Chapter Text
Buddy was —in contrast to his family— an extrovert. His two biological family members were clearly fine with staying home for the rest of their lives and only speaking to a select few. Buddy thought that sounded like torture. Appa was more extroverted but over the years even he wasn’t as social as when he’d first joined their family. Buddy would never survive if he couldn’t hang out with other people.
That being said, tonight Buddy would rather be in his bed than strolling the streets of Bangkok with his teammates. It was some kind of market or something, Buddy hadn’t really cared about the details when he agreed originally, and now he cared even less. The last couple days had been a string of lows leaving him tired and cranky, not even accounting for the fact that Taro decided to go to Japan because he cared more about his weird situationship than Buddy.
The dizzying arrangement of lights and smells had his stomach rolling, forcing him to lag behind his teammates. “I'll be right back,” he said to no one in particular as he weaved around the crowd to find a washroom.
It was gross and sticky and unpleasant but it was empty and quiet. Splashing cold water he wondered belatedly if he was coming down with something. He didn't think it could be his rut but he couldn't explain the full unease that was setting his nerves on edge.
Sighing he ran a hand through his hair, he idly wondered if he should get it cut with how long it had got. Taro used to have long hair before hacking it all off in what could only be described as a fit of insanity, Dad had been upset about that. His stomach gave another roll and he decided to throw in the towel. He wasn't enjoying himself and if he stayed any longer he would just bring the mood down. Tugging his phone out of his jacket pocket, he stopped at his contacts. Logically he should just call one of his parents but it was already kind of late and he didn't want to worry his Dad.
Taro would be a natural second choice but again, he'd abandoned Buddy.
Operation three it was.
“Hey Buddy what's up?” Martin asked in greeting.
“Hey man, any chance you pick me up?”
Martin hummed, Buddy assumed he was still working knowing his cousin, “Aren't you with the team? Did something happen?”
“No,” Buddy leaned his weight against the wall, “just feeling out of sorts. Rex drove me so I don't have an easy way back.”
Buddy was forever grateful for Martin. All of his other cousins were significantly younger than him with Prince being technically the closest at seven years younger than him, which meant he and Martin were probably the tightest amongst the cousins. As kids they trained their abilities in secret so Martin understood that when Buddy said something was wrong he didn't ask nosy questions like their other family members (Buddy loved Uncle Alan but the man could get overbearing at times).
“Alright text me your location, I'll be there soon.”
Buddy sighed in relief, “Thanks man.”
Outside the air now didn't feel as oppressive. Finding a small space he texted his teammates group chat to let them know he was heading out and not to worry. Then he leaned back to wait.
Closing his eyes forced out a lot of the stimulus, but it would never remove the worst of them all. He could feel, like an army completely out of step with itself, every heart beat that surrounded him. Over the years he'd gotten good at pushing it aside, focusing only on those of his loved ones, but it didn't stop the fact he couldn't turn it off. It would always be there.
Against the backdrop of blood and beats, one particular beat spiked. It was jackrabbiting in the way fear always took control and Buddy hadn't realised he was moving until his own heartbeat threatened to drown out the others.
Skidding down a dead alley he found the source.
Rider was sprawled on the ground with Chase over top him, with a few of his teammates crowding a round. He could practically taste the blood pumping around him.
“Not so brave now bitch.” Chase sneered.
“Go fuck yourself.” Rider snarled back.
“You'd like that wouldn't you, some proper alpha co-”
Buddy launched himself at Chase, the two rolling on the ground with an animalistic growl ripping out of him. Heartbeats flooded his mind, the anger and surprise spiking in his mind.
“Buddy!” Rider hauled him off Chase.
It was the wrong move as Chase's cronies crowded them.
“Oh look,” Chase wiped the blood from his nose, “why am I not surprised that you've come to save the omega bitch-”
“Shut your fucking mouth.” He growled. He'd never understand people who looked down at Omega's, especially given that Rider was clearly a better racer than Chase would ever be. And had clearly got a few punches in before Buddy intervened.
Chase grinned, pulling from his pocket a small blade, “You going to make me? Your pack isn't anywhere to be seen.”
“Shit,” Rider caught his arm, “Buddy-”
“You think you scare me asshole?” Buddy's dad had probably killed people when working for Grandpa. Grandpa had trafficked kids. Uncle Way could hypnotize people. Uncle Alan had killed Grandpa.
And Buddy?
Buddy could feel the pounding blood of off beat hearts. Hot liquid pumped alongside his own in frantic beats demanding his attention. It was trivial for Buddy to isolate Rider’s. It was a tad slower, steady in a controlled manner you’d want for a fight. Versus the ones who surrounded them practically shaking with the way their hearts trembled, it made Buddy almost smile.
“I'm warning you Chase, walk away right now.”
Chase sneered, “You think you're something special don't you? Think just because your bitch dad fucked a racer-”
The snarl was primal as he slammed his fist directly into Chase's face.
“Don't fucking talk about my dad you asshole.” A shout of pain had Buddy twisting his head around.
Two of Chase's cronies were trying to hold Rider as another attacked. It wasn't going great for them since Rider wasn't a damsel. He snarled and fought like he’d been trained, but numbers still meant a lot at the end of the day.
Chase tackled him, internally Buddy cursed his distraction. Dad had always warned him never to look away from an opponent.
They weren't going to win at this rate, they would be lucky to get away without major injury.
“Once I'm done with you,” Chase's acidic breath made him gag, “I'll make you watch as I rip that poser apart for ever thinking-”
It wasn't even a choice. Or at least Buddy didn't think as he reached out towards the foreign beats and squeezed.
Four heartbeats stopped. Buddy couldn’t affect himself but he knew from Uncle Alan’s recollection that when the heart stopped there was the feeling of certain death, like looking down a giant fall knowing you were going to tip over.
Chase stumbled, hand grabbing his chest as his skin rapidly paled. Behind him he could hear the cronies collapse against the ground, groaning in pain. It wasn’t like holding your breath, you could still breath, but once the heart stopped everything else did as well.
No blood, no life.
“Wha-” Rider’s heart jackrabbited somewhere behind him, “What’s happening?” Hands pulled him away, breaking his concentration. Chase gasped, annoying Buddy. His lungs had been fine, Buddy couldn’t do anything to those, no need for dramatics.
“What the fuck did you just do to me?” he growled, staggering to his feet.
Buddy prepared to do it again, already reaching out to trace along Chase’s veins when a rock hit Chase square in the head.
“Hey!” Buddy snapped his neck around to see Martin sprinting towards them, “Come on! Run!” He skidded to a stop to grab another rock and blindly chucked it, hitting one of the other attackers with perfect aim.
Brain finally catching up, Buddy grabbed Rider’s hand and they took off.
Uncle Way’s stupidly expensive car was barely in a spot with its hazards going. Which worked fine for Buddy as he tumbled into the passenger side, checking to ensure Rider made it into the backseat before Martin peeled away from the curb.
They made it a few moments before Buddy choked out, “Good shot.”
Martin hummed, “You’re just lucky I found you. Do I want to know what happened?”
“I want to know.” Rider snapped through laboured breathing, “what the fuck was that?”
Around him the world pulsed, one of the unstated reasons he didn’t like using his powers was the possible after effects it could cause. Like some horrible rebound that left a sticky feeling sliding through his veins, ready to send him under into some dark space he’d have to crawl out of.
“Hey,” Martin nudged him while keeping an eye on the road.
“Fine,” he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, “I'm fine.”
Rider made a sound of anger, “No you're not. I can smell you from here.”
Buddy's head gave a violent pulse that stole his vision.
“If you're going to be sick let me know so I can pull over. I'd rather not have to explain to Mama why you threw up in his car.”
“I'm not going to be sick.” He mumbled.
A cold hand pressed against his forehead. Even without seeing, he could smell the traces of sweet caramel that seemed to respond to distress laced into his own scent. “What happened?” Rider asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Buddy would have rather never revealed this particular part of himself. He knew from the others that his powers were scary. No one in the pack made mention of it anymore but he had recollections of them making comments when they'd first joined. That his powers were creepy, unsettling, that he was a horror movie child.
It didn't take a genius to realise that being able to control people's blood was terrifying and unlike. Buddy hadn't wanted anyone to learn about it lest they see him as the creation his grandfather intended him to be. Buddy didn’t want to be a monster.
“It's-” his mouth was dry, “can I explain it to you later?”
“Buddy-”
“I promise,” he physically forced his head to the side, peeling his eyes open to see Rider, “but like when I feel more like a person.”
Rider hesitated, “Chase and the guys he was with-”
“They'll be fine,” Martin cut in, “and hopefully won't mess with you two anymore.”
If only.
Rider clearly wasn't happy about Buddy's promise but did seem to accept it.
Heavy silence filled the car until they arrived at Rider's place.
Rider hesitated when he reached for the handle, “Are you sure you're okay?”
Buddy nodded, knowing he was stretching the truth. He would be fine, but right now he wanted to bury himself in a hole far away from people until his body felt like his own. While that wasn't practical he'd settle for his bed.
Martin intervened, “Don't worry I've got him, and I'm taking him back to his parents.”
Best cousin ever.
“Alright, text me later.”
Buddy shot a thumbs up.
“You know,” Martin said once Rider had made it inside and pulled back into traffic, “y'all seem close for rivals. Like I know you don't hate each other but-”
“We kissed.”
“What?!?” If Martin wasn't also a racer they would have crashed, Buddy was sure of it. Instead his cousin looked at him like he was insane, “When?”
“The All Star race. We haven't talked about it.”
“Yeah obviously or else…” Martin's voice trailed off into a grumble, “so when you talk about your abilities you'll also talk about that?”
“Maybe…”
Buddy would rather talk about the kiss than his powers, if for no other reason than to sort out his feelings. He couldn't remember if he'd kissed Rider or if Rider had kissed him and did it matter? He knew he thought about Rider a lot but that's just because Rider was the only one who challenged him and not because he found the other attractive. Because Rider was undoubtedly attractive and was easy to talk to and now he was going to think Buddy was a freak-
“Hey,” Martin flicked him without taking his eyes off the road, “stop over thinking.”
“I’m not over thinking.”
Martin made a noise that described exactly what he thought of that lie.
“Look,” Martin pulled into the driveway of Buddy’s home, “I know our family sucks with the whole relationship thing-” Buddy almost sorted because Martin’s parents may actually be the worst in the pack “-but might I suggest talking to Rider? I mean the whole ride he looked more concerned than anything else. If you explain the whole thing I bet he wouldn’t freak out.”
“I can stop someone’s heart.” He bluntly stated, “I just stopped four hearts. You’re desensitized to the creep factor.”
“It’s not like you're going around regularly hurting people. I doubt you would have used your abilities if the situation hadn’t called for it. I’m just saying.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Buddy no longer had the energy to keep up his normally sunny disposition, grouping for the handle, “Thanks for the ride.”
There was a beat of silence, “Anytime”
Inside was quiet, both of his parents had probably gone to sleep. His instincts were screaming at him to bury himself between them and seek out the familiar warmth but he didn’t want to disturb them. Burnt coffee would definitely wake up his Dad and then he’d just worry.
Stumbling into his room he face planted into the centre of his bed where seconds later sleep grabbed him with both hands. His last conscious thought was how horrible he was going to feel in the morning.