Chapter Text
It was just a normal dance practice for the 9 members of NCT 127. At this point they were at it for around 4 hours, with just one 30 minutes
break and of course quite a few drink breaks. So you can tell that most of them are getting exhausted, but they are still going on. The practice is almost over and then they are ready to go have lunch together with the other NCT members at their dorm. It's something they are always looking forward to. Because NCT is divided in different units, with 2 members still being unitless, they can't spend as much time together as they want to. So they established a concept in which they are able to spend at least 3 meals per week together as group of 23 people. Actually they are more then this, they are one pack. Of course they mostly spend their time with the members of their own unit, but it is hard to miss how close all of them are. With 19 already presented members, filled with 8 alphas, 6 betas and 5 omegas, their meetings can be a quite loud, messy and hormonfilled business, but they're always making it work.
Right now 127's song "Kick It" is blasting through the speakers of the SM practice room. It's their last dance for today and even though they are exhausted all of them once again give it their all. But if you would look closely you what have noticed how two of the members are especially fighting of their exhaustion. And those are members who are normally the last to stop. It gets obvious during their last dance break, where they more or less stumble through the steps. That first becomes a problem at the end of Mark's part, when Taeyong leans back and loses his balance. Luckily Mark notices this before he attempts to step on his thigh. While the music is still playing the remaining members crowd around their leader, worry clear on their faces.
"Hyung, are you okay?" is Mark the first to ask.
"I'm fine." is his answer but everyone knows he's lying. Doyoung and Jungwoo are helping the older into a sitting position, but he just falls back into Doyoung's arms, because he is to weak to hold himself upwards.
"No, you're not." says Doyoung unnecessarily.
"I'm not feeling good." the leader admits and everyone can see how unwillingly he does this. He doesn't want to apear weak in front of his members. Taeil is feeling his forehead, but get's his hand back as soon as he touched the skin.
"He's warm." he tells the others.
"Fever?" asks Donghyuk.
"Probably." A quit pang gets them out of their thoughts and all of them, except for Taeyong, turn their heads in the direction where that sound came from. In all of their worry around their third oldest no one realised how Yuta hasn't sat down with them. No, he leaned himself against the mirror, because he as well doesn't feel well and the little spin right now left him dizzy. The sound came from him sliding to the ground. He looks as exhausted and weak as his fellow 95 liner. Johnny and Taeil are at his side imediatly and through touching his forehead as well the oldest can tell his skin is just as warm.
"Also warm." he tells the others.
"But they seemed fine earlier." says Jungwoo.
"Maybe it's best when a doctor checks them, just to be sure." suggests Jaehyun.
"No need to. I'm fine, really. Just exhausted." denys Yuta, while Taeyong looks close to falling asleep in Doyoung's arms. He doesn't look happy about this either, but it seems like he accepted it already.
"Yuta, you're burning up. You're surely not fine." argues Taeil.
"Maybe I just need some sleep."
"You need a doctor Yuta, there's is no place for you to say no." Johnny says in a serious tone. He doesn't use his alpha voice, but it still seems to do the trick, as Yuta stops to argue.
"I already called the manager. A car will wait for you at the entrance." Mark informs them.
"Thank you. Can you stand up?" Johnny first talks to Mark then to Yuta.
"Of course." But as soon as the japanese man stands he nearly lost his balance and Johhny has to support the younger. Even though Yuta doesn't accept his weakness he still leans into the older one.
"I don't think Taeyong can walk on his own. He's nearly asleep." Doyoung informs the others. Not just one person is surprised when they notice how Taeyong looks like he's scenting the younger alpha, but no one comments it, not yet.
"I'll carry him." Jaehyun decides and carefully lifts the beta out of Doyoung's arms. The omega is barley awake anymore but he still snugles into the arms of their second youngest alpha and hides his face between his shoulder and neck.
"Okay, it's best when the four of you..." Taeil points at Johnny, Yuta, Jaehyun and Taeyong. "...will go see the doctor, while the rest of us go to the dorm. The others are probably already waiting."
"Sounds like a plan." Johnny agress and Jaehyun just nods. Then the four of them leave the room, with Yuta beeing still supported by their oldest alpha.
It's quiet for a while in the room, as neither of the 5 men know what to say, or how to say something they noticed.
"You smelled it as well, right?" Mark is the first to ask the question that is in at least three of their heads. While Taeil and Haechan look at the young alpha confused, Doyoung and Jungwoo seem to understand the question.
"Mhm. It smelled kinda like an omega in heat in here." Doyoung says.
"But that can't be possible." Taeil interrupts. Out of all the NCT members their oldest is the one who smells scents the least. He often can't even smell an omega in heat or an alpha in rut, even if he's close to the member and the rut or heat fully hit. Because of this he mostly focuses on the members behavior. After all he knows most of the members for quite a long time now, so he's used to how they act in rut or heat. But neither Jungwoo nor Donghyuk showed signs of a heat.
"Jungwoo's heat ended like a week ago and Donghyuk's also not about to be in."
"It just kinda smells like it though. And it's none of us." Jungwoo clarifies.
"Then what is it?" 127's maknae asks.
"No idea." Doyoung shrugs.
After their conversation they silently pack their stuff, as well as the things from the other four members and go down to the car, waiting to drive them to the dorm.
On their way to the doctor, both betas are sleeping now, with their heads leaning left and right on Jaehyun's shoulders, who is trapped between them. As both of them have a much higher temperature then usual, it's getting really warm for the alpha. He tries to ignore it by talking with Johnny, who's sitting in the front.
"What do you think is wrong with them?" the younger one asks.
"I wish I could tell, but I have no idea." He watches his fellow 95 liners cuddle the alpha in between them and quietly whine whenever he moves to much or gets to far away from them.
"They aren't usually like this." He says and earns a nod from the younger. "I mean, they like to cuddle and all that, but not like this. If I didn't know better I would say that they..."
"They act like they're in heat." ends Jaehyun the open sentence.
"Yeah. But that can't be possible." The rest of the car ride is spend in silence.
Not even an hour later the four idols get to know the reason for their betas reaction. The four men are now sitting in the office of Doctor Shin, a nice women somewhere in her fourties. She was the doctor who did the investigation.
"So, I found out why you two feel the way you do." she starts to tell them. "It's nothing particulary bad, it's just uncommon and well how worse it gets depends on the person. You're probably not believing what I'm going to say."
"What is it?" Taeyong wants to know. He seems to be in a better state then before, back in the practice room, but his temperature is still unusual high.
"You both are in heat." She finally says and that earns her four shocked faces.
"But they are betas." Johnny can't stop saying.
"Yeah. I'm very aware of that. Like I said before it's uncommon but not impossible. There are some betas who have to go through heats. Some have it as soon as they present, but the most of them first get it after a few years. You presented around 6 years ago, right?" Both betas just nod. They answered this question before already.
"Mostly it shows between 5 to 10 years after presenting if an beta goes into heat or not. It really seems like the two of you belong to this betas. Oftentimes there is some kind of trigger who starts it, like stress for an example or strong pheromones from people around you. As you are idols I'm guessing that stress is one big factor for you."
"And it really can't be anything else?" is Yuta asking, his hand interwined with Johnny beside him. His skin still feels to warm but it seems to somehow comfort the japanese beta, so Johnny let's him. Beside them Taeyong nearly climbs on Jaehyun's lap, so close is he sitting.
"I really don't think so." Dr. Shin says. "But it isn't anything bad."
"You said before how worse it gets depends on the person. So, it can be bad, right?" Taeyong wants to know and all of them look at the woman with some kind of worry.
"Not actually bad. It's not dangerous, if that's what you are asking. Mostly a beta heat doesn't differ that much from an omega heat. But there are some differences. First of all a beta body is not made for a heat. Even though it's possible for a beta to produce slick during a heat, it's nothing you can automatically expect. Also that can still change with a later heat. Most of all, for most of these betas there heat is just more intense then for a regular omega. Of course there are still exceptions. For both omegas and betas. There are some omegas who have quite strong and intense heats and at the same time there are betas who don't have it that intense. One thing however is that beta heats mostly hold on longer, it can take up to a week, with more or less strong waves. Just like omegas betas in heat can go through it alone, with a few exceptions of course, but it's best when they are not alone or get help, but that's something that depends on you. Which supgender will be with you doesn't matter, everyone has their own preferences, just like some omegas like to have an alpha around, while others prefer betas or even omegas. That has to do with the person and his relationships. I'm sure you will find it out. Also scenting helps a lot, but it seems like you already found that out."
That last sentence makes a blush appear high on Jaehyun's and Yuta's cheeks. Taeyong doesn't seem to remember that he secented Jaehyun previously or he isn't ashamed of it. Of course the doctor smelled the betas scent's all over Jaehyun, and even Johnny smells quite a bit like Yuta.
"You don't have to be ashamed of that, it's only natural. I'm sure there are omega's in your group, so you will be already used to treat someone in heat. It won't be that different. I think it's the best for you to go home and prepare everything you need. If there are still questions or you just feel unsure you're free to call me. Here is my number. You also should call me when it's over so I can check you over once again, just to be sure that you're good."
As soon as they are out of that office Johnny calls the manager to drive them to the dorms. They would have a lot of explaining to do and Taeyong and Yuta don't seem to believe it themselves yet.