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“Do you know?” Yuta’s voice is clearer than it has been in weeks. Real meaning and bite behind the three carefully chosen words.
The question doesn’t have context, but they don’t need it do they? No, a bonded pair would be able to understand each other. Except the bite mark on Yuta’s shoulder itches like it’s infected, the teeth marks scarring over the wrong color, their scents changing. There wasn’t enough time to heal and form their bond properly before the fracture happened.
Across the hotel room Yuta heard the rustling of his Alpha’s clothes as the large man moved closer. Yuta’s eyes were out the window, watching the night’s sky when he addressed his mate. The heavy scent weaved into everything as Claudio stood behind his omega, hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“You can look me in the eyes when you ask something like that.” Claudio’s voice was softer than it ever was with anyone else around, but it was still hard. Cold even.
The hand stayed loosely on Yuta’s shoulder while he waited. It wasn’t often Yuta was allowed to do anything at his own pace now, at his own will, so when Claudio allowed it, he took his time. Stretched it out to have some semblance of control. It never lasted long so Yuta turned his cloudy eyes upwards.
“Do you know?” He repeated himself, but no more. A little bit of control taken back. Everything was like that now.
“I do, but I do not know what it changed to.” Claudio searched his mate’s eyes for a long time. It wasn’t often they looked at each other like this. It wasn’t often they were alone. “Tell me?”
The upward inflection at the end, to let Yuta know it was a question. It wasn’t a question, because Claudio could always make him answer. But they played the game, a roleplay almost of two consenting people instead of the reality.
“I don’t know how to describe it.” Yuta admitted with a small shake of his head, his eyes closed for a moment as he took in a short sniff. The scent was so overwhelming, it almost made the omega sick now. “You used to smell like…” He took himself back. “A cool summer afternoon sipping beer.”
It was a vivid place Yuta used to find himself in. Hoppy beer and summer rain, earthy and friendly. Warm Earth, cool skies. A place he could nest in and breathe in. Everything Claudio owned smelled like that. So bright and crisp. It was inspiring.
“Now what is it?” Claudio’s hand gently cupped his omega’s chin to bring him back. Eyes fluttering open, glossing back over from the reprieve of the memory.
“There was this black candy I got one year on Halloween.” Yuta admitted as he remembered that it was the same year he had begged his parents to go as Bryan for trick-or-treating but they said it was too cold. “It was…strong. Peppery. But also minty. Um…”
“Black licorice.” Claudio finally supplied as the rambling trailed off.
“Yeah.” Yuta nodded along, a frown started forming on his features. “But more?”
“More?” Claudio prompted as he knelt down next to the chair. Arms resting on the arm Yuta wasn’t leaning against.
“It’s like that candy, but herbs and earthy. Almost like…” Yuta searched for it, barely finding the right way to describe it. “...alcoholic still?”
“Ah.” Claudio laughed, his face turning happy for just a moment as he figured it out. “Absinthe. It is the strange green drink no one ever orders. Traditionally drunk with a sugar cube, spoon, and cold water.”
“I think I’ve heard of that.” Yuta nodded along, not sure if that was true or he was getting impressions from his Alpha. “I’ve never had it though.”
“It’s an acquired taste.” Claudio stood up, reaching down to pull the omega up too. “I’ve had it before.”
“Is it good?” Yuta stood even though he didn’t want to, just following the motions.
“If you add sugar.” Claudio pulled the covers of the bed back.