Chapter Text
Neji hadn't started courting Lee intentionally. He hadn't realized it was what he was doing when he found himself trying to coat the other man in his scent constantly, or giving him gifts. It hadn't occurred to him until he was an hour deep into collecting flowers he thought Lee would like, it suddenly hitting him that he was absolutely attempting to court his teammate.
It wasn't a bad realization, and the fact that Lee was not only letting Neji do it but seemingly accepting it had made his heart flutter. To a certain degree, it felt like he was getting away with something, since nobody but his team had seemed to notice (or point it out that they did notice).
It brought a slight smile onto Neji's calm face, feeling on top of the world as he entered the training grounds, tapping his wrist to Tenten's and turning to rub his onto Lee’s neck scent gland, his finger already tugging at the black-haired man’s collar before he pulled away. That halted Neji's good mood instantly, feeling like a pile of bricks had been thrown at him. He still scented Lee, of course, it was his job as pack alpha, but doing it on his wrist as well.
Neji glanced at Tenten, and she shrugged, silently saying she didn't know what was up with Lee either. So he sighed, turning to stretch, preparing himself for their grueling training session. The entire time he couldn't take his eyes off Lee, staring holes into the back of his head while the omega avoided eye contact.
Lee ignoring him was bothering Neji far more than he thought it would, a growl building in his chest that he played off as a cough. His inner alpha was wailing, urging him to go over and remind Lee that he was the pack alpha- an instinct Neji was quick to push down. Alpha or not, he would never force his friends to give him attention.
So he shook his head, sniffing the air subtly. His brows furrowed slightly, realizing Lee’s sweet scent wasn't catching on the breeze, making him almost scowl, landing hits on the training dummy hard enough the wood splintered.
Afterwards, the three went for lunch, Neji’s leg bouncing under the table as he sat across from his teammates, eating his food with his carefully measured expression. As much as he wanted to shake Lee by the shoulders and scent him all over until he smelled like he was Neji’s, he held himself back, instead just observing his teammates as they talked to each other.
He tried to steel himself, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small bouquet he had made, a bunch of wildflowers braided together. Neji perked up seeing Lee’s eyes light up, then wilted again at the refusal of his present. “I am sorry Neji, but.. I. No thank you.”
He said, shattering something inside of Neji, who bit his lower lip to keep from frowning as he shoved the flowers into his pocket. It was a bit rougher than he meant to, the petals surely crinkling, but Neji couldn't get himself to care about it.
Neji and Tenten both watched as Lee walked away, waving happily as he headed back to his apartment. She looked up at Neji with a brow raised, looking lost. “So. No clue what that's about?” Tenten asked, her eyes flicking to Lee’s disappearing form.
Neji forced himself to un-grit his teeth to answer, crossing his arms. “No, I don't know what that's about.” He said firmly, then sighed. “I… I don't think I've done anything that would have upset him.” He glanced aside, not wanting Tenten to see the way he was almost pouting thinking about it.
He couldn't think of a single reason Lee would suddenly start rejecting his courting, scanning through every interaction they'd had recently in his mind. Finally, he let out another, louder sigh, running a hand through his hair.
“I'm sure whatever it is, we can talk about it at training tomorrow.” Neji said firmly, nodding to himself. Tenten patted his shoulder before they both turned and went their separate ways, giving him a sympathetic look. The Hyuga turned, rolling his shoulders back as he headed to his clan compound, prepared to lay on his bed and rethink every gift he had given Lee during his courting and if it may have offended his friend somehow.
—
The next day Neji awoke, huffing as he rolled over, his cheeks flushed and whole body feeling on edge. Rolling his eyes, Neji sat up to grab his suppressants out of his dresser drawer, downing one dry. Being in pre-rut was not helping his on edge emotions, but there should be a couple days until he had to skip anything because of it.
Sitting up and heading to the bathroom, he stretched his arms. While brushing his teeth, Neji repeated his plan in his mind of what he would say to Lee. After training, he could pull him aside and just ask him directly if his courting was making him uncomfortable. And if Lee said yes, he would apologize and get over it.
He headed out to the training field, tapping his foot when Lee didn't show. After a long, long moment, Neji turned to Tenten, brows furrowed. “Lee isn't here.” He said, tone a bit clipped with his annoyance.
“Yeah, obviously.” Tenten replied, rolling her eyes. She then shifted, rocking on her heels. “We should probably go check on him.” She added, meeting Neji's eyes. He curtly nodded, and the pair set off to Lee’s apartment.
As soon as they approached Neji could smell Lee’s scent, so strong it felt like it was calling out to him. Tenten glanced at him repeatedly, looking concerned, but Neji couldn't find it to care about Tenten’s worries with that sweet scent filling his lungs. By the time they reached the door of Lee’s abode Neji was nearly panting, his hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly at his sides.
“Shit.” Tenten muttered, rattling the knob of Lee’s door. “Didn't his heat just happen?” She questioned, glancing at Neji, who was barely holding on to his ability to think.
“Um. Yes, yes, it was just a couple weeks ago.” He managed, shaking his head to clear it. Tenten scoffed, reaching up to the top of the door frame and grabbing a dusty key. She turned her head to Neji, eyeing the way he was panting softly, his body nearly shaking as Lee’s scent hit him, his own scent growing stronger despite his patch covering his gland.
“I think you'd better go, Neji. I've got this.” Tenten said firmly. He had to fight the urge to growl at her, rubbing his hand over his face, trying to calm himself down. “Right. You're right.”
He quickly turned, walking off to who knows where while Tenten unlocked Lee’s door. Neji's mind was racing, trying to wipe that tantalizing scent off of himself, unable to get the stench of Lee’s heat off of him. Being near an omega in heat while in pre-rut was definitely not a good thing, and he was fighting to try and keep his own rut from being triggered, not stopping his running away until he was outside the gates of the Hyuga compound.
Neji could only hope Tenten managed to get Lee the help he needed. He tapped his fingers together in an attempt to calm his nerves, even as a growl rumbled in his throat at the thought of Lee being taken to the heat clinic and ‘helped’ by some other alpha. He shook his head, setting off to start walking again, trying to convince himself Tenten wouldn't take Lee there, no way! She wouldn't. She wouldn't.
—
Neji sighed as he woke the next morning, the signs of his pre-rut only growing stronger. This close, taking suppressants wasn't advised, but he didn't want to just stink all day. So he got ready for the day, dressing himself and applying his scent patch and staring at his reflection. He had definitely looked better, but he had hardly slept the night before, tossing and turning as he worried about Lee.
There wasn't team training today, Gai having cancelled it, having explained that Lee was in the hospital but fine. Apparently he had gotten himself into a faux heat by taking too many of his suppressants, thinking it would help him. Help with what had not been elaborated on, leaving Neji's mind spinning.
Without training, Neji figured he could have stayed in bed all day and taken care of his pre-rut a bit, but he decided he might as well go check on Lee. They still needed to have their talk, after all, as well as being helped after his recent hospitalization.
He knocked on Lee’s door, the other man quickly opening it, staring at Neji with wide eyes. Neji was quickly pulled into Lee's apartment and tugged into a hug, Lee nuzzling into his chest and huffing his scent. It made the alpha blush, his scent flaring at the attention.
“Ah, Lee?” Neji asked, flustered by the sudden affection. Lee stepped back, not removing his hands from Neji's sides as he met his gaze, leaning up to bury his face in the crook of the other man's neck as he spoke.
“Neji, I am so sorry!” Lee said, his hands tightening in Neji's shirt. “I did not mean to worry you, I just did not want your courting to..” He paused, trying to think of how to phrase it to not sound mean. “I did not want you to treat me like too much of an omega. If that makes sense.”
Neji blinked, his hands settling on Lee’s hips. “Uh, too much of an omega?” Neji questioned, making Lee sigh, his lips poking out in an embarrassed pout. “You know, since you were courting me. I do not need to be treated differently because I am an omega, Neji.”
Lee hummed softly as he melted against Neji, still breathing in that bitter alpha scent even as he explained himself. “Lee, is that what you think I was doing?” Neji asked, looking a bit confused.
When Lee didn't respond, just glancing aside, the Hyuga sighed, gently pushing Lee back by the shoulders so he could stare into his eyes. “Courting you isn't about treating you differently, Lee.” He started, speaking firmly as he readied himself to say what he needed to. “It's because I love you, Lee. I want you to be my omega, understand?”
He waited for Lee’s response, holding onto his shoulders a bit too hard with worry of being rejected. Lee nodded, his cheeks going a bit red. “I know, Neji.” He mumbled, not meeting his eyes. “I know that is the reason alpha’s court in the first place, but I could not stop myself from thinking you would treat me differently if I was. Yours.”
Neji sighed, sliding his hands from Lee’s shoulders to his hands, a bit relieved when Lee interlaced their fingers. “You know I wouldn't treat you differently, Lee-” He started, making his love flush brighter. “I know that, I know I am just being silly, but I cannot stop myself from wanting to be your mate, and it makes me feel… Silly!”
Lee said, a bit exasperated as he explained himself. Neji, on the other hand, lit up a bit at hearing Lee say he wants to be his mate as well. Confirmation of it felt amazing, and a smile tugged at his lips. “You don't have to feel silly, Lee. I know you don't want to be treated differently for being an omega, but you shouldn't fight your own instincts.”
He gently tilted Lee’s chin up to make him look into his eyes, those pale depths making Lee shiver. “Come on, Lee. What's the worst that could happen if you give in?” Neji asked gently, staring into the deep brown of Lee’s eyes, trying to stay calm when really, his inner alpha was urging him to toss Lee onto the couch and bite into his neck right now, to seal the deal.
Finally, after a long moment, Lee leaned forward and gently slanted his lips against Neji's. Neji's eyes widened, not expecting that at all. It was a brief touch, but it made his heart race. Lee laughed at Neji's blush, squeezing his hand. “I guess it would not be that bad. Being yours.” He said, snapping Neji from the haze of being kissed.
“It wouldn't?” He repeated, and Lee nodded.
“It would not. I was looking into it, when I got out of the hospital I stopped at a bookstore, actually.. It said that having a mate can actually calm instincts down if they are too strong.” Lee paused at that, smiling at Neji, moving his hand to Neji's scent gland, picking at the patch there.
Neji flinched back at that, his scent flaring wildly at the touch. “Lee! Don't do that, we shouldn't-” He started, blushing at the implication of Lee’s words and actions. Lee hummed, his smile going mischievous at Neji's reaction.
“Come on, Neji. It will be fine, you just have to bite me and we can move on.” He said, eyeing Neji over in a way that said he wanted more than just the mating mark. Neji's mind went hazy, and he cursed himself for thinking it was a good idea to come here when he was in pre-rut. But he didn't want Lee to stop either way, nodding his head without meaning to.
The pair quickly found out that the bite calming instincts did not work instantly, but by then both of them were too busy to be thinking about their designations, or anything but one another.