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"Ughh, Haithammmm. Are we there yet?" Kaveh asked for the nth time, trailing pitifully behind Alhaitham. The alpha feels so crusty and dirty from all these sands sticking into his sweaty body. Alhaitham is not faring that well too, Kaveh thought while eyeing the omega walking in front of him. Alhaitham is walking slowly, too slowly in fact, he's panting too hard and loud that Kaveh is tempted to ask what's wrong. He kept it to himself, knowing that the omega is annoyed with his whining that started the moment they walked into the desert.
Why were they in the desert in the first place? It's quite simple. The legendary traveller that Alhaitham owed for some reason asked them to check out some ruins in the Desert of Hadramaveth. Alhaitham, who does not like owing others, agreed readily. He's also quite curious about the ruins in the desert and can't wait to satiate his curiosity. Kaveh overheard them talking and begged Alhaitham to let him tag along. The latter acquiesced when Kaveh told him he would leave him alone when he was reading his book in the living room for a grand total of two days.
Kaveh sighed, looking around mindlessly. A sweet scent suddenly blew past him, making him stop and breathe deeply. His breath hitched and he quickly swiveled to face Alhaitham, who was dragging his feet heavily into the sand.
"Haitham! Stop for a second." Kaveh said, grabbing the said man's arm. He turned Alhaitham gently, brows furrowing when he saw the state the younger was in. Alhaitham's face is flushed red, sweating too much, his breathing is irregular, and he's swaying a little like his body can't hold itself up any longer.
"Are you-" Kaveh cut himself off with a startled yelp when Alhaitham fell towards him. Alhaitham's head is resting on his shoulder and he can feel the younger man's alarmingly hot body. In this position, Kaveh was attacked by Alhaitham's scent head-on. It's sweet, it's too sweet.
"Fuck! Haitham, are you seriously going into a heat?! Right in the middle of the Desert of Hadramaveth?! You're so-" Kaveh took a deep breath to calm himself down. Alhaitham is about to enter a state where he couldn't fight back if there are some predators that are going to ambush him. Steeling his mind, Kaveh put his arms under Alhaitham's knees and back, carrying him to the nearest cave that he could find.
"Stupid asshole, your timing couldn't be much worse." Kaveh complained while clearing out the cave with Mehrak's help. He double-checked if the coast is clear before settling the trembling omega into the ground.
Kaveh took off his and Alhaitham's capes and placed them on the floor, ushering Alhaitham to lie down on them. He looked at the omega, who was curling into himself and whimpering in pain, steadily letting out distressed pheromones. His heart aches at the sight, pushing out his own pheromones to at least calm and ease the omega a little. Alhaitham reached out a hand to Kaveh, which the alpha took readily.
"Alpha, alpha, alpha. Touch me, please. Take me. Breed me. Mate me. Alpha, please-" Kaveh jerked away like Alhaitham had a contagious disease. He inhaled deeply, regretting it almost immediately when he ended up inhaling the omega's inviting scent.
Alhaitham cried out in pain when Kaveh put some distance between them. He deliriously tried to grab at the alpha, a litany of pleas falling from his red-bitten lips. Why is the alpha not coming closer? Why did the alpha go away? Is he not attractive enough? Is his scent not alluring enough? The omega started crying, and each tear that made its way down his cheeks is making Kaveh feel like a thousand swords stabbed him.
"No, no, no. Why are you crying, Haitham?" Kaveh, despite the rational mind that told him to get away from the omega, came closer to hold the omega's cheek, wiping his tears away. Alhaitham clutched him like he's gonna die if he let go, nuzzling into the alpha's hand.
"Alpha rejected me. Alpha does not want me. Alpha does not-" Kaveh shushes him gently, trying to get the omega to stop crying. His heart nearly broke in two.
"I'm sorry for rejecting your touches, Haitham. It's just that, you're not in your right mind. Even if I want to help you, you're not in any position to give consent. If you'll still have me after this, I promise you. You'll have me until I breathed my last."
The alpha sits down on the ground, cross-legged. He put the slowly calming down omega in the space in the middle, gathering the omega's legs together and placing it at the side of his right thigh. Alhaitham immediately latched into him, arms wound tight around his neck, and buried his face into the juncture of the alpha's neck and shoulder. Kaveh placed his left arm around Alhaitham's back, ending with his hand at the back of Alhaitham's head, ruffling the ashen locks fondly.
"This is all I can give you for now, Haitham. Rest first. I'll keep you safe."
It was the last thing Alhaitham heard before he went into a peaceful sleep. Mind and body are at ease with the knowledge that the alpha wouldn't let anything harm him when he's unconscious and vulnerable. Unbeknownst to him, he started purring in his sleep.
Kaveh listened to Alhaitham's purring, internally crying at the utmost trust and dependence the omega is displaying. But he knows they won't be safe here. There's only so much that a cave can do to conceal them. An hour later, Kaveh can hear heavy footsteps right outside the cave's entrance. A scent of an aroused alpha wafted through the air, making Alhaitham slightly twitch in his sleep. Kaveh pushed the omega's head further on his neck, eyes darkening when he heard the other alpha coming closer.
With no hesitation, Kaveh lifted his free hand and controlled his claymore to fall right in front of the stranger. It's a clear sign, warning the other alpha to stay away.
"Huh, so someone already got to taste the omega? Come on, we can share-" The claymore abruptly rose up and slashed at the alpha, who immediately backed away.
"Don't be like that. We're in the same hierarchy so you must know how I feel right now. I promise I'll only use the omega a little and I'll go away. Just a taste. I'll even make it quick." Kaveh snarled, growing angrier by the second. How dare this disgusting being talk about Alhaitham like that.
"This is the last time I'm going to warn you. Take another step and I'll make sure your corpse wouldn't have a head to complete it." Kaveh threatened, glaring menacingly at the cave's entrance. The alpha couldn't see them from where they are but Kaveh can see the other.
"Isn't it just a bitch in heat? Don't be a selfish prick and share the goods with-" With eyes shimmering in pure rage, Kaveh controlled the claymore. A slight disturbance in the air and then silence, except for the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Kaveh breathes heavily, trying to calm the anger that's boiling inside him.
Alhaitham moved from where he was, making Kaveh straighten and look at him. Teal eyes slowly opened, meeting dilated carmine eyes, heated with unquelled anger that it's almost shining in the dark cave. Alhaitham knows that the anger in Kaveh's eyes is not directed at him. He reached out a hand and placed it on the alpha's cheek, cradling it.
"Don't be angry, okay?" Alhaitham whispered to Kaveh, pushing out comforting pheromones to soothe him. Kaveh's tensed shoulders immediately loosen, and a small smile made its way to his lips.
"Okay, I won't be angry anymore." Alhaitham smiled back, pleased that his scent managed to calm the alpha. Exhaustion hit him once again and the omega was pulled into a blissful rest. Kaveh watched the omega sleep with soft eyes, caressing the omega's soft cheek and placing a light kiss on it. He's really too head over heels for this insufferable person in his arms. He doubts that he can love another in this lifetime.
Several footsteps can be heard at the entrance. A group of alphas is gathered there, definitely trying to find the omega in his arms. Kaveh narrowed his eyes, tightening his hold on Alhaitham. He once again lifted the claymore and dropped it in front of the group, right beside the fallen head of the previous alpha.
The group ignored the claymore and rushed inside, confident that with their number, they can defeat the alpha inside and take the omega for themselves. Kaveh growled in fury and madly swung the claymore at the alphas. He does not bat an eye when countless limbs were strewn at the entrance, blood painting the walls red, and the metallic smell of it permeating into the air.
The following alphas that got lured by Alhaitham's heat scent backed away when they saw the unsightly scene in front of the cave. They took one look at the bloody claymore that sits right in the middle of the mess and left. Nobody dared to pursue the delectable scent anymore as it's been made clear to them that the alpha guarding the omega will not give any mercy.
Kaveh smiled. That's right. No one should see Alhaitham in this state. No one should lay their unworthy gaze into the omega resting in his arms. If they dare steal even a glance. Kaveh snarled at the thought. They would not live long enough to see the sun rise again, he will make sure of that.
"Only I am worthy." Kaveh mumbled, eyeing the beauty that entrusted himself to the alpha. Possessiveness burns in his eyes. "Only me, Haitham."
Three days passed and Alhaitham's heat ended. Kaveh made sure to keep the omega hydrated and fed him little bits of food from time to time. It was only when he saw clarity return to those bi-colored eyes that he adores so much does Kaveh let out a sigh of relief.
"Haitham! You're finally back with me. Did you know how much trouble your unprompted heat caused me?! My legs and arms are now numb that even if the Geo Archon rained a meteor down on me right now, I would have thanked him for the massage!"
Alhaitham rolled his eyes at the alpha's antics.
"You might as well go to the Grand Bazaar and perform there as you certainly have a flair for dramatics. Who knows, maybe you can finally pay the rent with the money you'll get there." Alhaitham tried to stand up but his legs felt like jelly and he ended up slamming down into Kaveh's numbed legs.
"Ah! Fuck you, Haitham. Just because I said it's numb does not mean you can go ahead and try to break my bones!" Kaveh whined but stood up, albeit shakily. He helped Alhaitham up and went to fetch their bags. They ate and drank until they are full and ready to face the sweltering heat of the desert again.
Alhaitham stepped out of the cave first, squinting at the sun that was too bright for his eyes that have yet to adjust. He eyed the blood splattered at the walls and ground of the cave, the torn bodies messily scattered and a claymore drenched in blood that he almost couldn't recognize it. Almost. Kaveh followed him out, laughing nervously when he saw what Alhaitham is looking at. He awkwardly gestured for Mehrak to take the claymore away, flashing Alhaitham a sheepish smile.
Kaveh waited for Alhaitham to throw an insult or question him but Alhaitham just took one look at his expression and sighed, shaking his head and moving on. Kaveh, who does not know what that meant, felt offended.
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean, huh?! Use the words that you, Haravatats, are so fond of! Are you even listening to me?!" Kaveh continued yelling at Alhaitham until he tired himself out. He looked around and got confused.
"Haitham, this is the way back."
"And do you want me to praise you for making that obvious conclusion?" Alhaitham deadpanned, still walking at a leisurely pace. Kaveh runs to catch up and fumes angrily beside him.
"This is why I hate talking to you! Your awful personality always gets in the way! How could you treat your senior like that! Where is the respect-" A peck on the cheek shut him up real quick. Alhaitham leaned back, looking at him smugly. Kaveh was silent for the rest of their travel.
Once they reached their shared house, they both took turns showering, scrubbing the sand and dirt that clung to them like a second skin. Kaveh cooked a light meal for the both of them and they ate in silence, both trying to absorb what happened in the past few days. Once they are done, Kaveh washed their dishes.
"I'm gonna write to the traveller that we failed to check the ruins." Alhaitham said, making his way to his bedroom. Kaveh nodded absentmindedly, focused on his task. After drying the dishes, Kaveh went to his room and plopped down on the bed, immediately passing out from exhaustion.
A few hours later, Alhaitham entered Kaveh's bedroom. He looked at the peacefully slumbering alpha, recounting the days when he was muddle-headed from his heat. Alhaitham quietly threaded closer to Kaveh, kneeling on the floor to peek at the other's sleeping face.
"You look so stupid." Alhaitham spoke to no one. He smiled, reaching out to brush Kaveh's bangs away from his face.
"A hero would sacrifice one person to save the world, but a villain would sacrifice the whole world to save the one person who matters the most to them. Which category do you think we fall into, Kaveh?" He pressed a gentle kiss at the corner of the alpha's lips.
"Yes. Only you, Kaveh. Only you."