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Mingi was back in his hotel room after the Paris Fashion Week. Everything was going so well and he felt great.
Of course he felt great, he was all handsome and perfectly dressed, his outfit suited him so well, him and his body, and his blond hair was well stylized. When he looked at himself in the glass, he felt like the prettiest man in the world. He wished that his pack was here to admire him, to witness the alpha’s beauty. They weren’t here, except for his Seonghwa hyung. He was busy, he couldn’t bother him so he just took some pics to send in their chat later.
When he came back, he didn’t feel so great anymore. His head was pounding, morphing into a migraine and he felt so weak he stepped down on the floor immediately after entering his room.
He was dizzy… almost like… he needed to nest. Alphas don't usually nest but he got this urge in the back of his chest. He needed to nest like the omegas of his pack.
Mingi wanted to distract himself from the thoughts. He needed to. So he opened the gifts he received by sitting on the carpet, making a mess everywhere on the way to see the new shoes they gave him.
But after opening the last one, he was just lost in his own mind. Because he felt so… Shallow. Deptless. Empty.
There are not familiar scents in this room. All he could smell was the sweat of other people and his pointless smell that couldn’t even comfort him. The light felt so bright, so aggressive, it hurt his eyes. But the floor was so much more comfortable, he didn’t want to move from his miserable spot.
Because if he did, he knew that he would give in to his urge to nest. And he didn’t want to, all because of his stupid alpha ego. Or maybe because he didn’t want to realize that he had nothing to make a nest of.
He was on the other side of the world, hours from Korea, so far away from his pack. He didn’t bring any familiar scent with him, not even San’s disgusting sweaty t-shirt or Yunho’s favourite grey pants.
Because he thought he wouldn’t need it. Mingi was a big and strong alpha. He wanted to believe that he was tall and not only their baby alpha anymore. Even if his members said that they didn’t mind if he was. He didn’t want to be anymore. The blond should know how to deal with his emptiness by himself. He couldn’t be dependent on his pack forever, he didn’t need them all the time.
That’s why he didn’t call Seonghwa. Even if his hyung was close to him, even if his room was in the same hotel corridor. Mingi didn’t want to bother him. They were both tired of their long and full day, Seonghwa even more because he literaly did an incredible runaway. He looked so handsome too. He didn’t want to bring his big whiny self just because he missed his pack.
Mingi really thought he would be fine without the scent of his pack for a few days. He didn’t plan to go into a pre-rut early. That was maybe the new scent everywhere from a place he didn’t usually go. There were so many new scents he never smelled before and that’s why he was busy, and maybe that was why at the end, he couldn’t focus on anything but how itchy his skin was.
He didn’t plan to go into pre-rut. And have the urge to freaking nest.
The blond knew that his pre-rut wouldn’t actually make him go into rut. He was under too much rut suppressant pills to go into one. It was one of the consequences of being an idol, they unfortunately couldn’t go into their primal needs even if it was something urgent, they had schedules. KQ made sort of it would be the healthiest one, a premiere in their industry but it was still strict. They couldn’t give in to their urges as they wanted. And that’s why he didn’t want to make a nest.
This was a bigoted view of the world. Mingi knew, they weren’t in an era where omegas, alphas and betas needed to fit a certain standard. He could do it. He could nest without shame. But the thought of losing the little control he had during pre-rut was already annoying. So giving himself to this embarrassing urge he wasn’t supposed to have was something he really didn’t want to.
So he stayed on the floor, not thinking of anything but his burning forehead and his sweaty palms. The lights were still too bright, why couldn’t they turn off by themselves ? He could call Seongwha, he wouldn’t be mad at him for calling him but the thought of waking the oldest if he was already sleeping made him upset.
He was silent, at least he thought he was calm and quiet before a little sob came from his mouth. His lips formed a pout, biting them, but he still whined from pain. Mingi put his head on his bed, and sniffing the scentless sheet made him whimper pathetically. His heart and his head were such a mess, he was so sad and so conflicted, but especially so guilty of being so needy.
He heard a soft knock on the hotel door. Mingi froze, slowly looking at it. He saw the imprint of his own tears and made a grimace. This was so ridiculous. Who was at his door at past 1am. That couldn’t be a staff, they were probably all asleep, and they wouldn’t bother him in the dead night. It could only be one man.
It was so embarrassing, he didn't want to open his door. If he stayed silent, his hyung would probably not notice his miserable self. He would think he’s asleep. He just needed to stay quiet. But of course, he failed.
A sob escaped him again as he slapped his hands on his mouth, biting his dry bottom lip. The sweet scent of his hyung slowly entered his room, which made the younger whimper again. It was a fruity and musky scent to soothe him but the mix of amber, blackberry and cassis had this rotten end, making Seonghwa’s worries apparent. Mingi hated it, he didn’t want the beautiful, elegant and floral sweetness being tarnished.
It made Mingi’s alpha instincts go crazy, another little whine out of his mouth as he got up. He got confused about how to walk for a bit and made a frustrated sound, his brain was mushing a little bit because of his pre-rut. He needed nothing but his suppressors to actually work soon.
But for now, his pack omega was behind his door and his scent continued to grow even more worried over the young alpha. He couldn’t make his omega wait, screw his stupid pride.
Mingi opened the door in one swing, and he was blessed of being drowned by his hyung pheromones. Seonghwa stepped inside of his room while Mingi took him in his arms, putting his face in the crook of the oldest neck.
Finally, a familiar scent.
He wanted to hold Seonghwa forever. Oh, his pretty pack omega that was patting his neck and his hair like always. Whispering him gentle praises and soothing him once again with the kind flavor coming from his glands.
Mingi couldn't stop sobbing. The bright light still felt too agressive, but it felt less bothering now that he had his hyung here. His legs gave out again, bringing the two men to the floor. They were still hugging because Mingi needed it and he couldn’t let him go. Seonghwa didn’t rush him, don't ask him to explain. He waited for the blond, still talking to him with his tender voice.
“Mingi-ah, breathe slowly for me, okay ? Hm, that’s good, you’re doing good.”
“H-hyung…” Mingi whispered, feeling drained as he calmed down. “I’m sorry hyung…”
“Aish, why are you apologizing Mingi-ah ? You have nothing to apologize, you’re in pre-rut, it’s normal to feel emotional. Joongie-ah is more a mess than you during it.”
“But… I ruined your night…”
Seonghwa took Mingi’s face in his hands, squishing his cheeks a little bit, frowning at him.
“You didn’t ruin anything Mingi-ah. If anything, I'm happy to be there for you. I would have hated myself if I didn’t notice my pup going through pre-rut alone.”
The younger whined at the cute pet name, feeling the red rising on his skin. Seonghwa giggled at how cute he was, he was just his precious all-grown-up baby. All the omega wanted to do was to spoil him rotten, even his whines of protest while Seonghwa pecked millions of tiny kisses on his handsome face were adorable.
“Here here, get up my little pup. We can’t stay on the floor forever. I need to clean up your face and to go to bed to sleep.”
“Don’t wanna go to bed.”
“It's late sweetheart, we have a lot to do tomorrow. You need rest so the suppressants can actually work.” Seonghwa said it softly, pecking a kiss on Mingi's nose and putting some of the younger’s blond hair behind his ear.
“Don’t wanna. Doesn’t feel like nest.”
“Hm ? You miss the nest ? The pack nest at home ?”
Mingi shook his head, miming yes but at the same time, he was hesitant about what to say. Seonghwa saw that, how could he not, and encouraged him to tell him what he truly needed.
“Darling, tell me what’s wrong. You know I won’t judge you. I want to help you.”
“I…” he whispered slowly, ashamed. “I want to do a nest. But…” Mingi’s eyes watered again.
“Oh…”
Mingi closed his eyes, not ready to see his hyung’s face. He knew it would have nothing but unconditional love but he was still scared. He had nothing to be scared off but the pre-rut made his stupid insecurities take over his brain, which was still mushing by how tired he was.
“Minga-ah, darling, you don’t need to be ashamed. Who cares you’re a big strong alpha, you still can do whatever you want.” Seonghwa kissed him again. “You’re still our pup, no matter how tall you grow. Our baby alpha we adore, of course you can do a nest. Let hyung help you do a nest and then when we get back, we can ask Sannie and Youngie to make the pack nest all together.”
Seonghwa made the alpha stands up and took him to the bed. “Come sweetheart. Let’s make a little nest with our scent.”
Mingi nodded but he didn’t know what to do. Of course he saw the omegas of his pack do sometimes but building a nest is supposed to be something a little personal so he never really watched them do properly. Seeing how he was hesitating, some tears still falling on his face, Seonghwa smiled and guided his hands to take one of the bed’s sheets.
“Darling, come on, tell me to scent it. And then, you can place it anywhere you want.
He was becoming shy again. But he nodded again and asked with a small voice : “Hyung… Can you scent this please ?”
“Of course.”
Seonghwa scented it and Mingi immediately smelled it, letting a content noise. It was better than his own and without even noticing, he was moving awkwardly on the hotel’s bed. He took his clothes and asked his pack omega to scent them again, placing all of them in a circle. At the end, every single cloth and the room smelled like someone was making a blackberry jam with a touch of sugary floral scent. No anxiety, just adoration from the oldest, watching his baby alpha make his first nest.
Seonghwa stepped up outside of the nest, not touching, but still close, making sure his pheromones were everywhere to soothe Mingi. Despite being an omega, Seonghwa still wanted to respect the tradition and waited for his mate to ask him to enter his precious nest. The first experience was always one of the most important for them, and even between omegas, the explicit consent to enter and to build was essential, so they could trust each other. Helping the younger was not a direct invitation and acceptation to enter the intimacy he was slowly discovering. So he stepped outside, putting his foot on the cold floor and just smiling, in fondness.
Feeling his hyung slipping away from the bed, Mingi turned his head in his direction with still teary puppy eyes. He was silently asking why he got away and if he was leaving him. Seonghwa continued to guide him with a tender voice.
"My love, you're supposed to invite me to your nest. I can't enter without your authorization."
"But… you helped build it… it's also your nest…"
"Mingi-ah, you built it all by yourself, I just helped. It's your first nest, all I did was guide you."
Seonghwa took one of Mingi's hands and kissed it, still not touching the nest.
"We will build a nest together in the future darling. But the first nest is always the most precious and important. Even if this one lacks our pack scent, I want you to know that you can always refuse one of us if it feels odd to you. You shouldn't feel obligated to accept someone even if they helped you. We just want you to feel happy and loved, I want you to feel adored."
Mingi really felt like a crybaby because this made him tear up once again. His hyung loved him so much, all his pack loved him so much. He couldn't wait to see them again and to drown in their scents until he's drunk of them. His stupid pre-rut made him silly and emotional but with his lover, he felt relieved he didn't need to live this sadness alone.
He whispered : "Please, Hwa-hyung, come in my nest."
He opened his arms again and Seonghwa happily let himself be embraced in his cute alpha. Seonghwa kissed his pouty lips and they both scented each other, sticking to each other's scent glands until Mingi's eyes dried again. His breath became more even and he closed slowly his eyes after a few minutes of intensive scenting.
Mingi was slowly falling asleep and Seonghwa watched him go into slumber with loving eyes. It hurt him so bad to see him so sad, and he was glad he was there for him. He couldn't wait to come back to their den and to announce to his omegas the news. From now on, they will have the help of another new nest builder for the next heat or rut.
He looked fondly at his sleepy face, his heart at ease to see how peaceful Mingi was. The oldest rubbed his cheek on the younger's scent glands, and then let his face fall on his broad chest, listening to this breath. With the silent melody in his ears, his own breath slowed down and a few minutes later, Seonghwa felt his own body falling asleep.
But before he could, he heard a small mumble : "Hyung… I love you…"
And he replied : "I love you too, my darling."
♥ ♥ ♥