a bad day, and Seungmin shouted at him. Chan had a bad day, and Felix didn’t let him scent him. Chan had a bad day, and he’s going to take it out on Felix.

“Felix-ah?” Chan glances over from his phone, eyebrows furrowed. “Are you- Fuck, are you okay?”

“Uh-huh.” Felix blinks back tears. Why did he let Jisung dress him like this?

“Oh, baby.” Chan sets his phone down and takes Felix’s hands, rubbing his thumbs against the knuckles. His scent twists into something comforting, something that soothes the worries building in Felix. “Can you tell me what’s going through your head? Please?”

Felix lets out a small hiccup-like noise as he sucks in more air. “You- You’re mad a-and I’m- Seungmin-“

“Oh, sh sh sh. I’m not mad, I promise.” Chan lifts a hand to stroke Felix’s hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear. “I was just a little grumpy, hm? Hyung is just a little grumpy today, Felix-ah.”

“Hyung is a dick for having me drive on my night off,” Seungmin chimes in.

“Shut up,” Chan tells him, dragging his thumb beneath Felix’s eyes to collect the tears spilling out. He wipes his hands on his pants and laughs lightly. “I would never be mad at you. I just had some rude people at work today, and ended up a bit grumpy.”

“But- but I didn’t l- let you scent me.” Felix sniffles and rubs his face. “And- and now I’m making y- you buy me dessert.”

“You have your own body and can to decide whose scent is on it,” Chan seriously says. “In fact, I would let you shower and get rid of all my scent when we get back just to prove a point. And for buying you dessert? I want to spoil you and haven’t had the chance yet. Thank you for letting me buy you dessert.”

And so Chan buys Felix a slice of strawberry shortcake, and a box of cookies, and a chocolate orange cupcake. Felix tells him repeatedly that it’s too much, but Chan insists on it.

“I hate you,” Seungmin grumbles as Chan loads everything into the car. “It’s just going to smell like cake in here now, and you didn’t even get me anything.”

“Please.” Chan scoffs. “I pay you enough that you can buy plenty of your own desserts.”

“Can I go home now?” Felix hesitantly asks. “I have classes early tomorrow morning and should get some rest.”

“Of course.” Chan smiles softly before snapping at Seungmin. “Drive.”

“I hate you,” Seungmin says again. “One of these days I’m just going to drive off a bridge.”

Chan notices the look on Felix’s face and lowers his voice. “I’m not a jerk, I promise. We just tease each other. One time he told my date that he sucked me off before I picked her up.”

“Oh,” is all Felix responds with, because Chan dates? And also, Chan dates?

Chan carries all of Felix’s new desserts upstairs, brushing away his offers to take them. Felix is a bit nervous to let him in, but figured it’s rude not to.

“You can just put these here,” Felix says, pointing to the counter. There’s no sign of Jisung, which is worrying. “Uh, excuse me a moment.”

Chan nods, standing in place as Felix knocks on Jisung’s bedroom door. There’s no response, so he pushes it open.

“Holy shit!” Felix screams, holding his hands up in front of his face.

Chan comes running, scooping Felix up and angling his body to take any potential blows. When none come, he checks the room.

“I think…” Chan slowly says as he sets Felix back down on his feet, “that I need to go home now. I have laundry that needs to be folded… and dishes that need to be done…”

Jisung awkwardly coughs, blocking the man’s body who’s tied to the bed. Red ropes restrain his limbs, bu at least he’s clothed for the moment. Felix is eternally grateful for that.

Felix tries to shoo Chan away from the room before they’re further traumatized for life, but Chan is still staring at the restrained man. Chan finally breaks the awkward silence by saying, “Minho? What are… It’s nice to see you.”

Felix notes the lack of honorific which means that the two of them are close. He looks between the two of them for an explanation before Chan groans.

“I’ll pick you up at eleven, after classes?” Chan faces Felix.

Felix nods, and then Chan is gone, leaving Felix to scurry off to his room. He hopes that Jisung will at least be quiet.

Chapter Text

Felix clicks the button to hand his assignment in, only twenty minutes away from the deadline. It’s the closest that he’s ever gotten to actually missing the deadline, and he doesn’t want a repeat of the stress again. But he knows that he will.

“Um.” Jisung leans against his doorway, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “Minho-hyung just left…”

“Minho,” Felix repeats, raising an eyebrow. He closes his laptop and plugs it in to charge before facing his roommate. “So is he just one of your booty calls, or are you actually dating him? Where is this at?”

“Oh, I’m dating him.” Jisung smirks and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“You can’t date someone without them knowing!” Felix exclaims, half-surprised. He should’ve expected this from his friend. “That takes away the whole point of dating them!”

Jisung rolls his eyes and scoffs. “No, I’m courting him so that I can date him. You can be subtle about courting. Courting is like foreplay, if you know what I mean. ”

“Still,” Felix dryly says as he stands up, exiting his bedroom. Jisung follows him to the bathroom, skidding to a halt when Felix glares at him. “You can’t watch me pee! God, what kind of a pervert are you?”

“I’m not watching you pee!” Jisung places his hands on his hips. “I just wanna chat… Y’know… About the alpha you brought home. Is that your alpha from work? He’s kinda hot. I see what you see in him.”

Felix feels heat rise to his face, no doubt turning his cheeks a bright shade of red. He shuts himself inside the bathroom to do his business, glad that Jisung can’t see his face. “That is him, and I don’t- I don’t see anything in him because I don’t like him like that.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Jisung, much to Felix’s horror, opens the door and walks inside. “When are you seeing him next?”

“Jisung-“ Felix grabs the nearby shower curtain to wrap around his body. He’s sitting on the toilet with his skirt down, and certainly doesn’t need Jisung seeing anything. “Get the fuck out!”

“Tell me when he’s coming, and then I’ll get out,” Jisung negotiates, staring directly at the shower curtain, and where Felix’s genitals are. The shower curtain is opaque, so he can’t see anything, but still. Still.

“Fine!” Felix hisses. “He’s picking me up at eleven. Now get out, you freak!”

Jisung shrugs casually and glides out of the bathroom, leaving Felix to finally piss in peace. He can’t help but wonder why Jisung wanted to know so badly, going to bed, his classes, and then home to shower while a sense of dread settles over him. A curious Jisung is never a good thing.

“It’s almost eleven,” Jisung says, grinning ear to ear. “Can I give you a hug before you go? I’ll miss youuuu.”

“What,” Felix slowly and warily says, “the fuck are you planning?”

“Nothing,” Jisung sweetly says. His eyes glitter dangerously. “I just want to give my bestest friend a hug before he goes off to his job. Is that so bad?”

“I guess… I guess not.” Felix racks his brain for a reason to say no. Maybe Jisung really just wants a hug? So Felix opens his arms for a simple embrace.

“Mm.” Jisung hugs Felix, nuzzling into his scent glands. “You smell good. Your alpha friend left his vanilla all over you.”

“Chan-hyung doesn’t smell like vanilla,” Felix replies, slightly confused. Chan doesn’t smell like anything that could be named. He’s just Chan.

“He totally smells like vanilla,” Jisung argues, pushing his nose against Felix’s skin. He takes a dee breath and hums. “Yeah, it’s still there, and it’s one hundred percent vanilla.”

“He does not-“ Felix begins, yelping when Jisung sinks his teeth into his throat. It’s dangerously close to where a mating mark would go, and he jerks away. “Shit!”

Jisung pulls away, tilting his head when Felix’s phone rings. “Oh, you should answer that.”

“What- Why would you-“ Felix unleashes all the curses that he knows before taking a steadying breath and picking his phone up. “Hello?”

“We’re downstairs, Felix-ah,” Chan tells him. There’s a pause. “Maybe don’t wear a skirt. It’s chilly today.”

Felix checks the window to see the sun out and shining. It looks warm, but looks can be deceiving. “Okay, hyung. I’ll be down in a second.”

“Felix-ah?” Chan murmurs. “Are you okay? You sound… Did something happen?”

“No, everything’s okay,” Felix lies, raising a hand to the fucking bite mark that he has now. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Sounds good,” Chan responds.

He hangs up before whirling around on Jisung, seething in rage. “Great! Now I have to go see him with a- oh god, does it look like a hickey? Does it look like I have a hickey?”

“Would it matter if it does?” Jisung holds Felix’s shoes out. “You don’t like him, so you shouldn’t care if he thinks you’ve been hooking up with someone. And it’s not like he’d ever believe what really happened, so he’s going to think that you had sex with someone.”

Felix gapes like a fish out of water for a minute, spluttering like he really is one.

Jisung pats Felix’s cheek condescendingly. “Have fun, and use protection.”

Felix feels numb as he slips his shoes on, grabs his phone and coat, and runs downstairs. Holy shit. Does he have a hickey now? Or just a bite mark? Will Chan think that he’s been seeing someone? Why does he even care about that?

Seungmin opens the car door, and Felix slides into the back. Chan is on his laptop, brow furrowed. There are bags under his eyes that definitely weren’t there yesterday.

“Hyung?” Felix whispers, unsure if he should disturb the alpha.

“Mm?” Chan looks up, fingers pausing their typing.

“Oh, I was just wondering what you’re doing.” Felix tips his chin in the direction of the laptop, reaching to buckle himself in. The backseats of the vehicle are dim, and surely can’t be good for Chan’s eyes like this. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Just getting some work done.” Chan waves a hand dismissively at his laptop. “And a bit. I was busy, but that’s not important. Seungmin is going to take us to a shop, because we’re getting you some nice things.”

Felix’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wh- What? Me? Why?”

“Just in case.” Chan resumes typing, focusing his attention on the laptop. His eyes are slightly red, and Felix can only imagine how exhausted he is.

“Can we go to your place after?” Felix lightly questions, twisting his hands together on his lap.

“Huh?” Chan frowns and looks up. “Oh, sure. Only if you want to, though. I wasn’t planning on it. Is there a reason, Felix-ah?”

“I want to nest for you, alpha,” Felix softly says. Boom, he’s playing his needy omega card to really win this. Chan needs rest, which is why he hired Felix (to care and comfort) and Felix is going to trick him into napping in the nest.

Chan straightens like he was electrocuted, wide eyes locking on Felix. He swallows, his throat visibly flexing. “Of course, baby. Hyung will buy you some pretty things and then you can build a gorgeous nest again.”

Bingo.

Seungmin coughs, sounding suspiciously like he’s saying the word ‘whipped’ but he clears his throat. “Sorry, I was choking.”

“How do you know Jisung’s… friend?” Felix settles back into his seat, noting how Chan tucks his laptop away into his bag. “You knew his name.”

“Oh, Minho?” Chan zips his bag up before smiling at Felix. “He was my roommate in university. He studied dance. It had been a while since I had seen him, so yesterday was definitely a surprise.”

“We’re here,” Seungmin interrupts, turning the engine off. “I’ll wait here.”

“Thanks.” Chan helps Felix out, resting his hand on the omega’s hip as they walk along the sidewalk. They enter a shop that Felix hasn’t seen before, where the salesperson at the entrance smiles mildly at them.

They browse for a bit, but Felix doesn’t see anything that stands out. He’s happy with his closet, and doesn’t need a new set of sheets, but in the omega section… In the omega specific section there’s a weighted blanket guaranteed to hold scent in it for up to two weeks.

“You like it?” Chan asks, noticing how Felix’s eyes linger on it.

Felis shouldn’t say yes. He absolutely shouldn’t take advantage of how generous this alpha is being, looking at the absurd price tag.

But he still finds himself nodding, making a soft, affirmative noise.

Chan takes it off the shelf just like that, casual and not even checking the cost. “What else? Oh, look at this bean bag. It looks so soft.”

Felix examines said bean bag with a small frown. It looks small enough to fit in a nest, but when Felix brushes his fingers over the fabric he quickly retracts his hand.

“Is something wrong?” Chan adjusts his grip on the blanket so that he can feel the bean bag. “Do you not like it?”

“It feels bad. It doesn’t go in my nest.” Felix shakes his head and moves through the aisle. He selects a silk robe off of the rack and purses his lips. After his heats, his skin always gets so sensitive. Any clothes that touch him feels like nails dragging across his skin, so he usually goes naked. It’s not convenient, but what he has to do.

“This looks nice,” Chan comments. “I’ll get it for you.”

Felix is practically purring as Chan taps his card on the payment machine, barely able to stop his chest from audibly rumbling. He blushes when he sees Chan discreetly rubbing his wrists into the blanket, marking it with his scent.

“Let’s go to my place,” Chan says once he loads Felix’s new things into the car trunk. “And then you can- Oh…”

“What?” Felix glances up, having just been about to get into the backseat. “Is something wro- Eek!”

Felix lets out an embarrassing squeak of a noise as Chan shoves him into the car. His legs splay out, leaving room for Chan to crawl between. The alpha’s face is pinched, eyebrows draw together in-

Oh, Jisung was right about angry alphas. It does things to Felix, in ways that he will never admit.

“What’s this, baby?” Chan cups Felix’s chin, tilting his head up and exposing his throat. His thumb presses into the mark that Jisung left. “Did you bump into something.”

“No,” Felix breathlessly answers. When was Chan this big? Broad shoulders and thick thighs that spread Felix’s legs apart so that alpha can fit. “Didn’t bump on anything, hyung.”

“No?” Chan’s voice dips lower and his eyes narrow. “Then what happened?”

Felix swallows, his voice suddenly dry. What did happen?

“Jisung bit me,” Felix whispers, eyes fluttering shut when Chan’s hand wraps around his throat. He wants more of it. More pressure, more scent, and more of Chan’s weight pressing his body into the back of the expensive car.

“Jisung? Your little roommate?” Chan pulls away, much to Felix’s displeasure. He scoots so that there’s a bit of room between them, letting out a sigh. “Oh, you, uh, do stuff like that with your friends?”

“No, hyung!” Felix quickly rushes to assure him. “He just bit me. He’s actually into your friend. They’re courting, but not officially. It’s confusing.”

“Ah, okay.” Chan rolls the window down to address Seungmin standing outside the vehicle. “We’re ready to go.”

Seungmin nods and gets into the driver’s seat, wordlessly driving to Chan’s building. Felix internally maps out his plan on how to get the alpha to rest as Chan works on his laptop through the journey.

“I’m just going to finish something here,” Chan says from the couch as he types away. “I’ll be there in auntie if you want to build the nest. I had to take it apart when the housekeepers came.”

Felix nods and goes to Chan’s room, dissatisfied when he sees how his nest is gone. Yes, he knows why, but still.

He gets to work, building it and laying his new blanket across it. This way, all of Chan’s scent will sink into it and Felix can take it home. He doesn’t take his robe out of the bag, since there’s no use for it now.

He sits in the nest and waits, and waits, and waits. Felix waits patiently for about fifteen minutes before padding out to the living room. Chan is still working, in the same exact position as before.

“Hyung?” Felix tries his best to turn his scent needy and cloying, but he doesn’t have much to work with. His scent is weak, but Chan’s head snaps up in a moment.

“Yes?” Chan answers, setting his laptop aside. “Is something wrong?”

“Why aren’t you in my nest?” Felix gathers all of the acting skills in his body, lip trembling. He can even feel tears prick at his eyes. “Am I- Are my nests not good enough?”

“Oh, of course they’re good enough.” Chan rushes over, wrapping his arms around Felix. He scoops Felix up, arms under thighs and torso, carrying the omega to the bedroom. “They’re perfect, baby. So comfy and warm. Thank you for making me a nest.”

Felix buries his face into Chan’s chest to hide his victorious smirk. He’s gently placed down into the nest, and Chan lies up with him.

“It’s such a pretty nest, baby.” Chan pulls Felix into his lap, nosing at his scent glands. “Do you want me to scent that blanket of yours?”

“Yes please,” Felix earnestly says. He drags it closer, handing the edge to Chan.

Chan rubs it across the scent glands at his throat before giving it back, lying down in the nest. His eyes are glossy at this point, so Felix knows that he’s getting closer.

Felix gently manoeuvres Chan’s head onto his chest, threading his fingers through the alpha’s hair. He switches the bedside lamp off to plunge the room into darkness. He considers it for a moment before purring gently, feeling how Chan practically melts into him.

Felix lets himself fall asleep in a nest full of Chan.

Chapter Text

A blanket that can hold the scent for two weeks is apparently needed, since Felix hasn’t seen Chan for that long. He had woken up the day after sleeping (and just sleeping) with Chan, gone to his classes, and then home. Three whole days have gone by since then.

Okay, so maybe not two weeks, but it’s still longer than he’s gone without contact from Chan since they’ve none each other. No visits, or calls, or even texts.

Just a surly Felix with a blanket that smells like Chan. He’ll never admit it, but he’s added the blanket to his nest at home. It’s the one that covers his body because it’s weighted. That’s why he uses it, ans not because he misses Chan. Why would he miss the aloha that he works for under contract?

Felix spends a whole hour debating it before going down to the office where Jeongin works, because what if Chan dropped Felix and just felt bad saying it to his face? Felix wouldn’t say that he needs this money, but he’ll have to look for a new job if he does end up being fired. Not everyone has rich parents like Jisung.

“Felix-ssi?” Jeongin says in surprise when he walks out to the waiting area. “Oh, did we call you in? Or did something happen?”

“I was wondering if Chan-hyung fired me.” Felix cringes at how scared he sounds. “Can we talk?”

“Of course. Why don’t you come back with me?” Jeongin leads Felix to the room where he signed the contract, motioning for the omega to take a seat. Felix does so, albeit with more awkward chair scraping than he was hoping for. “What happened?”

“He hasn’t called me after he slept with me,” Felix mumbles, his grumpy omega peaking to the surface.

“One moment, please.” Jeongin reaches for a stack of papers with a stick note that says Human Resources on it in messy handwriting. He removes a form from the pile and takes a pen out from his desk drawer. “Okay, so who initiated sex? Because it’s a different section depending on who did.”

“No!” Felix yelps, cheeks burning red. “It wasn’t- We literally just slept together.”

“Oh, okay.” Jeongin sets the pen down and frowns. “Now I’m confused. Why would he fire you for that? It’s included in the job description since a lot of alphas that have trouble sleeping need an omega for it.”

“So we had gone shopping, and then back to his place,” Felix begins to explain. “He was exhausted from overworking himself, so I brought him to the nest and we fell asleep there. He was perfectly nice and dint try anything. But then I left in the morning for class and I haven’t heard from him since.

“That’s odd,” Jeongin murmurs, drumming his fingers on his desk. “We haven’t heard from him since he chose you. He’s had three comfort omegas before you, and with each of them he sent emails to either complain about them or ask to drop them. He’s never had a good match, which is why I was so surprised when he actually stuck with you longer than a week.”

“So you don’t think he fired me?” Felix nervously asks.

“No, I think he’s probably just busy.” Jeongin smiles softly and returns the form to its stack. “You know how he is. Oh, and tell him that I said hi.”

Felix does, in fact, know how Chan is. A workaholic who clearly needs to be torn away from his laptop. It’s the weekend now, so he would most likely be working from home.

Felix types the code in and is patient as the elevator rises. He doesn’t at all feel like his entire being is aching with the knowledge that Chan is close. Nope, everything is all good over here.

The doors slide open and his legs nearly give out beneath him. Felix grabs the table by the entrance for support, overwhelmed by the scent. Fuck, this is bad.

Chan is in rut.

“Fuck,” Felix whispers, turning around to press the button to the elevator. He smashes it over and over again, watching the display taunt him. The elevator is in use, going down. “Fuck, come on!”

The scent intensifies, and Felix whirls around to see Chan standing at the doorway to the bedroom. The alpha is shirtless, only wearing low-hanging sweatpants that reveal his toned V-line. His abs flex as he bends down to pick up a pillow that had fallen out of his arms.

“Felix-ah,” Chan whispers, walking closer. His throat bobs as he reaches out a hand. “You- Omega, you came.”

“Ah…” Felix presses the button to call the elevator again and again. He hides it behind his back so his escape attempts won’t be noticed. “Hyung, how long have you been in rut for?”

Chan is only a foot away now, standing in place. The pillow in his grasp reeks of Chan’s scent, with Felix’s barely noticeable in the mix. Felix is struck with the realization that it’s the one he slept in that night.

“My rut is over,” Chan mumbles in a brief moment of clarity, eyes locked in Felix’s face. He shudders, fingers stretching out. “All alone again. Can you- Will you stay for a bit? Please? I need to hold you and scent you and- and-“

The elevator dings as the doors open.

Felix goes completely still, watching as Chan’s entire body tenses. Felix is torn between escaping a potentially dangerous situation, and confronting the alpha. Partially because it’s his job, and also because Chan looks so broken with bags under his eyes, greasy hair, and utter desperation in his stance.

“Hyung, why don’t I help you shover?” Felix suggests lightly. “Mm? A nice warm shower and I’ll wash your hair for you?”

Chan drops the pillows, lunging forwards to pin Felix against the wall. The omega’s back hits the button panel and he scrambled to grab Chan’s shirt for support. But there’s no shirt, and therefore no stability, and he drops his phone with a heart-wrenching thmp.. Is it broken?

“Hyung!” Felix gasps and tries to push the other man away and peek at his potentially broken phone. “Hyung, calm down! I’m staying anyway!”

Chan ignores him, peeling away the collar of Felix’s shirt to lick his throat. His teeth graze where a mating mark would go, and Felix sees stars. He needs to deal with this.

He goes limp, fluttering his eyes shut. With Chan in a hormone crash after an unsupported-rut, he should be protective of any omega, especially omega that he knows. It’s a dirty move, but he can’t think of any other way to not be pinned against a wall while an overly excited alpha is all over him.

Chan reacts as Felix expected, scooping him up and carrying him to the bedroom. He’s settled into the nest that reeks of rut, barely able to keep up the unconscious act as Chan lies down next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist.

“Felix,” Chan whispers, dropping honourifics. He must be far gone.

Felix lies there for a few more seconds before pretending to stir, slowly lifting his head. He’s immediately hauled into Chan’s lap, pressed against bare, sticky skin. His pant leg rides up a bit, touching a wet section of the blankets. He doesn’t want to know what that is.

Chan rubs Felix’s back before promptly shoving him over. Felix squeaks in alarm before Chan is atop him and dragging his pants off his legs.

“Hyung!” Felix shrieks in alarm, kicking out. “What are you doing?”

Chan doesn’t answer, instead throwing Felix’s pants off to the side. He reaches for his shirt next, and Felix resists for about thirty seconds before Chan wrestles the shirt away. It’s deposited to the side before Felix is thrown over Chan’s shoulder.

“Chan-hyung!” Felix sternly says. “Put me down!”

Chan, again, does not respond.

“I should’ve told Jisung where I went,” Felix mournfully says, slumping against Chan’s hold. His surrender is rewarded with a soft pat in the ass, and he has never been more humiliated in his life. “Oh my god, no one’s going to find me. I’ll be knotted until I’m pupped… By an alpha who isn’t even my mate…”

But to his surprise (and totally not disappointment), Chan doesn’t fuck him. Instead he brings Felix to the bathroom and runs a bath, setting the omega down on the counter.

Felix starts to slip off the marble counter, freezing when Chan growls lowly. He sighs and resigns himself to his fate, sitting there in only his boxers. “Hyung, I think I should feed you. When’s the last time you even ate?”

Chan strokes his fingers through Felix’s hair, a happy rumbling noise emanating from his chest. It’s barely audible over the running water.

“Hyung,” Felix tries again. “How about if I make you something to eat, and then you have a bath? A shower would’ve been quicker, but I guess you want a bath…”

Chan lifts Felix off the counter, setting him into the bathtub. It’s utterly ridiculous, because Felix showered this morning. And also Chan is the one who needs to get cleaned up. He’s covered in sweat and grime and most likely cum.

Felix attempts to stand up, but Chan pushes him right back down. He nearly slips and hits his head, just barely grabbing the shower head. He huffs before sitting back down, narrowing his eyes at the alpha. “Hyung, you’re the one that needs the bath. Just get in here, you stupid, overworking alpha.”

Chan steps into the steaming water after pushing his sweatpants off, manhandling Felix onto his lap. He apparently hadn’t been wearing anything underneath, so now Felix is basically sitting on his dick. It’s just what he needed today.

“What- No you can’t just-“ Felix grunts and twists around, trying to get free. Chan’s arms wind around his waist to keep him in place, so he only ends up rubbing his ass on Chan’s dick. “Hyung! You need to clean up!”

Chan reaches down, prying Felix’s boxers away from his waist. Things are about to get very explicit, very soon, and Felix can’t do this. Chan isn’t in the right headspace to consent, even if he might want this. A clear conversation needs to be had before anything is done.

Felix holds his wrist up to Chan’s face, sighing heavily. “Here you go, Channie-hyung.”

Chan very quickly gets drunk off of Felix’s scent, leaning against the tub with a blissed expression on his face. It’s easy from there to wash his hair, scrub him clean, and Felix even snuck some conditioner in during the bath.

The hard part is getting Chan to dress after the bath. He’s mostly dried off after some being towelled off, but he’s reluctant to put any clothes on. He was reluctant to let Felix get dressed too, but thankfully allowed it to happen.

“Hyung!” Felix snaps after Chan dodges him yet again, holding out a clean pair of sweatpants. They’re comfortable and easy to wear for a post-rut alpha. “Put the fucking pants on!”

Chan ducks his head and tugs the pants up his legs. Felix managed to coax him to wear underwear with more of his scent, which is hard to believe worked. His scent is so weak, why is Chan kind of obsessed with it?

Felix somehow prepares ramen that he finds in the pantry, Chan hovering nearby and constantly attempting to hug him. Felix gets some food into the alpha, compromising with his protective instincts by taking turns eating. Felix is so very tired by the end of their meal, but this isn’t over yet.

Chan is starting to snap out of it, merely cuddling with Felix in the new nest that the omega had thrown together. This one snd clean blankets, even if it’s lacking Chan’s scent.

Felix yawns and rests his head on Chan’s chest, snuggling closer to him. Maybe he can just shut his eyes for a little bit. A tiny nap before Chan needs something else. But no, of course that’s not how it goes. Things just never go smoothly.

“Why the fuck would you come here?” Chan demands now that his hormone levels have returned to normal. Pure fury fills his gaze, his grip tightening on Felix’s arms. “I told you not to come! It was so reckless, and crossed so many boundaries!”

“I- You what?” Felix blinks in surprise. “No you didn’t. You told me to have a good day when I left.”

Chan pinches the bridge of his nose, looking exasperated. “I told Seungmin to tell you to stay away on the way home! How did that equal you barging in here, not knowing if my rut was over yet?”

“Seungmin didn’t mention it to me,” Felix slowly says.

Chan grits his teeth, letting Felix go. He rubs where he had held just a bit too tightly, brow furrowed. “That little- I’m sorry, Felix-ah. I’ll make sure you get a bonus on your next cheque. I’ll drive you home myself.”

Felix shuffles awkwardly. “Yeah, okay. Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on your rut, I just got worried. I thought you were working, but obviously you weren’t. I’m sorry, hyung.”

“It’s fine.” Chan rolls to the side and grabs a shirt, pulling it over his head. “I… I appreciate it. It’s been a while that I’ve actually come out of my rut pleasantly. Thank you.”

Felix beams with pride all the way to the car, barely paying attention as Chan buckles him in and fusses over him. His hair is brushed out of his face and his scent glands and throughly rubbed by Chan’s wrists. He isn’t quite sure why, but it doesn’t matter. Not when Chan isn’t firing him, and he did a good job.

“Jeongin, the one from the office, says hi,” Felix mumbles once they’re on the road.

“Oh?” Chan doesn’t glance over, keeping his gaze trained on the road. “That’s nice. I’ll have to send him something one of these days. Shit, I nearly forgot to ask.”

“Mm?” Felix looks at the alpha curiously.

“Was I… I didn’t do anything stupid, did I? My memory is hazy,” Chan admits. “I didn’t hurt you, right?”

“You didn’t hurt me, or even try to,” Felix assures him. “But you were quite stupid. You nearly cried when I put clothes on after the bath. Very protective too. It was cute.”

“Cute,” Chan repeats. He sighs and flicks his turn signal on. “I’m gonna whoop Seungmin’s ass, I swear to god.”

“Shit!” Felix exclaims, sitting up straight. “I forgot my phone! Channie-hyung, can we go back? Please?”

Chan wordlessly turns the car around.