Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I think if you’d let me,

I’d build an observatory

just to show you

that all the stars in the universe

will never shine as brightly

as you.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

Langa was the first one whose scent made Reki feel like he was watching a movie in his head: the crunch of white snow beneath his feet as he walked through a forest at night; moonlight dripping from the sky and making everything glisten with quiet anticipation.

            “Anticipation for what?” The prime omega had asked, mouth practically inhaling his burger.

            “Ummm,” Reki stabbed his strawberry shake with a fry absentmindedly as he tried to explain, “like I can feel something awesome is about to show up?”

            “Something awesome…” Langa repeated, brows dipping together in thought as he finished the last of his burger, blue eyes lighting up, “Like a wolf?”

            “No, not a wolf,” Reki munched on his milkshake coated fry, closing his eyes to focus and try his hardest to explain the vibe Langa gave out, “something more fun…Oh!” Golden eyes snapped open. “A yeti!”

            The bluenette immediately deadpanned, “a yeti?”

            “Y’know, the abominable snowman,” Reki reiterated in surprisingly good English. He smirked smugly as Langa’s eyes widened in surprise.

            But then his hand whipped across the table and grabbed a huge handful of Reki’s fries which had the redhead wailing and shooting to the other’s booth to try to get them back. “LAAANGAAA!” He shook his friend’s shoulders, “Give them back!”

            Langa promptly shoved the stolen fries in his mouth.

            “I hate you,” Reki hissed, glaring at the thief’s chipmunk cheeks for about two seconds before sighing and slumping in defeat. He rested his head on top of Langa’s shoulder, watching as the latter apparently took that as permission to reach across the table to take the rest of Reki’s fries and milkshake for himself. Where all the food Langa ate went, Reki had no idea. It clearly didn’t stay in his lean frame. He began poking his friend’s stomach, the omega squirming at the ticklish touch.

            “Reki, stop,” he laughed, taking one of Reki’s fries and dipping it in the shake before bringing it to Reki’s mouth as a peace offering. The beta opened his mouth and hummed happily at being fed. “Do you want more?”

            “More of my own fries? I’d never dream of being so selfis-ack!?” Reki squawked as his nose was bopped with a cold shake covered fry. He felt Langa’s body shake as the bluenette softly snickered at his reaction, snickers changing to laughter as Reki pouted before purposely dipping his face into Langa’s bare neck to rub the ice cream off.

            Reki could listen to Langa’s laughter for hours, however, he became aware of curious whispers in the fast-food restaurant. He stopped his aggressive nuzzling to look around, noticing that more than a few of the other patrons were looking his and Langa’s way. He wasn’t surprised. Prime omegas were rare. They were considered pack leaders like their equally rare counterparts of prime alphas. Able to even resist commands of regular alphas and give out their own commands. For a regular beta to be so forward and intimate with a prime omega was…

            Guilt and shame made Reki begin to pull away but a gentle hand pressing against the back of his head kept him in place. “It’s okay,” Langa murmured, blue eyes unmistakably soft with fondness as he met Reki’s gold before sweeping his gaze around the restaurant.

            The sudden sharp coldness in those eyes stunned Reki as the omega fixed each staring individual with a challenging look that made them immediately flinch. Though as soon as those icy orbs swung back around to Reki, they melted into gooey puddles of blue so quickly the beta experienced mental whiplash. He allowed Langa to pull his face gently back into the crook of his neck. The soft purring of the omega making him feel safe and giddy as he was fed more shake coated fries.

~oOo~

            Reki was unprepared to inhale a night sky in broad daylight. Not that one can really prepare for that.

            It was hot out. The sun bright and center in the sky. Reki, Langa, and Miya had gone to the skate park, but had quickly found out that the sun only had one thing on its mind: burning them alive. So, they hid in the shadow of one of the ramps. They sat in drowsy silence: Langa collapsed against Reki’s side as the two of them watched a skate video on the redhead’s phone while Miya’s shoulder lightly pressed against him as the younger teen played a game on his switch. As the time passed, Miya turned more and more into Reki until he was cuddled into the redhead almost as much as Langa. That’s when it happened. Reki breathed and found himself gulping an entire galaxy into his lungs.

            It made him choke in surprise. His sudden coughing fit making Miya and Langa sit up. “Reki, what’s wrong?” Langa asked, rubbing Reki’s back to try to help him breathe.

            “Did you eat a bug?” Miya asked, somehow managing to look both unimpressed and concerned for Reki’s well-being.

            “S-stars,” Reki wheezed, making Langa and Miya look more confused. He pointed an accusatory finger at Miya. “You smell like stars.”

            Miya blinked slowly once, twice, thrice before his entire face turned red. “E-excuse me!?”

            Langa offered Reki a water bottle and he took it gratefully, “Langa, you tell him,” he rasped out, unscrewing the cap, and tipping his head back to drink. However, the omega’s brows only scrunched together.

            “Tell him what?”

            Reki gasped loudly as he brought the bottle away from his lips, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he frowned at Langa. “Tell him that he’s started presenting. If I can smell him, then you definitely can as well,” he watched Langa tilt his head in confusion, “…right?”

            “The only one I can smell is you.”

            “What!? That can’t be,” Reki reached for the younger teen to pull him close but was stopped by his hands getting smacked.

            “Don’t touch me!” Miya hissed, “I’ll get your germs.”

            “You literally were just cuddling me!”

            “Was not,” Miya huffed, looking away with pink cheeks, “I was leaning against you. Not that I’m surprised you don’t know the difference. Besides,” green eyes flicked back to gold, “stars don’t have a smell.”

            “Do too,” Reki countered, “they smell like you.”

            “Which you only just realized now because you suddenly smelled stars when I was next to you.”

            “Yes.”

            “How does that even make sense?”

            Langa released a deep sigh, “At least, he didn’t say you smelled like a yeti.”

            “I did not say that” Reki haughtily turned up his nose, “I said that you smelled like a moonlit walk through a snowy forest with the feeling that something exciting was about to show up. I sounded poetic.”

            “You poetically said I smelled like a yeti.”

            Reki shoved Langa who shoved him back which led to them having a slap fight with their hands.

            Miya let out a groan, “I feel like I’m babysitting toddlers,” he reached forward, snapping the back of Reki’s headband to get his attention, “and I’m assuming that if I ask what moonlight smells like your answer would be…?”

            Reki froze mid-slap to look over at Miya, “Obviously moonlight smells like Langa.”

            “Obviously,” Miya rolled his eyes, lips tugging up into a smirk that made the redhead pout.

            “Hey, it’s not my fault that scents appear more like pictures. It’s a beta thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

            “Oh, yeah? What if I end up being a beta like you?”

            Reki tilted his head in thought, staring at Miya quietly. The latter squirmed under the sudden scrutiny and the redhead had to bite the inside of his cheek to hold back his smile. “Hmmm, I don’t know. I kind of like being the only beta in our group. It makes me feel special.”

            “Shadow is a beta.”

            “What!?” Reki turned to gape at Langa, “Since when!?”

            Langa blinked. “Since always?”

            “Why didn’t you tell me?”

            The bluenette shrugged, “You only asked about Joe and Cherry.”

            Reki narrowed his eyes at the omega. Wanting to argue but not able to because Langa was right. He had never confirmed Shadow’s secondary gender. He had assumed he was an alpha like Joe because of how strongly they both projected their presence.

            “I don’t know why you’re so surprised Reki,” Miya started, the saucy tone of his voice foreshadowing the jab, “you and Shadow have a lot in common. You’re both loud and obnoxious.”

            “Ah, but since you think you could be a beta too, doesn’t that mean you have something in common with Shadow and I?” Reki shot back, snickering in triumph as Miya fixed him with a glower.

            “It was a hypothetical question. Not that I expect—”

            “Me to understand because I’m stupid,” Reki finished, waving his hand in the air, “yeah, yeah I get it. How about we test you? Let’s see if you are able to smell properly. If you are, then that most likely means you aren’t an obnoxious beta like me. You’ll either be an alpha or an omegAH!?” Reki yelped the last part as Miya dove his face into his neck without warning. “W-wait, shouldn’t you be sniffing Langa since his scent is stronger?”

            “Shut up. This is fine.”

            “But—”

            “I can’t concentrate if you keep yapping!” Miya snapped, glaring up at Reki. His green eyes were shockingly bright against the blush spilling across his face. It made the redhead hold his tongue. He watched silently as Miya glanced over at Langa. The omega holding his gaze for a moment before nodding as if to give permission. Why Miya thought he needed Langa’s permission to sniff Reki, he had no idea. He wanted to ask but was distracted as the smaller boy got a better position in his lap. His blush had cutely spread to the tip of his ears as he gave one final glance up at Reki’s face before pushing his nose into the crook of the beta’s neck.

            Reki waited patiently for Miya to get a feel for his scent. After about a minute of silence, he opened his mouth to ask if he was okay, but his jaw was left gaping as he a felt rumble thrum through his chest. Reki’s eyes widened. “Miya, are you purring!?” The soft nuzzling at his neck made him laugh. “S-stop that tickles.” His arms naturally wrapped around the other, pulling him closer despite telling him to stop. “Does this mean you can smell me?”

            “Yeah,” Miya’s voice came out muffled and drowsy, “you smell like…” His words slurred into incohesive mumbling and Reki found himself breathing stardust. Without thinking he closed his eyes and curled himself into the smaller teen. His mind was buzzing, and it was like Reki was gazing through a telescope: stars messily spattered the sky. He wanted to reach up and smear his hands with their light.

            “Miya you smell too good to be a beta,” Reki hummed, turning his face to rub his nose against Miya’s temple. “You have to be an omega or alpha…though I guess it might still be some time until you’ll present. You’re just thirteen, right?”

            Miya stiffened in Reki’s arms and all the stars were suddenly snuffed out. “…You think I’m thirteen?”

            Reki opened his eyes. “Aren’t you?”

            “Stupid slime!” Miya stood up so abruptly that Reki was knocked back into Langa with a yelp, “I’m in my last year of junior high. How could I possibly be thirteen!?”

            “Wait, wasn’t I promoted to golem?” Reki called, but Miya had already skated off in a huff of anger.

~oOo~

            “You really think that a nobody like you successfully fought back like that?” Adam snarled, the prime alpha’s scent rippling across the crowd. Even with Langa standing protectively in front of him, Reki felt Adam’s scent being forced down his throat. It was gross and reminded the teen of the poisoned apple that Snow White was given. Joe had grabbed Adam’s arm to stop him from advancing towards Reki, but in the presence of a prime alpha Joe’s muscles were turned to jelly. The alpha’s knees trembled; jaw clenched as he fought with everything he had to not drop to the ground in submission.

            Beside them, Reki saw Cherry clutching the arms of his wheelchair. The omega’s breathing was ragged, but he stubbornly strained to keep his head held up to glare at Adam. As a prime omega, Langa was managing to stand his ground. His body vibrated with a growl, however, Reki could tell by the sweat trickling down his face that he was struggling. For Reki’s sake, the prime omega was pumping out his scent and pheromones at full force to warn Adam to back off.

            Adrenaline from the race had worn off and Reki could feel every bruise and scrape. His muscles throbbed and he swayed on his feet, grabbing onto the back of Langa’s shirt to prevent his fall. He couldn’t stop the whimper from escaping his mouth. Langa’s blue eyes immediately shot to the redhead. “Reki, what’s—”

            The scent of another prime alpha exploded out from behind Reki along with a deep snarl that made his spine quake.

            And suddenly Reki was spinning among the stars.

Chapter Text

“You were a star I caught while gazing, but you burned a hole in my hand”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

At that moment, Reki felt bad for astronauts. With a helmet and suit protecting them, they were unable to feel the rush of the cosmos against their skin. Couldn’t taste the ignition of stars against the tongue. Whoever said space was cold lied. Stars were reaching towards him from all directions and caressing him gently in their light: he had never felt so warm.

            “…. Reki…”

            His name glided against his ear as soft as a breath. The redhead blinked drowsily. His mind felt sluggish, body heavy.

            “Reki!”

            “Langa?” It took all his strength to turn his head and all he could see was the moon glowing bright before him. He felt himself being tugged towards it.

            Reki didn’t have to do anything. If he allowed himself to be pulled into the satellite’s gravitational embrace, he’d be safe like always.

            However, he got colder the closer he got to the surface and he ached to feel the warmth of starlight again.

            So, without much thought, he plucked a star out of the void and felt it sizzle into his skin.

~oOo~

            “Cherry, he’s burning up!”

            Reki felt a hand press against his forehead, grounding him back into reality. He blinked blearily, gazing up at the concerned and panicked faces of both Langa and Cherry. The beta must’ve fallen to the ground because Langa was on his knees and gingerly cradling Reki to him. Cherry’s hand was cool where it touched Reki’s skin. “You’re right. We need to bring him to a hospital.” The older omega’s gaze moved away from Reki to fix off to the left, “Oi, gorilla hurry up and get him under control!”

            “I. Am. Trying.” Joe hissed over the sound of snarling.

            Reki winced as he forced himself to sit up, using Langa’s shirt to hoist himself enough to look over to the commotion. He felt like his brain was in a fog: his mental processing muddled. Adam was on his knees with his hands to his face. Red dripped from between his fingertips as Tadashi stood protectively in front of him.

            Reki’s eyes followed Tadashi’s glare. Joe had his arms around Miya, struggling to hold back the teen as he fought to escape the alpha’s restraint. Miya was snarling and snapping his teeth towards Adam.

            “Miya,” Reki’s voice was barely a flutter of breath passing his lips, but it had Miya immediately stilling. Green flicked his way and scorched through his chest. The impact made Reki shudder as he felt himself grow hotter. Without thinking, he weakly lifted his hand up towards Miya. The younger teen whined, reaching out in response towards Reki as he began struggling again to escape Joe’s hold.

            Reki tried to bring himself to his feet but only ended up going limp in Langa’s arms. Vision becoming a starless night sky.

~oOo~

            Waking up had Reki wincing at the bright light of his hospital room, though thankfully Langa’s head popped into his view to shield him from the offending fixture.

            “Reki, you’re awake!”

            “Yes, I am aware of that,” Reki smiled, letting out a grunt as the bluenette embraced him and buried his face into the redhead’s neck.

            “Careful, he’s still weak,” a familiar voice chided and Reki was surprised to see that Cherry was there as well.

            “What are you doing here?”

            Cherry raised a brow, “I promised your mother I would keep an eye on you and keep her updated. I assured her that there was no need for her to have to drag your sisters to the hospital in the dead of night to see you. Plus,” the pink haired omega frowned, “I felt strangely compelled to stay close to you.”

            Reki wasn’t sure to make of Cherry’s words, but he was relieved that his mother was at home with his sisters. He didn’t want to inconvenience her, and it meant that he had more time to prepare himself for a stern lecture. “What about Joe and Miya?”

            “Joe is with Miya as he gets the talk.”

            “The talk?”

            “You know, the one you get when you present your secondary gender.”

            “Ah, the talk. Yeah, I didn’t really get one of those since I’m a beta,” Reki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly before his eyes widened in realization. “Wait, Miya finally presented!?”

            Cherry fixed him a disbelieving look and even Langa finally lifted his face from his neck to sigh at him in disappointment. “Reki, what do you remember?”

            “Ummmm,” Reki closed his eyes in thought. What did he remember? There was the beef with Adam, which he almost won. That had made the prime alpha mad and he had gone to attack Reki. Langa had stood in front of him to protect him. Then there had been the smell of another prime alpha…

            After that, everything was murky. The beta had images of floating in space, but that was impossible. Probably a hallucination due to hitting his head from falling down. That would explain why he had woken up on the ground in Langa’s arms and—

            Reki’s eyes snapped open. “Adam was bleeding!”

            Langa nodded, “Miya broke his nose.”

            “Probably would’ve tore his throat out as well if Joe hadn’t grabbed him,” Cherry added almost nonchalantly.

            Reki gaped at the two, gaze flickering between them to see if they were joking. They had to be joking. How would small Miya break Adam’s nose when Joe with all his muscles had struggled to not drop to his knees in submission to the prime alpha!?

            “Mr. Kyan you’re awake,” the doctor entered the room, a kind smile on her face. “How are you feeling?”

            “Hmmm, my brain still feels a little foggy,” Reki answered truthfully.

            “That’s understandable. You did have quite the fever coming in. Thankfully, that’s gone down, and your injuries aren’t too serious. Though we will run a few more tests just to make sure before you are discharged,” she informed, flipping through his medical chart. “I see your secondary gender was previously listed as beta.”

            “Yeah,” Reki confirmed, “wait, what do you mean by previously?”

            “Mr. Kyan, have you ever heard the term latent omega or dormant omega?”

            “No.”

            “It’s not surprising. Most people haven’t. They are even rarer than primes. In fact,” the doctor beamed at him, “you’re the first one I’ve personally, or I guess knowingly, encountered!”

            “Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait,” Reki frantically waved his hands, “that’s impossible. I can’t be an omega. My sense of smell is crap. I’m also seventeen. It’s too late for me to be presenting!”

            “Well, here’s why I said knowingly. Most latent omegas go undetected and will live their lives like betas unless they come into contact with a prime alpha that they are compatible with.”

            Reki’s stomach churned in disgust. “You’re telling me I’m compatible with Adam?”

            Cherry snorted and Langa again released a disappointed sigh. “Reki, it’s not Adam.”

            “Then who?”

             “And I thought the gorilla was dense,” Cherry pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

            Langa took Reki’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Reki, do you know what Miya presented as?”

            Reki hummed in thought. “Well, he managed to break Adam’s nose so he must be an alpha, right? It’s pretty amazing that he was able to do that when Joe had trouble moving.”

            Everything suddenly clicked together like a light switch being thrown on in Reki’s brain without warning; temporarily blinding him with shock. His face turned bright red as he squeaked, “w-wait, it’s Miya!?”

            Cherry rolled his eyes, “finally he gets it.”

            “He kept Adam away from you. It was very cool,” Langa’s eyes began to sparkle, “he kicked off me and flew through the air! Kneeing Adam right in the face before Joe grabbed him.”

            “He used you as a springboard to launch himself!?”

            “It was cool!”

            Reki wanted to cover his face with his hands, but Langa was still holding onto one of them. “This…this is a lot to process.”

            “There is another latent omega registered in the area. The hospital is going to contact them to ask if it’d be okay to give you their contact information in case you want to talk to someone who’s gone through what you have,” the doctor gave him a gentle smile, “meanwhile, I suggest letting the omegas close to help you with adjusting. They’ll probably be feeling protective of you instinctively due to the change in your smell.”

            Reki glanced over at Cherry. So, that’s why the older omega had felt compelled to stay? He lifted his wrist up to his nose and gave a sniff, “I don’t smell any different. I just smell like…me.” Gold flickered over to meet soft blue. “Do I smell different to you?”

            Langa shook his head, “You smell like Reki.”

            Reki rolled his eyes with an affectionate huff, “that doesn’t tell me anything.”

~oOo~

            “Sooooo,” Reki began, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, “I heard you were pretty cool. You launched yourself off of Langa and kneed Adam right in the face.”

            “Yeah, I guess I did,” Miya answered, looking everywhere but at Reki. The redhead assumed that part of the teen’s talk had been about the beta actually turning out to be a latent omega.

            Or maybe it wasn’t. Did the hospital expect Reki to deliver the news to the newly presented prime alpha that they were apparently compatible? And what exactly did that mean? He didn’t want Miya to think he was expected to court Reki due to the redhead’s body embarrassingly deciding that they were a good match.

            Reki let out a soft groan, pulling his headband down to cover his eyes as he felt his face become red. He didn’t know what to do.

            “You cold?”

            “I guess? I am used to always wearing hoodies.”

            He heard Miya hum in acknowledgment followed by what sounded like a zipper. “Here.”

            Reki tugged his headband back up, blinking in confusion as Miya held out his own green hoodie to him. “What am I supposed to do with that?”

            “Put it on of course!” Miya snapped, glaring at Reki with pink cheeks. “You said you were cold.”

            “Yeah, but someone could just hand me my own yellow hoodie?”

            “That thing is covered in mud and who knows what else. Just put mine on,” Miya threw the garment at Reki who caught it with his own glare.

            “You know, I probably won’t even fit in this! It’s tiny like you.”

            “Reki, you’re also short,” Langa quipped, watching Reki and Miya with the same fond amusement as Joe and Cherry. It was embarrassing and annoying.

            “I am not short. You’re just too tall Mr. Canadian,” Reki grumbled, putting on the hoodie to make a point that it wouldn’t fit.

            However, it did fit. It fit and was warm and smelled really really good. So good, that Reki couldn’t help bringing the green hoodie up to his nose and inhaling. He let out a content trill, oblivious to the way Miya’s pupils dilated as the prime alpha’s whole face turned bright red.

            “Okay, time to take the young Casanova home~” Joe teased, laughing as Miya kicked his shin with an angry hiss before storming out of the hospital room ahead of him.

Chapter Text

“You are every star burning in the sky,

you are every golden leaf in the tallest tree,

you are a pattern, a snowflake, and every firefly”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

            “Of course, you’d be a prime alpha,” Takashi scoffed under his breath, shoulder purposely bumping into Miya’s as he passed him in the hallway. Miya gritted his teeth.

            Slime.

            His nails dug into his palms as he continued towards his classroom, trying his best to breathe shallowly and to tune out the whispers and pointed stares.

            They were all just slimes.

            After presenting, Miya had stayed home for a week to help him adjust to suddenly being able to smell everything. He was assured by both the doctor and his parents that he’d get used to it and adapt. But how was he supposed to adapt when people kept reacting to him with stares, whispers, and spikes in their scents!?

            Miya purposely kept his gaze on his feet as he entered his classroom and made his way to his seat in the back. There were still a few minutes until the start of class, so he took out his math textbook and propped it up on his desk, creating a makeshift shield from the stares. The whispers buzzing around the room like cicadas was already a lot for the prime alpha to deal with. It made him feel anxious.

            His hand prickled with warmth. A bit of sunlight had snuck out from behind the clouds and formed a puddle on his desk. Miya sank in his chair so he could rest his head in it, closing his eyes and inhaling.

            It wasn’t the same as Reki’s scent, but it was close enough to help calm him.

~oOo~

            “And to celebrate Shadow being discharged from the hospital, I present to you,” Joe paused dramatically to make a sweeping motion with his arm, “shrimp scampi with fettuccine pasta and a dash of love~” The green-haired alpha playfully winked.

            Reki, Langa, and Shadow oooohed with glittering eyes while Cherry just scoffed at Joe’s dramatics. Miya glared at the cherry tomatoes that rested on the carb loaded pasta.

            The others began eating: Cherry calm and dignified while Shadow, Langa, and Reki began scarfing down their food. Shadow and Reki somehow managed to speak between bites, heaping praise for the food while Langa ate in silence with a blissed out look on his face. Joe’s chest was puffed out in pride though he raised an eyebrow at Miya. “Kid, just pushing the food with your fork won’t get it to your mouth. You actually have to use those muscles.” He flexed his bicep, “a prime alpha like you needs all the nutrients he can to get nice and strong.”

            “He’s a prime alpha. Not a gorilla.” Cherry remarked, glancing over at Miya. “Though it is a good idea for you to be eating more. Now that you’ve presented, you’re most likely going to be starting a growth spurt soon.”

            “I can’t believe little Miya is a prime alpha,” Shadow let out a large sigh, “I’m jealous.”

            Reki paused midbite, “If it makes you feel better Shadow, I totally thought you were an alpha until Langa told me you were a beta.”

            “Can you tell I’m a beta now that you are a latent omega?”

            “Naw, my sense of smell is still about the same. Oh, though I guess I can now tell when someone is an omega. They give off a sort of safe vibe. A few have seemed to want to approach me, but I think Langa scares them off,” Reki frowned at the bluenette, “which is weird since you are a prime omega. You’d think they would see you as approachable and cuddly.”

            What part of that dragon was approachable and cuddly!?

            Miya watched as Langa gave an indifferent half-shrug as if the prime omega had no clue that he was giving off “if you even breathe in this redhead’s direction wrong, I will bite your hand off” vibes. The prime alpha could sense it.

            He’d do exactly the same thing.

            “What about you Miya?” Joe’s voice was way too sweet, and the teen regretted swinging his gaze back to the alpha. “Has your sense of smell changed?”

            “Yeah, everyone smells like a gross slime.”

            “Really? Everyone?” Joe made a point of glancing over at Reki and Miya had to restrain himself from chucking his fork at his face.

            “No, not everyone,” Miya smiled as he harshly stabbed one of his tomatoes and pointed it at Joe, “you smell like an ogre.”

            Joe’s grin fell as Cherry snorted at the jab. The two started their bickering, which was really just angry flirting. Miya tuned them out in favor of frowning at the tomato at the end of his fork. The mature thing to do would be to eat it, but he really didn’t want to do that. Surprisingly, Reki helped Miya out with his problem.

            By leaning right over and biting the tomato off his fork without any warning. Miya froze in surprise, eyes flickering between his now empty fork and a happily chewing Reki.

What just happened!?

“You shouldn’t take other people’s food,” Shadow chided.

“It’s okay. Miya doesn’t like tomatoes, right?” Reki beamed at him, but the younger teen was still processing that the redhead had just eaten off his fork, which meant that his mouth aka his lips had touched his silverware. In other words, indirect kiss opportunity.

Miya didn’t know if he was emotionally, physically, or spiritually ready for this. His green eyes pulled away from his fork to glance over at the latent omega, but Reki’s attention was already back to Langa.

“Why are you hiding your food Langa~? Afraid I’m going to steal it~?” Reki cackled while menacingly wiggling his fingers at his friend.

“N-no!” Langa stammered, using his body to shield his plate.

            Miya felt his mood plummet. Reki was being his usual oblivious self and had no self-awareness of what his actions did to the prime alpha.

            He was dangerous.

            The latent omega was a greater threat than a dragon or demon lord. His scent danced mesmerizingly around him like fireflies and Miya wanted to capture it all for himself to hoard.

            Totally unheroic.

            He adapted a look of indifference as he leaned closer to the older teen, using his fork to push the rest of his tomatoes off his plate and onto the redhead’s. Miya restrained himself from breathing deeply with his mouth and tried to slyly get a good whiff of Reki with a quiet sniff through his nose.

            Warm sunlight, fresh air, and the gentle smell of rain made Miya naturally smile though his brow creased in confusion at the other scents he was picking up on: Langa and…his?

            The prime omega’s scent wasn’t surprising. It was always lingering with Reki’s natural smell. They did hang out nearly every day. However, this was the first time Miya had been around him since the hospital.

            Why was his scent on Reki?

            “Miya, I’ll eat your tomatoes, but you need to eat the rest of your food,” Reki frowned at him before looking concerned, “do you feel sick?”

            Miya blinked as he was pulled from his thoughts, “Huh?”

            “You said everyone smelled gross.”

            “They do…though people I’m friends with smell better,” Miya quickly added, heart flip-flopping as Reki’s face lit up.

            “Oh! Then we should give you things with our scent on it,” Reki took off his red sweatband and Miya felt like he was a knight being handed a lady’s favor before a competition. “You guys should also give him—”

            “This is fine,” Miya interrupted, feeling his cheeks burn as Joe and Shadow smirked at him, “if I had a bunch of different things, it would just be a gross mixture of smells.” He slid the band on his wrist, managing to hold back a purr at the feeling of the material against his scent glands. Daylight and rain soaked his skin and Miya felt like his bones were made of clouds.

~oOo~

            “Now that you’ve presented your secondary gender, you can officially try out for the national team. Any increase in your daily training?”

            “What about training abroad?”

            “As a prime alpha, I bet the sponsors are just non-stop reaching out!”

            Miya smiled politely, fingers casually rubbing the red sweatband on his wrist.

            This was a mistake.

            He knew the indoor skatepark would have reporters that would want to interview him and take pictures. Miya knew, but still came because he knew being gone for too long would damage his image. Besides, he had made sure to wear Reki’s sweatband to help keep himself grounded. Rubbing the band lightly against the glands on his wrist was both soothing and torturous. Yes, it let him get a whiff of the redhead’s scent, but it wasn’t even close to a proper substitute for having Reki’s actual wrist rubbing against his.

            Miya opened his mouth to start replying, but found his voice washed away as he inhaled a sun shower. Immediately, his head whipped around, green eyes searching and latching onto the individual who had just entered the skatepark. Gold eyes met his and Reki did that unfair bashful smile where he first rubs underneath his nose before the corners of his mouth shyly curl upwards. He then had the audacity to pair it with a wave. The combo attack had Miya’s knees nearly buckling.

            “I’ll be right back! I have to go do something real quick!” Miya blurted, running past the reporters before they replied. He grabbed Reki’s hand, yanking the older teen out of the park section and into the hallway where there was a little sitting area tucked away with vending machines.

            “Miya, if you don’t stop tugging my hand, it’s going to pop off.”

            “What are you doing here!?” Miya whirled around to face Reki.

            “Work, duh.” Reki pointed to the Dope Sketch logo on his pink shirt with a goofy grin. “We’re doing a promotional thing for the store where we come to the indoor skatepark and offer to tune up boards or upgrade wheels for free. Oka came the last few times, but he asked if I could do it today since he needed to finish an order.”

            “And Langa?” Miya peeked around Reki, expecting the prime omega to pop up. “Is he here?”

            “Nah, Langa doesn’t know enough about skateboards to help fix them. He’s back at the store.”

            “Hmmm, what a shame,” Miya fought to keep himself from grinning.

            “It is. He gets to miss seeing you look like a goody-two shoes,” Reki snickered as he flicked Miya’s helmet. Miya wanted to make a snarky remark, but Reki’s eyes were shimmering like golden leaves in the wind, and he just really wished he were tall enough to reply to the other teen’s comment by smooshing their faces together. He watched in a daze as Reki frowned at his lack of response before he suddenly dipped down to be at Miya’s eye level.

            Miya yelped in surprise at the sudden proximity. “W-what!?”

            If Reki was actually a mind reader, he was going to die.

            “You okay? You smell…stressed.”

            Did stressed mean bad? Did he smell bad!?”

            “I thought you sucked at smelling.” Miya snapped, instantly regretting his tone but thankfully Reki only rolled his eyes.

            “Miya, I thought we’ve established that I can smell you pretty clearly. When you’re stressed, you smell like a meteor—”

            How was that clear!?

            “—but not just any meteor,” Reki continued, straightening up so that he could drag his hand through the air in a downwards motion, “I’m talking about the meteor. The kind that murders dinosaurs,” he lightly thumped his fist against Miya’s helmet, “kaboom.”

            Miya snorted, “What the fuck Reki?” His laughter increased as the omega frowned at him.

            “Miya, you shouldn’t swear.”

            “Says the delinquent.”

            “I am not a delinquent!”

            “Oh, please,” Miya managed to tone his laughter down to snickering, “only a delinquent wears a hoodie under both your work and school uniform. I don’t even know how your school allows it. Did they just give up on you?”

            “No. They still chase Langa and I when we skateboard on the property.”

            “Skateboarding on school property? Such a troublemaker~” Miya smirked as he stepped closer to Reki, reaching up and tugging one of the strings of his hood. “Can you even last an hour not wearing this?”

            It wasn’t one of Miya’s best taunts, but it still worked. Reki’s eyes flashed at the challenge. “Fine!” He aggressively pulled up on the bottom of both his pink shirt and black hoodie, flashing bare stomach and hipbone.

            Stay frosty, Miya.

            “Shit!” Reki growled in frustration as he struggled to get his head out. Finally, he succeeded, and the redhead was standing there in just a white tank and denim jeans.

            Stay. Frosty.

            “Here!” Reki threw the black hoodie at Miya. “You hold onto that and give it back after an hour has passed.”

            That Reki thought he was actually going to get his hoodie back was adorable. It was now in Miya’s hands and even in death no one was going to take it from him. He clutched the garment tightly, burrowing his face into the material and breathing until his sinuses were tingling.

            If he wore the hoodie enough, would his skin become permanently saturated with Reki’s scent? The idea excited him. Practically had him bouncing in joy at the possibility of falling asleep in what would feel like a cocoon of sunlight and rain.

            That’s when the prime alpha realized why even now a hint of his own smell lingered in Reki’s. “You’ve been wearing my hoodie at home.”

            The latent omega had just finished putting back on his pink shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles of his uniform. His hands froze, gold snapping to meet green in shock. Red flared from his cheeks all the way to his ears and the sight made Miya’s heart spin like a kaleidoscope.

Chapter Text

“It feels like the universe closes in around us when you touch me.

But the moment is so fleeting and you are gone again.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

            Abort. Abort. Abort. Reki spun on his heel to run, but Miya was faster. He got in front of the redhead to cut him off, slamming his hand against the wall to make a barricade. The sound made Reki’s heart stutter, and he stumbled back a bit.

            He could still make it past. Miya wasn’t even close to physically blocking the entire path. Yet, the prime alpha’s scent was suddenly everywhere. Stardust tickled Reki’s bare skin and made him shiver.

            Miya was staring at Reki, waiting for a response and it made the older teen even more self-conscious of his currently burning face.

            “You’ve been wearing my hoodie at home.”

            It wasn’t a question. That was a statement, an accusation. Miya knew and the boy was wearing a shit eating grin because no amount of lying would save Reki’s ass. “I…I’ve been wearing it when I sleep,” he admitted, gripping the bottom of his shirt, and wishing he had his hoodie on. He felt too exposed and vulnerable. “It helps keep me calm…and safe” Reki addressed the last part to his shoes because at this point his shame and guilt were doing the tango in his stomach. He waited for Miya to laugh and make fun of him. Waited for him to be disgusted or angry.

            “Reki.”

            He was instantly swept up in the croon, feeling the low tone wrap around him like an embrace. The omega was pretty sure he’d never heard his name spoken in a way that made everything in him…glow? That seemed like a poor way of describing it, but he was struggling to find words and it didn’t help that when he glanced up from his shoes he was greeted by the sight of Miya in his hoodie.

            Both Reki’s brain and heart sputtered, the redhead losing his balance and falling back into a vending machine with a thud. He closed his eyes and, if not for the hard plastic against his back, Reki would have become lost in stars and green polar lights.

            His sense of self spinning, he dared to take another peek at the prime alpha wearing his hoodie. Miya’s pupils were dilated, irises a luminous halo of…adoration? Reki again found himself at a loss for words. Somehow the alpha’s cocky grin had shifted into a ridiculously dopey smile. “Reki~” He crooned once more in a tone so tender that Reki had to clutch his chest to double-check his heart was still properly functioning.

            “Please…no more saying my name like that,” he pleaded, the blush from his face now searing his whole body.

            Miya hummed, tilting his head and Reki prepared himself for the heart attack. “You’re wearing a sweatband.”

            “Y-yeah?” Reki was thrown off by the shift in topic, quickly frowning as Miya’s gaze locked onto his wrist. “Oh, no I am not letting you have this one. You already have one of my bands and my hoodie.”

            “Let’s swap.”

            “Swap what? Sweatbands? They look exactly the same.”

            “But I want that one~” Miya playfully whined, strolling forward so that he was in front of Reki. He took the red sweatband off his wrist while pouting up at the omega. “Please? I promise that in exchange I’ll do really awesome tricks out there.”

            Reki tried to keep his expression stern but that pout was sneaking past all his defenses. “Fine. We can swap my red sweatband for my other red sweatband.” He made a show of sliding his sweatband off and thrusting it towards Miya while yanking the other band out of the alpha’s hand. Reki slid the sweatband on his wrist with a dramatic snap, which was a big mistake because it was like crashing an entire galaxy against his scent glands. His knees buckled and if not for the vending machine he would have fallen to the ground.

            It didn’t help that after Miya put the sweatband on his wrist, he made a chuffing sound that made Reki forget how to breathe. “I’ll be keeping my promise,” the cocky grin was back as Miya began walking back towards the skatepark, “so make sure to keep your eyes on me.”

            “S-sorry but I’ll be too busy working!” Reki managed to counter, hating how breathless his voice sounded and how it only made Miya’s grin grow.

~oOo~

            Reki really tried to not pay attention to Miya and focus on work because that was what he was supposed to be doing. Plus, he didn’t want to give the other teen the satisfaction. However, he couldn’t help sneaking glances over at him because the sight of Miya in his hoodie made that weird glow buzz beneath his skin, and Reki had to keep pinching himself to stop what would definitely be an idiotic grin on his face. The grin escaped when he saw Miya perform a fakie beta flip; Reki naturally shooting to his feet in excitement. Green eyes shot over to meet his and the look of pride and joy on the prime alpha’s face made the redhead so giddy that he chirped.

            Reki slapped a hand over his mouth in horror and sat back down in his chair. He hoped that Miya was too far away to have heard him, but another glance at the teen cemented that hope was officially dead in the world. Miya’s cheeks were pink, and he averted his eyes from Reki.

            “I’m turning into a bird,” Reki groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Betas tended to be less vocal than alphas and omegas, so trilling and chirping was completely new territory for him. Thankfully, it was a lot easier now to focus on work and not look over at Miya.

            He became so engrossed that he nearly squeaked his soul out of his body when cold plastic was suddenly pressed against the back of his neck.

            “You shouldn’t keep your guard so down,” Miya took a seat beside him, holding a bottle of coke out to Reki.

            “I can take care of myself!”

            “Really? Who was it that got in a fight, hit by a car, and brought to a love hotel while they were unconscious?”

            “And I lived with barely a scratch, so there!” Reki snatched the bottle from Miya, aggressively twisting off the cap and taking a large swig. The carbonation burned going down and made him tear up. Miya chuckled and Reki glared, pushing the bottom of the bottle against the other teen’s cheek. “Here, take your sip before I drink it all to spite you.”

            Miya frowned, shoving at Reki’s arm. “What are you talking about?”

            “You only bought one coke. Aren’t we sharing it?”

            The alpha froze and Reki swore he could see him having some sort of internal conflict. “Yes…yes, I got it for us to share,” Miya spoke slowly as if unsure of his words. He took the bottle from Reki and set it on the table, staring at it like the soda might attack if provoked.

            Reki rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it a bit late to be scared of my germs? You’re wearing both my hoodie and sweatband.”

            “T-this is different!”

            “How?”

            Miya gaped at him in disbelief. “Are you messing with me!?”

            Reki was so confused, and it must have shown on his face because Miya made a small, frustrated growl.

            “I swear, you make marbles look sharp,” Miya grumbled, twisting the cap off, and taking a sip. His cheeks were weirdly pink, which made Reki even more confused. Was sharing a drink really that strange? He shared food and drinks all the time with his family and Langa.

            Maybe Miya was feeling uncomfortable because he knew Reki slept in his hoodie and he had heard the redhead chirp? Reki could understand that. His face felt warm just remembering the embarrassing slip and having Miya wearing his clothes while being so close made Reki’s pulse tap dance. Was this just something he’d have to live with now that he was an omega? Would his body naturally act weird for any prime alpha it decided he was compatible with!?

            He felt the beginning stirrings of panic and once again he felt exposed and vulnerable without the soft cocoon of a hoodie. “H-hey Miya, can I have my hoodie back now?”

            Miya frowned as he sniffed the air in Reki’s direction. “What’s wrong?”

            “Nothing! I’m just feeling a bit cold.” Reki looked away from Miya’s stare, super aware that the alpha was searching his face for answers. A loud thud on the table made Reki look back. Miya had brought his backpack up and was zipping it open, reaching inside and taking out a blue garment. Reki recognized it as the hoodie that Miya had worn at their beach trip.

            “Here, you can have this,” Miya placed the hoodie in Reki’s hands, and the redhead felt like he had an entire universe within his fingers.

            Immediately, Reki felt calmer. In fact, he felt downright giddy at the…gift? The latent omega fought the urge to bury his face in the cosmos and swallowed the trill squirming in his throat. “You know, Miya you don’t have to give me this.”

            “You said you were cold.”

            “I know, but I already have your other hoodie, which I’m planning on giving back,” Reki quickly clarified, self-aware that his cheeks and ears were growing hot. “I just don’t want you feeling obligated to give me things because my body decided you were someone I’m compatible with. You don’t have to feel guilty about me turning into an omega. I was always technically one.”

            The air quivered with the force of a meteor and Reki was stunned to have Miya glaring at him with a face that was bright red with embarrassment, disbelief, and frustration. “Compatibility works both ways,” he hissed, standing up and grabbing both his backpack and skateboard.

            “Excuse me?”

            “Use your brain and figure it out you slime!” Miya snapped, shooting Reki one last glare before leaving.

~oOo~

            “Reki, I know I told you we wanted to promote Dope Sketch, but this” Oka sheepishly motioned to the magazine spread that was on the counter, “was going a bit overboard.”

            Reki’s response was to hide his face behind his hands. Sport magazines were supposed to talk about sports, right? A skateboarding magazine should focus on skateboarding and skateboards, right? So, why, why was there a spread of pictures of him and Miya!? What reporter was paying enough attention to notice that Miya was wearing his black hoodie and that they had matching red sweatbands? Who snapped a photo of his reaction to the fakie beta flip? Why did they think that him and Miya sharing a soda was romantic and that the two of them were flirting!? Was smooshing a coke bottle into the side of someone’s face really seen as being coy and playful!?

            “Well, congratulations on being courted!”

            “What!?” Reki shrieked, looking through his fingertips at his manager, “I am not being courted. Miya is not actually courting me.”

            Oka’s brows pinched together as he frowned, pointing at Reki. “Aren’t you wearing the blue hoodie that Miya gave you?”

            It was comical how slowly the teen removed his hands to look down at himself, eyes widening in shock as he realized that Oka was right. That the hoodie he had grabbed blindly to put on while he was rushing to leave for work was Miya’s.

            He shrieked again because he apparently wasn’t only a bird but also a bat. “Kill me. Please.” Reki collapsed onto the counter, hiding his burning face against the cool wood. “Kill me and give my last paycheck to Langa.”

            Langa looked over from the helmets he was restocking, “How did you not notice that you smelled like Miya?”

            “Because I’m stupid, okay? I make marbles look sharp.”

            Blue eyes blinked in confusion. “What?”

            Oka turned to Langa with a smile, “Oh, it means—Reki!?” He gaped as the redhead suddenly leapt over the counter to hide.

            “Shhhhh! I’m not here!”

            The bell over the entrance clanged and Langa and Oka simultaneously understood why Reki had hid.

            “Do you guys ever get actual customers in here?”

            “It’s nice to see you again, Miya,” Oka’s easygoing smile was still going strong despite the teen’s snark. “Are you here to distract my workers or to buy something?”

            “I’m actually here to put in a custom order. I’d like to have a new board made. Specifically, by the idiot who somehow thinks I can’t smell him behind the counter.”

            Reki popped to his feet in excitement. “You want me to make you a new board!?”

            Miya’s eyes widened in surprise, face turning red as he noticed what Reki was wearing. The prime alpha was in Reki’s hoodie, but that didn’t matter. Right now, the redhead focused on a different topic. “Your original board was a custom build by one of your sponsors, right? Do you want one of a similar frame? Do you already have a design idea for the deck?”

            “Yes, yes, and…yes?” Miya awkwardly shuffled on his feet.

            “Reki, why don’t you have a sort of consultation meeting with Miya?” Oka suggested, “You two can go to that nearby ice cream place that has tables outside.”

            “Ice cream?” Langa’s face lit up before growing sad as Oka shook his head.

            “Sorry, Langa. You would be staying here.”

            Reki frowned in thought, “I think we can just do the meeting here. Miya is pretty careful on what he eats, so getting ice cream is—”

            “I’ll go!” Miya nearly yelled; his whole face red as he kept his eyes locked with Reki’s. “I’m supposed to eat more food now. Let’s go talk over ice cream.”

            Reki grinned, giving Langa a comforting pat on the head and promising that the two of them could go get ice cream another time. He quickly grabbed his sketchpad and bag before following Miya outside.

~oOo~

            “If I’d known you were going to pay for me, I’d have ordered a simple cone,” Reki remarked, bringing his dessert over to a table.

            “It’s fine. As long as you enjoy it, it’s fine.”

            “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” Reki grinned. His bowl of ice cream was s’mores flavored, so it had marshmallows, graham cracker chunks, chocolate, and sticks of pocky for extra garnish. It was exquisite. Miya had ordered a strawberry shortcake sundae and Reki really wanted to sneak a bite or two from it. However, he was on a consultation meeting to discuss Miya’s new board. He had to stay professional. So, he very calmly and professionally enjoyed a spoonful of his dessert before flipping to a new page on his sketchpad. “You said you already had an idea for the deck?”

            Miya stabbed one of his strawberries with his spoon, “I guess, though I’m fine with you turning it down.”

            “Why would I turn it down?” Reki smirked, “Is it something dirty?”

            The younger teen scowled, “Don’t make me regret asking for you instead of Oka.”

            “Fine, fine. I’ll be professional.” Reki schooled his features to be serious though he couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching. “So, what design do you have in mind?”

            Miya’s cheeks turned pink as he averted his gaze from Reki, “I’d…I’d like for you to draw how you perceive me.”

Chapter Text

“Your heart is the sun and its gravity

Pulls me closer to you each day.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

            Miya lost count of how many times his heart pounded in the silence that followed his words. He took a huge spoonful of his dessert and plunged it into his mouth, wincing as pain crackled through his head from the cold.

            “You want me to draw a portrait of you on your deck?”

            He should’ve known that Reki wouldn’t understand.

            Miya let out a long sigh, “No, Reki. I want you to draw how I smell because I thought you perceived my scent as starlight, but then you go and tell me that I also smell like a dinosaur murdering meteor.” He took another spoonful of ice cream and focused his eyes on the strawberry nestled on it, “I just…want to understand how you experience my scent.” Miya placed the spoon in his mouth, voice coming out as a mumble as he chewed the strawberry. “Do I actually smell good?”

            “Yes.”

            Reki’s response was so immediate that Miya almost dropped his spoon. The redhead met Miya’s gaze briefly before looking away, cheeks pink as he nibbled on one of his pocky sticks, “you smell good.”

            “I smell good,” Miya reiterated, feeling like he was about to float right off his chair with how giddy he was. “Can you elaborate on why?”

            Reki’s nose cutely scrunched, showing that he was mulling it over. “It’s not really the scent, but the experience of what your scent gives off.”

            “So, you like the experience of a meteor heading your way?” Miya smirked as Reki let out a loud groan.

            “The meteor is bad, obviously. It means you’re experiencing a negative emotion like stress or anger. I don’t want to experience that because it means you’re unhappy with either me or someone else.” Reki tugged up the collar of the blue hoodie he was wearing, giving it a sniff, and smiling as he closed his eyes. “I like your usual smell because it is…infinite.”

            “Infinite?” Miya echoed, voice a bit breathless because the hoodie Reki was sniffing was his and he could smell that Reki was getting happier. The atmosphere around them getting brighter as Reki’s smile grew.

            “It’s like I’m floating in space and there are stars as far as my eye can see. Starlight is everywhere and it’s nice and warm.” He cracked an eye open, and Miya felt like his heart was being yanked forward. The gold of Reki’s iris was a smoldering evening sun and the prime alpha had to fight not to launch himself at it.

            “I-I see,” Miya quickly ate some of his dessert. The flavor of strawberries was lost to him because all he could taste right now was sunlight and rain. At least the coldness of the ice cream helped sooth the heat prickling his skin. “So, I guess you can just draw a galaxy scene or something on my deck.”

            “But your scent isn’t just a galaxy,” Reki frowned, “there’s way more to it and I’m not even close to understanding it. Like what does it mean when everything is green?” The redhead mumbled the last part more to himself as he took a spoonful of his ice cream.

            “Green?”

            “Yeah, at the skatepark there was a moment where all I could see were stars and green lights. They reminded me of the northern lights,” Reki’s nose did that cute scrunch again. “You know, I’ve been wondering this for a while,” Miya felt the full weight of Reki’s gaze settle on him, “what do I smell like? And don’t you dare pull a Langa and say I smell like Reki.”

            Miya took another bite of his dessert, purposefully pressing one of the cold berries against the roof of his mouth to try to bring down the temperature of his cheeks. “A sun shower,” he admitted, “you smell like a sun shower.”

            “That’s when it rains while it is sunny out, right?” Reki tilted his head, “And you like the smell?”

            Um, Yes.

            “You are one of the better smelling slimes.”

            Reki rolled his eyes, “How flattering.” He took the other stick of pocky out of his ice cream but paused before taking a bite. “Oh, I guess that’s why you said we were compatible.”

            Miya swallowed his ice cream down the wrong hatch and nearly coughed up a lung. “W-what!?” He wheezed.

            “I sort of smell like sunshine, and you smell like stars and space. The sun is the center of a solar system. So, that means our scents don’t clash. Isn’t that what you meant when you said compatibility works both ways?”

            Yes? No? Had Miya meant it as a confession of his feelings? Who knows?

            “Sure, Reki. That’s what I meant,” he grumbled, cheeks burning hotter because there was no way he could correct the redhead when he was looking at him with that easygoing smile and shining eyes. “Should we also have more consultation meetings until you get a better grasp of my scent?”

            “Oh, that actually would be great,” Reki replied, and Miya had a feeling he just made things more complicated for himself.

~oOo~

            “I don’t think he has a clue that I’m courting him,” Miya groaned against the counter at Joe’s restaurant.

            “Even after an article was written about the two of you?” Joe asked, setting a plate of cake in front of both Miya and Shadow. The beta was in a similar position as Miya, slumped over the counter though for some reason he was dressed in a white suit and had a crumpled bouquet of flowers next to him.

            “At least you get to wear the idiot’s hoodie and sweatband,” Shadow sat up so he could stab his cake, “you should feel grateful.”

            Joe leaned across the counter to whisper at Miya, “he found out that his manager was in a relationship just before he was about to confess.”

            “Ah.” Miya sat up so he could eat. He knew he shouldn’t, but right now he needed this cake on a spiritual level. “I haven’t talked to him about the article, but I did hire him to make a board for me.”

            Joe raised a brow, “what do you mean by hire? You didn’t just ask him?”

            “I decided to go through his work to help promote Dope Sketch and I thought he deserved to get paid to make my board. Plus, I thought it’d be too forward to just ask him to make me a board like he did for Langa,” Miya admitted, shoving a forkful of cake into his mouth.

            Shadow snorted while Joe shook his head and sighed with an annoying mixture of pity and disappointment, “Oh, Casanova you really have a lot to learn.”

            “You know what, I really don’t want to hear that from you. Have you and Cherry even officially started dating?” Miya quickly moved his cake from Joe’s reach. “I’m sorry. Please don’t take my cake away. I really need it.”

            “What I need is to kick someone’s ass in a beef!” Shadow slammed his hands on the counter. “I feel like I haven’t been to S in forever. I need to show everyone that Shadow is back and even better than before!”

            “It does feel like it’s been a while since the whole gang has made an appearance,” Joe agreed, “Adam hasn’t showed since Miya broke his nose, so S has been pretty quiet—”

            “Too quiet!” Shadow slammed his hands again on the counter though he bowed his head sheepishly at the glare Joe fixed him. “S-sorry! I’ll stop and eat more of this delicious cake you so graciously fixed me.”

            “Thank you.” Joe’s russet gaze shifted over to Miya and he knew the alpha was plotting something. “Though, I guess we can’t have you show up without your signature hoodie. Reki still has it, right?”

            “I could just ask him to bring it with him when he and Langa show up.”

            “Sure, you could do that,” Joe shrugged, “or you could ask to pick it up at his place after school and make a good impression with his family. You haven’t met them yet.”

            Oh.

            “I…I could do that. Yeah, that’s actually not a bad idea.”

            Joe narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Miya, “And why do you sound surprised at that? I’m practically bursting with good ideas.”

            “I’m just surprised that I didn’t think of it,” Miya replied honestly, lips turning up into a smile at the idea of meeting Reki’s family.

~oOo~

            He still had time to turn back.

            Sure, Miya might already be standing in front of Reki’s front door, but he hadn’t yet pressed the doorbell, knocked, or sent a text to the redhead that he’d arrived. He could just turn around right now and say he’d missed his bus stop.

            The front door slid open without warning, making Miya jump. Three pairs of honey brown eyes fixed on him.

            “How long were you planning on standing outside?” The oldest of the girls asked and if Miya remembered correctly her name was Koyomi and the twins peeking from around her legs were Nanaka and Chihiro.

            “Um—”

            “Reki!” The twins both exclaimed, pointing at the red sweatband on Miya’s wrist and Koyomi’s eyes immediately lasered in on it.

            “Hmmmmm,” Koyomi hummed, lips tugging up into a small smirk before she turned over her shoulder and yelled, “Mom! Reki’s boyfriend is here!”

            Quick! How does one stop their face from spontaneously combusting?

            “Oh! The one from the article you showed me!” Masae Kyan came into view, eyes shining in a way that reminded Miya of Reki. “That school uniform is from a private school, isn’t it? How exciting! Come right in, I’ll fix some snacks. Girls, go get your brother.”

            Miya took off his shoes, seeing Koyomi whisper to the twins, “Go tell Reki his boyfriend is here,” before the two scurried off as the eldest sister snickered.

            “I must say, Reki has been frustrating about this. I thought he was being courted when he started wearing your hoodies, but he kept denying it.”

            “You mean shrieking about it like a pterodactyl,” Koyomi sighed, “I thought my eardrums were going to explode.”

            “I honestly don’t think he knows I’m courting him,” Miya admitted, feeling relaxed at the cozy sunshine smell of the Kyan house.

            “Oh, dear. He must get that from my side of the family. I was the same way when it came to his father,” Masae led him to a table where a kind old woman was sitting and drinking tea, “and weren’t you like that as well, mom?”

            Grandma shook her head, “I knew what I was doing.”

            “Oh! So, it came from my dad’s side.”

            Miya was about to sit when there was a loud crashing sound followed by frantic footsteps. Reki barreled into the room, face matching his hair in color. “What are you doing!?”

            Miya raised a brow, “sitting down?”

            “You were supposed to meet me at my workshop!”

            “How was I supposed to know that? You didn’t text me that.”

            “You…it was implied!”

            “This is my first time at your house. I don’t even know where your workshop is!”

            Reki let out a frustrated groan, grabbing Miya’s hand and pulling the younger teen towards the stairs. “We’ll be up in my room!”

            Heat pulsed from Miya’s hand to his chest. “W-what about your workshop?”

            “They know you’re here, so they’ll try every chance they get to spy on us. With three younger sisters, a mom, and a grandma the only chance you have at privacy is a room where you can lock the door.”

            Oh.

Chapter Text

“I have been a little off balance since the day I met you. This

 is because I had never known what it is like to be perfectly aligned.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

            “Did they say anything strange to you?”

            It took Miya a moment to realize that Reki had talked. The prime alpha was too busy looking over all the posters on Reki’s walls and scanning the books on the shelves, hungry to learn more about the omega.

            “Oi, Miya!”

            “What?”

            “Did my mom or Koyomi say anything…weird?”

            “Hmmm, not really,” Miya paused in front of Reki’s desk, looking over his shoulder at the redhead who was still standing in the doorframe of his bedroom. “Why? Was something weird said to you?”

            Red flared across Reki’s cheeks as his gaze immediately skittered away from Miya’s. “N-no!” He sputtered, making Miya smirk.

            Liar.

            “Is that a ramp outside your window?”

            “Yeah.”

            “And I’m supposed to believe your family doesn’t know you use it to sneak out at night?”

            “…You think they know?” Reki glared as Miya started laughing, “Hey, don’t laugh!” He finally stepped into his bedroom, sliding the door shut behind him, and twisting the lock. “I’m asking because I honestly don’t know.”

            “Maybe they’ve just given up and accepted your delinquent ways like your school.”         

            “Ha ha very funny, but I’ll have you know that I haven’t worn a hoodie since the last time you’ve seen me,” Reki puffed his chest out with pride, “I’ve matured.”

            That’s why something seemed off about the redhead. He wasn’t wearing a hoodie and was simply in his school uniform. Miya had been distracted by the Kyan family; head bouncing high up in the clouds after being called Reki’s boyfriend.

            “You’re right. I almost don’t recognize you.”

            “That’s the point. The hospital gave me the contact information for the other latent omega, and it turns out that she is actually a police inspector. We’ve gotten chased by the cops multiple times. I don’t want her to recognize me and arrest me on sight.”

            “What about your signature headband?” Miya was leaning against the desk, eyes bright with amusement as Reki’s hands naturally flew up to his head. “You don’t think she’ll recognize that?”

            “Y-you’re just trying to trick me into giving it to you!” Reki accused, protectively shielding his head with his arms. “You already have my sweatband and my black hoodie. The headband is off limits!”

            “Don’t worry. I don’t want your headband. I’d rather see it on someone who makes it look cute. I just want my hoodie,” right as the words left Miya’s mouth, he noticed the bright green garment. It was on Reki’s bed with all of the redhead’s hoodies and sweatshirts along with a sweater Miya recognized as Langa’s and an obi that he was sure belonged to Cherry.

            A nest.

            “T-they insisted I have them!” Reki’s face was bright red as he moved to shield the nest from Miya’s gaze. “Cherry actually wanted to give me one of his yukatas, but I told him that was too much.” He laughed nervously, gold eyes not meeting Miya. “I should’ve cleaned this up before you got here so you didn’t have to see this mess.” He reached down and took a hold of the green hoodie before pausing. Reki looked conflicted and confused, the omega clearly fighting some internal battle. He took a deep breath as if to steel himself and Miya swore he saw him grimace in pain as he yanked the garment from the bed.

            “Reki, if you want to keep it—”

            “It’s fine. I’m fine,” Reki smiled, but it was clearly strained as he held the garment out to Miya. “Here, take it. You need it for S.”

            He couldn’t care less about S right now.

            The real reason Reki wasn’t wearing a hoodie was because the omega was nesting and had instinctively gathered everything soft that brought him comfort to use as materials, which included the two hoodies from Miya. That would also explain why he had clothing from Langa and Cherry: his fellow omegas knew this would happen.

            Miya felt his heart ache as the scent of rain became more prevalent. Removing a piece of his nest was stressing Reki out, but the redhead was being too stubborn and stupid to admit it. The younger teen reached out, resting his hands gently on top of Reki’s. “Let’s have a consultation meeting.”

            Reki’s brows pinched together. “Okay. When?”

            “Right now.”

            “R-right now!?”

            “Yes.” Miya took his hoodie from Reki and put it on, keeping it unzipped before he plopped down on Reki’s floor. The tatami mats were warm from the sunlight pooling through the window. “Why are you still standing? You can’t sniff me from way up there.”

            Reki slowly sat down in front of Miya. “You want me to sniff you?”

            “Duh,” Miya rolled his eyes, “that’s what the consultation meetings are for. I want my new board, but first you have to understand my scent better.” He spread his arms out. “So come on. Sniff me!”

            Reki’s mouth twitched with a smile, “wow, you’re really impatient.” He scooted closer to Miya, leaning forward but pausing before placing his face in the other’s neck. “We haven’t done this since you presented. Are you su—ack!?” He yelped as Miya tugged him forward.

            “I’m impatient because you talk too much,” Miya grumbled, wrapping his arms around Reki to keep him close though it wasn’t necessary. The redhead practically melted into Miya; face buried in the crook of the alpha’s neck. Sunshine filled Miya’s lungs and made him smile. “There we go~” He crooned, turning his face into Reki’s hair, and chuffing at how insanely soft it was. However, his headband rubbed weirdly against Miya’s chin and he reached up to tug it off.

            “I knew you were going to try to trick me to get my headband,” Reki peeked up at Miya through his lashes and the alpha forgot that breathing was a thing; altitude sickness settling in because right now his heart was up on a mountain too close to the sky.

            “Your scent…” Reki mumbled, irises smoldering with a drowsy warmth and without warning he pressed into Miya with enough force to topple the smaller teen over.

            “R-Reki!” Miya squawked in surprise as the omega settled on top of him, nuzzling his face against Miya’s chest.

            “What emotion are you feeling?”

            “W-why?”

            “Because those green lights are back, and it smells so good that I feel like my mind is spinning~” Reki purred.

            Oh, Miya knew all about spinning. His thoughts were constantly revolving around a certain omega who had no idea that he currently had a poor prime alpha caught in an orbit around his little pinkie.

            “Miyaaaaaa answer the question,” Reki whined, lifting his head, and resting his chin on Miya’s chest so his pout was on full display. “What are you feeling?”

            Adoration. Love.

            “Happy,” Miya answered weakly, “like super happy.” He lifted his hands up to card them through Reki’s hair, “What about you?”

            “Happy. No, wait. Maybe more like…. content?” Reki leaned into Miya’s touch, “How do I smell?”

            Fucking amazing.

            “L-like sunshine but a little sweeter than usual,” Miya’s voice trembled because right now it felt like he’d injected caffeine directly into his veins. Reki’s scent was making him both excited and anxious. Instinctively, Miya brushed his wrists against the back of Reki’s ears because the omega smelled too good. He needed to hide it under his own scent.

            Reki made a sound in the back of his throat that was a mixture of a purr and trill before he hid his face into Miya’s chest. The alpha immediately froze, afraid he had overstepped because without asking he’d started scenting the omega.

            “Reki, I’m sorry I—”

            “Don’t stop,” Reki’s breath seeped through Miya’s clothes so that he felt more than heard the omega’s words, “if…you’d like…my neck…” It was muffled but Miya got the message: Reki was giving him permission to rub his scent into his skin.

            A pleased rumble vibrated through Miya as he gently began rubbing his wrists along Reki’s neck and glands, mixing their scents.

            Mine.

            The center of his universe was pressed to his chest and Miya felt complete.

            But how did Reki feel?

            As long as he had the redhead in his arms, Miya didn’t mind spending the rest of his days laying on the tatami mats of Reki’s bedroom floor. However, Reki still hadn’t lifted his face from Miya’s chest. “Reki?” He murmured, not getting a response. “Reki~” He tried again, this time crooning.

            A shiver quaked through Reki, face lifting enough to peek at Miya with eyes that were scorching. Miya’s throat went dry as Reki met his gaze in silence before gold seared down to focus on the alpha’s mouth.           

            And that’s when he felt time slow.

            His senses became hyper focused on Reki. The redhead began moving forward and Miya found himself captivated by the way sunlight played with all the angles and curves that made up the miracle he so desperately hoped was leaning up to kiss him.

            “Reki!” Koyomi yelled from outside the bedroom door, causing Miya and Reki to bump foreheads in shock. “Reki my arms are full so open your door if you want snacks!”

            “C-coming!” Reki scrambled to his feet, hand pressed to his forehead as he made his way to his door. He unlocked it and slid it open, revealing a frowning younger sister.

            “What took you so long? And what happened to your forehead?”

            “I hit it.”

            “Hard enough to knock your headband off?”

            “What?” Reki blinked in confusion.

            “We had a bet on whether I could snatch his headband off,” Miya smoothly came to the rescue, walking over to the doorway with the headband in his hand and a smile on his face. “As you can see, I won.”

            “Hmmm,” Koyomi’s eyes narrowed as she looked between the two of them with suspicion, “and you ended up bonking foreheads in the process?”

            “Yep. Right, Reki?” Miya looked to the redhead to signal to him to play along but instead found himself the focus of shocked wide eyes. “W-what?”

            “When did you grow!?”

            “Huh?”

            “You…you’re taller than Koyomi,” Reki frowned as his gaze whipped back and forth between his sister and Miya. “I could’ve sworn you were shorter or at most the same height as her.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Miya took the tray from Koyomi: it held cake and tea. The prime alpha had eaten a ridiculous amount of dessert since presenting, but if it was already making him grow taller, he didn’t mind eating even more.

~oOo~

As soon as Miya arrived at S, he knew he had to get to Reki. Not only could he hear the redhead arguing, but the alluring sweetness of his scent had gotten worse.

“I don’t want to go home. I want to see the end of Shadow’s beef!”

“Reki,” Cherry’s tone was stern as he addressed the redhead, “anyone can tell by your scent—”

“It doesn’t smell sweet to me,” Reki brought his wrist up to his face, “I just smell myself and Miya.”

“His scent is the only thing keeping others away,” Langa’s voice actually held the edge of a growl, the prime omega frustrated at Reki’s lack of understanding, “but if you go full on into your heat—”

“I’m not! I feel fine!” Reki snapped, though his annoyance immediately disappeared as he spotted Miya. “Miya!” He beamed, running to the alpha and Miya had to quickly force his skateboard to a stop to prevent crashing.

“Reki, what are you….” The words died in his throat as Reki embraced him.

Wow.

“Miya, you have to help me. The others keep bullying me to leave,” Reki whined, nuzzling the alpha’s neck, “I don’t smell different, do I?”

“You do smell sweeter.”

“So?”

“And you’re acting…different.”

Reki pulled away a bit to pout at Miya. “How?”

Miya raised a brow, “you really need to ask?”

“Duh! That’s why I’m asking!” Reki glared at Miya, but with his flushed face and pout it really only made him even more adorable. Miya couldn’t stop himself from embracing Reki tightly, pressing his face into the omega’s chest. Reki’s heartbeat thrummed through him and Miya felt his own give chase to match it in rhythm.

“Casanova—” Joe’s voice drifted in from somewhere and without thinking Miya whipped his head out to snap his jaws in the alpha’s general direction. Thankfully, Joe was standing a few feet away, holding his hands up to demonstrate he wasn’t a threat. “Miya,” he began again, “you need to convince Reki to leave. Do you really want to share how good he smells with others?”

Of course not.

“Reki,” Miya started, letting out a surprised yelp as Reki forcefully tugged up on Miya’s hoodie. “W-what are you doing!?”

“I want your hoodie. Give it back to me.”

“Okay, okay. You could’ve asked instead of trying to strip me,” Miya huffed as he removed his hoodie, laughing as Reki immediately snatched it from his hands and put it on. “You really don’t see that you’re acting different?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Reki mumbled as he even put the cat-eared hood up after zipping the garment closed. He made a happy chirp before holding his arms out to Miya and the prime alpha immediately went into the embrace. They held onto each other and simply breathed in sync.

Mine.

“Miya,” Reki’s voice was soft against his neck, “do you really want me to leave?”

The shorter teen tightened his hold on Reki, taking a deep inhale of intoxicatingly sweet sunshine to brace himself. “Reki,” he pulled back enough to cup the omega’s face, “would you want others to see the one you’re courting at their most vulnerable?”

Gold eyes blinked slowly as Reki tried to process Miya’s words and that’s when he made his move, yanking Reki’s headband down to cover his eyes. “Langa, grab him!” He yelled, shoving Reki backwards.

The bluenette immediately ran forward, scooping Reki up into his arms. “L-Langa put me down!” Reki struggled in Langa’s hold, reaching his hand out blindly. “Miya!” He cried out as he was carried away, “Miya!”

Miya’s nails dug into his palms as he fought the urge to reclaim his core.

Chapter Text

“Don’t you understand? I dreamed of love

and it gave me too many sleepless nights. And now sometimes

 I reach so far into the sky I wake up and I am not even in my bed.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

            In a dream, the night sky was a bottomless sea impossible to explore with only a snorkel. So, Reki kept to the shallows of his own solar system and swam lazily between the planets. Ripples from his flippers made moons bob about like jellyfish and the rings of Saturn swayed to and fro in the current.

            Stars shimmered from the fathoms and seemed close enough to reach. Reki stopped paying attention to his surroundings as he stretched his fingers out to the star that shone the brightest, not noticing that he was drifting into the asteroid belt until one clipped the side of his head and sent his snorkel spinning along with his vision.

            Space dust filled his lungs and he flailed. The Earth was too far, and he’d never make it in time. Drowning seemed inevitable.

            From the deep came a streak of iridescent green as someone weaved between the constellations. Polar lights were left in the wake of the powerful strokes of the merman’s tail as he sped towards Reki.

            And with no hesitation the redhead held his arms out, comets trailing from his mouth like bubbles as the collision between them caused them to momentarily spin. In that moment, Reki forgot that he couldn’t breathe. He pressed his face into black hair that glittered with starlight and inhaled, infinity burning through him.

            Reki whined as he was gently pushed away, desperately leaning into the hands that cradled his face. Green eyes gazed at him in adoration and comets spiraled from the merman’s lips as he spoke. The words were too muddled to make out, but Reki felt that glow begin to light up from beneath his skin. He yearned to know what the merman was saying and wondered if maybe feeling the words form against his lips would help him understand. Reki dipped his head down to make a dive for the merman’s mouth.

~oOo~

            He woke up coughing at the taste of cotton in his mouth, blinking in confusion at the blue hoodie in front of his face before letting out a frustrated whine because he’d done it again. For nearly a week, Reki kept having the same dream and waking up at the same moment with Miya’s blue hoodie in his mouth.

            “Reki?” Langa sleepily sat up from the futon on Reki’s floor. “You okay?”

            “N-no,” Reki sniffled, “I keep trying to eat Miya’s hoodie.” The redhead fussed with his nest because suddenly none of it looked right and it made him feel like a failure. “I’m a pathetic mess.”

            “No, you’re just hormonal,” Langa spoke softly, his gentle and calming scent filling the room. Reki immediately felt calmer at the presence of the prime omega, settling back down on his bed with Miya’s hoodie clutched tightly to his chest. Langa brushed the hair from Reki’s face before cupping his cheek. “Feeling better?”

            Reki wanted to say yes. That the coolness of Langa’s hand felt nice against his hot skin. Instead, he started to sob because the heartline pressing against his cheek was made of moonlight instead of stars.

~oOo~

          “Langa,” Reki started as the prime omega returned to his bedroom with a bowl of porridge, “How did I get this?”

          “Get what?”

          “This,” Reki tugged on the collar of the green cat-eared hoodie he was wearing, “I gave this back to Miya, so how did I get it? Did he drop it off?”

          Langa froze, staring at Reki with wide eyes, “You don’t remember?”

          “Why else would I be asking?” Reki frowned, watching as Langa’s brows knitted together in thought before the prime omega started moving again, “I know we went to S, but I can’t figure out what happened there. Like, I don’t even know if Shadow won his beef.”

          “He won. Though we had to leave before that because you tried to strip Miya.”

          Reki nearly dropped the bowl of porridge he was handed. “What!?”

          “You wanted his hoodie back and tried to take it off of him,” Langa sighed as he sat down on the bed, “which is why I kept warning you to not go because I could tell you were starting your heat.”

          “I can never show my face at S.”

          “It’s okay. You were really cute. You kept clinging to Miya and whining that we were bullying you—”

          “Now I can never show my face to Miya.”

          “If it makes you feel better, your behavior actually triggered him into a rut and—” Langa was cut off by a spoonful of porridge being shoved in his mouth by a red faced Reki.

          “Stop, please. Have mercy on me.”

          “Only if you eat. Your mom made the porridge for you,” Langa replied after he swallowed, wrapping an arm around the redhead and gently pulling him so that he was leaning against his side, “it’s important to stay hydrated and to eat food during and after your heat to regain your strength.”

          “I don’t think I’ve seen you have a heat last as long as mine did.”

          “That’s because I take suppressants.”

          “Um, excuse me? When do I get my own drugs?”

          “Latent omegas have weird heats so I’m not sure if suppressants would work on you.”

          Reki frowned, “Well, that just sucks.”

          “Don’t worry. Having another omega close helps bring comfort,” Langa affectionately nuzzled the top of Reki’s head, “So, I’ll make sure to be there when you need me.” Reki hummed in acknowledgement as he brought some porridge into his mouth. “Though I understand if you’d rather have Miya with you.”

          And that’s how Reki nearly died: choking on homemade porridge because Langa apparently wanted to murder him. “W-why would you say that!?”

          “You kept calling for him and waking up sobbing because of a dream,” Langa answered, “something about drowning in space and Miya zooming to the rescue like Nyan Cat.”

          “Merman! He was a space merman!”

          “How does that make sense? Why would a merman be in space?”

          “It makes more sense than me trying to kiss Nyan Cat!” Reki shrieked, instantly regretting his words as blue eyes widened.

          “You didn’t mention anything about kissing Miya.”

          “Technically, I wake up before the kiss happens.”

          “Ah, which is why you kept crying.”

          “S-shut up!” Reki stuffed his face with porridge, refusing to look at Langa. “It’s just a dream. It doesn’t count.”

          “So, you don’t want to kiss Miya?”

          Reki didn’t respond because it was true. He didn’t want to kiss Miya; he needed to. Craved to ignite his lips against the prime alpha’s and see how hot the two of them could burn. It scared him, needing something so badly and not knowing if this all was due to him being an omega.

          Langa patiently waited for a response, watching as Reki swirled his spoon in his porridge and made little mountains that melted almost instantaneously. “…I don’t know if it’s actually me who wants to or just the omega part,” Reki mumbled, gold eyes full of uncertainty and shame as they met Langa’s. “It’s too confusing. I want to understand, but at the same time…I’m scared.”

          The spoon trembled in Reki’s hand and Langa gave him a gentle squeeze. “Do you want to talk to the other latent omega?”

          “The inspector? What if she arrests me on sight?”

          “Then I’ll come with you so we can go to jail together.”

          Reki sniffled, “thanks. That’s so sweet.”

~oOo~

          He stared at the coffee that he was too nervous to add sugar and creamer to because right now Reki truly felt like a slime and understood why Miya called him that. The two omegas he shared a table with were cool and radiant. Langa looked like a model in just his regular casual attire though, honestly, he’d make a paper bag look like Gucci while Kiriko Kamata was rocking a black formal suit with ease and somehow her lipstick still looked flawless while drinking coffee.

          Reki had tried to look nice. He’d comb his hair and left his headband and hoodies at home, wearing a nice dress shirt that he only recently found out he owned. His red sweatband was still on his wrist because when he tried taking it off it just led to a panic attack. However, Miya’s scent was faint on the material and made Reki remember with a painful ache in his chest that he hadn’t seen the alpha for over a week.

          “Reki,” Langa poked his shoulder, “you haven’t touched your cake.”

          “Huh?” Reki blinked dumbly down at the table. He wasn’t even aware that he’d gotten himself a slice of cake to go with the coffee that was way too bitter for him to drink. He glanced over at Langa’s spot to see that the prime omega had already inhaled whatever he’d ordered. “Oh, I’m not actually hungry. You can have it.”

          “You sure?” Langa asked, eyes lighting up as Reki slid his plate to him with a smile.

          “Yeah. Dig in.”

          “My best friend’s a prime omega as well,” Kiriko spoke up suddenly, “she’s also an inspector but had to stay back in Tokyo due to being on maternity leave.”

          Panic buzzed through Reki like static, “W-wait, I thought that the compatibility thing was only with a prime alpha. Are you saying that my friendship with Langa is due to me being a latent omega!?”

          Both Kiriko and Langa gave Reki a stunned look of disbelief, “Are you stupid?” They asked in sync.

          “N-no!? Y-Yes!? I don’t know!” Reki took a large gulp of his coffee and gagged at the taste.

          Violet eyes watched him fidget uncomfortably before Kiriko released a deep sigh, “Listen, I think you have this compatibility thing misunderstood which is the doctor’s fault because I was the same when I first presented as a latent omega. They explain it like your body decides on its own that a prime alpha is a good match and suddenly you’re thrown into an existential crisis.”

          She motioned her hand between Reki and Langa, “you naturally formed a pack bond with this prime omega because you both grew to love one another and decided that you wanted to stay in each other’s lives. Did he instinctively sense that you were actually an omega like him and decided to be your friend? Maybe. But you don’t form pack bonds with all of your friends.”

          Langa nodded in agreeance. “Reki’s the only one,” he looked to Reki with a smile, “We made a promise to skate with each other for infinity.”

          “L-Langa,” Reki’s voice wobbled as he felt tears gather in his eyes.

          “And the prime alpha you’re compatible with,” Kiriko fixed her gaze on Reki, “do you love him?”

          Reki felt his tears evaporate from the heat scorching his face. “I-I mean I don’t hate him. I care about him, but love is a very strong word and I love Langa but not like love in the sexy way. Not that I’m having sexy thoughts about the alpha—”

          “Wanting to kiss him doesn’t count as sexy thoughts?”

          “LANGA BE QUIET.”

          Muffled laughter came from Kiriko, her shoulders shaking as she covered her mouth with her hand. “S-sorry. I’m just getting flashbacks.”

          Reki fiddled with his sweatband, “Don’t worry. I’m used to my pain being a source of amusement. Did it take you long to solve your existential crisis?”

          “I dated the prime alpha for a few years.”

          Reki froze, “you broke up?”

          “We ended up drifting apart as our interests changed. It’s not just our instincts that determine compatibility. If that was the case, then your change would have been triggered at first meeting.”

          “He hadn’t presented yet.”

          “Prime alphas are born prime alphas. It’s latent omegas that are stuck in an unstable limbo state. If it was just up to our bodies, then you would’ve presented sooner instead of when you knew the alpha more. So, my advice is this,” Kiriko pointed to Reki, “be selfish.”

          Reki blinked, “Um, aren’t adults supposed to tell us to be unselfish?”

          “Be. Selfish,” Kiriko repeated sternly, “do what makes you happy and it will help you understand your own feelings because that’s something only you can do. Understand!?”

          “No?” Reki sat straight as the inspector fixed him with a glare. “I-I mean yes ma’am!”

          “Good,” Kiriko’s features relaxed into a gentle smile, “I’m glad you understand.”

~oOo~

          “Langa,” Reki started as he and Langa headed towards the train station from the café, “I don’t know if I understand.”

          Blue eyes looked up to the sky in thought, “I think you’re supposed to follow your heart and not care what others think about you.”

          “If I followed my heart right now, I would start skateboarding and not care that the sidewalk is full of people.”

          Langa’s mouth turned up into a smile, “should we?”

          Reki gasped, “it would be so rude and…”

          “Selfish?” Langa finished and Reki grinned. The two of them started getting their boards out of their bags when out of nowhere Reki felt his heart slam against his ribcage. He gasped and swayed on his feet, head whipping around as he let out a small whine. Langa immediately became concerned. “Reki, what’s wrong—Reki!?”

          He was running, leaving Langa and his stuff behind without an explanation or second glance because he knew that Miya was nearby. The prime alpha’s scent had been faint among all the other smells carried on the breeze, but just the hint of it had Reki drowning in a need that hurt. “Miya,” he wheezed as he weaved through the crowd of people, searching for green eyes and stardust. “Miya!”

          “Reki!”

          The sidewalk, buildings, and people dissolved into the Milky Way and Reki dove into where the cosmos was deepest, lips crash landing.

Chapter Text

“I feel messy and uneasy and I don’t understand how one

person with pretty eyes can destroy an empire inside me”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

          His blood pulsed through him as polar lights; skin buzzing as he embraced infinity. Reki’s eyes were close as starlight pressed against his lips soft and warm, and the redhead wondered in a haze how many constellations he could fit in his mouth.

          “Oh, my,” a female voice spoke and suddenly Reki found himself freefalling back to reality. City sounds surrounded him, and he felt the sidewalk hard beneath his feet along with a pair of lips against his and even before opening his eyes he realized what he had done.

          Reki leapt back, face burning. He racked his brain for some way to talk himself out of this awkward situation, but then Miya’s lashes fluttered open. His fingers moved slowly to his lips and Reki felt his breath catch as meteor showers seemed to spiral in the younger teen’s green irises. Reki’s hands ached to cradle the alpha’s face, however, he was frozen in horror. A woman was standing beside Miya and his stomach twisted with the suspicion that not only had he kissed Miya in front of a bunch of strangers but also in front of the alpha’s mother.

          “R-Reki,” Langa wheezed as he ran over to them, carrying both his and Reki’s belongings, “You could’ve at least told me you smelled Miya before abandoning me.”

          “I-I didn’t abandon you,” Reki sheepishly laughed, rubbing the back of his head, “I knew you’d be right behind me.”

          Langa narrowed his eyes at the redhead, gaze taking in the omega’s jittery energy and then sliding over to take in how Miya was still staring at Reki. “…Reki, what did you do?”

          “Nothing! Stop looking at me like that!”

          “Miya, this is the one from the article, right?” The woman spoke up, “the one you are courting?”

          That seemed to snap Miya out of his dazed state, his face turning redder than Reki’s hair. He opened his mouth and stumbled over his words, his hand flying to his own wrist to grip the red sweatband there. The accessory didn’t go with the nice dress clothes Miya was wearing, but to Reki it was super endearing.

          Reki cleared his throat, “ah, actually that article—”

          “Yes,” Miya interrupted softly before inhaling, “Yes! This is Reki!” He exclaimed, grabbing Reki’s hand as he met his mother’s gaze. “And I am courting him!”

          What. What? What!? What!?

          “Oh, good. I was hoping it was him after he ran at you so enthusiastically with a kiss,” she laughed good-naturedly, and Reki wanted to go find some nice hole to crawl into so that Langa could no longer stare at him in judgmental silence. Thankfully, the bluenette became the focus of Miya’s mom. “And you must be Langa! You came from Canada?”

          “Ah, yes.” Langa answered, shifting awkwardly on his feet. The prime omega wasn’t good with new people and usually Reki would be the one to engage with his energetic personality. He naturally moved slightly behind the redhead. “I am from Canada.”

          “Miya will be heading over to that side of the world to finish up this year of school,” Saki Chinen said with a smile and Reki felt a coldness stir in his stomach, “we were just having lunch with one of his sponsors and they are going to pay to have him go to California to be mentor—”

          “Nothing has been decided!” Miya yelled, his grip tightening on Reki’s hand as he gazed up at the redhead, “I haven’t decided on whether I’d take them up on the offer.”

          Saki frowned, “Miya, this would help improve your skateboarding and your chance to get on the National team.”

          “I know. I know that, but…” Miya’s voice trailed off, his face red. He stared at their joined hands and in that moment of silence Reki made the realization: he was the reason Miya was uncertain.

          Reki gave Miya’s hand a squeeze, “Miya—ack!?” He made a squawking sound as he was suddenly dragged away from Langa and Miya’s mom.

          “Reki and I are going to catch up at the park nearby!” Miya declared, “Langa, answer all my mom’s questions about Canada!”

          “Eh!?” Langa exclaimed, but Miya continued pulling Reki away, completely undeterred.

~oOo~

          After swapping sweatbands, Reki and Miya went on top of the playset at the park: Reki sitting in the entrance of the indigo tube slide while Miya sat across from him. A silence had settled between them and, surprisingly, they had the playground to themselves.

          Reki’s tongue was awkwardly heavy from all the topics he could use to start up the conversation: the kiss he gave Miya in front of the alpha’s mom, Miya courting him, Miya possibly going all the way to California. If not seeing the younger teen for over a week was painful, having him across the globe for months was going to be excruciating.

          “You’re not wearing your headband.”

          Reki looked up from his sweatband, which he had unconsciously been rubbing into his wrist glands. His cheeks instantly burned as he met Miya’s gaze briefly before looking away. “Y-yeah. Langa came with me to meet the other latent omega.”

          “So, your disguise worked, and you avoided getting arrested.”

          Miya’s comment made a smile twitch at the corner of Reki’s mouth though the redhead kept his eyes on his hands. “She was kinda stern, but really cool. Also, like, unfairly gorgeous.” He fiddled his thumbs, voice naturally lowering along with his confidence, “I felt a bit out of place sitting at a table with her and Langa.” Reki let out a small laugh, hating how hollow it sounded. “It made me understand why you’re always calling me a slime.”

          “What?”

          The tone in Miya’s voice immediately made Reki glance up. The alpha was looking at him in shock, mouth gaping. “Reki, do you not think you’re attractive!?”

          “I-I mean, I’ve been told I’m cute, but I think that’s due to my endearing and fun personality. Langa and the inspector are super model gorgeous.”

          “You’re more attractive than Langa.”

          Reki snorted, “Yeah, right. I’m aware of all the looks and whispers he gets. Plus, you don’t call him a slime.”

          “That’s because he’s clearly a dragon!”

          “A dragon,” Reki repeated, “So, let me get this straight. I’m supposed to believe that my lil old slimey self is more attractive than a dragon?”

          Miya glared at Reki with flushed cheeks, “If I thought you were actually a slime, I wouldn’t be courting you.”

          Reki glared back, “Then what am I? A golem? I still don’t see—”

          “You’re not a golem either!” Miya’s whole face was red as he floundered for words, “Y-you’re my…I-I mean…I think you’re—no I know you’re m-my…m-my…. fuck.” He cussed, crossing the space between the two of them and cupping the omega’s face.

          Reki felt heat shoot through him, igniting his skin. “M-Miya what are you—” Lips smooshed clumsily against his; soft and desperate for the omega to understand what Miya was having trouble putting into words. However, rational thoughts zinged around Reki’s head like comets. The only thing he could grasp was Miya’s shirt, and his hands pulled while the alpha pushed forward—

          Until they both toppled down the slide headfirst.

          Yells echoed in the slide, and they managed to stop their descent in the bend of the slide’s spiral by pressing their arms against the sides. They both panted from adrenaline, and Reki glared up at Miya, “Y-you dumbass! Who kisses someone at the entrance of the slide!?”

          “I don’t want to hear that from the person who stole my first kiss in front of my mom!” Miya hissed. They glared at each other in silence before laughing.

          Reki felt ridiculously giddy though he wasn’t sure if part of that was due to blood rushing to his head from being upside down. He grinned up at Miya who was trying his best to keep his back and arms pressed against the top of the tube to keep himself from tumbling forward. Streaks of sunlight slipped through the cracks of the indigo slide and fell along Miya’s hair, lashes, and the dopey smirk he had going on while he looked at Reki with what was clearly adoration. In that moment, a desire rocketed through Reki to make the prime alpha…his.

          Be. Selfish.

          Reki gulped, moving one of his arms up slowly to make sure he wouldn’t start sliding. He pressed his wrist against Miya’s neck and watched the teen’s lashes flutter. “Can I scent you?”

          “Y-yes,” Miya whispered, voice cracking.

          He gently began rubbing his wrist up and down Miya’s neck, a low rumble vibrating in the alpha’s chest. Miya’s hands pressed harder against the slide as he let out a frustrated growl. “I can’t move my wrist to scent you.”

          “That sounds like a you problem,” Reki teased before yelping. “Did you just bite me!?”

          “I only gave your finger a light nip,” Miya grumbled, pressing his mouth into Reki’s palm and the redhead didn’t know which was hotter: the alpha’s breath against his skin or how those green orbs were fixed on his face with such blatant longing. “What was I supposed to do when you were being so mean?”

          “Me? Mean? I think—”

          “Reki!” Langa’s voice echoed nearby, making Miya frown.

          “Did he only answer like three questions about Canada?”

          “To be fair, it was mean of you to leave him by himself with your mom,” Reki snickered at Miya’s eyeroll. “At least, we now have someone to help us not fall on our heads.”

          “I guess it’d be bad to have you mess up the few brain cells you do have—ow!” Miya winced as Reki lightly flicked his forehead.

          “You’re lucky I’m nice enough to not bite you for such a mean comment,” Reki stuck his tongue out before yelling. “LANGA! MIYA AND I ARE STUCK IN THE SLIDE AND NEED HELP!”

          It took a few minutes to make sure Langa was at the bottom of the slide and to help maneuver Miya and Reki out of the tube. Once Reki was safely standing on his feet, the prime omega dipped his face into the crook of his neck. “I can’t believe you abandoned me twice today,” he whined.

          “I’m sorry,” Reki ran his fingers soothingly through Langa’s hair. “Do you want me to treat you to something on our way home?”

          “Buying me food won’t make me automatically forgive you,” Langa mumbled.

          “So, you don’t want something?”

          “No, I do,” Langa replied, making Reki laugh though he paused as he felt Miya embrace him. The shorter teen peeked up at Reki, green eyes flickering over to where Reki was still playing with Langa’s hair. Reki raised a brow at the look of jealousy, but he chose not to comment. Instead, simply bringing his free hand down to run through black locks.

~oOo~

          Reki let out a frustrated groan, resting his forehead against his workshop table. He had the frame of Miya’s board all done, but still hadn’t made a finalized decision on what the designs would be for the top and bottom of the deck. The problem was that there was too much he wanted to include: stars, nebulas, solar systems, galaxies, polar lights, infinity. All his rough sketches ended up looking cluttered and tacky.

          “He wants the deck design to be how I perceive him,” Reki mumbled to himself, “so, should I just do what I want and not think about his aesthetic at all?” That just felt incredibly selfish, but he had been told to be selfish by a police inspector. He let out another groan, running his hands through his hair before grabbing his phone and calling Miya.

          “Hey, what’s up?” Miya asked, and Reki fidgeted on his stool as his heart raced at the sound of the other’s voice.

          “Um, nothing much. Just working on your board. I have the frame all done. Just having a bit of trouble with the deck design.”

          “Hmmm,” Miya hummed, “do you want to have another consultation meeting?”

          “W-we could do that,” Reki stammered as he felt his cheeks go hot, “or we maybe could go to the movies as a sort of date thingie—”

          There was a crash as it sounded like the phone was dropped, Miya crying out “S-shit!” which was followed by Miya’s mom yelling, “Miya no swearing!”

          There were shuffling sounds as Reki assumed Miya picked up his phone from the ground before running up some stairs and closing a door. “S-sorry about that,” Miya apologized, voice breathless, “um, did you say something about going to the movies?”

          “Yeah, as a sort of date, but it doesn’t have to be a date! It could just be a meeting.”

          “No! I want it to be a date!” Miya exclaimed, quickly clearing his throat. “I mean, I’m cool with going to the movies and having a date thingie.”

          Reki smiled, “Cool. I’ll text you some movie times.”

          “Okay. Um, text you later.” The call was ended, and Reki swore it felt like his heart was zooming around his chest at high speed.

Chapter Text

“I never expected you to get under my skin, but now your

name runs through my veins and I can’t help but let every

part of you in.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

          Reki’s face was buried in the crook of Miya’s neck, his hands gripping tightly onto the alpha’s clothes. The warmth of the omega’s breath on his skin and the feeling of the redhead’s soft hair rubbing the underside of his jaw usually would have Miya downright melting, if it wasn’t for the crunch of zombies getting their heads bashed in by skateboards putting a damper on the romantic mood.

          Plus, Reki was terrified.

          Miya could feel the other teen shaking. He knew Reki had a fear of ghosts but had gullibly believed the other when he said he was fine with zombie flicks.

          “Look! It’s a movie about skaters trying to survive a zombie apocalypse!” Reki had been literally bouncing on his feet in excitement in the theater as he motioned to the movie poster of Til Death Do We Skate, “And it even has Tony Hawk in it!”

          Miya admittedly didn’t spare a glance at the poster and was more focused that he could see Reki’s forehead. Reki was wearing Miya’s blue hoodie and donning his usual style of attire except for his headband, which meant that Reki had tried to look nicer for their date by doing his hair.

          He nearly chuffed right there in the middle of the theater at the realization.

          Reki whined as screams boomed from the screen and Miya couldn’t stand having the omega so distressed. “Reki, let’s leave.” He murmured into red locks and gold eyes peeked up at him.

          “B-but I want to know if Tony lives til the end.”

          Miya sighed, “Reki, Tony was bit in the beginning of the movie after sacrificing himself to save the others. Tony asked the skaters to kill him before he turned and gave the main character his skateboard. That’s what he is currently using to smash zombie brains with.”

          “What!?” Reki looked to the screen but immediately recoiled at the over-the-top gore.

          “There’s no point in staying when you aren’t watching it,” Miya took Reki’s hand as he stood, leading the redhead out of the dark movie box.

          “…I’m sorry,” Reki apologized, voice filled with guilt, “I’m the one who picked the movie and—”

          “You’re really going to apologize after I got to enjoy having you cling to me and bury your face in my neck?” Miya asked, enjoying the way Reki’s cheeks turned pink.

          “I-I was not clinging!” Reki’s blush deepened as Miya simply smirked at him. “S-stop staring at me with that face!”

          “What face? Can you clarify?”

          “Your stupid smug know-it-all face!”

          “Sounds like you’re admitting to clinging to me.”

          Reki huffed loudly, “You’re impossible. I don’t even know why I try.” He pulled his hand out of Miya’s. “I’m gonna head to the restroom. Hopefully, your personality will get better by the time I return.”

          “You sure you’re okay with going by yourself? What if—”

          “Don’t you dare finish that sentence with something ridiculous like what if zombies attack while I’m in the bathroom,” Reki glared, making shooing motions with his hands, “now go wait for me.”

          Miya rolled his eyes but was relieved that Reki seemed to be relaxing. The younger teen decided to wait outside the theater where it was less busy with people and less scent heavy. He leaned against the building, taking out his phone and sending a text to Reki to let him know he was waiting outside.

          “Chinen?”

          Miya looked up from his phone and felt his mood plummet.

          Classmates.

          He straightened himself and flashed his paparazzi winning smile. “Hello, nice to see all of you.”

          He had no idea what any of their names were.

          It was a group of five, and judging by their scents, three were omegas and two were betas. The one who had addressed him was beaming at him, and he was pretty certain that the omega was his class representative. “Are you about to go in to see a movie?”

          “Ah, no. I’m actually waiting for someone to come out.”

          “Really? Oh! That would explain why you have two skateboards with you,” She laughed, and Miya politely laughed along.

          “Yeah, sadly skating with two skateboards at the same time isn’t something I’ve mast…ered.” Miya’s speech slowed as a pair of arms embraced him from behind.

          “Miyaaaaa,” Reki’s breath bathed his ear, “I spent forever looking for you. Why didn’t you tell me you were waiting outside?”

          Miya wanted to say that he had sent Reki a text, but he was currently struggling to form words. The latent omega’s arms were snugly wrapped around his waist, chest pressing against Miya’s back, and the prime alpha felt like he was being engulfed in a solar flare.

          Sunshine was seeping through his skin, softening his bones, and making Miya downright drowsy because Reki’s scent was sending out a clear message: mine. My alpha.

          Gold eyes stared at Miya’s face in silence before flickering over to the younger teen’s classmates. Instinctively, his classmates took a step back to show respect. Reki blinked slowly, resting his chin on Miya’s shoulder, and as if nothing were wrong, his mouth spread into his friendly grin. “Hi! Do you go to Miya’s school?”

          The redhead and his classmates started chatting, but Miya couldn’t process a thing anyone was saying. His senses were all occupied by Reki, and he dazedly felt like he was floating in a pool of sunlight.

          “Miya? Hey, Miya!” Reki poked his cheek, “Your classmates left.”

          “They did?” Miya asked sleepily, making Reki laugh.

          “You didn’t even notice them leave? Now I feel better for not knowing what happened in the movie,” He smirked at the alpha, tugging on his hand. “Come on! Let’s get something to eat.”

~oOo~

          Miya sipped on his vanilla milkshake, eyes up on the sky. The night was clear except for a few clouds sticking close to the moon and the skate park had few lights, so stars were generously sprinkled across indigo. It was stunning, and the alpha still had no idea how he somehow smelled like that.

          Well, except for right now because he currently couldn’t smell his own scent.

          The scent of sunshine was still strong on his clothes and skin from Reki’s possessive embrace at the movie theater. It made Miya both giddy and a bit bashful. He really, really wanted to look at Reki but the two had yet to speak after crawling up on the top of the ramp to drink their shakes and eat their fast food. Miya lightly swung his feet, heels thudding against the wood of the ramp. He took another couple of sips from his shake before slyly glancing to the side.

          Reki’s eyes widened as their gazes locked, the redhead’s face flushing at being caught staring. The omega looked away, fiddling with his strawberry shake. “I’m sorry.”

          Miya blinked in surprise at the apology. “I already said that I was fine with the movie and having to leave early.”

          “I know, but I still feel bad. We didn’t get to stay for the whole movie and now we’re just eating fast food at the skate park we go to all the time.” Reki’s shoulders slumped, “After giving you a shitty first kiss I wanted to make sure that the date—”

          “Who said that my first kiss was shitty? It definitely wasn’t me.”

          Reki glanced over at him, “it was in front of your mom.”

          “So?” Miya turned so he was fully facing the other teen, “Reki, you could’ve given me my first kiss in a dumpster, and it still would have been perfect.”

          Reki raised a brow, “you really want to be kissed in a dumpster?”

          “I mean I’d prefer to not be kissed in a dumpster, but if the choice was whether to be kissed in a dumpster or to not be kissed at all,” Miya felt his cheeks burn, “I’d pick getting kissed.”

          “I-I see,” Reki’s cheeks were pink as he took a sip of his shake, “it was my first kiss too.”

          “Your first kiss wasn’t with Langa!?”

          Reki nearly choked on his shake, coughing, and gazing at Miya like he was crazy. “Why would you think that!?”

          “Um, how could I not? You’re always together and giving each other these looks.”

          “He’s my best friend and we love each other, but not romantically,” Reki stated it like it should be super obvious, which just made Miya pout.

          “…The two of you still could have been a bit less affectionate,” Miya grumbled, “I don’t like feeling jealous of a dragon.”

          Reki’s brows bunched together as he tilted his head in thought, “wait, is that why you always looked like you were asking Langa for permission before cuddling me? But that was before you presented…”

          “I told you that you were more attractive than Langa,” Miya could feel his blush spreading to his ears and down his neck, “did you think I only started thinking that after I presented as a prime alpha?”

          “Maybe?”

          Miya groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Reki’s obliviousness was too much. “Please tell me you do actually understand that I am courting you.”

          “I’m not that stupid.”

          “And that me courting you means that I want to date you and eventually form a bond with you?”

          “Y-yes.”

          The embarrassed squeak that came out of Reki’s mouth made Miya look. The redhead was hiding his face behind his hand. Miya swallowed, heart yammering in his chest. “I-I’ve always thought you were cuter than Langa,” he admitted, “and I was jealous that he got to have someone like you at his side.”

          “Is that why you wanted me to be your dog if you had won in that beef!?”

          Miya’s face was officially on fire. “P-please wipe that from your memory and forget that I ever said that.” He whined as Reki started to laugh, “Reki, please. I’m already haunted by that memory and have trouble sleeping because of it.”

          “Gosh, and you were close to Adam then. Now I’m scared to know what you would have done if you had won and I had become your dog.” Reki smirked at Miya and the alpha didn’t know how to successfully retaliate with words. So, he started to throw his fries at Reki. “Hey! Cut it out! That’s a waste of food!”

          “You’re just upset because you already ate your fries and have no ammo!” Miya shot back before yelping as Reki lunged at him. They wrestled for a bit, but Reki had the unfair advantage with his longer limbs. He easily pinned Miya on his back and grinned down at the alpha in triumph.

          Miya felt his heart stop.

          Light from the streetlamp was casting Reki in a glow, the stars resembling sparks dancing around his head. He gazed at Miya with such an adorable playful expression and gold eyes that were so wonderfully warm and…

          “Breathtaking,” Miya whispered in awe.

          “W-w-what?” Reki’s face turned bright red and he sat up too quickly, teetering. Miya grabbed Reki’s hips and kept the redhead from toppling down the ramp.

          “Wasn’t falling headfirst down a slide enough of a thrill for you?” Miya asked as he sat up as well, keeping Reki securely in his lap with a gentle hold on his hips. Reki was gripping Miya’s shoulders as he looked down the ramp he almost toppled off. Miya’s comment made him look back at the alpha with a frown.

          “You said that like the slide incident was my fault.”

          “Technically it was. You wouldn’t believe me when I said you were more attractive than Langa and I was forced to kiss you to try to make you understand.”

          “So, sorry for inconveniencing you. Sounds like I really made you suffer,” Reki remarked, sarcasm practically dripping from the mouth Miya couldn’t help staring at.

          “It was practically torture,” Miya replied, voice naturally lowering to an affectionate rumble at having Reki so close.

          Reki’s cheeks flared red, and his grip tightened on Miya’s shoulders. “I-I also think you’re more attractive than Langa…especially your eyes.” The omega mumbled in embarrassment, “…though I guess the rest of you is okay as well.”

          How much love could the heart experience before imploding?

          “Just okay?” Miya gently nuzzled underneath Reki’s chin, trailing his lips lightly up the side of the omega’s face.

          Reki made that sweet sound in the back of his throat that was a cross between a purr and trill, eyes closing as Miya pressed a kiss to his forehead. “M-Miya,” one of Reki’s hands moved down to take a hold of Miya’s, bringing it up to press the alpha’s wrist to his neck. Reki’s face was flushed as he opened his eyes to meet Miya’s green. “Please?”

          There was no way Miya could refuse.

          He rubbed his scent into Reki’s skin, crooning the omega’s name as he felt the other’s wrist move to his neck. It didn’t take long for their lips to meet, tender and languid. As Miya’s mouth filled with Reki’s breath, he wondered how he could possibly think about being away from the redhead for months when not seeing him for even a day was suffocating.

~oOo~

          Miya hummed as he leaned against the railing of the top floor of the indoor skate park. His interviews and photoshoot had gone well. He was getting used to zoning out the scent of others though it helped that his skin held the aroma of sunshine and rain. Miya felt his lips tug up into a dopey grin as he thought about Reki and their first date. They had scented each other and kissed. Plus, Reki had told him he found him attractive.

          His courting was going well.

          He pulled his phone out, thinking about sending Joe a text and asking for date ideas.

          “Careful there. I can smell your happiness from here~” A familiar croon raked up Miya’s spine, and he felt the thick overwhelming scent of apples heavy against his skin. Miya’s eyes shot over and met bright gleaming red.

          Adam.

          Fury dropped in the pit of Miya’s stomach hot and merciless.

Chapter Text

“When they look back at you,

they see an entire universe;

you are a body of art,

you are a map of galaxies,

you are every flower,

lovely from the start.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

                        It would be romantic to say that when Miya presented as a prime alpha it was because fate decided that Reki was indeed his soulmate or maybe the stars finally aligned just right to reveal that the redhead he was hopelessly in love with was his destiny.

          That would be a lie.

          His panic at watching Reki having his beef with Adam gradually turned into anger as both Joe and Langa seemed to be perfectly fine with watching Reki get beat up. The one he was most mad at was himself because he was aware of his small stature and how he had no chance against a prime alpha like Adam. He was a demon lord that was too powerful for a hero to win against. Only another demon lord stood a chance.

          And in fury Miya became one.

          Hearing Reki’s whimper as he clung onto Langa’s shirt made something inside of Miya crack and out of it spilled an anger that pulsed hot through his veins. Reki was hurt and in danger. His Reki was in danger from a prime alpha.

          The audacity.

          Head pounding with his heartbeat and the sudden rush of pheromones, Miya used Langa as a springboard to launch himself at Adam. He felt the crunch of cartilage against his kneecap as he made impact with Adam’s nose.

          It wasn’t enough.

          His teeth felt too big for his mouth, and he vibrated with the desire to use them to rip into Adam’s neck. Primal fight instincts were urging him to lunge at the prime alpha while he was weak and down on his knees. Tadashi had gotten in front of Adam to protect him, but the alpha’s warning growl at Miya sputtered weakly at the deep snarl that rumbled out of the teen’s throat.

          Miya could beat him.

          However, arms wrapped around him from behind and lifted him off the ground. Miya struggled and snarled, snapping his jaws towards Adam. He could only hear the harsh click of his teeth clacking together and that hot pounding in his head.

          “Miya.”

          The soft voice immediately made the fury he was boiling with cool. Green eyes moved away from Adam to settle on Reki. Gold met his and sunshine radiated from Reki sweet and gentle. Reki reached his hand out to Miya, and he felt his heart blossom with a tender warmth.

          Mine.

          Miya whined and stretched his hand out, aching to fill his arms with the redhead.

~oOo~

          The young prime alpha gripped the railing so tight that he was shocked the bones in his hand hadn’t cracked from the pressure. Fury was twisting his insides into something gross and slimey, and Miya knew that Adam was enjoying it.

          “Mr. Ainosuke,” Tadashi began, but Adam raised a hand to signal the alpha to be quiet.

          “Miya it feels like forever since we last talked. You were just a small little pup, but look at you,” Adam’s eyes swept up and down Miya’s form and Miya found it just as revolting as the croon in his voice, “you’ve already started to grow. A bit unsettling how fast the growth spurt happens after presenting, isn’t it? I completely understand—”

          “You don’t understand anything about me!” Miya growled, body shaking from restraint.

          Adam released a deep sigh as if he were legitimately hurt by Miya’s response, “Oh, no need for such a hostile tone. I’m just here to chat. It’s not often I get to talk with a fellow prime alpha. Especially with one that I actually respect. To think that you actually managed to break my nose…. Oh! Don’t worry,” Adam smiled as he pointed to his face, “it’s fine now. Thankfully, prime alphas like ourselves are fast healers.”

          “Respect? W-what a joke,” Miya was having trouble forming words with how his teeth were extending in response to Adam’s presence, “to r-respect someone requires maturity. Someone like you can only pathetically o-obsess over someone.”

          Adam’s eyes flashed, “careful there. You’re making it sound like you are nothing like me, but you are a prime alpha as well. You have your own Eve that you have to make yours, right? That redhead…oh, what was his name again? Reki?”

          “Don’t you dare say his name.”

          The command echoed in the building. If people weren’t aware of the hostility radiating from the upper floor, they were definitely attuned to it now, but Miya didn’t care. His lips were pulled back in a snarl as he felt everything in him get ready for a fight. He let go of the railing and prepared to pounce.

          He was stopped by a thunderstorm.

          Miya froze in shock as Reki suddenly appeared between the two prime alphas. The redhead stood protectively in front of Miya and fixed his eyes on Adam. Reki opened his mouth and released a warning hiss that was quick and sharp like lightning. Adam and Tadashi both flinched and took a step back.

          This was the first time Miya had smelled such anger from the omega. He was still too stunned to properly move, watching in a daze as Reki did another warning hiss before taking Miya’s hand and leading him away. Miya’s brain felt like it was in a fog, and he distantly realized that it was probably due to the fact that he was hyperventilating.

          The prime alpha’s body was in a fight mode, adrenaline shooting through him and making his senses too focused. Smells bombarded him. Sunlight from the sky made him wince at the harshness as he was pulled outside. Thankfully, Reki led him to the side of the building where there was shade.

          “Miya,” Reki finally spoke, rubbing his nose gently against Miya’s, “it’s okay.” He began placing light kisses over Miya’s face. “You’re okay~” Reki’s voice lilted sweet as a lullaby, “Miya~”

          Miya clung to Reki, whimpering at how pretty his name sounded coming from Reki’s mouth. The omega’s calming scent was easing through the anger that still clung to Miya, and the prime alpha’s knees wobbled. Reki carefully brought them down to the ground in a sitting position with Miya in his lap, pressing the younger teen’s face into his neck. He was sweetly singing Miya’s name as he ran his fingers through dark locks. Miya’s shaking lessened to slight trembling, but his teeth still felt too large and ached with the urge to bite. He nuzzled Reki’s neck desperately, taking large gulps of the omega’s scent. His vision swam, and just before passing out, his teeth sank down.

~oOo~

          The memory came to Miya in a dream. Reki, Miya, and Langa were coming out of the convenience store: the two high schoolers both with popsicles while Miya had gotten a protein drink from the cooler. Langa’s popsicle had fallen right off the stick as soon as he opened the wrapper, and Miya swore the bluenette looked like he had been told the world was ending.

          “Want to share mine?” Reki asked, and Miya was quick to answer before Langa could.

          “Here. I have leftover money. Just buy another one,” Miya snapped, shoving all the money he had in his pocket in Langa’s hand. “Don’t make us wait too long!”

          Langa nodded, eyes shining as he headed back into the store. Miya and Reki both sat down on their boards while they waited.  Miya avoided looking at Reki, taking a swig of his drink that tasted absolutely revolting.

          “You should tell Langa to get you a popsicle as well.”

          “I don’t need a popsicle. I have my drink.”

          “Yeah, but that drink tastes like crap,” Reki gave Miya’s cheek a pinch with a snicker, “and don’t try to deny it. I can tell by the face you’re making that you hate it~”

          “Stop it!” Miya went to smack Reki’s hand away, but accidentally sent the redhead’s popsicle flying just as the convenience shop’s doors slid open. It landed right on the head of what looked to be a legitimate delinquent.

          Uh oh.

          “S-sorry about that!” Reki was fast on his feet with an apology.

          “You’re sorry!? You know how long it took me to get my hair to look this nice!?” The man growled, pointing to his very blond and flashy pompadour.

          “Um, no?” Reki replied with a sheepish grin, “but with how much it defies gravity I bet it took a super long time!”

          “Looks like he just dumped an entire container of hair gel on his head before leaving his house,” Miya muttered, not meaning to be heard by the man who he had suspicions was an alpha.

          The blond’s teeth pulled back into a snarl, “Why you little bastard!” He made a step towards Miya, but Reki was quick to give the man a hard shove in the chest.

          “Hey! Back off! He’s just a kid, and I already said I was sorry so—ow!” Reki yelped as his wrist was grabbed, and Miya leapt to his feet.

          “Reki!” Miya exclaimed, suddenly unable to move because the doors to the store had opened again and this time it was a dragon who exited.

          The pheromones that Langa was projecting were strong enough for Miya to feel even though he hadn’t yet presented. Fear crackled through him cold and heavy, making his knees tremble.

          “Release him,” the prime omega hissed, and the alpha immediately listened to the command, letting go of Reki and running away. Langa’s icy orbs watched the alpha’s retreat before looking to Reki and the change in his demeanor gave Miya mental whiplash. “Reki!” Langa gently took Reki’s wrist, a whine leaving his mouth at the bruise already forming.

          “Langa, I’m fine,” Reki assured with a smile, “it really looks worse than it is. It doesn’t even hurt!”

          “Don’t lie,” Langa whispered, bringing Reki’s wrist up to his face and lightly rubbing it with his nose. “I can tell you’re scared, and now you even have that alpha’s scent on you.”

          Reki’s smile broke, gold eyes becoming watery though he quickly hid his face into Langa’s neck. “Y-you’re not supposed to call me out on my bluff you jerk.”

          “Sorry,” Langa apologized, nuzzling the top of Reki’s head before wrapping his arms around the redhead.

          Miya averted his gaze, nails digging into his palms because it was his fault that Reki had gotten hurt, and he had been unable to do anything to save him. He couldn’t even go over to help comfort him because he was still instinctively afraid of Langa.

          “Miya?” Reki called out, “are you okay?” The younger teen didn’t answer, not even looking up as he heard Reki make his way over to him. “Miya?” Hands gently cupped his face, guiding his gaze so that green met gold. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. The alpha won’t be coming back.”

          “I’m not scared of the alpha,” Miya mumbled, which wasn’t a lie, but he knew that Reki wouldn’t believe him since Miya was still trembling. Reki’s eyes were looking at him so softly with concern that it made Miya’s chest ache. He wanted to wrap his arms around Reki and allow himself to be comforted.

          Reki’s hands left his face, and Miya almost started crying. Instead, he blinked in surprise as Reki turned around and crouched down, offering his back to Miya. “Climb on. I’ll carry you until you feel better.”

          “Huh?”

          Reki sighed, “Just accept the piggyback ride. It’s the least I can do since I wasn’t able to properly protect you.” The older teen looked over his shoulder at Miya before averting his gaze with pink cheeks, “I’m trying to at least look a little bit cool and not completely lame,” he mumbled, and Miya felt a whoosh within his ribcage.

          Cheeks burning, he climbed onto Reki’s back and wrapped his arms and legs around the older teen. “Y-you sure I’m not too heavy?”

          “You? Heavy?” Reki laughed as he easily stood up, “I have three younger sisters. I’ve given a piggyback ride to all three of them at the same time. Compared to that, you are super-duper light. Plus, you’re also short so-ow!” Reki hissed as Miya tugged on his hair.

          “Shut up golem,” Miya grumbled, hiding his face into the warmth of Reki’s back, “keep talking and you’ll stop being cool.”

          “What was that? I can’t hear you.”

          “Miya said that you’re cool,” Langa answered, and Miya didn’t even bother to correct him because Reki did that adorable laugh of his.

          “Really? Aw, Miya you don’t have to be bashful about thinking I’m cool~” Reki began walking, his happy hum buzzing through Miya.

~oOo~

          The familiar hum was the first thing Miya became aware of as he slowly became awake. He drowsily thought that he was still dreaming because he could feel the warmth of Reki’s back against his chest and face. It didn’t help that when he opened his eyes the sun was setting and bathing Reki in a gold that was surreal. Miya closed his eyes and rubbed his face against the back of Reki’s neck with a sleepy purr. The humming immediately stopped and was replaced with a chuckle.

          “I guess this means you’re feeling better.”

          He wasn’t dreaming.

          Panic made him wide awake with a gasp because the last thing he remembered doing before falling asleep was biting. Miya frantically looked over Reki’s neck, causing the redhead to almost topple over from Miya’s movement on his back. “M-Miya stop squirming or I’ll drop you!”

          “B-but your neck. I—”

          “You bit the fold of my hood,” Reki looked over his shoulder at Miya, “so you don’t need to worry. Oh, and your coach has your stuff. I’m not strong enough to carry your and my stuff while having you on my back.”

          “You didn’t need to carry me. You could have just woken me up.”

          Reki’s lips tugged up into a grin, “I wanted to carry you. You’re already heavier than the last time I gave you a piggyback ride. When you come back from studying abroad, you’ll probably be too big for me to even pick up.”

          Miya swore he felt his heart drop into his stomach. “I hadn’t decided that I was going. That was just my mom assuming it was an automatic yes.”

          “Your dream is to go global in the future, isn’t it? So, you should—”

          “You’re my future!” Miya yelled, voice cracking. “I-I don’t care about going global if you aren’t there with me…because I…” He wrapped his arms tightly around Reki as everything finally spilled out in a sob, “I love you Reki.” Miya could feel the omega stiffen, and he pressed his face into his back. “I-I know I’m not good enough for you yet. You have to keep saving me when I’m supposed to keep you safe, but you chose me, right?”

          “Miya.”

          Miya couldn’t lift his face, too ashamed of his tears and the way his voice was cracking, “You being a latent omega was like a dream come true. It meant t-that I had a chance. What if leaving means throwing that chance away!? I can’t handle—”

          “MIYA DON’T MAKE ME THROW YOU!”

          Miya lifted his face, hiccupping. Reki was flushed all the way to the tip of his ears, but he was fixing Miya with a glare. “R-Reki—”

          “It’s my turn to speak.” Reki headed over to a nearby bench, carefully setting Miya down on it. “And I need you to listen.” Silence settled between them except for Miya’s sniffling and the sound of an airplane overhead. Reki opened and closed his mouth a few times, face getting even redder. “Dammit! I can’t…. stupid words!” He aggressively opened the duffel bag he had slung on his shoulder, pulling out a board and handing it to Miya. “Here!”

          Oh.

          Miya’s sniffling stopped as he looked at the deck of the skateboard. An iridescent green swirled around a dazzling night sky of silver and gold stars.

          “Sorry it isn’t as breathtaking as actual space. Trying to fit infinity on a single skateboard was tough, s-so I decided to instead pick what was important to me,” Reki fidgeted in embarrassment, “the green polar lights is my favorite scent, so I have it there. There are some shooting stars on it because um, at times, when you look at me, it’s like you have a meteor shower in your eyes or something. Wow, that sounded cheesy.” The redhead sheepishly laughed; gaze unable to meet Miya.

          He was going to implode.

          “T-the shooting stars wrap around from the bottom and continue across the top, so if you flip the board, you’ll see them and something else.”

          Miya turned over the board, surprised to see the giant sun in the center. It was a metallic gold that caught the light with a warm glow. “A sun?”

          “Ah, you told me I smelled like a sun shower, but having raindrops coming off the sun just made it look sweaty. I was hoping the shooting stars would sort of make for a cool rain substitute.”

          Yep. He definitely felt his heart implode.

          “You put yourself on my board,” Miya whispered, fingers touching the sun.

          “Y-yeah, that was probably a bit too selfish of me,” Reki did that embarrassed laugh of his but this time he managed to look at Miya, “but I sort of wanted a part of the board to make you think of me.”

          Miya could feel the dopey grin on his face, “you want me to think about you only when I skateboard?”

          Reki frowned, “you know that’s not it.”

          “No, I don’t. I’m stupid.”

          Gold eyes glared at him before Reki tugged his headband down to cover more of his face, “I-I want you to think about me all the time. Especially if you are all the way in California. I want to see you follow your dream…even if it means that I’m going to suffer from Miya withdrawal.”

          “Miya withdrawal?” Miya repeated, placing the board on the ground so that he could stand on it, “sounds almost as serious as Reki withdrawal.”

          Reki huffed, “It’s way worse. Like, a bajillion times wor—” Miya swallowed the rest of Reki’s words, the skateboard giving him just the height boost he needed to kiss the redhead until they were both dizzy from lack of air.

          “Reki, there are two parts to my dream,” Miya lifted Reki’s headband up, so he could place kisses across every inch of his face, “the first part is getting good enough with skateboarding to go global and the second part is getting to spend the rest of my life with the omega I’m courting. Do you think that I have a chance of making him fall in love with me by impressing him with cool skateboarding?”

          Reki hid his face into Miya’s neck, the heat of his skin making Miya purr. “Maybe, but the skateboarding has to be like really cool,” he mumbled, wrapping his arms tight around Miya, voice breaking as he began to cry, “a-and an autograph from Tony Hawk would probably help.”

          Miya kissed the top of Reki’s head, running his fingers through soft sunset tinted red locks, “thanks for the advice.”

Chapter Text

“I wish you were here

Or I were there

Because my heart caves in when I look at you

And it feels like your hands twist around

My rib cage

And take the air from my lungs

My head starts pounding

And I just want to kiss you”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

          “So, Shadow and Oka are a thing now?”

          “Yeah, apparently they started hanging out after Langa and Adam’s beef. I mean, I did start noticing flowers around Dope Sketch, but thought that Oka was trying to just make the place look nicer for customers. We started getting a bunch after a certain viral skateboarder name dropped the store,” Reki looked up from the skateboard he was working on to smirk at his laptop, “thanks for the increase in business mister U. F. O.”

          “Stop. Don’t call me that stupid nickname,” Miya rolled his eyes, “I swear everyone over here is obsessed with aliens, bigfoot, or mothman.”

          “I mean, you do sort of have a space theme going on.”

          “And whose fault is that?”

          “Hey, you knew your board would have something related to space when you commissioned it. Also,” Reki pointed to his ear, “those sun piercings are all on you.”

          Miya pouted as he reached up to his own ear where a gold sun shone from his lobe, “I didn’t want to have my skateboard be the only thing to make me think of you.” He fiddled with his lobe, “do you not like it?”

          “What? No, I like it! It looks good! Piercings look hot on you!” Reki’s face burned in embarrassment because even in the dim lighting of his workshop Miya’s eyes shone a vivid green from the laptop screen as he grinned.

          “I look hot, huh? Maybe I should get more.”

          “Then you’d be just like Kaoru when he was in his rebellious teen stage.”

          Miya raised a brow, “Kaoru?”

          “Ah, I mean Cherry. Langa and I have been hanging out with him more outside of S, so he has us call him by his first name. Hanging out with an older omega is supposed to help me adjust to being an omega.” It also helped Reki deal with his Miya withdrawal, but Miya did not need to know that Langa had needed Cherry’s help with the emotional breakdown Reki had after Miya’s scent faded completely from his skin, sweatband, and hoodies.

          Miya hummed in acknowledgement as he adjusted himself and his laptop, Reki watching the prime alpha make himself comfy on his bed. “What do the three of you even do?”

          “Skateboarding, calligraphy, go out for tea, shopping. Though the shopping part is a bit annoying because Langa and I end up being forced to try on yukatas and—”

          “Are there pictures?”

          “Pictures?”

          “Of you. In a yukata.”

          “Why?”

          “Because I want to see them.”

          Reki’s lips turned up into a smirk, “sorry. All pictures of our omega outings are private and for omega eyes only.”

          “Reeeeekiiiiiiiiiii,” Miya whined, turning his face into his pillow, “why would you tell me about it if I’m not allowed to see!?”

          “To tease you with the forbidden?” Reki laughed as Miya flipped him off while letting out another frustrated whine into his pillow. The redhead turned his focus back onto the board he was working on. A comfortable silence settled as Reki got more into his work, though it was soon broken as he started to make sounds to himself. Soft trills and chirps weaved a sort of melody similar to if he was humming. It was a habit he started to do when he was by himself and doing something he enjoyed like working on boards. Working on boards. By himself aka alone. Which he currently was not.

          Reki froze when he realized what he was doing. He dreaded looking at his laptop, but maybe Miya had fallen asleep and hadn’t heard him. Gold eyes looked up and immediately connected with a green so tender and warm that Reki felt his insides turn into goop. “U-um…sorry?”

          “Don’t apologize,” Miya’s voice was a low affectionate rumble, the prime alpha’s pupils dilated, “you can keep doing it.”

          “N-not when I know you’re here! It’s too awkward!” Reki hid his face against his worktable while also placing the board in between him and his laptop to further hide from Miya.

          “Reki, please don’t hide.”

          “You can’t stop me.”

          “Reki~” Miya crooned, “Show me your face~”

          “Nope. Not happening.”

          A silence stretched long enough for Reki to wonder if Miya hung up the call. But then from the speaker came a soft and hesitant…trill? Reki’s ears immediately perked in attention, the omega peeking over the skateboard at his screen. Miya’s cheeks were red, the younger teen embarrassed and unsure of himself. Reki let out a trill and watched the other’s cheeks darken even more as he attempted to repeat the trill back to the redhead.

          In an alpha’s tone the trill was richer and not so high, but it still made Reki giddy. He moved the skateboard completely out of view, so that he could see Miya. With a grin, he trilled and then added a chirp before waiting in excitement for Miya to echo it back. Miya managed another trill, but the chirp ended up sounding more like the yip of a dog, which had Reki almost falling off his stool in laughter.

~oOo~

          Reki got Miya to try chirping a few more times, but they still sounded like dog yips which made the redhead snicker. Miya had Reki try a chuffing sound, which just ended up sounding like a bad sneeze and the omega’s attempt at a rumble caused him to go into a coughing fit. They came to an agreement that the other sounds were too hard for the other to imitate and focused on the trilling.

          The trilling practice during the video calls was never planned. They would be playing video games, watching a movie together, or simply hanging out and it would happen. One of them would do a trill and the other would echo it back. With Miya’s lower vocal range his trill was more like a warble, but it still made Reki’s heart shoot around his chest like a trapped rocket. There was an intimacy in their trilling. Even if Reki had a hard time putting his feelings into words, the trill could communicate it. Miya’s eyes would go all warm and he’d warble back and for a brief moment Reki felt the emptiness in him fill with the prime alpha’s love for him.

          However, video chatting Miya was like watching the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. He was shown something completely mesmerizing that made his heart race and that glow buzz beneath his skin until the call was ended. The glow would flicker out and the lack of Miya’s presence would settle heavy on Reki, reminding him how far away the other teen was.

~oOo~

          As soon as Reki got to S, he regretted letting Langa talk him into coming. He knew that the bluenette was concerned and honestly thought that watching Shadow have a beef would make him feel better. Reki did usually regain his energy from being around others. However, he hadn’t gotten to video chat or even talk to Miya on the phone for a week, so he was currently suffering from Miya withdrawal even more. Reki understood that the month of June was busy for Miya. It was the end of the school year for the other teen, and he had training and special promotional events. Miya’s nickname as UFO had stuck as he became popular on social media, and even on his socials he had been quiet.

          Reki managed to wave at the people who called out to him, forcing himself to smile but keeping close to Langa. The prime omega slowed his steps. “Reki—”

          “I’m fine, so don’t give me that look,” Reki reached up to ruffle Langa’s hair, “hanging out with the group will be fun and after Shadow wins, we’ll probably get to enjoy some of Joe’s yummy food to celebrate.”

          “He might not win.”

          “Pretty sure Shadow is going to be super fired up to show off since Oka is here as well. Unless you know that his challenger is someone on par with him.”

          Langa immediately averted his gaze. “I have no idea who is going up against him. It’s a mystery challenger.”

          Reki narrowed his eyes at the obviously suspicious behavior, “Langa, what are you not telling me?”

          “Nothing. Look! The others!” Langa grabbed Reki’s hand and pulled him to where Joe, Cherry, and Oka were waiting under the jumbo viewing screen. Something was definitely off. Joe looked too excited for this beef. Reki’s gaze moved up to the jumbo screen where Shadow was waiting at the starting line. A figure in a bright green hoodie skated into view and Reki’s heart stirred. The person’s face was hidden by his hood, but a desperate hope was already shaking his ribcage and making it hard to breathe. A few seconds before the race started and the mystery skater looked directly up at a camera, and Reki knew that shade of green better than the back of his own hand. Knew it. Dreamed it. Longed for it.

          “Miya,” he choked out as cheers filled the air as the race officially started. How the race actually went Reki had no clue. His gaze was stuck on Miya’s face, taking in his grin and how his eyes were shining from exhilaration. Though when the younger teen crossed the finish line, Reki’s attention moved to the rest of his figure and his face immediately burned. He knew that Miya had grown from watching videos of him, but he hadn’t realized how much. The prime alpha was almost as tall as Langa, which meant he was definitely taller than Reki.

          “Miya, you’ve grown so much. What’s your secret? Wait, let me guess,” Joe waggled his eyebrows, “was it because of loooove~?”

          “Wait, you mean like Clifford the Big Red Dog?” Langa asked completely serious.

          Reki had no idea if Miya made a face at that because the redhead was currently hiding behind Cherry. “Kaoru?” Reki began, keeping his voice low so that only the other omega could hear him, “C-can you come with me for a moment?”

          “Of course,” Cherry followed Reki to a spot that had less people, “what’s the matter? Do you feel sick?”

          His stomach was queasy, but that was because his heart was racing from both excitement and anxiety. “I…um…” Reki fidgeted nervously, feeling bad since Cherry looked concern. “I wanted to know if I looked okay? I probably have really bad helmet head, right?” He ran his hands blindly through his hair in an attempt to make it less messy. “I didn’t know that Miya was going to be here. I would’ve made sure I looked nice and less like a slob. Shit, I don’t even remember when I last combed my hair.” At least he had brushed his teeth. Wait, had he!?

          Cherry snorted in amusement, gold eyes fond. “You’ve combed your hair in the past?”

          “Kaoruuuuuuu,” Reki whined, “I’m seriously freaking out!”

          “You’re overreacting,” Cherry gently began running his fingers through Reki’s red locks, the combing action comforting. “Miya just got done with a beef, so his hair is also messy. Plus, he’s going to be gross and sweaty.”

          “Yeah, but he makes gross and sweaty somehow look attractive,” Reki grumbled, “it’s not fair. What’s in the food in California that made him grow so much? Even his shoulders are now bigger than mine.”

          “More for you to hold on to.”

          “K-Kaoru!” Reki gaped at the older omega in shock, “I can’t believe you—”

          “Reki?”

          He felt the world stop, Reki forgetting to breathe as he turned to look. Miya was keeping his distance, gaze flickering between Cherry and Reki. His skin was still flushed from the race, and he looked…nervous?

          “And that’s my cue to leave,” Cherry gave Reki’s head an affectionate ruffle, which just made it back to its usual messiness, before walking away and leaving the two teens alone.

          Reki didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what to do. He felt bashful, but also happy because Miya was in front of him. The prime alpha’s scent had become more stable since the last time Reki had been with him, so stardust wafted around Miya in a gentle glow that was so lovely that the omega could feel himself about to cry.

          “Are you mad?”

          “Huh?”

          Miya hesitantly approached, “I know I should’ve told you I was coming back, but I wanted to surprise you by showing you how much better I’d gotten by beating Shadow in a beef.”

          “I mean, I do wish you had told me but I’m not mad.”

          “Then why did you leave with Cherry?” Miya’s voice cracked, “A-are you disappointed that I’m now taller than you? I’m still shorter than Langa. I can try my best to not get any taller. Maybe if I—”

          Reki pounced. Lips crashing against Miya’s and almost knocking the teen over. Polar lights danced in his vision, but he pulled back before Miya had a chance to wrap his arms around him. “Don’t move.”

          Miya blinked dazedly, “Huh?”

          “Don’t move unless I say so,” Reki ordered, frustration burning through him that Miya had the nerve to think that he found him unattractive. He unzipped the prime alpha’s hoodie, revealing the more form fitting black tank top underneath along with Miya’s bare collarbone. Reki chirped but did it while glaring at Miya. The younger teen’s face was flushed, and he looked confused at the mixed signal.

          “Reki?”

          The omega released another frustrated chirp before he began rubbing his face and wrists against Miya’s neck, collarbone, up and down his sides. Reki wrapped his arms around Miya’s torso, hands going just under his shirt so he could rub his wrists along the base of his spine. It felt like he was taking a dust bath in the cosmos. Trills and chirps coming out of his mouth as Miya and his scent mixed.

          “Reki, please let me touch you,” Miya begged breathlessly, voice low and rich and Reki shivered at the way he could feel the timbre sink beneath his skin and ignite his nerves.

          Reki paused in his scenting to peek up at Miya. The prime alpha’s pupils were blown wide, irises smoldering at an intensity that was only rivaled by the meteor shower racing hot throughout the redhead’s body. Reki opened his mouth but floundered to put everything that he wanted to convey into words. So, he trilled.

          And it was enough. Lips traced his face eagerly with kisses before finding his mouth and Reki felt their bodies slot naturally together, so that the black void he’d been floating in since Miya left finally cracked and filled with polar lights and stars. When Miya broke the kiss to warble softly against Reki’s neck, the omega thought his heart would burst.

~oOo~

          If Reki thought that having Miya be at S was surprising, he was downright flabbergasted when Miya was waiting with Langa to go to school in their school uniform. Reki almost fell off his board. “Hold on what are you—”

          Miya pressed his lips to Reki’s in a sweet peck. “Good morning, Reki.”

          Well, that was nice. Like, really nice. Reki had never been greeted by Miya with a morning kiss. It made him feel a bit shy. “G-good morning. Wait, wait, wait what are you doing in our uniform!?”

          “Going to school,” Miya replied, his hands coming up to ruffle Reki’s hair. “I spent months away from you, so of course I deserve to have some of the high school experience with you.”

          Reki’s gaze slid over to Langa, “Langa, what other secrets of Miya are you keeping from me?”

          “I didn’t know until this morning,” Langa answered, “we both opened our front doors at the same time.”

          “Huh?”

          “I moved into his apartment complex. We’re now neighbors,” Miya explained.

          “WHAT!?”

          “I didn’t know Langa lived there. I would much rather be neighbors with you,” Miya gave Reki’s hair another good tussle. “Now let’s go. I don’t want to be late on my first day. Unlike some people I don’t want to be seen as a delinquent.”

          “You have a skateboard and your piercings still in. They’ll have it out for you as soon as they see you at the gate, which means you’ll just have to not be the slowest one or you’ll be caught,” Reki stuck his tongue out before shooting off on his board, knowing that Langa and Miya would be right behind.

~oOo~

          At lunchtime, the trio reunited on the roof of the school to eat. They sat in the shade with Reki in between the two primes. No one had said a word for a chunk of time, and Reki was beginning to feel self-conscious about it. Usually, Reki would just talk about skateboarding and skateboards with Langa, but would Miya find that interesting? He skateboarded even more than Reki and Langa, so maybe he wanted to talk about something else?

          “You were first today Langa, but I’ll definitely beat you in a beef,” Miya spoke up, and Reki felt himself relax.

          “You sure about that Miya? He beat you back when he was still a newbie,” Reki taunted Miya with a grin, “and it looked like he beat you pretty easily today even though you spent all that time training in California.”

          “At least I didn’t come last,” Miya countered, bottom lip curling out into a pout, “and why are you cheering for Langa? You’re supposed to want me to win,” he grumbled, stabbing his rice with his chopsticks. “I need to be able to proof myself so that I can keep courting you.”

          Reki’s grin immediately faltered. “What do you mean?”

          “Langa and you have a pack bond. Since he is a prime omega, he is the pack leader. I have to proof myself worthy of having you by beating him in a beef.”

          “So, what? Does that mean if you lose then you’ll stop courting me?”

          Miya frowned as he looked up from his food, “That won’t happen because I’m going to win.”

          “But what if you don’t!?” Reki’s voice rose, panic and anger stirring inside of him. “What if you lose!?”

          “Then I guess you’ll just have to stay with me,” Langa nonchalantly answered, “since I don’t plan on losing.”

          The summer heat was nothing compared to Miya’s eyes as they flashed with fury, “you. Can’t. Have. Him.” He spat out between gritted teeth. “I’m going to win. No. Matter. What.”

          Langa’s blue met Miya’s glare completely unfazed, “good luck with that.”

          If not for Reki suddenly standing, he was pretty sure a fight between the primes would have happen. Instead Langa and Miya looked up at the redhead in surprise. However, Reki couldn’t say anything. His whole frame was shaking, and even though he couldn’t talk, his expression must have said enough. Both Langa and Miya flinched before reaching out to him, but Reki was already running away.

~oOo~

          Reki cut class and avoided all of his usual hangouts. He didn’t check his phone until hours had gone by and by that time, he learned that it had died who knows how long ago. Still churning with a bunch of negative emotions, he made his way home and wasn’t surprised to have his mother glaring at him. He was thrown off when she practically threw two plates of food at him.

          “Here. Bring this to your boyfriend. He’s been waiting for you in your workshop for hours.”

          “My boyfriend? OH!”

          “Don’t OH me!” Masae began shoving Reki’s back, “Now go!”

          Reki was still upset, but once he picked up Miya’s scent, he rushed to his workshop. He could tell that the prime alpha was stressed and sad. Miya had fallen asleep on Reki’s worktable, the area around his eyes red and puffy from crying. Reki’s heart broke at the sight.

          He quietly set the plates on the table and sat in the free stool. Reki knew he wasn’t wrong in getting upset with Langa and Miya. Maybe it was because he had believed himself to be a beta for years and he lacked the instincts and behaviors of prime omegas and prime alphas, but he found it stupid that the two believed a beef would settle who Reki got to spend his future with. Did this mean he wasn’t allowed to refer to Miya as his boyfriend? Would the prime alpha really give up on courting him if he lost to Langa?

          Reki gently brushed Miya’s cheek with his fingers. The teen stirred in his sleep, purring softly at the touch. His eyes sleepily opened, and he blinked slowly a few times before sitting up. “Reki!” He went to reach for the redhead, but stopped, pulling his arms back to himself. Miya went into his bag that was on the ground and took out a fingerboard. “I-I was going to wait to give this to you for your birthday.” He offered the fingerboard to Reki.

          The omega’s jaw dropped as he looked at the mini skateboard’s deck. “Is this Tony Hawk’s autograph!?”

          Miya nodded, “you said it would help my chances with you.”

          Reki had not expected Miya to take his words literally, yet here he was literally holding Tony Hawk’s autograph. He carefully placed the fingerboard on the table, “Miya—”

          “I’m sorry I made you upset, b-but please don’t disappear like that,” Miya’s voice broke as his green eyes became watery, “I finally get to have you here with me. I-If I’ve already ruined everything, I don’t—”

          “Miya, come here~” Reki crooned, opening his arms up. Miya went into Reki’s embrace, burying his face in Reki’s neck. “Like you can get rid of me that easily,” he held Miya tightly, resting his chin on top of the alpha’s head, “don’t be so cocky.”

          There were still important things that Reki needed to discuss with Miya, but for now it could wait.

Chapter Text

“I wish there were a better way to tell you how much I love you.

To write it in the sky or dip all my feelings in gold.”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

          Reki let out a groan as his forehead lightly thudded against the car window. He had messed up. His carefully constructed plan that he’d spent time physically, mentally, and emotionally preparing for ever since the group made plans to go to the beach had been obliterated in the span of five minutes because of abs. Specifically, Miya’s abs.

          The plan had been simple. All Reki had wanted to do was to be the one to initiate a good morning kiss when he saw the prime alpha at the meetup spot. He also had to do it while being endearing, but not looking like he was trying too hard. So, his plan was to still have on his old swimsuit from last year but to pair it with one of Miya’s hoodies that he’d given Reki. The newer hoodies were a bit big on Reki, but he’d hoped that it would just help make him cute. He endured wearing the hoodie in the sweltering heat as he skateboarded to where the group was meeting up in front of Dope Sketch. Oka was also coming along on the beach trip with Sketchy, so the beta wanted to make sure that the shop was all in order to be closed for the day.

          The redhead was the last one to show up because he had debated between three different hoodies and had tried them each on continuously with and without his headband. His heart was already jittery when he spotted the back of Miya. At his approach, the prime alpha had turned and that’s when Reki saw them without warning: the abs.

          His brain effectively malfunctioned and shut down for a few seconds, which meant his body forgot how to skateboard. He tumbled, eyes shutting in preparation for the impact against asphalt. Instead, he fell into the embrace of a constellation.

          Also, Miya’s bare pecs because apparently the prime alpha now wanted to dress open shirt and all exposed like Joe.

          “Reki, are you alri—”

          “I-I claim riding with Joe and Kaoru!” Reki practically shrieked, shoving Miya away and running towards Joe’s car. “No following me!” He pointed at both Miya and Langa before leaping into the back seat and slamming the door behind him.

          And that’s how he failed to give Miya a morning kiss and literally told the other one to stay away.

          “I’m such a dumbass,” Reki muttered to himself.

          “Not necessarily,” Joe looked up into the rearview mirror at the redhead, giving a reassuring smile, “you’re just being coy and playing hard to get.”

          “I don’t want to play hard to get. I want to be able to give Miya a morning kiss.”

          “You’re not able to give him a morning kiss? You threw yourself at him when you were reunited at S.”

          Reki’s face burned. “Y-you saw that!?”

          “What? No! Of course not. I didn’t see anything,” Joe’s eyes shot back to the road.

          “You suck at lying,” Reki grumbled, fiddling with the strings of his hoodie, “I’m a naturally affectionate person so sometimes I can be…impulsive. I also overthink things so when I try to actually plan things out I…um…”

          “Crash and burn? Ow!” Joe winced as Kaoru punched his shoulder, “Don’t punch the driver!”

          “Then stop talking,” Kaoru fixed Joe with a glare before turning in his seat to look at Reki, “just think of this as a good opportunity for Langa and Miya to spend time together without you acting as a buffer. If Miya is supposed to enter your pack in the future, then they need to be able to handle a car ride together.”

          Reki snorted, “don’t forget Miya first has to beat Langa in a beef in order to prove himself worthy of being in a pack with me. Stupid primes and their sense of honor. Langa isn’t the one in love with Miya so why is Langa the one who gets to decide if Miya is worthy to enter the pack? I’m also the one being courted! I should be the one making the decision!”

          “Have you tried having the conversation with those two again?”

          “No, not since they both got really upset about me getting mad and avoiding them. I feel guilty even though I know my feelings are valid.”

          Joe’s fingers thrummed on the steering wheel, “you know, letting Miya know you love him might help him see your reasoning.”

          Reki swore he felt his heart pinball throughout his body. “I-I never said I loved him!”

          “You said ‘Langa isn’t the one in love with Miya’,” Joe repeated and Reki could see Joe’s mouth tugging up into a grin in the reflection of the rearview mirror. “Didn’t you say that because the one in love with Miya is you?”

          Reki floundered for a proper response. He wanted to deny it, but that glow was sputtering through him and making his stomach flutter and his heart squirm impatiently in his chest because he was thinking about Miya. He always was thinking about Miya.

          “Oh my god,” Reki’s face began to sizzle, “oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god.” He hid his face in his hands as both Joe and Kaoru began laughing at the redhead’s epiphany.

~oOo~

          “Sketchy, stop with the judgmental stare,” Reki glanced sideways at the fox who was chilling in the sand beside the redhead. The teen wanted to believe that the fox was keeping him company because he was impressed with the sandcastle Reki was working on, but he knew it was due to everyone the fox actually liked being in the water and Sketchy at least preferred Reki’s company over Kaoru’s.

          “I’m going to assume that you’re judging me because you find the moat tacky and not because I’m avoiding Miya, which I’m totally not by the way. I just really wanted to make a sandcastle,” Reki tried to surreptitiously look over his shoulder at the water. Langa was floating on an inner tube while Joe, Shadow, Oka, and Miya were playing with a beach ball. Miya made a dive for the ball and missed, laughing as he slicked his wet hair back. Reki started feeling dizzy and he was unsure if it was due to him temporarily forgetting to breathe or heat exhaustion from the hoodie he still had fully zipped. The omega was self-conscious of his looks. Who could blame him? Unlike a certain someone he didn’t go through a magical transformation of a growth spurt and well-defined muscles that Reki couldn’t stop noticing.

          The soft whine that escaped his lips was instinctive and purely accidental. He prayed that the loud sounds of the other beach goers would make it where the only two who heard the slip up was himself and Sketchy. However, Miya’s head whipped around and Reki felt himself internally die as they made eye contact. “Shit shit shit,” Reki cussed under his breath as he quickly turned back to his sandcastle, “Sketchy act natural and maybe he won’t come over.”

          The fennec fox yawned, looking bored at Reki’s panicking. Though his tail began to wag just before Reki smelled stars.

          “Do you make sandcastles with your sisters?” Miya asked as he crouched down beside Reki.

          “Y-yeah. Koyomi and I each team up with one of the twins and have a contest to see who can make a better one.” Reki glanced over, watching Miya pet Sketchy and certainly not checking out the flex of Miya’s back muscles. “Koyomi is really good at detailed towers, but I’m sort of a moat master. With the right materials, I can even add a drawbridge or monsters that live in the moat.”

          “Next time we come to the beach we should make sure we bring materials.” Miya smirked as he met Reki’s gaze. “I want to see this moat master at his full potential.”

          On cue, the glow began simmering beneath Reki’s skin. Though now the redhead knew the official term for the mysterious feeling that had been plaguing him for about a year. Not that it made anything better.

          “You really should take your hoodie off. You’re overheating.”

          “I’m fine.”

          “Reki, your face is really red.”

          And you’re really stupid, Reki wanted to say, but instead what came out was, “If it bothers you so much, then you can take it off me.”

          Miya’s eyes widened in surprise and Reki really wanted to run into the ocean and disappear, but he forced himself to turn so he was facing the prime alpha fully. He kept eye contact with Miya, so that the other knew he was being serious. Hesitantly, Miya reached out, taking hold of Reki’s zipper, and waiting a few seconds before tugging it down.

          If Reki thought the sun was hot against his skin, it was nothing compared to the bright green that dropped to take in each new bit of skin that was exposed. He became aware of the pink staining Miya’s cheeks and the way his breathing quickened. When the zipper unhooked from the last of the teeth, Miya’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, hands moving back up.

          Fingers brushed his collarbone as Miya began sliding the hoodie down his shoulders, causing Reki to shiver. Miya froze at the movement, eyes searching Reki’s face.

          Was Reki’s face embarrassingly red? Most likely. Yet, the latent omega was more interested in Miya because his blush had endearingly spread to the tips of his ears and down his neck.

          “Miya~” Reki couldn’t help but croon in affection, smiling as Miya became redder. It really was unfair how adorable the younger teen looked when he was flustered. Thankfully, that didn’t change with the increase in height. “Why did you stop?”

          “I-I…um…” Miya’s mouth opened and closed as he seemed to be having trouble forming words. Reki’s eyes tracked the movement of the other’s lips as the urge to kiss Miya swelled from within the redhead. He slowly leaned forward into Miya’s space; gold focused on the alpha’s mouth. His eyes naturally shut once he felt Miya’s breath against his face.

          However, Sketchy decided that he was bored or maybe angry at being ignored and dove right into the sandcastle, spattering the two teens with sand. “Sketchy!” Reki hissed as he glared at the fox who had the audacity to just walk away without even a look over his shoulder. “I can’t believe that little—Miya?” Reki looked up in surprise as Miya abruptly stood. “What’s wrong?”

          “W-wrong? Nothing’s wrong!” Miya avoided looking at Reki, partially covering his face with one of his hands. “I-I’m just really in the mood for ice cream. I’m going to go see what they have at the concession stand. Do you want anything?”

          “I guess I could go for some ice cream.”

          “Awesome! I’ll be right back!” Miya nearly jogged away, leaving Reki alone.

          Did he do something wrong? Maybe Miya wasn’t interested in having a kiss after the stunt Reki pulled with the cars. Sighing, Reki headed over to where the group had made base to drop off his sand-coated hoodie. Kaoru was still lounging in a chair beneath the shade of the umbrella and with his sunglasses on Reki at first thought he was sleeping.

          “You did well out there.”

          Reki almost tripped over the cooler in surprise. “Y-you saw!?”

          “You almost managed to give him a morning kiss,” the older omega pulled his sunglasses down a bit so he could make eye contact with Reki, “you still have a few minutes til it turns noon. Run after him and you could still succeed.”

          Reki’s cheeks burned, but he nodded. “G-got it!” He ran in the direction where Miya had headed, fueled with the surge of confidence that Kaoru had inspired in him.

          Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard for Reki to spot Miya. The problem was that Miya was surrounded by a group of people. Reki could tell by the smile that sparkled on Miya’s face with the fake luminesce of a fluorescent light that the teen was dealing with fans.

          Reki watched as Miya forced a laugh as he posed for pictures. He knew that Miya wasn’t happy. Wondered how the group surrounding him couldn’t tell that they were bothering the teen.

          The omega’s hands clenched at his sides, but instead of going forward he took a step back. Again, and again until he got sick of the slow sinking of his feet in the hot sand and started to sprint.

~oOo~

          12:05 P.M shone on Reki’s screen, and he had to resist the urge to yeet his phone into the ocean out of frustration. “Ugh, I’m such a failure,” Reki groaned crouching down into himself, “I should’ve done something.” Like what? Miya was courting him, but did that mean they were boyfriends? That was never cleared up and Reki didn’t want to make the wrong assumption. Especially in front of Miya’s fans when the prime alpha’s reputation was at stake. Reki didn’t want to get in the way of Miya’s dreams of the future.

          “Reki, there are two parts to my dream,” Miya’s voice drifted sweetly up from Reki’s memory, “the first part is getting good enough with skateboarding to go global and the second part is getting to spend the rest of my life with the omega I’m courting. Do you think that I have a chance of making him fall in love with me by impressing him with cool skateboarding?”

          The water was cold against Reki’s toes; a stark contrast to his face that was burning on top the folds of his arms. “…. Having it where you can’t be with the omega you’re courting unless you beat his best friend in a stupid beef is self-sabotaging your own dream dumbass,” Reki grumbled, squishing his toes in the wet sand, “if I was courting someone, I would just challenge them in a beef if I thought I needed to prove myself.”

          Oh.

          OH!

          “That’s it!” Reki almost toppled over from how quickly he shot up. “I just need to challenge Miya!” He grinned at the idea, excitement dancing through him. “God, I’m dumb for not thinking of this before.”

          “At least you’re dumb and cute,” an unfamiliar voice purred from behind Reki and his excitement immediately flipped to a sense of danger.

          The redhead whipped around, eyes taking in not just one but two grown males holding bottles of beer. Reki had left his hoodie back with Kaoru and was aware of how exposed he was. He tried to hide his nervousness with a smile and easygoing laugh, “haha, yeah, my boyfriend says that to me all the time.”

          “Boyfriend? I don’t see a bite mark,” the taller of the two went to step forward though his friend grabbed his arm with a frown.

          “Smell the air. There’s the scent of an alpha. I think even a prime. Maybe we shouldn’t—”

          “Ahh, don’t be such a worrywart!” The more aggressive male shook his friend’s hand off him and took a sip of his beer. “A prime would definitely be more territorial and not let a cutie like this one roam so far away on his own, right?” He went to reach for Reki and the redhead leapt back with a warning hiss.

          “Don’t touch me,” Reki bared his teeth, but the other only grinned.

          “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you~” He crooned and Reki wanted to gag at the sickly-sweet sound. He tried to run away, but the bigger male was quicker and grabbed his wrist.

          A yelp passed Reki’s lips as his skin began to burn from the contact. “L-let go!”

          “Aww, don’t be that way—ack!” Ice cream flew into the back of the man’s head, causing him to release Reki. “Who the fuc—”

          “He told you to let go.”

          Reki was pretty sure the two men now knew what the dinosaurs felt as they witnessed the meteor heading towards them. Miya wasn’t physically as big as them, but his pheromones were strong enough to envelop the space in a sweltering heat that made the air hurt to breathe.

          “Miya!” Reki ran to the prime alpha with no hesitation, embracing him and rubbing his face into his neck in relief though a cry of surprise came out as he was suddenly scooped up bridal style.

          Green eyes fixed the two men with a scorching glare before Miya began carrying Reki away without another word. Reki was silent. His heart was hammering from his brush with danger, his wrist burning, and he was shocked that Miya was able to pick him up so easily.

          Miya carried him to where the others were, a warning snarl coming from his mouth when Oka and Shadow noticed them first and went to head towards them in concern. Joe held an arm out to hold the two betas back.

          “Don’t get closer. If Reki’s hurt, he’s only going to let the omegas close.”

          “I’m not hurt. I’m fine. Miya you can put me down already.” Miya ignored him, sitting down in the shade of the umbrella, and keeping Reki in his lap. He curled around the redhead, tucking his face into Reki’s neck.

          “He’s guarding Reki’s neck,” Kaoru noted, gold eyes sweeping over Reki in concern. “Reki, did another alpha touch you?”

          “I mean I don’t know if he was an alpha, but he only briefly grabbed my wrist—holy!?” Reki gaped at his wrist where an angry rash had spread.

          “You were touched by an alpha near his rut,” Kaoru gently took Reki’s wrist to inspect it, “and this is your body rejecting his pheromones. Langa bring over some ice from the cooler.”

          The prime omega had already acted before being told. He had wrapped ice in his shirt and pressed it softly to Reki’s skin. “Since we have a pack bond, this should help with the swelling,” Langa gave Reki’s hand a squeeze, “but letting Miya hold you should cancel out the other alpha’s pheromones.”

          It was true. Reki could feel Miya’s scent wrapping him up in a cocoon that was like a tender embrace of his very own solar system. It was warm and safe, the coziness tugging at Reki’s eyelids until he found himself drifting off into sleep.

~oOo~

          When Reki woke, the first thing he noticed was that he was no longer in Miya’s arms. He was wrapped in a mixture of Miya, Langa, and Kaoru’s clothes; the blend of scents calming but definitely not the same.

          “Reki, you’re awake! How do you—”

          “Langa, where’s Miya!?”

          “Once your rash and the other alpha’s scent disappeared from you, he decided to take a walk to help calm himself down,” Langa answered, handing Reki a water bottle and a granola bar. “Here. You need to eat and drink.”

          “I should go after Miya. How long ago did he leave? Was I asleep long?”

          “Reki,” Langa’s voice was stern as he made eye contact with the redhead, “I won’t tell you which direction he went unless you eat that whole bar and drink that entire bottle.”

          “You want me to imitate you eating a granola bar? Fine!” Reki ripped the wrapper open, shoving the granola in his mouth and using the water to wash it down. When he drained the last of the water, he opened his mouth. “See! I swallowed everything!”

          Langa’s nose scrunched in disgust. “Ew, Reki I didn’t need to see that. Also, I don’t eat like that.” He motioned with his hand, “Miya went that way.”

          “Thanks!” Reki scrambled to his feet. “And you’re right. You eat more like cookie monster.”

          “Do not!” Langa argued, but Reki was already gone. This time when he spotted the ravenette, he forced himself to keep moving forward even though the closer he got the louder his heart began to bang in his chest. Miya was standing ankle dip in the water and looking off to the horizon, so of course sunlight was tracing his angles and curves all soft and mesmerizing. The breeze was also blowing his hair nice and gentle like it was playfully teasing. It really wasn’t fair how easy Miya could make his insides turn to slush.

          At his approach, Miya turned. “Reki…”

          Reki panicked. He meant to break the tension by giving a little splash of water, but he kicked too hard and got Miya soaked. Miya blinked slowly as water plopped off him into the ocean.

          “Oops,” Reki stated with a sheepish grin before he began running away to make his escape. Longer legs and more muscles meant that catching up to the redhead barely made Miya sweat. “Miya put me down!” Reki struggled as Miya scooped him up and headed toward the water. “No don’t throw—ahh!” He yelled as he was thrown into the water. Reki sputtered and glared as he came up. “How dare you.”

          “You started it by splashing me,” Miya pointed out and Reki couldn’t argue with that, so he simply stuck his tongue out as he pulled his soaked headband off and twisted it to squeeze the moisture out.

          “Now this is all gross and wet. I hope you’re happy.”

          “Extremely. Now I get to see your cute forehead,” Miya swept Reki’s bangs aside, pressing his lips to his forehead. It was the first kiss that they’d had for the entire day, and Reki swore he could feel the warmth of it tingle along every one of his nerves. Reki nuzzled one of the palms that were gently cradling his face, pressing his own mouth to Miya’s skin. He watched Miya’s features soften with adoration.

          “I’m sorry I’ve been acting weird. It’s just…” Reki paused as he felt his cheeks burn, forcing himself to continue. “I want to be able to call you my boyfriend, but I feel like I’m not allowed because you think you have to prove yourself worthy of courting me by beating Langa. And the idea that you’ll just stop courting me if you happen to lose—”

          “I wouldn’t stop.”

          “What?”

          “If I lost, I wouldn’t stop courting you. I’d keep challenging Langa to a beef until I won.”

          Reki gazed up at Miya’s determined face in surprise. “B-but what if it takes you months or even years to win!?”

          Miya rolled his eyes, “wow, thanks for having so much confidence in my skating abilities. I don’t care how long it takes. I’d keep challenging him until I won.”

          “But I care! I don’t want to wait ten years to be able to have a bond with you—”

          “Reki, it wouldn’t take ten—”

          “I challenge you to a beef!” Reki slapped his hands on either side of Miya’s face, “I beat Langa in the beef we had after his showdown with Adam, so the one you should be challenging is me!”

          Reki could feel Miya’s jaw slacken in surprise, “…you beat Langa?”

          “And you were upset with me for having no confidence in your abilities?” Reki pulled Miya’s face down so that their foreheads were pressed together. “Listen closely. I challenge you to a beef. If you win, you get to prove yourself worthy of courting me and being in my pack. If I win, I prove myself worthy of courting you and being in your pack. Understand?”

          “Reki, that’s essentially the same thing. It’d be pointle—”

          “What was that?” Reki grinned tauntingly as he squished Miya’s face. “Is the famous U.F.O scared of losing to a little nobody like me?”

          Miya pouted, “you’re being unreasonable.”

          Unreasonable? Perhaps. Love was known to be unreasonable, but pointless? Not even close.

          “And you’re being a chicken,” Reki released Miya’s face, giving a little wave as he began walking away. “Give me a call when you are brave enough to accept my challenge.”

          “Reki, why are you acting like we are parting ways? We traveled here together. Stop acting stupid.”

          You’re the stupid one for not realizing why I’m challenging you, Reki almost said, but instead he looked over his shoulder at Miya and cocked a brow, “you want me to stop flirting with you?”

          Miya’s face immediately turned bright red, “W-what!?” He sputtered, and Reki gave a saucy wink before laughing and running away, knowing that the other would be in close pursuit once he managed to recover from Reki’s surprise attack.

Chapter Text

“You are a collection of miracles, bound together by sunlight.

But you are also much more than that; you are a story, a home”

-Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts

          Since Miya started his morning run right before the sun peeked above the horizon line and finished just after the sunrise had its full blossoming of red, pink, and gold, the last thing he expected to find when he came home was to have a sunshower waiting for him at his doorstep.

          Miya gaped at the redhead sitting in front of his door, his face hidden since it was tucked on top of his bent knees. “R-Reki!?”

          “Hmmm,” Reki stirred, head lifting to blink sleepily up at Miya for a moment before he became fully awake. “You’re finally back!”

          “How long have you been out here? Did I miss a message from you—” Miya was cut off as Reki shot to his feet, pressing his lips to Miya’s in a quick peck and pulling back with flushed cheeks.

          “G-good morning,” Reki stammered, shifting back and forth in embarrassment.

          And that was the start of the combo attack against Miya’s heart.

          “Good morning,” Miya repeated dazedly, green eyes immediately taking in every detail of the latent omega. Reki wasn’t wearing his headband and had a tank top on instead of one of his hoodies, which meant that the redhead was displaying a bare collarbone and neck along with his cute forehead that was already a known weakness of Miya’s.

          The prime alpha had to take a breath before speaking, lungs swallowing Reki’s scent. “Reki what are you doing here so early? And what’s with the grocery bags?”

          “O-oh these?” Reki looked down at the bags he was holding, “we haven’t had a chance to really hang out just the two of us since the beach trip, so I um, thought it would be a swell idea,” the redhead’s voice pitched a bit in embarrassment as he looked up at Miya with red cheeks, “to surprise my boyfriend by making him breakfast after his morning run.”

          Fatality.

          “Miya are you okay!?”

          Miya had to lean against the building for support, “J-just a bit dehydrated from my run,” he lied, closing his eyes, and taking deep breaths to recover from his near-death experience, “what are you planning on making?”

          “Pancakes. I’m really good at making them into shapes. I brought chocolate chips, M&M’s, and some fruit to decorate…. you do eat pancakes, right?”

          “I’d eat pancakes for every meal for the rest of my life if you were the one making them,” Miya replied, making eye contact with Reki.

          Reki blinked a few times before he began to shake with laughter, “I mean my pancakes are pretty fantastic, but I wouldn’t want that to be the only thing we eat together for the rest of our life.” He grinned as he knocked on Miya’s door, “may I come in?”

          “Sure,” Miya got out his keys, pausing before opening the door. “Ah, just a heads up, I’m the only one who has been living in the apartment so it may smell a bit…”

          “Like a prime alpha’s den? Well, thankfully you don’t smell completely atrocious.”

          Miya snorted, “wow, thanks.”

          “Don’t mention it,” Reki playfully winked, snickering at Miya’s eyeroll. However, once Miya opened the door, the redhead became more bashful as the alpha’s scent washed over them. “W-wow, it really just smells like you in here.” Reki murmured, cheeks pink as he stepped inside and made sure to take off his shoes, “pardon the intrusion.”

          Within seconds of entering the apartment, Reki’s scent began reacting. It wafted throughout the space like a solar wind, interlocking with Miya’s and establishing the territory as…

          Theirs.

          Miya’s heart melted; the goopy mess dripping down into his stomach and into his veins so that Miya’s body felt warm and bouncy.

          Was this what Reki felt like when he was engulfed in Miya’s scent and floating in space?

          “Can I place the bags in the kitchen?” Reki asked, casually running his fingers along the back of the couch Miya had in his living area. Miya wondered if the omega was even aware of what he was doing.

          Scenting.

          “Miya?”

          “W-what?” Miya jolted, green snapping up from where he had been mesmerized by Reki’s hand.

          Reki tilted his head and Miya forced himself to not focus on the curve of the omega’s neck. He instead focused on the redhead’s face. The face he was overwhelmingly in love with and now could see every detail of since he was now taller.

          Shit.

          “Is everything okay, Miya?”

          “Everything’s cool. I’m cool,” Miya took the bags from Reki’s hand, “I’ll put these in the kitchen. You can continue looking around. Or just sit on the couch. I have a TV.”

          “Yes, I can see that,” Reki replied with a smile, causing Miya’s face to simmer with a blush.

          Stay frosty, Miya.

          The younger teen quickly went into the kitchen with the bags so that he wouldn’t continue to ramble. He took out what Reki had brought and laid it out on the counter, lips turning up into a smile. Reki really did bring enough to make fancy pancakes. “Hey, what sort of shapes are you good at making?” He glanced over into the living area and was surprised to see that it lacked a redhead. “Reki? Where did you—”

          Oh no.

          If Miya thought he went into his kitchen quickly, he downright sprinted towards his bedroom. He knew he had left the door open and hoped that Reki was just in the bathroom.

          He wasn’t.

          Reki turned at the sound of Miya barreling into the bedroom, gold eyes sparkling. “You have a blanket fort!”

          “A what?”

          “Blanket fort!” Reki grinned, “I’ve made a bunch of them with my sisters. The twins like to be read bedtime stories in them. Though the ones we make aren’t nearly as awesome as yours since we have to be able to take them down easily. I wish we could make one as big.”

          Miya blinked a few times, taking a moment to realize that the blanket fort Reki was talking about was the prime alpha’s nest that took up a corner of his bedroom.

          All omegas made nests, but for alphas it was an impulse that only sometimes surfaced when there was an omega they were courting or already bonded with. Reki’s appearance had been a surprise, so Miya didn’t have a chance to make sure his nest was in perfect condition for inspection from an omega. Miya shuffled on his feet a bit, cheeks burning and feeling bashful at the praise. “…You really like it?”

          “Yeah! Can I check out the inside?”

           Miya’s heart rate spiked at the idea of Reki entering the nest, “I…um…I-I guess so. W-wait! Let me first turn on the lights.”

          “It even has lights!?”

          Miya nodded, heading over to the blanket fort aka his nest, and finding the switch to the fairy lights. “Okay, now you can—”

          Reki had already lifted back the blanket covering the entrance to the fort and crawled inside. Immediately, the omega made an excited chirp at the lit-up space. “It looks so cool with the lights inside~” He cooed, “I definitely want to get some for the next time I make a blanket fort at home. Though,” Reki's voice lowered into a pleased purr as he rubbed his face into the pillows, “it definitely won’t smell as good as yours. I feel like I’m in a space station made from pillows and blankets~”

          If Reki felt like he was in a space station, then Miya was a space craft traveling at lightspeed with how fast his heart was racing. The prime alpha bashfully watched Reki make himself cozy in the nest, the redhead adjusting pillows and even tunneling into the many blankets so that he was soon completely cocooned. Soft trills and chirps started to come out of Reki’s mouth, and Miya knew he needed to take a moment to calm down or else he’d combust. “I-I’m going to go take a shower. I’ll be right back.” Miya stammered, quickly gathering some clean clothes before hurrying out of the room.

~oOo~

          “Reki?” Miya called softly, lifting back the flap to the blanket fort. “You want to come out now?”

          No response.

          Miya leaned into the nest, finding the blanket cocoon that was Reki and managing to untuck enough of the redhead to see a pair of drowsy gold eyes. An affectionate chuff left Miya’s mouth, the alpha placing a kiss on Reki’s forehead and letting his lips linger. “Did you fall asleep?”

          “I only closed my eyes for a few seconds,” Reki mumbled, wiggling so that more of his face was sticking out. He brushed his nose along the underside of Miya’s jaw, letting out a content sigh. “You smell super good.”

          “Thanks,” Miya leaned closer to Reki so that the omega could continue his nuzzling on his neck, “I guess you also smell good.” He smirked as Reki pulled back to give him a cute pout.

          “You guess?”

          “Well, I smell good because I just showered. Right now, you’re just wrapped up in blankets of mine that haven’t been washed in who knows how long so—”

          “And here I was thinking of giving you a second good morning kiss,” Reki rolled away from Miya, “but I guess you don’t want one.”

          “Rekiiiiii,” Miya whined, crawling into the nest so he could wrap his arms around the Reki blanket burrito, “I lied. You smell amazing, so please give me a second kiss.”

          “No, you hurt my feelings. So, I won’t be giving you a kiss, but” Reki turned his head so that he could make eye contact with Miya, “you haven’t given me a good morning kiss yet.”

          Miya felt his body buzz. “Is that so?”

          “Yeah, you’re really slacking,” Reki twisted fully so that he was facing Miya. His cheeks were pink, gold eyes playful, “you should really try harder—”

          Miya’s mouth was already on Reki’s, lips capturing sunshine. He reveled in how Reki pressed into him to get closer, the redhead making that cute trill-purr that happened when they kissed. A rumble vibrated in the alpha’s chest, kisses slipping to different parts of Reki’s face. “Reki~” He crooned, watching with adoration as Reki kept leaning into his kisses. “Reki I—”

          Miya was cut off by a loud growl.

          From Reki’s stomach.

          “Nooooooooo,” Reki wailed, hiding his red face against Miya’s chest.

          “Reki it’s okay. It makes sense that you are hungry. I’m also—”

          “You don’t understand. I keep messing up the plan.”

          Miya gently tilted Reki’s face up, surprised to see that the omega looked genuinely distressed. “What plan?”

          “The ‘show my boyfriend how cute and irresistible I can be by surprising him with a morning kiss and out of this world pancakes, so he finally accepts the challenge to a beef’ plan!” Reki’s bottom lip began to wobble, “I-I only succeeded with the morning kiss. We were supposed to already be eating pancakes in shapes of skateboards, stars, and cats. Instead, I’m wrapped up like a burrito and I have no desire to not be a burrito because being wrapped up in a blanket that smells like you is amazing.”

          Miya brushed some of Reki’s hair out of his face, “and you don’t think that you’re being cute and irresistible right now?”

          Reki’s brows scrunched together, “no?”

          An affectionate huff left Miya’s mouth as he smiled, resting his forehead against the redhead’s. “I’m cuddling with a boyfriend burrito who thought to surprise me with a morning kiss. Plus, he also decided to not wear his signature headband, and I’m pretty sure he is fully aware that I find the sight of his forehead super cute and irresistible.”

          Reki grinned, impishly rubbing his nose against Miya’s. “I did at least know that.”

          “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence,” Miya replied, feeling his heart warm as Reki laughed.

          Reki was so…

          “Mesmerizing,” Reki murmured, and for a second Miya thought the omega was a mind reader.

          “W-what?”

          “The green polar lights scent is here.”

          “You mean the ‘hopelessly in love with Reki’ scent?” Miya teased, enjoying how Reki’s whole face turned red.

          “Y-yeah, that one,” Reki's brows bunched again, the omega opening his mouth as if to say something else. His cheeks darkened even more, “M-Miya I—”

          An even louder growl than before came from Reki’s stomach.

          Reki cussed, and Miya broke down laughing, kissing the redhead’s scowling face as he scooped his boyfriend burrito up into his arms. “Come on, I better get some food into you before you get loud enough to wake up the neighbors.”

          “Your neighbor is Langa, and I think the smell of pancakes would wake him up before my growling stomach,” Reki replied, resting his head in the crook of Miya’s neck, and peeking up at Miya with hopeful gold. “You are going to make me pancakes, right?”

          “Yes. Though the only shape I’ve made them in other than a circle is a heart. I can’t do anything fancy like cats or skateb—”

          “Hearts are fine! Hearts are totally fine!” Reki insisted, radiating with an excitement that made Miya feel like he was having a sunbath.

~oOo~

          “So, this is the same place you had your beef with Langa?” Miya asked, foot resting idly on his board as he glanced over at Reki. “The beef that no one witnessed, but you somehow beat him in.”

          “Hey. We didn’t need anyone to witness it, since it was a special moment for just the two of us,” Reki replied, pointing at Miya. “Just like now. No one else needs to be here but us. That doesn’t mean you can slack off just because there isn’t an audience. I expect you to try your hardest to beat me…because I’m going to try my hardest to beat you,” Reki looked away with pink cheeks, rocking his skateboard nervously back and forth with his foot, “to prove that I’m worthy to spend you know, infinity and beyond with you.”

          “Whatever you say, Buzz Lightyear,” Miya teased, smirking as gold eyes shot back to him with a glare.

          “You know what? Fine! Call me Buzz Lightyear and I’ll call you Star Command as my crappy term of endearment because unlike you I can’t just exclaim ‘I love you’ whenever I feel like it!”

          And that’s when Miya’s heart went intergalactic.

          Without thinking, the prime alpha pounced, Reki squawking as the two of them tumbled. They rolled, Reki ending up on top. “What the hell Miya!?”

          “Say it again. Please.”

          Reki blinked down at Miya in confusion. “You want me to call you Star Command again?”

          “You can call me whatever you like,” Miya reached up, cradling Reki’s face, “after you repeat that you love me.”

          Reki’s cheeks burned against Miya’s palms. He floundered for words before letting out a frustrated sigh. “…. I’ll do it after our beef.”

          “Reki!”

          “But only if you win.”

          “REKI!” Miya exclaimed, leaning up and aggressively nuzzling the redhead’s face. “I want to hear it now!”

          “No! Only if you win!”

          “And what happens if I lose!?”

          “Then I get to die from embarrassment at my own convenience and choosing.”

          Miya flopped back on the ground. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

          Reki’s lips pulled up into a coy grin, gold eyes smoldering against the indigo of night. “Really? I thought I was lucky because the prime alpha I chose to become a latent omega for happened to be in love with me.”

          “Who said I was in love with you? Maybe you first have to win the beef—” Miya started to counter but was stopped as a sunshower became tangled with his mouth.