Chapter Text
“No.. n-not this– this is wrong… this is all wrong!”
The pack winces as Taehyung whines, his sweet, gingerbread scent turning bitter. They watch as the omega folds, rearranges and unfolds his favorite blanket, stolen from the depths of Yoongi’s closet, their hearts breaking in helplessness as tears start to build in Taehyung’s almond shaped eyes, a teardrop accentuating his eye mole.
As the only omega in the group, the pack has already gotten used with Taehyung hoarding a couple of their clothes and blankets during his preheat, fondness simply dancing in their eyes as they watch him not-so subtly grab some of their most frequently used items from the laundry basket.
Hobi flinches as a neon green sock flies in their direction.
It was basically a routine at this point, as they learned how much it helped Taehyung cope with the stress he gets from uni while being away from his family; the scents of close family and friends— they were what kept him anchored. Nesting, afterall, was something that allowed omegas to feel safe and comfortable wherever they are.
Unlike others who nest only when feeling tired or on the brink of preheat, Taehyung was one of those that nests consistently. In his single bed dorm, there’s a spot by the edge of his bed that’s filled with soft, fleece blankets and different items from the pack. It's an omega's dream nest, according to Taehyung: cotton sweatpants by the edge, followed by numerous shirts and hoodies, cocooning him in the middle along with a few fluffy blankets and plushies won through arcade games with everyone, all heavily scented just for him.
And, as exaggerating as it sounds, in their friend group, they can't really remember how life was before Taehyung barged into their hearts with his immensely love-filled smiles and warm hugs.
They met the omega through Jimin and Yoongi during a chilly autumn day, Taehyung endearingly bundled in a soft cardigan paired with Jimin’s marshmallow hat and Yoongi’s handkerchief, the items cheekily borrowed (see: stolen) on their way to the rest of the pack. He was shy at first, often pulling Jimin’s sleeve to ask about the others, but later on opened up, cheeks blooming with giggles as he jokes with Jin and listens attentively to Namjoon and Hobi’s banter about the former's ryan plushie collection.
So, it’s no surprise really, that by the end of the night, he was wrapped in Hobi’s vintage gloves and Namjoon’s beige scarf, with Jin’s whale keychain dangling on his tote bag.
(Their wolves howled in happiness and Taehyung was one of them.)
So yeah, it’s been two years since their little pack adopted Taehyung and they’re already well-versed in what they should do and what their roles are every time his pre-heat starts; Jimin makes sure that the clothes Taehyung “steals” are scented well; Yoongi and Jin creates a meal plans and prepares them as the day comes closer; Hobi makes sure to create excuse letters for his professors incase the omega forgets it and coordinates with his classmates for his homeworks; and Namjoon, as he helps Hobi, attentively cuddles taehyung as the younger loves his scent the most as it reminds him of his hometown.
(Yes it's surely that, and not the plushies on his bed. Namjoon is sure of that, the omega said so while cuddling him last time.)
However, ever since Taehyung got a whiff of a certain scent, the pack suddenly finds themselves dealing with a pouty, fidgety and upset omega who is suddenly unsatisfied with his perfect (his words, not theirs) nest. Needless to say, it was the first time ever that they didn’t know how to pacify their bear's needs.
How exactly did they come to this?
-
The thing about Taehyung during pre-heats was that his nose gets more sensitive to smell as time passes by.
A few days before his preheat, he’d usually find himself at his dorm nuzzling on something, eyes droopy and dazed as he lets all the scents swallow him. When he feels a tiny trickle of restlessness start, with scents in his nest not enough to satisfy his wolf, his legs automatically take him to one of the pack’s apartments. It's instinct at this point.
“Hyung, open up!” Quick knocks fall heavily at Namjoon's door, a whine escaping Taehyung's throat as he waits for the door to open.
It stays closed.
Biting his lip, Taehyung tries to ring up the alpha, but huffs as he hears the busy tone. With frustration, he knocks even harder, his slender fingers starting to hurt as the door remains shut. Tears build up in Taehyung's lids as the sense of need weighs on his chest, Jimin's hoodie engulfing his hands as he brings his fist down. Namjoon's scent on the mustard shirt he got three days ago from his training bag was almost non-existent from his constant nuzzling.
(He feels so alone, alone, alone— and he hates it so much, hates feeling needy so so much.)
His wolf whines and Taehyung swallows a sob threatening to escape his throat, knuckles red from the relentless knocks. His preheats’ slowly taking over his senses and everything feels a tiny bit more woozy, “H-hyung, plea—“
“Can I help you?”
The brunette startles as an inquisitive voice cuts through his series of knocks, his hands frozen in air. Taehyung turns, curls bouncing as he did so, and widens at the bunny-like stranger in front of him. Long raven hair falls on the stranger’s face despite it being in a half bun, brushing his eyelashes as the metal shines under the light. His eyes are wide like his, both surprised at each other’s presence, but Taehyung thinks that the other’s are prettier because it has stars in it.
(Taehyung has always been a lover of constellations.)
His nose twitches at the stranger. An alpha.
Taehyung purses his lips as his focus immediately zeroes on the beanie peeking on the stranger’s gym bag. he feels a pull from it, his wolf slowly calming down, and inches a tiny bit cl—
The muscle bunny speaks, head tilting in curiousity, “Wait, are you looking for Namjoon hyung?”
Taehyung hums in response, eyes following the fabric as the stranger moves. It looks soft, made with gray colored cotton that’s pleasant in the eyes, “Yes. No answer.” from him goes unsaid.
(Cozy, he thinks, it would fit perfectly on the center of his nest.)
“Oh! Hyung mentioned something about tutoring some freshmen today? I’m not s—“
The omega’s scent immediately turns bitter, with his usual gingerbread cookie smelling burnt as Taehyung finally registers the fact that Namjoon wouldn’t be home to scent his shirt. Almond eyes fill with tears in frustration, a whimper escaping his throat (lonely, lonely, lonely) and in Taehyung’s blurry sight, sees the stranger panic at the sudden distress that he was in.
(Taehyung really just wants to snuggle in his nest.)
“Oh no,” The bunny says as he fumbles with his stuff, in a frenzy as he tries to pacify the distressed omega, “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help you?”
His hands are up in the air, ready to help the omega but at a distance, respecting Taehyung’s space. And oh. Bunny has pretty hands.
And tattoos.
The omega just chokes back a sob, his need to nuzzle into something familiar thrumming greatly in his skin, this fuzzy feeling of overwhelmed-ness taking over his previous thoughts. His wolf goes back to letting out tiny whines, the howls echoing in his head like a drum. Jin, Yoongi, Hobi, Minnie, he thinks in his head, something is missing. Miss you, hyung. Joonie.
“Hey, hey, c’mon,” Taehyung notices the bunny alpha slightly hovers carefully at his distress, noticing the flashes of blue in his eyes. his voice is low— soothing, even as his restlessness builds. He seems to have realized that the omega’s on his pre-heat.
His grip on the mustard shirt tightens.
The bunny alpha seems to notice it, voice soft as he asks, “Do you want to come in? Maybe you can rest in hyung’s room and wait for him there?”
There must be a look of distrust in his eyes because the bunny alpha immediately reassures him, “I promise I won’t do anything, you have my word on that.”
A second passes.
Taehyung whispers with tear tracks on his rosy cheeks, “Pinky promise?”
A small reassuring smile sits on pierced lips, “I promise,” the bunny says as he curls his pinky in the air as if tangling it with Taehyung’s. If Taehyung was more coherent, he would’ve seen the endeared look in the alpha’s eyes.
Biting his lip, Taehyung just nods and watches as the other moves to his side to push his key to the door, so close that the omega almost sme—
Taehyung frowns. There’s barely any scent on the alpha, almost as if there’s something blocking it.
His nose picks it up though, although almost impossible with how good the block is. It smells sweet and a bit tan—
The door swings open.
“Here we go! Come in, come in,” the alpha starts as Taehyung timidly enters the familiar dorm, starry eyes taking in everything as he’s guided to the living room, “I’m sorry for the boxes by the way, I just moved in like a week ago and my classes are already piling up so much homework. Let me go get you some drinks… wait, I haven’t introduced myself! I’m Jeon Jeongguk, and I'm from Busan…”
Taehyung trails off to the side, the mole on his nose twitching as his dazed wolf settles a bit. He recognizes Namjoon’s scent from the living room couch and almost purrs, the sound of a bag hitting the floor with a thud passing by his ears. It’s there, the smell of vanilla and green tea.
“… How about you? What's your name?”
“Kim Taehyung.” His voice carries through the room despite it being said quietly, the omega’s focus narrowing at the very inviting blanket on the couch. His nose twitches again as he nears it. There’s something more lovely that touches his nostrils, so fresh and syrupy that it loosens the tightness of his shoulders.He really should feel guilty about his curtness, but finds it hard to do so with his situation.
“Nice to meet you, Taehyung-ssi.” There's a clatter of utensils and glass that enters and leaves Taehyung's ears as he reaches the couch. He can almost picture the bunny toothed smile that Namjoon's roommate probably had, but the thought is fleeting, like everything he's hearing from the other room. His fingers reach out to the baby blue blanket, a feeling of settlement trickling down his bones as he lets himself feel it. It's fleece, his favorite kind to cuddle with when his days are sad or happy. He has an exact same one at home, courtesy of Jin, but this— somehow, this feels better.
He can hear Jeongguk continue to chatter in the kitchen, but embarrassingly finds himself blinking sleepily at the alpha’s low voice. He sits himself down and almost sobs in relief as the scent of strawberries and mangos engulfs him in a gentle hug.
Taehyung hardly notices the mustard shirt dropping on the floor.
The omega in him takes over. His hands move automatically, rearranging the pillows by it, with one for him to cuddle, fluffing it into his contention. He wraps himself in the sky-like blanket, nuzzling deeply at the scent, as his bread cheeks kiss the softness of it. It’s strong, but not in an overwhelmingly nauseous way, but rather in a comforting one. It feels like being wrapped up in the sensation of spring garden during winter, tangy, sweet and just so lovely.
(This scent— It feels incomparable to anyone.)
(It feels like coming home.)
Utterly sated and happy, the omega finally relaxes, his curls surrounding him like a halo, and drifts off to a deep sleep with one last thought as he spots something on the center table.
Oh, Hyung’s new candle smells really nice.
-
Jimin has always prided himself in knowing Taehyung best; from his favorite snack as a kid to the tiny twitch of his nose mole when he’s happy about something.
So what, thought totally not with jealousy, if Yoongi was Taehyung's first friend in uni? Jimin will always be the one to understand his soulmate’s moods and expressions like the back of his hand. His boyfriend would never know which tea bag and candle to get to calm Taehyung during Thursdays because of a class that makes him anxious or the way his gingerbread scent sweetens with a bit of cinnamon when his boxy smile appears.
(Jimin also prides himself for his very sharp nose.)
In his three years of knowing Taehyung, he has never imagined being part of the clueless alphas and betas in the pack in certain situations, especially ones that centers on his soulmate.
But, here he was.
The smell of burnt gingerbread emanates in the room as a snapback flies in their direction, hitting Yoongi's knees. The alpha simply moved a little to the side and sent out more calming pheromones, making Jimin smile softly at his boyfriend. In his peripheral vision, Jimin sees a worried Hobi nudge the closest packmate to him, which is Namjoon. The alpha, with Hobi’s constant jabs grabs an sheep plushie by his feet, the scent of fresh apples from Seokjin latching on it strongly, and lets out calming pheromones in the direction of one of his best friends, “Bear, what’s wrong?”
Cherub-like curls bounce as Taehyung turns to hiss at him, “What do you mean–”
“Wrong question, Joonie.” Jimin mutters as Yoongi sighs.
“...Nothing is right! Nothing ever seems to go right!” Taehyung seethes, his cheeks dusted pink in aggravation as his lips pout unconsciously, “This pillow doesn’t smell like it used to…and this hoodie…”
“Wait– did you wash this?” Almond eyes glare accusingly at Hobi who immediately shook his head, the beta’s hair accidentally whipping to Jin's face, who on usual days would smack the younger in retaliation, but even their eldest seems to be more worried at Taehyung’s distress.
“I didn't! I swear, we all knew your heat was coming, bear.” Hobi squeaks as Jimin edges closer to Taehyung, his chest feeling tight at the omega who now has continuous tears staining his cheeks. He never liked seeing crystal tear drops on his best friend's cheek, “Everything’s been scented properly, Jimin made sure of it.”
Jimin nods in agreement with Hobi as he lets out more of his orange and honey scent, his alpha clawing in desperation to help, “Yep, I definitely did. Would you really doubt your soulmate like that, baby? Me?”
“Hmp.” Taehyung simply huffs, his cheeks turning fluffier and brows meeting cutely as he scowls at the bundle of clothes organized around him. Jimin almost cooed at him, the tiny brattiness melting his heart. His baby bear was just too cute.
“Everything… just feels… like I-It’s not enough!”
Another item comes flying off the bed and this time Namjoon gapes as Taehyung’s favorite Ryan plushie from his personal collection lands on the floor with a thud, and it provides an image of a heartbroken Alpha staring at his pushed aside beloved.
This time Jimin actually let out a little coo.
A few hours later, Taehyung has slightly settled down in his nest (see: cried himself to sleep). Helplessly, the pack can only lend some of the stuff they wore that day and gently gave him kisses on his forehead as soon as Taehyung allowed them to come close. Jin whispered a small "sweet dreams, baby bear," as he tucked the sheep by the omega's arms, never the one to sleep without hugging anything. However, the frown never disappeared from the omega’s face as he gave in to the flutter of his eyelids.
Lips pursed in thought, Jimin immediately signaled the rest of the pack to the omega’s tiny couch where Yoongi and him sat while Namjoon, Jin and Hobi plopped on the floor, the soft carpet bringing a tiny bit of comfort to their tensed figures. It makes them glad that Taehyung found himself a single room this year with enough space for everyone.
Jin unconsciously picks at the frayed part of Hobi's jeans, his plump lips bitten down by his own teeth as the alpha glances another time at the sleeping omega, “This is the first time that this happened during his preheat with us…”
Namjoon nods in agreement and Jimin can almost see an image of puppy ears dropping, “Yeah, it was never this bad before. Our scents used to make him feel better during these days… Now it feels like it's not enough.”
“And we really made sure to scent everything! I was with Jimin when he got you guys to scent your stuff.” Hobi interjected, usual heart lips in a frown.
Yoongi purses his lips, eyes sad as he looks at Taehyung’s figure, still in distress despite being sound asleep, “I wonder what’s wrong…”
Jimin squeezes the other’s hand in comfort. He knew that despite his boyfriend’s tsundere-like front, Taehyung was one of the few people that Yoongi could never say no to. Between all the pack members, it was the two of them that spoils the omega the most, as much as Namjoon claims that he was the favorite.
(Jimin rolled his eyes when he heard that because let’s not be silly here, of course Jimin is Taehyung's favorite.)
(Okay, maybe it can be his Yoongi that’s on top of the charts, but him and Jimin are simply two peas in a pod; Yin and Yang, Mickey and Minnie— basically, they have an unspoken ‘what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine’ policy. And that also pertains to Taehyung's love.)
A bit heartbroken himself, Jimin lets his head rest on his boyfriend’s good shoulder as he too looks at their best friend. He watches their bear breathe, angelic even in his sleep, but then his eye caught something unfamiliar in Taehyung’s nest. It was barely noticeable, buried under all the clothing, especially with the omega laying down on it.
Something gray and tiny— he can see Taehyung unconsciously nuzzle his face even deeper in its direction, brows loosening and expression close to serene—
Somewhere in his brain, something clicks into place.
The pack’s small yet quiet chatter halts when Jimin speaks, a thoughtful look on his face. It's weird that his nose didn't notice the possible new scent in Taehyung's nest, but then again, it looks like it's been deep inside the omega's nest for a while now, “Did any of you guys give him a beanie?”
“Huh?” Hobi let out a confused sound as he looked up to an inquiring Jimin, “I didn't. I gave him some of my red hoodies and patterned shirts.”
Jin let his lips kiss his teeth as he shook his head, “I gave him an RJ plushie, some socks and the purple sweater he really loves .”
Yoongi's kitten-like eyes fill with curiosity at the sudden question, “I got him his two favorite blankets and some gray sweaters.”
“Uh— I got him some of my white sweatshirts and green sweatpants alongside a Ryan plushie,” Namjoon let his eyes stray at the now forgotten toy on the floor, “I even scented it a lot because I knew he liked my scent these days.”
Huh.
“Well, I gave him my black shirts that he loves so much and the brown sweater he steals every time he comes over at my apartment.'' Jimin contributes lastly, eyes narrowed at the item Taehyung is currently sighing in.
The omega is so cute, really, yet he can’t help but feel a tiny bit offended by that unknown item of clothing. Now that he has seen it, it greatly stands out to the light colored fabrics by Taehyung’s upper body.
(How can that thing be better than their scents anyway?)
Jimin points at the cotton gray beanie, “So, whose exactly is that?”
“What—“ Yoongi starts but quiets down as they hear a small whine from Taehyung. The rest of the pack turns to Taehyung in worry.
Simultaneously, the pack’s eyes widen as they stare at what Jimin was talking about. All of them watched in fascination as the beanie came out further from its burrowed place and Taehyung's lips finally turned up into a small smile as he sighs in silent contentment.
In an instant, the scent of gingerbread turns sweet, and almost immediately, Jimin recognizes the hint of cinnamon.
Someone lets out a choked sound in the midst of the sudden silence, “Wait, that’s Jeo—“
Everyone turns to Namjoon as his words get cut off by the sound of his ringing phone, slightly jumping at the sudden call. Jin hisses for him to answer the call as Taehyung’s brows start to twitch at the noise.
Namjoon seems to have a contemplative look on his eye as he answers his phone on speaker while Jimin’s eyes zeroed at the contact name.
Jeon Jeongguk.
“…Uh hyung? Hi, uhm, I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but have you seen my gray beanie? I can't find it here at home.”
And, to Jimin, everything just falls into place.
-
Head a tiny bit clearer, Taehyung wakes up with a content sigh, lashes gently kissing his upper cheeks as he smells the familiar scent of his pack and his new favorite one– Namjoon’s candle.
“C’mon, baby, let’s go to hyung’s place okay?” Taehyung vaguely remembers being woken up by Jimin, his best friend softly patting his hair as he asked if the omega wanted to move to Namjoon’s apartment and rest there.
While the omega loves to nest, preheats can truly be a bother sometimes, that he can’t help but feel like a burden to his pack with his neediness. He once whispered this to Jin and ended up being scolded, but later on coddled for thinking that way because the pack loves him wholly and they truly, heart wrenchingly adores it when the omega nests with their stuff.
Memories come to him in pieces; from hopping on Namjoon's back, with his arms gently curling around the alpha’s shoulders and feeling like being back home during summer time to Jin's soothing kiss on his curls as he lies down on a soft fleece blanket.
(“Love you, Jinnie,” he had mumbled through his sleep addled consciousness, and smiled at the way Jin says “I love you too, baby bear.”)
His eyes roam the familiar living room, taking in his surroundings in his bleary state. It’s past midnight– around 1 am in the alpha’s living room, with medical books and notepads filled with scribbles scattered on the center table, along with a remote control hanging by the edge. The room is dim, with only a yellow lamp lit in the corner of the room; the moon peeks by the window, bright and gentle like a friend accompanying him in the lonely night.
“Hi moon.” he mumbles, his gingerbread scent permeating in the room tenderly creeping into the crevices of the room as he smiles, giving the satellite a gentle wave. Stars litters the sky and it reminds him of the bunny alpha that lives in the same dorm he’s in.
(Stars and constellations have always been Taehyung's favorite companion during the night, even more so than the moon.)
He doesn't remember much but the couch looks like a nest, although a rather small one. He recognizes a few of the pack’s items, recently worn today, and internally purrs; it must've been his omega that took over. The mole on his nose wiggles as Taehyung nuzzles blissfully at the baby blue blanket underneath him, feeling a sense of de javu in his bones while he inhales the sweet scent of strawberries and ripe mangoes.
“O-oh,” A voice squeaks and the omega’s head snaps up in alertness, surprised to see the figure of the bunny alpha– Jeon Jeongguk, he remembers the name, the words tasting sweet on his tongue despite not uttering it yet. “You’re awake.”
After their initial meeting, Taehyung had only realized how small their world was with the amount of connections the alpha has around his pack. Jeon Jeongguk wasn’t just Namjoon’s bunny roommate; he was also Jimin and Hobi’s friend from their dance troupe who banters with the former and follows the latter alot; he was Yoongi’s frequent customer at the cafe who orders tons of coffee during mondays; and lastly, Jin’s newest dongsaeng that he took under his wing when he found the younger on namjoon’s kitchen drinking expired milk and convenience store ramen.
(The omega has always prided himself as a good judge of character, and as he remembers how the alpha took care of him last time, he can definitely say that Jeongguk is a very sweet alpha.)
Almond shaped eyes blinks at the man standing by the door, fidgeting as the alpha holds a bundle of fabric to his chest and a bottle of water, “I am.”
“It’s late.”
“Well, you’re awake too.” They stare each other down for a moment before the alpha looks away. He's wearing a baggy black shirt and some gray shorts that show off his toned thighs. The omega is a tiny bit endeared with the contrast of Jeongguk’s image, and his shy and awkward personality.
There’s a bit of an awkward silence before Taehyung clears his throat, wincing a bit when he feels its dryness and speaks, “Would you like to sit down?”
Jeongguk's eyes widened at his question, “In your nest?”
Taehyung pauses at first, realizing that he just invited the younger on the couch where he’s currently nesting, specifically in his nest, but somehow, doesn’t feel unsettled by the idea; in fact, his wolf only encourages him.
He nods, following his instincts as his curls bounced, “I don't mind. do you not want to?” His lips pout unconsciously, a reflex that comes out every time someone from the pack tries to deny him anything. He flutters his eyes gently, his lashes kissing his eye mole as he did.
“I want to!” Jeongguk answers immediately and pauses as he hears the eagerness in his own voice.
(And it works every damn time.)
The older doesn’t seem to notice it as he scooches to the left, features soft with the tightness on his brows gone. After shifting a bit, Taehyung looks back to Jeongguk, who already had his starry eyes on him, and sends him a small smile, eyes crinkling as he pats the space beside him.
“C’mere and watch the moon with me.” The brunette says, and Jeongguk instantly sits down. The alpha fumbles with the stuff he’s holding, setting them down on his side before offering Taehyung the bottle of water.
As he lets himself hydrate, Taehyung watches Jeongguk’s eyes flit from the coffee table to the side of the room, long raven hair tucked prettily behind his ear. Upon closer inspection, the alpha’s hair looks curly and mussed from lying down, yet his lids didn’t have an ounce of sleepiness in it. The omega notes that his eyes are as starry as the first time he met him.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, his wolf whispers, alpha is very pretty.
He purses his lips, already done with his water and feels something his stomach flutter at the chocolate chip mole, as the proximity between them is not exactly the widest thing. Jeongguk is close– really close, and Taehyung is simply an omega who has eyes. How can a person look this pretty? He absentmindedly thinks to himself as he looks away, sits up and leans back on the couch to feel more comfortable.
A choked whisper comes from his side, “What?”, brown eyes meet flushed cheeks and– oh.
(Maybe that absentminded thought was not as internal as he thought it would be.)
Trying to seem unbothered by speaking out loud as he flushes with embarrassment, Taehyung simply huffs as he looks away, cheeks filling out like baked bread and mutters defensively, “Well, it’s not like I’m lying,” he wasn’t the type to lie anyway, “You really are pretty, Jeonggukie.”
The alpha’s bunny cheeks turn bright red at his words as Taehyung himself feels his cheeks heat up even further at the nickname that somehow slipped out of his lips. It’s weird– It feels too easy to be around the alpha with his cute bunny-like smiles and pretty tattoos. Even when they first met, his wolf didn’t seem to have any qualms about being alone with a stranger– an unmated alpha at that. Well, not really a stranger since they've already met before.
“Jeonggukie.” Taehyung’s pink ears picks up as the alpha whispers to himself. He truly just wants to crawl into a hole at this point, but as he sees the beginning of a shy smile bloom on the younger’s face on his peripheral, the chocolate chip mole winking at him, Taehyung finds himself throwing all those thoughts away and just boop it.
(Or maybe kiss it too, his wolf swoons.)
Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise at his own thoughts and tried to shake it away. He hopes that the other doesn't hear how fast his heart is beating now as his almond eyes dart from his hands to the slope of Jeongguk's nose; it's pretty too, boopable for Taehyung. The bashful silence that stretches between them breaks as Jeongguk says, “Are you feeling better now?”
The older looks up from him playing with his fingers and bashfully nods, “I am, thank you for asking. I'm really sorry for barging into your apartment too.”
They both acknowledge their first meeting with his apology. Jeongguk simply shakes his head, a small smile on his lips. It’s pink, like a cotton candy he snacks on during the summer when the days feel too hot and sticky, “It’s okay, I don’t mind. You’re Namjoon-hyung’s friend too.”
His lower lip juts in slight defiance, “Still. It’s your space too.”
“Tae—“
He’s not done though, “It’s just that this heat—pre-heat and nesting thing. I swear, it didn’t used to be like this— I'm happy with my nest. I used to be so happy with it, with my pack’s scents; they’re my favorite. They’re all my favorites and my wolf has always loved it.”
There’s a trickle of syrupy mangoes that passes by his nose, “Hey, I pr—“
Taehyung's not sure where everything is coming from but he’s sure that he can blame it on his preheat, “I make sure to prepare myself on days like this, you know? It’s frustrating.” His eyesight blur as he continues, “I don’t like it when I burden my pack with stuff like this. It’s nesting — it’s supposed to be something that I can solve myself but all I’ve been doing is throwing tantrums and crying… and I-I was better than this.”
Stupid candle, this is all its fault.
He brushes the tiny tears that fell away with his sweater paws, “I promise, I am.” He whispers, suddenly feeling guilty with dumping his feelings at the alpha as burnt gingerbread permeates in the room.
(Taehyung will make sure to give a hug to Seokjin tomorrow for bottling all of this up again.)
“Pup,” Sniffling, teary puppy eyes look up to the alpha, who has gotten closer to him, “You’re always welcome here.”
Mangoes and strawberries finally touch the omega’s nose, and oh.
The gray beanie that somehow found its way in his nest and the baby blue blanket he’s currently bundled in– so lovely, comfort, safety.
Oh.
Under the moonlight and the dim lamp by the corner of the room, Taehyung feels something warm spread in his chest. It’s gentle, he can see it now as he looks at the alpha; the way Jeongguk looks at him— familiar too. He’s seen it before with Yoongi when the alpha let him take the softest blanket he has, buried beneath the confines of his shared closet with Jimin. He saw it when he shyly thanked Hobi for teaching him how he edits his instagram pictures. He’s seen it in the packs eyes– fondness oozing like dropping honey, tranquil and clear in its affection.
Jeongguk, the alpha with stars in his eyes, looks at him the same way, but different– a good kind of different; something in his chest blooms as his omega howls.
The younger leans back on the sofa and lets his fingertips ghost near Taehyung, “May I?” he asks softly, eyes inquisitive as his pinky brushing his own.
A tiny bit calmer due to the alpha’s pheromones, Taehyung lets himself relax on the pillow behind him and reaches out to the outstretched pinky in front of him. the smell of gingerbread mixes in with the other, and with its pleasantness, the moon knows.
(With their pinkies interlocked and blushing smiles, they talk about dumplings and dreams, along with pomeranians and dobermans for puppies, and a few hours later, Taehyung, in his drowsiness, asks, “Why were you awake at that hour earlier?”
The dim light fails to cover the blush that overtakes Jeongguk’s face, “I was getting water.”
“Liar,” Quiet giggles escapes strawberry tinted lips and the younger’s eyes drop to it before looking back to the older with a cute pout on his lips. Taehyung tugs their intertwined pinkies and whines, “Tell me, Jeonggukie.”
“...You’re gonna laugh.”
“I won't, I promise.”
A tiny huff escapes the alphas lips before he mumbles, “‘was gonna give you a new blanket because that one’s old.” My scent is fading, goes unsaid
Two pairs of ears burn in the chilly living room, “Oh.”
Jeongguk bites his lower lip and Taehyung’s eyes catch the glistening lip ring. A little wiggle of nose and he picks up the smell of cinnamon in his scent.
Taehyung blinks and suddenly there’s another blanket on top of him. It’s fleece, like the one he’s encased in, but in the shade of lavender. On top of it is a gray oversized hoodie, long enough to reach mid thigh, and as he brings it to his nose, he smells the poignant aroma of his favorite scent. The omega sighs in contentment, mind floaty, and the younger tugs at their pinkies causing their eyes to meet again. Tell me what you think about it, the stars spell. He clears his throat, voice coming out small, “So, it’s okay to…”
One, two pinky squeezes, and with most likely permanent pink cheeks, Jeongguk answers, “Yeah, it’s okay.” )
(Taehyung leaves the next day wearing a freshly scented hoodie, beanie and two new blankets, and spends three days in his dorm missing Jeongguk.)