Chapter Text
Ever since that incident, Juan had grown much closer to Ash. The week passed quietly. Aldo made sure everything was in order regarding security, while Juan took care of their people.
To some extent, Aldo felt happy being so close to Juan. His wild cherry scent relaxed him, so soft and natural that it brought him into a safe zone. However, that cherry scent was now coming back with a second scent layered over it.
For the past couple of days, Juan had been returning home strangely coated in Ash's scent. It was subtle, but just strong enough for any Alpha to pick up on—a mark of possessiveness that completely bypassed the Omega's notice.
"I was just talking to him..." Juan muttered. Aldo poured shampoo straight over his head, making Juan let out a slight whine. Tina shot Aldo a bad look and quickly pushed him out of the bathroom. "It's just that I can't smell it!"
"Well, you smell way too much like him. If anyone else notices, first, they’ll find out you’re an Omega, and second, they’ll think you’re messing around with him." Juan’s face turned bright red, and he continued taking his fourth shower since he had arrived.
To Aldo, this was a declaration of war. Alphas knew that marking other people with their scent was an indirect way of saying "I won you" without resorting to violence. But this didn't just annoy Aldo; it bothered other members of the North as well. Juan wasn’t just a mere trophy—he was everything to the North.
"Is everything alright now?" Senpai asked, tilting his head. Ever since the training day, everything had felt weird. As an Alpha, he also felt a deep instinctual need to protect Juan, as if he were his own mother. "Finally, he smells like himself."
"Yes, but I'm not going to let this happen again." Aldo grabbed his sword, but Senpai stopped him with a hand. His gaze was cold as ice, hard and unyielding—those gray eyes behind those dark glasses. "Let go of me."
"No. Juan said no more conflicts, so respect his decision." Aldo merely growled under his breath. Five minutes later, Juan stepped out of the bathroom alongside Tina, his hair still damp. Both Alphas sniffed the air, detecting nothing beyond the oatmeal soap Juan used. "Is everything okay, Juan? Has Ash been bothering you?"
"No, no, don't worry, Senpai. It's just that someone can't stand my new friendships." Juan shot a glaring look at Aldo, who only scoffed. Tina, watching the situation unfold, simply shook her head quickly.
"Personally, I think it suits you," Tina remarked. The two Alphas froze. Juan smiled proudly and walked away with the demon Omega. Aldo tightly gripped his sword. He couldn't stand the thought of the Omega belonging to another Alpha; perhaps he was starting to develop possessive thoughts about the boy with glasses.
"Right, behave yourself, Generalissimo," Senpai said, adjusting his glasses before walking away. Aldo watched as the younger boy ran out after Ishan, who was on his way out. He witnessed that classic Alpha and Omega dynamic as Ishan blushed at something Senpai said, giving him a playful shove.
Part of him felt envious. Aldo said nothing more until he went to see Juan. He found himself standing once again in front of their oldest family photo. Juan was holding Senpai, who was barely a baby. Juan had a round little face and a huge smile, with Aldo standing serious as always by his side, his small horns just starting to grow. They had definitely been a family since they were very young.
Juan managed to slip away from Aldo's clutches as best as he could. The Alpha was acting strange, and Juan just needed some air. Working for them all day was exhausting enough as it was; he loved his family dearly, but sometimes he wondered what it would feel like to have one of his own.
"Oh, Juan." Juan looked at the person in front of him. Ash's voice echoed in his ears. The leader was dressed in light clothing, his hair fluffier than usual, and he carried a basket filled with yellow flowers. "Is everything alright?"
"Ah, yes, I was just taking a walk." Juan tilted his head, looking at everything the Alpha was carrying. "Are you going somewhere?"
"I'm going to put flowers on my daughter's grave." Juan froze in his tracks. A daughter? Ash had been a father? He had no idea Ash had ever had a partner. "I'm sorry, did I say something strange?"
"No! Forgive me, it's just... I didn't know you had a partner." Ash tilted his head in confusion but quickly shook it, glitches briefly sparking around him.
"No, no! It's not what you think. I adopted Ghosty, and she passed away shortly after." Hearing this, Juan let out a soft oh. Ash quickly thought of something and spoke up again. "Come with me to her grave."
"What...? No, no, Ash, that must be something private for you." Ash quickly shook his head and gently took Juan's hand. Juan just stared at the dark-haired boy with purple streaks, his tanned skin, and his purple eyes. Maybe he did find Ash handsome. "Alright, I'll follow you."
Ash teleported them both using a purple warp stone. Juan opened his eyes, slightly dazed by the sudden movement, only to find himself in a field of purple flowers and lavender. He could hear the birds singing and feel the sun beating down gently upon them.
"Welcome to my safe place." The words caught in Juan's throat. Ash, on his part, smiled tenderly as he watched the Omega take in the whole place with those wide, curious eyes that made him stand out. "Come, follow me." Ash pulled him gently. Juan said nothing, simply basking under the soft scent of flowers.
"Ash, this place is beautiful." Juan spotted the tombstone in a secluded spot, surrounded by small flowers of various colors. Ash knelt down and spoke a few words in Hindi as he placed the flowers. Juan remained silent once more.
"Family is a hard thing to understand, Juan," Ash's voice came out so softly that the boy with glasses jumped slightly. "But... I don't think wanting to have one is a bad thing." Juan sat down next to Ash, looking at the grave.
"She was very beautiful..." Ash nodded gently. His little girl. He had adopted her and lost her because of the Federation. It still hurt, but having someone there to support him made him feel better. Ash sniffed the air, noticing the exaggerated scent of soap clinging to Juan's body. "Is something wrong?"
"You don't smell like yourself. You smell like soap, as if you've showered ten times." Juan blushed so furiously that he had to cover his face with his hand. "Are you okay?"
"You know... Aldo says I've been smelling a lot like other Alphas lately, and it bothers him." Juan left out the part that it was specifically Ash's scent on him that was causing the issue. "But everything's fine, I guess."
"That's not right. He has no right to demand who you hang out with. If it doesn't bother you, why should it bother him?" Juan nodded, feeling somewhat defeated. Ash gently patted Juan on the head. "I like how you smell. It's very you."
"T-Thank you, Ash." Juan was about to say something else when a butterfly landed right on his nose. Ash let out a chuckle, trying to shoo it away. Its emerald-green color was so bright that Juan couldn't help but join in the laughter. "Ash, really, thank you."
"Thank you. You are a part of my family now, Juan, and I hope you remember that." Juan hugged Ash. The Alpha simply sighed and gently returned the embrace. His instincts were screaming at him to mark him with his scent and drag him away from the toxicity of his family, but Ash recognized just how much Juan loved them.
Especially Tina, Vegetta, and Foolish, who were his emotional pillars.
Ash dropped Juan off at the spawn point, giving him one last hug and asking him to take care of himself. Juan thanked him and walked back to his home. Aldo was standing at the edge of Tina's balcony, staring down at him intently like a raven.
"Juan, to your office." Juan sighed in defeat once more, climbing the stairs with heavy shoulders. When he reached his office, he saw Aldo with his arms crossed, his Generalissimo hat resting on the table. Aldo stepped closer to sniff him. "Juan..."
"Enough, Aldo. I'm tired of this." Juan clenched his fists, staring straight at his friend. "Stop acting like a fucking animal."
"I'm not acting like an animal, I'm protecting my family." Juan let out an exhausted laugh, locking eyes with Aldo.
"More than protecting your family, it feels like you're protecting a piece of property." Aldo shut his mouth. Juan shook his head, sitting down in a chair. "Ever since you found out I'm an Omega, you've been acting weird."
"That's not true, I'm the same as always." Juan quickly shook his head, uncomfortably touching his neck. "The one who actually changed his personality around you is Ash."
"Ha?" Juan just scoffed, noticing his hands were trembling. Ash had genuinely always been cordial with him, whereas Aldo was now being entirely possessive. "Ash... Ash isn't my family, but you are. And I don't want to be a part of this little game where you treat me like your property."
"Juan, that's not happening." Juan stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a loud screech that echoed through the entire house. "You are my family."
"Fine, then stop acting like an animal." Juan tried to walk out, but Aldo blocked his path. Aldo grabbed Juan's face with some force, making him let out a soft whine. "Aldo, stop..."
"Stay away from Ash and the Regime. I won't tell you twice." Juan nodded nervously, the grip only tightening. "We can't play happy family when the Federation is after us."
"Aldo, let him go." Foolish's voice boomed. Aldo gently released Juan, who immediately ran to shelter behind Foolish. "Get out of here, Aldo. Go train. We're going to attack the Federation, and I need you to stop thinking about the Regime."
"Foolish, they are the enemy." The totem Alpha growled softly at him, drawing his weapon. Aldo's tail flicked with interest, but he simply took a step back. "Fine, I understand. Federation first."
Aldo left the room, leaving his heavy scent flooding the entire space. Juan coughed at the intensity of it before slumping into his chair, completely spent. Foolish took a seat across from him, looking at him with concern.
"Juan... there's something I need to show you." Juan brushed his thoughts aside to look at what Foolish was placing on the table. "Graf gave me this."
"It's the reactor." Foolish nodded. A few weeks ago, Graf had warned them that the Poles were up to something dangerous, but none of them had paid enough attention. "Alright... we'll keep it safe and wait for more information on this. Thanks, Foolish."
"Juan, don't ever hide yourself again. Not your scent, and not who you are. Don't let anyone ask that of you, not even us, you idiot." Foolish ruffled Juan's hair before walking out. Juan just grumbled, fixing his unruly brown locks.
Juan picked up the photographs, staring closely at them. The green location—not the shade of green he would have liked. He felt a faint spark of his magic flicker between his fingers, and the photo began to singe slightly. Juan acted quickly to avoid ruining it.
The god who protected him so closely was trying to tell him something.