Chapter Text
The streets of Paris were buzzing with excitement, and the delicious smell of pastries seem to linger everywhere. It is the first day of the class trip, and Mrs Lawton thought they should spend it exploring the Louvre. The group had been together most of the morning, but as soon as they got off the city bus and entered the glass pyramid, they separated into smaller groups.
Alex stuck with Tod and George.
Tod was still bickering with George about how they should split the money their father had given them equally, but George was not interested in arguing. Instead, he had already spent some of the money on a bottle of Dior cologne a couple hours earlier while they were visiting the town.
But you see.. Alex had a little problem of his own.
Alex had always loved the way Tod smelt. Soft, fresh pine with a faint sweetness of wildflowers. To Alex, the smell was a warm blanket, comforting, familiar, that engulfed him and also that soothed. Whenever Tod was nearby, Alex found himself relaxing without even realizing it. He could be wrapped in it for hours and not complain.
So maybe he was a little addicted to it.
Okay, very addicted.
And that was why sharing and sleeping in close quarters with Tod was going to make things ten times more difficult, especially for seven consecutive days.
Alex was maybe the only other person, besides Tod’s family, that knew he was a male omega which made him feel a sort of responsibility for him. So, when it was time to choose the person to share a room with, Alex immediately picked Tod.
Tod meanwhile, had already been considering ditching his brother in favor of sharing a room with Alex.
So, it worked out perfectly.
Alex snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Tod saying his name which sounded like it wasn’t the first time he tried to snap Alex out of his own head.
“Dude, are you even listening to me?”
Alex turned completely toward Tod.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry, just looking around.”
Tod had a perplexed expression on his face, like someone had just told him something completely ridiculous. He rolled his eyes at Alex’s response.
“Uh-huh. Yeah, sure, man. So, what the fuck did I say?”
Alex shifted his stance before starting to walk ahead of Tod, who was still standing in place.
Tod let out an annoyed huff.
“You’re so annoying sometimes, you know that?”
Alex smirked.
“What else is new?”
“Anyways, weren’t you saying something about how women dress better here than back home?”
Tod let out an exasperated sigh and dragged both hands down his face, making his bottom eyelids droop slightly.
“You know, man…”
Tod stepped in front of Alex, walking backward to keep pace with him. He pointed at Alex’s chest a couple of times.
“You always seem to find a way to tick me off, but I love ya.”
Tod slapped Alex on the shoulder. For a brief moment, that familiar, comforting scent of flowers surrounded Alex before Tod moved away.
Alex’s heart jumped slightly at the words.
Even though they had exchanged heartfelt words with each other in the past, he didn’t know why those three words affected him differently this time.
He had to remain focused.
On the other hand, Tod was having a little moment of his own.
Even with the boys wearing scent patches, their natural scents still found ways to slip through. Tod could have sworn he caught a faint whiff of something that reminded him of a bonfire on a summer night, complete with the comforting sweetness of marshmallows.
Alex had always smelled like a summer night to him. It had been comforting even when they had first presented five years ago.
Tod and Alex had always been close.
Literally.
You could never find Alex without finding Tod, and vice versa. They were practically inseparable, as if someone had glued them together.
But this time was different for Tod.
For once, his head felt dizzy from even the slightest trace of Alex’s scent. He thought it might be better to distance himself.
Tod’s mind was reeling with thoughts.
It was just a natural reaction to an alpha’s scent. That was all.
Nothing more.
Worry crept up Tod’s chest like a slithering snake. He took a deep breath of the cool air inside the Louvre, trying to clear his mind.
But it wasn’t easy.
Alex noticed the way Tod’s demeanor had shifted. Just moments ago, he had been completely sassy and carefree. Now, he seemed tense and unusually guarded.
Alex caught up to Tod until he was only inches away and reached out to gently pat his shoulder.
Tod’s flinch was small, but it was noticeable especially to Alex.
Alex immediately pulled his hand back.
The bustling noise of the Louvre seemed to fade around them, leaving only the two boys and the soft hum of the air conditioning overhead.
Tod didn’t turn around, but his shoulders slowly relaxed.
“Uh, I’m gonna head to the bathroom real quick. Don’t wait up for me.”
And just like that, Alex was left standing alone in the middle of the hallway, suddenly aware of the silence and the soft brush of cool air from the vents overhead.