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Sung Hyunjae knocks on the door to the Han brothers' apartment with his free hand, a nesting pillow of the highest quality in his other arm. He may or may not have pressured the building's security guards to let him in, but with neither brother responding to his texts and calls, was there any option but to come in person? (Of course there was, but nothing so potentially amusing as this.)
Haeyeon's Shield, Kim Sunghan, answers the door. Diligently standing guard on his guildmaster's orders, no doubt. "Guildmaster Sung. What brings you here?"
The aroma that wafts out from the open door hits Sung Hyunjae like a knock upside the head. Honeyed makgeolli, sweet and heady. His breath hitches. Were he a weaker man, he might have swayed on his feet.
He takes a few uncharacteristic seconds to recollect himself in the face of a scent often stifled beneath blockers. He thought he'd been mentally prepared, but the sheer potency was more than he had expected. Kim Sunghan nods at his reaction in solemn understanding.
"I have a present for Han Yoojin-gun that I'd like to deliver personally. Do you think he'll let me in?" Sung Hyunjae gestures toward Han Yoojin's bedroom. An unmated alpha intruding on the nest of an unmated omega in heat would normally be the height of impropriety, but Han Yoojin has always been a special case. For one, despite heats typically being private affairs, Sung Hyunjae doubts that he is the first or even third visitor the omega has had today.
Kim Sunghan inspects the pillow for hidden objects, squeezing the stuffing and tugging gently at its linen pillowcase. Sung Hyunjae respects his vigilance. The idea of anyone smuggling something dangerous into his dearest item's vicinity with Han Yoojin in such a vulnerable state is quite unpleasant.
Sensing nothing amiss, the beta stands aside but maintains a watchful wariness. "You can try, but I can't guarantee your safety. Our guildmaster is in there."
Sung Hyunjae chuckles as he enters the apartment. "I plan to behave today. I make no promises on behalf of others, though."
Han Yoojin's door has been left ajar, allowing his scent to leak out and flood the area. Sung Hyunjae peeks inside the room as Kim Sunghan monitors him from afar.
He'd expected a king-sized bed piled high with plush cushions and soft blankets, the Haeyeon guildmaster sparing no expense for his older brother's comfort. However, what takes Sung Hyunjae aback is the sheer number of beings on the bed instead.
Han Yoojin is bundled up in the center of the bed, as expected. Han Yoohyun and Bak Yerim flank him on either side, each clinging to an arm. Yoo Myeongwoo dozes at the head of the bed and Noah Luire at the foot. Han Yoojin's tiny menagerie of monsters slots themselves where they can—the Horned Flame Lion curled atop his chest, the cotton ball of a bird in the crook of his chin, the Gold Griffin between his legs. The Thorn-Winged Dark Dragon and Red Jewel Snake are coiled up beside Noah, a cerulean avian sits perched on Yoo Myeongwoo's head, and a red salamander rests in between the Han brothers.
Does this even qualify as a nest? There's hardly enough room on the bed for each human to have a pillow and blanket, much less other nesting materials, and there are no protective outer walls to speak of. Han Yoojin does not seem to be bothered by the lack of amenities, though, content with having his charges by his side during his heat. Perhaps it stems from his past financial situation.
The omega's contentment quickly dissipates when Sung Hyunjae nudges at the door, ever so slightly, and the two alphas beside him spring to their feet. "You!" Han Yoohyun growls. He leaps off the bed, clearing the length of the room in a second to land in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"
Bak Yerim stands in front of the nest to block Sung Hyunjae's view, baring her teeth. Noah and Yoo Myeongwoo, both betas, startle. The cat-sized Flame Lion yawns and blinks sleepily at the disturbance, while the other monsters stir with their own noises of complaint.
"Pardon the intrusion." Sung Hyunjae takes a polite step back, not wanting to cause a fight so close to a nesting omega. Han Yoohyun takes another step forward in turn, aggression in his scent and in his eyes, clearly intending to force this intruder out of his territory—
Where most omegas would have whined needily for their companions to return, Han Yoojin does not. Instead, there comes a burst of pheromones that Sung Hyunjae can only describe as commanding in its intent.
Come here.
The young alphas stagger, their eyes glazing over as if drugged. The odors of burning firewood and menthol are once again drowned out by the sweet, comforting haze in the air. They walk unsteadily back to the nest, where Han Yoojin tucks them in close, cooing unintelligibly and swaddling them in the blankets they'd pushed aside. A doting parent to his pups.
A part of Sung Hyunjae wants to obey the command as well, and not merely because it might spark some funny reactions. He restrains himself and anchors his feet to the floor. "Special delivery~" he announces. "An item for my precious item."
Han Yoohyun bristles but stays put this time. Bak Yerim is too busy being smothered by Han Yoojin to respond, the omega scenting her until she goes limp. When he finishes with her, Han Yoojin casts a passing glance at Sung Hyunjae and moves on to Han Yoohyun next. The oh-so-terrifying guildmaster of Haeyeon melts into a puddle as his older brother kisses and rubs his cheeks against his forehead.
Noah lifts his head and eyes Sung Hyunjae with suspicion, ready to attack if necessary, but his movements are noticeably sluggish. Yoo Myeongwoo, already more placid than the rest of them, simply yawns and repositions himself on the bed. Being so close to Han Yoojin's tranquilizing pheromones must affect even betas, despite their weaker senses of smell. Hence, none of these high-ranking Hunters had noticed him observing them from outside the room. Most intriguing.
Han Yoojin spreads another cloud of pheromones over the nest—pleasedsleepyresthome—and the members of his little pack drowsily settle back down. The omega then languidly beckons Sung Hyunjae forward, his blanket slipping off his pale shoulders to expose his chest.
A flash of desire shoots through Sung Hyunjae like one of his lightning bolts and vanishes just as quickly. The atmosphere in the bedroom would not at all be conducive to indecent affairs, what with Han Yoojin's pack around. The omega always focuses on his pups first and foremost, meaning that any advances from an alpha would be shot down instantly if not violently. Then there is the fact that even he feels the insistent pull to lay down for a nap, though less strongly than the others in the room.
Sung Hyunjae may be accustomed to getting what he wants, be it objects, outcomes, or people, but not this time. Truly, Han Yoojin makes his life more interesting.
He approaches the nest slowly, carefully, maintaining eye contact. The mood of an omega in heat can turn on a dime, after all; he wouldn't want Han Yoojin to deem him a threat and lash out. He stops at the edge of the bed. Avoiding sudden movements, he holds out the nesting pillow.
Han Yoojin lifts the Flame Lion off of his torso and crawls over. He sniffs the offering, then frowns. Does it still smell of plastic? Sung Hyunjae had taken it out of the packaging over a week ago to avoid this. He hadn't smelled anything from the object himself prior to arriving here, but the omega could have a more sensitive nose—
His field of vision goes white as Han Yoojin tosses the pillow squarely into his face. Someone huffs a laugh from the bed.
Against expectations, the omega pushes the nesting pillow against Sung Hyunjae's cheeks and down the sides of his neck. The harsh, metallic odor of ozone rushes out from his scent glands, making the younger alphas and the Flame Lion grumble. Han Yoojin, however, purrs with delight. Sung Hyunjae can't restrain a satisfied smile at the sound. "Would you like me to scent the other side as well?"
Although he is unable to see at the moment, he registers Han Yoojin's agreement through the loosening of the omega's grip on the pillow. Sung Hyunjae takes it in his hands and properly applies his scent before passing it back.
Han Yoojin chirps and buries his face in the cushion immediately. The alpha in Sung Hyunjae is flattered by the appreciation. It's good to know that his item finds his scent appealing, even if the man would normally rather confront an S-ranked monster alone than admit it.
Among all of the extravagant presents and expensive flower arrangements he has gifted Han Yoojin, this pillow has seen the best reception. He should have bought two. Or an entire nesting set…
It takes a shake of his head to dislodge the thought of providing for the omega in a more personal manner. He is neither part of Han Yoojin's pack nor courting him, "breeding partner" jokes aside.
When he comes up for air, Han Yoojin turns back toward the nest. Sung Hyunjae waits patiently as the omega debates the placement of his newest acquisition. Ultimately, it replaces the pillow Han Yoojin was resting his head on. That pillow goes to his brother, causing Bak Yerim to pout. The girl is subsequently given the cushion that Han Yoojin was leaning against, to Han Yoohyun's dismay. All while they crinkle their noses at the introduction of Sung Hyunjae's scent to the nest. Children.
Han Yoojin lets a small growl escape, and the two alphas obediently fall silent. How ridiculous entertaining, that the "pack alpha" in a group containing multiple S-rankers is an F-ranked omega.
Sung Hyunjae raises an eyebrow as Han Yoojin returns to him with outstretched arms and open hands, expectant. The omega is in no state to verbalize, but Sung Hyunjae can practically hear his voice: Is that it? Then again, with how wonderfully unpredictable he is, he might have instead made some clever quip to take everyone off guard.
Hmm. His hands are empty. What to do?
He makes eye contact with a disgruntled Han Yoohyun. "I'll be expecting this back." With a flourish, he takes off Sillekia's Wings (a precaution for any possible conflict with the hotheaded boy) and drapes the garment around Han Yoojin. The omega practically burrows into the oversized coat. To his delight, Han Yoojin rubs his neck against the collar where the fragrance of iron and thunderstorms has permeated the fabric.
"I wonder what your thoughts were when I previously lent you this," Sung Hyunjae muses with mirth. Beyond eying the equipment for its protective qualities, Han Yoojin hadn't displayed much reaction to wearing an alpha's clothing when they faced Bhabar. It was almost disappointing at the time, but the omega's current behavior more than makes up for it.
Rather than snatching up the opportunity to banter with him, as he would outside of a heat, Han Yoojin simply chuffs and extends a hand one more time.
"Yes, Yoojin-gun?" Sung Hyunjae drawls. "You've already accepted my gift and stolen my coat for your nest. One might even think—"
Impatiently, Han Yoojin wraps his hand around Sung Hyunjae's wrist and tugs. Sung Hyunjae allows himself to be pulled forward onto the edge of the bed.
"Ah."
At the side, Noah's eyes widen, and he shuffles a little farther from him. Bak Yerim looks as though she might have kicked out at Sung Hyunjae were Han Yoojin not in the way. Han Yoohyun looks as though he might do it regardless. (After safely moving his brother out of the way first, of course.) The monsters and Yoo Myeongwoo remain relatively unbothered.
Were Han Yoojin in full possession of his faculties, Sung Hyunjae would never have touched the bed. There would have been an invisible line drawn a meter away, most likely. Now, he's sitting at the boundary of the nest, where Han Yoojin starts to swipe the scent glands on his wrists against Sung Hyunjae's. The other man's pheromones coat his skin and sink into his suit, saccharine happiness dripping like honey from the comb, with the sensation of intoxication. Tension seeps out of the rest of the pack, who go slack on the bed—collateral damage.
With his proximity to Han Yoojin, he feels like a Hunter-grade sedative has been injected into his veins. Sung Hyunjae is not a man who craves safety in the least, but Han Yoojin's scent curls around him like a warm, protective embrace. It whispers for him to lay down his burdens and slumber in the haven of the nest. It coaxes a rumble from his chest, his inner alpha inadvertently responding.
How can an omega exert so much influence over him? He's never genuinely felt drawn to any before this, finding them as dull and sycophantic as any other designation. Is it mere biology? Or is it another aspect of the mystery that is Han Yoojin?
He stays there, breathless, until Han Yoojin decides he's been scented thoroughly enough and flops backwards onto the bed. The little cotton puff toddles over to pull lightly at its master's hair. Han Yoojin obliges, moving back to the center of the nest. He isn't exactly the picture of beauty as he haphazardly pulls blankets over himself and Sillekia's Wings, but something in Sung Hyunjae's chest squirms anyway.
He stands up. "Since I'm here, I might as well cook Han Yoojin-gun something to eat." An omega in heat requires nutrition. Kim Sunghan must remain on guard duty, and the nest's occupants are… indisposed. Perhaps he also wants to show off his cooking skills to his beloved item again. As a good alpha does.
Sung Hyunjae exits the room, Han Yoojin's scent blending nicely with his own as distance from the bedroom allows the latter to become more perceptible. Luckily for him, he'd showered prior to this visit. He'd like to keep that aroma as long as he can. Maybe he should recreate it as a perfume to commemorate this momentous event; another tool in his arsenal to tease Han Yoojin with once the man regains his senses.