Archive of Our Own

Lately, Sion had found himself wondering if he was somehow cursed to experience a crisis in every stage of his life.

There had been a time when his crisis revolved entirely around being an alpha.

Not because he disliked being one, nor because he struggled with the expectations attached to it. No. His problem had been far more specific, and infinitely more frustrating.

The omega he wanted, the one he had chosen long ago as the person he wanted beside him for the rest of his life. That omega barely seemed to recognize him as an alpha at all.

For an entire year, Sion had courted Yushi with a level of dedication that should have been impossible to miss. He had been so obvious that even their friends had stopped trying to be subtle about it. Their teammates knew. Even their coaches and manager knew.

At some point, people had begun looking at him with genuine pity.

The kind of pity reserved for a man who had been loudly screaming into the void, only for the void to blink back at him and ask, "Were you saying something?"

And somehow, despite all of that, Yushi remained completely oblivious.

Looking back now, Sion still wasn't sure whether he should laugh or cry.

But eventually (miraculously, if he may added) Yushi noticed. After an entire year of relentless courtship, the omega had finally realized what Sion had been trying to tell him all along.

Naturally, Sion had wasted absolutely no time basking in that victory. After waiting for so long, who could blame him?

Unfortunately, there was one small problem.

Because the omega in question was Yushi.

And when it came to Yushi, predictability simply did not exist. Trying to anticipate Yushi's next move was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. The moment Sion thought he understood him, Yushi would do something completely unexpected and leave him scrambling to recover.

Which was exactly why Sion currently found himself lying flat on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling above him.

The room was dark except for the glow of the bedside lamp. Shadows stretched lazily across the walls while the steady hum of the air conditioner filled the silence. Normally, it would have been peaceful.

Tonight, however, peace was the last thing on Sion's mind.

He wasn't particularly religious. Yet at this very moment, he was fairly certain he had prayed to every god that had ever existed throughout human history to please give him the strength to keep his thoughts under control.

Because the situation he was currently trapped in felt less like a blessing and more like a carefully designed test of his self-restraint. A test he was rapidly failing.

The source of his suffering shifted slightly against him and Sion's eyes instantly squeezed shut.

Right. That.

Yushi was mostly asleep. Curled comfortably against Sion's side as though it were the most natural thing in the world, the omega had wrapped both arms around his waist and refused to let go.

His face was tucked securely into the crook of Sion's neck, warm breaths fanning against sensitive skin with every slow exhale.

Close enough that Sion could feel every tiny movement. Close enough that Yushi's scent surrounded him completely. Close enough that the omega's nose occasionally brushed against the spot directly above his scent gland.

And that was the problem.

Because of all places Yushi could have chosen to nuzzle into, he had somehow selected the one area guaranteed to make Sion lose every coherent thought in his head.

The universe clearly had a sense of humor.

Meanwhile, the culprit remained blissfully unaware. Yushi himself looked comfortable and content, judging by the soft purr he kept releasing.

And Sion, despite spending a year desperately wishing for Yushi's affection, was now discovering that getting exactly what he wanted came with its own form of torture.

"Mm..." Yushi shifted against him once more.

The movement was small, barely more than a sleepy squirm, but it was enough to make Sion freeze.

His breath caught somewhere in his throat as Yushi burrowed deeper into the crook of his neck, seeking warmth like a cat settling into its favorite spot.

"Hyung smells nice..." The words came out slurred and quiet, tangled together by sleep. A simple and innocent comment. One that Yushi probably wouldn't even remember saying tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately for Sion, it landed like a direct hit.

Fucking hell, Yushi. The curse echoed inside his head immediately.

Of course Yushi would say something like that half-asleep, completely defenseless against whatever thoughts happened to wander through his sleepy mind.

And of course he would say it while pressed so close that Sion could feel every warm breath against his skin.

Sion closed his eyes. As if doing so would somehow help him maintain the last scraps of self-control he still possessed.

This wasn't fair, because Sion knew Yushi wasn't doing any of this intentionally. And that was the worst part.

Every affectionate gesture came so naturally to him that he never stopped to consider the effect it had on the alpha currently fighting for his life beside him.

Meanwhile, Sion was desperately trying to redirect every thought in his head before they wandered somewhere dangerous.

With effort, he lifted one hand and gently threaded his fingers through Yushi's rough hair. The omega immediately melted further into his touch.

Sion nearly groaned.

Instead, he settled for carefully patting Yushi's head. A silent attempt to soothe both of them. Then, before he could overthink it, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against the crown of Yushi's head.

The familiar scent of shampoo and omega pheromones surrounded him instantly.

"Sleep, Ushi-ya," he murmured.

At this point, it sounded less like a suggestion and more like a prayer.

A desperate plea which you could probably translate into: please go to sleep, or please stop talking, or please stop being adorable for five minutes.

Thankfully, Yushi seemed willing to show mercy. He let out a quiet hum, something content and sleepy, before snuggling impossibly closer for a brief second.

The occasional sleepy murmurs disappeared. Little by little, sleep claimed him completely. The room fell silent again.

Sion remained perfectly still, listening. One breath, then another. The rhythm continued without interruption.

Only when several minutes passed did Sion finally allow himself to relax.

A long breath escaped him as he stared at the ceiling once more. Relief washed over him so strongly that it almost made him laugh.

Sion looked down at the omega curled against him and his expression softened instantly.

After everything—the year-long courtship, the endless pining, the frustration of trying to get Yushi to notice him—his biggest problem now was surviving the affection he had worked so hard to earn.

Life truly had a twisted sense of humor.

Ryo looked up from his phone the moment Sion stepped into the kitchen.

The younger omega was perched on one of the stools by the counter, one leg tucked beneath him as he lazily scrolled through TikTok. The bright glow of the screen reflected against his face while a half-finished glass of milk sat in front of him.

"You're up early!" Ryo's cheerful greeting rang through the room.

Sion merely grunted in acknowledgment.

Without bothering to elaborate, he made his way toward the refrigerator and pulled the door open. A wave of cold air greeted him immediately. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filled it with chilled water, and drank half of it before he'd even closed the fridge.

Only then did he drop into the stool beside Ryo.

The cold water did little to help, so Sion immediately took another large sip.

Beside him, Ryo slowly lowered his phone.

"...Woow."

Sion ignored him.

"...Woow."

The second one was somehow even more dramatic.

Finally, Sion glanced over.

Ryo was staring at him with the same expression someone might wear after witnessing a dog suddenly start speaking fluent Korean.

"Sion hyung drinking water this early in the morning?" The disbelief in his voice was genuine which successfully made Sion rolled his eyes.

Under normal circumstances, he would have immediately fired back. Maybe he'd tease Ryo about spending half his life on TikTok. Maybe he'd point out how ridiculous he looked with his bed hair sticking in every direction. Anything to start their usual bickering.

Today, however, he simply didn't have the energy.

His soul had already fought for survival less than twelve hours ago. He wasn't interested in another battle. So instead, he let out a tired snort and brought the glass to his lips again.

Not receiving any snarky remark back for once, Ryo simply shrugged his shoulders. Although the lack of response was unusual enough to raise suspicion, he decided not to dwell on it for too long. 

So with a casual hum, he returned his attention to his phone and continued scrolling through TikTok, occasionally sipping his milk as the sound of videos quietly filled the otherwise peaceful kitchen.

Unfortunately for Sion, that peace did not last very long.

"Holy shit!" The exclamation rang through the room suddenly.

Sion immediately looked up from his glass, only to find Sakuya standing near the kitchen entrance. The younger alpha had one hand clamped over his mouth as though he had just witnessed something horrifying.

"Language!" Sion barked instinctively.

The correction left his mouth before he could even think about it. Years of being the older one made it impossible for him to ignore things like that. Even if it was just the three of them in the kitchen, bad habits were still bad habits.

Sakuya immediately straightened.

"Sorry!" he apologized quickly before his expression shifted back into one of disbelief. "But this is crazy! Seriously, woah, Sion hyung. Are you insane?!"

The accusation was so sudden and so completely out of nowhere that Sion could only frown.

His exhaustion from last night had already left him with limited patience, and now he was being greeted by whatever nonsense Sakuya had decided to bring into the kitchen before breakfast.

"What are you talking about?" Sion asked, genuinely confused. "Why are you making a fuss the moment you appear?"

A grin immediately tugged at the corners of Sakuya's lips. The sight alone was enough to make Sion suspicious.

"You," Sakuya said as he pointed directly at him. "You're practically drowning in Ushi hyung's scent, woah."

The words had barely left Sakuya's mouth when Ryo suddenly gasped beside him.The younger omega sat upright so quickly that he nearly dropped his phone.

"Oh my God, he's right!" Ryo exclaimed, turning toward Sion with wide eyes. "I was wondering why you smell so soft and so milky this early in the morning. Turns out it was Yushi hyung's scent!"

For a brief moment, Sion genuinely had no response.

Last night immediately flashed through his mind against his will. Yushi sleeping against him, burying his face into the crook of Sion's neck and refusing to move, practically glued to his side.

So it's actually no wonder if Yushi's scent clung to him. 

Across from him, the two youngests were staring at him with matching expressions of shock and disbelief. Their faces looked dramatic enough to belong in a television show, honestly.

Unfortunately, Sion knew them well enough to notice the unmistakable glint of mischief hiding behind their reactions.

Neither of them were actually scandalized. They were, in fact, entertained.

"What did you do with Ushi hyung?" Sakuya asked immediately. Ever so nosy.

"Wait, ew!" Ryo interrupted just as quickly, physically recoiling in his seat. "I don't want to hear any of that!"

The two of them continued staring at him expectantly, one looking horrified and curious at the same time while the other looked like he regretted asking before the answer had even been given.

Meanwhile, Sion could only close his eyes for a brief second and wonder why his morning had somehow become worse.

"I didn't do anything," Sion said with a sigh, already feeling exhausted by whatever ridiculous situation he had somehow found himself in.

The denial barely left his mouth before both younger omegas immediately rejected it.

"Lies!" The accusation came simultaneously from both Sakuya and Ryo.

Sion stared at them in disbelief.

The fact that they had managed to say it at the exact same time somehow made the whole thing even more irritating to the point it made his eyebrows twitched.

Honestly, he should have expected this. The two of them spent enough time together that they occasionally shared the same brain cell.

Sion opened his mouth, fully prepared to defend himself and remind them that he had, in fact, done absolutely nothing wrong.

Unfortunately, he never got the chance.

"Sion hyung." The familiar voice immediately drew everyone's attention toward the kitchen entrance.

Sion turned his head. And promptly forgot whatever argument he had been about to make.

Yushi stood there, looking like he had only been awake for approximately thirty seconds.

His hair was a complete mess, sticking out in every direction and giving him the appearance of a particularly sleepy lion. One hand rubbed lazily at his eye while the other hung limply by his side. His movements were slow and uncoordinated, the kind that only happened when someone was still half asleep and functioning purely on instinct.

Cute. Sion thought. So fucking cute.

The sight alone was enough to make something inside Sion soften immediately.

After the sleepless night he'd had, seeing Yushi like this should not have affected him as much as it did.

Yet somehow it did.

Yushi shuffled into the kitchen without paying attention to anyone else in the room, his eyes settling on Sion almost immediately.

"Why are you up so early?" The words came out as a soft whine.

Sion nearly melted on the spot.

His heart, which had already been struggling enough since last night, chose that exact moment to make his life even more difficult.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who heard it. Two dramatic gasps echoed through the kitchen loudly.

Of course. Sion instantly closed his eyes. Of course they would react like that.

Only then did Yushi seem to realize that there were other people present. His sleepy gaze slowly shifted away from Sion and landed on Sakuya and Ryo.

The maknae were staring at him with expressions of absolute horror. Or at least, horror was what they were pretending to feel. The obvious delight sparkling in their eyes ruined the performance.

"Scandalous!" Sakuya declared dramatically, placing a hand over his chest.

"Inappropriate!" Ryo added immediately.

Still visibly half asleep, Yushi blinked at them as if trying to process what exactly they were talking about.

Meanwhile, Sion could already feel a headache forming.

Because judging from the looks on Sakuya and Ryo's faces, this conversation was about to become significantly more annoying.

Determined to save both Yushi and what little remained of his inner peace, Sion quickly pushed himself off his seat before the situation could escalate any further.

The last thing he needed was for Sakuya and Ryo to start throwing accusations around while Yushi was still barely awake enough to understand where he was.

Crossing the short distance between them, Sion reached for Yushi's hand without hesitation and intertwined their fingers together.

The familiar warmth immediately settled against his palm.

"Sorry, hyung was thirsty," he explained quickly, his voice noticeably gentler when directed at Yushi. "Let's go back to sleep, okay?"

Yushi blinked up at him, still looking completely lost in the haze of sleep.

For a moment, he simply stared. Then he gave a small nod. A very sleepy nod, if Sion may added. The kind where his head dipped forward before bouncing back up again.

It was ridiculously adorable to the point Sion felt his heart squeeze.

Honestly, Yushi was unfair. There was simply no reason for someone to be this cute first thing in the morning.

Unable to resist, Sion lifted his free hand and gently ruffled Yushi's already messy hair. The rough strands only became more chaotic beneath his fingers.

Immediately, a loud gagging sound echoed through the kitchen. Sion didn't even need to turn around to know who it came from.

Still, he glanced over his shoulder.

As expected, Sakuya and Ryo were now sitting side by side, watching the two of them with matching expressions of exaggerated disgust. They looked less like teammates and more like an audience enjoying the morning's entertainment.

"Shush," Sion warned, sending a glare in their direction.

Neither of them looked remotely intimidated. In fact, Sakuya looked moments away from making another comment.

Thankfully, Yushi remained completely oblivious to everything happening around him.

Too sleepy to notice the teasing and too tired to start an argument, he didn't react the way he normally would whenever Sakuya opened his mouth.

Instead, Yushi instinctively gravitated closer to Sion.

Before Sion could even process what was happening, the omega wrapped both hands around his arm and hugged it against his chest. Then, with a small content sigh, Yushi nuzzled his face against Sion's shoulder.

The movement was perhaps driven by sleepiness. Yushi probably wasn't even aware he had done it.

But that didn't stop the effect it had on Sion, though. His entire body froze. For a second, he genuinely forgot how to function.

The warmth pressed against his arm. The way Yushi leaned into him so naturally, as though Sion was simply where he belonged.

To Sion's already weakened heart, it was devastating. He was fairly certain actions like this should come with a warning label. Or perhaps be classified as a weapon. Because there was no way anyone was supposed to survive them repeatedly.

Across the room, another dramatic choking noise erupted from the two younger omegas.

Sion didn't even bother looking at them this time. His attention remained entirely on the omega attached to his arm. And if the corners of his mouth softened despite his best efforts.

Sion had to physically restrain himself from doing something stupid.

Or rather, several stupid things.

At the moment, Yushi was still clinging to his arm, his eyes half-closed with sleep as he leaned almost his entire weight against him. 

The sight was painfully endearing. Sion could practically feel his resolve crumbling by the second.

Every instinct in him wanted to reach over and shower Yushi with affection. To smooth down his hair. To pull him closer. To press kisses all over his sleepy face until Yushi inevitably got annoyed and complained about it with his cute little whines.

The urge was so strong that Sion was beginning to suspect he had completely lost whatever self-control he used to possess.

Which was exactly why he kept both feet firmly planted on the ground and focused all his energy on behaving like a normal person.

A very difficult task, mind you.

Apparently, his struggle was more obvious than he thought. Because suddenly, a loud voice cut through the kitchen.

"Keep it PG, please!"

Sion wanted nothing more than to let the floor to claim him whole.

At first, Sion had assumed that Yushi's clinginess was something that only surfaced when he was sleepy.

The conclusion had seemed perfectly reasonable. After all, the evidence was right there in front of him. Whenever Yushi was half asleep, he became unusually affectionate. He would seek Sion out without thinking, curl up beside him, cling to his arm, bury his face against him, and generally act in ways that made Sion's already weak heart struggle to survive.

So it's only natural that Sion thought sleepiness was the cause.

Then Yushi went ahead and shattered that theory completely.

Because at this very moment, Yushi was very much awake. And very much attached to him.

Sion sat comfortably on the couch in the living room, a controller resting loosely in his hands. The dorm was unusually quiet for once, filled with the lazy atmosphere that always accompanied the beginning of a long break.

After weeks of schedules, practices, recordings, and constant movement to one city to another, everyone had unanimously decided that the first day of their two-week vacation would be dedicated to doing absolutely nothing.

Just sleep, food, and whatever activity required the least amount of effort.

For Sion, that activity had initially been playing PlayStation with Jaehee.

The two of them had settled into the living room not long after lunch, starting a match while the rest of the dorm slowly woke up around them. It had been peaceful enough.

Until Yushi suddenly appeared.

Fresh out of the shower, his hair still slightly damp and carrying the clean scent of shampoo, the omega had wandered into the living room and immediately gravitated toward them.

"Can I join?" He had simply asked.

As whipped as Sion was, there had never been any possibility of him saying no.

So naturally, he had handed over the controller without hesitation and invited Yushi to take his place.

The omega had brightened instantly. A pleased hum escaped him as he accepted the controller, clearly happy to be included.

At first, Sion had expected him to sit beside them on the couch. It was the logical choice, right? The normal choice everyone would do.

But instead, Yushi had walked right past the empty cushions.

Then, without a second thought, he had settled himself on the floor directly in front of Sion. More specifically, in the space between Sion's legs as if he did this every day (he didn't).

Across from them, Jaehee had immediately choked on his drink. The younger alpha coughed so suddenly that Yushi had glanced toward him in confusion.

Unlike Sakuya or Ryo, however, Jaehee wasn't the type to immediately start teasing. He simply stared at the scene for a moment before an amused smile appeared on his face.

The kind of smile that said he was absolutely judging the situation while choosing not to comment on it. (Which somehow felt worse in Sion's opinion, mind you)

Meanwhile, Yushi remained completely oblivious.

Comfortably seated between Sion's legs, controller in hand, he focused entirely on the game as though there was nothing remotely unusual about his chosen position.

Sion, unfortunately, was painfully aware of it.

Every slight movement registered immediately. Every time Yushi shifted to get comfortable, every time he leaned back slightly, every time his shoulder brushed against Sion's knee.

None of it seemed intentional.

That was probably the most dangerous part. Yushi wasn't doing any of this to fluster him. He simply looked comfortable in there.

Content enough to settle himself wherever he wanted without giving it a second thought.

And apparently, wherever he wanted happened to be near Sion.

Not that Sion was complaining. He actually liked it far more than he probably should.

Every time Yushi gravitated toward him without thinking, every time the omega chose to sit beside him instead of somewhere else, every time he sought him out first, Sion found himself feeling a warmth that spread through his chest and lingered there for hours afterward.

Yushi trusted him. That was what it all came down to.

The omega felt safe enough around him to let his guard down completely. Safe enough to be comfortable, safe enough to act on instinct instead of overthinking every little thing.

For someone like Yushi, that trust wasn't something Sion took lightly. If anything, it was something he treasured.

After all, there had been a time when Sion had wondered if his feelings would ever be noticed at all. He had spent an entire year courting Yushi, offering his affection openly and consistently, only to watch the omega remain blissfully unaware of it.

Back then, simply getting Yushi's attention had felt impossible. Now, Yushi sought him out naturally.

It felt like proof that all those months of patience and devotion had finally borne fruit. Proof that everything Sion had done hadn't been for nothing.

Unfortunately, there was one very important problem.

Sion had never been God's strongest soldier. In fact, he was beginning to suspect that he might be one of God's weakest.

Because while he absolutely loved Yushi's clinginess, his poor heart seemed completely incapable of handling it.

Every single time Yushi did something affectionate, Sion's entire system immediately fell into chaos.

His heart would start racing for no reason, his thoughts would scatter in every direction, and his ability to think rationally would disappear entirely.

It was honestly embarrassing.

Sometimes he genuinely wondered if one day Yushi would casually lean against him, smile at him, or do something equally harmless, only for Sion to immediately suffer a heart attack right then and there.

At this point, it felt like a realistic possibility.

Either that, or he'd get a nosebleed from sheer emotional overload. Or faint.

Honestly, fainting seemed increasingly likely.

Because there was only so much a person could endure.

And Yushi, whether intentionally or not, seemed determined to test the limits of Sion's endurance on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, the omega himself remained completely unaware. Comfortably seated between Sion's legs, focused entirely on the game in front of him, Yushi looked perfectly content.

As if he hadn't single-handedly reduced Sion into a lovestruck mess simply by existing nearby.

Sometimes, Sion wondered if this was karma.

Other times, he wondered if this was simply what happened when someone spent an entire year desperately wanting affection from a specific person.

Eventually, they got exactly what they wanted. And then discovered they were wholly unprepared to deal with it.

"Ushi-ya," Sion then decided to call him out softly, making sure to keep his voice gentle so he wouldn't startle the omega.

Yushi didn't look away from the television.

The game continued flashing colorful lights across the screen while the sounds of fighting, button mashing, and Jaehee's occasional complaints filled the living room.

"Mm?" A quiet hum was all Sion received in response.

Even then, it was obvious that only half of Yushi's attention was on him. The omega's fingers continued moving across the controller as he focused on whatever strategy he was currently using to defeat Jaehee.

The sight made Sion smile despite himself.

Shifting slightly on the couch, he lifted a hand and patted the empty space beside him, "Sit here."

A second later, Yushi shook his head, "No."

Sion blinked. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

Between the sounds coming from the television and Jaehee dramatically protesting something happening in the game, Yushi's voice had been so soft that it was nearly swallowed by the noise.

"No?" Sion repeated, glancing down at him.

This time, Yushi finally looked away from the screen for a brief moment. Just enough to nod.

"No."

Sion couldn't help letting out a small amused smile, "Why not?"

As he spoke, he reached forward and playfully poked the side of Yushi's cheek.

The omega barely reacted. If anything, he simply leaned towards the poke before returning his full attention to the game.

"Like it here," the response came so casually that it almost didn't register.

Then, as if to emphasize his point, Yushi shifted slightly where he sat and rested his cheek against Sion's leg, "Comfy."

Yushi's voice was quiet and absentminded. 

Unfortunately for Sion, that only made everything worse. Because Yushi looked far too much like a content kitten.

With his slightly damp hair falling into his eyes, his soft cheeks squished against Sion's leg, and the way he seemed perfectly content to stay exactly where he was, the omega indeed looked so comfortable that Sion almost couldn't bear it. 

Thankfully—or perhaps unfortunately, depending on how one looked at it—Sion didn't have much time to dwell on it.

A triumphant sound suddenly erupted from the television. The screen flashed brightly, announcing the winner of the match.

Immediately afterward came a loud, dramatic groan from Jaehee.

"This is why I don't like playing with you!"

The younger alpha slumped back against the couch with all the suffering of a man who had just experienced a great personal betrayal. His expression was filled with the familiar frustration of someone who had once again been defeated by Yushi.

For a brief moment, it looked as though Jaehee was preparing to launch into another complaint.

His mouth opened, then he paused. His gaze landed on Yushi. More specifically, on the way Yushi was currently leaning almost half his body against Sion's leg.

Yushi was practically draped against him, one arm loosely wrapped around Sion's leg while his cheek remained comfortably pressed against it.

As if he had unconsciously decided that this was the perfect place to be.

Jaehee stared, then his eyes moved upward toward Sion.

The older alpha was currently rubbing a hand over his face, looking like a man who was simultaneously delighted and suffering. The expression alone told Jaehee everything he needed to know.

Slowly, Jaehee looked back at Yushi, then at Sion again.

Whatever complaint he had originally intended to make seemed to lose all importance. The words never came, instead, they dissolved somewhere in his throat.

A strange look crossed his face, one that hovered somewhere between amusement and disbelief. Eventually, he let out a quiet sigh.

Then he pushed himself to his feet. Without another word, he walked over and held out the controller toward Sion.

"I think it's enough view for me," Jaehee said calmly, but the look he sent Sion made it very clear exactly what kind of view he was talking about.

Meanwhile, the person responsible for all of this remained completely oblivious.

Yushi simply blinked up at Jaehee from his spot on the floor, still comfortably attached to Sion's leg and entirely unaware that his behavior had just driven another teammate away.

Sion was currently busy packing his belongings into a duffel bag resting on the floor beside his bed. Clothes were folded into neat piles before being tucked away, chargers were carefully wrapped so they wouldn't tangle, and every now and then he would pause to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything important.

At least, that was what he was supposed to be doing.

In reality, his attention kept drifting elsewhere. More specifically, toward the omega sitting on his bed.

Yushi hadn't said much ever since Sion started packing. Instead, he remained seated near the edge of the mattress, quietly watching him work. His cheeks were slightly puffed out in a pout that hadn't disappeared for the past several minutes, making it painfully obvious that he was unhappy about something.

Not that he would say it.

Yushi simply sat there with his arms loosely folded, occasionally reaching over to help organize Sion's belongings whenever the opportunity presented itself. Sometimes he would hand over a piece of clothing. Other times he would move things around inside the bag so they could fit better.

It was such a small help, yet somehow, it made the entire situation feel even more endearing.

Sion watched him carefully place a folded shirt into the bag before returning to his sulking, and he couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

The sight was simply too cute.

Unfortunately, Yushi immediately noticed. Because the next thing he knew, the omega's eyes narrowed. Then, as if offended by Sion's amusement, his pout deepened even further.

Sion nearly laughed since the reaction only made him look cuter in Sion's eyes.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Sion abandoned whatever task he had been pretending to focus on and leaned forward.

Before Yushi could react, he pressed a quick kiss against the omega's pouty lips.

The contact lasted only a second, just long enough to make Yushi blink in surprise.

When Sion pulled away, the smile on his face had become impossible to hide.

"If you want a kiss, just say so," he teased.

Immediately, a faint flush appeared across Yushi's cheeks. The color spread slowly, tinting the omega's skin with a soft shade of pink.

Sion's heart melted at the sight.

As if Yushi wasn't already beautiful enough, the blush somehow made him even prettier.

"That's not it..." Yushi murmured quietly.

His voice was soft, almost reluctant, and his gaze dropped somewhere between Sion's shoulder and the half-packed bag beside them.

Sion raised an eyebrow. Tilting his head slightly, he looked at Yushi with exaggerated innocence.

"So you don't want a kiss?" he asked.

Immediately, Yushi's brows furrowed at once. A small frown appeared on his face, as though he strongly disliked the conclusion Sion had just reached.

The expression alone was enough to make Sion's amusement grow.

For a moment, he considered teasing him further. But the way Yushi continued pouting made it difficult to push his luck too much.

Eventually, deciding that he'd teased enough for one day, Sion finally gave up.

He shifted onto the bed and settled directly in front of Yushi, closing the distance between them.

Then, without saying anything, he reached forward and took Yushi's hand into his own. Their fingers naturally found each other, intertwining as though they had done it a thousand times before.

Sion found himself staring at their intertwined hands.

The thought had been sitting in the back of his mind for days now, ever since he had told Yushi about his plans to return to Mokpo during their long break.

At first, he hadn't intended to bring it up. It felt like a selfish thought, one born entirely from how much he would miss the omega during the time apart. But the longer he looked at Yushi sitting there beside him, helping him pack while wearing that unmistakably unhappy pout, the harder it became to keep the idea to himself.

Eventually, he decided to ask.

"Should I take you to Mokpo with me?" Despite trying to sound casual, Sion couldn't help speaking a little more carefully than usual.

And immediately, Yushi's blush deepened. The pink already dusting his cheeks spread further, reaching the tips of his ears.

"No..." Yushi answered quietly.

The response came so softly that Sion almost thought he had imagined it.

"No?" he repeated, wanting to make sure he had heard correctly.

Yushi lowered his gaze. The omega looked almost shy now, his fingers fidgeting slightly against Sion's hand.

"I'm sure my family would love to have you around," Sion added gently.

And it was true, he didn't have to think twice about it.

His family adored hearing stories about Yushi. Every time Sion called home, the conversation somehow drifted toward the omega eventually.

At this point, he was fairly certain they were already fond of Yushi despite having never met him in person yet.

Yushi, however, simply shook his head.

"It's family time," he said quietly. "I shouldn't disturb you."

The words sounded simple enough. Yet the hand intertwined with Sion's told a completely different story.

As soon as he finished speaking, Yushi's fingers tightened around his. Not by much, just enough for Sion to notice and to make his chest ache with affection.

Because if Yushi truly wanted distance, he wouldn't be holding on like that.

The contradiction was so painfully adorable that Sion almost smiled.

"And why not?" he hummed.

Without thinking, he leaned closer. Close enough to see every detail of Yushi's expression. Close enough to watch the omega immediately grow flustered under his attention.

"You're going to be part of my family too one day."

The words left Sion's mouth casually. As naturally as breathing, even. Because to him, it wasn't a joke. It wasn't even a particularly bold statement, it was simply the truth.

The effect it had on Yushi, however, was immediate. A soft smack landed against Sion's shoulder. Not enough to hurt, barely enough to qualify as a hit at all.

More than anything, it felt like Yushi's desperate attempt to make him stop talking.

"Sion hyuung!" The whine that followed was filled with pure embarrassment.

By now, Yushi's entire face had turned red. The blush spread across his cheeks so thoroughly that there was no hiding it anymore. Even the tips of his ears were burning.

Sion watched the transformation happen right in front of him and nearly lost the battle against his smile.

There was something unfair about how cute Yushi became whenever he was flustered.

The more embarrassed he got, the prettier he looked.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Sion leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against Yushi's forehead.

The contact was brief, but it was enough to make the omega whined quietly.

Sion smiled upon hearing that. Sometimes he wondered if Yushi realized how easy it was to read him.

Every emotion seemed to appear plainly across his face, especially whenever he got embarrassed.

"You sure you don't want to come?" Sion asked again after pulling away, wanting to make sure before he dropped the subject entirely.

The invitation wasn't something he had offered lightly. If Yushi wanted to come, Sion would make room for him without hesitation.

But Yushi hummed in return.

Then, instead of answering immediately, he shifted closer until the small distance separating them disappeared completely.

The mattress dipped beneath their combined weight as Yushi moved forward and practically folded himself into Sion's arms. His arms wrapped around the alpha's neck while his forehead brushed against Sion's shoulder before settling comfortably against him.

As if he belonged there.

"I'm going back to Tokyo too," Yushi said quietly.

The words were slightly muffled because he had already buried his face against Sion's neck. Right in the familiar spot he always seemed to gravitate toward.

At this point, it had become a habit.

Ever since that night they had shared a bed, Yushi seemed to have grown increasingly comfortable around him. It was as though the omega had finally realized that Sion wasn't going to pull away whenever he sought affection.

And once Yushi realized that, there had been no turning back.

Little by little, he had become bolder.

Though not intentionally. It's more like someone testing unfamiliar waters, trying things simply because he wanted to.

Leaning closer, holding on longer, seeking physical contact whenever the urge struck him.

Sometimes Sion wondered if Yushi was unconsciously searching for boundaries. Trying to find the invisible lines he wasn't supposed to cross. The point where Sion would finally stop him or where he would say Ushi-ya, that's enough.

The problem was that those boundaries were impossible to find.

Because Sion was completely useless when it came to Yushi.

Sion had told himself countless times that his heart wasn't strong enough for this. That every affectionate gesture left him struggling.

Yet whenever the possibility of Yushi stopping crossed his mind, Sion disliked it immediately.

Because despite all his complaints, despite the way his heart seemed determined to beat itself out of his chest whenever Yushi got clingy, he never actually wanted the omega to stop.

So instead, Sion wrapped his arms around Yushi and pulled him closer.

"Shall we pack your things too after this?"

Sion's suggestion was met with an immediate shake of Yushi's head. The omega didn't even need a second to consider it.

"I'll be going a couple days after you, so no need to pack now."

His answer was simple, and after thinking about it for a moment, Sion found himself nodding in agreement because it made sense.

There was no reason to rush when Yushi still had a few days before his own trip back to Tokyo.

With the topic settled, silence gradually settled between them once more. Neither of them seemed particularly eager to fill it.

The room remained quiet, wrapped in the comfortable stillness that often appeared whenever they were alone together. The half-packed bag remained forgotten on the floor.

Yushi stayed tucked securely against him, seemingly content to remain there for as long as possible.

Not that Sion minded, of course. If anything, he found himself holding the omega a little closer.

The thought of being apart for the next several days was becoming increasingly unpleasant the longer he thought about it.

So instead of dwelling on the separation ahead, Sion focused on the present.

On Yushi.

On the faint traces of his pheromones that always seemed softer whenever the omega was happy and content.

On the simple comfort of having Yushi in his arms.

Without meaning to, Sion found himself trying to memorize everything. As though storing the memories away would somehow make the upcoming days easier.

Not that he would ever admit that out loud because that would be embarrassing.

Still, the thought lingered since won't be seeing his omega for the next couple of days.

His omega. The words echoed through his mind. Immediately, Sion felt a grin threatening to appear.

Just thinking about it filled him with an almost ridiculous amount of happiness. Of course, Yushi wasn't actually his omega. Not yet.

But that technicality wasn't enough to stop Sion's heart from soaring every time the thought crossed his mind.

Eventually, Yushi shifted and slowly pulled himself away from the embrace.

Sion barely had time to mourn the loss of warmth before he noticed something else.

The pout had returned.

Somehow, during the course of their cuddling, the expression had found its way back onto Yushi's face.

His lips were pushed forward slightly while his brows knitted together ever so faintly.

It was obvious that the upcoming separation was bothering him, even if he wasn't directly saying it.

"Make sure to call me as often as you can, okay?"

The request came quietly, almost shyly. Yet there was a hint of seriousness hidden beneath it.

At that, Sion couldn't help smiling.

The sight of Yushi trying—and failing—to hide how much he would miss him was far too endearing.

"Only if you give me a kiss," he teased.

As he spoke, he tapped a finger lightly against his lips. Fully expecting a complaint, or at the very least a soft whine.

What he didn't expect was for Yushi to immediately lean forward with no hesitation, no embarrassed whining even.

One moment he was sitting there pouting, and the next, soft lips pressed gently against his.

The surprise hit Sion so hard that he froze completely.

For a second, his brain simply stopped functioning because Yushi had actually done it without any convincing, without making Sion work for it.

The omega pulled back only slightly, remaining close enough that Sion could still see the faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"Sealed our promise," Yushi whispered softly, carrying none of the embarrassment Sion had expected. "You cannot break it, okay?"

Getting a break was fun, but a long break was a completely different experience.

Somewhere between endless schedules, recordings, practices, flights, and performances, Sion had forgotten what it felt like to truly relax.

Not the kind of rest where he squeezed a few hours of sleep between schedules, nor the kind where he spent his day off recovering just enough to throw himself back into work the next morning.This was actual freedom. The kind that came without a countdown hanging over his head.

For the first time in a long while, he woke up without immediately checking his schedule. There were no rehearsals waiting for him, no choreography to memorize, no recordings to prepare for. Just a long stretch of days that belonged entirely to him.

It wasn't as though he hated being an idol. Quite the opposite, actually. Sion loved what he did. He loved being on stage. He loved making music. He loved sharing those moments with his members and seeing the happiness they brought to their fans.

He knew how fortunate he was. He was part of a group he genuinely loved, surrounded by teammates he considered family, supported by fans who constantly gave him more affection than he felt he deserved.

But loving something didn't magically make him immune to exhaustion.

Sometimes the endless cycle of moving from one city to another became overwhelming. Sometimes airports blurred together until he could barely remember where he'd woken up that morning. Sometimes the constant practices and recordings piled up until even his favorite things felt heavy.

Burnout wasn't something he was ashamed of. He was human, after all, and humans needed rest.

So when the opportunity finally arrived, Sion fully intended to enjoy every second of it.

He returned to Mokpo almost immediately after their break started, eager to spend time with his family and reconnect with friends he rarely got to see.

The days passed comfortably after that. He went to a baseball game to watch his favorite team play, spent time playing baseball himself, ate home-cooked meals, slept whenever he wanted, and caught up with people he had missed.

It was simple, ordinary, and exactly what he needed. For the first time in months, life felt peaceful, and more importantly, normal.

It should have been the perfect holiday.

The only problem was that a certain omega refused to stay out of his head.

With a frustrated grunt, Sion pressed his phone against his ear once again while listening to the familiar ringing tone. The sound echoed for several seconds before the call inevitably ended unanswered. He lowered the phone and stared at the screen, his irritation growing a little stronger with each failed attempt.

At this point, he'd lost count of how many times he had called.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him either.

The very same omega who had practically forced him to promise that they would keep in touch was now completely unreachable.

At first, Sion hadn't thought much about it. Yushi had gone back to Tokyo to spend time with his family, and naturally he would be busy. Sion understood that. Family came first, especially when opportunities to see them were limited. So when his calls went unanswered during the first day, he simply assumed Yushi was occupied and thought nothing of it.

Then one day became two.

And two became three.

By the third day, Sion could no longer convince himself that it was normal.

It wasn't even the missed calls that bothered him. It was the complete silence. No texts. No stickers. No random messages about what he was doing. Nothing at all. Yushi wasn't the type to disappear like this. Even when he was busy, he usually found some way to let people know he was alive. A short text. A picture. An emoji sent at an ungodly hour of the night. Something.

Yet every chat notification Sion received came from someone else.

The conversation between him and Yushi remained exactly the same as it had been three days ago.

His thumb hovered over the screen as he stared at their last exchange, and despite himself, the memory surfaced immediately.

"Make sure to call me as often as you can, okay?"

The request had sounded so sincere at the time that Sion hadn't doubted them for a second.

Now, however, they only made the knot of worry in his chest tighten.

With a sigh, he leaned back against his chair and pressed the call button again. Frustration was still there, lingering beneath the surface, but it had long since been overshadowed by something heavier. Because after three days of silence, Sion couldn't help wondering if something had happened.

And no matter how much he tried to enjoy his vacation, that thought refused to leave him alone.

So when the call remained unanswered yet again, Sion finally decided that enough was enough.

Any patience he had managed to maintain over the past three days had long since run out. At this point, the frustration had completely transformed into worry, and the worry itself was slowly becoming difficult to ignore.

Something wasn't right.

Maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. But after three days of nothing? The silence felt wrong.

Sion glanced at the time displayed on his phone. After making sure it wasn't too late, he immediately switched applications and searched for train schedules heading back to Seoul.

His eyes quickly scanned through the available departures.

Thankfully, there was one. A train scheduled to leave in two hours. And relief washed over him almost instantly.

He still had enough time.

Without wasting another second, Sion stood up and headed back inside the house to deliver the news.

The announcement was met with immediate disappointment.

His family had been expecting him to stay longer, and honestly, so had he. The break wasn't over yet, and he had originally planned to spend several more days in Mokpo before returning to Seoul. Under normal circumstances, he would have felt guilty for cutting the visit short.

However, the moment he explained the situation, everything changed.

The disappointment disappeared almost immediately. Instead, his family urged him to go.

The concern on their faces mirrored his own as he explained how Yushi had suddenly become unreachable.

By the time he finished talking, they were practically helping him pack.

His sister even jokingly suggested that Sion should continue all the way to Japan and drag the omega back himself.

The reaction made him laugh despite everything.

At the same time, a familiar warmth settled comfortably inside his chest.

His family had always been supportive, but moments like these still managed to catch him off guard.

The way they accepted Yushi and immediately treated the omega's wellbeing as something important has never failed to make Sion feel grateful.

A few hours later, Sion found himself seated comfortably inside the train heading back to Seoul.

The scenery outside the window slowly shifted as the train sped forward, carrying him farther away from Mokpo with every passing minute. 

Normally, Sion would have spent the journey admiring the view. Today, however, his mind remained occupied elsewhere.

No matter how many times he tried to distract himself, his thoughts inevitably circled back to Yushi.

Eventually, he let out a quiet sigh and leaned back against his seat. The trip would take nearly three hours, after all. And there wasn't much he could do until he arrived.

So for the first time all day, Sion decided to stop thinking. Or at least try to.

Closing his eyes, he settled deeper into his seat and attempted to sleep away some of the worry weighing on his mind, hoping that by the time he reached Seoul, he would finally get the answers he had been searching for.

It took Sion three and a half hours to finally reach their dorm in Seoul.

By the time he stepped out of the station and made his way back to the building, exhaustion had already settled deep into his bones. The train ride had done little to ease the worry that had been steadily growing inside his chest over the past three days. If anything, being trapped with nothing but his thoughts had only made it worse.

When he finally arrived at the dorm, Sion let out a long, tired sigh and reached into his pocket for his access card. The familiar click of the lock echoed through the hallway as he unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Almost immediately, a familiar scent greeted him.

Yushi.

The relief lasted for less than a second before something else took its place.

The pheromones were a little too strong.

It wasn't normal for any of them to let their pheromones leaked out around the dorm. They all lived together after all. Three alphas, two omegas, and a beta. A leaked pheromones could lead into disaster. It could triggered each other's cycles. Which is why their manager was so against them living in the same dorm at first.

And this time, not only Yushi's pheromones had leaked out, the scent itself had reached all the way to the front door. Even standing in the entrance, Sion could smell it.

A sense of unease instantly settled in his stomach.

If the scent was this strong here, then it had to be overwhelming deeper inside the dorm.

"Sion hyung!"

The surprised voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Looking up, he found Riku staring at him from the living room with wide eyes. The younger beta looked genuinely shocked to see him standing there.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Mokpo?" Riku asked. "What are you doing here?"

Under normal circumstances, Sion might have answered. He might have explained that he'd decided to come back early or joked about missing everyone too much. Instead, his attention remained fixed on the growing sense of wrongness curling inside his chest.

"Is Yushi here?" The question left his mouth immediately, a little too demanding.

Riku froze. It was only for a moment, a tiny hesitation on the younger's face that is.

But it was enough for Sion felt his stomach drop.

The nervousness in Riku's expression told him more than any answer could have.

Without another word, he stepped fully into the dorm and let his bag fall onto the floor beside the entrance. The younger immediately looked like he wanted to say something.

"Sion hyung, wait—"

But Sion barely heard him.

At this point, logic had already been drowned out by instinct. Every alarm inside him was screaming. The closer he got, the stronger Yushi's scent became, wrapping around him until it was impossible to ignore. All he could think about was finding the omega and making sure he was alright.

His feet carried him straight toward Yushi's room.

The door opened easily.

Unfortunately, the room was empty.

Sion stopped.

For a moment, confusion overtook everything else. Yushi wasn't there, yet the scent remained.

He stood still, forcing himself to take a breath as he tried to make sense of it. Then, slowly, he realized something. The pheromones weren't actually coming from Yushi's room.

They were coming from somewhere else.

His gaze shifted across the hallway, toward the room directly opposite.

His own room.

For a second, Sion simply stared at the door.

Then he was moving.

Crossing the hallway in a few quick steps, reaching for the handle before he could even think about it. The moment the door swung open, his breath caught painfully in his throat.

Yushi was there.

Curled up in the middle of Sion's bed.

Surrounding him was a nest built entirely from Sion's clothes.

Hoodies, sweaters, shirts—anything carrying Sion's scent had been gathered together and piled around him until the bed was practically overflowing with fabric. Nestled right in the center, Yushi looked impossibly small, completely enveloped by the familiar scent he had apparently been searching for during the past three days.

For a moment, Sion could do nothing but stare.

The sight hit him so suddenly that every thought in his head came to a complete stop.

After three days of unanswered calls, three days of growing worry, and three days of imagining every possible disaster, this was the last thing he had expected to find waiting for him on the other side of that door.

Sion held his breath the moment he saw Yushi shift inside the nest.

For a second, his entire body went completely still.

He had been standing there frozen that he almost forgot to breathe, his mind still struggling to process the sight in front of him.

Then Yushi moved again.

Slowly, and almost sleepily, his eyes fluttered open.

And the moment those tired eyes landed directly on Sion, every thought inside Sion's head disappeared.

He stood there like a statue, unable to move, unable to speak, as Yushi stared at him from the middle of his nest.

"Sion... hyung?" The omega's voice was barely above a whisper, almost like a quiet whimper.

But to Sion, it sounded deafening, because there was so much vulnerability hidden in that voice.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up. He was already about to step forward. Already about to cross the distance between them.

Until he felt someone grab his wrist formly.

"Sion hyung."

Riku's voice pulled him back slightly.

The younger beta was holding onto him with a serious expression, a rare sight considering how Riku usually acted around him.

"His heat is almost over, but he's practically still in heat," Riku explained carefully, his grip tightening slightly as if afraid Sion would move without listening. "Please don't."

The words should have been enough. They should have immediately snapped him back into reality.

But the problem was that Sion was already surrounded by Yushi's scent. It filled the room, filled his lungs, filled every part of him that was supposed to remain rational.

His instincts reacted immediately.

A part of him wanted to shake Riku off. And honestly, it wouldn't have been difficult.

Sion was stronger than him. If he wanted to, he could easily push Riku away, walk inside, lock the door behind him, and make sure no one interrupted them.

The thought came so naturally that it scared him.

Because for a brief moment, his alpha instinct was louder than everything else.

But then another part of him—the part that was still sane, the part that was still thinking clearly despite everything—held him back.

Riku was right.

He couldn't go in there. Not like this, not while Yushi was still vulnerable.

Not when Sion himself was struggling this much to hold onto his own control.

"Sion hyuung..."

And then Yushi called for him again.

That soft, whiny voice that always managed to completely break down his defenses.

It was a terrible mistake.

Because Sion turned his head.

And the moment he looked back at Yushi, everything became harder.

The omega was reaching out toward him. One hand extended from the nest, silently asking him to come closer.

His eyes were glossy. Not completely crying, but filled with enough emotion that Sion felt his chest tighten painfully.

The sight nearly destroyed him.

Sion swallowed hard because there was a battle happening inside him.

A battle between his sanity and his instinct.

The rational part of him was screaming. It told him to leave. To walk out of the room with Riku and get as far away as possible until Yushi's heat was completely over.

It told him that was the right thing to do. That was what someone who truly cared about Yushi would do.

But his alpha instinct had a completely different answer.

It was practically screaming for Sion to go to Yushi, to be with him, to soothe him.

Because wasn't that what Yushi wanted? Wasn't that why he was here in Sion's room?

The omega had spent his heat building a nest out of Sion's belongings. Out of his clothes. Out of anything that carried his scent.

Yushi had surrounded himself with traces of Sion because he couldn't have Sion himself.

And now that Sion was standing right in front of him, the omega was reaching out, calling for him, wanting him there.

Sion saw Riku open his mouth.

The younger looked like he was about to say something else, probably another attempt to reason with him. Another explanation. Another reminder that Sion needed to step away and leave Yushi alone until his heat was completely over.

And honestly, Sion knew Riku was right. Every word he could say would be correct.

But then Yushi spoke first.

"Alpha, please...?"

The words were barely audible, yet they carried enough weight to completely destroy the small amount of restraint Sion had left.

The moment the omega called for him like that, Sion's body reacted before his mind could catch up.

His hand immediately pulled away from Riku's grip. The movement was stronger than he intended.

Riku had been holding on tightly, probably expecting Sion to fight against him, but he clearly hadn't expected the sudden force behind the movement. The younger stumbled slightly, losing his balance as Sion freed himself.

"Hyung!" Riku's voice immediately rose in panic.

But Sion barely registered it, his eyes were still locked on Yushi. Before he could think about it any further, Sion stepped into the room.

The moment he crossed the doorway, the scent became even stronger. It surrounded him completely.

Sion had to force himself to remember why he was there, not because he was being pulled in by instinct, but because Yushi needed him.

"I won't do anything, " the words came out quickly, almost desperately. Sion wasn't even sure who he was trying to convince anymore. Riku, or himself.

His voice softened as he looked back at the beta standing near the doorway.

"I promise I won't do anything," he repeated, trying to make his intentions clear. "Just let me be near him, okay?"

It was the only thing he was asking for, but Riku's expression didn't soften even a little. If anything, the younger looked even more concerned.

"We both know you cannot be trusted!"

And the worst part was that Riku wasn't wrong because Sion couldn't even trust himself right now.

Under normal circumstances, Sion liked to think he had decent self-control. He was an adult. He was capable of making rational decisions. He knew how to separate what he wanted from what he should do.

Right now, however, those lines felt alarmingly blurred. Which was exactly why Riku's concern was justified.

Unfortunately, understanding that didn't make it any easier to walk away. Because every fiber of Sion's being was pulling him in the opposite direction.

He wanted to be near Yushi, that was it.

The omega had spent days alone, going through his heat while nesting in Sion's room and surrounding himself with Sion's clothes. The thought alone was enough to make Sion's chest ache. Whatever arguments his rational mind tried to come up with were immediately drowned out by the image of Yushi curled up in that nest, quietly calling for him.

So Sion did the only thing he could think of.

"Keep the door open," he bargained.

His voice sounded rougher than usual, worn thin by worry, exhaustion, and everything he had been feeling since arriving at the dorm.

Riku narrowed his eyes immediately, clearly unconvinced.

Sion pressed on anyway.

"I promise I'd walk out the moment I feel something's wrong," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Please, Riku?"

"I swear I'll leave if it becomes a problem," he continued. "You can even hit me with a pan if something goes wrong."

The attempt at humor fell somewhat flat, mostly because Sion was only half joking.

If someone had told him a week ago that he would be standing in his own bedroom negotiating visitation rights to his own omega's nest, he probably would have laughed.

Now he was willing to agree to almost anything.

For a few moments, nobody said anything.

The room fell quiet and Sion could feel Riku staring at him, evaluating him. Trying to decide whether trusting him would be a mistake.

At the same time, Yushi continued making those small, quiet sounds from the bed. They weren't loud enough to interrupt the conversation, but they were impossible to ignore. Every now and then, the omega would murmur Sion's name or let out a soft whine that sounded heartbreakingly close to a plea.

The sound made Sion's resolve crumble a little more each time.

Apparently, it affected Riku too.

Eventually, the beta let out a long, tired sigh. The kind of sigh someone released when they already knew they were losing an argument. His shoulders slumped slightly before he took a step away from the doorway.

But it was clearly a sign of surrender.

Maybe it was the desperation in Sion's voice. Maybe it was the way Yushi kept quietly calling for him throughout the entire conversation. Or maybe it was both.

Whatever the reason, Riku finally gave up.

"I'll keep the door open," he said firmly.

Relief immediately washed through Sion's chest. Before he could thank him, however, Riku fixed him with a pointed look.

"So I'll know if you do anything to him."

Under normal circumstances, Sion might have felt offended by the implication. Right now, he simply nodded.

The moment Riku finally stepped away, Sion didn't waste another second.

As soon as the beta disappeared from view, he crossed the room and crouched beside the bed, drawn toward Yushi almost instinctively. Up close, the sight of the omega made his chest tighten painfully.

The nest looked even larger from this angle, built from layers upon layers of his clothes, all carefully gathered around Yushi as though they were the only thing keeping him comfortable. Seeing it now, Sion couldn't help imagining the past few days—the omega alone in his room, surrounded by traces of him because the real thing wasn't there.

"Ushi-ya," his voice came out softer than intended. As if speaking too loudly might somehow hurt him.

A quiet whine escaped Yushi's lips almost immediately, the sound weak and needy enough to make Sion's heart ache.

"Hyung, please."

The plea was barely more than a whisper, yet it carried so much longing that Sion had to swallow hard before he could respond. For a moment, he simply looked at him, taking in the flushed cheeks, the tired eyes, and the way Yushi instinctively shifted closer the second he recognized Sion's presence.

Unable to stop himself, Sion slowly lifted a hand and cupped Yushi's cheek.

The moment his palm made contact, Yushi melted into it.

The omega turned his face immediately, pressing further into the touch as though he had been craving it for days. A soft sigh escaped him, one filled with so much contentment that Sion felt something inside his chest twist.

There was no mistaking it now, Riku had been right. The heat was still there.

Not as intense as it would have been at its peak, but enough that Sion could feel the lingering warmth radiating from Yushi's skin. His cheeks were still flushed and his pheromones still hanging heavily in the air.

The realization made Sion even more careful, even more determined not to cross any lines.

"What?" he asked quietly, brushing his thumb across Yushi's cheek. "What do you want?"

For a few seconds, Yushi simply stared at him. His eyes slowly opened wider, focusing entirely on Sion's face as though he was making sure he was really there.

Then, after what felt like forever, Yushi finally answered softly, "Hyung."

As though saying Sion's name alone was enough to comfort him.

"Want hyung here with me."

Sion's throat tightened immediately upon hearing that. He almost forgot how to breathe.

Every instinct inside him reacted at once, pulling him toward Yushi with a force that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.  Every cell in his body wanted to close the distance between them.

To pull Yushi into his arms and shower him with every bit of affection he had been holding back since arriving at the dorm.

But no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't. Especially not now.

Because right now, this wasn't just his bed anymore. This has turned into Yushi's nest. An omega's territory.

A safe haven built entirely for comfort and security during one of the most vulnerable times an omega could experience.

Even Sion knew better than to treat it lightly.

Nests weren't something people entered casually. They weren't places others could simply invade because they wanted to. It was an intimate space, one built from trust and instinct alike. Entering without permission was unethical.

So despite every part of him wanting to move closer, Sion remained exactly where he was. Determined not to take advantage of Yushi's vulnerable state.

"I'm here now, Ushi-ya."

His voice even cracked slightly halfway through the sentence, betraying far more emotion than he had meant to show.

Yushi's expression immediately softened. For a moment, Sion thought that would be enough. That hearing those words would finally ease whatever anxiety had been lingering inside the omega.

Instead, Yushi slowly shook his head.

"Not like that."

The quiet protest immediately made Sion's heart stumble.

Not like that?

Before he could ask what Yushi meant, the omega shifted slightly within the nest.

Then he raised a hand and patted the empty space beside him.

"Here."

The single word was accompanied by another gentle pat against the blankets and clothes surrounding him.

Sion stared.

For a second, he genuinely thought his brain had stopped working. His gaze moved from Yushi's face to the empty space beside him and then back again.

The meaning couldn't have been more obvious. Yushi wanted him inside the nest.

"Yushi, I don't think that's a good idea—"

For the first time since entering the room, Sion found himself genuinely stuttering.

The words felt clumsy as they left his mouth, tangled somewhere between caution and temptation. Every rational thought in his head was telling him to be careful. 

Unfortunately, Yushi seemed to interpret his hesitation very differently. The omega's expression fell almost immediately.

The hopeful look in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a small pout that made guilt stab straight through Sion's chest.

"Hyung don't want to?" Yushi asked in a small voice, as though he was already preparing himself for an answer he didn't want to hear.

"No, that's not—"

Before he could even finish the sentence, he noticed the way Yushi's eyes began to glisten.

Just slightly, but it was enough for a thin layer of tears to gather along his lashes.

The sight was devastating.

Yushi rarely cried, which made the mere possibility of it feel like a personal attack against Sion's sanity.

Worse still, the shift in his emotions immediately affected the pheromones lingering throughout the room. The sweet scent that had filled the nest moments ago changed almost instantly.

It became sourer.

The subtle change wasn't dramatic, but it was enough for Sion to recognize the anxiety behind it. Yushi was upset.

And judging by the way he was looking at him now, he had somehow convinced himself that Sion was rejecting him.

The thought alone made Sion want nothing but to slam his head into a wall.

Of course Yushi would think that.

The omega had spent days nesting in Sion's room, surrounding himself with Sion's clothes, waiting for him, only for Sion to hesitate the moment he was invited closer.

From Yushi's perspective, the situation probably looked painfully straightforward.

And unfortunately, trying to explain the actual reason wasn't much easier.

Because how exactly was Sion supposed to tell him that the problem wasn't a lack of desire? That the problem was actually the complete opposite?

"Ushi-ya," Sion called gently, as though he was trying to soothe a frightened kitten.

Sion shifted closer to the edge of the nest, lowering himself until he was almost eye level with the omega. One of his hands instinctively reached for Yushi's cheek again, his thumb brushing lightly against the soft skin there.

"That's not what I meant."

Sion wanted to reason with him.

There were dozens of arguments sitting at the tip of his tongue. Explanations about why this was a bad idea, why Yushi should be more careful, why Sion himself shouldn't be allowed anywhere near an omega's nest while the omega was still recovering from his heat. Under normal circumstances, he would have listed every single one of them until Yushi eventually gave in.

Unfortunately, the moment Yushi looked up at him, every argument died before it could even leave his mouth.

The omega was staring at him with such an expectant gaze that Sion felt his resolve crumble almost immediately. There was no stubbornness in those eyes, no attempt to persuade him through logic or reasoning. Yushi simply looked at him as though he couldn't understand why Sion was still hesitating.

As though the answer should have been obvious.

Sion swallowed hard.

There was no escaping this, not when Yushi was looking at him like that.

"Are you sure you want me inside your nest?" he asked eventually, his voice noticeably quieter than before. "Would that be okay?"

Even as he asked, he already knew the answer.

Still, he needed to hear it. He neded to know that this was truly what Yushi wanted.

Yushi immediately hummed and nodded.

"Please?"

The simple plea landed with enough force to destroy whatever resistance Sion still had left.

For a moment, he closed his eyes and accepted his fate. Maybe Riku really would hit him with a frying pan later. Honestly, Sion would probably deserve it.

But right now, all he could think about was the omega in front of him. The omega who had been asking him, over and over again, to come closer.

At this point, refusing felt cruel. Yushi had already asked more than once. The least Sion could do was give him what he wanted.

So Sion climbed onto the bed. He was carefully crawled into the nest, making sure not to disturb the structure Yushi had spent so much time building. Clothes were arranged everywhere, carrying traces of Sion's scent that had clearly been gathered and organized with care. He found himself oddly touched by the sight even now.

Only after he was certain he hadn't ruined anything did he finally settle beside Yushi.

The moment Sion lay down, Yushi practically melted toward him.

Strong arms wrapped around him without hesitation, holding him tightly as though afraid he might disappear if given the opportunity. The omega buried himself against Sion's side, releasing a small sound of contentment that made something warm unfurl inside Sion's chest.

Without thinking, Sion lifted a hand and gently threaded his fingers through Yushi's hair.

The rough strands slipped easily between his fingers as he stroked them back slowly, careful and soothing. He could feel some of the tension lingering in Yushi's body gradually easing beneath his touch. The omega relaxed little by little, settling more comfortably against him with every passing second.

Once he was certain Yushi was comfortable enough, Sion carefully guided him even closer.

Close enough that their bodies were pressed together. Close enough that their necks touched.

The second their scent glands brushed against each other, Sion felt Yushi visibly relax. A quiet sigh escaped the omega's lips.

Unable to stop himself, Sion gently rubbed their scent glands together, deliberately scenting him. The action was instinctive at this point. A way to reassure Yushi that he was there. A way to soothe the anxiety that had clearly been lingering throughout his heat.

The familiar scent surrounding them seemed even stronger now, wrapping around both of them from every direction. It was comforting and overwhelming all at once.

Yushi let out a soft purr and tilted his head without hesitation, happily exposing more of his neck for Sion. The omega practically melted against him as though he couldn't get enough of it, openly offering his scent glands and allowing Sion easier access.

The sight nearly destroyed what little self-control Sion still had left.

It took every ounce of restraint Sion possessed not to turn his head and sink his teeth into the scent gland being offered so willingly.

The temptation was right there, and claiming Yushi would be easy in this moment.

Thankfully, there was still enough sanity left inside him to recognize that thought for exactly what it was.

So instead, Sion forced himself to stop at scenting. Just enough to make sure Yushi was completely surrounded by his scent.

Only after he was satisfied that the omega was thoroughly drowning in it did Sion finally pull back slightly, creating just enough distance to properly look at his face.

Yushi looked far too pleased with himself.

The omega was practically glowing after being scented, his earlier anxiety nowhere to be found. The tension that had lingered in his shoulders when Sion first arrived had completely disappeared, replaced by a contentment so obvious that it was almost impossible to miss. Nestled comfortably against him, surrounded by Sion's scent and clothes, Yushi looked as though every problem in the world had suddenly ceased to exist.

The sight was so endearing that Sion couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips.

"Hi."

The simple greeting slipped out almost absentmindedly.

Yushi's eyes immediately curved into crescents.

"Hi," he greeted back.

The smile that accompanied the word was devastatingly adorable.

Before Sion could say anything else, Yushi wrapped both arms around his neck and scooted even closer, as though the small distance that remained between them was still too much. Then, after a brief hesitation, the omega lowered his gaze and quietly added,

"I'm sorry..."

The apology caught Sion completely off guard. His eyebrows instantly furrowed as he looked down at the omega in confusion.

"What for?"

Yushi hummed softly before averting his eyes. For someone who had boldly invited Sion into his nest just moments ago, he suddenly looked unusually shy. His fingers fidgeted slightly against Sion's shirt as though he was embarrassed to admit whatever was on his mind.

After a moment, he glanced toward the nest surrounding them.

"These."

Following his gaze, Sion looked around the bed. The pile of clothes. His clothes.

"I used your clothes without your permission.." His voice grew quieter near the end of the sentence.

The confession was so sincere that Sion couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

Of all the things Yushi could possibly apologize for, this was what had been bothering him?

The sound made Yushi immediately glance back at him, looking almost uncertain.

"It's fine," Sion reassured gently.

When the omega continued staring at him, Sion reached up and brushed a few strands of hair away from his face.

"What's mine is yours."

Yushi's entire face brightened upon hearing that.

The shy uncertainty vanished in an instant, replaced by a smile so radiant that Sion felt his chest tighten. It was one of those smiles that always made him wonder how anyone could look at Yushi and not immediately want to give him everything he asked for.

Apparently satisfied with the answer, Yushi scooted even closer until he was practically attached to Sion's side. Then, without a trace of embarrassment, he buried his face against Sion's chest and took a deep breath.

The gesture felt so natural that it was obvious he had been craving this for a while.

"Missed you."

The words came out muffled against Sion's shirt, yet somehow they landed harder than anything else Yushi had said that day.

Unable to resist, Sion leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against the crown of Yushi's head.

A pleased purr immediately rumbled from the omega's chest as he instinctively burrowed even deeper into Sion's embrace.

If someone had told him a year ago that Yushi would one day be curled up in his arms like this, purring happily because of a simple kiss, he probably would have laughed in their face.

Now, however, he found himself wanting to hear that sound forever.

His hand continued rubbing slow circles against Yushi's back, feeling the omega gradually relax beneath his touch. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The room remained quiet.

Eventually, Sion broke the silence.

"Ushi-ya," the nickname came out softly.

Yushi hummed against his chest, signaling that he was listening. Sion hesitated for a moment before continuing,

"Did you know all along?" he asked quietly. "That you were going into heat?"

Upon hearing that, Yushi froze. The subtle movement beneath Sion's arm was impossible to miss.

And then, Yushi slowly nodded. The tiny movement he felt against his chest was enough to answer everything.

For a moment, Sion simply stared down at him.

"So..." Sion began carefully. "You were lying to me when you said you were going back to Tokyo?"

The moment the question left his mouth, Yushi immediately lifted his head. Panic was written all over his face.

Even the lingering scent around them shifted slightly, carrying traces of nervousness that hadn't been there moments ago.

The reaction alone was enough for Sion to realize exactly what the omega was thinking.

Yushi thought he was angry. The poor thing looked as though he was bracing himself for disappointment.

"I'm sorry..."

The apology came out immediately. As though Yushi wanted to get the words out before Sion could say anything else. His fingers tightened around the fabric of Sion's shirt.

"It's fine," Sion quickly reassured.

The last thing Sion wanted was for Yushi to think he was upset with him. He had spent the past three days worried sick, imagining every possible disaster while trying to reach him. Now that he finally had the omega safe in his arms, the thought of Yushi becoming anxious because of a misunderstanding was the last thing he wanted.

As expected, the tension in Yushi's body gradually eased.

The nervous look lingering on his face softened, and his grip on Sion's shirt loosened slightly. The change was subtle, but Sion noticed it immediately. Ever since arriving, he had become painfully aware of every little shift in Yushi's mood.

"I just want to know because I remember you took your pills?" He asked gently.

Yushi hummed quietly before settling more comfortably against his chest, "I took it late, remember?"

At that, Sion paused.

"It didn't stop my cycle fully," Yushi continued. "When I asked manager hyung about what should I do, whether I should just go to the doctor or not, hyung said to let it flow naturally since we have a long break. He said it's good for my health."

Sion listened quietly before humming in understanding because that explanation actually made sense.

Naturally, suppressing heats and ruts repeatedly wasn't ideal. Most them did it because life demanded it from them, not because it was particularly pleasant for their bodies. Under normal circumstances, letting a cycle run its course naturally was healthier.

Unfortunately, normal circumstances rarely existed in their line of work.

As idols, their schedules were often packed months in advance. Concerts, recordings, practices, fan events, promotions—there was always something waiting for them. Taking an entire week off every few months wasn't exactly realistic. More often than not, they simply adjusted their bodies to accommodate their careers rather than the other way around.

Which was why hearing that the manager had suggested letting it happen during a long break wasn't surprising at all.

In fact, it was probably the smartest decision.

They finally had enough time for Yushi to rest properly without worrying about exhausting schedules waiting for him the next day.

"That's true," Sion admitted, gently brushing a hand through Yushi's hair. "If there was ever a good time for it, it'd be during this break."

Yushi nodded against him.

"That's why I stayed in the dorm," Yushi murmured.

His voice had grown quieter again, softened by exhaustion and the lingering effects of his heat. 

"At first, I wasn't going to tell anyone," he continued. "But Ryo caught me."

The image alone was enough for Sion to imagine exactly how that must have happened. Yushi probably hadn't even realized he was acting strange until it was already obvious.

"Ryo wanted to keep me company," Yushi said, absentmindedly tracing patterns against Sion's shirt. "But it might trigger his cycle early, so Riku volunteered instead. Since he won't be affected because he's a beta."

Sion hummed in acknowledgment.

At the same time, a small wave of gratitude washed over him. While everyone else had been spending their break with family and friends, Riku had stayed behind to make sure Yushi wasn't alone during one of the most vulnerable times an omega could experience.

Sion made a mental note to thank him properly later.

Maybe buy him dinner.

Honestly, after the panic attack Sion had nearly suffered over the past three days, he probably owed Riku much more than that.

"I'm sorry for making a mess in your room, though..." The sudden apology pulled him from his thoughts.

Looking down, Sion found Yushi avoiding his gaze. The omega's cheeks had turned slightly pink again. Not from heat this time, more like embarrassment.

"I wasn't thinking straight," Yushi admitted quietly. "I unconsciously thought of you as my alpha and went to your room to steal one or two clothes..."

His voice gradually became softer with every word. As though he was growing more embarrassed the longer he talked.

"But I ended up nesting in here because the whole room just smelled like you."

For a moment, Sion forgot how to breathe.

Yushi had delivered it with complete sincerity, almost as though he didn't realize the effect those words would have.

Unfortunately, Sion was very aware of it.

His heart skipped a beat so violently that he was genuinely thankful Yushi couldn't hear it.

Because if the omega could hear what was happening inside his chest right now, Sion would never recover from the embarrassment.

The words echoed through his mind over and over again.

I thought of you as my alpha.

The whole room smelled like you.

For Sion, hearing those words felt dangerously close to being handed the entire universe to his own hands.

Looking down, he found Yushi still avoiding eye contact, seemingly too embarrassed to look at him after admitting all of that.

The sight was so unbearably cute that Sion had to physically stop himself from burying his face in the omega's hair and refusing to move for the next several hours.

Instead, he tightened his arm around Yushi's waist and gently pulled him closer than before.

"Ushi-ya," Sion said softly, unable to keep the fondness from his voice.

His hand moved to brush through Yushi's hair once more, "You really have no idea what those words do to me, do you?"

Yushi giggled from within his arms.

The sound was soft and breathy, still carrying traces of the embarrassment from moments ago, but it was enough to make Sion's chest feel impossibly light. He had always liked hearing Yushi laugh. Whether it was a loud burst of amusement or one of those quiet giggles he tried—and often failed—to hide, Sion found himself drawn to the sound every single time.

Maybe it was because every time he did, he looked genuinely happy. Whatever the reason, the sound was surely addictive.

Sion couldn't stop the smile that immediately appeared on his face.

Eventually, the giggling subsided.

Yushi slowly pulled back, creating just enough distance to properly look at Sion's face.

The movement made Sion instinctively tighten his arm around the omega's waist for a brief second before forcing himself to relax again.

Up close, he could still see the faint blush lingering across Yushi's cheeks.

The redness hadn't disappeared. If anything, it looked even more noticeable against his fair skin.

Still, the omega seemed to have gathered enough courage to push through his embarrassment.

"Sion hyung."

The call came softly.

And just like always, Sion found himself immediately paying attention. Yushi's voice had a habit of doing that to him.

Especially when it softened into that warm, cotton-candy sweetness that seemed capable of melting hearts on command.

Sion hummed in response.

His hand lifted almost automatically, gently brushing a few loose strands of hair away from Yushi's face before tucking them behind his ear. The gesture was absentminded, born entirely from affection.

Surely, he wasn't prepared for what came next.

"I like you."

And just like that, everything stopped.

For a second, Sion genuinely thought he had imagined it.

His hand froze halfway through the movement. His thoughts halted. Even his breathing seemed to disappear.

The words echoed inside his head and yet his brain still struggled to process them.

But then Yushi smiled.

A bright, beautiful smile that instantly destroyed any possibility of misunderstanding.

His cheeks grew even redder as he spoke, but he didn't look away to hide, he didn't even try to take the words back.

"I like you a lot," he said again, as if he was trying to convince Sion. "You should've known it by now."

A helpless laugh almost escaped Sion.

Because yes, of course he knew. At least, logically.

Yushi had never exactly been subtle.

Not with the way he constantly sought Sion out, or with the way he clung to him whenever given the opportunity. The signs had been there.

And yet, knowing something and hearing it directly from the person you love were two completely different things.

Because no amount of hints, gestures, or assumptions could compare to hearing those words spoken aloud.

I like you.

Three simple words.

And somehow it felt as though an entire garden had suddenly bloomed inside Sion's chest.

Warmth spread through him so quickly that he almost felt dizzy from it. Months of longing, hoping, wondering, and waiting seemed to collapse into that single moment. 

Because Yushi was looking at him now with flushed cheeks and shining eyes, saying the very words Sion had dreamed about hearing for so long.

And for perhaps the first time since he started courting him, Sion found himself completely speechless.

"Thank you for being patient with me."

Yushi's voice was soft as usual. And somehow, those simple words managed to pull Sion back to reality.

Or at least as close to reality as he could get when his heart was currently trying to escape his chest.

His thoughts were still a complete mess, still struggling to process the fact that Yushi had just confessed to him so openly. He had spent so long imagining what this moment would be like, replaying countless scenarios in his head whenever he allowed himself to daydream.

None of them had prepared him for the real thing. Because the real thing was infinitely better.

Before Sion could even think of a response, he felt Yushi's fingers carefully wrapping around the hand that had gone completely motionless at his side.

The touch was enough to draw his attention downward.

Slowly, Yushi lifted his hand.

And Sion immediately realized what he was doing.

His breath caught in his throat.

The first time Yushi had finally realized he was being courted. Back then, Sion had taken Yushi's hand and pressed a kiss against the back of it.

And now Yushi was recreating it.

The omega carefully brought Sion's hand toward his lips before pressing a gentle kiss against the back of it.

The touch was brief. Yet it carried enough meaning to completely shatter whatever composure Sion still had left.

His chest tightened painfully, not from sadness or anxiety. Just from the overwhelming amount of affection suddenly flooding through him all at once.

When Yushi finally lowered his hand again, he didn't let go. Instead, his fingers remained intertwined with Sion's.

"Please take care of me from now on."

The words were spoken so naturally.

And for a moment, Sion genuinely thought he might cry. Not dramatically, but he could feel the pressure building behind his eyes all the same.

The past year flashed through his mind without permission.

Every failed attempt at flirting, every obvious courtship gesture that had gone completely unnoticed, every time their members laughed at his suffering, every moment he'd wondered if he should simply confess outright, every moment he'd chosen to wait instead. To be patient and to let Yushi figure things out at his own pace.

And now the omega was thanking him for it, looking at him with so much trust and affection that Sion felt his entire chest ache.

How was he supposed to survive this?

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Yushi seemed to notice.

The omega's eyes curved into crescents. A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face.

Tilting his head slightly, Yushi looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"This is the time where you should kiss me and say you love me, you know," Yushi teased playfully. As if he didn't just rendering Sion completely speechless.

It took Sion a while to gather whatever coherent thoughts he had left.

Not because he didn't know what he wanted to say. Quite the opposite, actually. There were far too many things he wanted to say.

His mind was overflowing with emotions, memories, and words that had been waiting for months to be spoken aloud. Every feeling he had carefully tucked away throughout his courtship seemed to have risen to the surface all at once, making it almost impossible to sort through any of them.

At this point, he was genuinely this close to embarrassing himself.

One more confession and Sion was fairly certain he would burst into tears right there inside the nest.

Meanwhile, the omega responsible for his current condition looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Yushi was smiling happily, his eyes shining with amusement as though he had just accomplished something remarkable.

Which, to be fair, he had.

He had successfully reduced Sion into a malfunctioning mess. And judging by the look on his face, he seemed incredibly proud of it.

The realization made Sion let out a helpless breath.

"You little rascal."

His voice came out softer than intended, filled with affection he wasn't even trying to hide anymore.

Sion squeezed Yushi's hand gently, intertwining their fingers more securely as he looked at the omega with a mixture of fondness and disbelief.

"You have no idea that I almost got a heart attack, don't you?"

The accusation only made Yushi laugh. A bright, genuine laugh that immediately filled the room.

For a few seconds, Sion simply watched.

Watched the way Yushi's eyes curved. The way his smile widened. The way happiness seemed to radiate from him so naturally.

And once again, Sion found himself thinking that Yushi was beautiful.

"I love you," the words slipped out before Sion could overthink them.

The confession landed softly between them, spoken right in the middle of Yushi's laughter.

Sion didn't feel nervous saying it, not anymore.

Gradually, Yushi's laughter subsided. The omega looked back at him, still smiling, a pleased one at that.

"I know," Yushi's answer came without hesitation. As though it was the most obvious thing in existence.

The corners of his lips curved a little higher before he continued, "I love hyung too."