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There is no perfect omega. Such a thing doesn’t exist. There are stereotypes and typical attributes, but not every omega is the same as the next. Not everyone just submits and does as told, and not every one of them longs for an alpha. It’s just not how things work.
Each omega is different. They have their own needs and their own opinions. Sure, they’re similar in their inner workings, but they aren’t all the exact same.
Like Jiwoong, for example. He didn’t need an alpha and he wasn’t yearning for one, but then Ricky stumbled into his life and well, that happened. Thank goodness for it, too. Jiwoong doesn’t know what he’d do without Ricky.
As for Jiwoong, he hasn't nested in a long while. Stress, tight schedules and moving from his place to another didn't make it easy to fully relax.
It wasn't a problem. He’s fine without one and he’s had no issues with not having one. It just wasn’t something he felt comfortable enough doing after debuting.
He never thought that would change either, thinking it would take more time, but then it hits him out of nowhere. He woke up from a nap on a free day, lying beside Ricky while the taller boy had an arm slung over his waist. They fit together like puzzle pieces, molding together into one another.
Like Home.
Running a hand through his hair, Jiwoong manages to wiggle out of Ricky’s grip and sit up. He’s not exactly sure what he’s feeling, but even though he was sleeping fine cuddled up with Ricky, he suddenly gets this wave of restlessness.
With a soft sigh, he carefully gets to his feet and pads out to the kitchen. He gets a glass and fills it with water, taking a sip and leaning against the counter to try and ease his nerves. Nerves that he doesn’t even understand why or how they came about.
He considers waking Ricky up, but he doesn’t want to disturb him. Especially not when Jiwoong’s just uneasy for no reason.
Growing uncomfortably and oddly hot, he pulls off the cardigan he was wearing so that he’s just wearing a tee and throws it onto the couch. He huffs in frustration and thinks about just trying to go back to sleep, but then he finds himself taking a few steps toward where he threw the cardigan and sitting down on the couch.
His back hits one of the cushions and he closes his eyes, willing the unknown feeling to go away. It’s like the build up of a panic attack, but he’s not freaking out. He’s just mildly anxious. He doesn’t know how to explain it.
“Damn,” he curses, grabbing the cardigan and pulling it into his chest. He hugs it tightly and presses his face into a nearby blanket.
Then the next thing he knows, he’s pushing them together and placing a pillow on top of the crumpled fabrics. He curls up, taking a deep breath and reminding himself that he’ll be fine. That he just needs to relax.
It takes a minute for him to comprehend, but after he calms his racing heart, he realizes he’s nesting. Or trying to, at least. He’s not really sure what he’s doing.
He bites his lip, letting it register in his mind. It was never his intention to create a nest, but he’s not stupid. He knows what he’s doing, to some degree.
“Bǎobèi?”
Eyes fluttering open, Jiwoong sees Ricky standing in front of the couch, just a foot away from the omega. He’s got a confused yet gentle expression on his face. He looks like he’s trying to take in the sight.
“Hm?” Jiwoong hums quietly, a little embarrassed.
“What’re you doing?” the alpha asks softly. “I woke up and you were gone.”
Jiwoong shifts around before finding his voice, “I don’t know. I’m sorry, I just—I just felt weird.”
Ricky seems like he’s caught on to what Jiwoong’s doing, but he stays careful with his movements and tone. He doesn’t want to make Jiwoong feel bad or interrupt him any more than may already have.
“Are you okay?”
“I think. I’m…I think I’m like…trying to nest. I don’t know. It’s stupid. I can put it all back if—“
Shaking his head, Ricky cautiously sits down next to Jiwoong and reaches out to caress his arm.
“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to, baby. What made you make it?”
“I really don’t know,” Jiwoong says, sitting up a little. “I just woke up and didn’t feel good then I put it together. I didn’t realize until I had lied down in it.”
The alpha nods understandingly, inching a bit closer once he saw that Jiwoong was fine with the proximity and the light touch. He studies the little half nest and smiles.
“That 's fine. Are you comfortable? Do you want me to go?”
Jiwoong quickly shakes his head, nudging his nose against the cardigan in his hands and breathing in the scent. It’s Ricky’s, so it makes a lot of sense why he used it. “It’s good, I think. I like it. I think. You can stay, though,” Jiwoong replies before his cheeks go a bit pink. “I feel better with you here. Feels safe.”
Ricky’ smile widens, cat eyes twinkling, “I’m glad. You did a good job, angel.”
“You sure? It’s not bad?”
“Only you can decide that. I think it’s nice. But you said you like it, right?”
Jiwoong nods timidly, “Yeah.”
“Then there you go. That’s all that matters.”
Seemingly satisfied with both his nest and Ricky’s answer, Jiwoong smiles faintly. He chews on his lip before he musters up the courage and finds the words he wants to say.
“Will you lay with me?”
“Of course, love. Budge up, then,” Ricky answers with a gentle push at Jiwoong’s shoulder.
They move around, getting comfortable despite the tight fit. It’s an unhurried process, and they make it work. They always do. And when Ricky leans in to scent Jiwoong, the omega begins purring.
The nest stays where it is for a couple days, but Jiwoong doesn’t really like having it in a space where they are so often. Ricky leaves it alone, of course, but Jiwoong wishes it was somewhere different. It just doesn’t feel right anymore.
He takes it apart while Ricky is out with some of the boys, but takes every piece with him when he moves it all into a corner of their closet. It took some thinking to decide to put it there, but he didn’t know where else it would work best.
With the blanket being the base, the pillow goes next with the cardigan on top of it. He looks down at it before walking over to Ricky’ side of the closet and taking a couple things, along with another blanket from their bed to finish it off.
It doesn’t take long to put the rest of the stuff in the right places. He folds them and crumples them until he likes how and where they are all.
Then he steps into the nest and maneuvers down onto it, rolling over a few times until he feels comfortable and relaxed. He’d prefer his alpha to be with him, holding him close and petting him so that can drift off to sleep.
But he doesn’t have to wait long, maybe five or ten minutes until he hears the door open and Ricky calling for him. He doesn’t answer, too engrossed in his nest to really bother to come up with a reply.
Ricky finds him after looking around the dorm, peering into the open door of the closet and smiling.
“Hi, darling. New nest?”
Jiwoong nods and burrows further into another one of Ricky’s sweaters. He hums softly, watching as Ricky gets closer and crouches down.
“Mind if I try it out?”
“Please,” Jiwoong comes up with. “Want you in it.”
It’s not always that omegas crave for their alpha to be in their nest, or even allow them, but it’s not necessarily uncommon. Just depends on how close they are and what kind of mood the omega is in. And now, Jiwoong feels perfectly fine with Ricky coming into it. He wants it, actually.
So Ricky makes his way into the nest, mindful of where everything is and moves carefully so that he doesn’t mess it up. He lies down next to Jiwoong and holds his arms out for the shorter to snuggle into.
“It’s wonderful, butterfly. You did well. Perfect in every way,” Ricky praises.”You like it?”
“I do. Even more with you in it with me.”
Ricky plants a gentle kiss on Jiwoong's forehead and tugs him closer. Their legs tangled together, shins rubbing and breathing softly, quietly.
“That 's okay. I like being in it. Do you feel more comfortable with like—do you like nesting now?”
“Yeah. It calms me. Even when I’m not calm, it’s just nice, you know?”
Nodding, Ricky noses at Jiwoong’s cheek and can’t help but press another kiss to the skin there. It really is relaxing, even though it’s not his nest and he didn’t make it. He likes it a lot.
“Good. That’s how you should feel,” Ricky says. “I’m proud of you.”
Jiwoong lifts his head and furrows his brows, “For what?”
“Making it. It makes me happy to know that you have a source of comfort.”
“You are my comfort.”
Ricky’ heart skips a beat, and he smiles contentedly. Hearing that makes him feel warm on the inside. The good kind.
“I know, babe. But still, I like that you have another one. Does it make you feel comfy?”
“Very.”
The alpha’s smile turns into a grin. He brings a hand up to hold the side of Jiwoong’s face, thumbing at his cheekbone.
“That makes me happy. You do too,” Ricky responds softly. “I love you.”
Jiwoong smiles as well, nuzzling into the touch, “I love you too, jagi. So much.”
“To the moon and back?”
“ More. To infinity and beyond.”