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Jungkook was new to being an alpha. It was hard, being the youngest of the group, being the last to present. He was partially hoping he’d turn out to be a beta, skip all of the rutting and heat business, but much to his chagrin he woke up one morning with a fire under his skin and his dick swelling in his pants.
Of course being an alpha wasn’t all that bad, he understood he had the upper hand in society. It had been a long process pushing for omega rights throughout history, but the subgender still faced oppression. He knew how much harder it was for omegas, so he tried his best to understand them. Living in a dorm with three other omegas was interesting, the omegas had presented far before him, so he had plenty of time to observe their habits. But he was still young, and as a baby alpha there were plenty of things about the omegas he still didn’t understand.
He just hadn’t expected to fuck up this badly.
It had started when his clothes had started disappearing, at first it was just a few t-shirts that hadn’t turned up after he tossed them into his laundry bin. It wasn’t too big of a deal, with the amount of money he had a few shirts were really no big deal, still it was odd.
It didn’t bother him until it became a little more obvious that his things were going missing. A few hoodies, blankets, even one of his pillows had gone missing. It wasn’t that he was upset or angry, but he was definitely annoyed. He tried to think of reasons the other members would have taken his things, but his mind came up empty. What use would any of them have for his dirty laundry or his bedding? They had plenty of their own.
It took a week of his closet slowly shrinking for him to do something about it, approaching their leader before breakfast one morning, he asked, “Hey Namjoon, a lot of my clothes have been going missing. Do you know where they are?”
Jungkook had been expecting anything but Namjoon to flush and stutter. “S-Sorry, Kookie. I have no idea,” Namjoon had avoided eye contact with him. Jungkook huffed, he was definitely hiding something.
So if Namjoon knew something but wouldn’t tell him, he’d have to take matters into his own hands.
He searched the members rooms, from most to least likely to have taken his things. He started with Jimin, the omega borrowed a lot of things, though usually he asked first. Then he checked Taehyung’s room, then Hoseok, then Jin, then Namjoon. He came up empty after leaving every room. That only left one room left, Yoongi’s.
Jungkook didn’t go in Yoongi’s room often. The omega made him nervous. Ever since he had presented, Yoongi’s warm honeysuckle and cinnamon scent made him flustered if he were around it too long. Yoongi’s room was engulfed in honey, as soon as Jungkook opened the door he was struck with the scent, making his nose twitch. For as much as the room smelled like him, the omega hadn’t been using it lately. They had a comeback coming up and as usual, Yoongi spent most of his time cooped up in the studio. Come to think of it, Jungkook hadn’t seen him in a few days.
Stepping into his room, Jungkook was shocked to find his clothes stacked on Yoongi’s bed, curled around the perimeter of it, creating a pocket in the middle. Yoongi was the one who had been taking his clothes? It was odd to say the least. He’d have to ask his hyung about it later, but in the meantime he started unweaving his clothing and blankets from the way they had been carefully constructed, unraveling them to form piles on the floor.
He hadn’t expected Yoongi to come home so soon, but even less so his reaction to Jungkook pulling apart his blanket-pile.
“What are you doing?!” Yoongi cried, eyes welling with tears almost instantaneously as Jungkook froze, staring at Yoongi like a deer caught in headlights. The room that had previously smelled so sweetly became flooded with overwhelming cinnamon bitterness. Jungkook was still learning to pick up on the way emotions affected scents, but it was obvious that the room was filled with the scent of distressed omega.
“Yoongi?” Jungkook had asked gently, clothes forgotten as he dropped the hoodie he was holding. The alpha in him was writhing to help his omega. Well not his , but his alpha didn’t seem to know that.
“M-My nest,” Yoongi blubbered, hot tears rolling down his cheeks. It was a pitiful sight, the already small man shrinking in on himself, seeming impossibly small as he stood in the doorway.
“Your what?” Jungkook asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Yoongi cried even harder, running out of the room. Jungkook chased after him, only to be greeted by the rest of the members huddled in the living room, looking like they had just gotten home. Yoongi had run straight into Seokjin’s arms, seeking the comfort of an older omega.
“What happened?” Jimin demanded, glancing between Yoongi and Jungkook. Jimin wasn’t normally confrontational, but the three omegas of the pack tended to be a bit overprotective when one of them was upset. “We finally got him to come home and you made him cry?”
“I didn’t mean to,” Jungkook said petulantly, eyeing Yoongi who was sobbing into a growing wet spot on Seokjin’s sweater. “He’s the one who took my stuff, I was just trying to take it back. I don’t understand why he’s so upset.”
Namjoon sighed at that. The older alpha looked at Jungkook and the younger alpha immediately knew he was missing something. He didn’t understand, why was Yoongi so upset? “Come on, Jungkook. Let’s go talk in my room.”
Jungkook gulped as he followed Namjoon to his room, shuffling nervously as Namjoon shut the door behind him. “Hyung, I really didn’t mean to make him cry,” Jungkook mumbled. It was the truth, his head felt heavy with the image of Yoongi’s red nose and teary eyes. He’d been suppressing a crush on the omega ever since the group had debuted. Back then he was far too young to ever be with Yoongi, but after his presentation everything had changed. He had just been starting to feel like he might have a chance at courting Yoongi. He wasn’t so sure now, if the crushed look on Yoongi’s face was any indicator.
Namjoon smiled weakly. “I know you didn’t, Kookie. You’re still learning, it’s alright.”
“Why was he taking my stuff?” Jungkook asked, pouting. He was less annoyed knowing it was Yoongi who had taken his things. He’d let Yoongi have whatever he wanted, he just didn’t understand why he was the one under fire.
Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Have you ever heard of nesting?”
Jungkook frowned. He had, but he couldn’t quite place what it meant. It had definitely come up in a health class in high school, but he had never paid much attention to the omega discussions in class. He was pretty confident that if he wasn’t going to present as an alpha, he certainly wasn’t going to present as an omega. “I have, but I don’t know anything about it. I mean Yoongi said something about his nest before he started crying, but I don’t really get it.”
Namjoon nodded, “Omegas make nests whenever they need comfort. Usually they make them before their heats, but some omegas make them whenever they need to feel safe. Yoongi has been stressed about our comeback, so he’s been making a nest. He does it when the rest of us are gone, that’s why you never see him at home, a nest is very personal to an omega.” Namjoon paused, scanning Jungkook’s expression. “Are you following?”
“I guess,” Jungkook shrugged. Most of what Namjoon said sounded familiar. He had seen Jimin gathering Hoseok and Taehyung’s clothes once before one of his heats and Jin taking Namjoon’s things every so often. “But why just my things? His um… nest? It was only my clothes and bedding.”
Namjoon fiddled with his hands. He seemed uncomfortable, but Jungkook didn’t understand why. “I don’t know how to phrase this, but omegas usually take things that have scents that comfort them. Omegas can find comfort in the scents of their pack, but usually they prefer the scent of someone they see as a m-mate,” Namjoon stammered.
Jungkook didn’t know what to think. Did Yoongi see him as a potential mate? Honestly, Jungkook had no idea. Yoongi had never seemed to show much interest in alphas or mating or romance in general. For as long as he had known him, Yoongi looked at him as nothing but a dongsaeng. Jungkook felt his chest swell at the possibility that Yoongi might be interested in him. “So Yoongi finds my scent comforting?”
Namjoon nodded warily. “I don’t want to say anything personal, you know Yoongi’s pretty reserved about his emotions. But he’s been taking a lot of your things to deal with his stress.”
Jungkook grinned, his alpha rejoicing. Though his smile quickly dropped as he heard a whimper from the living room. Apparently Yoongi had found comfort in him, and Jungkook had torn that away like a moron. “Shit,” he muttered. “How do I fix it?”
Namjoon looked at him sympathetically. “I’m not sure, bud. I don’t mean to generalize, but omegas can be pretty sensitive, especially when it comes to the way their alphas treat them,” Jungkook tried not to be too happy about the insinuation that he was Yoongi’s alpha. “My best advice is to give him a little space for now and talk to him when he’s feeling better.” Namjoon chuckled lightly, “I don’t think you have much choice. Jin and Jimin might tear your head off if you try to get near him right now.”
So Jungkook tried to leave Yoongi alone. It wasn’t too hard, if he wasn’t spending the night at his studio, he was sleeping over in Jimin’s room. It had been a week before Jungkook started to get frustrated. It went from trying to give the omega space to never getting a moment to speak to him. He had barely spoken a word to Yoongi, aside from practice or filming. It was agitating, always being an arms distance away when he could feel that the omega was still upset.
It took another week before he was finally able to get to speak to Yoongi alone. The rest of the group had gone to dinner. Yoongi of course refused, insisting he was too tired, hurrying off to bed. Jungkook had decided to stay home as well, ignoring Jimin’s death glares.
As soon as the member’s had filtered out of the door, Jungkook made his way over to Yoongi’s door, knocking softly. He was met with silence, for a moment he thought maybe Yoongi had already been knocked out. The man slept like a rock, it wouldn’t be surprising. But after a moment he heard a soft, “Come in” from behind the door.
Jungkook opened the door gingerly, letting the smell of honey embrace him. Yoongi was curled up under the covers. Only Yoongi’s blankets were on his bed, Jungkook noted. All of his own things were folded neatly in piles on the floor.
“Oh, Jungkook,” Yoongi had mumbled as he noticed who had knocked on his door. “Why didn’t you go eat with everyone?”
“I wanted to talk to you,” Jungkook said, taking hesitant steps towards his bed. He wasn’t sure how close he should get, but he decided it couldn’t hurt to sit at the end of the omegas bed.
Yoongi frowned, “You can have your stuff back, if that’s what you’re going to ask. I meant to give it back, but I haven’t gotten a chance to wash it yet. I’m pretty sure you won’t want my gross scent all over your clothes,” Yoongi laughed bitterly. “Sorry for freaking out on you, damn omega hormones make me so obnoxious.”
Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. “Your scent isn’t gross, hyung. I like it,” Yoongi looked at him incredulously. “I don’t blame you for getting upset either, I didn’t really understand why you had taken my stuff. N-Namjoon explained it to me,” Jungkook blushed. He knew it was natural that as the youngest alpha he would have to have a few alpha to alpha talks with the leader, but it was still embarrassing. “You can take my stuff if you want to, for your n-nest.”
Yoongi stared at him wide-eyed. “You don’t mind?”
Jungkook shook his head. “Of course not, Yoongi. If my scent is comforting, you can have as much of my stuff as you need.”
Yoongi smiled shyly. “Thanks, Kookie. I’ll try to ask next time.”
Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck. “No need, you’re welcome to anything of mine. I just want you to feel safe, hyung. I’m sorry that I ruined your nest.”
Yoongi’s smile dropped. Jungkook internally scolded himself, he probably wasn’t supposed to bring it up. “I did work hard on it,” Yoongi pouted.
“I could help you rebuild it!” Jungkook offered hurriedly, blushing as soon as his mind had caught up with the words coming out of his mouth. “I-If you want me to, of course. I know nests are kind of personal so I really don’t want to intrude-”
“You would do that?” Yoongi asked, staring at Jungkook owlishly. “You don’t think it’s weird? Alphas don’t really nest.”
“Well I can’t say I’d be any good, and it is a little weird. I don’t really think it’s in my instinct,” Jungkook admitted with a shrug. “But I definitely want to try if you’d like me to.”
“I’d like that,” Yoongi said demurely, looking up at Jungkook through his eyelashes.
So they spent the next hour carefully weaving Jungkook’s things into a somewhat passable nest. Jungkook was clumsy, his work looked like it had been done by a child compared to Yoongi’s work. Yoongi didn’t seem to mind though, giggling as his experienced hands guided Jungkook’s fumbling ones. Before Jungkook knew it, they had formed a circle, one that would perfectly encase Yoongi.
They sat on the floor, looking up at their handiwork. Jungkook was a little out of breath, it took a lot of focus crafting a nest, he would probably cry if someone destroyed it too. He glanced at Yoongi, who was flashing a gummy smile at him. “Am I forgiven now?” Jungkook asked hopefully. “I sure hope so, that was a lot of work.”
“I was never mad at you,” Yoongi admitted, looking down at his lap. “I was upset, but I was never mad. I do appreciate you helping me, though. You did well, it feels even more special now.”
Jungkook felt the urge to wrap Yoongi in his arms and never let him go. It was almost painful, being surrounded by the omega’s scent and having the omega praise him, he could barely contain himself. “I’m glad you like it.”
Yoongi nodded before pulling himself to his feet. He held out his hand to Jungkook, who took it, allowing the omega to pull him up. Yoongi looked shy for a moment, “Do you want to share it with me?” Jungkook’s eyes widened. “I-I just mean we could cuddle? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable-”
“I’d love to,” Jungkook interjected, ignoring the heat rising to his face.
Yoongi smiled, taking his hand before leading him over to his bed. It was difficult, maneuvering into a comfortable position and fitting both of them inside of the nest, but eventually they made it work. Jungkook tried to will his heart to stop thumping so rapidly as Yoongi curled against his side.
Yoongi was never outward about his need for physical affection. He was usually pretty passive aggressive about it, standing a little too close to another member, hoping eventually they would get the hint and give him a hug. Jungkook had never been touchy with Yoongi, not for lack of wanting to. He’d wanted to hold him close ever since he’d realized his feelings for the other, but he’d always been too nervous to ever initiate anything. Having Yoongi pressed flush against him, blanketing him in warmth, felt a bit like a dream.
They laid there for a little while, just listening to each other’s heartbeat, letting their scents intertwine. Jungkook knew it was a little too intimate to be considered friendly, but he didn’t question it. This was Yoongi’s room, Yoongi’s nest, he would let the omega call the shots.
“Jungkook,” Yoongi mumbled softly, looking up at the younger. “I like being close to you like this.”
“Me too,” Jungkook replied, reaching up to stroke Yoongi’s hair. He was surprised to hear a soft rumble from Yoongi’s throat. Holy shit, the omega was actually purring . Jungkook was convinced he’d died and gone to heaven.
“I really am sorry that I took your stuff without your permission,” Yoongi mumbled, hiding his face in Jungkook’s chest. “I’ve just been really worried about the comeback and your scent keeps me grounded. You make me feel safe, alpha,” Yoongi said, eyes blinking slowly. Jungkook could tell the omega was getting sleepy, probably from being so comfortable. Not to mention the dark circles under his eyes, Yoongi probably hadn’t gotten quality sleep in weeks.
Jungkook almost didn’t notice how Yoongi had addressed him. He had called him alpha . It made his chest seize in adoration. He had Yoongi sleepily cuddled into his arms in a nest they built together. It was too perfect, and he knew they would eventually have to talk about what this meant for their relationship. But for now Jungkook was content to bury his nose in Yoongi’s hair and breathe in as much sweet cinnamon and honey as his lungs could take.
Yoongi eventually drifted off, snoring softly against Jungkook’s collarbone. Jungkook himself felt his eyes droop, but he forced them to stay open a few moments longer to gaze at the serene expression on Yoongi’s face.
“Sleep well, Yoongi. Alpha’s got you.”
None of the members were surprised when they came home to find the two sleeping soundly, wrapped up in each other.