Archive of Our Own ^beta

“You are so toxic!” Yuji felt spit get caught in his throat. He could hear his twin brother’s maniacal laughter over his coughing fit. His shoulders heaved as his chest tightened.

“Haha! Try a little harder!” Sukuna held the umbrella out of his reach. “If you choke to death on your own spit, where's the fun in it?”

“Eso told us to share his umbrella!” Yuji removed his hands from resting on his knees. “Share it!” He could see the rain running off the roof of their house, only just a few steps away.

“I said if you can catch me, I’ll share.” Sukuna chided as if that was actually a modest proposal. “And if I’m feeling really generous, I guess I’ll give these back too.” He shook the pill bottle in his hand.

“I’m snitching!” The rain wasn’t even coming down that hard, but Yuji was cold and cramping and tired of having Sukuna screw around with him.

Sukuna’s shit eating grin grew three times in size. “Aw, that’s why everyone babies you because you can’t do shit for yourself.”

“Shut up!” Yuji heard the umbrella drop, as he grabbed Sukuna’s wrist. He yanked the pill bottle towards him. An elbow met his jaw as he dug his teeth into his bottom lip. Ouch! His ears rang for a few seconds before hearing the sound of pills splashing into water.

“Ah, shit! Look what you made do!” Sukuna threw his hands up.

Yuji almost choked again, staggering backwards, he felt his backpack strap slip off his left shoulder. He was really going to knock the living crap out of Sukuna. He snagged the bottle back, his eyes glued to the mess floating in the muddy puddle. Little droplets of rain made little ripples that sent the pills over to the grass.

“Don’t look so pissed. Nobody’s gonna know.”

“They’re gonna know.” Yuji squeezed the empty pill bottle in his hand. He was fucked. He was so fucked. There was no way he could—

“How would they know?” Sukuna asked. “Think about it, you don’t act a bit like an omega. So what? A little scent. They won’t know it’s you.” He picked up the umbrella.

Yuji fixed his backpack on his shoulders. He slipped a hand through his damp pink hair. When things were put like that, it really did sound tempting to try. He thumbed over the label on the bottle, he knew his prescribed dosage by heart: two pills a month. He had only taken one. But that means it should at least work at 50% so those odds are…

“Pff, you’re more baby than I thought.” Sukuna shrugged. “Go ahead run back inside and cry. But I promise you, I’ll be halfway to school by then.”

“Well let me promise you something—!” Yuji made a fist.

The sound of the front door opening broke them away from their bickering. “Hey Yuji, you forgot your…” Choso stepped into view, “Seriously?” He grabbed Sukuna and Yuji. “You’re family. Love each other, will ya?”

“Sukuna started it.” Yuji said.

“I was just messing around.” Sukuna crossed his arms.

“Cut it out.” Choso didn’t even look at them, but the firm way he spoke sent chills down Yuji’s spine. He always talked like that, so serious about things like family. He was protective over the four of them. “If one of you gets sick the other’s going to catch it. You share germs, so you might as well share the damn umbrella.” He released them.

Yuji felt the rain droplets stop hitting his forehead, as Sukuna grunted. He glanced up to see the umbrella over both of their heads.

“Much better.” Choso handed Yuji a ziplock bag, “Here. You left this on the table.”

Yuji let out a little disappointed hum. The stupid bag loaded with scent blocker strips.

“Put them on before you get to school.” Choso instructed.

Yuji shoved the ziplock bag in his coat pocket. “Okay. Later, big bro! We’re leaving for school for real this time.”

“Do you have everything else, phone, wallet?”

“Yeah! I’m not that forgetful.” Not of important stuff like that. Not of stuff he actually cared about.

“For sure, he has everything.” Sukuna walked forward. “He especially checked twice to make sure he had those treats he made for Nobara and Megu—”

“I told you I’d give you some.” It was like he couldn’t even properly do a school project without his brothers getting involved.

“Then you told me, Kechizu ate my share.”

“Well he did because I had to shut him up!”

Everything in Yuji’s life seemed to involve his brothers. They were always glancing over his shoulder or asking him about stuff; bothersome, too overprotective of him. It would be nice if he could have something to himself.

Even at school Yuji couldn’t escape. His three older brothers no longer walked the halls of Jujutsu High but their legacy overshadowed him by enforcing expectations. Yuji didn’t start off with a clean slate. Teachers, faculty, students had taken one look at his last name and enforced their expectations—Alpha. The second Yuji stepped into those halls. He was expected to be something he was not.

He grazed a hand over the scent blockers, pressed on his neck. All these years he’d been wearing them and he still wasn’t used to how the damned things felt like duct tape over his scent glands.

A few students passed him in the hall. Some of them were smiling and laughing. Another student was listening to music. Toge gave a little wave and a thumbs up.

Yuji waved back. It was like clockwork everyday, saying hi and talking to people. Thanks to his brothers, fame came easily to him. But right now….The smell of alphas made his sickness worse. No one spared a second glimpse to see how hard he grimaced.

He didn’t want to be around unfamiliar alpha smells. The scent, more like funky cheese, was slapping him in the face each time he turned the corner. So gross. His lungs burned as a feeling in his chest tightened. He lowered his head and covered his nose. He just wanted to get to class. He heard his feet pick up the pace, a little squeak sound forming with each step, the rattling of books and pens in his backpack. Get to class. Put his head down. Keep his nose far away from so many…

“What are you running for anyway, idiot? You’re not gonna be late for class.”

Yuji felt some force deep within him take control and apply the brakes. He stopped in front of the alpha, the tips of their sneakers almost touching. He slowly lifted his head to see the slightly taller boy, with wild black hair, and eyes the color of the midnight sky. He took a deep breath—maple and brown sugar—his usual greeting lodged in his throat as the sweet scent cooled his nerves.

“Megumi.” Yuji took another breath. This time he was able to gather enough oxygen to complete his sentence. “You almost scared the crap out of me!” He removed his hand from over his nose. “Where’s Nobara?”

“With Maki.”

“Oh yeah, should have guessed. They’re always together.”

“Hmp? Uh, yeah.” Megumi sounded a bit out of it. His eyes were glued on Yuji, or maybe more like glued to his outfit that was still mostly wet. “Are you going to be alright?”

“Of course. I’ll just air dry as the day goes.” Yuji tugged on his jacket.

“No. I mean….You look like you’re actually about to cry.” Megumi whispered.

How did such a simple sentence make Yuji’s heart swell and hurt at the same time? He knitted his eyebrows together, inhaling sharply. Focus. It’s okay. He cut his eyes to the side to look out the window, a cloudy day with only a few drops of sunshine leaking through. How was it that, Megumi always seemed to just know? Maybe it was an alpha thing...his brothers were pretty good at guessing when something was off about him too.

“I just don’t want to be at school.” Scents were so troublesome. “Stupid smells.”

“Smells, huh?”

“No.”

“Too late. You already said it out loud.” Megumi started to unbutton his jacket. “If the smell bothers you so much, just change out of that wet jacket.”

“I said, stupid smells out loud?” Yuji felt a jacket shoved in his arms. “Wait, Megumi! I really don’t care.”

“Well, I care.” Megumi stared at his sneakers as if too shy to meet Yuji in the eye. “Every time something is bothering me, you won’t let it go until it’s fixed. So why should I treat you any differently?” He shrugged, “Take what you dish out.”

“IT SMELLS. HOW CAN YOU POSS—“ Yuji caught his tongue, as the delightful scent tickled his nose. He immediately hugged his arms around the jacket. “Mine.”

“I didn’t say you could keep it.” Megumi jerked his head up. “Borrow it, until yours dries.”

“No way! This is totally mine now!”

“Pff, you sound like a needy nesting omega.”

“We’re not telling Nobara about the jacket unless she notices on her own!” Yuji pushed down how easily Megumi managed to joke about such things. He sometimes wondered why alphas can take nesting so lightly. When an omega gathered stuff they obviously liked them. He held tighter to Megumi’s jacket, wishing to run into the bathroom and change into Megumi’s jacket right now. It would be like Megumi giving him a hug 24/7! It would be like Megumi with him in all his classes, encouraging him! It would be like Megumi and him were inseparable for the day!

“Whatever makes you happy.” Megumi started walking, “Did you finish the cookies?”

“I had to make so many batches! My brothers were driving me crazy.” Yuji gestured at his backpack. “I put them in a container. Oh,” He closed the slight space between them, leaning up on his tippy toes till the tip of their noses touched. “Did you want to try one?”

“Do you know anything about personal space?” Megumi’s eyes seemed to widen, his nostrils flared and Yuji couldn’t tell if it was with peaked interest or annoyance.

“Not really. In a house full of brothers we’re mostly fighting or all in each other’s space.”

“That’s crazy.”

“I know! That’s what I was trying to explain. Sukuna and Kechizu are really bad at it.”

“You’re obviously bad at it too. You’re still in my face!”

“Heh.” Yuji felt a smile grace his lips. He pulled back to give Megumi some more breathing room. “A bad habit, I have with people I’m comfortable with then.” Something about doing stuff with his friends, doing stuff for his friends, it all brought Yuji happiness. Megumi...all his friends, made him feel needed and appreciated.

All of his brothers were alphas. Yuji knew each of their scents by heart. He had memorized them when he was younger, because sometimes he’d get scared in the middle of the night and go slip into one of their beds. Ahh, maybe that's why he enjoyed Megumi’s scent so much, it reminded him of a time in his life that brought him comfort.

Yuji leaned back in his chair and pulled the collar of the jacket over his nose. The smell of maple and brown sugar—it brought him such a sense of nostalgia. He could take it in forever, remembering nights curled up in bed with the scent of oatmeal bringing him peace of mind. Choso would toss the sheets over and lay on the other side, “It’s an older brother’s job to protect his younger siblings. I won’t let any monsters hurt you.” The sheets always smelled like oatmeal.

Megumi smelled like a flavor of oatmeal: maple and brown sugar. Megumi was always worrying about him. But Megumi didn’t do it because he had any job or obligation.

“Yuji, can you answer the next problem please.”

“Huh?” Yuji darted his eyes back up at the board. He saw a bunch of letters and numbers, umm...were those math equations? He lowered his eyes back to his notebook: Megumi + Me = <3

What the fuck had he been writing?

“Do you even know where to start the equation?” The teacher started to walk over to his desk.

Yuji quickly slammed his notes closed. He felt all eyes in the classroom land on him. Don’t care. Don’t freak out. He felt a feeling worse than cramps form in his stomach—nervousness and annoyance. Why do teachers bother students when they clearly don’t want to be picked on? He could hear his heart beating in his ears.

“Can anybody help him?”

The class stayed silent.

Yuji slapped a hand over his scent glands, the annoying tape like blockers needed to be doing their job. Sometimes when he thought too hard about… He started scratching at them.

“Anyone?”

Everyone was still looking at him...watching...observing...smelling?

Yuji scooted his chair back and rose to his feet. “I need to use the bathroom.”

A single snicker was heard, “Tee-hee, he is really Eso’s little brother. Both bad at math.” as the teacher pointed Yuji towards the door.

Yuji exited the classroom. The halls smelled a little bit better without so many people around but the funk of alphas still lingered. He scratched harder at his scent blockers, finally managing to peel them up a bit.

Ah, ouch. Ugh! He bit his bottom lip, hissing.

The blockers would make his scent glands so sore; it was more painful to mess with them when he was nervous because of the sweat.

He pressed one hand under the water fountain and held a single finger over the faucet. Liquid. Cool. He rubbed a few water droplets on his glands.

Not every affective.

He wanted Megumi scent marking him.

His phone vibrated. Megumi? He pulled his phone out of his pocket, there was a new message on his home screen.

Kechizu: Hope you do well on your presentation and remember to be yourself! Also your project was really yummy! You will def make a good grade.

He began to write a response then paused as the smell of a grapefruit perfume filled his nose—alpha? His head whipped around to the sound of a familiar voice, “Ew, why him?”

Nobara was reading over his shoulder. “He’s so annoying. He didn’t deserve to taste our project.”

“Heh. It’s not like I had a choice.” Yuji had learned early on that a lot of things with his brothers were simply out of his control.

“Well are you going to text back? You have a choice about that.”

“Hmm...I think I’ll text back: that brown haired chick that still hates your guts is in my group. Do you want her to get a good grade?”

“Shut up! This is why you got put out of class, loud mouth.” Nobara grinned at him.

“I DIDN’T!”

“That’s totally what it looks like, that or you fell asleep in class.”

“Why the second one?” Yuji removed his hand from the push button and the sound of water pattering stopped.

“You were rubbing your neck like it ached.” Nobara said.

All his friends were too observant for their own good. “I can assume you got put out of your class too.”

“I have a bathroom pass.” Nobara seemed to grin wider. “Both your hands are empty.”

Goddamnit! Yuji had to get back to class before he got busted for not having a hall pass! He rubbed the sore spot on his neck repeatedly, laying the scent blockers flat again. Ouch! Crap! Fuck! Ouch! Craaaaap! He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus on how he was wearing Megumi’s jacket.

“Does it bother you that much?” Nobara’s playful expression faded into worry. “Let me see.” She took a step closer, her smell over killing his instincts.

A tense cramping made him stiffen a groan. It was so annoying, how the stupid scent blockers only did one job. They didn’t seem to be helping to suppress his instincts.

Nobara dragged her sharp fingernails around Yuji’s neck. An alpha’s touch. His brain did a keyboard smash—knees buckling, heart racing, and eyelids fluttering. She thumbed at the edges of the tape—a little flicker of relief.

“Maybe you should go to the nurse.”

“NO!” Yuji wheezed, his throat hurt all of a sudden. Wrong alpha. Need Megumi. “We have a project to present today! I won’t let you or Megumi down.”

“Think about yourself, first. If you don’t feel good…”

“I feel fine.” Yuji lied through his teeth. “Really! It’s just a dumb kink in my neck.”

“That doesn’t look like a…” Nobara slowly lowered her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re feverishly hot and the area around your scent glands looks swollen.” She was telling this time, a fact, an observation with proof.

“What kind of friend would I be if—”

“You don’t even smell like yourself. The only alpha smell is like Megumi! Is that his jacket?” Nobara tugged on the jacket sleeve. Her pretty light pink lips pursed as her eyebrows knitted together, “Since when did—“

“Chill. You know me and Megumi lend each other stuff all the time.” Yuji tapped on his phone. Act like it was no big deal. Act like it hasn’t been the highlight of his day. Act like it was just a friend thing.

“A jacket? It’s different! It’s something that an omega gets from—”

His alpha. Yuji was sure somewhere in his head connected the dots. Alpha wanted to take care of him. He felt a little smile tug on his lips. When was the next time he got to see his alpha? He shoved his phone in his pocket. “I’ll see you later in class, Nobara. I’ll be sure to study the powerpoint!”

The annoying itch wouldn’t go away and his nose and throat had once again tried to form a deal to make him vomit. Yuji released his frustrations by pushing open the door to the roof. A few droplets of water hit his head.

“I think it’s just random droplets.” Megumi’s voice directed Yuji’s attention towards their usual spot. “It’s not raining.” He went back to eating his lunch.

Yuji felt his heart race. Finally, he got to see Megumi again! He nearly ran over to him.

“You didn’t get lunch?”

Yuji shrugged, allowing his lips to curve upwards. “I wasn’t hungry.” His stomach growled loudly.

Megumi blinked.

“Okay. I guess...a little bit.” Yuji sank to his knees beside him. He stared at the courtyard below them. It was full of vegetation but looked so empty without anyone occupying the space. It probably smelled really nice down there.

“Here. You can have some of mine.”

Yuji turned his head to see a clump of rice being held out to his mouth.

“My older sister always urges me to share with my friends.” Megumi shoved the chopsticks in Yuji’s mouth. “Now chew.”

“Mmm, thanks.”

“Hold it, this is the best part.” Megumi picked up a piece of broiled fish. He blew on the food like how Choso used to do for Yuji when he was younger.

“You think I’ll burn myself?”

“No telling what you’ll do, idiot.” Megumi held the piece out for him to eat.

Yuji wrapped his mouth around the chopsticks. A burst of flavor exploded on his taste buds. “Your sister is a really good cook!”

“Yep. Not as good as you, though.” Megumi pulled his chopsticks back. “We’re gonna ace that presentation today.”

“Nobara was talking about it.”

Megumi nodded, he picked up some more food. He brushed the chopsticks against his lips then his hands started shaking as if he made some terrible mistake.

“Uhh...Megumi?”

“Tch, Yuji...be honest with me.” Megumi’s voice dipped, it sounded a tad bit deeper, a bit more alpha and assertive. “Do you share toothbrushes with your brothers?”

“Why does it matter? You make it sound like we’re about to—!” Yuji felt his cheeks heat up. Would the next word out his mouth make sense? His tongue slipped out his mouth, rolling over his lips to imagine Megumi’s pressed against his own. “Kiss.”

“We already did.”

Yuji assumed he didn’t hear Megumi correctly. He didn’t think his heart could take any more teasing: He wanted to be the only omega that Megumi cared for.

“Indirectly.” Megumi raised up the chopsticks skywards. “I forgot I only had one pair and got carried away.”

How could he forget Megumi was eating lunch with those same chopsticks before he came on the roof? Yuji felt his face heat up like it had been placed in a microwave, all his brain cells were fried, all his common sense gone.

“It’s alright. Eat the rest.” Megumi placed his lunchbox in Yuji’s lap. “You always make such happy faces when you eat and you never tried my sister’s cooking so—“

“No way! Your sister made this for you!”

“So what? I want you to have it.”

Alpha wanted him to HAVE IT!? Yuji snatched the chopsticks from Megumi, their fingertips brushed and he swore a bit of pink dusted Megumi’s face. Was he also embarrassed? Ahh, this shouldn’t be rattling him up so much. He ate behind his brothers all the time. The only difference was…

This was with Megumi! Alpha. Alpha. Alpha. Alpha.

Yuji felt the space between his legs start to dampen. His scent glands felt so so sore, the sweat pooling around the scent blockers itched so so much. Everything was so so, and Megumi was, so not so so.

He shifted closer. He wanted to ask how Megumi felt about kissing him for real. He inhaled. He was getting addicted to Megumi’s scent. His alpha’s scent. He loved it...he wanted to be full of it. Stuffed full of nothing but Megumi. He felt the tip of his nose lightly nuzzle Megumi’s.

Megumi’s eyelids drooped. “What are you doing?”

Yuji opened his mouth and a needy whine escaped, a primal omega noise.

“What the hell was—”

“I’m sorry!”

Why was his heat starting now? It was still way too early! Way too...His brain backtracked to how nice Megumi had been to him.

“Omega.” A deep groan reverberated from Megumi, his voice sounded syrupy, all slow and sweet. “You’re an omega.” His pupils seemed to widen with heightened desire.

Yuji melted into Megumi’s touch. So comforting. All his worries seemed more muffled, more distant, a fuzziness tingled. His head swam with thoughts of his alpha: how to hug him, squeeze him, wrap himself around him.

“But...how?” Megumi’s hand somehow found its way to Yuji’s toned stomach. Maybe it was instinct, but a barrier of cotton blocked any real contact. “I always thought…” He pulled back, an unrecognizable sound emerging from his throat.

The door opened then slammed a group of probably want to be gangsters stepped out.

“I knew my nose was never wrong.” Idiot A bragged. “I could smell a bitch about to go into a heat from a mile away.” He pointed his finger out. “The question is which one is…”

Idiot B’s face behind him paled. “You better duck!”

Megumi’s fist slammed into the guy’s face and sent him staggering back. “What line did I tell you not to cross?” He lowered his fist back to his side. “I hate egotistical assholes.”

“Megumi! Man...we...we honestly didn’t know you were up here! Like, he’s just a new transfer student you could have taken it easy on him!”

“Easy?” Megumi’s eyes flicked like a dying light bulb, an animalistic growl unleashed from his throat, “That was easy, I should have knocked him off the school building.”

“We were just joking around! For real! We had no idea that Yuji was your om—!”

“I’m not!” Yuji could see mouths moving. His worries came flooding back: They were talking about him. They were probably making fun of him. “Shut up! Shut up!” He could smell his own scent shifting into distress.

Now everyone would look at him with those pitiful eyes. He’d never be able to escape being babied even at school.

“Get out of here before I actually have to teach you losers lessons.” Megumi said. “I promised my older sister, I’d take her advice and try to be more...eh, nice in high school. So you have till the count of three. One two…”

The group took off running, exiting to the staircase, the heavy door slammed behind them.

“Thanks so much Megumi! I was too lost to fight back for a few secon—“ Yuji noticed the awkward atmosphere between them. Did Megumi just ignore him?

Megumi sighed, a sliver of sunlight danced on his skin as he examined the bit of blood on his knuckles. He walked over to grab his stuff.

Alpha? Some part of Yuji’s head started to hurt from the rejection. He tried to stand. His legs felt like cooked spaghetti noodles, too weak and bendable and flimsy. He held his hands up searching for...his fingers brushed over something metal. That would work. He grabbed it and used the jutted out pipe to pull himself up.

“Hey!” Yuji shouted.

Megumi slung his backpack over his shoulder.

“Are you seriously ignoring me?” Yuji started to feel the headache get worse. He was being… His heart dropped into his stomach. He had been a good omega.

Megumi didn’t even glance in his direction. He was walking towards the door.

Alpha was going to abandon him? Alpha couldn’t! He...he was literally going into a heat. Alpha was acting like it was nothing...like he was nothing. That JERK! Yuji launched himself forward, latching onto Megumi.

“Wait! Alpha!” Yuji mentally scolded himself. He didn’t mean to say that. It was wrong all wrong. “I...I…” One hand held shakily onto Megumi’s shirt. “I mean, Megumi! I don’t want things to change between us just because I’m an omega!”

“Just because you’re an omega.” Megumi slowly turned his head. The look in his eyes was cloudy, almost gloomy as if suppressed with emotion. “That’s the wording you’re going with?”

“I mean!” Yuji uncurled his fingers from around the fabric. “Just because you found out I was an omega.” It hurt to say, the statement made his throat burn. “Please don’t tell anyone else!”

“I might not share stuff with people.” Megumi clenched a hand around a backpack strap and took a step forward. “But I won’t lie about it.” He casted a harsh gaze at Yuji. “That’s so cruel. If I can’t even trust you, how can I justify liking you?”

“You like me?”

“Even before I discovered you were an omega.” Megumi turned away from him. “Before I discovered you were a liar.” He started walking.

“You never let me explain!” Yuji felt his knees drop to the ground. At one point...Megumi liked him too. At ONE point. “Everyone just expected I was an alpha because of my brothers! They assumed because all of them, I must be one too! I tried correcting people. But what difference did it make? Everyday correcting the same mistake. I got tired of it.”

“I’m your friend.” Megumi opened the door. “I would hope I’m not just people, but apparently, I’m wrong about that too.” He paused, “Maybe...I’m just mad because all those years of friendship now just seem one sided to me.”

“They weren’t!”

“Friends don’t lie to each other. You can keep secrets, yeah. If I asked, you could have been like it’s none of my business and I’d stop prying.” Megumi grit his teeth. “But you didn’t. You kept on lying to my face, hiding behind that cute smile of yours!”

Yuji couldn’t even get hung up on the compliment. So what if Megumi thought his smile was cute? Alpha….Megumi didn’t like him anymore. All those words falling from his mouth now were remances of the past.

“I need time to think okay? Let me think and stop calling me Alpha every ten seconds!”

Had Yuji been blubbering that word over and over again? He couldn’t even make sense of it. What did it matter anymore if alpha didn’t want him?

“I know it’s important to you, so I’m not going to tell anyone about you being an omega. I’ll make those guys shut up about it too. So don’t look so sad.” Megumi said.

“Alpha.” Yuji whined. All he cared about was the fact Megumi didn’t trust him anymore. He’d do anything to correct that...fix it. FORCE IT BACK INTO PLACE, SO HIS HEAD WOULDN'T HURT AND HIS HEART WOULD STOP ACHING. “Do your...your jacket?” He gulped down his words along with the remaining bits of Megumi’s scent.

“That would just remind me of you, since it’s got your omega juices all over.” Megumi said. “Plus, you look like you need it more than me right now.” He tilted his head to the side, “That’s why you said you didn't want to be at school earlier. Because the smell of any alpha other than me makes you sick. I think I get it now.” A little smile formed on his face, “So keep my jacket long as you need to.”

The door slammed behind Megumi, leaving Yuji sitting on the rooftop alone. Gosh...He really hated being alone. He was not even alone for nine months in the womb—Sukuna was there with him. Then when he was born his brothers were there. He missed his brothers. He wanted to go back home! He wanted to cry about his crappy day to his big brothers. He wanted them to say, “things will get better.” He could almost hear Choso’s voice vividly, “See, how easy he left? Well actually...that was kind of sad. How flakey friends can be. I will never leave you alone, little brother. Family is forever.”

Heats had one main recurring theme: the blackouts. Yuji would close his eyes letting the darkness rock him to sleep. Well actually, no. Blackout wasn’t the right word. A blackout implies that someone can turn on the light and you’d come back. It hints that there was a glimmer of hope in that long deep sleep. It definitely wasn’t a blackout.

A better description would be a car that suddenly got the brakes cut and it couldn’t stop.

Yuji couldn’t stop.

Somehow he ended up outside his classroom. The school day was almost over, this nightmare was almost over. He was wet in the wrong places, he was so hot, his brain hurt.

Then there was Megumi.

Yuji noticed him, sitting next to Nobara. They were chatting together like nothing was wrong. Megumi was everything, caring, level headed, strong...the perfect alpha. He wanted Megumi! Nobody else would do! He felt a familiar heat in his belly. All his thoughts kept going in this downwards spiral. He couldn’t— His phone vibrated and he pulled it out his pocket. A new message was sent to their family group chat:

Choso: Who do I have to kill?

Eso: ???

Choso: Tell me who it is. I will put the hit on ‘em.

Kechizu: Calm down. Take deep breaths.

Choso: Something isn’t right. I can feel it in our blood connection.

Sukuna: Bro, you are so fucking weird.

Eso: He’s high AF rn.

Choso: VIBE CHECK

Kechizu: ^╭⚈¬⚈╮^ *Sends virtual hug*

Eso: (( ͡⚆ ͜ʖ ͡⚆) Well fuck

Sukuna: (◣∀◢)ψ THE SOULS OF THE INNOCENT

Yuji: ヽ(๏∀◕ )ﾉ

Choso: DON’T WORRY YOUR OLDER BROTHER IS ON THE WAY TO MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT! :)

That was the wrong emoji! Yuji couldn’t even type correctly now. His fingers wouldn’t stop shaking, his body was so hot. Everything was hot. Alpha. He wanted his alpha. He slumped against the wall, eyes gazing at Megumi’s beautiful face. If he stepped inside the classroom his life would be ruined anyway, there weren't enough people to hide behind when they were sitting at desks. They’d be able to target the source of the omegan smell—him.

“Yuji! Why are you just standing here?”

Yuji turned to see Gojo Sensei.

Gojo pulled his shades off and clipped them on his shirt. “Sukuna is usually the one, I have to mark late for class, not you.” He took another step forward and for some reason, Yuji found himself entering the classroom.

“Alright!” Gojo announced to the class. “Since Yuji’s already at the front of the room, his group will present their project first.” He walked over to his desk.

“Wha-what?”

The projector blinded his eyes as the onslaught of light hit him, the rest passing around his body to leave his shadow in the glow of the board. He was almost thankful for a few seconds, he couldn’t see his classmate’s expressions. He couldn’t see if they knew.

“I emailed you the powerpoint last night.” Nobara had somehow ended up standing beside him. She had some note cards in her hand. “If you cleaned out your inbox, you’d find it faster.”

“I managed to get them down to 2,450 emails so actually that’s an improvement.” Gojo clicked away on his computer.

Nobara rolled her eyes.

Yuji tucked his nose down, smelling Megumi’s jacket. Take him to another place...away from here.

“How are they going to see you like that?” Nobara asked.

That was the point. Yuji didn’t want anyone seeing him at all. He wanted to feel like he belonged again, where everyone waved at him and laughed about him being like his brothers.

“I just want this over with.” Megumi stood to the side, leaving Yuji in the middle between them.

“Okay! Here we go!” Gojo clicked and the powerpoint was put on display for the whole class to see. “Start when you’re ready.”

“The chemical compound sodium bicarbonate is what we are doing our project on.” Nobara pointed at a picture. “The formula is NaHCO₃ so for our visual physical representation, we made cookies for everyone.”

Yuji unzipped his backpack and pulled out the container. He popped open the lid. “I guess, I’ll pass them out.”

“Cool, next slide.” Nobara gave him an encouraging thumbs up. She directed the class’ attention to another picture. “We made cookies because it contains baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate.” She started rambling on some more important information.

Yuji could barely make sense of it at all. He stiffly walked around the classroom, holding out the container so everyone could get a cookie. Row by row, turn. Finish this row. Don’t get distracted...Turn. Move quickly so nobody could pick up on the scent.

“Heh, you smell really good, Yuji.” A girl leaned in closer to him. “You kind of smell like strawberries.” She flashed him such a cute smile, it almost made her words sound like an innocent observation.

“Uhh..it...I..uhhh.”

“Now that you mention it, he did smell really sweet!” Her friend commented from beside her.

Yuji smelled his own scent spike out of panic. Stupid scent blockers that only worked at 68.5% wait...why was now suddenly able to do math? He took a step back, his hip bumping into another student’s desk. “Oh shit!”

“Watch…” The student paused, “Actually you can spiral out over my desk any time you like, smel—”

“What are you doing smelling him like that, you freaking creep?” Megumi cut in.

The student gulped.

“You girls too. I’m sure, Yuji’s flattered but we’re in the middle of something. Eyes on the board.”

“Why? You can’t seem to keep your eyes off him.” She giggled.

“I’m the only one allowed to have my eyes on him.” Megumi breathed, low and dangerously. “It’s our project, he’s in my group. He’s mine.”

Yuji wondered if Megumi was speaking that quietly because Nobara was still presenting at the front of the classroom or if it was an actual threat. He turned down the last row of desks, hiding the cookie container over his face.

“Yuji who hurt you?” Sukuna asked.

“No one.” Yuji averted his gaze just in time to stop from making eye contact with Megumi. If alpha didn’t like him anymore and his omega status had been revealed for no good reason...that was...

“It’s him?” Sukuna clicked his tongue, “I’m the only one allowed to make you cry. I swear I’m gonna beat his ass.” He pointed.

“Can you put your finger down?” Megumi raised his voice, it sounded slightly off a bit in tone. It was sounding gruffer, slurring between random words. “Like what are you pointing at? You look dumb as fuck.”

“Who you callin—” Sukuna grabbed a cookie as Gojo shot a warning glance in his direction. “Ugh.” He slumped over.

“Now for the rest of our project, I would like for everyone to eat their cookies and enjoy the magical chemical reaction as explained.” Nobara placed a hand on her hip.

Yuji made his way to the front of the classroom. He shuffled his feet, trying to ignore the sudden growing whispers with his name.

“You really, think the smell is coming from Yuji?”

Now he’s done it—starting dangerous rumors.

“Mmm, I never pegged Yuji for being into the crazy possessive type.”

He wasn’t!

“How long have they been dating? Yuji and Megumi always hang out a lot.”

He wished they were dating!

“Damn! I guess Sukuna really is the hot brother. Totally can see how Yuji’s an omega. He is such a softy.”

His school fame was over. He was going to be just as empty as this container, nothing left of him. No one to wave to in the morning or joke with. Yuji sat on the floor. A lonely life. Maybe...he’d ask Choso if he could start being homeschooled.

“Okay and for our next slide.” Nobara looked at Megumi.

Why was she looking at him? These last two slides were supposed to be his slides! Yuji casted his gaze back down at his feet. Well at least he’d get participation points for passing out the food.

“Our chemical ithff.” Megumi cleared his throat, “ithff.” He paused again, exhaling for a long minute as if trying to fix his tongue in his mouth. “Ithffs izza thoopoonemzem.”

“Bro, what?” Sukuna pulled out his phone as if about to record the funniest video ever.

Megumi opened his mouth again. Yuji noticed that a brand new pair of teeth had pushed their way through Megumi’s gums—his mating markers? His whole voice had changed, his words sounded almost like he had a slight lisp. “Ithffs izza thoopoonemzem.”

The class exploded with laughter.

Megumi noticeably ran his tongue over his new pair of teeth. It probably felt weird, like when getting braces on or a new mouth appliance from the orthodontists, it must have caused his tongue to shift and his facial muscles must have couldn’t move like they normally did. He quickly covered his mouth, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger.

The laughter seemed to grow louder.

This was so weird. Everyone should be making fun of him for not being an alpha. But because Megumi had stood up for him, now everyone was being mean to Megumi! Didn’t Megumi know that his body would start to take the hint? Or…

Oh.

Yuji sniffed the air allowing the scent of maple and brown sugar to ease the tension in his muscles.

Nobara smiled at him, offering a hand to help him up.

Of course. Nobara and Megumi cared about his feelings. They were his friends.

Yuji grabbed Nobara’s hand. “All the other two slides do is explain the difference between baking soda and baking powder. Baking soda is our chemical compound we did our project on, sodium bicarbonate, which is also found in baking powder.” He slowly rose to his feet and locked eyes with Sukuna from across the room. “But they’re completely different, because baking soda needs an acid and a liquid to activate. This is because it helps stuff rise.” He pointed at himself. “While baking powder can activate without acid. It does it’s own thing, despite being closely related. A lot of people mix these two things up, incorrectly.”

Everyone just assumed things, but now...they would know things. They would know about him being an omega. They would know he was different from his brothers….and that would be, okay?

Yuji couldn’t act like the idea of such a thing didn’t scare him. He would really hate it if everyone started treating him differently. His eyes met with Megumi’s, who seemed more stressed out than he did. Would this make Megumi happy? Megumi and Nobara wouldn’t have to cover for him anymore. It would probably be a pain for them to go through that everyday. And it would be a pain for Megumi to look at him so cruelly with those beautiful eyes.

“Yay!” Gojo clapped. “Good job.”

“Did we get a good grade?” Nobara asked.

“Yup.” Gojo held up a clipboard. “A minus! Which was really just a 90 on the dot.” He gave a thumbs up.

“How? We made food!”

“Yeah and don't get me wrong these are really good.” Gojo took another bite out of his cookie and chewed slowly. “From a personal standpoint, beautiful metaphors and awesome teamwork! From a professional standpoint, there’s no way you three practiced that. Points deducted from the lack of preparation. Also y’all made the class lose focus and get off topic so...”

Megumi pointed to the door.

“Sure.” Gojo tossed him a hall pass. “I’m locking the door so you won’t get back in until after the next presentation.”

Megumi nodded.

Sukuna lowered his phone. “Yuji, why did you—?”

“This is between the two of them and it doesn’t concern you.” Nobara pointed at Sukuna. “Get that? You can’t baby Yuji forever and not let him handle his own problems.” A cunning grin spread on her face as she seemed to eat up Sukuna’s pissed off and baffled reaction.

“I’m going with Megumi!” Yuji said. Somehow he didn’t feel that bad anymore, somewhere in his head, the fear was gone and he could finally focus. It wasn’t a secret anymore. He took off after Megumi, running down the hall.

Megumi was moving extremely fast. But Yuji wouldn’t let him go. Not again. He wasn’t letting Megumi walk away like at lunch. He wasn’t letting Megumi walk away from their feelings for each other.

“Alpha!” Yuji shouted.

Megumi stopped just like how Yuji did this morning, like some force deep within him had taken control and applied the brakes. Like he couldn’t help but react to Yuji’s voice and scent.

“Was that your answer?” Yuji asked. “At lunch you said you needed time to think so…” He felt a smile tug on his lips, “You didn’t reject me? You still like me.”

Megumi growled out a few unrecognizable words. Yuji felt himself being pulled forward. Walking? He blacked in and out twice. Each time with the same image of Megumi holding his hand as he guided him.

“Hey! Where are we going?”

Megumi had an expression that seemed to read: “I hate it there. You hate it there too. Let's just go away.”

Somehow, sunlight had graced his skin. They ran across the courtyard holding hands. Yuji sniffed the air. Yeah. It did smell really good out here. It smelled even better with Megumi around. Alpha around! He felt his stomach twist up in knots as his scent glands throbbed. His alpha. He squeezed Megumi’s hand and closed his eyes.

Thud.

“Ouch!” Yuji reopened his eyes, taking in the sight of the grass and dirt. His head tilted up to notice the leaves and branches above his head, as the heel of his foot bumped into what felt like a tree root. He must have black out again. He blinked rapidly, Megumi was hovering over him. “Why the heck did you—?”

“Off.” Megumi commanded.

Yuji couldn’t believe it. The first recognizable word from Megumi’s mouth and it’s telling him to take off—

“Defff thwaaent blockerth.” Megumi nuzzled the scent blockers covering Yuji’s glands. “They bother you, right? I want ‘em off.” His nose managed to nudge against the spot on the tape that was slight peeled upwards. “I want to thmell you. The rweal you.”

For so long Yuji wanted to hear those words from Megumi’s lips. He yanked off the blockers. His scent intoxicated the air between them revealing how needy and touched starved he was.

“Mmmmmm.” Megumi buried his face in the crook of Yuji’s neck. “God...You thmell delightful.” He purred, dark, deep, and mesmerizing, it vibrated through Yuji's core, sending slick trickling down his thighs. “Why would you hide thitheee?”

“I have been trying to stop, but my brothers...Aw! They care so much about me! It would hurt to tell ‘em.”

“It's not right to fool people.” Megumi lifted his head, “I mean, I forgive you now. Nobara explained to me how theeewww found you earwlier freaking out and I thought about how’d you been gloomy all day. It made me feel bad. I gueth, I didn’t really underthtand. I’m thiiiill not thure I do, but pleathe don’t do dumb thtuff like thith ever again!” He sounded like a frustrated child trying to make their words make sense, he kept restarting and pausing and making all sorts of faces.

“Sorry. I know what I did in class wasn’t enough to earn your trust back, but I’ll work hard everyday until you feel comfortable enough. And I’ll force Sukuna to delete the video.”

“What ya did awethooome and unexpected. But...a public confession?”

“No more lies.” Yuji couldn’t help but hug his arms around Megumi. His poor alpha. He hugged Megumi so closely, until he couldn’t press their bodies together anymore. “I just want you. Please...I just want...”

“Good. I wannaaana to be the only one allowed to do thifff you.” Megumi rested his chin on Yuji’s shoulder. It made Yuji’s skin crawl, the sensation of being scented, searing heat into his skin. It felt marvelous. “And we can’t do cool weequff like dateth if I'm worried bout ya.”

“Megumi,” Yuji coed softly. Was the alpha even aware of what he was doing to him? Getting him all worked up and excited. He rubbed his thighs together, “Don’t tease me.” He wanted to go on a lot of dates, then get married, buy a house together, have a bunch of kids.

“Look at me.” Megumi pulled back so Yuji was able to read his lips. So that words would be understood that wouldn’t sound right if he declared them out loud, “I’m serious.” his lips curved up in a light smile.

Yuji smiled back. He loved the sound of Megumi’s voice, it put him at ease, even with it like this. “Can I see them?”

Megumi shook his head again.

“I grew up in a house full of alpha’s. I know a little something about mating markers, come on.” Yuji reached for Megumi’s cheeks and pinched them. “I’m flattered. I was sure some other omega had given you the hots before. But knowing that I’m the only one…” He felt his smile grow in size. “Makes me so happy!” His heart felt like it would burst. His alpha! Megumi was all his! “You owe me. Let me see what I’m working with.”

Megumi shyly opened his mouth.

“Wow! You have a nice pair! They’re not as sharp as Sukuna’s but still cool.”

“I tawwk funny.”

“It takes some time to get used to having them. They usually retract back in your mouth after you...well…” Yuji felt his sore scent glands throb. Alpha. Alpha. Fix it. Fix. Alpha. Use. fix. He hooked his thumb under Megumi’s upper lip. It would be nice. “You don’t have to, if you don’t wanna, but it would feel really good, if you uh, sucked right here.” He tilted his neck to the side, to expose the red irritated spot formed by the scent blockers.

“Tthorry.” Megumi gasped, it was soft and sensitive as if bothered that somehow such an ugly mark had gotten on his omega’s skin. “I didn't know you were in thp muth paiww.” He gently kissed the spot.

Yuji felt a jolt of electricity down his spine. The kiss was so light, yet so enchanting. He presented more of his neck for his alpha to claim. Megumi kissed the tender spot over and over again, until the smell of Yuji’s slick was finally thick in the air between them. Megumi dragged his tongue around the sticky residue left by the scent blockers, softly mumbling about how strong Yuji was barring this burden all by himself.

“I won’t let you go, until you’re okay.” Megumi pressed a chaste kiss on the side of Yuji’s mouth. “And you’re not okay, right now.”

Yuji gasped, touching the spot where Megumi’s lips once lingered. “Don’t surprise me like that.” He closed the gap between their lips. “Do it like this.”

Their lips met for a brief second—Megumi’s taste was so addicting. Yuji slumped against the tree. Their actions semi-covered by the branches and their leaves.

“You’re bad. You’re too utheed to giving affection. You forgot how to receive it.” Megumi pulled back, only to dive back in and kiss Yuji a bit harder. “Let me and Nobara take care of you, sometimes.” He lowered his head back to Yuji’s neck.

Yuji groaned as Megumi’s teeth teased, breaking his skin, nibbling every so lightly, it barely made imprints. Almost like a teething baby, Megumi was drooling and suckling on Yuji’s neck. It felt so good. So much relief—God, he was a hot mess. All ready for his alpha. And he’d be so good. He just wanted Megumi to take him home, so he could show him how good he could be.

“Feel better?” Megumi spoke against his heated skin. “Tell me, where it hurts.” He laid another feathery kiss in the crook of Yuji’s neck.

Yuji closed his eyes. Megumi was being so gentle with him and he felt so much better! If he blacked out, he knew he’d be fine. Megumi would take such good care of him. And…

He heard the sound of tires against the asphalt, the beeping, followed by the slam of a car door. The smell of weed drowned out every other scent in the air.

“Were you just kissing, my little brother?”

Yuji fluttered his eyes open. “Choso!” What a mood killer! He felt Megumi pull back, with a scowl on his face, that quickly transformed into confusion.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Choso pulled a blunt from his mouth. The smoke slowly drifted upwards, past the tattoo across the bridge of his nose, and around his hair lifted up into two sloppy puffs. “That will only piss me off more.”

“You’re one of Yuji’s brothers?” Megumi stepped in between Yuji and Choso. His voice seemed to switch back to normal as a snarl slipped out his mouth.

“That’s it, I’m going to beat the crap out of you.” Choso dropped the poorly rolled joint to the ground. His boots stomped on it as he took a step forward, yanking Megumi up by his collar. “Nobody touches my little brother, Yuji!” He balled his left hand up in a fist.

Megumi had an expression on his face that seemed to scream: Are all your brothers homicidal maniacs?

“Don’t be mean to Megumi!” Yuji shouted. Don’t touch alpha! They had been having such a good time. His big brother was so embarrassing, uuuggghhh! “He helped me a lot!”

“Helped you?”

“More than you did.” Megumi said. “I’m not cruel.”

Yuji felt his heart quicken in his chest. Out of all his brothers, Choso was not the one who Megumi should be trying to beef with!

“You have some nerve trying to justify putting your dirty hands on my little...” Choso’s nostrils flared. “Omega?” His grip on Megumi seemed to loosen. “Yuji, what happened to your scent blockers?”

“I had to take them off. I...Umm…” Yuji shrank behind Megumi.

“Why are you hiding behind him, like he’s your...tch!” Choso shoved Megumi to the side. “Yuji! I’m your older brother!” He pointed at himself. “I would never tell you to do something that I thought would hurt you. Never ever. If you wanted we cou—”

“No! I don’t wanna wear them anymore!” Yuji knew this day was coming. The day he had to tell Choso he didn’t want his help. He didn’t want to do things his way anymore. The words and Choso’s heartbroken expression hurt just as much as he knew they would. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful or make you mad. But...I want to figure stuff out for myself, even if it is by trial and error.”

“Why would I be mad about you wanting to grow up? I mean, the idea of giving my little brother away makes me so…” Choso’s words dipped to inaudible mumbles as if he was having an existential crisis with himself. “I can barely stand it. But, I’ll try.”

“So weird.” Megumi said.

“Watch yourself.” Choso glared down at Megumi. “Just who do you think you are to my little brother, Yuji?”

“Who?” Megumi stood by Yuji’s side. He glanced down at their hands, so close to touching. “I’m his friend. I care abo—”

Yuji slipped his fingers between Megumi’s, locking their hands together.

Megumi blushed. The next few words out of his mouth were mindless babbles, “Friends. We...kissed. Once? Few times. But… I mean, it’s whatever. I want to be there for him. He does so much for me, always going above and beyond for his friends. I don’t think… it’s because like...like… he’s way too sweet.”

“Stop playing. Speak up.” Choso demanded.

Yuji raised their interlocked hands in the air.

“I am his boyfriend!” Megumi declared. It seemed to take all his strength not to die of embarrassment. “Yeah, I like Yuji. So what are ya gonna do about it? We’re going to date and one day in the future, I’ll mate with Yuji!”

“If you break my little brother’s heart, I’ll break your neck.” Choso shoved his hands in his pockets. “Don’t get too comfortable.” He pulled out the car keys, signaling that it was time to head home.

Yuji let go of Megumi’s hand. He followed behind his older brother towards the car. “I’ll text you later, Me—” He caught his tongue. “Alpha!”

“Okay.”

Yuji peaked over his shoulder to see Megumi red in the face. Hehe, it would be fun to see Megumi warm up to the title. “You can call me, omega now.”

“I wi—” Megumi choked up, as Choso cut his eyes to the side. “My omega.” He mumbled down at his sneakers.

Yuji grinned. Megumi really was the best alpha, he took away stress and loved him to death even when he was a mess.