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Ask any alpha what their favorite aspect of their partner’s heat is and they’ll likely give a rather predictable answer: the nonstop, unprotected and unbridled sex marathon.
Kuroo loves that, he really does. Getting a week off from work to nest up with his favorite kitten and pound him relentlessly whenever and however he wants? That’s the dream.
But after.
Kuroo has Kenma’s heat down to a science by now. He knows when it’s coming, when Kenma needs a break, and exactly when Kenma’s had his fill. Emotions run high and Kenma’s hormones run his body ragged. As his alpha, Kuroo makes sure to cater to all of Kenma’s primal needs during a heat. Kuroo prides himself on his abilities to be there for Kenma, to alleviate the pain that can accompany heats. But it's essential to have a steady routine set in place to comfort his omega after that final knot.
Kuroo dislodges himself from Kenma’s arms. Buried in the nest, only Kenma’s ratty hair is visible splayed across Kuroo’s Nekoma sweatshirt that he keeps on his pillow during his heats.
First thing’s first, Kuroo has to shower and let Kenma sleep. Kenma’s always had intense heats, even when he had just presented, and Kuroo’s always been there. He knows what Kenma needs and he loves to see how docile his kitten is after an intense heat. Kuroo can take care of Kenma however he wants without complaint from his omega and that’s why Kuroo loves heat weeks.
After his shower, Kuroo orders Kenma’s favorite foods to be delivered, cleans the bedroom without disturbing Kenma, and starts a hot bubble bath for his omega. Soon, Kenma is stirring in the bed. His voice is small and slightly scratchy, but Kuroo knows he’s calling for him.
Still in just his sweatpants, chest bare because Kuroo knows that Kenma needs skin-to-skin contact in this vulnerable state, Kuroo pushes the covers away from Kenma’s face and brushes back his sweaty bangs to find the sweet soft face of his worn out omega.
“There’s my sweet kitten,” Kuroo purrs, scenting the space with calming, protective pheromones.
Golden eyes gaze back at him with sleepy contempt, lids heavy and brows furrowed in grumpy exhaustion. They say, you did this to me; you couldn’t go easy on me? Kuroo wants to laugh and remind Kenma that he demanded Kuroo’s treatment.
Instead, he pulls Kenma into his lap and squishes his face into his chest. He can sense Kenma’s mood lift at the contact. The omega practically purrs as he rubs his round cheeks on Kuroo’s pecs.
“Sh, sh… good boy.” Kuroo runs his fingers through tangled hair haltingly. “Will you drink some water?”
Kenma grunts, rubs his face and grumbles incoherent assent.
“Well, I’m not giving you an option, really,” Kuroo chastises.
Despite Kenma’s protests, he looks more alive after hydrating. Kuroo scoops him up in his arms and carries him to the bath, mindful of his sore and exhausted body.
The bathroom is filled with steam, Kenma’s bath filled to the brim with steaming water and an abundance of bubbles. Kuroo sets him in slowly so that his skin can adjust to the temperature. Leaning over the tub, Kuroo lingers for a moment in the wide, hazy eyes that blink back at him.
The lights are off; flickering candles surround the two of them, tossing warm, shimmering light to bounce off the water and Kenma’s eyes. Kuroo smiles, drops a light peck to Kenma’s warm lips, moisture gathered on the top one.
“Mm…” Kuroo soaks up the contented pheromones released by Kenma.
The tension dissipates from Kenma’s shoulders and he leans his head back on the edge of the tub while Kuroo strokes his tummy, the fleeting thought of it being filled with his pups pulls at Kuroo’s heart.
“When are we gettin’ you pregnant, little omega?” Kuroo voices his thoughts.
“Mmmm, not fair, Tetsu,” Kenma whines. His voice pitters out into a soft whimpering. Kuroo caught him at his most vulnerable. (The optimal time to present the idea and garner the desired results, if you ask Kuroo).
But Kuroo relents, chuckling a little and stroking Kenma’s head with the hand that isn’t on his stomach. “I’m sorry. You know I can’t help but think about it after…”
“After you knotted me every night this last week?”
Kuroo blushes at Kenma’s frankness. His eyebrows pinch over closed eyes, hands turning up in supplication. He whimpers softly. “I am a weak man, Kenma, stop,” he whines.
Water sloshes in the tub alongside a light scoff from Kenma’s lips. Long, wet fingers push through Kuroo’s hair. Droplets escape down the nape of his neck making him shiver. He leans into Kenma’s hand like a cat.
“Soon, Kuro. You promised you’d be okay with waiting another year.” Kenma’s voice is soft and soothing. Who’s the one after-caring here again?
Kuroo catches Kenma’s hand where it drops down to his cheek and holds it there firmly. “Longest year of my life,” he pouts, eliciting a true laugh from Kenma.
“Easy enough for you to say, Alpha, all you have to do is pop a fat knot,” Kenma teases. He’s joking, Kuroo knows, and his eyes glint with fondness but still Kuroo is somewhat indignant.
“Kenma,” he breathes. “That is not true; I will do everything for you.”
Kenma bites his lip, cutting off his light laughter and replaces his mirthful expression with a rare soft one; he leans his forehead against Kuroo’s. “I know. You’re the perfect alpha… and you’ll be a great father,” he whispers.
Another dangerous side effect that always catches Kuroo off-guard: post-heat Kenma is so honest with his emotions and soft. Kuroo’s heart hardly makes it each time.
Kenma kisses him sweetly and Kuroo blinks back the burning in his eyes (damn candles…).
The heat of the steam, Kenma’s lips and sweet talk… Kuroo has to contain himself when he slips out of his sweats and slots himself behind Kenma in the tub. Realistically, Kuroo’s too exhausted and Kenma’s body is far too sensitive coming right off his heat for anything to happen. Still, Kuroo’s stomach stirs when Kenma leans back against his chest and he noses the bond mark on his silky, slender neck. Not that bond marks are as common or necessary anymore, but Kuroo still feels that primal swell of pride and possession when he sees the one he left on Kenma. Especially after long weekends away from his omega for work, Kuroo likes to know that not only is Kenma his, but proudly so, and nobody would dare touch what’s his.
“Mine,” Kuroo murmurs against Kenma’s skin which warms under his breath and vibrates when Kenma hums, not quite hearing him.
Kuroo gets to work washing Kenma’s hair. Using just his fingers at first, he works on some of the knots that have accumulated over the past week. He can feel Kenma nodding off under his fingertips, the sleepy lulling of his head interspersed with leaning into Kuroo’s touch like a needy kitten. After lathering and washing Kenma’s hair with shampoo, Kuroo combs conditioner into it, letting the product sit while he carefully washes Kenma’s body, rinsing the suds off of his shoulders and replacing them with a kiss—shoulders, back of his neck, chest, tummy, the inside of each knee, Kuroo makes sure to lavish each part in adoration.
Kenma’s going to get overheated soon, so Kuroo helps him out of the tub and into a plush towel.
A few minutes later, Kuroo’s had some time to take some of Kenma’s nest off of the bed and throw them in the wash, leaving some of the more sentimental pieces that Kenma still needs as he recovers. Kenma comes shuffling out of the bathroom and a big fluffy robe, cheeks rosy and eyes cloudy with satisfaction. He nuzzles into Kuroo’s open arms and lets his alpha pepper kisses all over his face.
Kuroo hugs Kenma’s shoulders tight and leans back to look at his omega. “I set up the console but I wasn’t sure which game you wanted,” Kuroo says, smiling at the small pout on Kenma’s face as he tilts his chin up in a silent plea for more kisses. Obviously not one to deny his omega of anything, Kuroo dips his head down to meet Kenma’s needy lips. Kenma responds with a light hum, hooking his hands over Kuroo’s biceps and raising up on his toes to press further into the kiss. Such a needy kitten, but Kuroo can’t fall into his trap or else his whole routine would have to be started all over again.
Gently, he pushes Kenma onto the bed and escapes back into the bathroom. When he returns, Kenma has picked out a game to play and is well-occupied with it, barely noticing Kuroo sitting on the bed behind him. Taking Kenma’s wet hair in his hands, he brushes it gently. The knots give way easily thanks to Kuroo’s expertise from years and years of experience conditioning Kenma’s long, thick hair. He blow-dries it, gently running his fingers through the strands. Kenma shivers, goosebumps rising on the back of his neck. When Kuroo’s done, he wraps his arms around Kenma’s waist and squeezes, nosing his way into Kenma’s sweet smelling and silky hair. This is one of the only times Kenma lets his alpha blow-dry his hair for him, so Kuroo loves reveling in the aftermath.
“You’re so weird,” Kenma chuckles.
Kuroo loves the feeling of his omega’s laughter against his chest. “You’re so pretty,” he sighs, nosing against his reddening ear.
“Stop…” Kenma mumbles, eyes fixated on his game over a losing battle with a dopey smile.
Kuroo sighs, sitting up and running his fingers through Kenma’s hair again. Parting it in two pieces, Kuroo decides between dutch or french braids today. Braiding Kenma’s hair is an integral part of their post-heat ritual. Kenma will allow a single braid on most normal days Kuroo feels like doing it for him or if it’s windy and he doesn’t want Kenma’s hair to tangle, but only during the post-heat ritual is Kuroo allowed to do the piggy-tail braids and maybe put some bows in.
Kenma’s practically purring by the time Kuroo is finished with the second braid. The gentle tugs on his scalp coupled with Kuroo’s fingers combing through his hair relaxes him every time. Kuroo tugs playfully on the braids a bit, admiring his work. Kisses the back of Kenma’s neck.
“Alpha…”
“Hm?” Kuroo perks up.
“I’m starving,” Kenma huffs.
“Oh shit!” Kuroo forgot to heat up Kenma’s food. He sprints from the bedroom, Kenma’s laughter following him out.
He’s waiting for the timer to declare the food’s ready when he hears Kenma padding into the kitchen. Kenma’s in a thin t-shirt and some soft shorts and cradling their cat in his arms.
“Hi there,” Kuroo chirps, reaching out to scratch Link between the ears.
Two pairs of cat eyes blink up at him. “Have you seen my phone?” Kenma tilts his head.
“Uh…” Kuroo hesitates. Both of their phones are in Kuroo’s office, the two preferring to keep them out of reach during and shortly after Kenma’s heat. Kuroo read a book once that it was important for bonded mates to utilize this time to isolate themselves from outside distractions and strengthen their relationship. Of course, Kuroo will check both of their phones after the heat just to be certain there weren't any emergencies while they were… Well, bonding. He hasn’t done that yet today, so wrapped up in his omega still.
“I just wanted to know if Keiji texted me. He’s waiting on some news,” Kenma says. Pressing a hand to Kuroo’s abdomen, Kenma’s eyes focus on the tan skin beneath his fingers. He looks a little… spacey.
“Yeah, yeah. Be right back.” Kuroo wraps his fingers around Kenma’s wrist and kisses his forehead before jogging down the hall to his office.
When Kuroo returns, Kenma is pulling the food out of the microwave and setting it on the counter.
“Oh no, I got it! You don’t have to get your own food, Kenma…”
Kenma levels him with a mirthful smirk. “Kuro, I can get my own food,” he says not unkindly. He shakes his head at his doting alpha. “Did Keiji text me?”
“Oh, yeah uh…” Kuroo looks at the phone in his hand, keying in Kenma’s passcode. His breath catches at the message on the screen.
Oh.
That’s what Kenma meant by ‘news.’
Well… Kuroo chews on his lip as he looks up at Kenma’s expectant face. How is he going to take this? Kuroo himself feels… strange. Jealous? Excited? …Sad?
“Keiji- Keiji’s pregnant,” Kuroo breathes.
Kenma’s eyes widen immediately, welling with tears. Still, his face is somewhat unreadable but his chest moves rapidly. Kuroo can almost see his fluttering pulse.
They stare at each other in heavy silence for a moment—Kenma biting his lip, Kuroo breathlessly taken by his omega’s beautiful eyes filled with emotion.
“Wow,” Kuroo exhales.
Kenma smiles a little, blinking back tears. He nods.
Kuroo knows. How he’s feeling. What was said earlier, in the bathtub. What they’re both thinking now despite that conversation.
Kenma’s eyebrows pinch together as Kuroo lunges for him, a smile spreading across his face, mirroring Kenma’s. He picks up his omega by the waist and Kisses him long and indulgently. He tastes salty and sweet, pheromones surrounding them both. Kenma wraps his legs around Kuroo’s waist and kisses him back.