Chapter Text
Poob sat quietly on their bed, fairy lights faintly illuminated the room with a warm glow that was calming. Pieces of colourful paper were scattered across his bed in no particular order, and Poob cut out small pieces of confetti in different shapes. Stars, hearts, triangles, circles, any shape they could think of was cut out and in a bowl next to him. Poob liked the loud and happy atmosphere of parties, but the quietness of his own room was something he cherished, it was a moment to themselves, where he could clear his mind for a while.
Their party hat that usually rested clumsily on his head was sat neatly on his bedside table, along with a few trinkets that he’d collected over the day, a few sweets, a button, some pennies and some lint from the bottom of their pocket… Poob sat in just his jumper, baggy pants and mismatched socks, their lap covered in blankets and pillows.
His mind was lost in concentration, wanting to make each cut perfect that they didn’t even notice the knock on their door until it slowly creaked open. He turned his head, his tail lifting in an alert stance as the familiar figure stepped in.
“Oh? Heyy Pest, Wazzup?” They asked, still paused holding the paper in his hand. Pest gently pushed the door shut with his heel, waiting until he heard a click before he continued. “Wha happened to u?” Poob asked casually, a bit of a humorous tone coating his words. The bug like creature simply stayed silent, which, if Poob was honest, wasn’t that uncommon. “U havin trouble sleeping?” They asked, it was long past midnight, the time passed faster than Poob remembered… ‘oops…’ they thought to themselves, though their grievances for staying up this late were short before the white haired man spoke lowly.
“Can I sleep in here?...”
He asked, his voice seemed tired and breathy.
“Huh?” Poobs head tilted, confusion spreading across his face.
“Sleep in here… with you…” He elaborated, seeming a be irritated, and Poob couldn’t tell if that was just him or if it was because of his tiredness.
“Woah- woah u gotta lead up to that buddy-“ Poob joked, a clear sense of sarcasm in his voice, though Pest just squinted, puzzled. ‘yeah he doesn’t understand that-‘
“Im jokin’ idiot.” He assured, picking up the rather big mess he’d made on his bed with the paper crafts he’d been doing… ‘Yeah nah- next time ima do this at the table…’
“Oh no the beetle man can’t sleep, how unfortunate.” They joked, their tail swaying as they cleaned hurriedly. “Why in here?” he asked… again…
“???” Pest just blinked slowly.
“In my room, I know you’d rather die than be forced to see me in the elevator, so why are you wanting to sleep in my room? Where you’re closer to me than ever.” Poob tried to explain it bluntly, Pest
never seemed to understand his sarcasm or metaphors no matter how many times Poob was clear about it or explained it…
“…” Pest just stayed quiet, his tail swayed until it gently nudged Poob on the back. “Clean up that paper so we can sleep.” He yawned, trying to change the topic. Poob obviously noticed, but he didn’t push and just finished up cleaning off his bed.
“Okay big guy, hop in.” Poob spoke, shifting until his feet reached the floor beside his bed before standing up, he gave Pest a nudge on the back, before walking past. “Goodnight big guy.”
Yet, Poob didn’t get very far before he almost tripped over his own feet, only just finding purchase on the wooden floor. “Ack-“ Poob squealed in shock, before he felt a grip that was tight on his ankle. Pest had looped his thick tail around Poobs ankle, tugging him back. “Where are you going?” Pest asked, his tone was filled with curiosity more than anything. “To your room? To sleep?” they answered.
Pest shook his head, “no.”
“Huh?” Poob mumbled.
“Sleep. In here. With me.” Pest spoke, slowly releasing his grip around Poobs ankle. ‘what on gods green earth is he talking about-‘is all Poob could think of. Pest had gotten clingy like this in the past, but he would… always…
Oh.
Oh.
It took a moment for Poob to realise before it hit him like a truck.
“ARE YOU GOING INTO HEAT?!?!” the words escaped his mouth faster than he could think, and Pest quickly slapped a hand over Poobs mouth to muffle his voice. “Oh my god… Yes! For goodness sake…” Pest spoke hurriedly. “I… I’m not trying anything… I’m just in pain and…” Pest paused, slowly looking up at Poob with a reddened face. “I just want someone with me… So please… don’t go.”
Poob didn’t understand, being a beta, made things like this so foreign to him, sure he’d learnt about what ‘heat’ and ‘ruts’ were when he was younger but they’d never actually… ya’know… SEEN them… Pest didn’t seem to have a high drive for anything other than comfort, he was sweaty, felt hot, watery eyed, and just aerated the smell of… grass? God knows, he didn’t have a scent glad to know what that smell was.
“Pest.” Poob spoke first, breaking the silence like glass. “I trust u, ya’know? As long as u listen to me if I’m uncomfy, you can hug me if it makes u feel better.”
Pest just stared, he hadn’t actually expected Poob to listen to him… “I… yes. Of course!” Pest turned, lifting up the blankets of the bed and shifting until he was comfortable, than, shakily opening his arms for Poob.
They thought for a second, Pest trusted them. Them. Of everyone to be this close with him in this state… He chose them. They didn’t waste a moment, quickly stumbling over his own messy floor before rushing into Pests arms.
They felt was Pest covered both of them with the blanket, and his arms wrapped tightly around them. Poob took a minute to process everything, Pest was as red as a tomato and was hot to the touch, was this what a ‘heat’ felt like? Surely not, Pest would have a drive for sex, right? He’d be looking for an alpha or something, so why was he laying here cuddling Poob as if they were a life line? “Pest?...” Poob quietly whispered, checking if he was asleep.
“Hmnn?” Pest groaned in response, he was tired but not asleep.
“I gotta question, sorry if itz not the time.”
Pest nuzzled into Poobs neck, murmuring softly. “Go on…”
The Partynoob thought for a second, how on gods green earth would he put this into words?...
“So… if you’re an Omega, and in heat, don’t Omegas usually… uhhh…” Poob stopped, was this a bad time? Yeah- this was definitely a bad time. But, before Poob could backtrack and pretend this never happened Pest spoke. “Seek out pleasure?...”Was that exactly what Poob was going to say? Yup, but that didn’t make it anymore embarrassing to hear- Poob felt his face warm up, and he closed his eyes tight before responding. “Yeah… But – I’m just curious! Ya’know? I mean, like, is heat different for every Omega or just you?” He backtracked, trying to explain themselves as if they’d done something wrong, but Pest just replied softly. “It’s different for everyone…” He stopped for a moment, before continuing. “For me, my heat comes in… stages? You could say. When it starts, I don’t feel that ‘drive’ for pleasure… only comfort...” Pest pulled back to look Poob in the eyes, looking at him as if he was a prized jewel. “I do feel that drive, mostly when I’m in the middle of my heat…” He stopped for a moment, snuggling into the nook of Poobs neck. “but, I usually just take some painkillers, turn the AC on and lock myself in my room until it’s over.”
Wait… how many times had Pest been locked in his room, IN PAIN, while Poob was LITERALLY just down the hall?!
“I… uhh… Pest.” Poob spoke again.
“Hm?”
“I love you.”
…
The silence was long, and Poob just laid there in Pests arms. But, before Poob could respond again he felt Pest shaking, was Pest in pain? Was he crying? But nope, of course not. He was laughing, laughing so hard he was shaking. “Hey! What’s so funny?!” Poob mumbled, nudging Pest playfully, if he was honest, Pests laughter was making him want to smile so much that it was hard to stay mad.
“Hahaha! Oh my god Poob… You’re too cute…” Pest spoke through chokes of laughter, before pulling Poob in closer and tighter.
“ACK! AH! HEY HEY!! YOUR CRUSHING ME ASSHOLE!!” Poob whined, pushing against Pest with as much force as he could muster. “I’M TRYING TO HAVE A SENTIMENTAL MOMENT WITH YOU RIGHT NOW AND YOU’RE LAUGHING!” Poob was being a bit hypocritical, as he was laughing as well… but that obviously wasn’t the point!
Pest softened his grip and Poob let out a huff of triumph, nuzzling into Pests warm chest.
“Hey… again… I love you… And… I’m glad you trust me…” Poob whispered softly, gripping a tight fist on Pest’s baggy shirt. The room fell silent again, and Poob felt as his eyes grew heavier and heavier with sleep. But, just as he was about to drift off, the weight next to him shifted, and curled around him, and the feeling of a tail sliding up his leg gently. Pest spoke as delicately as he could, as if, if he spoke any louder, Poob might shatter like glass…
“I love you too, Poob… More than you know…