Chapter Text
Namjoon didn't expect Taehyung to present as an alpha.
Now, he's skeptical how Jeongguk will turn out.
Their generation flips over the past. Slapping it with a, 'change the norms.' Quote and unquote, expect the unexpected.
They say that your wolf will unleash its true nature. You won't see it from when you were a child, no. Not even from personal characteristics, antics, hobbys. Likes and dislikes. Physical attributes. Scent. No.
Like before said, 'change the norms.'
A decade ago, it had all started. A young boy who was maltreated for being an orphan, quiet and weak, one day lashed out and almost killed his bullies in a fight. Turns out, he was an alpha. The orphanage shut down after that, the ruckus spreading to news outlets and tabloids, causing the mass to side with the child. Proven all his injuries have been long, investigated real, long just as his stay in the orphanage.
The media had been on fire, people exchanging experiences of unusual occurrences.
From friends, families, to strangers.
"I thought she was an omegaㅡ"
"He was supposed to be an alp--".
"You're a beta? But you're muscularㅡ"
They said everything's changing, adapting. Or perhaps, it is just what really is deep inside you. The real you, which nobody knew, not even you, yourself.
Additional to this, it seems like the world grew tired of the injustice people had been accustomed with. Since these happenings began, the number of rape cases had become drastically low until it reached 0. It's proven later that mating reasons have been raised to it's highest peek.
"Alphas and Betas can't scent/smell their mates/omegas on heat unless it is their own mate. Omegas can't go on heat without their mates on vicinity/are not ready to carry a mark/not ready to bear children. If by all means forced mating is observed, both of the parties involved will feel at most uncomfortable they won't be able to withstand the presentiment of the activity ongoing and for certain, will eventually put on a stop. Furthermore, it was also observed that often, both the person involved will feel faint to sever pain if mating activity is not sooner to be stopped." Kim H., 2387.
The reaction from the mass had been chaotic. Many of them are alphas that found this unfair, most of the betas have been neutral- found it fair, while for the omegas, it was a long waited relief.
There seems to be excitement and worry all over the place the first time it was proven on an experiment. Excitement with meeting the only person meant for you and worry that you will never find them before you run out of time. Other found it lame, finding it 'no sex at all', but stupidity was at its finest when five years down the drain they realize that mating was the thing they can't do and not sex itself.
It seems like fate had made itself clearer this time around, making the written words on books live as they attach invisible red strings on each individual while they sleep, then later on waken up clueless that they are already destined with someone they would find or never will. They say only if luck is with you that you would find them or karma will make itself rule that no matter how hard you try, even after lifetimes, you won't ever.
Taehyung himself was surprised too. He's already a late bloomer as it is, but Alpha? He expected being an Omega. He likes the idea of taking care of others, soft things, heatsㅡ ugh, forget that. Too early for a rut, he just presented two weeks ago.
The real problem here is not even that. The real problem is that, if he's an Alpha and then Jeongguk turns out the same, who will offer to bottoㅡ again, too early for a rut.
Why is he so horny anyway?
"Namjoonie-hyung! I has a question." He hears Namjoon chuckle as he enters the elder's bedroom. Although Taehyung presented as an Alpha, his antics of being cute never ceases to amaze them.
"What is it Taehyung-ah?" Namjoon closes his book, ready to educate Taehyung further about most of their traits, his dimples showing as he smiles.
"Why am I so horny hyung?"
From that question, Namjoon knows it's all fucked up.
᯽𖧷᯽𖧷᯽
"I told them to eat at burger king."
"Did you not have a better excuse?" Yoongi huffs at Namjoon's state. He rarely sees him like this, uneased.
"Tell us what's happening?" Jin suggested, wanting everything done because he has a dinner to prepare and kids to take care of.
Hoseok is quietly rubbing Jimin's back, the omega sensing all the tension from their pack leader.
"So.. You know that Taehyung is an Alpha right?" Namjoon starts, doesn't know really where and how to. What he said doesn't even make sense because there's only one answer, yes. It's been two weeks. Duh.
The others look at him, most worried glances. Weirdedㅡ Yoongi.
He heaves a sigh, ruffling his hair as he puffs his chest out, squaring his shoulders.
"Taehyung might be sensing Jeongguk already."
There's silence. Eerie unfelt breeze passing the living room.
Then a whimper coming from Jimin as the tension rises higher.
"What?" Jin almost stands, but doesn't.
"What does that fucking mean? It's only been whatㅡ roughly two weeks. Too early for his senses to settle in." Yoongi is at most disbelief. More likely, worried than any other.
Hoseok turns to Jimin, emitting pheromones to calm the whimpering omega on his chest.
"Cut it out! Y'all are scaring Jimin-" Hoseok snaps, "calm down will you? S'why we're here for a talk. Damn."
Hoseok rarely does that, snap. The two eldest mutters their apologies for their outburst, not because of Hoseok being an alpha nor his dominance but because of the result of their actions to Jimin.
Jimin sends a reassuring smile then. Felt everything ease down a little. "Let's hurry, they might come back soon."
"I know all of you had sensed the change in Jeongguk already. Though Taehyung smells like milk and chocolate at times for an alpha, Jeongguk like seabreeze and burning dried leaves, I can't expect him to turn into an Alpha as well."
They all seem to rest their backs on the cushions, needing something to support them for what's coming next.
"Are you saying that he might be an Omega?"
Yoongi asks, hush as a whisper.
"No. I am sure he is an Omega."
It's quiet again. Them all thinking about what Namjoon had said. Because Namjoon rarely is wrong. Observant enough to not have seen all of the reasons why Jeongguk might be an Omega.
"I think so too." Hoseok supplies, looking between his thighs where his fiddling fingers are.
"Me too." Jimin adds, "I have seen Taehyung taking glances at Jeongguk for the past week already. Like he's drawn to him but there's confusion in his eyes, asking why."
"Frankly. I got the answer from Taehyung himself." Namjoon looks at them, all of them. Eyes meeting eyes.
"He asked me why has he been so horny this days." Namjoon lets out a huff, almost like a laugh, incredulous. It sounds crazy but there's nothing else that causes that.
"And that means?" Jin asks, for both him and Yoongi, the betas utterly confused from the exchange of thoughts, them not following.
"We all know those kids like each other to the bones hyung." Jimin grins, not directly answering the question asked.
They laugh as Yoongi makes a face, looking sideways as his lip twitches with his cheek, still not catching the clues thrown upon their discussion.
"Because if Jeongguk is an Alpha, then Taehyung's wolf won't sense his potential mate that's been around the corner."
"To cut it short, he won't be at all, horny."
Yoongi's face twitches back to normal, eyes widening but just as they seem to be.
"Wait. If Taehyung's alpha senses that Jeongguk is an omega, the probability of Jeongguk's omega sensing Taehyung's wolf as an alpㅡ"
"We're fucked!"
"He would present with a heatㅡ"
Jimin shrieks, all of them jerking from their seats as they hear foot steps from the alleyway of their shared apartment. They were too focused none of them heard the two youngest of their pack entering their home.
"Who's going on heat?" Jeongguk asks, peering down at his hyungs, eyes wide.
"Is Jimin going on heat soon?" Taehyung adds, taking off his jacket then helping Jeongguk on his.
Their hyungs are looking up at them, at shock, gaping until Namjoon clears his throat and chuckles, awkward. "Maybe? We wouldn't know. Everything has changed already right?"
The others nod, seemingly like puppets for how they move their head synchronizingly so.
Taehyung shrugs to that, not at all minding what they are up to as he pulls Jeongguk to play overwatch on their shared room.
"And that is another proof." Hoseok sighs, like something heavy has been lifted from his chest.
"Jimin is an omega, yes. But if it was Jimin, we would have seen something from his reaction, regarding heats. All we get is 'alright, bye.' Like he doesn't care at all."
Namjoon shook his head then, letting out the same sigh of relief like Hoseok did. "Exactly. If it was Jimin Taehyung's wolf is reacting to, then Jimin would've been having symptoms of heat already."
The betas, Jin and Yoongi, shares a look.
"Soo..."
"Who's gonna tell them?"
Fucked up. Indeed.
᯽𖧷᯽𖧷᯽
They had to plan fast. With the ticking clock, seconds passing each minute of every hour, they had to or everything will be a mess.
A day after the discussion, Namjoon and the others, except the two youngsters who's still cuddling in their room, decided to take Taehyung on training without him knowing it's for Jeongguk.
There had been more skepticism along the deliberation like, "What if he isn't an omega?" But with Namjoon rebutting that they don't have anything to lose rather than help Taehyung take more control of his senses when they're not there to support him.
They are doing them a favor. Omega or not, Taehyung and Jeongguk are their top priorities for now. The plan is set.
Later that day, Namjoon had called Taehyung down for a walk. Bribing him burgers again. And yes, he can't grasp anymore reasonable excuses. What can he do when this simply is effective?
"I know that you're a young alpha. A late one too." He had started, calm as the waters of the surface of the seas while there's mud boiling somewhere in his gut.
"But I need to tell you now, that in case your wolfㅡ you, finds that potential mate, you might not take ahold of yourself and wake up with remorse, worseㅡ regret, after."
Taehyung looks up at him then, a stop from his current sipping from the metal straw on his drink. They are walking home now, almost near their apartment.
"What do i do to avoid that regret hyung?"
Gotcha. Namjoon just so knows Taehyung despises that, regret.
"We'll train you. So ready yourself by tomorrow." Namjoon ruffles Taehyung's curly hair, kudos to Jeongguk's talented hands.
"Eh? Why so early? I haven't settled with my senses yet right?" Taehyung runs up to him, coyly imitating Namjoon's lengthy steps.
"Your senses can settle with control as they develop, isn't that better?"
Seems like a good plan to him too, because Taehyung shrugs, already putting his trust on his hyung.
᯽𖧷᯽𖧷᯽
The next day, Taehyung woke up without a Jeongguk trailing behind him. Left him under the sheets to sleep more.
"Morning Taeㅡ ready for the training?"
Taehyung grumbles a response to that, agreeing but still in the haze of sleep.
Jin gives Namjoon a look, Namjoon shakes his head in response. Jin's shoulders sags, getting back on cooking their breakfast.
"Hyung where's the hot choco?" Taehyung rummages through their cabinets, not finding the usual packs of it.
"Oh about that, we only have one left. Is it okay if we give it to Jeongguk?" Jin picks up the last sachet, showing it to Taehyung. "He looks like his paper is killing him."
"Oh yeahㅡ" Taehyung had seen that last night too. Jeongguk had stayed till 3am to continue adding links and resources that he will use for his study. "I'll take that to him." Then I can just take a sip. He doesn't add that of course.
"Alright then, I'll just prepare it." Says Jin, reaching for a mug.
"Hyung let me do it!" Taehyung takes the packet from him, including the mug. He hastily mix powder to the newly boiled water, no spills with how fast he's doing it. But then he's careful when he walks to their shared bedroom. Unbeknownst to him, Namjoon is the one giving a look at Jin this time.
When he comes back to the kitchen, everyone was already there, they weren't noisy like every morning though, something wrong?
"Taehyung-ah." He doesn't like Namjoon's tone of voice, like he was the one who did something wrong. With how Jimin is squirming on his seat, he knows he did but doesn't know what.
"Did you take a sip?"
Eh? Is that it?
"On Jeongguk's choco? Yes hyung." He answers, almost proud, but then Hoseok gives him a look, a look he rarely gives.
"Is that how you control your cravings pup?" He's concluding he doesn't like that tone on Hoseok's as well.
Everyone is already looking at him. Eyes expectant for his reply.
"No hyung." His head bows, but he's not catching what's this about. A simple hot choco.
"When I said it's for Jeongguk. It's Jeongguk's. Not yours." Jin supplies, disappointment dripping from his voice as he shook his head.
"Say Tae, would you want someone else touching what's yours?" Namjoon then asks, causing Taehyung to snap his head up, eyes wide. "No." The answer is straight from his throat. No hint of hesitance.
"You must understand then too. That any other beings, alpha or not, doesn't like that either." Hoseok stands, adding rice on Jimin's plate, Yoongi following and adding some pieces of bacon.
Taehyung is left gaping. Finally catching the point. He must wait for his own. Control his cravings. Control orㅡ
'you might not take ahold of yourself and wake up with remorse, worseㅡ regret, after.'
Namjoon's voice echoes in his head, remembering what he had said yesterday.
Regret. He doesn't want that. Not with someone who he will spend the rest of his life with.
Taehyung looks up at them, their eyes still expectant for him to say something. For him to say that he understands now.
"M'sorry, hyungs.."
There's a thump on his back, with Jeongguk bumping his head against his nape, already awake and clueless about the murmurs in their dining area.
Taehyung's hand reaches behind him, readying himself in case Jeongguk stumbles out of his hold.
They don't see the fond looks sent their way, him too focused on Jeongguk's sleepy state.
"Taehyung." Hoseok calls then, eyes switchig back to business from how soft he was looking at them just a second ago,
"Remember, there are things apologies can never fix."
Jeongguk's head pops up beside Taehyung's. His chin resting on the Taehyung's shoulder as he mumbles a confused, "What did Taehyung do?"
"Oh Kookie you wouldn't forgive him either." Jimin starts an incoming banter.
"He took a sip on your hot choco." Yoongi cuts the chase, Jeongguk then gasping as Taehyung stills before him.
"You did what?" Jeongguk wraps his arms around Taehyung's torso knowing he's planning to run. "I swear it was this smallㅡ" Taehyung makes a gesture of pinching his pointer finger and thumb together.
"Oh noo~" Jimin is already laughing.
Jeongguks fakes a growl, holding Taehyung against his chest as he bites him square on his shoulder.
Taehyung shrieks, lumping on his fake death, with Jeongguk catching him to it.
"The culprit is dead." Jeongguk announces, his face neutral as he drags Taehyung's body across the kitchen. Their hyungs bursts into laughter along Jimin, them watching Taehyung get manhandled to his seat.
It is then that Taehyung thinks, Death is what he will give if somebodyㅡ anybody touches what's his. Taehyung understands that now, so he keeps his hands to himself, willing to pass the next tests coming his way.