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The world slowed around Nix. The frantic scrambling of soldiers to retreat to nearby trucks slowed to the crawling of ants; their shoes scrambling for purchase as bullets licked the ground at their feet. Commands were loud around him but the words buzzed vacantly in his ears, a loud ringing noise more persistent and pressuring than the calls for a speedy retreat.
“Nix!” There was a pained, frantic shout within Nix’s vicinity. The voice was familiar; one of steadfast friendship that he’d come to love and depend on. He became aware of the weight of a hand on his shoulder and the warmth seeped through his clothes...
And the rest of the world snapped sharp into focus.
Lew became aware of the dusty dry ground beneath his back. There was a burn and an ache on his forehead. But none of that mattered.
Dick’s blue eyes bored into his and the weight of his hand began to warm Nix’s shoulder. Dick’s eyes roamed Lew’s face, taking in the pale sweaty countenance and the wide dark eyes. Lew wasn’t sure what Dick was seeing and the fear continued to light up his face and the hand on his shoulder began to shake.
“Am I alright?” Lew barely recognised his own voice. It was meek but surprised and he knew his own eyes would be filled with disbelief. Lew made to push himself up; needed to acknowledge that his brain still worked and limbs still functioned.
Dick’s growl made him still. It was loud and possessive, all consuming and Lew’s Omega brain stilled. Dick’s lips were pulled back taunt over white teeth. Instinctively, Lew’s eyes flicked up only to find the colour red bleeding into the iris’ of the Alpha in front of him. When Lew tried to move again, Dick’s growl persisted and he pushed the Omega flat to the ground. It seemed all sense of reason had fled Dick’s brain; the retreat long forgotten.
“Sir, we need to move!” Lipton’s voice buzzed somewhere behind them. Dick’s muscles coiled and his head snapped up to meet the NCO’s gaze. His fingers clasped tightly into the folds of Dick’s clothes in an effort to keep the Alpha from attacking. Lew looked up to meet Lipton’s eyes and saw the man’s face turn ashen when he met Dick’s red gaze. “Permission to retreat! Sir?” The words were choked as the Lipton took in the possessive guarded from of his senior officer.
“Permission granted!” Lew grunted beneath the heavy weight of Dick’s body. The Alpha’s attention immediately shifted back to Lew. His eyes were now completely red and zeroed in on Lew’s unmarked neck.
Lew’s eyes widened. Dick and he had discussed taking their relationship further than friendship; both having acknowledged the growing bond between Alpha and Omega. Neither could last without the other close by, any lengthy time period apart placing undue stress on their minds weakened and ravaged by war. But not here, not like this!
“Dick, please, we need to move-“ Lew’s words were cut off abruptly as Dick surged and placed teeth at his exposed throat. Fear rocketed through Lew’s body and he knew the sickly scent of Omega distress would reach the troops. The thought of a bite induced heat within enemy territory terrified Nix. The thought of being helpless and trapped, surrounded by enemies made his blood run cold. “Not here, Dick! Not where Jerry can see!”.
The words appeared to have some effect on the Alpha. Dick cocked his head to the side, the words obviously taking time to infiltrate. But the words matched Dick’s current need to protect and reminded him of the current situation at hand. Lew panted in distress, once more pushing uselessly against Dick’s solid frame.
“Please, Alpha. Not here!” The scent of Nix’s distress was finally noticed and the Alpha nodded and stood, pulling Nix with him as if he weighed nothing. When Nix stumbled the Alpha growled lowly, dragging him along by the arm towards a crowded military truck.
Lipton was already in front of them, barking orders at the recruits to vacate the truck and spaces elsewhere. There were a few grumbles and some were slow to move.
“Move, now!” Commanded Dick; tone harsh and unfeeling. The recruits moved with more purpose; the other Alpha’s in Easy company understanding their Alpha’s distress and hurrying the other men along. Nix was pulled alongside the Alpha, feet slipping in his attempts to keep up. A final snarl from Dick had the last few men scrambling from the truck; their belongs left behind.
With the truck empty, Dick hurried to push and shove Lew into the bed of the truck. Lew landed heavily on his front, the air rushing from his lungs. He wheezed and rolled onto his side, curling around the pain in his torso. There was a crinkle of plastic sheeting as Dick pulled the rolled sheet down past the entry of the truck. A low whine spilled from his lips; the shock and fear of the situation finally registering.
Dick turned to Nix, his face illuminated by a lantern the men had left behind. “Lew?” Some of the aggression and possessiveness had left his tone, replaced now with confusion and pain upon hearing Nix’s distress.
Finally able to refill his lungs, Nix met Dick’s worried gaze. The blue in his eyes had started to return though flecks of red still lingered close to the pupil. Putting effort into his arms, Nix pushed himself into a sitting position, simultaneously sliding himself along the wooden truck bed for distance.
A short sudden growl made him pause. “Stay.”
Subtlety, Lew nodded. His Omega wanted nothing more than to please the enraged Alpha. “Yes, Alpha.” Having been a high born Omega, and therefore chaperoned, Lew had never been around an Alpha in this state. He cursed his education and lack of knowledge as his pulse raced beneath his skin. Relying on instinct, Nix bared his neck. “What do you need, Alpha?”
Dick moved towards him on his hands and knees, head cocked to the side. It was clear he didn’t fully understand Lew, the animalistic part of his brain in control. “You. Lew. Nix.” His voice had yet to return to its usual calm and steady tone; a growl continued to mar his words. “Only you. My Omega.’
In seconds, Dick was upon Lew but instead of demanding submission and pushing Lew to the floor he paused and placed his nose against Lew’s neck. There was a deep inhale, and Dick pushed more readily against Lew’s neck and bonding gland. “Mine.”
Nix felt his face flame at Dick’s possessive words. He’d wanted this since jump school but hid his desire and needs beneath their close friendship. Their friendship had meant the most to him and he hadn’t been willing to risk it. This moment rivalled the day they had confessed their feelings; but the war had taken its toll and they hadn’t had time for further conversations.
As Dick pressed the length of his body along Lew’s, Lew’s voice cracked with emotion. “Yours, Dick. All yours.” He returned the scenting, pressing himself against Dick to absorb the scent of boot polish, leather, and something which could only be described as spring. Teeth scraped against Nix’s bonding gland but didn’t break the skin. Lips soothed the reddened skin. The action made Nix moan lowly, pressing his own mouth along Dick’s neck to silence the noise.
Dick’s hands snuck under Lew’s top, fingers skimming taunt muscle and grazed skin. The actions seemed above Dick’s comprehension; the need to protect and check his Omega clear in his concerned gaze. Although the movements were methodical, a sigh escaped Lew as he finally relaxed and pulse calmed.
“I thought I’d lost you-“ the arms which had snuck around Lew’s waist tightened considerably. “You went down!” The words were loud, distressed and raw. Again there was a mouth on Lew’s neck, grazing, pressing and kissing as if to affirm he was there. A broken keening noise filled the truck, covered the engines loud roar, and made Lew’s skin break out in Goosebumps.
“I’m ok, Dick. See, I’m ok!”
Dick nodded frantically, gently pushing Nix down until he was laying flat. The Alpha spread himself over Nix, his hands coming to rest on Nix’s shoulders. “Please let me see. Let me see you’re ok. Please.”
Hearing Dick beg, Dick who was so proud and perfect without vice or flaw, made tears come to Lew’s eyes. He nodded, afraid his voice wouldn’t stay.
Soft and gentle hands, hands which had held Lew close only once, felt around his forehead and into his hair line. He tried not to flinch when fingertips found the graze on his forehead. A soft murmur left his lips as Dick kissed the area, tongue sweeping to soothe the reddened area.
“Never do that again. Please, Lew. I couldn’t take it again.” Dick’s hands moved down Lew’s torso, pushing aside buttons and zips until his bare chest was exposed.
“I don’t plan to.” Nix shivered under Dick’s exploratory calloused hands, arching up into the touch. “I’m ok though, Dick. I promise.”
“I need to see for myself.”
Dick continued to explore Nix’s chest with his hands and mouth, gently kissing and licking at any bruises or cuts he found. Nix couldn’t help but respond in kind, his hands roaming Dick’s clothed back and gripping at his shoulders.
“I wish I could take you away from here,” Dick murmured gently as he found a dark bruise on Lew’s hip. “You shouldn’t be here, you’re too good for this.”
Lew chuckled lowly, “If I wasn’t here I’d have been married off with a brat on my hip right now.” As much as he joked, they both knew the truth behind Nix’s words. Before the outbreak of war, Lew’s father had already being looking at affluent matches in effort to further the family name.
“I’d have still come for you and claimed you as mine.” The light flickered over Dick’s face, illuminating his cleanly shaved cheek bones and freckled skin. The mention of another Alpha has made the red bleed back in Dick’s iris’ but this time Lew knew the Alpha had gathered his control. Instinctively, Lew’s chest vibrated with a purr at the picture the Alpha pained before them and he snuggled closer to the Alpha. “You’d want that?” Dick sounded pleased and moved so he could see Lew’s content expression.
A lazy smile graced Lew’s features and his dark eyes met Dick’s. “Why wouldn’t I?”
For a moment Dick looked troubled. A gentle whine from Nix had the Alpha looking away before he spoke. “ Earlier... I smelled your fear.” The Alpha dropped his head, forehead touching Nix’s. Dick’s cool breath shuddered across Lew’s face as he attempted to gather his emotions.
Nix shivered involuntarily; all earlier feelings of joy and easiness evaporating. “I was... I was scared, Dick.” Honesty; he knew Dick would appreciate it even if the words cut deeply. “We were surrounded and you weren’t yourself.” He took a deep breath and continued. “I thought you were going to mark me and the thought of a heat when we were surrounded and retreating...” Lew trailed off as he felt his heart race at the memory alone. He moved into Dick’s embrace, fighting to soothe the pain of his words.
A snarl vibrated through Dick’s chest but he clutched at Lew and pressed the Omega closer. “I lost control, Nix... but I would never do anything to risk you.” As if demonstrating his words, Dick nuzzled against Nix’s bonding gland. “Never you.”
The scent of contentedness (whiskey, pen ink, and old paper) filled the bed of the truck as Lew moved so both were on their sides facing each other. It made Lew’s shorter height less of a hinderance and their mouths only fractions apart. “I want it, Dick. I want you,” he clarified. “I want to be yours. But when we have time, and when we’re safe.”
“Oh, Lew, I’ll wait for you,” Dick breathed, eyes wide at his confession. “Only when we’re safe so we have all the time we need.” His eyes drifted to Lew’s parted lips. “Can I kiss you?”
Nix couldn’t stop the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I thought you’d never ask.” Dick’s lips met Lew’s softly and gently, his earlier fears of rushing Lew still present. It wasn’t the perfect kiss; their lips were dry from the humid day and their mouths parched from adrenaline fuelled runs to safety. Their mouths were clumsy against each other; the effort of learning new terrain difficult without guidance. Lew felt Dick’s fingers wind into his dark, overgrown hair and gently pull back.
Their eyes met as their brief first kiss ended.
“I’ll always wait for you, Lew. Whenever you’re ready.”