Work Text:
Murata Fuma was impossible to ignore.
Even in a lecture hall of chattering students, he drew attention without trying. His dark hair caught the light, his posture was perfect but relaxed, and when he laughed, a low, easy sound, it seemed to ripple through the room like it had weight.
Euijoo sat a few rows behind, half-hidden behind a notebook, pretending not to stare.
He’s… everywhere. Euijoo thought, biting the inside of his cheek. He had noticed Fuma before. Everyone had. But up close, there was something more. Something careful, precise, like he measured every move without letting anyone know what he thought.
Euijoo returned to his notes. It didn’t matter that Fuma was close. Euijoo wasn’t in his orbit. He never would be.
<><><><>
The library always smelled faintly of old books and polished wood.
Euijoo tried to focus on the textbook in front of him, but the warmth crawling through his body made it impossible. His suppressants were wearing off, leaving a faint, sweet scent in the air that Euijoo couldn’t hide.
Two alphas at a nearby table noticed immediately.
“Check him out,” one murmured, leaning closer to the other. “Think he’s… ready?”
Euijoo stiffened. Not here. Please, not here. His hands trembled as he tried to pack his things, but the alphas were already standing, eyes sharp with intent.
And then…
“Hey,” said a voice that made his blood run cold and warm at the same time. “You okay?”
Euijoo looked up and froze. Murata Fuma stood there, hands in his pockets, completely calm. His eyes scanned the room before settling on Euijoo.
“I-- I’m fine,” Euijoo stammered.
“No, you’re not,” Fuma said softly, sliding a chair across the table. “I could smell your distress all the way in the fiction section. It’s a tragedy to let your tangerine stay so sour. You’re close to your heat, aren’t you?”
Euijoo’s heart thumped violently. “I-- I… yes,” he admitted, voice barely audible.
“And those guys?” Fuma nodded toward the alphas who had just stepped closer. “They’re obviously bothering you.”
Euijoo opened his mouth but nothing came out.
“Look,” Fuma continued, “they wouldn’t dare challenge me. So, if you’ll allow me to, I can scent you. Just a little. Just enough to make it clear you’re not available. I’ll leave right after.”
Euijoo blinked. “You… you’d do that?”
Fuma shrugged, calm and confident. “If it helps. No pressure. Just offering.”
Euijoo hesitated. His instincts screamed caution. Scenting was intimate and it only provided alphas with more chances to screw innocent helpless omegas over. It was dangerous. It was personal. But there was nothing threatening in Fuma’s tone. Only… care.
“I… okay,” he whispered finally, desperate to get the creeps to just go away.
Fuma leaned in closer, letting his cinnamon scent surround Euijoo. It was an unusually sweet scent for an alpha, but it was perfect in Euijoo’s opinion. It was warmth, safety, and undeniable dominance without aggression. The two creepy alphas at the other table stiffened, glanced at each other, and left.
When Fuma pulled back, he smiled. A dazzling smile that made Euijoo a little weak in the knees. “Better?” he asked.
Euijoo’s voice caught in his throat. “Th-thank you.”
Fuma gave a small nod. “Take care, alright?” And then he was gone, leaving Euijoo trembling in the quiet library.
<><><><>
The next time he saw Fuma after the library, Euijoo told himself it was just a coincidence.
They bumped into each other at the campus cafe.
“Hey,” Fuma said, voice casual but warm, leaning slightly on the counter. “I didn’t see you yesterday. Finals catch you off guard?”
Euijoo fiddled with his cup, a little astonished that Fuma even knew of his existence, enough to notice when Euijoo wasn’t there. “Yeah…” he responded to Fuma’s question. “A little. Lots of reading.”
“You want company?” Fuma asked, tilting his head.
“I… okay,” Euijoo said before he could think twice.
They sat across from each other, elbows nearly touching, and talked. At first about classes. The professors everyone complained about, the annoying group project they both had. But soon, the conversation drifted.
“You like coffee?” Fuma asked, stirring his latte lazily.
“Uh… yeah,” Euijoo said, surprised at how nervous he felt just answering.
“I thought so,” Fuma replied, smiling faintly. “You always order the same thing.”
Euijoo blinked. “You… noticed?”
Fuma shrugged, teasing slightly. “It’s hard not to notice you. Even in a crowd, your scent… it kind of sticks. Not in a bad way.”
Euijoo’s ears heated. “I… I guess it does sometimes.”
Fuma laughed softly, the sound warm and familiar. “I don’t mind,” he said quietly. “Honestly, I kind of like it.”
Euijoo’s chest tightened. He tried to focus on his coffee, on the steam curling in front of his face, but it didn’t help. His thoughts kept drifting to Fuma’s scent lingering nearby, steady and grounding.
Over the next few weeks, they kept “running into each other” at the cafe. Fuma started saving him a seat, carrying his coffee when Euijoo was too busy juggling books, and offering to proofread his papers. Euijoo started looking forward to those moments more than he wanted to admit.
<><><><>
It didn’t happen all at once. Euijoo’s feelings.
It was in the small, quiet library corner, where Euijoo would always hide himself, that Fuma began sitting beside him, leaning just close enough that Euijoo could feel the warmth radiating off him.
“Why do you always pick the same table?” Fuma asked one day, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear.
Euijoo shrugged. “It’s… private. Away from everyone else.”
Fuma smirked. “I didn’t think you’d mind sharing. Maybe I just like the view.”
Euijoo’s face burned. “The… view?”
Fuma leaned back, crossing his arms casually. “Yeah. You. Studying. Flustering when I talk to you.”
Euijoo’s chest thumped. “I’m not… flustered!”
“You are,” Fuma said softly, smiling when Euijoo’s indignation wavered.
Some days, Fuma would slip notes into Euijoo’s textbooks, tiny doodles, reminders, or just a quick, “Good luck on the quiz. You’ll do great.” Sometimes he stayed silent, simply reading beside Euijoo, letting him focus, letting Euijoo sense his presence.
And slowly, Euijoo began to notice how much he wanted those quiet mundane moments. And how much he missed them when Fuma wasn’t there.
<><><><>
They started walking together between classes.
At first, Euijoo tried to ignore it, but Fuma’s presence naturally drew him close. They’d talk about small things. Their favorite music, ridiculous classmates, the weather, funny professors. Sometimes, Fuma would grab an extra snack at the campus store and hand it to Euijoo with a grin.
“You know,” Fuma said one afternoon, leaning slightly against the brick wall as Euijoo tied his shoelace, “if you keep bending over like that, I might just have to kiss you.”
Euijoo froze. “W-what?!”
Fuma laughed softly. “Relax. I’m joking… mostly.”
The blush on Euijoo’s cheeks made Fuma grin wider, and Euijoo couldn’t help but laugh, too. The sound felt easier around Fuma, freer, warmer.
Even study sessions became moments of quiet intimacy. Fuma would read over Euijoo’s shoulder, his warmth pressing subtly against him. Euijoo found himself leaning closer, pretending to need a better look at the textbook. Every brush of hands, every laugh shared over a bad pun, every glance that lingered too long. Euijoo was slowly falling.
And Fuma… well, Fuma seemed just as reluctant to stop.
<><><><>
One evening, studying late in the library, Euijoo rubbed his temple, exhausted.
“You look tired,” Fuma said softly, sliding closer and placing a hand on Euijoo’s shoulder. The warmth made Euijoo’s knees weak.
“I… I’m fine,” he said, his voice shaking slightly.
“Euijoo…” Fuma’s tone softened. “You don’t have to hide from me. You know that, right?”
Euijoo’s breath caught. “...I know.”
They sat like that for a long moment, the quiet between them heavy with unspoken words. Eventually, Fuma leaned back but didn’t move away. Euijoo realized that he didn’t want him to.
Sometimes, Fuma’s teasing made Euijoo blush, sometimes his calm presence made him ache, sometimes a shared laugh in a quiet cafe felt like it was the only thing keeping him sane. And little by little, Euijoo realized he couldn’t stop thinking about Fuma.
He was falling… whether he wanted to or not.
<><><><>
Euijoo was running on the high of being in love when everything fell apart.
That afternoon, near the student center, Euijoo froze.
Fuma was there, laughing, relaxed, leaning toward an omega Euijoo had never met. She was beautiful, hair glinting in the sun, eyes sparkling as she joked with Fuma.
Euijoo’s chest tightened painfully. Of course. He has someone already. He wouldn’t want me.
He tried to leave quietly, but Fuma noticed him and waved. Euijoo didn’t return it. He ducked behind a column, heart hammering, watching Fuma’s carefree smile. Every laugh, every gesture made Euijoo feel more invisible. More painfully alone.
She was beautiful. Exactly what Fuma deserved. Euijoo could never compete.
The pain was sharp, the kind that leaves you breathless. But Euijoo swallowed it down, telling himself that distance was safer. That hoping would only break him further.
<><><><>
For weeks, Euijoo stuck to his plan.
He avoided study sessions, skipped the library corners where they used to meet, and walked alone between classes. Every time Fuma smiled or called his name, he looked away, forcing himself to ignore the ache in his chest.
Fuma noticed. Of course he did. “Euijoo…” he said after cornering Euijoo, a week after Euijoo started avoiding him. “You’ve been avoiding me. I can’t just… let it go. Did I do something wrong?”
Euijoo’s throat tightened. “No,” he whispered. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s me who’s wrong.
“Then why--?” Fuma started, but Euijoo cut him off.
“I’m busy,” he said quickly, hoping the lie would be enough.
Fuma’s brows furrowed. “Euijoo… something’s wrong. I can see it. I know you. Please… just tell me.”
Euijoo wanted to. He wanted to tell Fuma everything, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not the truth that he wanted Fuma entirely for himself, that seeing him with another omega had broken his heart in ways he couldn’t fix.
“I’m fine,” he said instead, forcing a smile. “Really.”
But Euijoo wasn’t fine.
He shoved his way out of the corner he was in and hightailed it out of there as fast as he could. He didn’t look back to see the devastated look on Fuma’s face.
<><><><>
It didn’t take long for Fuma to realize that avoidance wouldn’t solve anything.
One evening, in an empty hallway, Fuma gently blocked Euijoo’s path. Arms crossed, his gaze soft but unwavering.
“Talk to me,” he pleaded. “Please. I don’t know why you’re avoiding me, but I can’t just stand by while you hurt yourself like this.”
Euijoo froze, heart hammering. “...I- I don’t want to make things complicated.”
“You think I don’t know?” Fuma asked. “You think I can’t see you pulling away?”
“I saw you with… with that omega,” Euijoo blurted, voice shaking. He found himself spilling everything he’d been trying to keep in. “I-- I like you… a lot. I’ve wanted for months to be your omega… but you already have someone. I’m sorry.”
Fuma’s eyes widened. “Wait… Euijoo, what?”
“I saw you laughing with her,” Euijoo said, words spilling out uncontrollably. “You… you already have the perfect omega. And I-- I’m not her. I can’t compete.” Fuma’s expression turned into realization, as if he knew exactly who Euijoo was talking about. He probably did.
Fuma’s hands lifted, gently holding Euijoo’s face. His touch was warm, grounding, and it made Euijoo’s heart twist.
“Euijoo, she’s just a friend. Nothing more,” Fuma said softly. “I swear. And I don’t want perfect. Euijoo, I just want you.”
Euijoo’s chest heaved. “Then… why didn’t you--?”
“Because I didn’t want to push,” Fuma admitted, leaning closer. “You deserve to have the choice. I didn’t want to scare you. I wanted to be sure… you wanted me too.”
“I… I do,” Euijoo whispered, voice cracking. “I’ve wanted you since you scented me in the library.”
Fuma smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Euijoo’s face. “Then you’re mine. Only mine. If you’ll let me.”
Euijoo’s hands trembled as he reached up to touch Fuma’s chest, feeling the warmth and steady heartbeat. “I… I will.”
They kissed slowly, reverently, finally giving in to all the longing that had built up over months. The library, the walks, the coffees, the quiet moments, they all led to this.
<><><><>
Afterwards, Fuma’s voice was soft but teasing. “So… will you let me court you? Openly?”
“Yes,” Euijoo whispered, leaning into Fuma. “Yes, I will.”
Fuma pulled him into a proper embrace. “Then no more running. No more hiding. Just us.”
Euijoo rested his head against Fuma’s chest. “Just us,” he repeated, finally feeling safe, wanted, and chosen.
<><><><>
Months passed and Euijoo was happier than he’d ever been. But when he started getting terribly sick in the mornings and becoming nauseous at any strong smell, his whole life turned upside down.
He sat on the edge of the bed, hands trembling slightly as he held the small test in his fingers. He stared at the result, heart racing, mind spinning.
It can’t be real. It can’t be…
But it was.
He was pregnant. And the thought of telling Fuma made his stomach twist with nerves.
Fuma walked into the room, humming softly, tossing his keys onto the counter. “Hey… you’ve been quiet all day. Everything okay?”
Euijoo took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. “Fuma… I-- I have something to tell you.”
Fuma frowned, concern flickering across his face. “What is it?”
Euijoo held out the test, voice small as he said, “I… I’m pregnant.”
There was a long, heavy silence. Euijoo braced himself, imagining Fuma’s eyes widening in shock, imagining anger, panic, confusion. They’d never talked about children. Euijoo didn’t even know if Fuma wanted kids. He bit his lip, waiting for disappointment.
But instead, Fuma’s expression softened… and then broke into the brightest, most genuine smile Euijoo had ever seen.
“You’re… pregnant?” Fuma said, his voice trembling with joy. “We’re… going to have a pup?”
Euijoo blinked, heart hammering. “...Yes. I-- I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought… I thought you might be upset.”
Fuma laughed softly, shaking his head. “Upset? No. No way. I-- I can’t believe it… Euijoo we’re going to be parents!”
He dropped to his knees in front of Euijoo, taking his hands in his, eyes shining with excitement and love. “Do you know how amazing this is? How happy this makes me?”
Euijoo felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. Relief, disbelief, and joy collided in a flood he couldn’t contain. “I… I was so scared…”
Fuma pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Don’t be scared. We’ll do this together. You and me… and our pup. I’ve wanted this, wanted you, forever. And now… we get to start this next chapter together.”
Euijoo’s hands trembled, but this time, it was happiness, not fear. He leaned into Fuma’s embrace, feeling the warmth of certainty he’d always longed for.
“Yes,” he whispered, resting his head against Fuma’s chest. “Together.”
Fuma held him tighter, laughter and tears mingling as he whispered, “We’re going to be a family. Just imagine… our little one, running around, laughing… oh, this is going to be perfect.”
And in that moment, Euijoo knew it was.
The future was bright. Full of love. Full of hope.
And for the first time, he couldn’t wait to meet it.