Chapter Text
Aroma of Loneliness
Po huddled in the oversized black sweater, practically swallowed by the fabric, as he hunched over his laptop late into the night. The room was quiet except for the faint clicks of the keyboard and the occasional sigh that escaped his lips. He was working on editing an episode of the MARS documentary, his eyes heavy and his focus wavering.
He paused, lifting his hands to his mouth to blow some warmth into them, but the chill in his fingers didn’t ease. Instead, a sharp, stinging pain began to bloom behind his eyes.
Fuck, he was dropping.
As Po stared at the screen, a familiar ache welled up inside. There was Thame, grinning and goofing around with Dylan while swatting Jun’s teasing hands away. It was such a simple moment, so easy and carefree, but it hit Po like a gut punch. His omega stirred, letting out a low, mournful whine that Po couldn’t quite suppress. It wasn’t fair, his body wanted comfort, wanted Thame’s strong arms to banish the cold that had settled deep in his bones.
But Po wasn’t letting anyone in. Not after Earn.
His gaze fell to the sweater clinging to him like a lifeline. He hated that it was Earn’s, hated that it was the only thing standing between him and the abyss of an omega drop. His previous alpha’s scent was barely there anymore, but it was just enough to keep him from completely dropping. It had been almost a year since he’d had an alpha’s scent to ground him, and the void it left was suffocating. Po had no alpha friends to lean on for even platonic comfort, no borrowed clothes to wrap himself in, no steady presence to anchor him.
It was just him. Always him.
With a shaky breath, he saved his work and shut the laptop. His legs wobbled as he made his way to his bedroom, collapsing into the mess of blankets and clothes he called his nest. Po pulled his family’s clothes close, burying his face in the fabric as he clung to the sweater. The room tilted and spun around him, and his head throbbed with a relentless ache. Sleep didn’t come easy, but eventually, the darkness pulled him under.
When Po woke, sunlight was streaming through the window, sharp and unforgiving. He blinked against it, disoriented. The drop hadn’t fully hit yet, a small mercy, but it still felt like he was wading through thick, sticky syrup. His body was heavy, his thoughts scattered and cotton-soft. He wanted to cry, wanted to scream, but he didn’t have the energy to do either.
Instead, he lay there, eyes glassy, staring at nothing. Another day had started, but Po wasn’t sure if he could get up and face it.
“You okay, Po?” Mick asked, barely looking up as he sifted through Po’s edited work.
Po opened his mouth to respond, but Mick barreled on before he could get a word out. “This is good. I’ll send over some more raw footage with instructions later.”
Finally glancing up, Mick frowned, his gaze catching on Po’s pale skin, hollow cheeks, and the dark circles under his eyes. “Actually... take the rest of the day off. You can start tomorrow.” The beta stood and gave Po’s shoulder a quick pat before striding away without waiting for a reply.
Po sighed, his shoulders sagging as he closed his laptop and slipped it into his bag. He shuffled over to his workstation to grab the rest of his belongings, grateful for the small mercy of time off. Even if it was only a day, it was better than nothing.
He needed his nest. That was the only thing that could help him reset. The comfort of his nest or the scent of an alpha… Po hurried home.
Walking toward the elevator, Po forced a weak smile at the murmured comments of concern from his coworkers. He waved them off with a nod, though his heart clenched at their kindness.
He’d be okay.
He just needed his nest.
Po pressed the elevator button, his vision swimming. When the doors opened on the wrong floor, his head tilted in confusion. Floor 3, not the lobby.
The doors slid open, and someone stepped in. The faint scent that wafted in made Po’s throat tighten. His omega stirred, and he clenched his jaw to stop any sound from escaping. Slowly, he blinked, forcing his heavy lids open to glance at the newcomer.
It was Thame.
The young alpha stood to Po’s left, dressed casually in a hoodie with a mask covering most of his face, his attention focused on his phone.
“Hi, P’Po.” Thame said distractedly, his voice soft and melodic, muffled by the mask.
“Hey.” Po managed to reply, though his voice cracked from the effort.
Thame didn’t really know him beyond his role as the assistant director and cameraman. Po had always kept a respectful distance, careful not to let his feelings for the alpha show. Watching Thame through his laptop screen had been enough. Safe, distant, and untouchable.
Thame looked up to press a button but hesitated, his gaze flicking to Po. “You’re going to the ground floor?”
Po looked up in confusion to see that he accidently pressed the G instead of L.
Finally taking a proper look at him, Thame’s eyes widened with concern. “Phi, are you okay?” He stepped closer, sliding his mask down to reveal his face. His nose twitched, his steps faltering slightly as he took in Po’s scent.
“Phi, you smell-"
Po knew what he smelled like.
On a normal day, his scent was clean and sharp, like the ocean breeze rolling over salty waves. It was like a crisp mix of sea spray and sun-warmed water. It was a scent that carried a quiet strength, one that reminded the people close to him of freedom.
But today, Po wasn’t himself.
His natural scent was dulled, muddied by the weight pressing down on him. Instead of the tang of ocean air, there was something murky and pungent, like algae clinging to wet stones or the heavy, cloying scent of seawater trapped in a forgotten tide pool. It was faintly bitter, almost sour, a distress signal his omega couldn’t suppress even if he tried.
Thame froze, his nose twitching again as the scent hit him.
“Phi…” Thame’s voice softened, his brow furrowing as he stepped closer. The alpha didn’t need to ask what was wrong; Po’s scent told the whole story. It was the unmistakable smell of loneliness, of an omega trying to hold himself together but fraying at the edges.
Po swallowed hard, instinctively taking a step back. He didn’t want Thame, didn’t want anyone, to see him like this, to know how broken he felt.
When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Po was greeted by the sight of rows of parked cars. With a shaky hand, he reached out to press the button to close the doors, but Thame didn’t let him.
Po whimpered as Thame’s hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling him out of the elevator.
“Thame-” Po squeaked, but his body was weak towards Thame’s Alphan strength.
“You need an alpha,” Thame said through gritted teeth, his voice tight with frustration. “I’ll drive you home to your-” He paused, his fiery gaze snapping back to Po. “How could he let you get this bad?” He demanded, his words laced with anger as he stopped in front of his car.
“Who?” Po panted, struggling to contain his omega’s eager response to Thame’s concern.
“Your alpha!” Thame said, exasperation clear in his voice. His grip on Po’s wrist didn’t falter. “Is he traveling? He should know better than to leave-”
“I don’t have an alpha, Thame,” Po interrupted, his voice quiet and laced with shame.
You don’t match well.
It makes sense, no? I mean, looking at you guys, you both look like alphas.
You drove him away.
The cruel comments of Earn’s friends echoed in Po’s mind, making his stomach twist.
He looked down at Thame’s hand still clasping his wrist and gently tugged it free. His lower lip trembled as tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over.
“Ome-” Thame caught himself. “P’Po, you need an alpha.”
He stepped forward, but Po instinctively took a step back, creating space between them.
Of course, he needed an alpha, Po knew that all too well. Alphas and omegas were designed to complement each other to create a natural balance. He needed to be surrounded by an alpha’s pheromones now and then, to steady his own and stop the spiraling that came with neglecting this fundamental need. But knowing it didn’t make it any easier to admit.
He remembered Earn’s neglect, the way his previous alpha’s attention always seemed elsewhere, and the uninterested sighs Earn let out whenever Po tried to inch closer, seeking warmth that was never freely given. Those memories were chains, holding him back even now, whispering that he wasn’t worth the care Thame was offering.
He’d been without an alpha for so long, had taught himself to survive without one, but right now, standing in the elevator with Thame’s warm, steady presence, it was harder to fight the yearning for connection.
“Let me help you, please, Phi.”
Thame’s soft plea broke through Po’s thoughts, and his head snapped up, meeting the alpha’s gaze. His omega whimpered, preening at the sincerity in Thame’s voice.
Let him.
The thought was barely a whisper in Po’s mind, but it was enough. His body betrayed him, inching forward, drawn to the promise of comfort and care.
“Thame…” Po’s voice cracked as his shoulders slumped. The tears he’d been holding back threatened to spill, and his scent grew even more distressed, the ocean-like tang now entirely drowned by the brackish bitterness.
The alpha stepped closer, his movements careful and deliberate. “It’s okay,” Thame said softly, his hand hovering near Po’s shoulder before resting there gently. “You don’t have to be okay right now.”
The words broke something in Po, and for the first time in months, he let himself lean into someone. Into Thame.
“Thame…” Po whispered, his voice trembling like a plea, his body succumbing to the numbness as the cold spread deeper inside him.
The omega’s chest tightened as he struggled against the weight of admitting what he needed. He couldn’t bring himself to say it outright, to ask for help. He needed Thame to see through his silence, to take charge, to make the decision Po couldn’t make for himself.
“It’s okay,” Thame murmured soothingly, his voice steady and calming as he extended his hands toward Po.
Po held his breath, his senses suddenly overwhelmed as Thame’s scent - rain-soaked cedarwood - rolled over him in gentle, steady waves. The alpha was releasing his pheromones which felt grounding as it wrapped around Po like a warm embrace.
One of Thame’s hands cupped the side of Po’s head while the other found his waist. It wasn’t until then that Po realized how close he was to collapsing, his knees trembling under the weight of his exhaustion.
With Thame’s strength supporting him, Po let himself lean into the alpha’s steady frame. For the first time in what felt like forever, the icy void inside him began to thaw, replaced by a warmth he hadn’t dared hope for.
Thame carefully guided Po into the backseat of his car, his movements were gentle as though handling something delicate and breakable. Po lay trembling on the seat, his omega instincts flaring with vulnerability, while Thame hovered protectively above him.
When Thame shifted back slightly to close the door, a panicked whine tore from Po’s lips, his eyes wide and desperate as they locked onto the alpha’s.
“Please.” Po whispered, tears welling and spilling over as he clung to Thame with trembling hands.
Thame’s heart clenched at the sight of Po’s distress. “I’m not going anywhere.” He murmured. But when he tried to pull away again, Po’s hands latched onto his hips, gripping tightly, as if letting go would shatter him completely.
Instead of resisting, Thame quickly slipped off his black hoodie and handed it to Po. The omega snatched it without hesitation, burying his face in the fabric and taking a deep inhale, the scent wrapping around him like a lifeline. He didn’t care how desperate it looked-he needed it. He needed his alp-Thame.
When Po peeked over the hoodie, he saw Thame climbing fully into the backseat, closing the door with a quiet click. The alpha settled against him, their bodies fitting together as Thame pressed his weight gently over Po’s frame.
“I need to stabilize your pheromone levels before I can drive you home.” Thame murmured, his voice low and face flushed.
Po, lost in his hazy state, didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around Thame’s frame, pulling him closer, seeking the grounding presence he so desperately craved since Earn. Thame let out a soft, startled gasp at the omega’s sudden neediness but quickly adjusted, letting himself relax against Po. His head rested near Po’s, the omega’s soft hair brushing against his nose as he exhaled slowly, releasing a rich wave of pheromones into the confined space.
Po instinctively nuzzled closer, his nose brushing Thame’s neck, drawn to the alpha’s scent gland. He pressed his nose against Thame’s skin, the contact sending a jolt through his omega instincts, and inhaled deeply.
The change was immediate. Thame’s cedarwood pheromones, deep and steady like rain-soaked earth, flooded Po’s senses, smothering the cold harsh edges of his distress. His omega melted, the tension draining from his body as he clung to Thame.
Po’s hands clutched at the fabric of Thame’s shirt as he took gulping breaths of the pheromone-laden air. The tension in his body ebbed away, and he drifted off, feeling as though he were falling into a moss-covered forest floor. His omega purred in satisfaction, sated and content after finally receiving the steady and grounding attention of his alpha.
Not his alpha.
The thought broke through the haze, sharp and jarring.
Thame wasn’t his alpha.
Po’s omega whimpered in protest at the interruption, the fragile fantasy shattered by reality. Thame wasn’t doing this because he wanted Po as his omega. He was simply being kind, helping someone who was struggling. The thought made the warmth in Po’s chest falter, leaving behind an ache he couldn’t ignore.
“It’s okay, baby, I’m here.”
The words pierced through the fog, so soft and possessive that they made Po’s breath catch. He must be dreaming. Thame would never speak to him like that, not in the waking world. Only in his dreams did Thame talk to him this way.
Po drifted off, half-aware of Thame shifting his weight and moving off him. He heard the faint creak of the car door opening, but this time, he didn’t protest. His body was heavy, his mind blissfully scent-drunk on Thame’s protective pheromones.
Clutching the hoodie tighter to his chest, Po nuzzled into the fabric, ensuring every bit of Thame’s scent soaked into his skin. Even after Thame left, he wanted the alpha’s presence to linger.
Through the haze of his half-sleep, Po felt Thame carefully help him out of the car, strong arms supporting his weight. He didn’t have the strength, or the will, to protest as he was half-carried to the elevator. The faint hum of motion stirred him enough to blink, blurry eyes focusing just long enough to recognize his apartment door.
Thame’s hand dipped into Po’s pocket, fishing out the keys to unlock the door. Po didn’t care about the state of his living room, the scattered papers on the floor, the piles of laundry on the couch hastily fashioned into a makeshift nest. None of it mattered. All he cared about was the warmth of Thame’s body and the steady rhythm of the alpha’s heartbeat against him.
He buried his face deeper in Thame’s neck, the heat of his flushed skin drawing out soft sighs from his omega. When they reached the bedroom, Po’s omega surged with longing as he caught sight of his nest. Po wanted Thame there. He wanted his alpha’s presence woven into every thread of his sanctuary. He wanted Thame’s scent to saturate the space, to claim it, to make it impossible for the comforting warmth to ever fade.
Without thinking, he clung tighter, his nose brushing against Thame’s scent gland as he murmured a soft, barely audible plea. “Stay… please…”
“I’m staying.” Thame voice came from his throat, hoarse and possessive.
He helped Po lay down in his nest, careful not to mess up the arrangement. Po watched Thame’s concentrated face with a dreamy smile so he was able to catch the slight twitch of his nose. Thame was sniffing the air and then frown deeply.
Po’s omega coward at the disgusted look on his alpha’s face.
Does he hate my scent?
Is he going to leave.
Po’s throat clogged up and before he could beg Thame to stay, he watched the alpha grab a black piece of clothing beside Po’s head. He brought it to his nose with a sneer before tossing it far away.
Earn’s sweater.
Another alpha’s possession in Po’s nest.
Thame hated that.
Po preened at the action, his omega instincts flaring at the sight of Thame’s possessive care. His fingers twitched, his body yearning to reach out and pull Thame into his nest.
He watched as Thame stood at the edge of the nest, hovering uncertainly, his weight shifting from foot to foot. The air around him was awkward, almost hesitant, as though he wasn’t sure what was expected of him.
Oh…
The realization hit Po like a wave. Only alphas who were committed to their omegas were supposed to enter their nests. It was sacred, an unspoken rule of respect and boundaries. Inviting Thame in would mean crossing that line, and Po knew it.
But despite that knowledge, his longing only grew.
His omega whimpered softly. He wanted Thame there, in his nest, no matter how wrong it was. His heart raced as he wrestled with the thought, knowing the implications but craving the comfort all the same.
Po’s lips parted, the words hanging on the tip of his tongue. Come in, he wanted to say, but the fear of rejection rooted him in place.
“I’ll-” Thame began, his voice hesitant, and Po’s heart plummeted.
He’s going to leave.
The thought slammed into him like a physical blow, and panic surged through his veins. Thame must think he didn’t need him anymore, now that the worst of the drop was over.
“Come in!” Po blurted, his hand darting out to grab Thame’s wrist before the alpha could step back. His grip was firm despite the tremor in his fingers, his desperation plain in his voice. “Please don’t leave.”
Thame froze, his wide eyes meeting Po’s tear-filled gaze. For a moment, Thame didn’t speak, and Po’s heart pounded in his chest, terrified he’d gone too far. Then, slowly, Thame’s expression softened, and he nodded, stepping closer.
Thame slipped off his shoes, moving with careful deliberation as he slid into the nest beside Po. The omega immediately shifted, instinctively seeking him out, and buried his face in Thame’s chest. His arms wrapped tightly around the alpha, holding him as though afraid he might vanish in the air.
Thame responded without hesitation, pulling Po closer, his own arms encircling the omega’s trembling frame. One hand found its place at the small of Po’s back, pressing him gently but securely against Thame’s warmth, while the other settled at the nape of Po’s neck, his fingers threading lightly through soft hair.
“Thank you,” Po murmured after a while, his voice muffled against the steady rise and fall of Thame’s chest.
“It’s my pleasure,” Thame replied softly, his voice warm and gentle, lulling Po further into drowsiness.
As Po teetered on the edge of sleep, a faint press of lips brushed against his forehead. It felt so tender, so fleeting, that he wasn’t sure if it was real or just the dreamlike haze pulling him under.
