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With his eyes closed, he savored the feeling of the wind on his face.
He had no recollection of how he got there, his mind foggy with broken memories and strangled voices. But as he stood in the quiet wheat fields of his childhood, Phainon was strangely content and at peace.
It’s been years since his family left Aedes Elysiae for the promise of better opportunities in the bigger city of Okhema. Phainon was still so young then, so young that he had yet to manifest his second gender, just a boy who cried so hard during his goodbyes that his eyes were swollen by the end of it. He remembered how he clung to his childhood dog, Snowy, when the moving truck finally revved up and took him away from everything he had ever known.
The memory had a nostalgic tint to it, even if it almost felt like the end of the world then.
And yet here he was, back to his beloved wheat fields where he played till sundown with his friends and his dog. The sun kissing his skin like it used to and the wind brushing his silver hair like a lover on a quiet night.
“Phainon,” A voice that he would recognize EVERYWHERE spoke from behind him.
If his friends were around, they would have surely pointed out how fast he embarrassingly turned to the source of the sound. He could almost hear their teasing voices where they compared him to an overgrown dog. But all of that wouldn’t have mattered the moment he lays his eyes on the person who he wouldn’t have any issues treating him as one.
Anaxa was standing only a couple of feet away from him, looking like the epitome of the Goddess of Beauty herself. His mint colored hair was free from its usual low ponytail and was swaying leisurely in the wind. He has stripped himself of his usual fashion of covering every inch of his body and was now merely draped in a white chiton tunic with a fabric so thin that Phainon swore he could make out the two pink nubs on his chest. If he was any less of a man, he would have pounced on the poor Omega and the fields would’ve bore witness to an incident they would not forget.
“Phainon,” Anaxa, oh his dear beloved Anaxa (Anaxagoras! A voice at the back of his mind corrected, which he wholly ignored) has called out to him once more. This time spreading his arms wide to beckon him closer, the action made the tunic fall lower and exposed the two sinful pink nubs he was just fantasizing about.
Phainon almost lost his bearings.
With an action that was awfully reminiscent of his beloved dog, Phainon wasted no time running towards the older man. His bigger form easily envelops Anaxa, his arms snaking around his slim waist. His nose was instantaneously on the Omega’s neck and with a shamelessness that could only be attributed to Phainon himself, he took one big inhale of his mate’s scent. Oh, Gods above. He smelled so divine. He inwardly groaned.
“Naxa…” He moaned into the man’s neck as his senses were filled with the fresh scent of mint and honey with a tinge of vanilla mixed in. He always, always, ALWAYS smelled so nice. Phainon still finds himself going dizzy from want and desire every time he remembers the first time his nose got a whiff of that addicting scent. It was so faint that if he was any other Alpha, he probably would have missed it.
Thankfully, his senses were always so sensitive when the older Omega was involved.
Carding his silver hair in between his fingers, Anaxa wrapped his arms around his neck to bring the taller man closer. “Phainon…” The way those lithe fingers combed through his hair was enough to elicit a purr. Ah, this must be what heaven is like. Maybe he should savor it. He should slide the tunic off Anaxa’s form and they could, in this field do—
“Phainon!”
The man then woke up with a jolt. “W-wha…!” He gasped as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. There was a tingle in his head, like someone grabbed a handful of his hair and gave it a painful tug.
Beside him, someone huffed in annoyance. “Took you long enough,” Phainon turned to the owner of the voice just as slender fingers scratched his head like some sort of an apology.
There, the man he had just been dreaming about sat with a frown on his beautiful face. He was no longer dressed in that thin white tunic but was instead in one of Phainon’s old Tshirt. His slender legs were barely concealed by their thick comforter with his Dromas boxer peaking at the ends of the Tshirt. There was a noticeable bump protruding to where his stomach would be and Phainon nearly short circuited. The bedside lamp didn’t help with masking his allure, it probably made it worse.
Phainon couldn’t decide if he looked hotter in that chiton tunic or in his own clothes.
Both. He decided that it was both. He was hot naked too.
Then, just as the sleep fog in his brain was slowly disappearing, his confusion slowly morphed into panic. Especially when he caught sight of the red glare of the digital clock in their bedside table that told him it was two in the morning. The bed bounced with his weight as he immediately turned to his mate and grabbed him by the face.
“What’s wrong?!” He asked with a panic laced tone. “Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere? Is the baby okay? Do you want me to call the doctor? Or Hyacine?! Wait here and I’ll call a cab to—“
Slamming his hand on the Alpha’s mouth, Phainon heard his mate click his tongue and shake his head. “I’m hungry.” Precise and straight to the point. Phainon had to blink multiple times before removing the hand on his mouth. “Chocolate mint ice cream. I want the one that they sell at the convenience store two blocks from here.”
To most people, that would have sounded simple enough. Get up, buy the thing and present it to his beautiful wife boyfriend. But with the seven months he had spent around his pregnant wife boyfriend, he knew that there was more to it.
First of all, the exact wording was Chocolate Mint Ice Cream.
Anyone who didn’t know better would’ve probably just grab a mint chocolate chip ice cream and call it a day. But no, that would’ve been a grave mistake (he had to learn it the hard way, and somehow seeing Anaxa so distressed was ten times worse than having the Omega glare at him in annoyance. He ran back to the store in record time to buy the right one.)
Second of all, Anaxa was very specific about the location of the snack and that basically meant he wanted to go there himself. And there were a couple of reasons as to why Phainon would be against that.
The ungodly hour of his cravings aside, the Alpha faintly recalls how hard it was snowing before they both went to sleep. (That’s also another issue, he can’t for the life of him agree for his mate to eat ice cream of all things in this weather.)
With a deflated shoulder, Phainon shuffled closer to his Omega before pulling him into a hug. He tried his hardest not to let a love struck grin break into his face when Anaxa instinctively melted into his embrace, his nose nuzzling on his clothed chest.
“Honey,” he started, thinking of ways to gently divert his cravings to something more weather appropriate, like soup. “It’s so cold outside… Maybe we should try so—“ he couldn’t even finish his sentence before he was pushed away and a glaring Anaxa came into his view.
His one good eye was enough to make him feel like he was in danger and it was no wonder how this small Omega was able to command his surroundings so effortlessly.
“Your child wants choco mint ice cream, Phainon.” He glowered. The Alpha almost pouted upon their kid being referred to as only his but he knew better than to do so. (It’s not like this was the first time he did that anyway. Anaxa has gotten into the habit of calling their unborn son as only Phainon’s when it was kicking in his guts and misbehaving.)
“I understand that but, honey, it’s not safe. Plus, I don’t think eating ice cream when it’s so cold outside could be healthy.” He argued and rubbed his hand on Anaxa’s lower back. While the Omega did not make a motion of swatting him away, he proceeded to cross his arms defiantly.
“All I’ve been eating these past weeks is nothing but healthy food. One tub of ice cream is not gonna hurt the baby.” He argued back with a click of his tongue. Which, Phainon would commend him with. Their Obgyn had informed them that taking Anaxa’s age into consideration alongside the fact it was a miracle he got knocked up in the first place (he had many health concerns for as long as he could remember) it was for the best that he don’t indulge in too much junk food and practice healthy eating and exercising, much to the older Omega’s displeasure.
But Phainon wasn’t about to let his heavily pregnant mate go out in this freezing weather just to buy ice cream, let alone double down on the cold by eating said ice cream.
“Well,” he knows he has to choose his words carefully.
In normal occasions, he wouldn’t mind challenging the Omega with mundane debates but with the pregnancy hormones heavily influencing his mind, Phainon needs to be careful with the things he says around him. “That’s true. Still…” he paused when Anaxa furrowed his eyebrows. Fuck. “That’s, umm, well…” And now he was once again outright glaring at him. Fuck, Phainon! Think! Maybe a compromise could work! “Fine!” He declared, which lightened up the Omega’s face. “But I will be the only one buying it, alright? You stay here. It’s not safe for you to go out at this time of the night.”
And that was the wrong call.
The way Anaxa’s expression fell made him want to yeet himself off a nearby bridge and disappear for good. Because hell, that was what the bastards who dare make Anaxa wear that expression deserved. The great and proud Anaxagoras who didn’t let his status as an Omega hinder him from becoming the best in his chosen field. To allow such a proud person to wear an expression of utterly devastating heartbreak, he really should just kill himself.
Phainon, you absolute dumbass.
“Fine!” Anaxa replied with his voice breaking towards the end. “Go buy that stupid ice cream and get lost.” And with a huff, he fell back to the bed but not before grabbing the comforter and covering his entire body with it.
Ah, now he really has done it.
“Anaxa…” he tried coaxing him out of the thick blanket he had cocooned himself in to no avail.
“It’s Anaxagoras!” Came the muffled voice from the lump on the bed.
“Anaxa, please.” Phainon was now whining and proceeded to flop back to the bed and hug the other man from behind. While it was quite uncomfortable to do so, he really couldn’t care less. Not when his mate was angry at him. “I’m sorry, Naxy please.”
Then came the sniffles. To say that Phainon nearly had a heart attack would be an understatement. A part of him understands and accepts the fact that it’s the pregnancy hormones that are responsible for Anaxa acting like this but that doesn’t stop him from being so caught off guard and feeling like the biggest asshole in the world. The great Anaxagoras does not cry. Except when he is pregnant and is denied the pleasure of walking in the freezing cold to buy ice cream.
Phainon was never going to win this in the first place.
The street was empty save for two figures walking hand and hand and one big fluffy dog happily trailing beside them. Phainon wasn’t lying when he said that it was freezing outside, evident with how his breath was forming a cloud on his face. But whatever discomfort he was feeling means nothing if it meant he could see his beloved mate smile again.
Beside him, Anaxa was no longer pouting but has yet to talk to him.
Phainon eventually relented, although let’s be real he was always going to give in, but decided to bargain one last time and he was not backing down on this one. He agreed to bring him to buy ice cream on the condition that he would be wearing layers upon layers of clothing before they go out. Thankfully, Anaxa didn’t make any motion of resisting (that annoyed huff he let out doesn’t count) and allowed Phainon to dress him until he more or less resembled a penguin waddling down the street. While it was a bit uncomfortable to wear two sets of sweater, a hoodie, an extremely oversized winter coat (it was Phainon’s), topped with a red knitted scarf and an earmuff, the older Omega merely accepted his fate if it meant he could finally, FINALLY, satisfy his cravings.
“Are you cold?” Although futile, Phainon turned to his mate and placed their intertwined hands in his coat’s pocket.
At this, Anaxa scoffed and turned to the samoyed beside them. “Junior,” he said, pertaining to the fact that this was Snowy Jr as, unfortunately, Phainon’s loyal childhood pup had long since departed and had become one of the stars in the sky. “Tell your father that I am sooner to die from overheating than to feel any breeze in my current get-up.”
Finding no offense at his response (hey, at least he was no longer getting the silent treatment!) Phainon grinned and huddled closer to the other man. “I just don’t want you and the baby to get sick.” He said before rubbing his head on the older man’s head.
Anaxa hummed as a response but didn’t say anything. Phainon definitely lit up when he felt the squeezed on his hand and knew then that he had been forgiven. Not wanting to test his luck, Phainon had decided to shut his mouth for once.
The chocolate mint ice cream was quickly acquired alongside some snacks that Phainon hoped was not going to be eaten together with the ice cream. He had seen his mate eat the strangest combinations these past months and for the sake of not upsetting him, he made little to no comment about it. Although sometimes he does wonder if those combinations were safe for human consumption, he knew better than to raise his concerns to the one eating them. (He secretly asked their doctor and was relieved when he got told that it was okay.)
The walk back home was definitely more pleasant.
Anaxa, whose happiness was being mirrored in his eye, absentmindedly rubs his stomach while Phainon yammers about anything under the sun. His mate didn't comment about how he’d basically told him most of the things he’s said earlier, just happy that he would be eating his ice cream when they reach their apartment.
Anaxa beelined it straight to the living room couch after he stripped himself off the layers of coat and sweater, eager to finally eat the ice cream he had been craving since forever. Phainon didn’t even mask his laughter when he saw his Omega power walk (waddle) to the living room and made himself comfortable, the paper bag from the convenience store was protectively placed on his lap. What surprised him though was when Anaxa turned to him and patted the empty space beside him.
“What are you waiting for?” the older man said. “Come, let’s eat it together.” He declared with a small tilt of his head.
There was a phenomenon about some people randomly combusting and catching fire and Phainon was sure as hell he was gonna be one of the latest victims if Anaxa doesn’t stop being so cute. He wanted to consume him in more than one way. “Naxa!” he exclaimed and immediately proceeded to run towards him with Junior in tow. Grabbing the couch blanket neatly folded nearby, he draped it over his mate and pulled him so that he would be leaning onto his chest. Anaxa merely rolled his eye at his childish antics before taking the ice cream out of the paper bag alongside the doggy treat they bought for Junior. The samoyed was more than happy to chew it beside their feet.
Anaxa allowed himself to pet the dog before turning his attention to his ice cream.
Wordlessly, he opened the tub and let out a relieved sigh when he saw the sweet treat. “You see this?” The Omega started, directly looking down and talking to the baby in his womb. “This is what you made me lash out on your daddy for. Are you happy now?” Anaxa got his reply in the form of a kick. The Omega clicked his tongue and rubbed his stomach. “So energetic, you truly are your daddy’s spawn.”
Giggling, Phainon carded his finger on Anaxa’s mint colored hair and gave his forehead a kiss. “That’s your spawn too, by the way. He’s a collaborative effort.” The Omega scrunched his nose before stabbing the spoon in the middle of the tub.
“An accidental collaborative effort,” he clarified. Phainon’s grin was so blinding that Anaxa had to look away lest he loses his remaining eye by directly staring straight into the human personification of the sun.
“Not an accident when I was proving a point,” he puffed his chest proudly. The Alpha was directly pertaining to when Anaxa had told him he was already way too old (32 is not old! The Alpha quipped) and his heat was way too irregular to bear any children. Plus the plenty of other issues with his body that he didn’t feel like explaining then. Just a little passing comment to when he was still being pursued by the Alpha who was seven years his junior. He never thought that Phainon saw that as a challenge and had vowed to prove him wrong. And prove him wrong he did, much to Anaxa’s horror.
“Whatever,” The Omega rolled his eye before finally scooping himself a liberal amount of ice cream with the spoon the store provided. He melted into his mate’s arm at the same time his tongue finally had the taste of the sweet and minty treat. It was definitely worth the walk in the freezing night and if anyone would disagree, they can talk to the human growing in his belly.
Phainon watched him with a fond smile.
His heart was absolutely swelling with unimaginable happiness, thinking how wonderful it was that he could hold his entire world with his arms. He understood that was cheesy as hell, but he couldn’t care less knowing that nothing could absolutely ruin this for him. His fingers touched the bite mark that had now permanently etched on his beloved Omega’s neck, a testament of their bond alongside the growing life in his womb. One of these days he’s gonna completely seal the deal and present that ring he had been saving for quite a while now. Preparations were already in order and he planned to pop the question during their incoming vacation in Aedes Elysiae next month.
(Anaxa pretends he didn’t accidentally find the ring when he was looking for his old Dromas tshirt. He carefully put it back to where Phainon had hidden it in the deepest part of their closet. But his response was already clear as day.)
“‘Naxa,” he murmured as he combed his fingers through his beloved’s hair. The older man hummed a response, his attention preoccupied with the ice cream in his hand. “I love you.”
Anaxa stilled upon hearing this. He blinked his eye twice before looking up and flushed red after seeing Phainon’s love struck face. It definitely took a while to get used to how the younger would look at him like he hung the moons in the sky. It was so intense, so sincere, so… him.
It’s definitely a lot more manageable now that they have dated for nearly three years but he would be lying when there are days and nights where he would be completely caught off guard by the affection he was generously bestowed upon. Clearing his throat, Anaxa played it off by smirking at his Alpha. “Even after I’ve screamed at you?”
“Especially after that,” Phainon shamelessly grinned.
“Freak.” Anaxa said without venom. He scooped a generous amount of his ice cream and put it straight into Phainon’s mouth, who only giggled and accepted his fate.