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Osaka, Japan
Yuta's fingers trembled as he zipped his suitcase closed. Their family house has been his home for twenty-two years, his mother's cooking, his father's newspaper during breakfast and his brother Shotaro's laughter will surely be missed.
"Last chance to back out,nii-chan." Taro said from the doorway, his omega scent becoming more noticeable.
"And waste two years of auditions and sacrifice? Not happening."
Tarot stepped inside his older brother's room, adjusted Yuta's collar. "Just remember that Korea is different from Japan, always wear your suppressants, tone down your flirting with other omegas and do not forget to call or I will go there myself."
"I know. And believe me I will never forget my baby brother." Yuta teased Shotaro's hair.
"I watched some of their videos nii-chan and their leader looks pretty but also powerful. His choreography is really strong but also graceful, and each of their members really owned their part of the dance. Apparently Lee Taeyong started young and is not a great dancer when he started, but if you look at his videos right now you would think he is a prodigy."
Now Yuta is more excited to officially join the dance company.
After putting a few more clothes to another suitcase, he brought his things to the cab waiting outside. His mother hugged him so tight while his father tapped his back. "Don't forget to call your mother or she will worry." He nodded and get in the cab while waving to his family that he will leave behind.
But he wanted this. This is his dream.
Seoul, South Korea. Urichil Dance Studio A
The dance studio smelled like it was wiped with Febreeze from floor to ceiling with a hint of alpha musk. Yuta resisted the urge to cover his nose as their manager lead him inside.
"- And this is the main studio of Urichil." Yuta did not catch the first part of what the manager was saying and instead it faced the members currently resting after a dance run. "Everyone, meet Yuta. He will be transferring from our Japan sister company."
Yuta bowed automatically and when he raised his head up, his eyes were drawn to the slender figure standing in front of the group.
Oh. OH NO.
The man - Taeyong, as introduced by the manager as the leader - was everything Taro said and more. Taro did not say that Taeyong has delicate wrists that can be seen peeking from the long sleeves that he is wearing, pink lips, round boba eyes and pink blonde hair.
Yuta,despite being an omega himself, has instincts awakened. Protect. Precious. Provide.
"Welcome to the team!" Taeyong said, stepping forward and offering to shake hands. His voice is softer that Yuta expected for a leader, melodic but you can feel the strength and command behind it. When their hands touched, Yuta's fingers lingered a second longer than necessary. He felt Taeyong's pulse jump a little under his fingertips before the other man gently withdrew.
Behind them, someone coughed into his water. Yuta glanced over to see a tall alpha (really really noticeable that he is an alpha) with undercut and beside him is the omega previously introduced as Doyoung by the manager.
"Johnny, slow down with the water." Doyoung chastised.
Yuta did not have time to analyze their strange actions because Taeyong called him again and guided him toward the mirrors. "We're running through 'Fact Check' today. You can shadow me for today for the choreography."
Up close Taeyong smelled like febreeze but a hint of something sweet is hiding beneath it, enticing Yuta to come closer and he had to consciously stop himself from leaning in further.
As they began the warm ups, Yuta noticed how Taeyong moves, every motion precise but also fluid, his body being one with the music. During a particularly complicated spin sequence, Yuta instinctively reached out to steady the other man when he wobbled.
Taeyong looked at him, surprised. "I had it."
"Of course. Sorry." Yuta said quickly, but he did not miss the warm scent coming from Taeyong.
Yuta did not waste any time letting Taeyong know that he is interested to the other 'omega'.
The Scented Scarf Incident
Yuta accidentally left his favorite scarf in Taeyong's locker one afternoon after practice. It was a risk, omegas do not usually make the first move. But since they are both omegas, he decided he will initiate the scent exchange especially with the way Taeyong looks at him during their drills.
The soft red fabric draped elegantly around Taeyong's neck, Yuta's vanilla scent now mixed with Taeyong's cinnamon scent. This did not go unnoticed by other team members.
"New scarf?" Johnny asked, eyebrows wiggling with a little mischief.
Taeyong touched the fabric absent mindedly. "Yuta lent it to me."
From the back, Doyoung made a noise similar to a balloon losing its air quickly.
Yuta spent the entire practice hyper aware of every glance Taeyong sent his way. How then scarf moves with Taeyong and how -
He missed his cue and collided with Mark.
The Lunchtime Fiasco
Yuta arrived early to their group lunchout at the company canteen with his carefully prepared bento. The omega-run shop near his apartment specialized in dishes good for omega health with sea cucumber salad, pajeon and of course he decided to bring natto as well and all of them are in a heart shaped girly container.
"For you," he said placing it infront of Taeyong.
Everyone stared at the spread and Taeyong stared at Yuta, "This is... "
"Foods that are specifically good for omegas like us! The shop owner said it helps with immunity, stamina and other things" Yuta said cheerfully. "I added some natto as well hope you liked it!"
Across the table, Jungwoo and Jaehyun along with everyone else are shocked with what they heard. "Omega?" Haechan whispered to Mark sitting beside him.
Taeyong picked up his chopsticks. "Thank you Yuta! Especially for the natto! Been craving this for awhile." He ate every bit of the food without complaint and Yuta watched him gleefully.
The Practice Room B Incident
Late night practices became Yuta and Taeyong's routine. The two of them dancing infront of the mirrors of the small practice room along with Yuta's decreasing control to keep his hands to himself.
"Your stance is a little bit off." Taeyong murmured one evening, stepping behind Yuta. He placed his hands on Yuta's hips guiding them to the proper alignment. Yuta looked back at Taeyong and without thinking, brushed his nose near Taeyong's scent glands.
Taeyong stiffened. "Yuta..."
Yuta finally realized what he did. He moved away from Taeyong and picked his things "Sorry! Let's call it a day!" and ran towards the door.
Taeyong was left shocked on what happened while Yuta locked himself in one of the bathrooms and splashed himself with some cold water.
It has been months now and everyone but Taeyong are aware that Yuta is trying to court the other man, and thinks that the other is an omega as well.
The truth unfolded one hotpot night with the team.
Yuta has spent twenty minutes carefully selecting the best slices of marinated beef as well as bringing the sweetest dessert for Taeyong. He was mid transfer of the meat when Doyoung snapped.
"Yuta why do you treat Taeyong like an omega?"
Yuta blinked, finding the question weird. His gaze went to Taeyong before responding, "Be cause he is?"
The table went silent and shock can be seen on Taeyong's face.
Mark dropped his chopsticks. Johnny makes the biggest 'O' with his mouth. Haechan looks like he received the best gift ever.
Taeyong put down his chopsticks calmly and faced Yuta beside him. "Yuta, I'm an alpha."
The statement did not register to Yuta immediately, but you can see it on his face the moment it did. The gentle leader that smells like cinammon? The person he's been courting all these months?
"Alpha?!"
And just like what happened in the practice room, Yuta bolted.
The next three days of the hotpot incident has been one of the darkest three days of Yuta's life.
On the first day, he called in sick. He buried himself in blankets replaying the humiliating courting that happened. His phone buzzed constantly, messages from the members, from the manager and from Taeyong. All of them were ignored.
On the second day, he attended practice but maintained a large distance between himself and Taeyong at all times. Whenever their eyes meet, Yuta's inner omega whines and he is always the first to break the contact.
On the third day, Taeyong had enough. After practice, Taeyong cornered him in the locker room.
"Are you afraid of me now that you know I'm an alpha?" He asked, worry can be heard on his voice. His scent which is usually not noticeable, carried notes of distress.
Yuta's omega reacted before his brain could, stepping closer to the alpha. "No! I'm not. I'm just... ashamed."
Taeyong's eyes softened. He reached out slowly, giving Yuta time to pull away before tucking a loose strand of hair behind the omega's ear. "Did you like me because I am an omega?"
"No! I like you because you're Taeyong." The omega answered quickly.
"What if I tell you that I liked your courting?"
The vanilla scent coming from Yuta intensified now carrying hint of happiness.
After that night of confession (if you could call it that), Taeyong insisted that it is his turn to court Yuta.
Taeyong brought iced Americano for Yuta. "Strong coffee for a strong omega like you." He pressed the cup into Yuta's hands and winked.
Doyoung witnessing the scene "Ugh gross! Taeyong flirting."
Taeyong also started leaving his scented Chrome Hearts clothes (because they discovered that they both liked the brand) in Yuta's locker. And everytime one of the members would complain on how flirty the two are with each other.
What they don't know is that Yuta nuzzles the clothes when no one was looking.
Their first kiss happened backstage after the group's first win after Yuta joined. Yuta pressed against a dressing room mirror. Taeyong crowding him, alpha confidence and all.
"Still think I can pass as an omega?" Taeyong teased while kissing the omega's lips.
Yuta could not answer but pull the alpha closer to deepen the kiss instead.
EPILOGUE (One Year Later)
"Stop growling!" Yuta chastised his boyfriend while trying to control the laughter in his voice. Taeyong glared at the new Japanese trainee of the company. "He was just asking about formations." Yuta explained.
Taeyong's arms tightened around Yuta's waist. "He smelled your neck."
From the doorway of the practice room, Doyoung sighed. "I did not imagine Taeyong would be like this when he is in love."
Jaehyun grinned. "Remember when Yuta thought he was an omega?"
Yuta heard it and threw at them the towel he used to wipe his sweat. Some things changed for the better - Taeyong's protectiveness, Yuta's love for it. Some things never changed - the member's amusement at the 'omega misconception phase' of his and Taeyong's relationship.
As Taeyong scented Yuta's neck right there in front of everyone, Yuta smiled.
Worth. It.