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The first few days after Kim Dokja returned from the void of space, his scent was gone. It gave Yoo Joonghyuk a bit of anxiety, not being able to smell his mate even if the man was in front of him the entire time. Even in the middle of the night, Yoo Joonghyuk had to press Kim Dokja close to him, to assure himself that all his efforts paid off and Kim Dokja was safely back in his arms. He buried his nose at the junction of Kim Dokja’s neck and shoulder, trying to inhale the once familiar scent and instead only smelling the sterile hospital gown.
He brought it up to Kim Dokja, who could only shrug.
“I’m not sure what’s happening, my scent gland must not be awake yet,” Kim Dokja laughed as Yoo Joonghyuk morosely pouted. “It’ll come back soon. I think.”
Yoo Joonghyuk huffed and continued to peel the apple in his hands. He hoped it returned soon.
The absence of Kim Dokja’s scent turned into a problem when they went out for groceries.
Yoo Joonghyuk encouraged (forced) Kim Dokja to accompany him on walks to exercise his recovering body. Short trips to the market were currently all Kim Dokja could manage.
Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes at the red fruits in Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand. “Joonghyuk, if you add those tomatoes to the basket…”
Yoo Joonghyuk added the tomatoes to the basket and smirked as he heard Kim Dokja swear under his breath. Kim Dokja needed a healthy and balanced diet, not whatever he used to eat before the apocalypse. They slowly made their way to the meat section and Yoo Joonghyuk loaded the basket with different cuts of meat.
“Are you eating all of that by yourself?” asked Kim Dokja, staring warily at the almost full basket.
“You and me.”
“Are you trying to gain weight or something? You know I don’t eat that much.”
“You’re the one that needs to gain weight.” Yoo Joonghyuk muttered as his eyes swept over Kim Dokja’s thin figure. Muscle atrophy, a sad side effect from being pieced together from numerous worldlines. He was slowly fattening up his omega, sneaking in extra fatty portions and veggies when Kim Dokja peeked at his phone during meals.
(That was the only reason Yoo Joonghyuk allowed Kim Dokja to stare at that damned device)
“Can I grab some chips?”
Yoo Joonghyuk paused. On one hand, potato chips were terribly unhealthy and he would never allow those things in his home. On the other hand, the fat and sodium content would be good…
He also knew that Kim Dokja wasn’t able to indulge in chips when he was younger.
“Go ahead,” assented Yoo Joonghyuk, “Grab some for Mia and Yoosung as well.”
“Got it!” Kim Dokja walked off to a different aisle while Yoo Joonghyuk continued perusing the different meats.
About five minutes passed and Yoo Joonghyuk settled on a few steaks and ground beef. It was enough to last them for a while. With the ingredients for the rest of the week’s dinner in hand, Yoo Joonghyuk went to look for Kim Dokja, hoping that the omega didn’t have his arms laden with chip bags.
It didn’t take very long to find Kim Dokja, but he wasn’t expecting someone to be bothering them.
A tall alpha was leering over Kim Dokja, who was trying to focus on the chips in front of him. “Are you sure you’re an omega? You don’t really smell like one.”
“I am,” Kim Dokja said with a tinge of annoyance, “There’s a long winded explanation about why, but I don’t want to bore you with the details.”
“I don’t mind listening,” the alpha had the gall to link an arm around Kim Dokja’s shoulders, “tell me more.”
Kim Dokja shuddered and quickly stepped back, “I have an alpha already, can you just leave me alone? If he shows up, he's definitely going to murder you.”
“You don’t have to lie, I fix broken omegas all the time. We can induce your heat with—”
“…Broken?”
Yoo Joonghyuk caught the tail end of the conversation and stomped over to where the alpha and Kim Dokja awkwardly stood. He pulled Kim Dokja away from the alpha and held him in a protective hold.
“Leave,” Yoo Joonghyuk growled, “Don’t make me say it twice.” Yoo Joonghyuk released his pheromones, a dark snarl on his face as he glared at the other alpha. The aura around Yoo Joonghyuk was heavy and intimidating, eventually scaring off the alpha. The tiny crowd of random spectators slowly dispersed, leaving Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk alone in the snack aisle.
Kim Dokja was the first to speak. “I’m okay.”
“Don’t lie,” said Yoo Joonghyuk.
Kim Dokja bit his lip and took a step away from Yoo Joonghyuk. “I’m fine,” he insisted, “I could’ve handled that myself.”
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t comment on the slight tremble of Kim Dokja’s shoulders and the paleness of the omega’s face. “Let’s go home.”
Kim Dokja nods listlessly and follows Yoo Joonghyuk to the cashier so they can pay for their groceries. As Yoo Joonghyuk hands the cashier some bills, he takes note of how Kim Dokja’s eyes dull and he mindlessly rubs his arms.
Subtle, but nothing can escape Yoo Joonghyuk’s gaze.
They exit the store, both holding a plastic bag of groceries. Kim Dokja is uncharacteristically silent, staring towards the pavement instead of the pole that was approaching. Yoo Joonghyuk uses his free hand to grab Kim Dokja’s arm and swerve him away from the impending damage to his forehead.
“H-Huh?” Kim Dokja looked up and blinked at the pole. “Was that always there?”
“Yes. You were a second away from running into it and giving yourself a concussion.” If Kim Dokja somehow landed himself in the hospital again, Yoo Joonghyuk would explode.
“Oh, oops.” Kim Dokja let out a quiet laugh, “I’ll watch out next time.”
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, “Are you alright?”
“I told you I was fine.” Kim Dokja scowled, “That alpha was just a creep.” Kim Dokja rubbed the back of his neck and froze. “Ah, but I guess that guy was sort of right...”
Blood boiling, Yoo Joonghyuk scowled, “Don't listen to that bastard.” He tightened his grip on Kim Dokja’s arm, “your scent will return.” He said that with almost 100% certainty.
“It’s not as if I care about my scent. If anything, now people won’t discriminate against me for being an omega.” Kim Dokja rolled his eyes, “It’s a little annoying to declare what I am, but I can just deal with it.”
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at the pale expanse of Kim Dokja’s neck, bites from the other day already fading. “I think I have a way to solve this.”
“Huh? You better not suggest those gross smelling perfumes, those are disgusting.”
“There’s a better way to replace your scent.” Yoo Joonghyuk slowly placed the groceries on the ground and began to shed his dark overcoat.
“Hey, it’s the middle of winter!” Kim Dokja exclaimed, “put your coat back on or else you’ll freeze to death..”
“No, I’ve been through worse.” Like the chilling freeze of outer space. “You should put it on. I can hold your groceries while you do so.” Yoo Joonghyuk carefully draped the coat over Kim Dokja’s shoulders.
Kim Dokja gave his alpha an incredulous look, “Are...are you serious?”
“Yes.” Yoo Joonghyuk held out a hand, “Hand me your groceries.”
“I wasn’t talking about that!” The coat almost fell from Kim Dokja’s shoulders, but he quickly caught it, “I meant your coat, put it back on. It looks better on you anyways.”
“If you wear it, no one will question that you’re taken.”
Kim Dokja groaned and put his hands through the oversized sleeves. The ends of the sleeves had to be pulled past his wrist and they hung loosely from his arms. He waved the excess cloth towards Yoo Joonghyuk, lightly, yet playfully slapping the alpha on the cheek. “So is this what you wanted?”
Yoo Joonghyuk gave his omega a good look from top to bottom. The coat was indeed a size too big, but at least his scent was now undoubtedly Yoo Joonghyuk’s. That was his most used coat, so of course his scent would linger on the fabric.
He nodded. “Yes.”
Kim Dokja let out a snort. “You’re so weird.” He sniffed the collar of the coat and his face flushed red. “Your pheromones smell…”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“No, it’s...comforting.” Kim Dokja blushed, “thanks.”
If Yoo Joonghyuk had a tail, it would be wagging right now. Secretly glad his plan worked, he returned Kim Dokja’s grocery bag to him. With his free hand, he held Kim Dokja’s hand.
“Oh, so bold?” Kim Dokja shot him a cocky grin. "Do you need me to hold your hand to cross the street?"
Yoo Joonghyuk smirked, “Is it wrong to want to hold my dear omega?”
Kim Dokja choked on air and he coughed, looking away to hide his embarrassment. “Shut up...Don’t stare at me like that.”
“I pay attention to the road, unlike you.”
Kim Dokja scowled but slightly closed the distance between him and his alpha, walking as close as possible without bumping shoulders. The walk to their home wasn’t very far, but Yoo Joonghyuk could see the fatigue in Kim Dokja’s face.
“Do you need a break? There's a bench nearby.”
“Nah, we’re almost there.” Kim Dokja waved him off and quickened his pace. Yoo Joonghyuk easily matched it and made sure to keep a steady hold on Kim Dokja.
When they finally arrived home, Kim Dokja was out of breath as he quickly dropped his bag of groceries on the kitchen table. Yoo Joonghyuk followed and began to unbag all of the groceries and place them into their proper cabinets. While Yoo Joonghyuk was distracted by the groceries, Kim Dokja slipped into the living room.
As Yoo Joonghyuk sorted through the multiple bags of chips, he called out, “Kim Dokja? Which chips are yours?”
No reply.
“Kim Dokja?”
Still no response.
Slightly concerned over his omega, Yoo Joonghyuk searched for Kim Dokja. It didn’t take very long to find him.
Kim Dokja was curled on the couch, clutching Yoo Joonghyuk’s coat close to his face. The omega was fast asleep, his chest steadily rising and falling with each breath. The coat made Kim Dokja look small, buried under the large coat that was now a makeshift blanket.
The scene was too adorable and Yoo Joonghyuk couldn’t help but take his phone out to take a picture. Before he returned to groceries, Yoo Joonghyuk felt his nose twitch. Something— something was in the air.
It was sort of familiar. The smell was similar to fresh citrus with undertones of fresh mint. Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes widened.
This...this was familiar. Yoo Joonghyuk sniffed the air, and walked toward the source: Kim Dokja. He kneeled and leaned over to take a whiff of the omega’s nape. Yoo Joonghyuk smiled as he confirmed the smell. This was his dear omega’s smell. It finally returned.
Yoo Joonghyuk rubbed his face against Kim Dokja’s neck, relishing in the long lost scent. He pressed a kiss against Kim Dokja’s scent gland, hopefully eliciting more of the pleasant smell. He felt like a starved person finally allowed to drink after a drought. A breath of fresh air for the deprived Yoo Joonghyuk.
“Thank you for coming back,” Yoo Joonghyuk murmured against Kim Dokja’s skin. He pressed more languid kisses against Kim Dokja’s neck before reluctantly letting go.
He needed to prepare dinner. Afterwards, he could return to cuddling with his omega.
Yoo Joonghyuk rose from his spot and gave Kim Dokja one last, loving look before returning to the kitchen.
A few minutes after Yoo Joonghyuk left, Kim Dokja opened his eyes to peek at his alpha. Yoo Joonghyuk was diligently working on dinner, a renewed look on the former regressor’s face.
Kim Dokja softly smiled as he held the coat closer to his body. The scent of Yoo Joonghyuk surrounded him, holding him and keeping him grounded. All of his alpha’s tender love and care paid off.