Work Text:
Enamored
It was rather early in the morning and the smell of coffee already wafted through the air, tired teal eyes still stuck together like glue, accompanied with a groggy groan. Joseph would run his fingers along his hairline, pushing back his wild bangs then ruffling them into a neat pile to no avail as they obdurately stuck back to the front. His back stung for a myriad of reasons but it might be time to ask Caesar to cut his nails. Heaving a sigh, he would lightly scratch his nape to asses the damage, feeling his skin zap itself awake and he would groan again, before using one finger pad to lightly trace the laceration that was gifted to him by the other alpha. “Fuck, Cae, you need to cut your fingernails today OK? I look like I’ve been shagged by Wolverine or something.” He turned his attention towards the blonde alpha, whom was currently wrapped thick bandage around his neck, so dense that it left the collar of his shirt. “You really have the gall to complain, amore. I can’t even look at one direction without feeling like my neck is about to snap.” They both glared at each other, since one wouldn’t conform. After Caesar’s high, he’s as pertinacious as any alpha, and Joseph was gleefully reminded that Caesar only was submissive in bed. Fantasies don’t last long; what a bummer. “Geez, why can’t you act cute in the morning too? “ Snorting, Joseph would face away again, pouring hot coffee in a ceramic mug, sliding it over to Caesar before pressing a kiss on his cheek. “My cute little Caesar—” Then a whack was sent his way just as he was about to press a second kiss. “Stop rubbing against me, stronzo. Didn’t you know how hard I scrubbed this morning?” ‘The people at work will humiliate me.’It was a simple thought, but the nuance was elaborate. Caesar’s workplace had been catching up to it, at this point some even confirmed that he was allowing another alpha to kiss him in the morning and pretend to breed him at night. “Yeah, I can barely smell myself.” Joseph took a longer whiff against Caesar’s collar but his he was pushed away again, firmly this time. “Joseph, I’m serious.” Those warnings often come in their relationship. Joseph may have been selfish, but those kinds of things deprived him. Since Caesar was what he considered his mate, he wanted to act like it, even when the day comes. His brows furrow and he would bite the inside of his cheek lightly. “Yeah, yeah, see ya later.” Caesar’s eyes softened when Joseph turned his back against to fill his own mug with dark coffee, adding copious amounts of sugar in it. Mornings were always tense like this, probably because Joseph desired Caesar to act even though he couldn’t. “Okay. See you. I love you.” They didn’t even indulge a small kiss, the smell of each other’s lips would bleed through skin after all. “Cool, dude.”
On his way to work, Joseph would kick a pebble down the street as he approached his motorbike, pulling the cuffs of his jacket lower. It was already cold, the streets were filled with warmth though, as winter in New York rolled in. The weight of his boots grew heavy, or maybe it was his heart. Caesar was always so cold to him during the daytime and he couldn’t even fathom why. Seeing couples hold hands during the winter was such a pain—to be openly envious. He must be that bitter, a small tsk crawled out of his emptiness and the bags under his eyes darkened seeing an alpha omega pair thread his way. Crossing his arms, and briefly regretting it due to the pain that sparked from his backside. “Fuck you, Caesar.” Grumbled Joseph in temporary outrage. “Why did I have to like someone like you?” More venom was squeezed out of him, before he would hop on the bike, straddling it carelessly before jetting down the road, maneuvering so fast that wind easily cut through his locks, ringing in his ears.
As he slotted the bike into an open parking space, the coldness of the wintry weather had mitigated his mood, at least enough that he would take his time to gauge his surroundings before stuffing both his arms in the folds of his jacket, annoyance began to fill him again as he stood at the entrance of the building, a couple huddled together, shoulder to shoulder. Why was fate this cruel to him? All he wanted was to be normal. There was a timorous growl that formed at the bulge of his throat. Fuck you all. Fuck your happiness. Eat shit. That’s what he wanted to say as he balled up his fists inside his coat, hidden anger directed to the world around him. Suddenly he felt a light tap on his shoulder, and he would look up from his cantankerous mood to see Suzi. “Good morning, Mr. Joestar.” Her voice lilted barely to by the man whose size was gargantuan compared to her small and compact frame. “Oh—Hey Suzi, I told you, just call me Jojo.” Immediately his inconsolable mood had improved at her appearance. She was a lovely omega, very lovely.
She reminded him too much of Caesar, actually. Or maybe Suzi was that omega from his dreams from long ago and the bastard showoff just happened to show at the wrong time. She would lightly press her fingers against her lips and out came a gentle giggle, her whole frame just glowed, with the light halo that contoured those blonde locks. “Sorry, Jojo… You’re in a bad mood today.” Immediately she would sense his dissatisfaction and Joseph flushed momentarily clearing his throat. “W-What? What gave you that idea? “ He dismissed that and started walking faster towards the elevator. He had to get away—She was too much for him.
Suzi noticed that smell, that was so remarkable on Joseph Joestar. The smell of another alpha cladded his own. There were rumors of him romancing another, but she couldn’t really see that with how he acted at work. When confronted about it, he would reason his roommate Caesar. Wasn’t he too old for one? Then she found out they were childhood friends and that eliminated all traces of suspicion against him.
She would trot just behind him, trying to catch up.
He was a desirable alpha… and to think Joseph didn’t have an omega at this tender age. It was an opportunity for Suzi who admired him. Maybe one day he would stop being so distant and succumb to it. The smell of roses that accompanied her with soft dainty skin, a slightly voluptuous and soft figure and the promise of a good life and the acceptance of society around them.
Even though Joseph did try to avoid her throughout the day, it was almost a futile attempt. He tried so hard to think of Caesar, about why he shouldn’t even be considering it. Caesar, although lacking was the love of his life and his mate. Still when lunch time came, and Suzie waltzed in with his coffee, eh couldn’t help but stare at her longer, take a whiff of her scent.
“I heard they were doing a light show tonight-“ She started, pressing paperwork against her soft chest and Joseph eyes couldn’t tear away at how the roundness flattened against the stack and how she would feel in his arms, writhing, calling out for him. To prevent a self-induced rut, he would clear his throat and stare at the plant next to her figure. “Oh yeah, I heard about that-“ Forcing himself to look at the paperwork he was just getting done, he would crack a light smile. “I haven’t been to one yet. It’s my first time this year… Are there a lot of people?” Like an offering, it was almost like his calling and he would lift his heavy stare and their eyes would connect, like a click, like a flame that refused to be extinguished. “Yeah, it’s pretty heavy. People go crazy about a bunch of lights.” Prolong the conversation, beat around the bush, try to prevent fate from interweaving yours with another. “I see… Maybe I shouldn’t go after all. I’m not good with many people.” She would lightly scratch her cheek as she smiled, the creases underneath her eyes were especially delicate and the dimple on her left cheek enamored him and he was under a trance. “I could go with you; I don’t have anything planned tonight.”Liar. Liar. You were going to have dinner with Caesar. There was a conscious voice that remined him yet the alpha was so strong, his instincts were ripping him to shreds.
She lit up like an angel and smiled at him so gingerly, like he was the only one acceptable to receive her praise, her brilliant ocean blue eyes held his reflection like they were meant to be one. “Thank you, Jojo.”
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Caesar Zeppeli was a star that had been sent spiraling down. Showing up to work was a pain he had to relive daily. He was an auspicious alpha and he had the capacity to go big, to show everyone what he was capable of and yet there was, sitting on a plastic chair in the cafeteria isolated from his co-workers. What happened? He used to be every omega’s object of desire, every alpha’s object of envy and yet here he was, the sandwich tasted blander than it did yesterday. The bandage around his neck punished him heavily, and he couldn’t really swallow as much as he wanted to.
The only reason no one dared to confront him was because he was strong, physically. That didn’t stop the harassment entirely, but it was tolerable. There was the occasional degradation coming from his peers and sometimes even when they try to shroud themselves in their secret he could hear them when he stop just around the right corner.
Slut.
That one word was now how people has his workplace described him as such. The stench of seed, and the bitemarks that branded him that he was a shame and deserved to be hidden. Still, it was no reason to dwell on self-pity because Joseph was suffering as much as he was. The day was silent for him, with little to no interactions. Sometimes they would give him the look of pity, others disgust and disapproval and some the look of intention. Caesar was an escapist and he always had been so it was easy to elude any encounter that would damage his pride further. He wasn’t akin to Joseph who was a bumbling fool. Caesar had wanted to take the reigns at times, make Joseph submit as the other had often done to him, fill him up as well, but the brunet wouldn’t survive the backlash. Caesar viewed him as emotionally weak for someone who proclaimed to be witty.
No. He would rather take this, and with much pride. If they labeled him as another alpha’s fucktoy, then so be it. Why should he be mortified of presumptions that were true anyways? If Joseph thought he was the stronger one, then Caesar would have him fooled. He was the stronger man here.
Realizing he had finished his sandwich he would toss the wrapper across and with precision it would drop inside, “Kobe.”
Evening came for Joseph Joestar and he was exhausted from work, all the energy had been drained from his being and he shuffled through the papers one last time, logged off, turning off the desktop that blared at him for hours to no end. Just as he was about to stand a soft knock caught his attention and a tuft of golden hair would peek into his space. “Ready to see the lights?” Even in the dim light she was an angel about to take flight. He was entirely captivated by her aura, like the lights the lit up New York city. In a rush, he would scramble out of his workplace, nodding his head with much zest, leading her out.
When they reached outside, snow had begun to drop, and Suzi would reach her hand out, tilting her head to the sky. “Do you know how snow tastes like Jojo?” She inquired, and Joseph could not stop staring in her vast cerulean pools threatening to drown him. Before Joseph could answer, she would stick out her tongue and catch a falling snowflake. “--!! It’s cold.” Licking her reddened lips, she would stare at his direction to find Joseph whose eyes were blown out, darkened, a light blush on his cheeks but one couldn’t discern if it was from the cold or because she was so entrancing.
“Here, my jacket.” Snapping out of his momentary daze, he would slip off his heavy coat, pulling it over her, mending the collar together to it wrapped around her like a blanket or a cape of some sort. God she was so small. Suzi visibly reddened, pulling the weight around her closer to her chest. “Grazie.” Oh god, it reminded him of Caesar.
They would walk side by side, there was a narrow width distance between them, so close that their sides would rub occasionally. Walking towards the lights, where everyone was already embracing festivity felt the best than it was in years. Caesar and him stayed at home and kept to themselves and yet here he was right now, walking towards one of those gigantic Christmas trees, lights reflecting his skin and the clamoring of bustling people was disregarded as he focused on Suzi his breaths deep and relaxed.
Caesar was so warm. He wished Caesar was there with them actually. He just wanted to kiss Caesar on the lips, hold him close and ignore all the insults that people hurled their way. He wanted to eat pizza with Caesar in that shitty Italian restaurant everyone is making a fuss about. He and Joseph would make fun of it and they would eat together with their peers as a couple. The best ones were how broiling hot Caesar’s hands were when their fingers would weave together.
He was sent back to reality when he felt a foreign weight press against the crown of his head. “This looks good on you!” She chirped, a hat now tousled in his brown locks, Suzi whom was proud of her work would stand back down, seeing as she had to tip over her toes to actually reach an adequate height to place it on top of him. He chuckled, amused, and she returned that feeling. “Better on you,” Taking the hat off , he would drop it on her head, and they would both laugh.
The lights were amazing and of different assorted colors as well. The nighttime enhanced their glow as it had gotten dark already, the evening almost reaching its peak. Joseph found himself staring too much as if he was ruminating. They began to watch it light up and change colors, the ring of Christmas bells and the smell of peppermint blessed the community.
Suddenly a multitude of colors lit up the sky and everyone tilted their heads up in awe. They’ve already started testing out the fireworks. “Amazing!” He could hear her squeak, her mouth agape, jaw dropped and her eyes caught the colors of the sky. They marveled in silence and Joseph was contented. He was distracted only for a moment when he felt Suzie’s blond hair tickle his shoulder, as she was no leaning on him affectionately, her omega scent roused his own, and he bit his lip.
He had to get home now. If he wouldn’t, then everything would go wrong now.
Caesar wrapped a pink scarf around his neck, adding to the bulk of it. Many of his coworkers were wishing each other a great holiday season and he managed to worm himself out without any problems. Pushing the scarf against his jaw, covering some of the marks underneath it, he would sigh. They were going to have dinner today, and Caesar already prepared the ingredients beforehand. Right now, all he could think about was sinking in Joseph’s arms and warming himself up.
He felt like he was waning towards escape going home. He cracked a few smiles as he passed by the Christmas light and remembered just how fond Joseph was of them as a child. Maybe this year, he’d actually indulge him and by a Christmas tree for their flat. Knowing Joseph, the tree would be a burning hot mess of junk, but Caesar would allow him that liberty for once. It was better to be lost in the crowd like this, where everyone’s scent was mingling together and nobody could distinguish his own. Even though he was an alpha at heart, he smelled more like a mated omega than anything—though it may just be because Joseph was so resilient when it comes to sex. The man was a whore if Caesar had to describe him, whining for attention, demanding it and forcing his wonky dominance over someone.
As soon as he reached home, he would chuck off his shoes, unwrap the pink scarf and toss it over the couch, closing the front door. It seemed that Joseph was running late, but knowing him he probably got sidetracked again so Caesar paid it no mind.
Unwrapping the bandages took off a lot of weight, and Caesar would spin it off like a thread and toss it aside, pressing his fingers against the skin. Joseph did bite him excessively, probably so much that Caesar had gotten accustomed to the burning complain of his skin. Immediately, he would saunter towards the kitchen to begin dinner.
He wanted to hug Joseph right now and apologize for the events earlier this morning.
Joseph with much dismay ended their venture early and drove back home. It may have been guilt or maybe it was the light and how everyone huddle together and were so in loveand yet among the crowd, there he stood practicing infidelity during holiday season too. It was already pitch dark when he crossed the roads aside from the lights, and carefully he would unlock the door, turn the knob and poke his head in, slipping off his shoes and looking for the house slippers.
“Cae?” He called out while tucking his feet in to warm them, setting his boots aside as he dared to walk towards the kitchen, however stopped in his tracks when he spots Caesar already asleep on the couch, probably have waited too long for his return. “Caesar..” He would sink on his knees and slide over to press a kiss on his lover’s lips, rubbing the tip of their noses together. Caesar’s eyes would open, exhausted. He was convinced that Joseph had gotten into trouble but didn’t know where to look nor did he want to get out so he just stayed in place.
Immediately he clung to Joseph, wrapping his arms around his neck and yanking him down. “Fuck… I was so worried.” His voice shook lightly. He thought something had happened. “What…? No.. Sorry.. Work was just busy tonight.” He soothed Caesar by pulling him towards his warmth, so he slid down on the carpeted floor and kissed him again. Caesar nuzzled the crook of Joseph’s neck, sliding against him, closing his eyes.
Somehow when he took a whiff.
His own distinct smell was replaced with the smell of roses.
Caesar decided he hated roses.