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Neil turns over in the sleep warm sheets to wake up to the sight of unruly blond strands spread out on the pillow beside him.
Andrew’s hand was placed on the edge of Neils pillow, palm up, fingers relaxed and open. It was an offering that he managed to make more often than not these days and Neil was overcome with pride every single morning.
Nestling his cheek into his partner's palm, he nuzzles into the wrist, smoke-warm-home enveloping his senses, settling him further.
But his run.
He pouts.
Months and years have gone by but the difficulty of tearing himself away from the lovely scent and visual of his lover every morning for his run never got easier.
“Junkie.”
Blue eyes darted up to meet hazel ones in surprise, he hadn’t noticed the other wake up.
“You do realize you can decide not to go for a run?”
Neil grumbles in disagreement, ‘He has to run, he likes running. Just not this part.’
The blond huffs in mock annoyance but because Neil still has his nose pressed into Andrew’s wrist he can easily pick up the small thread of amused-fond-alpha that makes a grin stretch across his lips.
“Just go running, rabbit.” Andrew grunts through mostly closed lips, using his free hand to pull the covers on his side over his head.
Neil sighs and gets out of bed, not before placing a small kiss onto the others fingers.
After the bathroom, he pulls on his clothes, heaving another sigh. He then heads into the kitchen to grab one of the shakes Andrew meal preps on the weekend.
He treks back into their bedroom to drink it, sitting cross legged on the carpet that's next to Andrew’s side of the bed. Another heavy sigh forcefully leaves him after he twists open the shake.
He spies the moment Andrew’s outline tenses, probably catching onto what kind of mood Neil is in that day, but the blond refuses to cave so early.
When they had met initially, Neil had never been so blatantly manipulative about his designation. Instead, his mother had ensured that he knew how to hide it: scent blockers, oversized clothes, getting the fuck out of places whenever his reproductive cycle decided to go haywire.
Being an omega had seemed like a burden, nothing had come easier to him because of it. On the contrary he’d say that most things we’re made more complex by it.
Most things.
Except this.
Except sitting in the sun warm spot beside his disgruntled partner, sipping on the shake made intentionally for him, feeling so accomplished when a head of blond pops out of the blankets to glare at him for the repetitive sighs.
He let the fresh, green perfume of pleased-happy-I win fill the air around him.
It wasn’t dark outside anymore - Neil liked to run just before the sun was up so he could check how well he knew the layout - but the bright bright blond and hazel currently glaring daggers at him was worth the change in plans.
“Junkie. Cut it out.”
Neil only chirps happily. Another accomplishment he’d only recently unlocked.
The last few years of getting comfortable in his designation had meant learning to make basic pack sounds like purrs, rumbles, snarls and chirps. It had been an irritatingly difficult process, mainly because they were instinctive sounds and few people had ever had to teach the mouth shapes associated with them.
It was worth the frustration, the striker admits, because he knew Andrew was secretly incredibly fond of his purring.
“Andrew, I’m going on a run.”
“Good riddance.”
Neil doesn’t let his sharp grin fall, pulling himself up to his knees, hovering just beside Andrew’s face, close enough to count his blond lashes. “Good?”
“Not what I meant.” The ex-goalie clarifies, refusing to open his eyes.
The redhead opened his mouth to continue when his phone beeped, drawing a pout to his lips instead. He had promised Kevin he’d run with him this morning.
Andrew gazed up at him with a blank expression, having finally opened his eyes to check what made his omega stop.
“Okay, I’m going. Have to meet Kev.” Neil sighs, genuinely this time. He tilts his head instinctively, “Drew?”
A huff accompanied his alpha’s wrist coming up to rub against the column of his throat, a pleased purr escaping Neil when it tightened at the back of his neck to pull him down for a small peck.
When their scents combined, enough for the both of them to detect but not strong enough to broadcast it, Neil backs away, grabbing his still beeping phone before heading to the door.
Andrew had wrapped himself back up into the duvet, none of him visible as he nuzzled into the warm cocoon.
“Josten, pick up the coffee grounds on the way back if you can.”
A teasing cheep was his response.
The blond praised his insights to burrow into the covers, because he had yet to figure out how to control the pleased pink blush that took over his face whenever Neil chirped like that.