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It had all started with Jimin. He had always been one of the more sensitive of them, and was prone to emotional drops just a little more than the rest of them. None of them ever minded, of course, as it meant they had plenty of occasions to coddle him, or (as it usually happened) make a huge nest together.
They all loved to pile around each other and just bask in the happy pheromones that would permeate the air. Especially Namjoon as their leader. Knowing his pack and mates were happy made him positively melt.
That particular day had been full to the brim with promotional events and all the stress that came with. Being idols meant they were kind of used to it, but it also never got easier. There had been two moments when Namjoon had let out an instinctive warning growl because of the touchy photographer. It had given some of the staff a shock as Namjoon usually restrained himself. But there was just something to the way the man was touching Jimin’s shoulders that had him on edge. They had all been pleased to see extra eyes watching the photographer after that. The man had apparently only gotten the hint after the second instance.
Jimin had looked distinctly grateful for his mate’s intrusion at the time.
Despite that, things had gone rather smoothly and ended earlier than if there had been any troubles. They got to head home with the knowledge that they’d completed a hard day’s work and that they had been gifted a day off. It was one of the perks of barreling through as much as possible in a day.
All seemed well until they got home and suddenly the air took on the scent of flowers in the rain.
The change was alarming and immediately required their unified attentions.
At the back of the group, Jimin let out a whimper.
”Oh no,” Seokjin called, pulling him in for a tight embrace. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Jimin shook his head and burrowed into Jin’s embrace, snuffling at his scent gland in a desperate attempt to find comfort.
”Jiminie,” Hobi murmured sadly, embracing him from behind.
Namjoon spared a quick glance to his mates before focusing in on Jimin to assess his body language. He knew they were all mentally recapping the day to see if there had been anything that had gone unnoticed. Their distraught expressions, appearing one by one, told him that they could only think of the photographer issue. Apparently they all felt as bad as he did for not checking in with Jimin properly after the fact, given the scents beginning to filter into the air.
His read of Jimin told him that the younger was in desperate need of a group nesting night, and that he had probably been stressed about the photographer incident all day from the tightness of his shoulders. The way he clung to Seokjin spoke of needing support, and Namjoon was glad to see that so openly on him.
While the rest of his mates slowly gathered in to hug Jimin, Namjoon came up beside Seokjin and pet his hair. “Minnie, do we need a group nest?”
He nodded into Jin’s chest, a low whine escaping him.
Namjoon hushed him gently and cupped his nape in a tender grasp to settle him. “C’mon cub, let’s go to the nest.”
They moved as a unit, not quite willing to let go of each other when there was still discontented pheromones floating around.
Their den - basically a huge nest - was one of their favorite rooms in the house. The walls were a warm color, there were bins upon bins of nesting supplies that were constantly being refreshed, and it was one of the warmest rooms. All of which served to make it perfect for their den.
Seokjin guided Jimin to lay in the center, and the rest of them got to work forming the nest around him.
It was their tried and true process to form group nests around whoever needed it the most. It was like all of their instincts knew what to do to make it the best they could for whoever was in the middle. On days when they all needed it, they let their instincts guide them on what they could all use to be nestled in.
It always worked, their omegas in perfect synchrony for the given situation.
Of course it hadn’t always been that easy. Group nesting wasn’t really a big part of their routine until they had begun dating officially, and then after being mated. Mating had definitely excelled their cohesion as seven.
From the center of the nest, Jimin curled up in one of the nearby blankets that still smelled of them all. He whimpered again quietly.
Their hearts ached at the sight, their instincts crying for them to make it better.
”We’re gonna make you the best nest of the year, Jiminie,” Jungkook promised solemnly.
Namjoon broke into surprised laughter, “Of the year? Damn Kookie, setting a high bar. It’s only January.”
The maknae’s face broke into a beautiful smile, eyes crinkling with mirth. “I never said we couldn’t make a better one at some point in the future, but for this point in the year, it’ll be the best.”
Yoongi flicked his gaze towards Jimin who was watching the proceedings with a barely there smile. It soothed something in him to see it there. “Well then let’s get to it.”
Taehyung was first to move, unfurling one of his go-to blankets over Jimin.
Though they were all mated to one another, there remained something distinctly special about the bond the two shared. Not unlike the bond between Namjoon and Yoongi, or Seokjin, Hobi and Jungkook. It never bugged any of them. For what was a group bond without other subsidiary bonds as well? If anything the secondary connections made them all feel more that much more attached to each other.
As they got to work, the air filled with their scents, most of which were distinctly pleased.
Seokjin smelled like fruit pies, though none of them could ever distinguish which one in particular. It was fitting, as it reminded them all of home. Of warmth and family, and of the baking acts of service their hyung would dole out exactly when they needed the pick-me-up.
Yoongi smelled like hot chocolate. It had become a running joke between them during winter that they could never tell if someone was making hot chocolate or if Yoongi was in an exceptionally good mood and his scent was everywhere. He would roll his eyes, but they all knew he enjoyed the comparison. It was a familiar and homey scent to them all.
Hoseok smelled distinctly of fresh laundry. It made sense with his penchant for cleaning and tidying. Though it also made all of them melt, as fresh laundry just smelled so good. It helped too that Hobi was rather warm, so tucking up against him was just as good as a dryer warmed blanket.
Namjoon smelled like a library. Like a room full of knowledge and stories, but also safety and comfort. Sometimes when their leader settled in one of his reading nooks, they wouldn’t always be able to tell he where he was because his scent blended right in. Taehyung in particular would get scent drunk off of it without meaning to, praising his hyung for smelling so delightful.
Jimin, when he was fully settled, smelled like bushels of flowers. They joked with him that the old saying of “stop and smell the flowers” was their blessing to scent him often. Jimin never had any qualms with that logic. His scent reminded them to enjoy the little things and that, no matter the situation, flowers could be found blooming somewhere.
Taehyung smelled like a freshly made sweet potato casserole. It was kind of an odd scent to have but they all loved it. It made them think of the holidays and being around their families. It was somehow nostalgic in the way it twined in with everyone else’s.
Jungkook smelled like a pleasant summer day. When they had first scented him when he joined the pack, it had baffled them all how it could so plainly be a summer day. Yet there was the mix of warm air, a cool breeze, and flowering trees. It reminded them of several memories from both their youth and combined experiences as a mated pack.
With their scents combined, they smelled distinctly of home and all the fond things they liked about home.
They were almost to equilibrium. There was just the pressing matter of their flowers being drenched in rain, which simply wouldn’t do.
As their instinct driven motions continued, the air began to lighten. The nest began to take shape much to their delight.
The base of the nest was made up of seven squishy cushions that they had sewn together to make one huge cushion. It was very comfortable, the best they had ever had. Each year they were together, they upgraded the base to always ensure they had the coziest setup possible.
It took them a solid forty minutes to settle around Jimin in the nest they had all constructed.
Jungkook snuggled up to Jimin’s side, a purr coming from deep in his chest.
Taehyung echoed the sound from the opposite side.
One by one they let out purrs, hoping to further soothe their stressed mate.
The rain faded and left only the clear scent of flowers. Jimin sagged as the tension left him fully. Being in the nest, surrounded by familiar scents and purrs, he finally felt at peace again.
And just like that, they could all fully relax.
It was Jungkook who spoke up first after they had all settled. "Now that we're all cozy, we can address the unmatched level of hotness that Namjoon-hyung portrayed today."
Namjoon and the eldest two broke into surprised laughter.
"What are you talking about Kookie?" He asked, his words brimming in amusement.
"Uhhmmm protective growls and posturing?? I was caught between joining in and staring at Joonie-hyung."
Jimin giggled quietly, the sound a relief to them all.
"Kookie.."
"Like alphas who? I only know hot omegas getting feisty. And then ending up in a purr pile? Why would I ever want an alpha when I can be surrounded by purring omegas? It's like a den of kittens but so much better because I'm mated to you all."
They were all laughing by that point, endeared by the blatant awe in Jungkook's tone.
"Don't even get me started on how good you all smell right now?? I'm gay as all hell. My blood runs rainbow I'm pretty sure."
"Kookie goes a day without gay rambling challenge: failed," Taehyung reported stoically.
"Listen, it's just so hard to not become the rainbow when surrounded by purring mates and I think I'm a little scent drunk."
"Just a little," Jimin teased softly.
Jungkook let out a long sigh, "I don't know how my parents ever thought I was straight. Because I took one look at Joon-hyung and it was like I could only see rainbows and his thighs, my god."
Namjoon had flushed scarlet by that point, but was giggling into his hands.
"Yah Jungkook, how much inhaling have you been doing?" Seokjin called, his hand reaching to brush through Jungkook's hair.
Jungkook had a satiated smile on his face, "Enough to be the sniff king."
Yoongi shook with silent laughter, "Sniff king?"
"He's so drunk," Hobi laughed.
"We should make him a badge to go with that title," Taehyung commented.
"Only if it's the brightest rainbow badge in existence."
"That can be arranged," Jimin purred.
"Hyung I'm gonna have to ask you to cease and desist or I'm gonna make a scene," Jungkook pleaded, pupils large and sparkling.
Maybe they had all needed a cuddle pile. Though a side dose of Jungkook's scent drunk ramblings was an added bonus that they all adored.