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Fukurou checks his phone after practice to find ten missed calls from Atsumu. Which is a lot, even for Atsumu. He frowns at his phone, unlocking it to check for messages. They message a lot and there’s a handful from Atsumu. A lot of cursing and demands for Fukurou to call him. He flicks across to his calendar. It’s around the time for his heat, isn’t it?
No, according to his calendar, Atsumu’s heat should have been last month. He didn’t call Fukurou up begging him to come to Osaka and look after him - didn’t even bother him for phonesex. Did he find someone else to help him with his heat? There’s a spike of his possessiveness, that Fukurou knows he has no right to, at the thought. Which is stuipid. It’s fine if Atsumu wants to have someone else help him through his heat. That’s fine. Atsumu isn’t his omega. They’ve carefully avoided that. Neither of them wanted that. They had their own lives and careers, getting involved in a relationship wouldn’t work out, no matter what his instincts say. It’s probably better that Atsumu finds an alpha closer to his team to share his heats with. There are plenty of nice alphas and betas, even on his team.
So, Fukurou calls Atsumu, expecting some kind of drama and gossip or for Atsumu to be highly offended by something.
“Fuckin’ finally!” Atsumu snaps. “I’ve been callin’ ya all day!”
“I have a job, Attsun,” Fukurou says softly. “And so do you. What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m pregnant.”
Fukurou’s phone almost slips from his fingers. He can’t breathe. It’s like just those words have ripped something out of his chest. Every instinct screams at him that this is wrong. That’s his omega. He can’t be pregnant. He can’t have some other alpha’s kid.
“Fukurou?” Atsumu says, voice painfully small and scared.
Right. Atsumu needs support right now. Even if it hurts, Atsumu is in a vulnerable place and needs support. If Atsumu’s chosen another alpha, that’s fine. It’s up to Atsumu. Not him and not his dumb instincts. So, Fukurou forces himself to take a deep breath and relax his shoulders, aware that the others in the locker room are watching and he’s probably flooding the place with pheromones.
“Are you ok?” he says.
“Huh? I… yeah, I think so,” Atsumu replies. “Just kinda… sicky… Been feelin’ off for a few weeks, it’s been gettin’ worse.”
Fukurou breathes deeply. Morning sickness. Atsumu actually might be pregnant. It’s fine. It’s totally fine. He just has to force his instincts down and ignore them completely. If Atsumu’s picked another alpha, that’s his choice. He should be satisfied that Atsumu trusts him enough to call him for support in this situation.
“Do you need me to come over?” Fukurou says.
“Please.”
“Ok, I’m leaving now. I’ll get the first train I can. Do you need anything?”
“The others have picked up everything.” Atsumu lets out a shaky breath and Fukurou throws his bag over his shoulder. “I’m just… kinda scared to take the test…”
“It’s ok,” Fukurou says. “I’m gonna be there soon and we’ll handle it. Just, have something nice to eat and relax. Don’t stress. It’s not good for you. I’m on my way now. It’ll be a few hours but I should be there by evening. You can message or call whenever you need.”
“Ok,” Atsumu whispers. “See ya soon.”
“Yeah, see you soon.”
Atsumu hangs up and Fukurou sighs, throwing his phone into his pocket. He grabs some scent patches from his bag, slapping them back on as he heads to the locker room door. He can’t let his scent get out of hand, and it probably already is.
“Everything ok?” Kourai says quietly.
“Atsumu thinks he might be pregnant,” Fukurou says. Saying it aloud is something that shakes him to his core. “Holy shit. He thinks he’s pregnant.”
The team is overjoyed. Fukurou probably should be too but he’s too lost in the shock of it all. Romero laughs and smacks his shoulder.
“Congratulations, man,” Toshirou says.
“What?” Fukurou says, turning to him.
Him and Romero frown at him and Kourai tilts his head. “Well, we just assumed- I mean, the kid’s yours, right?”
Fukurou blinks at them slowly. His? Atsumu’s child could be his? But isn’t Atsumu on birth control? He’d always been so careful about not getting pregnant. For him to be worried about it now, doesn’t that mean he stopped taking it? Doesn’t that mean he found an alpha he wanted to have a kid with? That’s not him. But then, why does Atsumu seem so upset if he’d come off birth control for an alpha?
“Are you still in denial over this?” Kourai snaps.
“Look, I have to go,” Fukuou says, shaking his head. “I’ve got to get down to Osaka to see him. I’ll let Coach know if I’m taking time off.”
He hurries away before he can think on that too much longer. Except, of course, when he gets to the long train journey he has nothing to do but think. Atsumu could be pregnant - with his child or another alpha’s. Even as he tries to focus on music through his earbuds, the thoughts swirl. Atsumu could be pregnant. Why does the idea leave him cold and empty and aching every time he thinks of him with some faceless alpha fathering Atsumu’s kid? And why does his mind keep circling back to his team’s assumptions? That Atsumu could be pregnant with his child.
Isn’t it just his alpha instincts that make that such a warm thought? It’s so easy to picture Atsumu cooing over his child - their child. Isn’t it just normal for an alpha to dream about a family with an omega he’s close to? Or… is it Atsumu that he wants? He frowns as he tries to think it through. Where do his instincts stop and his own desires begin?
Fukurou arrives at the Jackal’s dorm late in the evening. Many of the Jackals are gathered around, the common room full of anxious scents. Even Aran from the Falcons is among them.
“How is he?” Fukurou says.
“Growly,” Aran says. “He’s snarling at any alpha who tries to get near him.”
Fukurou nods a little. That’s not surprising for a stressed, unmated omega. “Can I see him?”
“You’re the baby daddy,” Inunaki snorts.
“I’m not,” Fukurou says firmly.
“Sure.”
Fukurou ignores him, instead heading towards Atsumu’s room. He knocks gently on the door and opens it to a bucket load of calming beta pheromones. Kita Shinsuke, Osamu and Shuugo are with Atsumu, who’s looking far more stressed than Fukurou is comfortable with.
“Hey,” he says softly. “How’re you doing, Attsun?”
Atsumu whines, reaching out for him and all Fukurou can do is reach back and let himself be drawn onto the bed. Apparently Atsumu’s so stressed he’s running purely on base instincts. He pushes his nose into Fukurou’s neck, scent sharp and sour with raspberries.
“Why can’t I smell ya?” he whispers.
“You don’t need an alpha scent stressing you more,” Fukurou says, rubbing his back. He glances at the other three, who’re watching with concerned frowns. “Have you taken the test yet?”
Atsumu shakes his head and Kita sighs. “It’s probably best ya do though, Atsumu.”
Atsumu gazes back at the three betas before nodding a little. He stands, a little shaky on his feet, and Fukurou supports him carefully. Kita hands him a pregnancy test and Atsumu’s fingers shake around it. And then Osamu puts a second on top with a smile that does reach his eyes.
“In case ya freak out and need a second,” he says.
Atsumu tries to smile back, then squeezes Fukurou’s hand and pulls him towards the bathroom. Fukurou glances back at the trio, totally lost. Why’s Atsumu pulling him along so desperately rather than one of them?
“Attsun, is this really ok?” he says.
“D’ya not wanna be here?” Atsumu says, leaving him outside his bathroom. He leaves the door open a little so they can talk and Fukurou leans against the wall, listening to the rustle of the box. “I mean, ya don’t have to be. I just-”
“No,” Fukurou says quickly. “It’s not that. I’m glad you’re comfortable enough with me to want me here to support you through this. I just… figured you’d want someone else rather than me.”
Like whatever alpha he’s picked as his own.
“Who else would I want?”
Atsumu appears in the door and Fukurou turns to him. He grabs Fukurou’s hands and pulls him inside so he can lock the door behind him. Fukurou glances at the test on the counter and Atsumu sits on the toilet lid, shoulder slumped and scent sour.
“Your brother?” Fukurou says, crouching in front of him. “Aran-kun? Kita? People you're closer with?” He frowns, glancing at Atsumu’s stomach. “...the father…?”
Atsumu curls his arms around himself, glancing away. “Fuck, this is gonna screw up everything.”
“Hey,” he whispers, cupping his cheeks. “Hey, it’s ok, nothing’s going to be screwed up. You’re in a good place in your career, it won’t change things. You can easily come back from this. And you’ve got some many people who’re willing to support you, whatever you decide.” He sighs, stroking his cheeks gently. “And whatever happens with the father, there’s a lot of other people to help you.”
“This shouldn’t have happened,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m always careful with birth control. I never miss a day. I even take the shots before heats. Why’s this happening? It’s going to ruin everything. He doesn’t want this. He’s never wanted this. He just wants hook ups. He just…”
The way Atsumu curls into himself is heartbreaking and infuriating. Some alpha’s causing his omega so much pain? How could anyone do this to Atsumu?
“I want this,” Fukurou whispers. Atsumu lifts his head, eyes wide and watery. Fukurou swallows thickly, stroking away the tears under his eyes. Suddenly everything is so clear. “I want this. You. All of you. All of this. I want to court you.”
“Fukurou?”
He reaches down, laying his hand over Atsumu's stomach. Atsumu stares down at him, wide eyed and pale and Fukurou wishes he could bring back the bright, grinning young man he loves. Whatever alpha did this to him, Fukurou’s going to rip his dick off. How could anyone do this to him? Atsumu’s trembling hands cover his and Fukurou offers what he hopes is a calming smile.
“Sorry,” Fukurou says, almost laughing at the absurdity of it all. After all these years it’s potentially losing Atsumu that gets him to understand how he feels. “This must be pretty sudden. You’re worrying about yourself and now I’m throwing this at you too, but just thinking about you with another alpha, having someone else’s kid, seeing you like this, I can’t stand it. And I know this is probably the last thing you need on top of everything else and I understand if I’ve missed any chance I might have had with you but-”
“D’ya have any idea how long I’ve waited for ya to say this shit?” Atsumu snaps. Fukurou lifts his head and Atsumu is glaring down at him through his tears. “If I’m pregnant it’s yer baby. I’ve never slept with anyone else. Y’always said this shit, that I’m yer omega, then insist I’m not, but I am. I always have been. Or didja think yer scent’s like catnip to me for no reason?”
“You thought I wouldn’t be ok with this? I always told you I’d look after you if anything ever happened. I always told you I’d take responsibility if I got you pregnant.”
“Yeah, responsibility for yer mistake, not because ya liked the idea of a kid with me. And then suddenly I wouldn’t be yer omega anymore, would I? I’d be the father of yer child and ya’d go off and find some other cute thing to fuck.”
“...is that what you think of me?”
“Isn’t that what ya’ve always told me? We’re just close friends who fuck, right? Ya’d take responsibility but we can’t be together. I’m yer omega but yer never gonna be my alpha, it’s just a cute thing to call me in bed. ‘cause ya get off on possessing me. Yer only sayin’ all this shit now ‘cause ya thought I mighta had someone else.”
“That… that’s not it…”
“Isn’t it?”
Atsumu tilts his head then turns away and reaches for the test on the side. Fukurou can hardly breathe. It’s like there’s no air in here. Just bitter regrets and anger at himself. How could he have been the one to do this to Atsumu? How could he have made Atsumu feel so awful? Everything he did was supposed to be for the best for Atsumu and his career - avoiding a relationship, pushing down his instincts, not even asking if Atsumu wanted more because he never asked either - and all this time he’d just been making him feel used?
“Thank fuck,” Atsumu breathes and Fukurou lifts head to Atsumu’s weak smile. “Not pregnant.” He lets out a slow breath, then nods. “Ok. So I’m putting on weight and really late and sick, but not pregnant. Ok. That’s… that’s weird, but great.”
“Great,” Fukurou repeats, heading spinning. Atsumu’s relieved not to be having his child. Great. “Atsumu-”
“Can we… not?” he says quietly and stands. Fukurou nods a little and gets to his feet. “Today’s been… a lot, so can we just, like, not do this right now? I need to get my head on straight before we have some kinda talk, ok?”
“Yeah,” he says, nodding along. “Yeah, that makes sense. It- it’s fine. I was going to get a hotel for the night anyway, so, we can talk tomorrow or something.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry though.” Atsumu glances at him. “I just, more than anything else, I need you to know I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel like that. I thought keeping it casual would be best for us both. Best for you and your career. I didn’t mean to make you feel used.”
“I needja to go, Fukurou.”
“Yeah.”
Fukurou lets himself out of the bathroom, leaving Atsumu recovering from the shock. He probably needs time by himself to recover too. They’ve both had a shock. They just need time to think things through and they’ll talk tomorrow. He takes his bag from Atsumu’s room, ignoring the looks from three betas, and sweeps away.
“Oi, Fukurou,” Osamu snaps.
“Not pregnant,” Atsumu calls.
Fukurou leaves the Jackals to whatever their reaction is and slips out of the door to find his hotel. This entire thing has knocked all sense out of him. He locks the door behind him and collapses into bed with a groan. What now? What’s he supposed to say to Atsumu now? He’s never been interested in relationships or courting. He doesn’t know how to do this. So he rolls over and grab his phone.
“Fukurou,” his mother says. Fukurou groans at her cold voice. Yeah. She already knows. “I’m going to need you to tell me Kourai's being a gossip and Atsumu isn’t pregnant with your child, honey.”
“He’s not pregnant,” Fukurou says.
“Fukurou,” she scolds. “For heaven’s sake.”
“Yes, I know,” he says, “so can you skip the part where you make me feel even worse and help me figure out what to do about it.”
At least his mother does help him work through his feelings and his options from here. It helps. He has options and he knows what he wants. At least he can sleep now. He has plans for how to proceed. He can do this.
The next morning, Fukurou texts Atsumu, letting him know he’s here for a few days and he’s ready whenever Atsumu wants to talk and that he’ll meet him wherever he wants. He gets condolence messages from the team and from Shuugo and he’s not entirely sure they need to go that far, but the thought is appreciated.
It’s afternoon when he gets a text from Shuugo asking for his hotel address and room number, because apparently he’s coming over. Well, at least Shuugo can update him on what’s going on with Atsumu.
There’s a knock on the door and Fukurou opens the door. Only it’s not Shuugo.
“Room service,” Atsumu mutters,
“...Atsumu…”
“Gonna let me in?”
Fukurou nods and steps aside so Atsumu can come in. He shuts the door behind him and Atsumu leans against the desk with a frown. Fukurou takes a seat on the edge of the bed, not entirely sure what to say now Atsumu’s here.
“So, I guess we should talk,” Atsumu says. Fukurou nods. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Fukurou says.
“No, there is,” he sighs.”I was stressed and upset and I was kinda unfair to ya. I was prepared for a reaction and ya totally threw me off balance.”
Fukurou nods. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was using you. I thought, since you never said anything, you were ok with what we had. And, after what happened when I got too protective when you first started, I thought I was doing the right thing keeping it physical. I didn’t want more people thinking you didn’t deserve your position or that you couldn't manage without an alpha looking after you.”
“I know,” Atsumu sighs. “Not like I said anything either. How could I expectcha to know what I wanted if I never said anything?”
“So, are you ok?” Fukurou says.
Atsumu nods. “I went to the team doctor this morning. Made me do an ultrasound and everything, just in case. They said it’s a phantom pregnancy. In layman's terms, I stressed myself into pregnancy symptoms.”
“Sounds about right for you,” he says with a small smile. “You always were dramatic.”
“I guess so.” Atsumu sighs and tilts his head. “So? What now?”
“Well,” Fukurou says, leaning back. “I don’t think we can go back to where we were.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Atsumu mutters.
“So, we either try to figure out how to be friends and keep our hands off of each other, or we see if we can give courting a go.”
Atsumu nods thoughtfully. “Ya saidja wanted to court me.”
“I do,” Fukurou says with a nod. “If you’ll have me. I know we’ve got stuff to work on, and things to work through, but I want to give us a go. Thinking about you with a kid, with my kid, I want that. Maybe not now, but one day, I want a family with you.”
“I…” Atsumu frowns and glances away, cheeks a little pink, before nodding a little. “I’m not going to letcha screw me over, Fukurou. If yer going to court me, yer gonna do it properly, yeah? None of this yer omega only in private bullshit.”
“You’re ok with people knowing about us?” he says.
“Yeah,” Atsumu says. “I’ve been on court long enough no one’s going to say I didn’t earn it or my alpha got it for me.”
Fukurou nods and stands from his bed. He picks up his bag and takes out a velvet presentation box wrapped in a little ribbon. He’d bought it on a whim years ago, spotting it in passing in a fancy jewellers in Tokyo and been hit with the need to buy it for Atsumu. It had seemed silly afterwards, but it sat in his bag ever since.
“I know you’re not into the old fashioned stuff,” Fukurou says, holding out the box, “but I got this for you anyway. You don’t have to think of it as a courting gift, if you don’t want to, but it’s for you.”
Atsumu frowns and takes the box slowly. He does the ribbon and Fukurou shouldn’t be nervous, but he is. He swears his heart almost stops when Atsumu opens up the box to reveal the necklace inside. Atsumu’s eyes widen. He takes the necklace slowly from the box, looking over the blue and red crystals set with a gold fox and eagle.
“...Fukurou…” He grins and holds out the necklace to him. “Put it on me?”
Fukurou nods. The chain, despite purposefully getting a solid chain put on it for Atsumu, feels too delicate in his hands as Atsumu turns and lets him fasten it. When Atsumu turns back, the circlur crystal rests perfectly at his collar. Fukurou licks his lips. His omega accepted his courting gift. And he looks so beautiful.
“Lemme smell ya,” Atsumu whispers, stepping toward. Fukurou tilts his head, letting Atsumu peel away the scent patch from his neck. “I hated not gettin’ yer scent yesterday. Stressed me out more not knowin’ whatcha were thinking.”
“Sorry,” Fukurou sighs, wrapping Atsumu in his arms. He pulls away Atsumu’s own patches so he can bathe in his scent. “I promise I’ll do better for you from now on.”