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“Hyung,” Jeongin whispers. “What do you see, hyung?”
Felix sees the two of them buying matching raincoats. Warming each other's hands in the snowfall. He sees himself snuggling up to Jeongin on the sofa while the younger envelops him in his sweet eucalyptus scent— he stubbornly refuses to breathe, hoping his head could clear faster this way despite Jeongin's proximity, so he can concentrate on their actual task again instead of daydreaming.
Sliding a few more books on the shelf aside, he immediately sees the library’s reading room through a larger gap. Seungmin is sitting at one of the tables, just as Jeongin and he planned. In their matchmaking plans, he was calmer, though. He scans the area frantically, then glances at his watch, then his phone, before he starts typing. Seconds later, Jeongin’s phone buzzes faintly in his pocket. They should have thought Seungmin could be confused— his best friend, who suggested the meeting in the first place, has left him behind without explanation (so he can breathe down Felix's neck while hiding behind psychology textbooks, but Seungmin has no idea about this, hopefully).
Finally, Changbin appears, coffee in hand. Just as Felix asked him: would you bring a coffee for Chan hyung, pretty please? So far, everything has gone (almost) according to their plan.
Then his best friend’s head turns towards the younger omega. He’d run away as always, it’s evident as his whole body tenses up and he almost crushes the coffee cup.
“Hyung?” But Seungmin notices him, too. Fortunately. He has to make the first move, otherwise Changbin will always think that his love is unrequited.
Felix stiffens with excitement— this is the moment that made him unable to swallow more than half a sandwich for breakfast and tap the edge of his laptop nervously throughout his entire course. The future depends on their decisions, not the plan anymore.
“Seungmin.”
“Fancy seeing you here. Have you seen a tall omega in framed glasses?”
“No. Have you seen Chan hyung?”
Seungmin shakes his head. “He’s off duty today,” then he pats the closest chair to him. “Would you like to… sit with me?”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” A cocky grin appears on Seungmin’s face.
“I mean, yeah. I mean, okay. I mean–”
The aforementioned tall omega shuffles impatiently behind Felix and leans even closer to him. His nose accidentally brushes Felix’s neck, and he nearly faints. “What’s happening?”
“Hyung goes to him” he mumbles to Jeongin after collecting his absence, again.
“And Seungmin?”
“He lets him…They’re talking. Hyung leans on the table, and… Shit, I think Seungmin flirts with— Both of them are flirting!” he announces proudly. A lot of tension leaves him, his shoulders loosening up.
Jeongin can't wait any longer, so he joins him and pulls open the book curtain to sneak a peek. The observed ones chat and laugh, and eventually, they change numbers.
"Wow. We did it."
"We're great," Felix nods and gives the other a grateful look. "Considering that neither of us has ever been a matchmaker before, we really did it."
Jeongin steps away from the shelf and points toward the offices. "Wanna celebrate?"
Jeongin plops down on the caterpillar look-alike green sofa. Above it is a small shelf with a cuckoo clock and an open chocolate bar. Jeongin takes the chocolate, unwraps it completely, and breaks the brown rectangle in half.
"I've slept here a lot last semester. Very peaceful. Chan hyung calls it librarian nook-nest, although he never uses it.”
“You’re telling me!” Felix snorts and takes the half offered to him. "Last time I brought him a sandwich, he didn't even have time to take it. He was packing, making reservations, giving instructions. I fed him on the way. If it were up to him, he might remember to eat in the evening.”
"Yes, that's definitely something you would do," Jeongin hums. There is no sarcasm in his words, only mild admiration and pride. Felix would probably understand sarcasm better than these emotions. Has often faced backhanded compliments, but this is different. Jeongin is different.
"What?"
"You're always nice to everyone and want to help. For example, you didn't go home after school for days to play, study, or anything, but came to the gym and were willing to talk to me in the smelly locker room because your friend’s happiness is important to you."
Felix grins— modestly, because it was a compliment, and a little embarrassed, because he actually enjoyed the locker room visits when Jeongin's tank top stuck to his chest and the air around them was heavy with eucalyptus, like in a romantic movie, in the scene before the couple's first scenting. "I'm no saint either."
"No. But in my eyes, you're close to it.”
Felix can’t bear to look at him any longer, so he takes a bite, letting the sweet taste melt on his tongue, and in the meantime, wonders whether Jeongin is flirting or simply admiring his kindness.
They chew. Silently. Uncertainly. Neither of them knows what will happen to them after they have planned the perfect meet-cute for their best friends. One thing is certain: Felix doesn't want to turn his back on Jeongin. He wants to hold his hand, build a nest out of his sweaters decorated with the university logo, bake him his favorite cookies, and go on dates with him. God, how bad he wants to go on a date with him!
"What if..." he begins, but it's as if his tongue has gone numb from the chocolate, and he isn’t bold enough to say the words he wants to. "Maybe we should go on their first date," he finally suggests, surprising even himself.
"Yes?"
"To make sure everything goes well," he explains.
"Knowing hyung, they'll go to the Crescent Moon Cafe. He always takes his first dates there, and they have no say in the matter. It's a pretty small place, kind of like a librarian nook-nest," Jeongin sums up, then moves closer so their knees touch. He certainly wants to show that there is little space like here, and it is not his intention to make Felix's body tingle just from this tiny contact. "They'll spot us easily if we're not incognito."
Felix's brain tries to swirl, to function at all, even though he can feel Jeongin's kneecap through their jeans. The air is already heavy from Jeongin’s scent, and now Felix has to deal with the surging emotions his touch stirred up. He sighs, bites into the chocolate, positions himself, but refuses to pull his leg away. Neither does Jeongin— this is both a problem (his brain functions have slowed down critically) and not a problem at all (his heart is bursting with bliss). Somehow, a haphazard idea pops into his head. "I can get costumes if you don't mind us being hairy guys from the sixteenth century."
Three weeks ago, Minho threw a birthday party for his cats and had invited a surprising number of his friends. Felix was happy to go because there was cake and he could play with the cats. He also got to catch up with friends he hadn't seen much lately due to his busy schedule. Changbin had driven him there, and he ended up staying by his side for most of the party. Even when Jisung spread the rumor that Seungmin was single again— he had been for a while, but he had kept it a secret. He had broken up with his previous boyfriend, but he didn't want to broadcast it. He hated being fresh prey.
Felix saw that Changbin’s fist inadvertently tensed, hearing the new information. He had liked Seungmin for ages, but he never had the courage to ask him out. Even though everyone assured him again that he wasn't one of those pushy, rude alphas who irritated Seungmin, he didn't take any steps to pursue the matter or towards Seungmin at the party, just like before. Felix thought maybe a purring cat in his lap would give him plenty of confidence to small-talk with Seungmin at least.
That's when Jeongin came into the picture— while Felix was busy trying to lure Soonie out from under the couch with a mouse toy, the young omega approached him. His scent immediately filled the living room, and Felix found it pleasant. He didn't mind it, nor the fact that the stranger knelt next to him on the carpet.
“Hi.”
"Uh, hello, I'm Jeongin, and–" He blushed and stared into his glass. "And I think my friend likes your friend."
By the time Soonie came out, the sketch of the plan had been born, and the two of them became matchmaker partners.
They made plans after class, over two plates of scrambled eggs with bacon in the morning, after Jeongin’s workout sessions, and had a lot of fun in the process. The further they got in figuring out how to bring Changbin and Seungmin together, the more they talked about themselves, about their everyday worries, their desires. Then video games on sale, broken records, finest energy drinks.
What wasn’t part of the plan was Felix falling in love with the other omega. His laughter, scent, and thoughts. The way he analyzes a keyboard as intently as he does. How his nose scrunches before he sneezes.
It happened suddenly— one moment Felix's heart was broken and empty, the next it was beating strongly, fueled by intense feelings.
He needs to find out if the other is interested in him, and that's the hard part: he's never courted anyone before. But that's okay. He'll learn by the time their friends' first date rolls around. He enlists the help of the dating coaches of the web, his own experiences with alphas who have courted him, and his most important resource, Hyunjin— and in the process, he gets the Halloween costume from him. Hopefully. He is not very cooperative at the moment. He sat Felix down on his extra-soft couch and now looks at him critically, towering silently above him.
“Felix.”
“Yes?”
"Whose sweater is this?"
"Oh," Felix glances down, as if just realizing what he's wearing. "Jeongin's. He lent it to me after the library."
Hyunjin wrinkles his nose. Felix is used to Jeongin's scent, it doesn't bother him at all, but Hyunjin, who has always been sensitive to the smell of strangers, may find it disturbing.
"And who is this alpha?"
In some ways, Jeongin reminds Felix of the alphas he used to date, probably because he’s not a stereotypical omega in the slightest bit. He’s undeniably strong and confidently steps into heated situations if necessary, and never cowers if an alpha looks at him, he stares back without a flinch. But he is much more than Felix’s exes. Jeongin isn’t demanding and emotionally unapproachable. He opens up about his weaknesses, like the fact that he struggles arranging his own nest, or that he likes working out more than shopping, or that pastel colors make him itchy— he doesn’t think sharing things about his differences would make him less omega.
By opening up, Felix can connect with him more easily and has the opportunity to help him, for example, by giving constructive advice about nest-building. And it can be helpful only because Jeongin doesn’t take it as an attack or an offer made out of pity, but as what it is— advice.
Jeongin is clearly not a stereotypical alpha, either.
"Omega," Felix corrects him. "The most lovable omega I've ever met."
The alpha gapes, not masking his shock at the slightest. Meaning that wasn't enough of an explanation for him, especially since he knows Felix's dating history quite well— one stereotypical alpha after another. In their friend group pack, it’s not only Changbin who doesn’t listen to advice about their dating life. Felix does the same— well, has been. The reason for his naive ignorance was the order of the world: a stereotypical omega like him should be with a stereotypical alpha. For a long time, he has believed that this meant that the two were made for each other and could both be happy. But his heart was broken so many times, his smile faded again and again— no, that's not the case.
This is the first time he’s not searching for someone society says he needs, but is allowing himself to love the person he desires and to discover his ideal type in this new freedom. Loving Jeongin, even just in secret, has healed him, swept away the bad experiences, and replaced them with incarnate hope for a healthy relationship.
"I like him," Felix admits. "I like him a lot.” So much so that maybe he wants him to be his mate. However, he doesn’t express this thought. Yet. “And I'd be grateful if you could give me some courtship advice and lend me your Shakespeare costume. Just for tomorrow."
“Changbin knows?”
“Not yet.”
“And Jisung?”
“No.”
“Good. Great,” he flashes a smug grin. “They’ll be ultra jealous.”
“Then will you help me?”
"It's always a pleasure to give alpha tips to a clueless omega," Hyunjin nods and sits down next to Felix. "I’m proud you told me first. I'll make sure you wrap him around your finger… But please take off that sweater and take it out to the balcony! Only while you’re here. I love you, but this is too much."
For the third time, Jeongin adjusts his goatee. They are sitting in a corner of the truly tiny café, between two large-leafed plants, trying to look natural. Felix thinks he's doing better for now. He doesn't touch the artificial hair even though his skin itches under it.
"Where did you get these?"
"They're leftovers from last Halloween," Felix shrugs. “I was Mercutio and my friend was Shakespeare.”
"Brilliant," Jeongin mumbles. "We're unrecognizable."
To be on the safe side, they also put on scent blockers so that their friends wouldn't recognize their scent from such a small distance. Right now, they look like two middle-aged betas meeting up to chat— not at all like a pair of matchmakers spying on their best friends' first date. Felix even has a professorial vibe, courtesy of the fake glasses he's wearing. Jeongin put in contact lenses so that Seungmin wouldn't recognize him from his distinctive glasses.
The waitress approaches their table and politely asks what they’d like to order. They order coffee and cake. When Jeongin reaches into his pocket to split the bill as usual, Felix says that he will pay this time and literally beams at Jeongin as if it were the greatest honor in the world.
He pays, and the waitress leaves.
"Thanks, hyung.” Jeongin blinks at Felix, curious and expectant. Of course— if you buy something for one of your friends and then you don't add ‘as friends’, it counts as a gesture of courtship. In the past, Felix always waited for the alphas he liked to make the first move as tradition expected him to do, but not now.
"No problem,” he replies. Such an empowering feeling to take the first important step that solemnly steers their relationship toward courtship. He never thought that something so untraditional would be so exciting and enjoyable.
This time, the younger man twirls his fake mustache.
“Don't pick at it, it'll come off,” Felix warns him.
“Sorry. ‘M nervous.”
“If everything goes well, they'll be busy with each other, not with us.”
“That's not why I'm nervous,” Jeongin swallows. “Hyung, what just happened– did you mean–”
At that moment, the tiny crystal bell on the front door rings, and they both turn their heads in that direction. Changbin and Seungmin have arrived and take their seats. Seungmin smiles, which is an outstanding sign on a first date, according to Jeongin. Changbin is melting— he’s completely smitten, and Felix's heart is bursting with happiness. His friend finally admits how head-over-heels he is for the omega.
They get to know each other. Changbin is not afraid to smile and open up. Seungmin thanks him for not boring him with cliché pick-up lines. Changbin promises that if he ever lets something like that slip, he’ll leave immediately.
Meanwhile, the waitress brings their order. Felix drinks his coffee carefully so as not to let his mustache fall off. Jeongin sprinkles sugar into his own, but Felix only sees this out of the corner of his eye. He continues to glance furtively at their friends. It’s reassuring to see Changbin's confident reactions to Seungmin's words after all the nights he draped himself on Felix’s couch, tucked in a fluffy blanket, and had complained that Seungmin would never like him and his feelings are totally unwelcome, but what he wouldn’t give for Kim Seungmin. He’d smother him with love, he assured as he swiveled under the blanket, close to sobbing under the influence of the beers he had drunk with Jisung.
When Felix finally turns his attention back to Jeongin, the omega is already looking at him.
"I want to give you a bite," Jeongin confesses in a soft, sunny voice.
Share your food with him, Hyunjin advised. This is important. You know, even in prehistoric times, it was customary for the alpha to bring back prey for the omega when he went hunting, thereby demonstrating his ability to provide for his future family... Why are you looking at me like that? Is it because of the sweater? … Okay, bring it in if you want it so badly.
Is Jeongin courting him, too? Just as he is trying to court Jeongin?
A lump forms in Felix’s throat. "If I can give you some of mine," he says quietly.
"Sure, hyung."
Jeongin cuts a bite and balances it to Felix's mouth with his palm under the fork. He doesn't breathe until the bite is between Felix's lips, landing on his tongue.
Felix's pores and scent glands tremble as he begins to chew, trying to flood the whole world with his happy omega scent as if there were no scent-blockers on him, so that everyone knows he is satisfied and how happy Jeongin's single bite of cake, the tenderness hidden in the gesture, has made him. There is much more to this bite than the well-blended flavors: it also contains the promise of Jeongin's love, the reason for the sweet way he watches Felix now, and the unspoken things Felix is still mulling over, but is becoming more and more courageous to say.
He cuts into his own slice, dedicated— he cuts off almost half the cake, barely fitting it on his fork. Jeongin has to open his mouth as wide as possible, but he manages it. Felix has seen him inhale a whole hamburger before, so he knew he could do it. And Jeongin seems grateful, munching on that bite as if he's never tasted anything more delicious, dimples on full display. Felix's heart softens, melts, no longer beats, just drips, and he imagines locking himself in the kitchen for hours so he can see that expression on the other's face again when he gives him a piece of his own steaming pastry made with sugary love.
Seungmin explains how well Jeongin and Felix would suit each other. Changbin hums in agreement. Felix stares at them in astonishment, and Jeongin has to kick him lightly under the table to break his shocked gaze before he gives them away.
"Don't be so obvious," Jeongin whispers over his dessert, once he has swallowed the gigantic bite enough to be able to speak again.
Felix tilts his head slightly, feeling heat creeping up on his neck. “Distract me then.”
“Fine.” Jeongin straightens up in his seat. “When I first approached you, I actually wanted to ask you out on a date. But you were so... And I…” he sighs. “Would a boy like you love a boy like me? You know? So I said the first thing that came to mind, which happened to be what Seungmin had said two minutes earlier.”
Felix's eyes widen. He almost knocks over his mug with his elbow, then drops his fork onto his plate. The metal clangs against the porcelain at the same time Jeongin's confession dawns on Felix.
Jeongin masterfully diverted his attention. Now he can't think of anything else but Jeongin, everything that he is. Everything they could be together. "Scent me already."
"What?"
"I’d have said yes— if you had asked me. I wouldn't have even thought twice about it."
"I was sure you had a boyfriend. Or even a mate."
"Well... Maybe now I will," Felix whispers. "You know, I started courting an omega who works out to Xdinary Heroes songs."
Jeongin’s cute dimples are visible again, attracting Felix's fingertips. "And I'm courting a guy whose laptop is covered with chicken stickers."
"He's a weird guy."
Jeongin shakes his head. "He's so sweet… One day, I might eat him."
Felix sheepishly chuckles, reaching out and taking Jeongin's hand. “Take me to dinner first.”
“I will, hyung. I will. In fact, I will court you with a devotion that no one has ever shown you before.”
Standing under Felix’s roof, they gushily scent each other and could hardly bear to part or stop grinning.
“Call me when you get home, okay?” Felix requests.
“If I can last until I get home.”
Jeongin wraps Felix in his arms, nuzzling his nose to the elder’s scent gland one last time with a sweet purr. He radiates dedication, sincerity and safety— encouraging Felix’s instinctive side to ask for a mating bite already. Although his romantic soul preens at the idea, he is fulfilled when Jeongin kisses his cheek goodbye.
alpha fairy
I HAVE A BOYFRIEND
well not just a boyfriend
but KIM SEUNGMIN himself!!
my dreams came true 💪💪😭
aussie chicken
IM SO HAPPY FOR U HYUNGGG
so the date has been good i presume??
alpha fairy
yea!
we went to the café
and there was a cute middle-aged beta pair too in the corner. they were so lovestruck.
i want to be happy and still in love like them when i’m their age :(
aussie chicken
i know you, sure you will be. :D
alpha fairy
by the way… any chance that you’d be interested in a buff omega guy?
(he’s seungmin’s friend. and probably your ideal type minus the alpha part!!)
aussie chicken
you have no idea :P