Chapter Text
North sighed as he watched Sonic work from the opposite end of the garage.
Two weeks. They hadn't spoken in two weeks. Not since that night.
The alpha's face heated up as thoughts of sweat-slicked skin, breathless kisses, and the most angelic sounding moans flooded his mind.
He'd really done it. He'd slept with Sonic. His best friend. Granted, they were both drunk at the time, but still...
North hadn't expected Sonic's reaction. It wasn't confusion. It wasn't embarrassment. It wasn't even anger.
No. Sonic's reaction had been far worse.
It was regret.
And that hurt more than anything. North had woken up in Sonic's bed, and the omega only had one thing to say about it.
"Please...just leave..."
The alpha startled when he felt a rough hand on his shoulder, and he turned to find Alan staring at him.
"Lhung?" North asked.
"We need to talk," Alan stated.
His tone didn't leave room for argument. North nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat as he followed the older man upstairs.
The door to Alan's office clicked shut, and North turned to face the alpha with a small frown.
"Lhung, what's this—"
"Sit," Alan cut him off.
North did as he was asked, taking the seat across from his boss.
"What's going on with you?" Alan asked, getting straight to the point.
"What do you—"
"North." Alan gave him a pointed look. "You know what I mean. You and Sonic. Did you two have a fight or something?"
The younger man looked down at his lap, nervously twisting his fingers into the bottom hem of his shirt.
"It is that obvious?" he asked quietly.
"Look, North..." Alan sighed. "Believe me. I don't enjoy getting into your business like this. But whatever happened between you guys...it's starting to affect your work. You're distracted. You're forgetting basic protocol. Making rookie mistakes, and it's reflecting badly on the whole garage."
"I know," North responded.
He let out a frustrated huff, shaking his head. "I know...and I'm sorry."
Alan's expression softened. "I'm just worried about you, North. We all are. I don't know what happened, but whatever it is, you can—"
"I slept with him," North admitted quietly.
The older man froze. "What?"
Alan certainly hadn't been expecting that. North's feelings for Sonic were obvious. At least, they were obvious to everyone other than the omega himself.
For years, the alpha had watched North pine over his best friend like a lost puppy. Hell, he was pretty sure there was a betting pool among the rest of the garage for when—or if—those two would ever get together.
The last thing Alan ever expected was for North to...
"I slept with Sonic," North repeated. "And now he won't talk to me."
He could practically see the wheels turning in Alan's head.
"You didn't..." the alpha furrowed his brow, struggling to find the right words. "I mean, you both...wanted it, right?"
"What the fuck, Lhung?" North asked angrily. "Are you seriously asking me if it was consensual?"
"North, that's not—"
"Yes!" he exclaimed. He slumped back into his chair, laughing bitterly. "Jesus Christ..."
North's gaze hardened as he met the alpha's eyes. "I would never hurt him. Never."
"I know that," Alan said quietly. "I'm sorry if it came out that way...I know you would never do anything like that."
North let out a heavy sigh and nodded. It was silent for a few moments.
"So...what are you going to do?" Alan asked softly.
North's mouth etched into a deep frown, and he shook his head.
"I don't know..." he mumbled. "Everything's ruined now. He doesn't want anything to do with me."
"North..." The older man breathed a deep sigh. "You can't avoid him forever."
"Can't I?" North asked, forcing out a laugh.
It didn't make him feel better. Alan just gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Look," the alpha began carefully. "I know your feelings for him are...complicated. But you need to decide. What's more important to you? Your feelings, or your friendship?"
The question sat heavy in the air.
North didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to have to choose.
Sonic...
They'd been friends for so long. To North, Sonic was the most important person in the world. North never smiled as much, never laughed as much, never felt so incredibly happy with anyone else as much as he did with Sonic.
And that night...the night he'd gotten to hold him. To taste him. To worship him...
He didn't want to go back to how things used to be. He wanted more.
North closed his eyes for a moment, weighing his options. As much as it hurt...he knew what the answer was.
"Okay," he whispered. "I'll talk to him today."
North waited until evening. After the other mechanics had gone home, and the garage was quiet, he found him in the locker room.
"Sonic?" he asked quietly.
The omega froze, his hand still on the handle of his locker. His hair was damp from the quick shower he had taken, and his white t-shirt hung loosely over his frame.
He looked soft. He looked tired.
"Can we talk?"
Sonic turned around slowly, giving the alpha a quick once-over. He nodded a single time.
An awkward silence settled between them as they made their way over to a nearby bench. North sat down first. Sonic sat down next—as far away from North as possible.
"I just..." North hesitated, and he took a deep breath. "I wanted to say I'm sorry," he said. "For...for that night."
Sonic looked down into his lap, and he sighed. "I'm sorry, too," he whispered.
North's eyes widened slightly as the omega continued.
"I'm sorry I've been ignoring you these past couple of weeks," Sonic apologized. "It's just...things have been so weird between us ever since..."
He trailed off, and North hummed.
"I know," he agreed quietly.
There was a beat of silence.
"Look..." the omega sighed. "What happened between us was...an accident. And I'd rather just forget the whole thing ever happened."
"What?" North asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're my best friend, North..." Sonic told him. "And if it's alright...I'd really like for things to just go back to how they used to be."
North couldn't help the way his heart ached at the words.
"Is that...really what you want?" the alpha asked.
Sonic nodded slowly. "Yeah," he breathed. "That's what I want."
A lump formed in North's throat at the confession.
"So what do you say?" Sonic looked at him with a hopeful smile. "Friends?"
No.
Everything inside of North was screaming at him to refuse. To risk it all and confess his feelings, and pray that this was all some sick joke, and that Sonic actually held the same feelings for him.
"Uhm..." North hesitated.
And then he saw Sonic's expression.
Pleading. Hopeful. But also...
Scared.
North's heart dropped, and he nodded.
"Sure," he agreed. "Friends."
Sonic's shoulders slumped with relief, and he gave the alpha a grateful smile. "Good," he breathed with a small laugh.
The omega stood, and he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"I'm glad we talked," Sonic told him. "It feels good to put that all behind us. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"Yeah..." North breathed. "Tomorrow..."
Sonic let out a satisfied hum, and he walked away, giving him a small wave goodbye before the door closed behind him.
The alpha sat there in silence as their conversation replayed in his head.
Friends...
They'd made up. Sort of. Sonic seemed happy. Things were okay. Right?
North released a slow sigh, quietly cursing himself.
Somehow, he felt even worse than before.