Chapter Text
Day 1
The nighttime seemed to arrive sooner than expected. Even if he had taken a nap earlier, he still couldn't wait to take another one again. Especially now that he had started to get accustomed to the whole pack thing.
However, he was still a tad bit insecure. As much as he wanted to welcome everyone's affection, it was just too much even if he knew there was nothing wrong with receiving affection.
Perhaps it was just hard to believe that he was finally having a good time in a timeline. Cheng Xiaoshi was out of danger, the biggest threat so far had been locked up... maybe it was finally time to loosen up and enjoy himself.
But he knew that if he was to do so and something bad proceeded to happen, he'd feel more guilt than ever before. And this time it wasn't just Cheng Xiaoshi, Qiao Ling and their other comrades who mattered. Now he also had to look after the twins and Liu Xiao.
Even if they hadn't known each other for a while, and also started with bad first impressions, he was never the type that took his time to connect to people. He either liked them or disliked them. This was one of the rare occassions where he went from disliking people to growing rather fond of them.
And if something were to happen to them, he probably wouldn't be able to get over the pain and emptiness so soon. Somehow, he felt they were close to him like how Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling were. He wouldn't dare to say, but maybe even closer.
Cheng Xiaoshi never really held him. Lu Guang didn't let him. On bad days or good days. He didn't want to get attached. It was similar with Qiao Ling, but she was never touchy with him the way she was with Cheng Xiaoshi and vice versa.
Of course the omega in him yearned to be closer to them, but he simply couldn't. Like some invisible force was preventing him from doing so.
That seemed different compared to the nest he was inside of now. He never felt repulsed of having connections with these people. Maybe because of the fact that he wasn't protective of them when he had just met them. They were strangers, enemies. Maybe they still were and all of this was yet another way to hurt him and his friends.
Nausea had set in the pit of his stomach.
He definitely wouldn't let himself get attached. For Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling's sake.
A shadow fell over him from the back, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Are you sure you don't feel like having a snack before bed? You've barely eaten anything" Liu Xiao stated while kneeling behind him and resting his hands on either side of the teen. Lu Guang blinked at him curiously before shaking his head.
"No, thank you"
"Whatever you say princess" the male shrugged before taking a seat beside him in the nest "I brought you this by the way"
Only then did Lu Guang realize that the alpha was carrying a small pile consisting of neatly folded clothes and towels.
"Those are-"
"I figured the twins' clothes would be too small for you. And since omegas prefer larger clothes, I guess you'd be okay with these"
Lu Guang stared at the pile mesmerized, only then did he realize that Liu Xiao had already changed into a pair of early spring pajamas. He had never shared any clothes. Not even with Cheng Xiaoshi.
The soft saffron scent of the alpha mildly lingered on them, and Liu Xiao realized that the omega was aware of that by how confused he seemed to be.
"I thought you wouldn't mind me scenting these for you" the alpha frowned mildly as he moved to stand up "I can bring you another-"
A hand caught his own, followed by a quiet stutter.
"These are fine, thank you"
'I won't grow attached, this isn't enough to make me like you' he mentally persuaded himself while glaring boldly at the alpha.
"Well, if you say so" Liu Xiao muttered, handing over the pile of clothing and towels to the other teen "The twins will come back from the walk soon, I advise you to use the bathroom now before they come back"
Lu Guang nodded and wobbly made his way to the other room. It was quite small for a place housing three, currently four people. But he wouldn't complain as his and Cheng Xiaoshi's bathroom wasn't much different.
After taking a quick shower and doing the other hygiene routines, luckily they had a spare teethbrush, he returned to the living room to find the alpha laying in the nest on his back with fingers entwined behind his head.
He momentarily felt awkward because of how intimate getting inside of a nest with an alpha would seem. Not that he cared much, he just wanted to take a nap as soon as possible. He was starting to feel a bit dizzy and tingly and didn't feel like staying awake and enduring that at the moment.
He carefully maneuvered his body as not to disturb him until he was at an arm's length away and with his back facing Liu Xiao's way. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he felt an arm lock around his torso and pull him into a warm embrace.
"Why so far?" the alpha hummed, and Lu Guang felt like the his scent had increased at least ten times from how close they were.
"Why so cuddly?" Lu Guang countered, but didn't get an answer as the alpha buried his nose in his hair and then slowly moved downwards until he was gently nosing at his nape.
Lu Guang shivered at the intimate act, but didn't let it get to his head. He was not weak to grow attached from just having someone display affection towards him.
"You're still overheating" Liu Xiao commented quietly.
"I know" the omega answered and heard a hum in response.
Suddenly, he felt hands that were embracing him roll his shirt upwards and rest on his stomach. The cold sensation made him gasp quietly, but otherwise didn't mind it. In his mind, where everything was burning and pounding, this felt rather nice.
"If you mind, I'll stop"
"It's okay, just warn me next time"
"Already thinking about the next time, hm~" Lu Guang partially turned his head just so he could send a menacing gaze in the alpha's direction. The other teen just laughed and tightened his hold on him.
"Adorable~"
"I'm not"
"You are, you just haven't realized so"
He was called cute a few times, but mostly when Cheng Xiaoshi was teasing him about something.
'Play though all you want, but that doesn't change that you're adorable Lu Guang~' a familiar voice of his partner echoed in the back of his mind, reminding him of the fond memory when he caught Lu Guang smiling softly at something the other never really elaborated.
Because he wasn't smiling at something, rather someone.
And that someone was Cheng Xiaoshi.
Someone who would never realize how much Lu Guang cared for him. And someone who would most likely never love him back even if he crossed thousands of different timelines.
In a world full humans that felt like humans, Lu Guang felt like he wasn't destined to feel anything at all. He had abandoned his humane side the moment he dove back the first time. He was a traitor. And if he was found out, the world would hate him. And the world meant Cheng Xiaoshi too.
"You're frowning again"
"How can I tell when I'm not even facing your way"
"Rather easily, you've clenched your stomach way too hard" Lu Guang blinked before realizing what he was doing. With Liu Xiao's gentle carresses, he managed to relax a little bit.
"Listen, I know you don't trust me" the alpha muttered, moving so he was spooning the other's smaller form "but if there's anything I can do to help you ease your mind tell me. I don't like seeing you suffer"
Lu Guang momentarily considered placing his hand on top of Liu Xiao's, but restrained himself from doing so. He wasn't about to drop his walls down. If Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't able to make them crumble through all these years, he doubted that these people could make any difference whatsoever.
They were making him softer, but that didn't mean anything. It was just the heat getting to his head. Once after it ended, things would probably go back to how they were before. Getting attached would bring him nothing but pain.
The door of the house creeked, and Lu Guang briefly froze.
Li Tianxi was the first one seen, sprinting directly towards the nest and crouching down with a large plush in her arms. A big, beaming smile was adorning her features.
"I tried explaining to her that you aren't here to stay but she still wanted you to have this" Li Tianchen muttered as he came to the nest and placed a hand on his sister's shoulder "Xixi, let's go get ready for bed. Then we can join them"
The little girl pouted mildly at her brother before turning towards the nest once she felt someone tap on her shoulder.
'Thank you, I appreciate it' Lu Guang signed and Li Tianxi nodded cheerfully before disappearing into the bathroom.
"I'm gonna go get a snack" Li Tianchen grumbled as he headed towards the kitchen "Do you want anything?"
"We are good thank you" Liu Xiao hummed, staring at the omega beside him who was staring at the plushie mesmerized.
"I used to have a similar one" Lu Guang muttered "Back when I was a kid"
"Xixi probably found out when reading your memories" the alpha hummed, trying to ignore the awkward feeling in his arms now that the omega was sitting upwarda away from his reach.
"That's so nice of her"
"She's always nice"
"Are you sure it's fine... that I can keep this?" Lu Guang asked with a mildly agitated expression. Liu Xiao was quick to pick up the sudden shift in his behaviour.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked with a furrowed brow.
Lu Guang was silent for a moment before laying down in the blankets and pillows, the plush gently embraced in his arms. He was still out of Liu Xiao's reach, making the alpha frown in displeasure.
"It's nothing" Lu Guang finally answered.
"I don't believe you" Liu Xiao quickly retorted.
"You don't have to" the omega muttered, voice quiter than ever "Just leave me alone"
Liu Xiao, even if it took lots of willpower, obliged and let the space between them voice just how tense the atmosphere was.
Li Tianchen returned soon after followed with the sound of soft crunching as he finished with eating his chocolate bar.
He immediately took note of the strange distance between the two but decided not to question it. He just moved to sit next to the door of the bathroom and wait for his sister to finish with her hygiene routine.
Liu Xiao knew he had to do something in order to fix the atmosphere even if it wasn't too bad. However, he didn't want Li Tianxi to sense it due to her sensitivity on other people's emotions.
He carefully inched his body closer to the omega. If the other noticed, he decided not to comment.
"Can I try holding it?" he asked quietly. Lu Guang didn't move at first, but then wordlessly handed over the plush. Liu Xiao hummed silently in gratitude before carefully studying the plushie.
It was a white cat. As simple as it could be, but it probably meant a lot to Lu Guang if Li Tianxi felt the need to buy it for him.
He gently fiddled with the cat's ear, and Lu Guang stared at him intently from across of his shoulder once he heard the soft sound of the alpha's hand stroking the plush.
Liu Xiao wanted to try and provoke some reaction from Lu Guang, or rather his omega side. He knew that omegas yearned for contact when seeing it. And Lu Guang was no different. He had told so Liu Xiao himself. Of all the times he had to watch people being close with each other, and him being unable to take part in the interactions.
His hand moved from the cat's ear to it's cheek. From beneath his bangs, he could see the mild shift in the other teen's gaze. That familiar longing.
His eyes seemed so lost, barely moving as they carefully followed the diminutive movement of Liu Xiao's hand.
The alpha took a quiet inhale of encouragement before moving his palm from the plush cat and resting it on Lu Guang's cheek.
The omega didn't even lift up his gaze, just remained staring dazedly at the cat.
"What's on your mind darling?" the alpha muttered, his thumb gently caressing the mildly hot skin.
He got no verbal response, but the body across of him inched a bit closer. He took that as an encouragement to fully embrace the other teen.
"You can tell me what's bothering you... I'll wait no matter how long it takes"
A small hiccup escaped the omega's lips as he shook his head.
"Then is there anything else I can do for you?" Liu Xiao asked as he gently ran a hand over the other teen's back.
"Stay... just be here when I wake up"
"Well, that's manageable" the alpha laughed softly. He let the teen settle in the nest and hug the front of the plushie to his own chest before pulling him even closer to rest his chin on top of his head.
Even if his scent glands were pretty damaged from his parents' mistreatment, he tried releasing as much of comfort as possible. And he felt Lu Guang was trying to do the same.
The door of the bathroom silently creeked, and this time the omega in his arms didn't flinch.
The nest slightly dipped as Li Tianxi climbed inside and settled behind the other omega. She didn't hug him, just rested her head against his back.
Li Tianchen came soon after, he had observed the earlier interaction between the two but didn't comment. He decided to lay down behind Liu Xiao, with arms crossed and facing away from the others.
That night had been very stormy, with the windows rattling and lights occassionally flashing on the other side of the glass.
But that couldn't destroy the little bubble of warmth and comfort that the group had formed.
Liu Xiao's arms gently tightened their hold on the other teen.
He wanted to earn Lu Guang's trust. But if words couldn't convince him, Liu Xiao hoped that at least actions would.
That's why he would definitely be there in the morning. He couldn't let him down, definitely not with something so simple.