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Things for Fling Posse had been...different after the first Division Rap Battle. They weren't a pack before, not really, but now it seemed they were heading that direction. Between Gentaro revealing his true designation as an omega and the battle with Matenro, emotions had been high. Ramuda had been ready to call it quits, waiting for his replacement to come at any moment, yet for some unknown reason he was being given a second chance. It left him feeling uneasy.
He found himself seeking out his Posse more and more for comfort. When they were all together, he could almost pretend things were…normal. He didn’t have to worry about orders from Chuohku, or even deadlines for clients. They would curl up together on Ramuda’s couch, eating take out or watching a movie just like a normal pack.
He knew the others could tell something was up with him, that he was acting strangely, but he just couldn’t stop. Ramuda was already living on borrowed time, he was determined to make the most of it. Why wouldn’t he make sure Gentaro is covered in Ramuda’s scent before going to a book signing? Why shouldn’t he nuzzle up to Dice, when it may be the last time he ever gets the chance?
Ramuda hadn’t been the only one behaving differently, Dice had been acting more and more like a pack alpha whether he realized it or not. He had been almost possessive, always standing between them and their fans, growling whenever someone came too close, and he seemed to dread letting the two omegas out of his sight. More than once Ramuda had gotten up to start his day only to find Dice sleeping outside of his shop, with Gentaro reporting a similar problem other days at his home. Why he hadn’t just asked to come inside, they may never know.
Meanwhile, Gentaro had slowly been opening up to them more after the reveal of his true status as an omega. He had even begun forgoing his scent blockers when they were all together in private. Initially, Ramuda was excited to have another male omega to cuddle with, clinging to Gentaro any chance he got despite the author's protests. His protests seemed to be all lies though, as he would often pull the smaller omega even closer and nuzzle his head. However, his joy was short-lived.
Ramuda should have seen it coming, really. It was only natural for Gentaro to suggest they start sharing their heats together, as sharing them would lead to them eventually syncing up. It was easier for packs if all of their omegas shared heats together. It was...an exceedingly kind offer from Gentaro. To offer to help care for Ramuda during his heat, and showing he trusted the other omega enough to care for him in turn. It was something pack mates usually did for one another. There was nothing abnormal about it, but...
Ramuda was not allowed to be in a pack.
He was not allowed to have heats and be fussed over, and he certainly was not allowed to form such strong attachments to others. He had hesitated to answer at first, playing it off as embarrassment at the time. Dice had luckily helped by turning the attention away from him, choking on his drink once he heard Gentaro's offer. The author was quick to specify that this was an omega only offer, and pervert alphas weren't allowed. Dice's face had gone beet red and he sputtered out excuses and insults, and the matter was quickly brushed aside in favor of teasing Dice as much as possible. Ramuda had hoped it would be forgotten entirely, but Gentaro had texted him later that night to assure him it was a serious offer.
>My heat will probably start sometime next week, you're more than welcome to come by.
The author's next heat was coming up fast, and Ramuda had no idea what to do! If he declined it would look like he was rejecting Fling Posse as a pack, which would surely put a damper on how they performed. Not to mention the way his heart squeezed at the thought. Gentaro and Dice would think that Ramuda hated them. They would stop spending time with him, and Fling Posse would completely fall apart! He couldn't let that happen.
It was still part of his mission to run the group, after all.
>Yay yay yay!! ☆ Gentaro cuddle time is the best!! ♡
He flopped onto the couch in his studio, frustrated and worried. How does one take care of an omega in heat? He'd never been in charge of one before! Gentaro would be expecting certain things, but what? Ramuda wasn't completely stupid, he'd done some research before on male omegas and how they work. He wanted to know more about the body he'd been made with, though he quickly grew bored when he realized most everything did not seem to apply to him.
Most omegas had heats every two or three months, and they varied in both length and intensity. They became easier to track with age, though sometimes they could start a bit earlier or later than usual. While many years ago it was seen as an optimal time for breeding, things had changed over the years. Sex during heats still happened, for those with mates it was even common, but omegas truly just seemed to crave companionship. They wanted the closeness of their packmates, with skin on skin contact seeming to calm the hormones raging through their bodies. They tended to become lazy and affectionate, dragging their chosen companions down into a nest and refusing to let go until it was over.
While omegas could go through heats alone, it was considered detrimental to their health in the long term. Most omegas didn't have the energy to take proper care of themselves during their heats, and wouldn't get up often enough to eat or drink as they should. The moments of lucidity tended to be few and far between, causing most to suffer from dehydration fairly quickly. They would also sweat through clothes and bedsheets, not showering for days on end and creating a rather nasty mess that was left to clean up after the fact. It was important for new omegas in packs to spend their heats together until they synced up and could begin sharing them. If a pack grew big enough, they could run the risk of having an omega in heat every week. It became much easier for alphas and betas to take care of them when they were all together.
Ramuda figured that Dice was pretty dense and hadn't pieced together what was happening yet. He seemed like he didn't have much pack experience, something he shared with Ramuda, and was unlikely to figure out what Gentaro was so obviously planning. He wanted himself and Ramuda to be synced up before inviting their alpha into the mix in order to make it as easy as possible for him. It was considerate- as were most things Gentaro did- and would have worked for any normal pack being formed.
Except Ramuda was not normal.
Ramuda himself had constantly been on suppressants, they were mixed into the candy provided to him since his creation. He would simply pick a time for a faux heat and lie to whomever asked him about it. If he had a work deadline he would simply hole himself up for a few days, and tell everyone he was unavailable due to his heat. It had worked out great for him and seemed to be a useful excuse. However, despite the best efforts from the Party of Words, suppressants had not been an indefinite solution to stopping heats. It seemed like one heat still managed to push through every year, unannounced and unwelcome, with months worth of suppressed hormones crashing through.
The first time it happened, Ramuda thought he was dying. His muscles had cramped up and were unbearably painful, and his skin felt like it was on fire. He oscillated rapidly between freezing and burning up, breaking out in a cold sweat that made him nauseous. Ramuda could barely get himself to move enough to pick his phone off his nightstand and inform Jakurai that he'd need a rain check on their practice. The rest of the week had been a blur he didn't care to remember. Tears streamed down his face as he rode wave after wave of agony. He isn't sure how he survived .
That had triggered his first frenzy into omega research, when he found out that his body was wrong . While it seemed that heats following long term use of suppressants were often stronger, it was rare for an omega to describe it as downright painful. Most would describe it as a powerful fever keeping them bedridden, others had said they had completely blacked out and had no recollection of entire days. Some discomfort was there, but nothing like Ramuda had experienced.
It put him on edge, spending the next two months worried another one would come through. Luckily it hadn't, the suppressants went back to working as they should. He figured he would have another year before his next true heat. He hadn't reported these events back to the Party of Words either, in fear of it being seen as a malfunction. The next year was much the same when it finally came around, but Ramuda was more prepared this time. He had stacked water bottles all over his studio, and his favorite snacks were stashed in his bedroom. He had even had time to look up proper nest making, and spent hours weaving blankets together and fluffing pillows until they were adorable and perfect.
In the end he was still just as miserable. The pain had not lessened the second time around, and he had no appetite even for his favorite foods. He felt a sense of pride in the fact that he had at least managed to keep himself hydrated, and that his nest had been much more comfortable.
His mind drifted back to Gentaro, and his heat next week. Surely if he did enough research he could play it off? He was already an excellent cuddle buddy, and he knew all of Gentaro's favorite foods! He would have to look up proper etiquette for sharing heats with other omegas, make sure he didn't make any stupid mistakes to make the author suspicious. It would probably be fine for now. His own heat would be a problem, but he had plenty of time to come up with an excuse for that.
Ramuda spent the next few days preparing himself. He had looked up the best practices for helping male omegas through their heats and tore through Shibuya to find the most appealing fabric possible he could use to make Gentaro a new blanket. It seemed customary to offer an omega a gift for their nest the first time someone spent a heat with them. An article of clothing, a blanket, or a pillowcase covered in the person's scent seemed to be the most common. Ramuda had a distinct advantage in which he could make his gift instead of having to rely on a store bought one. He had finally settled on a soft blue fabric. It was thick and a mix of mostly sherpa with some cotton for stability. If he had more time he would have loved to make something with a bit more color, but perhaps this would suit Gentaro's simple taste better.
He had made sure to keep the blanket light, not wanting the longer pile on the fabric to make the other omega sweat more than necessary. He contemplated shaving it down, but didn't want to sacrifice the natural softness the sherpa provided. It was just a blue blanket in the end, covered in Ramuda's scent after he meticulously labored over his creation. It would be a perfect gift for Gentaro's nest and he applauded himself on his masterful skill.
In between his sewing, Ramuda had gotten to work on other things he would need. He had packed a suitcase with enough clothes for a full week, not knowing how long Gentaro's heat would last. He made sure all of his clothing was soft and inoffensive, as most omegas tended to have sensitive skin, choosing things like simple cotton pajamas or a few pieces made of silk.
As the following week began, Ramuda anticipated another text from the author at any time signaling his heat had started. He grew antsy, and he forced himself to relax. It was only Monday, after all.
>Nothing yet, but you can come over early if you'd like. I am simply working on my next title.
>Aw, but I don't want to bother Gen-chan while he's working! :(
>You do it every day.
>Boo hiss! Maybe I'm still getting ready!!
Ramuda kept himself busy in an effort to distract himself from the growing anxiety, and put another bag together filled with every snack he had ever heard Gentaro mention. He'd even sliced up a whole watermelon to pack, knowing it was the other omega's favorite. Ramuda had never cut up a watermelon before, and the result was a pile of wildly misshapen lumps. The taste was unaffected though, hopefully Gentaro would be too out of it to notice.
It was Wednesday when it finally happened.
>It seems it will be tonight.
>Get ready for the ultimate sleepover then!
Ramuda gathered up all of his bags and the special blanket he had made and set them by the door. He debated on how exactly he would get to Gentaro's apartment. Normally he could just walk, but carrying all of this stuff would be difficult. He could call for a taxi, but he didn't want to get strange scents all over his stuff! Gentaro wouldn't want his blanket if it stunk of some random beta cab driver. He found his solution in the form of Dice.
>GET TO EMPTY CANDY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!! THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION!!
>Missed call from Daisu
>Missed call from Daisu
>What the hell?? Don't send things like that and then not answer the phone!!
It only took around twenty minutes for the alpha to appear, sweating and panting after running from what gambling den he'd holed himself up in all the way to Ramuda's store.
"What is it!?" He yelled, bursting into the shop so hard he almost damaged the door. Its hinges creaked precariously.
Ramuda greeted him with a typical hug, throwing his arms around Dice's waist and burying his face in the alphas chest, "My hero! You made it! Yay!"
Dice dragged the omega with him as he moved further into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. It took him all of ten seconds to realize no one else was in the building, and Ramuda was in fact not in any sort of dangerous 'life or death' situation.
"Hey...What was so important that I had to run all the way here? I was about to win at slots, man!"
"Aw, Dice doesn't like me?" Ramuda pouted, pulling away from the younger man.
"You said it was life or death!"
"It is! It is!" Ramuda quickly recovered, bouncing over to the pile of bags he had set aside to bring to Gentaro's, "Dice needs to carry these for me!"
"Wh- carry your bags? Are you serious!?" Dice scoffed, coming over to stand beside him, "It's two bags! You can't carry two bags on your own?"
"Two bags and a blanket!" Ramuda corrected him, "It's all stuff for Gentaro's heat and I need to get there as fast as possible! Now be a big strong alpha and help!"
Dice grumbled but the idea of Gentaro in heat seemed to shut him up. He bent down to grab the items, but Ramuda was quick to snatch the blanket away.
"You just get the bags," He said, "I'll carry this! No stinky alpha smell on Gentaro's special blanket!"
"I am not stinky!" Dice protested, lugging the duffel bag over his shoulder, "You're gonna insult the guy that's helping you out?"
"You're super stinky! Yuck!" Ramuda replied, heading towards the door. He didn't need to check to know that Dice was following him, or chasing him might be a better term for it. Dice was always so easy to rile up, it was cute. Telling him that would probably rile him up even more though, so Ramuda refrained for now.
It wasn't a long walk to Gentaro's apartment, and the two kept a brisk pace until they reached their destination. Ramuda wasted no time in going right up to the door and knocking loudly while Dice hung back.
"Who is it?" An effeminate voice asked through the door, "I'm not expecting visitors!"
"Gentaro! I know that's you, open the door!" Ramuda replied. This was a trick the author had attempted many times, but lost its effectiveness after the other two had confirmed his apartment number the first time. The door opened to reveal Gentaro, who seemed not to be any worse for wear despite the beginnings of heat starting to lace his scent. He had changed out of his usual heavy attire, opting instead for a simple t-shirt and sweatpants. It was always jarring to see him in anything casual, but Ramuda supposed omegas in heat and heavy layered clothing didn’t mix well.
"Oh? You brought the pervert alpha along I see," Gentaro said, gazing down the hall at Dice as Ramuda pushed his way inside.
"How many times do I gotta say I'm not a pervert!?" Dice complained, feeling his face heat up again. He stepped closer to the author, but kept his face turned away, "Ramuda just asked me to carry his bags!"
"Oh?" Gentaro raised his eyebrows. Ramuda had set the blanket down on Gentaro's table and returned to the door to take his bags, "Yet he won't even look at the omega in heat! Is it because he'd get a nosebleed perhaps?"
Dice's face turned impossibly redder, "That is not- I wouldn't- I'M NOT A PERVERT ALPHA!"
He spun around and stomped off and Ramuda set his bags down to wave, "Bye stinky pervert!"
If Dice flipped them off as he retreated, they pretended not to notice.
"It seems you've brought quite a bit," Gentaro observed, looking at the two large bags the other omega had brought with him.
"And it's all important!" Ramuda was quick to defend himself. He picked up one of the bags and made his way to the other man's kitchen to begin unpacking, "I brought lots of goodies for you, so no being mean!"
Gentaro followed him with the intention of helping, but was quickly shooed away.
"Omegas in heat are supposed to relax! Go sit!"
He rolled his eyes but did as he was told, returning to the nest in his bed and brushing invisible dust off of everything for his guest. It didn't take long for Ramuda to join him, carrying his remaining bag and blanket into the room. He had somehow found the time to change as well, now wearing his own pajamas.
Ramuda approached the nest with only a bit of trepidation and held the blanket out to Gentaro, "This is for you!"
Gentaro took the offered gift gently, running his hands over the soft fabric as he examined it.
"It's lovely," He said quietly, "Did you make it?"
"Of course!" Ramuda answered, puffing up a bit with pride, "I only make the best!"
Gentaro smiled, "Ah, I see. You'll have to assist me in finding the best spot for it then."
It was a thinly veiled excuse for Ramuda to join him in his nest, but the other omega was quick to take it. He crawled onto the bed, pressing close to Gentaro's side and taking the blanket into his own hands.
"You don't mind me messing your nest up?" Ramuda asked, wanting to make sure he wasn't about to offend his friend.
"It will be our nest for the next few days. Having some of your influence would be fitting, would it not?"
Ramuda agreed, leaning over the brunette in order to add his blanket into the nest's lining on Gentaro's side. It was meant for him, after all.
"All done!" He cheered, moving back to sit on his heels. "Now it's perfect!"
Gentaro hummed in agreement, but he was only looking at Ramuda. He lifted a hand up to caress the smaller man's cheek, rubbing his thumb gently under the other man's eye.
"Thank you."
Ramuda felt his heart flutter, and quickly threw himself at the other omega to dispel the tender moment.
"Aw, Gentaro is so cute!" Ramuda's squeal was muffled as he buried his face in the author's shoulder, hoping to hide the blush that had started to creep across his face.
He felt arms encircle him as Gentaro pulled him down to lay next to him on the mattress. Ramuda took the chance to make himself comfortable, nuzzling further into the embrace until his nose was pressed into Gentaro's neck. Smelling the author's true scent was still rare enough to be considered a treat, and Ramuda wanted to soak it in.
Gentaro allowed it for a few brief moments before pushing the smaller male back, "No need to get that close. You don't want to catch the rash I got from poison ivy earlier this week, do you?"
Ramuda lifted himself up suddenly, looking at Gentaro with wide eyes and pulling at the collar of his shirt in order to get a better look at his neck, "Huh? A rash? That's not good! Why didn't you tell me!?"
"Ah, that was a lie."
"Meanie," Ramuda pouted, flopping over to lay on his back beside Gentaro, "Hurry up and go into a full heat! I wanna play with nice, cuddly Gentaro!"
He let out an undignified squeak at the sudden pinch on his side.
"Don't be so rude. You'll get more than enough cuddles tomorrow I'm sure."
Ramuda stuck his tongue out at the other omega, rolling over to the edge of the nest to reach into his bag and pull out his tablet, "Waiting is boring! Watch a movie with me at least!"
He handed the device to Gentaro and instructed him to pick something to watch while Ramuda scurried off to make popcorn, claiming it was essential. He took his time in the kitchen, calming his nerves as he watched the popcorn bag spin in the microwave. It was just the pre-heat talking, it didn't mean anything, Gentaro was only joking. Wanting to form a pack was one thing, it didn't necessarily mean mates but…
It will be our nest for the next few days.
The beep from the microwave broke him out of his thoughts. He poured the contents into a large plastic bowl and grabbed a box of candy on his way back to the bedroom. Gentaro was sitting up against the wall when he returned, and Ramuda gingerly made his way over to him while balancing his goodies. The author set the tablet to the side and reached out to take the bowl from Ramuda so the other could get situated. He sat himself between Gentaro's legs, pressing his back against the other man's chest. He felt a chin rest against the top of his head as the popcorn was placed back in his lap. It took a bit of finagling, but Ramuda was eventually able to pull up his knees and balance the tablet between them while keeping his grip on their snacks. It probably wasn't the most effective way to do things, but it would work for now.
Gentaro had chosen a boring movie, in Ramuda's opinion. It was something older, and live-action as opposed to animated, with a calmer theme. Even when the protagonists became trapped on a fanciful submarine and whisked away to view an underwater world, Ramuda found it wasn't holding his attention. Yet, it was Genatro's heat and it was Gentaro's choice on what to watch, so Ramuda stayed quiet and held in any complaints. Ramuda balked a bit when he realized the film had a runtime of over two hours, but nothing could be done. He picked at the popcorn, holding it up to his companion to share every fifteen minutes or so. It was strange, but he felt almost giddy every time Gentaro would accept his offer and take a few pieces. By the time an hour had passed, it was almost a thrill that would shoot up his spine each time he got Gentaro to eat.
Perhaps this is what all of those articles meant, about omegas being natural caretakers. They didn't just choose to spend heats together for practical reasons, but they actually enjoyed caring for each other. It was a feeling Ramuda had never truly experienced. When he really thought about it, he supposed he did take pleasure in things like buying Dice food, or making new outfits for his Posse. Before, he had chalked the feelings up to typical excitement, or brushed them off entirely, but now he was seeing them from a new perspective.
He blamed the movie for being a lackluster distraction and leaving him alone in his thoughts.
Ramuda hadn't bothered to check their progress in the movie, but figured it had to be winding down as one of the main characters was fatally wounded on screen. The popcorn and snacks had finally run out, and Ramuda felt antsy at the realization that he had nothing left to offer. Gentaro's arms wound around his middle, and a soft purr started up around him. The larger omega seemed to be enveloping him, rubbing his cheek against the top of Ramuda's head as his purring increased in volume.
His heat must really be starting, Ramuda figured, moving the empty bowl out of his lap and patting Gentaro's arms. The change in scent had been gradual, but if Ramuda focused he could tell it was much more powerful than it had been before. The sweet, fruity scent finally overpowering his normal smell of mountain rain and old paper. The credits were rolling on the movie now, but neither of them were really paying attention. Ramuda tossed the tablet to the side, wiggling in the hold until he was able to crane his neck back enough to see the other omega's face. Gentaro's eyes were lidded, and a red tint covered his face and neck. Definitely in heat then.
"Do you want to lay down?" Ramuda asked, already sliding the other to rest on his back. Gentaro didn't respond verbally, only locked his arms tighter around Ramuda as if he would suddenly vanish. Luckily for them both, Ramuda had already accepted his fate as a human teddy bear. It was to be expected, after all.
"We can snuggle for now, but you'll have to get up later, ‘kay? You'll at least have to brush your teeth before bed!"
"No," Gentaro grumbled, burying his face in Ramuda's hair.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes!"
The other omega let out a huff, and seemed to decide ignoring his companion would be easier. That was fine with Ramuda, he'd read up on plenty of techniques to get omegas in heat out of their nest. When the time came, he'd win the contest of wills. For now, he was content to reach around Gentaro and rub the other omega's back. The purring returned in full force as Ramuda lightly dragged his nails through the author's shirt.
He's just like a big baby, Ramuda thought, I don't know what I was so worried about. I can do this.
It was calming, laying like this. The heat scent wasn't overpowering like Ramuda feared, either. He felt safe, wrapped up in the arms of a...friend.
He didn't know how long they dozed there, too wrapped up in each other to acknowledge the outside world. Eventually, Ramuda would have to get up and take charge of the situation. Eventually, Ramuda would have to wiggle out of Gentaro's hold and make sure they both met their basic human needs. Eventually, Gentaro's heat would be over, and Ramuda would go back to his empty studio and sleep alone in his own nest.
For now though, he would enjoy this.