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Five minutes ago, this was a normal Tuesday. Mark woke up late in the morning, ate breakfast provided by the dorm staff, went back to bed, only to wake up to a body draped over him, leaving him overly warm and sweaty from the extra heat. Blearily, he tries to determine who it is without being able to see the face since it's buried in his shirt. Based on the soft brown hair, extra tight, almost bruising grip, and vanilla sugar scent of the omega, it’s definitely Donghyuck.
“Hyuck?” He grouses, wrapping an arm around his shoulders despite being too warm. The embrace around him gets tighter and because of it, Mark grunts, jostling him a bit with his arm.
When Donghyuck makes no move to disengage himself, he sighs, resigning himself to the overly cozy heat of their combined body heat as he closes his eyes.
He's just on the cusp of slumber once more, lulled by the white noise of the AC and Donghyuck's beating heart when suddenly Donghyuck speaks. It’s muffled into his shirt but his words are coherent enough for Mark to catch them. What he hears wakes him up faster than a bucket of ice water to the face. "I'm pregnant."
He sits up so fast it's a wonder neither of their necks suffer whiplash from it. "W-what?"
Donghyuck sits up, his cheeks look puffy and his eyes are red rimmed, like he'd been crying. both clear signs he's probably not making a joke just to mess with him. "I'm pregnant, Mark " he suddenly reaches behind Mark to swipe the pillow in his hands to start hitting against Mark. It doesn't hurt in the least but Mark still gives a "ow!" in surprise. He drops a bomb like that on him then starts hitting him? What kind of morning did he wake up to?
"What the hell-?" he squeaks out, trying and failing to grab at the fluffy weapon.
"This is your fault!" the omega accuses, smacking him once, twice more before ceasing. He now clutches the pillow to his chest, his lips set in a deep, troubled frown. "Your fault," he reiterates with a sniffle. "You and your stupid rut."
Mark is still reeling from this information, a million and one things to think about bouncing around his mind. First of all, the fact that they're not even married (his parents will kill him when they find out), not to mention that their relationship isn't even public. Worse than the horror it will be for their fans to either despair or speculate wildly (or both), how is Donghyuck going to keep being an idol when he's well into his pregnancy? Will he be sick a lot? Is he going to gain a lot of weight, something he's already sensitive about? How are they going to raise it? In the dorm? In their own home? Oh god, Mark doesn't know anything about living independently, doesn't know how to pay bills -- what if Donghyuck needs him to make him some rice porridge to ease his stomach? He can't boil water let alone rice! How are they-
"Hyung!"
Mark blinks, feeling like he's jerked out of a trance. He blinks until the vision of Donghyuck as he is now, still very much the same with his soft pink hair and oversized t-shirt that was definitely stolen from Mark's closet. "Say something, doofus." He grouses, shifting on his knees.
Heart beating heavy against his chest, he struggles to find his voice, struggles to find a thread of a thought whirring around in a scramble. “I-...How do you know?”
Donghyuck snorts. “What do you mean, how do I know? I took a test because I’ve been nauseous for, like, a week.”
Mark reaches out without a second thought, palm cupping a ruddy cheek as he glances over his mate, concerned. “Nauseous? Why didn’t you say something? Are you okay? Or, er, I mean, are you still feeling sick?”
“‘m fine,” he mumbles, looking sheepish but not moving away from Mark’s delicate touch. “Except that my life could be ruined if anyone finds out about this before I get rid of it.”
Just like that, Mark retracts his hand, looking shell shocked. “G-get rid of it?”
“Mark, please don’t look at me like that,” Donghuck’s knees raise to his chest so he can bury his face behind his folded arms. “I can’t, I can’t be pregnant right now. This wasn’t supposed to happen now. I mean, can you imagine having a baby right now? Can you imagine if I was pregnant now?”
Honestly, Mark’s rapidly cycling thoughts had considered what it’d be like to have a baby right now. In brief flashes, he pictured feeding it mushed baby food at an indiscriminate dinner table, rocking it in his arms till it fell asleep, opening its first Christmas present with Donghyuck smiling excitedly at his side — and, okay, having a baby is something he does occasionally daydream about. He likes kids and he loves Donghyuck, of course he’s already thought about what it’d like to be have a kid with him. However, he hadn’t thought about pregnant Donghyuck before…
How his middle would get softer at first, then round as the months went on.. His cheeks would probably puff up too, making his already pouty lips all the more kissable and cute. Mark would have to rub his swollen ankles and bring him weird combination food at two in the morning, and he’d be sure to buy Donghyuck the comfiest fitting clothes to ease his discomfort. Through the soft cotton t-shirts, pulled taut over a belly, he’d play his guitar and sing for the baby, while Donghyuck would either sing along or nod off to the sound like he does these days when Mark plays for him.
He’s caught mid-daydream, Donghyuck weakly tossing the pillow at him again, this time with reddened cheeks. “Stop it, Mark,” he grouses.
“Stop what?” Mark chuckles, surprised.
“You’re picturing it, you big pervert.”
“P-pervert?” He squeaks while Donghyuck snatches back the pillow that had landed limply in Mark’s lap.
He hugs it tight as he rants, “You were picturing me big and fat with a baby! It’s not all soft bellies and big tits, Mark, I’m gonna be sick all the time, my stomach is gonna get all wrinkly from the stretch and if you burn water boiling noodles on the wrong day, I’m probably going to kill you dead. And I hate working out, so after the baby is out, I’d just be saggy and fat and you’ll have to live with it. So stop imagining whatever you’re imagining because pregnancy is a big ugly mess!”
Mark crosses his legs and purses his lips. “Yeah, I know that.”
“Good.” Donghyuck nods. “So you agree…we can’t keep it.”
“Yeah,” he sighs and picks at the cotton of the bedsheets. “Yeah, I get it. Sorry.”
“What the hell are you sorry for?”
“I mean, I got you pregnant cause of my rut so-“
Donghyuck pokes him in the head, making him whine in affront. “I didn’t mean it when I said that,” he huffs. “I’m just…” scared is the word that hangs unsaid in the air, but Mark understands. He scoots closer to Donghyuck, hesitantly, not sure if he wants the comfort, but as soon as he moves a milli-inch closer, Donghyuck throws himself against Mark, nuzzling his nose into his shoulder while the pillow squishes between them.
Mark holds him tight, rubbing circles over his back. He asks Donghyuck if he wants him to come along to the doctor, to which the omega gives a small nod, nose bumping against his scent gland. “For the record,” he says after a long quiet moment filled with nervous tension, ‘I think you’d look cute even if you don’t work out after you give birth.”
Donghyuck snorts, causing Mark to laugh too because apparently he’s ticklish where Donghyuck breathes against his neck. “Well, you better, because … because when we have a kid someday,” he sounds shy saying it but Mark feels his whole chest erupt in butterflies at the implication that Donghyuck will want kids with him someday, “I’m not killing myself to get back into shape while you’re being the forever hot alpha. You’ll just have to find stretch marks and fat thighs sexy.”
“But I already do!”
“Then you’re really gonna like me after pregnancy.”
Mark noses against his hair, “I’m always gonna really like you. I mean, we’re gonna be mated," officially, of course, "I'm always gonna find you cute.” He celebrates in the contented sigh his omega lets out, feeling the tension relieve from his figure as they continue to embrace. “So..” Mark starts softly, “do you think we can keep the next one?”
“So long as we’re not still idols,” Donghyuck replies. “So be careful from now on, moron.”
“Hey! I definitely remember you saying, ‘alpha, oh alpha come inside-‘!”
Donghyuck jerks himself away to grab the pillow to weaponize it once more, smacking Mark repeatedly as he screeches for him to shut up, his cheeks bright red. “You’re so mean to me!” He whines as he definitely tries to suffocate Mark with the pillow.
“You’re mean to me, dude!” He laughs, finally wrestling the pillow away from him and shoving it back under his head, safe from Donghyuck’s hands. “You’ve been hitting me all morning.”
Donghyuck, having relinquished his goosefeather weaponry, collapses on top of Mark, his chin digging a little painfully into Mark’s sternum, but he’s remiss to shove him off. Those big brown eyes and heart shaped lips are a sweet vision, a soothing balm to the abrasion of this chaotic late morning. Mark wraps his hands up and around Donghyuck’s waist, not even realizing he’d been smiling until Donghyuck’s eyes squint suspiciously. “Why’re you smiling?”
“Nothing,” he pinches Donghyuck’s waist through his t-shirt lighty, though it still makes the omega wiggle. “Just thinkin’ how it might’ve been kind of fun to be a parent right now.”
Donghyuck’s laugh is short and surprised. “In what way exactly? Maybe how it’d start screaming in the background as we did lives, or maybe how we’d have to sit out of concerts to stay home when it’s sick.”
“No, like, I was thinking how if we still lived here with the baby, then she’d have like twenty uncles around all the time,” he chuckles.
He expects Donghyuck to roll his eyes or snark, but instead he smiles too, his pretty hands coming up to draw nonsense patterns over Mark’s shirt. “She? You think it’d be a girl?”
Mark blushes, realizing his slip. “I, uh, I dunno, I just picked a pronoun. I don’t, like, think about it or anything,” he chuckles, but it’s obviously forced.
“No, no,” Donghyuck’s feet wiggle and bump until their legs are tangled up. He’s all pearly teeth as he grins, encouraging, “I think it’s cute. So, she’s a girl with twenty something uncles, living in an SM idol dorm. What else?”
“Ah, man, I don’t know-”
“Milllkkk,” he shimmies, limbs and hipbones pushing against all different organs in Mark’s body until he stills. “Tell me, c’mon. I was really scared earlier; make me feel better.”
Mark sighs and folds an arm under his head. “Well…Johnny would definitely buy her some serious drip.” Donghyuck laughs, making Mark smile too. He continues, “And he’d totally hog her. He’d probably think he’s the godfather, but it’ll really be Taeyong, you know, but we’ll never tell because it would break his heart. And then Jeno and Jaemin will take her to the park, but we’d have to make Jeno promise not to let her ride in the bicycle basket. Oh god, and Chenle? We’ll have to fight to make sure he doesn’t, like, secretly adopt her, but he’s most definitely gonna get one of those baby harness things and give her matching Gucci shades.”
Donghyuck hums, his cheek having laid against Mark’s chest, his lips still settled in a soft smile. “And what would we do?”
“Well, uhm. I was thinking that there would be nights where I would hold her while we watch you cook dinner, and then nights where she couldn’t fall asleep, I’d stay up and try to soothe her, but then you’d get up too to help and then we’d just all end up falling asleep on the couch.. Just stuff like that.”
“So domestic of you, Mark Lee.” He frowns a little now. “I didn’t realize you’ve thought about it so much.”
“I mean, not that much-”
“You’re not upset, are you?” Donghyuck asks, lifting his head so their eyes can meet. “That we can’t keep it?”
Mark reaches a hand up to pinch at a round, warm cheek. “No, it’s okay. You’re right, we really can’t right now. I mean, we’re about to have a comeback and everything. It would be crazy, and a lot on you. Not to mention our parents would be soooo mad.”
Donghyuck laughs before snuggling back against him. It’s quiet in the room again, save for their breathing and the AC kicking back on. Mark thinks they should get up but he likes their little world right now, where they’re just being together full of possibilities and hope. Mark hugs him tighter, and chuckles quietly when he hears Donghyuck release a tiny snore. Worrying so much earlier must have tired him out.
The protectiveness in his alpha rises to the surface, a soft growl is at the back of his throat but he swallows it. He’ll do better next time, so he won’t have to endure something like this again. He hopes whatever procedure they do, it won’t be painful or upset him too much. Mark kisses his hair, holds him tight, and falls asleep as well.
~~
Donghyuck shifts sheepishly on the doctor table, where they’ve just gotten the news.
“So…that’s normal?” Mark asks, just to be sure.
The doctor smiles and nods with gentility. “Yes, it’s very common. As you get older, you might incur different symptoms of upcoming heats, and false pregnancies can be one of them.”
“But he was sick…”
“Don’t worry,” she assures, typing into her laptop one handedly, “Mr. Lee, we can always prescribe you some pain medicine special for just such a symptom, if you’d like, though it may not always be the case for every pre-heat.”
“Um, that’s alright,” Donghyuck kicks his legs idly, cheeks red and gaze resolutely on the tiled floor. “I don’t feel sick anymore anyway…”
“That’s good. Based on your last heat and your symptoms you’ve told me of though, your heat should be due any day though, so it’s probably a good thing you came in. I’m gonna give you some medicine to take to help prevent pregnancy, since it’s something you two are willing to avoid.” As an afterthought, she clicks again, “And a package of condoms you can pick up at the front desk before you go.”
“T-thanks,” Mark tries not to sound too embarrassed. She bids them farewell with a bright smile and tells them they can take their time gathering their things before they leave.
As soon as the office door shuts behind them, Donghyuck drops his head into his hands, “I’m sorryyyyy,” he groans. His ears are even peeking red under his soft hair.
Mark laughs, slinging an arm over his shoulder and kissing his head. He’s a little embarrassed too since the doctor obviously was aware they were going to be going through Donghyuck’s heat together soon. However, he’s moreso relieved that Donghyuck was never pregnant and no procedures needed to be done. “Don’t be, I’m just glad you’re okay, and that you’re feeling better.”
“I feel so stupid.”
“You are not stupid-”
“I swear the test read positive Mark!” he looks up at his alpha with wide eyes and a furrow, indignant brow.
“I know it did, baby, but this is a good thing! We didn’t want to be pregnant, remember?”
“Well, yeah, but,” he huffs, “I don’t want people thinking I’m dramatic or something.”
“Nobody thinks that,” Mark grins as Donghyuck softly elbows him in the ribs. “C’mon, we got some shopping to do now that we know your heat is coming.”
Donghyuck sighs, still shedding the last of his abash, and stands from the table. “Fine… can we get those fruit snacks I like? The ones shaped like Hello Kitty characters…”
Mark snorts, intercepting Donghyuck before he gets to the door by wrapping his arms around his middle. With his chin perched on Donghyuck’s shoulder, he kisses a warm, honeyed cheek. “Hey.”
“What?” Donghyuck laughs a little, confused by the sudden affection.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, weirdo.”
“And I can’t wait to have a baby with you someday,” he says, grinning at Donghyuck’s embarrassed noise, “but I’m glad it’s not today.”
Donghyuck wiggles in his hold, but it’s not to separate. He turns in his arms, kissing Mark on the lips once, arms around his neck to keep him close. Against Mark’s ear, he whispers, “But I can’t wait till someday.”