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Yushi let out an annoyed huff as he paced the length of his bedroom. The heat coursing through his body was relentless, making his skin feel too hot and his nerves too sensitive. He tugged at his oversized sweater, debating whether to throw it off or curl up tighter inside it. Both options sounded equally unbearable.
Knock, knock.
“Yushi? Are you okay? I brought you some tea.”
The familiar voice of Jaehee, his younger, overly attentive alpha, came from the other side of the door. Yushi sighed dramatically.
“No, Jaehee, I don’t want tea,” Yushi called back, his tone sharp.
There was a pause, but Jaehee wasn’t one to give up so easily. “I also brought you a heated blanket! Maybe it’ll help with the chills?”
“What chills? I’m already too hot!” Yushi snapped, flinging open the door to glare at the tall, sheepish alpha standing there with an armful of items: a steaming mug, a folded blanket, and was that a box of chocolates?
Jaehee blinked down at him, his bright eyes full of concern. “Oh. I thought you might want something sweet... or cozy... or—”
“Jaehee!” Yushi cut him off, his cheeks flushing deeper, though whether from heat or frustration, he wasn’t sure. “You can’t just hover around me every second! I’m not a fragile flower!”
Jaehee shuffled his feet, looking genuinely hurt but still determined. “I know you’re not fragile, Yushi. I just... I want to make you feel better. That’s all.”
The sincerity in his voice made Yushi’s anger falter, but only for a moment. His heat was making him irritable, and everything, everything, felt like too much right now.
“Fine. Just leave the stuff and go,” Yushi muttered, stepping back into his room.
Jaehee hesitated before setting the items on a nearby table. “Okay, but if you need anything—”
“I’ll call you,” Yushi interrupted, already closing the door.
“...Okay,” Jaehee replied softly, the door clicking shut in his face.
An hour passed. The tea remained untouched, the chocolates unopened, and the blanket neatly folded. Yushi lay sprawled on his bed, feeling guilty despite himself. He knew Jaehee was only trying to help. The alpha had always been like that. Gentle, thoughtful, and a little too eager to please.
With a groan, Yushi grabbed the box of chocolates and popped one into his mouth. The sweetness was comforting, and it reminded him of the way Jaehee’s scent lingered in the air after he left: warm, soothing, and oddly grounding.
When the knock came again, Yushi didn’t even wait for Jaehee to speak before swinging the door open.
“What now?” he grumbled, though his tone lacked the bite from earlier.
Jaehee stood there holding a small plush toy, an adorable orange cat. His cheeks were slightly pink as he extended it toward Yushi. “I know you said you didn’t need anything else, but... I thought this might make you smile.”
Yushi stared at the cat, then at Jaehee, and back at the cat. Slowly, his lips twitched into the tiniest smile.
“You’re ridiculous,” he muttered, taking the plushie and hugging it to his chest.
Jaehee’s face lit up. “So... I can stay?”
Yushi rolled his eyes but stepped aside to let him in. “Fine. But no more hovering. And don’t say anything stupid.”
Jaehee grinned as he followed Yushi inside, his tail practically wagging.
For all his complaints, Yushi couldn’t deny that having Jaehee close made the heat just a little more bearable.
It wasn’t the tea, the chocolates, or even the cat that brought Yushi comfort. It was Jaehee’s quiet, unyielding presence. And though he’d never admit it, he was secretly glad his attentive alpha never gave up on him.