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The hotel room door clicked shut, and Kylian sat down hard on the edge of the bed like his legs had finally stopped pretending to hold him up. Michael crouched in front of him, tugging his laces loose, working his shoes off one at a time while Kylian stared at the carpet.
"You don't have to talk," Michael said.
"I know," Kylian's voice cracked anyway.
Michael straightened up, framed Kylian's face in his hands, and just held him there a moment, thumbs brushing his cheekbones. The omega's scent was sharp with distress, that particular sour taste Michael had learned to recognize. It wasn't just sadness, he could feel the shame, how much Kylian blamed himself.
"It wasn't your fault," Michael murmured. "I need you to hear it, even if you won't believe it yet."
Kylian's breath hitched. He didn't argue, which was somehow worse than if he had. He stayed quiet, leaning into his alpha's palms like they were the only thing holding his head up.
Michael leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead, lingering there a moment, before finally easing away. He lowered himself onto the bed beside Kylian, the mattress dipping under his weight.
"Come here," Michael said as his hands found Kylian's waist, pulling him into his lap in one smooth motion. Kylian went without resistance, pliant, letting his knees fold in around his alpha. The moment he settled, he nuzzled his face into the side of Michael's neck, nose pressing right against his scent gland, breathing him in like he'd been waiting to. His hands curled into his alpha's shirt, holding on tight, desperately needing to be anchored to something. Michael could knew it. "Hold on as tight as you need," he murmured.
His face stayed buried against Michael's neck, nose pressed directly over his scent gland as he drew in deep, uneven breaths. Every inhale was desperate, almost greedy, wanting to fill his lungs with his alpha's scent, needing it to dull the pain.
But every breath was caught halfway, shallow and broken, his chest too tight to draw in more than the faintest trace of Michael's pheromones. His fingers clung harder to Michael's shirt, his whole body trembling with the effort of keeping himself together. Michael's arms tightened around him instinctively. He felt the frantic, uneven breaths against his throat. He knew how hard Kylian was trying find comfort, only for his own body to stand in the way.
"Baby..." he murmured softly. "You're trying to hold yourself together so hard you can't even scent me."
Kylian went still.
"You don't have to do that with me." Michael's hand slid up to cradle the back of his head, his thumb stroking gently. "You're safe, I promise."
Kylian's breath caught again.
Michael placed a kiss on his hair. "I've got you," he whispered. "Just let go."
For a long moment, nothing seemed to happen.
A broken sob escaped into Michael's neck, followed by another, and suddenly he couldn't stop. His whole body trembled as he cried, clinging to Michael like an anchor in a stormy sea.
"That's it," Michael continued. "I've got you." He could feel the tears soaking through, the wetness reaching his skin. And to Michael, that hurt more than the loss ever could.
This was different.
This was Kylian.
This was his omega.
Completely broken in his arms.
Michael knew this wasn't just about the game. It was about everything Kylian had been carrying on how own. The pressure. The blame. The guilt. The weight of the world had landed on his shoulders alone.
It was too much.
Everyone knew it.
But no one wanted to admit it.
It was easier to look away, to let Kylian shoulder the burden because he always did. He never complained, never asked anyone for support. So everyone accepted that he would carry it. They told themselves he could handle it, that this was just who he was. It was comfortable for everyone — well everyone but Kylian.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, the words barely audible against Kylian's hair. Michael tightened his arms around him until there wasn't an inch of space between them, hoping the sobs would fade out.
And eventually they did, gradually losing force, each broken breath becoming quieter until there was nothing at all. His throat ached, his muscles felt heavy and his tears stopped flowing. He reached a state of pure exhaustion, his body finally letting his breathing even out.
This time, when he inhaled, the alpha's scent wasn't just a trace anymore. The warm pheromones flooded his nervous system.
Michael tilted his head slightly to give him better access, finally feeling Kylian breathe properly against him. "There you go," he murmured, fingers stroking his spine. "Just breathe me in. That's all you have to do."
Kylian's body was still heavy with exhaustion, completely surrendered in Michael's arms. Inhaling and exhaling. Over and over and over again.
And then, so quietly Michael almost thought he'd imagined it, a faint rumble vibrated against his neck.
A purr.
"Oh, baby..." Michael's heart swelled. The little purr wasn't one of happiness. Michael knew that. It was simply Kylian's body admitting what his mind couldn't — that he was safe enough to stop fighting for a while. Michael stayed still, not even allowing himself to breathe too deeply. Just listening to the soft purrs, conscious that he was holding something precious.
He could feel Kylian's weight heavier against him as sleep slowly took over, his breathing slowing down. His body had finally given in, trusting Michael enough to rest.
He let his own eyes fall shut, listening to the quiet sounds of the room and the faint purring against his skin. Michael didn't know how long this would last. All of this could be undone by morning.
Kylian will probably wake up and turn all of this into another thing he had to apologize for. He would convince himself that he had been selfish for falling apart. He'd shut off and pretend he was fine, not wanting to be a burden. Michael knew him well enough.
But for now, Kylian was in his arms, seeking the comfort only he could give. And Michael would hold onto that for as long as he could.