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Jean stepped onto the team bus after Cat. The Trojans won their game, of course, but they had an almost nine hour drive ahead of them. Jean hoped he would be able to sleep for the majority of it, but there was no telling if the team would be too rowdy for that or not.
Jean sat down opposite Cat and rested his head against the window while he waited for the rest of the team to file on. Jeremy was one of the last on the bus as usual, in the middle of a conversation with Xavier as he sat down next to Jean. He could still smell the excitement on his captain, but there was something else underneath it. Some other emotion that Jean wasn't able to parse in the bright, citrusy scent.
Rhemann went up and down the aisle for a headcount and once he returned to the front of the bus, they pulled out of the stadium parking lot.
They barely made it twenty minutes before Jeremy was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Jean noticed that there was a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and asked, “Jeremy, are you okay?”
He must not have expected Jean to realize something was off, because Jeremy shot him a nervous look before returning his eyes to the seat in front of him. He opened his mouth, probably to deny that anything was wrong, but Jean captured Jeremy’s chin to force his gaze to Jean's face. “I can smell it on you, so don't try to deny it.”
Jeremy swallowed whatever excuse he was going to give. His voice was only a whisper when he said, “My heat started. I was hoping we'd make it home before it did, but I think the stress of the game made it come early.”
“How can I help?” Jean asked, but Jeremy shook his head.
“I took some ibuprofen before I got on the bus. I'll just have to stick it out until we get home.”
Jean frowned, but he couldn't argue. He was an alpha, so he had no idea what heats were like. That didn't mean he liked the thought of Jeremy spending the next eight hours in pain next to him.
“If there's anything I can do, tell me.”
Jeremy gave Jean a small, but genuine smile as he thanked him, but quickly changed the subject to the game.
It had been a rough, but easy game, with the Trojans winning by four points. The discussion of their teammates' plays seemed like enough to distract Jeremy at first, but after an hour of driving, he stood up so he could whisper something in Laila's ear. She frowned at Jeremy when he pulled back, but gathered the blanket she had over her and Cat's legs to hand it over.
Jeremy wrapped the blanket around himself before he returned to his seat.
Jean thought that the temperature of the bus was more on the warm side, but he was wearing a hoodie. Maybe Jeremy was cold, since he only had on a short sleeved shirt, but his face was still flushed. Jean wanted to check so he asked, “Are you cold?”
Jeremy's flush deepened and he said, “No, I just,” he bit his lip and lowered the volume of his voice to say, “I'm starting to get the urge to nest. I'm hoping this will help since it has both Laila and Cat's scents on it.”
It must've worked, because Jeremy leaned his head back against his seat and closed his eyes. He went still after a few minutes, so Jean assumed he'd fallen asleep. No sooner had Jean finally closed his own eyes did he feel Jeremy moving next to him.
Jean opened his eyes up to see Jeremy reaching out to tap Cody on the shoulder. When they turned around, Jeremy leaned forward so he could whisper something to them. Cody nodded and moved to search for something in their bag. They handed back a bundle of fabric and Jeremy thanked them.
He watched as Jeremy toed off his shoes so he could pull his feet up onto the chair. Jeremy moved so he was sitting sideways, facing Jean, and placed whatever Cody had given him over the seat before leaning against it. He wrapped his arms around his legs and closed his eyes again.
Jean watched Jeremy closely, waiting for him to exhibit signs of distress. It didn't take long before Jeremy shifted again and his socked feet brushed against Jean's thigh. Jeremy quickly pulled them back as he whispered, “Sorry, I'm sorry.”
“It's okay,” Jean whispered back. “You can stretch out if you want.”
Jeremy's scent was full of hesitation so Jean reached out and placed a careful hand around Jeremy's ankle. He didn't say anything as Jean slowly pulled his leg onto his lap. Jean repeated the movement with Jeremy's other leg, then left his hand resting on top of his ankle once he had it settled.
Jean leaned his head back and closed his eyes, willing his heart rate to go down. His thumb was resting on the bare skin of Jeremy's ankle and it was enough to unleash a swarm of butterflies in Jean's stomach.
The bus was quiet around them but Jean didn't think he'd be able to sleep. He knew that none of the Trojans would hurt Jeremy, but he was still an omega in heat. He was vulnerable, since his back was to the rest of the bus.
Jeremy shifted closer, like he felt that vulnerability too. Jean opened one eye to see that Jeremy's head was on the edge of his seat, inches away from Jean. The position looked awkward and uncomfortable with his legs still stretched out on Jean's lap, but he had his eyes closed. There was no way Jeremy would be able to fall asleep like that.
Jean leaned down to whisper in Jeremy's ear, “You don't have to be afraid of getting closer. Make yourself comfortable.”
When Jean pulled back, Jeremy had his eyes squeezed shut. He nodded, however, and moved again, pulling his feet back just enough to be able to slide them in between Jean's legs and tuck his toes under Jean's thigh. Jeremy scooted forward on his chair until he was pressed against Jean's chest with his head resting on Jean' shoulder.
Embarrassingly, Jean made a chuffing sound that he tried to play off as a cough. Jeremy pulled back slightly, looking up at Jean through fine eyelashes to ask, “Is this okay?”
Jean wouldn't answer such a ridiculous question so he wrapped his arm around Jeremy's shoulders and pulled him back to his chest. Soon enough, Jeremy was softly snoring against him. Jean leaned his head back again and closed his eyes.
The turning of the bus jostled Jean awake. There was a weight on his lap and Jean slowly realized that he was holding in place. He blinked his eyes open to see that it was Jeremy, asleep in Jean's arms, his head resting on Jean's chest, his hair barely peaking out of the blanket he was wrapped in.
Jean couldn't help it as he tilted his face down to bury his nose in Jeremy's soft, blond locks.
Somebody cleared their throat and Jean froze. He looked up to see Cody looking back at him over their chair. They didn't say anything, just grinned at Jean and raised their phone over the back of their seat.
“Don't you dare,” Jean hissed quietly. He didn't want to wake Jeremy up, but he absolutely did not need photographic evidence of this.
“Too late,” Laila said and Jean turned to glare at her too. “We've already got about twelve different angles of this in the group chat.”
Cat laughed. “I think it's cute. It's almost like Jeremy built his nest on Jean.”
“I will sabotage your motorcycle,” Jean told her. She gasped in fake shock before devolving into a fit of laughter. Jean shook his head at his friends and turned his gaze out the window. To his surprise, he saw the USC's Exy stadium in the distance. He'd slept through almost the entire ride.
“Alright, everyone,” Lisinski said from the front of the bus. “Almost home. Time to wake up!”
Jeremy startled awake, his face becoming visible as he lifted it to take in his surroundings. He whispered, “Oh, my god,” when he realized he was on Jean's lap. “I'm so sorry,” he said, trying to move, but Jean only tightened his grip.
“It's okay,” Jean told him, pushing out some calming pheromone and Jeremy stopped moving immediately. “We're almost back to the stadium.”
Jeremy stayed on Jean’s lap but was quiet for the rest of the ride. As soon as the bus was parked, he hopped up and rushed to the front. Jean started to worry that he'd been wrong to not let Jeremy off his lap, but a gentle hand on his arm tore his attention away from his retreating captain. Jean looked over to see Laila touching him.
“Jeremy's probably just checking if coach needs him to stay,” Laila said. “I'm sure he wants to get home so he can get his nest built as soon as possible.”
Jean nodded, hoping she was right. He waited for the girls to gather their things and followed them off the bus. Jeremy was waiting for them at his car and the four of them piled in so he could take them back to the apartment.
It would be too much to hope that Jeremy would stay with them for his heat, but Jean couldn't let him go home without taking about what happened on the bus. He waited for the girls to get out after Jeremy parked in front of the Lofts, waiting to hear both doors close before he asked, “Are you upset with me?”
“What? Why would I be upset?” Jeremy replied. His scent soured with embarrassment and he buried his face in his hands. “I’m the one that climbed into your lap on the bus. I can't believe it did that, I'm so sorry.”
Jean reached over to wrap his hands around Jeremy's wrists and give them a gentle tug. Jeremy looked at Jean through his fingers.
“You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad you were comfortable enough to sleep. Here,” Jean said, pulling his hoodie over his head and holding it out to Jeremy. “Take this for your nest.”
Jeremy lowered his hands to revel bright red cheeks and lips parted on surprise. He whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Jean said, giving the sweatshirt a shake. Jeremy took it out of his hands. Jean got out of the car but leaned back in to look at Jeremy and say, “Let us know when you get home. Please.”
“I will. I promise.”
Jean closed his door and watched as Jeremy waved before driving off. The girls had already gone inside so Jean pulled his keys out of his bag. He grabbed his phone too and noticed there was a message waiting for him from Cat.
It was a picture of Jean and Jeremy in the bus, just before the two of them fell asleep. Jeremy was resting on Jean's chest and Jean had his arm around Jeremy's shoulders.
Jean checked if anyone was watching before he saved it to his phone.