Work Text:
June, 2020
Mingi is the first to make a nest in their dorm. Yunho practically begs him to after the smell of stressed omega starts seeping out from under the door of Mingi and Jongho’s room, forcing Jongho himself to come to Yunho with a plea for help.
Which is how Yunho finds himself arms crossed, at nearly midnight, arguing with an incredibly annoyed Mingi.
“Please, just build a nest. It’s healthy for you!”
“I’m on suppressants, I don’t need to nest,” Mingi mutters irritably from where he’s sitting on his bed. He’s still in his rehearsal clothes, a white oversized t-shirt and black track pants. His burnt, sandy hair messed up from hours of worrying.
And he’s barely paying attention to Yunho. His eyes are focused on the beat-up laptop resting against his knees. Mingi’s lemon scent is sharp and sour in the air and Yunho can see the production software Mingi uses pulled up. He holds back a groan of his own. One day he’s going to throw that laptop in the trash. Make it so Mingi can’t take work home with him to worry and obsess over.
“Suppressants are just for heats and ruts, you know that.” Yunho attempts to push out calming pheromones. He’s woefully unskilled in this area — idol life doesn’t exactly lend itself to learning how to express scents. His own scent, cotton, with hints of juniper, doesn’t lend itself well to calming omegas.
It barely feels like an alpha’s scent, he thinks bitterly.
Mingi is glaring at him when he looks back up and Yunho wilts. He can feel his cotton scent start to burn in the air and he tries to pull it back.
“I just…I just…”
He wants Mingi to feel better, to be able to relax. They’re all highly strung on the best of days. They’re in a small company, they don’t have much money and the money they do have has to go back into the band so they can survive another comeback.
But he’s no good at this. He can’t calm an omega – let alone one as hard headed as Mingi. Maybe he should go get Seonghwa or Hongjoong?
He almost scoffs at the idea. As though they aren’t stressed enough, trying to hold this band together through a pandemic. Hongjoong spends every waking second working and he’s pretty sure Seonghwa is attempting to clean his way into a semblance of control.
Neither of them have ever nested either, he’s pretty sure.
Yunho grew up with an omega father. Nesting was a part of his everyday life, soft pillows and quilts and content scents surrounding his family as they looked up at a makeshift tent lined with star-shaped fairy lights. But in the idol industry, having an omega in a boy group makes the group weaker. Less…desirable to their target audience of young omegas.
Presentations aren’t public, but some scents give it away. Mingi’s lucky, his scent is fairly neutral. Lemon with a secondary smell of sandalwood. Their fans are convinced he’s a beta.
He’s not though and he needs to relax and Yunho can’t help him.
Yunho stares at the ground, “I’m just gonna…go, then. I’m…sorry.”
He turns to leave, eyes on the shining wood floor. He knows his scent is giving away just how useless he feels. His alpha is whining in his chest.
“Wait.” Yunho spins back around. Mingi is looking at him with an unreadable expression. The sharp lemon of his scent has faded, balancing out with his warm, secondary sandalwood scent, “I’ll do it.”
“Really?” Yunho asks excitedly. He tries to tamp down on his joy. “I mean, that’s great. Do you want me to get anything or…?”
There’s a small, almost secretive smile on Mingi’s face and he puts his laptop to the side. He stands up, “Get me some of your blankets, I’ll steal some of Jongho’s.”
Yunho feels his alpha perk up. Mingi wants his scent? Mingi wants to nest and he wants Yunho’s scent in his nest. He rushes out, almost tripping over himself in his haste to get to the room he shares with San. He hears a quiet chuckle behind him but he doesn’t care.
San is sitting at the desk in their room, eyes focused on his computer game. He’s dressed for bed in worn, green cotton pajamas. But he looks up when Yunho comes in, smiling at the whirlwind of happy scents following him. San presented late — an alpha — to everyone’s surprise (and the company’s relief, though they’d never say it out loud). He hasn’t grown into his presentation yet, all lanky limbs and teenage energy.
Yunho tosses him a quick wave and makes a beeline for his bed, pulling off his dark blue comforter and grabbing the black quilt at the base of his bed for good measure.
“What’s happening?” San asks. He’s spun his chair around to watch Yunho dismantle his bed.
Yunho bites his lip. He doesn’t know if Mingi wants anyone else around but it should be okay to tell San, right?
“Mingi’s going to build a nest.” He tries to keep a neutral tone but he can’t help the smile that grows on his face.
San’s eyes light up, “Really?”
Yunho knows San didn’t grow up with many omegas. His own mother was a beta and his sister presented as a beta. Even all his friends back home ended up presenting as alphas. Yunho isn’t sure he’s ever been in an omega’s nest.
“Does he need anything?” San closes down his game. He’s such a helper, Yunho thinks fondly, his own alpha happy.
“Not sure yet,” Yunho shrugs, “You can come ask him if you want.”
“I can?” San asks, a hint of excitement in his voice. He wavers, though, “Are you sure it’d be okay?”
Yunho hums. He’s not sure, if he’s being honest, “If it isn’t, you’ll just come back here and we’ll see about having you join the nest another time.”
San bites his lip but he nods and jumps up. Yunho leads him back to Mingi’s room and his heart grows warm at the sight that greets them. Mingi has pulled both mattresses off the bunk and placed them on the floor against the wall. He’s created a crisscross of sheets and blankets over both. They don’t have nesting supplies or adjustable frames to pile pillows against but Mingi’s made do with the four pillows in the room. It already looks like the most comfortable thing Yunho’s seen in a while.
The omega is currently standing over the nest, arms crossed and eyebrows scrunched in concentration.
“Hey,” Yunho says with a light touch to his arm, “I brought blankets – and San.”
Mingi looks up, face softening as he smiles, “Thanks.”
He takes the blankets and drapes them over the top of his work. He kneels to rearrange a blanket against Jongho’s pillows.
“I’ve never seen a nest,” San whispers from behind Yunho, “It looks so cozy.”
Mingi sits up with a frown. Mingi was raised by a single omega mother. Nesting, to him, was commonplace, even if he never did it on his own. He briefly meets Yunho’s eyes before focusing on San again.
“Come here,” He reaches a hand towards San and guides their baby alpha into the crook of his neck, to his scent gland, with a hand at the back of his neck. San relaxes, eyes closing. Warm cinnamon fills the air.
Mingi smiles against his hair, “Go get Shiber and we can get comfy.”
San looks up in surprise, “I can come in?”
“Of course,” Mingi ruffles his hair, “Now go.”
San scampers out of the room. Yunho smiles as he watches him go.
“So, what do you think?” Mingi is still kneeling at the edge of his nest, “We don’t have a lot of stuff but—”
“It’s perfect,” Yunho interrupts, voice firm and sure, “I love it.”
And he does. It might not be the most complex nest he’s ever seen but every part of it contains a scent of some of the people he’s come to love – the ones his alpha is starting to see as pack even as he tries to tamp down his expectations. Some groups do become packs, but most eventually split off into a mated pair here or there or form small units. His alpha wants all eight of them to be one, though, despite how unlikely it is to happen. But that’s a problem for another day. Today, he gets to just enjoy seeing the first nest Mingi has built in the dorm.
“Yeah?” Mingi smiles, a teasing quirk to his lips, “Get in here.”
Mingi stands and pulls Yunho down into the nest by his waist, a breathless laugh falling from his lips as he tumbles against the sheets. Mingi throws Yunho’s blanket over the two of them and nuzzles into Yunho, his head coming to rest against his neck.
“‘Smell good.” Mingi murmurs, “Happy.”
Yunho’s laugh softens, hand coming up to squeeze at Mingi’s shoulder. He thinks back to when Mingi agreed to make the nest. He has a sneaking suspicion…
“You made the nest for me?” He breathes out the question.
Mingi nods against his neck, “Mhm…smelled stressed. I like it too, though…good for me, like you said.”
Yunho’s heart warms and tears spring embarrassingly to his eyes. He’s saved by San arriving, arms hugging tight around Shiber.
“C-Can I?” He asks, scanning them nervously. His voice is still a bit high with youth when he’s nervous like this. Mingi nods and he steps carefully onto the nest. “What do I…where do I—oof!”
Mingi pulls him in sharply, nestling him in between him and Yunho, before throwing an arm around him, “Our baby alpha.”
San whines a little but his cheeks are dusted with pink. Yunho chuckles and copies Mingi so San is secure between them.
“It’s so…warm.” San breathes. His eyes close and he snuggles further into their arms.
Yunho smiles against him. He meets Mingi’s eyes. And Mingi is smiling back at him and he can’t help the hope that starts to grow in the center of his chest.
–
August, 2020
Seonghwa turns back and forth in the mirror, eyes scanning his body critically. He has to look perfect for this comeback.
“Seonghwa-hyung, come on! We’re gonna be late!” Wooyoung’s voice pierces through the bathroom door.
Seonghwa gave his body one more look before shaking his head with a sigh. He pulls a long sleeved black shirt, fresh from the wash over his head. The fabric feels rough against his skin, the smell of detergent irritating to his nose, but he pushes those thoughts to the back of his head.
He doesn’t have time for them. For the stupid omega inside him to demand soft clothes and nice scents and sweet cakes.
It had been a surprise for the company when he’d presented, only a month after Hongjoong presented as an omega. With his taller frame and sharper bone structure, everyone had assumed he’d be an alpha. But the scent of cherry blossoms and strawberries had been unmistakable. Their managers had tried to seem unaffected but it was obvious they were disappointed.
And, unlike Hongjoong, his scent makes it impossible to even attempt to hide his presentation. He often envies Hongjoong’s primary scent of coffee. Combined with his larger-than-life presence, most people can’t pin Hongjoong down. Even their fans argue about what their leader had presented as to this day.
Mingi is similar. His tall, broad body structure in combination with his primary lemon scent makes him pretty ambiguous. And, while Hongjoong’s secondary raspberry scent is so faint the public remains fairly unaware of it, Mingi’s are pretty balanced. Sandalwood with lemon, a fairly neutral scent combination.
With Seonghwa though, it’s obvious. Even if he could seem like an alpha from afar, his scent gives him away immediately.
The most frustrating thing though is that he likes being an omega. He likes taking care of his members, he likes taking care of the dorm, he likes soft fabrics and fluffy pillows. But on the days where he’s most comfortable with his secondary gender, he can’t help but catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror and think he just doesn’t look omega enough. Too tall, too broad, his nose too large and his gaze too piercing.
He wants to grow his hair out, into something that allows him to feel more comfortable in his omega body and in their more intense concepts, but the company had frowned at his request. They let him dye his hair a light pink but said anything more was pushing too far. ATEEZ was already one of the groups…unfortunate enough to have such an obviously omegan member.
“Seonghwa-hyung?” Wooyoung whines outside the door.
Seonghwa shakes his head, spinning away from the mirror with an irritated exhale. He opens the door and immediately gets an armful of Wooyoung. The alpha nuzzles into his neck.
“You smell sad,” He murmurs.
The sweet smell of rose and patchouli surround them. Wooyoung is mistaken for an omega often but the company had made sure to include a clip of him complaining about how annoying his inner alpha was after he presented in their pre-debut series. Wooyoung took to it all naturally though. Incredibly protective of those he loved with a sixth sense for when his members needed to be comforted.
Seonghwa breathes in deeply, “I’m just stressed.”
Wooyoung pulls back a little and Seonghwa already misses the feeling of him. His eyes search Seonghwa’s face.
“Hongjoong-hyung’s not been around much, has he?”
Seonghwa frowns. “He always spends a lot of time at his studio.”
Hongjoong rarely came home nowadays, preferring naps in his studio. The smell of coffee that used to lull Seonghwa to sleep at night is now faint, almost completely gone. It will be gone soon, Seonghwa knows, his heart aching at the thought.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” Wooyoung presses, his hands are still holding onto Seonghwa’s sides, “I don’t know what I’d do if Yeosang was gone every night.”
Seonghwa breaks eye contact, turning away. He meets his own gaze in the bathroom mirror. Wolves are social creatures, it’s true. It was only in the past hundred or so years that they’d transitioned from living in packs to mainly living in pairs of mates.
The silence stretches out.
“Maybe…” Wooyoung’s voice holds a bit of apprehension, “If you wanted, we could make a nest tonight? In the living room?”
Seonghwa’s stomach swoops. Does he seem that out of sorts? He’s never nested before. His mother is an alpha, his father, a beta and he’d presented only after joining the group. He’d never needed to nest. And they’d never really had nests in the dorms…although, that’s not quite true anymore, he thinks with a frown.
Mingi had started nesting recently in his and Jongho’s room. And Seonghwa had watched with curiosity as more and more nesting supplies arrived at their door over the next few months. And he thinks Yunho and San have been sleeping in there more nights than not.
Something about his members sleeping together in a closed off room without him makes his heart ache.
“Hey, don’t overthink it, hyung,” Wooyoung interrupts, “Yeosang-ie and I can help – and we can ask Mingi and Yunho. I think both of them grew up with omega parents.”
Seongwha shakes his head, “I’m really fine, I don’t want to impose, and you all need to rest—”
“And what better way to rest than in your nest,” Wooyoung drops his head onto Seonghwa’s shoulder, “I’ve always wanted to see the nest you’d make.”
That presents a whole new host of insecurities – what if his nest is uncomfortable? What if it’s ugly? – but Seonghwa swallows them down. If Wooyoung wants it…his inner omega wants to provide it for him.
“Okay…tonight, we’ll give it a shot.” His voice is soft, tentative.
Wooyoung presses a kiss against his neck and Seonghwa shivers but he relaxes into the alpha’s hold.
The day passes almost too quickly for Seonghwa’s liking. The distraction of having to build a nest at the end of the day pulls his anxiety away from his dancing and singing. If he wasn’t so stressed, he would’ve laughed about how something so everyday for most omegas was worrying him more than his high-stress job.
When they’re finally released around 9 p.m., Wooyoung loops an arm through his, pulling him excitedly towards the car. Yeosang trails behind them with a small smile. The only beta in their group, he’s still so quiet and reserved.
“I’ve let the others know, of course,” Wooyoung says, “They’re going back ahead of us – Jongho promises he can make dinner without burning the apartment to the ground. Mingi said we should head to the store first and Yeosang-ie wanted to come with – he’s never seen a nesting store apparently! Mingi’s coming too, of course, he wants to pick up a new blanket for Yunho, he says his is too thin – oh, there he is!”
Mingi half jogs up to them with an easy smile, his lips look a little red but Seonghwa doesn’t comment.
Wooyoung has no such qualms though and smirks, “Had to say goodbye to Yunho?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Mingi waves him off, “So! To the store?”
Seonghwa stares at him and Mingi laughs, “Ah…so,” he rubs a hand against the back of his head, “Yunho and I are seeing each other? It’s a recent thing so we were keeping it a bit on the downlow but Wooyoung saw us last week so it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows.”
So many thoughts run through Seonghwa’s head. First, that this sort of thing is dangerous for the band. Second, an ugly stab of jealousy. Jealousy that this is so easy for Mingi, that he doesn’t struggle with his subgender, that Yunho’s an alpha and that will make their relationship all that more simple. And third, a deep feeling of loss. If they mate, just the two of them, one day they’ll go off and leave the group. They’ll have beautiful children and a beautiful life and Seonghwa will only be at the outskirts.
A pack, we want to be a pack, his omega says inside.
But he doesn’t say any of that. He shoves it all down and plasters a smile on his face, “Oh! Okay, I’m happy for you.”
He must’ve taken too long to respond because Mingi is looking at him with a small frown, “Yeah?”
“Yeah, sorry, I am happy for you, truly.” Seonghwa stumbles over his words, “I’m just a little stressed—”
Wooyoung steps in and Seonghwa doesn’t miss the warning look he gives Mingi, “Which is why we’re going to help Seonghwa-hyung make a beautiful nest.”
“Ah, right!” Mingi claps his hands together, “Let’s get going! The nesting store closes at 11.”
Which is how Seonghwa finds himself at the nesting store for the first time in his life. He can’t help the small gasp of surprise when he steps into a warmly lit store. It’s organized by item, then by fabric, then by color. Rows and rows of blankets, pillows, plushies, and drapery. There are even little boxes of lights. Fairy lights for a tent, small lights in all shapes and sizes that could be placed around the edge.
Wooyoung grabs a large cart, “Mingi’s got a lot of basic items but pick out anything you want. It’s on me.”
“We don’t make enough for it to be on you,” Seonghwa says, his eyes still fixated on everything in front of him.
Wooyoung rolls his eyes, “Maybe the other members wanted to pitch in too.” Seonghwa looks at him in alarm but Wooyoung just smiles, “We want to pamper you, let us.”
Mingi elbows Seonghwa lightly, “It’s good for alphas and betas to get to pamper people now and again.”
Seonghwa nods hesitantly. Mingi pushes him forward with a short laugh, “We’ll let you know if you go over budget, hyung.”
Seonghwa goes first towards the silver section, drawn to the shimmery fabrics. Maybe not great for the base of the nest but as accents – he pulls a few silk throws and places them in the cart. Wooyoung gives him an encouraging nod, leaning against the handlebars of the cart. Mingi has wandered off to find his blanket. And Seonghwa finds his eyes drifting to Yeosang. Yeosang is running his hands through the fabric, watching the way a piece of shimmering gauze catches the air as it falls.
Seonghwa makes his way over to him, “Do you like that one, Yeosang?”
Yeosang jolts a little but he shakes his head, “I think it’d be too scratchy?”
Seonghwa runs his hand over the fabric, “You’re probably right – maybe if we ever get a chance to make a nest outside though, I bet it would look really pretty in a breeze.”
Yeosang nods and Seonghwa fondly ruffles his hair, “Here, help me come test out the rest of these fabrics.”
Yeosang’s expression dissolves into panic and he waves his hands, “Oh, hyung, I’m not – I don’t—”
Seonghwa takes one of his frantic hands, pushing out a light dose of calming pheromones, “I care about your taste, if I really don’t like something, I’ll let you know.”
He pulls Yeosang further down the aisle towards some of the fluffiest white blankets, guiding him to press his palms against it. Seonghwa joins after he sees Yeosang’s uncertainty melt away into calm, running a hand over all of them, picking the softest ones for the base of the nest. With each thing he adds to the cart, he feels a sense of calm take over him, his distress melting. He keeps an eye on Yeosang, who’s now happily moved on to the decorative pillows, poking the ones he seems to like more. Seonghwa’s never known betas to be particularly enthralled by nest building but it’s not like their group consistently acts within their traditional sub-gender stereotypes.
Yeosang pulls a pillow from the shelf and runs over to Seonghwa, a little clumsily, “What about this one?”
He’s smiling as Seonghwa takes the pillow. Honestly, it’s not to his taste at all. It’s a bright, sky blue with little embroidered clouds around the edges. But Yeosang is looking at the pillow with such happiness, rocking back and forth on his heels. Seonghwa doesn’t think he’s ever seen the beta this relaxed, except when he’s asleep.
“It’s perfect.” Seonghwa smiles and puts it into the cart. Yeosang’s smile widens and he goes off towards the next shelf. Seonghwa should really reel him back in, at least keep him to the color scheme Seonghwa’s going for.
Before he can though, he catches sight of Wooyoung. Wooyoung who’s staring at the pillow Yeosang picked out. His brow is furrowed.
“Wooyoung?”
“Ah, hyung,” Wooyoung shakes himself, “Sorry, must’ve zoned out there for a moment.”
Seonghwa wants to press further but before he can he hears a shout, “Hyung! Come see!”
With a fond roll of his eyes, he goes over to where Yeosang has made his way to the plushies. He’s pointing to one shaped like a cute cat.
“Do you think San would like that one?” He asks.
Seonghwa looks at the plushy. San has been kind of growing out of his plushy phase recently. “Maybe a smaller one? San has a lot of plushies.”
Yeosang frowns, “Ah, right. Well, maybe—”
“Yeosang-ah,” Wooyoung had followed Seonghwa. He places a hand on Yeosang’s shoulder, voice gentle, “Let’s get back to helping Seonghwa with his nest.”
Yeosang looks at him for a second before his eyes widen. He backs away from the shelf hurriedly, “Oh, right, I-I’m sorry – I got carried away.”
He won’t meet Seonghwa’s eyes and Seonghwa frowns. “It’s alright, I was just going to go get something pink, I thought it might be nice.”
Wooyoung brightens,“That sounds amazing!”
Seonghwa directs them to an aisle of extra soft throws, ignoring all the darker colors to make a beeline for the soft pastel pink. He runs his hands over a few, torn. They’re so similar he isn’t sure which he wants. One is slightly more plush and the other has a feathered texture. He feels an urge to ask Yeosang but when he looks up the beta is standing behind Wooyoung, eyes on the wooden floor of the shop, hands pressed behind him. He looks over to Wooyoung who shrugs helplessly.
“Hey, how’re we doing?” Mingi rounds the corner, a large, dark blue blanket in his hands. Seonghwa runs his hands over it, it’s smooth on the outside rather than fuzzy. Perfect for Yunho and Mingi, he thinks with a smile.
“Good!” Seonghwa says, “I’m just trying to decide between these two.”
He holds up the similar blankets with a pout. Mingi smiles and runs his hand over both.
“You could get both?” He asks but Seonghwa shakes his head.
“No, they don’t go well together either.” He pouts.
Mingi chuckles, “Okay, okay,” He stands back from the blankets before pointing to the plush blanket, “I’d choose that one.”
Seonghwa breathes out, “Thanks.”
He places the blanket in the cart and checks to make sure he has everything he needs. Honestly, even confined to the cart he can see his nest start to take shape. Pretty and cloudlike with shades of white and pink, just like a sunrise. Yeosang’s pillow stands out sharply and he can see Mingi eyeing it but he doesn’t mind.
Seonghwa looks up at them with a smile, “I’m ready. Are you sure—”
Wooyoung groans, “Yes, hyung, I’m sure.”
And that’s that. They make their way through checkout where the cashier gushes over his selections and back to the car. Seonghwa is itching to get his hands on his materials but he contents himself with grabbing Yeosang instead. He cuddles close to the beta. Yeosang doesn’t really enjoy scenting — he doesn’t even have much of a scent. There’s a hint of citrus around him though that Seonghwa quite likes anyways, even if all they’re doing is cuddling.
He’d asked his father about it when he’d first realized Yeosang’s scent was weak and he’d said it could take longer for a beta’s scent to develop. He’d also said that scenting would help but Yeosang had just scrunched up his nose and shook his head when Seonghwa told him.
Yeosang shakes him lightly when they get back to the dorm and Seonghwa jumps out of the car. He races to help Wooyoung and Mingi take the materials into the dorm, Yeosang following behind him.
The dorm smells (surprisingly) good when he gets in. The couches have been moved against the wall to give him as much room as possible and someone has laid down the mattress pads Mingi bought as soon as he started making nests. A pile of nesting pillows sit to the side ready for his use, if he wants. Fondness and joy at being so well taken care of spreads through him.
Yunho is sitting on his phone and Jongho is plating up a variety of food, a collection of dishes that have a low chance to spill. San is transporting them – very carefully – from the kitchen to the living room. Some romantic drama is playing on the TV.
Yunho looks up with a smile when he sees Seonghwa, arms laden with blankets, “Look at these! They look so comfy.”
Seonghwa smiles back, inner omega purring. There’s one thing missing though, “Where’s Hongjoong?”
Yunho winces, “Ah, still at the studio – we told him and he’d said he’d come back tonight, though!”
Seonghwa nods, though he can’t help the ache of disappointment that grows inside him. San comes up to nuzzle against his neck, scenting him freely.
Wooyoung comes up to scent the other side of his neck, “Wanna get started though? Then we can show off your nest to hyung when he comes home.”
Seonghwa’s feeling a little loopy but he smiles, “Yeah.”
He’s a little uncertain when he gets over to the nest but Mingi bumps his head with his own, “Just start with the bottom and build up from there.”
Seonghwa nods and starts. It comes shockingly easily for how scary it had seemed. He layers his blankets, tucking the bottom ones under the mattress pads so they can’t be seen. He hands the pillows over to each member to be scented. Even Yeosang gives it a tentative attempt and Seonghwa couldn’t be more proud when the pillow returns with the faintest smell of…oranges? He thinks?
Finally, the nest is done and he steps inside, careful not to move any of the pillows along the edges. He lays in the middle, relishing in the warmth all around him. His inner omega is happy surrounded by the scents of pack and the stress from the day – from the past two years – almost completely gone. Hongjoong is the only scent missing and his inner omega whines.
He sits up. His other members stand right outside, watching in anticipation.
“Wh-What’s wrong?” Jongho asks. The alpha’s apple scent is tinged with concern.
“H-Hongjoong,” Seonghwa says. His absence is so loud now. Seonghwa can see the clock and it’s nearly midnight. Why isn’t he here? His inner omega cries.
Wooyoung frowns and the scent of roses withering fills the air.
“Wooyoung.” Yunho’s voice holds a warning, his hand on Wooyoung’s arm.
Wooyoung pulls his arm away, “He should be here. I told him it was important!”
“Seonghwa-hyung doesn’t need your anger right now.” Yunho tries.
Seonghwa feels his own distress grow. Hongjoong knew it was important and he’d decided not to come anyways.
“Seonghwa, can I come in?” It’s Mingi’s voice. Seonghwa nods, vision blurry as he looks at the sheets.
Mingi settles next to him, pulling him into his neck. Seonghwa takes a deep breath. Mingi’s scent is calm, grounding. They sit in silence for a few minutes as Seonghwa’s breathing evens out and his scent calms.
“There we go,” Mingi murmurs, “Now, if you want, we can go into your and Hongjoong’s room and get something with his scent?”
Something ugly rears in Seonghwa that wants to keep Hongjoong out of his nest if he wasn’t going to be here for the occasion. But deeper inside he still wants to create a pack with his members. A pack with Hongjoong and he wants his nest to reflect that. So he nods against Mingi’s shoulder.
Yunho runs off to his and Hongjoong’s room. He’s back within a minute, carrying one of Hongjoong’s favorite sweaters. He passes it to Seonghwa with a sad smile. Seonghwa ignores the pitying looks as he brings it to his nose.
It smells strongly of coffee and raspberries and more or less comforts the omega inside of Seonghwa. He breathes in the scent one more time before placing it carefully towards the top of the nest where their heads will rest.
Mingi’s arms are still around him when he looks up at the rest of the band, “Well,” Seonghwa smiles, “What are you all waiting for? Come in.”
Wooyoung and San whoop and join, tumbling onto the pillows into a little cuddle pile. Yunho plops down next to Mingi. Yeosang and Jongho are more tentative, careful not to mess with the setup. Seonghwa pulls their youngest alpha to his other side, turning his head into Jongho’s neck. Jongho relaxes into him and he can feel his lips turn up in a smile. San and Wooyoung pull Yeosang down in between them, though they avoid his scent glands.
“It’s a beautiful nest, Seonghwa,” Yunho says.
“Prettier than anything I’ve ever come up with,” Mingi jokes.
Seonghwa punches him lightly in the chest, “Don’t say that, I’m sure your nests are wonderful.”
“Just you wait,” Mingi says, snuggling closer to Seonghwa, “I’m making the next group nest.”
Seonghwa smiles, “Okay.”
When they wake up the next morning, there’s the faint but clear smell of coffee on the couch next to the nest.
–
March, 2021
Wooyoung wakes up to a smell he’s never experienced before. Burnt chocolate and rotten oranges. The scent is thick, filling his lungs with its distress. He coughs a little, eyes watering. It’s the scent of an upset omega and his alpha rumbles in his chest. He pushes himself up and tries to see through the darkness of the room he shares with Yeosang for the source of the smell.
“Yeosang?” He whispers into the room, sleep-muddled confusion giving way to unease, “Yeo…Yeosang?”
There’s no response. Throat clogging up in fear – and not helped by the way the scent of burning chocolate is coating ever surface – Wooyoung makes his way down his bunk bed.
There’s no one else in the room that he can see, just Yeosang. The beta’s dead asleep, he still has makeup on from their Kingdom performance and he hasn’t managed to change out of the clothes he’d thrown on before they were rushed out of the venue with the promise of getting a solid five hours of sleep tonight. He hasn’t even managed to get under the covers. He’s curled into a ball on top of them instead. Wooyoung’s stomach twists in sadness. Yeosang has been running on no sleep for the past week, only resting on set in between filmings. It must be his first time sleeping in his bed in a week.
Yeosang groans in his sleep, face twisting into a pained expression. The distressed omegan scent grows stronger. Wooyoung’s half asleep still but he draws closer to Yeosang’s bed. The scent is…is coming from him.
But Yeosang’s a beta. He said he presented at home when they were eighteen. He said he just had an unusually weak scent. Seonghwa had asked him about it, had tried to help strengthen it. Another wave of distress hits Wooyoung, jolting him out of his thoughts.
Questions later, focus on Yeosang now.
Wooyoung steels himself and focuses on pumping out calming pheromones. He crawls into bed next to Yeosang and cradles him against his chest.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” He murmurs, hand carding through Yeosang’s hair. It’s still sticky with hairspray.
It takes a few minutes but Yeosang reacts to his scent, the distress evens out but the clear smell of chocolate and oranges stays. Wooyoung moves a strand of hair from the other’s face.
Yeosang blinks open his eyes. He smiles when he sees Wooyoung, eyes fluttering shut again. Then he takes a breath in and his eyes go wide with horror. Burnt chocolate fills the air again and he pushes against Wooyoung, throwing himself out of his bed and sending Wooyoung tumbling to the floor with him. Yeosang’s legs give out from under him.
“It’s okay, it’s okay! Yeosang, it’s okay!” Wooyoung takes deep breaths through his nose, trying to keep the distress from completely overwhelming him.
Yeosang shakes his head jerkily, hands coming around himself, “Not okay, not okay—”
“What’s not okay?” Wooyoung’s throat tightens, he tries not to cough.
“Forgot blockers,” Yeosang stares at the floor, breathing ragged.
“What…” Wooyoung fears the answer to this question. Yeosang can’t have hidden something this big, Wooyoung would’ve noticed. He’s Yeosang’s best friend (and a little more), there’s no way he would have missed something like this, “Why’re you on blockers?”
“C-Can’t be an omega.”
Wooyoung can’t stop himself from physically recoiling, self-hatred blooming in his chest. He missed it, he missed it, he missed it.
“You’re…you’re an omega?” He has to ask again, even though he knows it’s the truth. Even though Yeosang’s scent is screaming the truth at him.
Yeosang looks up at him finally. He looks afraid, eyes wide and shining, “I can be a beta…I can – just need the blockers.”
“Yeosang,” Wooyoung says, trying to keep his voice from wavering, “Are you an omega?”
Yeosang just cries. Yeosang rarely cries and Wooyooung panics, his alpha pushing him forward in distress. He crawls over and tries to take his best friend into his arms. To protect, to protect. Yeosang flinches back in distress, pushing himself against the wall. Wooyoung can’t hold back the whine at the rejection.
Knock, knock.
“Is everything okay? It smells,” It’s Hongjoong at their door. Wooyoung feels a selfish sweep of relief. Hongjoong will know what to do. Yeosang’s not looking at him, doesn’t look towards the door. His head’s on his knees, hands grasping at his hair.
Wooyoung scrambles up, opening the door, “H-Hyung, it’s Yeosang.”
Hongjoong’s eyes widen at Wooyoung’s distress and he pushes into the room. Wooyoung sees the moment he realizes what’s happening and all of a sudden Hongjoong seems so old. His urgency fades and he kneels in front of Yeosang. He doesn’t touch him.
“Yeosang-ah,” Hongjoong murmurs. He’s releasing his scent slowly. Clearing out the distress in the room slowly. Wooyoung stays by the door, arms around his middle, tears running down his face.
No one moves. The only sound in the room is Yeosang’s harsh sobs slowly, painstakingly quieting.
After what feels like hours, Yeosang shifts, “I’m sorry.” He hasn’t raised his head from where it rests against his knees.
“Why are you sorry?” Hongjoong asks. His voice is neutral but there’s a steely look in his eyes.
“I should’ve been a beta,” Yeosang moves his head a little. His voice is thick with tears.
Hongjoong keeps his voice steady, “Do you want to be a beta?”
Yeosang shakes his head against his knees, “Teacher said it’d be better. Better for the group. Eomma and Appa thought so too.”
Hongjoong’s eyes narrow, and he opens his mouth angrily and Wooyoung knows he’s on the verge of getting someone fired but Wooyoung feels a sneaking suspicion forming.
“When did you present, Yeosang?” He interjects. Hongjoong looks over at him in surprise.
Yeosang turns his face towards him, just a little and Wooyoung feels a hint of hope. He kneels on the ground, far from Yeosang still, “When did you present?”
“Early.”
Wooyoung takes a breath, “How early?”
Yeosang is staring at him now, eyes red rimmed. There’s a look of defeat there, “When I was fifteen.”
Before he met him then, Wooyoung thinks distantly. Fifteen is very early. Hongjoong lets out a breath.
“Yeosang-ah,” He says. Yeosang’s eyes find him, he’s holding his knees to his chest but he’s not hiding anymore, “You know we’d never want you to pretend to be anything you’re not, right?”
Yeosang gives a short nod, “It’s just…easier…for everyone…”
A protective anger rises in his chest, “It’s not easier for you!” Wooyoung exclaims.
“Wooyoung—”
“No!” Wooyoung’s eyes prickle with tears, “This is why you don’t let us scent you, right? And you’ve been blocking your scent for years! What happens when you’re hurt? When you’re sad? We don’t even know when or how to comfort you. You could be having the worst day and we might not have any idea!”
A memory hits him, Yeosang at the nesting store, running his hands over the materials. A small smile on his face as he felt the fabric. How excited he was about the items he chose. The way he withdrew into himself when Wooyoung tried to get him to focus on Seonghwa.
“And god, the nesting store, I pulled you away,” Wooyoung is crying again. He always cries so easily when it comes to Yeosang, “I’m so sorry.”
Yeosang crawls over to him in alarm. His hands flutter around Wooyoung. He never takes what he needs, Wooyoung thinks sadly.
“Don’t be sorry! Really,” Yeosang says, “I was happy to do it. I can keep doing it – our managers were so relieved when I told them I was a beta – it’s really okay—”
“It is not.” Hongjoong interjects. He follows Yeosang, sitting next to Wooyoung, “You can’t keep blocking your scent every day, all day. It’s not healthy.”
Yeosang frowns, “There aren’t side effects to scent blockers…I checked.”
“Emotionally,” Hongjoong flicks his temple lightly, “Mentally. You’ve been repressing your emotions, yes, but also your instincts. Your physical body will be fine but it wears on your mental wellbeing. I think you know that.”
He dips down to meet Yeosang’s eyes, “You need to let go.”
Yeosang’s lip quivers which is all the warning Hongjoong gets before he’s got an armful of the other omega. Yeosang noses at Hongjoong’s scent gland and their leader’s arms come up around him. It’s a little awkward. Hongjoong rarely gives out hugs and Yeosang rarely asks for them but they relax into it.
Yeosang’s primary scent must be chocolate, Wooyoung realizes as it mixes with Hongjoong’s coffee. It’s fitting, he thinks with a smile.
“What smells so good?” San is rubbing sleep out of his eyes at the door, Mingi wrapped around his back.
Yeosang’s scent burns almost immediately and he tries to pull away but Hongjoong keeps a firm hand on the back of his nape, pressing him against Hongjoong’s scent gland, increasing his comforting pheromones. He gives Wooyoung a look and Wooyoung nods, jumping up and pushing San and Mingi out of the room. He closes the door.
San looks wide awake now, Mingi is staring at the door in clear shock.
“Is everyone else still asleep?” Wooyoung asks quietly.
“Um…” San stutters.
Mingi coughs, “Yunho’s still in the nest in my room but I think Seonghwa pulled Jongho into his nest last night.”
“Living room still?”
“Mhm.”
Seonghwa had been taking to maintaining a nest in the living room. Almost like a pack nest. Wooyoung loved it completely, if he was honest. He’d sleep there every night except Yeosang didn’t seem to be ready yet and he hadn’t wanted to leave him. Which makes sense, Wooyoung thinks sadly. If he’s in Seonghwa’s nest, it’s harder for him to get up and take his scent blockers on time. Harder to hide that he can’t manipulate his scent
Wooyoung wants to cry again but he needs to be strong. Be strong so he can tell them and they can help Yeosang.
“Can you go get Yunho?”
Mingi nods and goes back down the hall. Wooyoung pulls San out to the living room, clinging to him a bit. There’s a bittersweet feeling in his chest as he looks at Seonghwa and Jongho. Seonghwa’s cuddled up to Jongho, purple-gray hair spilling out onto the pillow, and the nest smells like a fruit basket, all apples and strawberries.
Wooyoung steps inside gently, San following close behind him. He kneels next to Seonghwa.
“Hey, hyung?” His voice should honestly be too quiet for Seonghwa to hear but the omega stirs. Maybe it’s his scent, wilting flowers tend to not be the most pleasant smell.
“Wooyoung-ah?” Seonghwa groans, pulling himself from Jongho. Jongho whines as he leaves him, blinking open his eyes.
Seonghwa looks around at the same time Mingi arrives with Yunho, guiding his sleepy boyfriend into the nest. His eyebrows come together in confusion, “What’s happening?”
Wooyoung takes a breath, “Yeosang’s an omega.”
Seonghwa’s eyes widen, “What? Wait, Hongjoong—”
“Is with him now,” Wooyoung says, his voice is a little watery, “Probably getting him scent drunk.”
San’s crying a little now, next to him, “Why did he…did we…are we the reason?”
Seonghwa pulls him into his other side, guiding the alpha to his neck. He patiently waits for Wooyoung to continue though, lips pressed together.
Wooyoung shakes his head, “No…some asshole at our old company and his…his parents. I don’t think it was too bad just that they felt it’d be…better, if he wasn’t an omega. And you know Yeosang, if someone says it’ll be better if he does one thing…”
“He’ll do it,” Yunho finishes sadly.
The silence stretches, Jongho looks mad but most of the group just looks sad. Mingi rests his head on Yunho’s shoulder. There’s an indiscernible look on his face.
“Hey, guys,” Hongjoong’s weary voice breaks the tension in the room. He’s carrying Yeosang in his arms, the omega breathing evenly against his shoulder, asleep.
Seonghwa whines and stands, arms reaching out for him. Hongjoong smiles gently and passes him to their oldest omega. Seonghwa shoos San and Jongho to the edges to make room for Yeosang in the center of the bed. Yeosang frowns a little in his sleep when he’s set down but he calms as Seonghwa pulls him into his arms. San draws close on his other side, pressing against the back of his neck.
“He smells like chocolate,” San murmurs, eyes already slipping closed as the heavy scents of Seonghwa’s comforting strawberry mixes with Yeosang’s chocolate, “So good, I could bite him.”
Jongho punches him softly but doesn’t disagree, attaching himself to San’s back. The rest of the members pile in around Yeosang and Seonghwa. All but one.
Hongjoong stands anxiously on the outskirts of the nest, hands clenching and unclenching around his sleep shorts. Hongjoong’s never actually been in the nest, Wooyoung realizes. Never been home by the time they all went to bed. Their captain’s eyes are on Yeosang, nervous energy clear but he’s unwilling to enter another omega’s nest without permission.
Wooyoung’s heart aches but Seonghwa thankfully notices.
“Hongjoong-ah,” His voice is soft, as it always is with Hongjoong, “Come in so we can go to sleep.”
Hongjoong lets out a breath and gingerly steps into the nest. The others move so he can slide in on Yeosang’s other side (even if San whines about it when Jongho pulls him back). Wooyoung nestles into Yunho once Hongjoong has made himself comfortable.
Finally, our whole pack in the nest, his alpha sighs.
Wait, what?
–
Hongjoong is the first to wake in the morning, as he is most mornings. It’s an unusually peaceful waking, surrounded by happy, sleepy scents and a warmth he’s not sure he’s ever felt before.
He’s only been in a few nests in his life and hasn’t touched one since he was a child, but Seonghwa is admittedly amazing at making nests. The pillow is cool against his head and he’s covered in a fluffy pink blanket with Yeosang in his arms and San pressed up against his back. He wants to stay here forever, gazing on the relaxed faces of his members.
But he can’t. He needs to tell their management they need today off – maybe they need a week off. They have to help Yeosang feel comfortable as an omega. They need to tell management and then they’ll need to think of some sort of statement for if their fans find out. When they find out. The faint scent of oranges from when Yeosang was on scent blockers was neutral enough but chocolate is such a sweet scent.
Hongjoong takes a deep breath. He’s good at controlling his scent, at keeping his stress from shining through, he took to it almost unnaturally easy. It’s a good leadership skill. It was one of the only positive things Eden had to say about him back in the day. Their relationship has come a long way since then but it still sticks with Hongjoong.
He mentally dismisses the thought. One thing at a time. Right now he needs to ask for time for the pack – no, the band – to help Yeosang.
He gently extricates his arm from under Yeosang and slips his phone out of his pocket (he sleeps with it and charges it at the studio, sue him). He shoots off a quick message to their senior manager with a note about how he can’t talk now but they can put something on the schedule for tomorrow. He waits until their manager responds. He’s concerned – very concerned – but he agrees to give them three days off with an apology that he can’t offer more and assurances he’ll meet with their PR agency to get them up to speed.
Hongjoong sighs. It’s not what he wanted but it’s better than nothing.
Okay, next thing. Breakfast. He can’t cook so he pulls up an app on his phone. He scrolls through options until he finds something Yeosang likes and orders it for delivery. As he’s completing checkout, Yeosang groans. He blinks soft brown eyes open and Hongjoong has to stop himself from cooing. The morning light is coming in from the window and hitting Yeosang’s blonde hair just perfectly.
“Hey, baby,” He murmurs, moving a piece of Yeosang’s hair behind his ear. Yeosang scrunches his face up at the endearment but he doesn’t protest. He just nuzzles back into the light pink pillow.
His movement wakes Seonghwa who gives Hongjoong a soft smile when he sees him. Hongjoong can’t help but blush a little at the closeness, the intimacy, of waking up with a pack—band member in their arms.
“‘Morning.” Seonghwa says. He gives Yeosang a quick once over and pushes himself up, stretching his arms over his head. Wooyoung groans next to him.
“Five more minutes.” He mutters into the pillow.
“You can take all the minutes you need,” Hongjoong says, “I’ve gotten us the next three days off.”
Burnt chocolate fills the air. Yeosang pushes himself up, eyebrows drawn together, “Not because of me—”
“Yes, because of you,” Hongjoong interrupts, as gently as he can, “You need time and we need time with you.”
Yeosang frowns. He opens his mouth – probably to apologize – when Wooyoung shoves his way into his space.
“Let us take care of you?” Wooyoung murmurs against his scent gland, “Please?”
“I-I…” Yeosang looks like he wants to protest. Wooyoung pouts and looks to Hongjoong for help.
Hongjoong maneuvers onto his knees. He sees the worry in Yeosang’s eyes, “Our team is strongest when we’re all being ourselves, when we mesh as a group.” He runs a hand through Yeosang’s hair, “We want to welcome your omega. These three days are for the group.”
Yeosang is still frowning though, his scent still bitter.
“What’re you thinking?” Wooyoung withdraws, taking one of Yeosang’s hands in his.
“I just…” Yeosang tries, “It’s getting in the way. If I’d never hidden it, it wouldn’t be but if I didn’t…maybe things would be worse. I shouldn’t have forgotten – I should’ve just—”
His breathing quickens and Wooyoung reaches out and pulls Yeosnag in, “No, no…None of this is on you, it’s this stupid industry.”
Seonghwa cards a hand through Yeosang’s hair, “It’s just about how we make things better from here.”
Knock. Knock.
“And that’ll be the food!” Hongjoong stands up with a jump, “I ordered your favorites.”
He shoots a quick smile towards Yeosang and races to the door to collect his order.
“No food in the nest, Hongjoong-ah!” Seonghwa shouts after him. Hongjoong dutifully takes the bags to the table and starts grabbing plates from the kitchen.
The scent of food wakes the rest of the group. They wander sleepily to the table and Hongjoong swells with pride for just how normally they’re treating Yeosang. The omega is watching them apprehensively but outside of Yunho sweeping him into his arms to go to the table, they’re all joking around as normal.
They dig into the sweet breads and savory pastries as Hongjoong hands out the coffees and talk and argue like today is any other day. He feels a touch of apprehension as the meal comes to an end. He’ll have to wreck Yeosang’s perceived bubble of normalcy even as the happy scent of chocolate tinged with orange joins the other member’s scents.
The members are starting to lapse into happy fullness and Seonghwa smiles as he leans into Mingi’s shoulder. Hongjoong takes a deep breath and steels himself.
“Back to the nest?” He says. There’s a loud round of affirmations and Jongho picks Seonghwa up (to his gleeful shout) to deposit him amidst the pillows and blankets.
Mingi drags Wooyoung away from Yeosang’s side while San hooks an arm under the omega’s legs and back to carefully place him back into the light pink nest. Yunho jerks his head in Hongjoong’s direction and he takes a deep breath.
Hongjoong claps his hands together, “So! We’ve got three days.” There’s an excited whoop, “Yeosang-ah, what do you want to do?”
The unspoken expectation hangs in the air and Yeosang curls in on himself at the attention. His eyes wander around the nest until coming to a stop when he sees the bright blue pillow. Hongjoong’s always thought the pillow was an odd addition to Seonghwa’s nest. It doesn’t match any of the other blankets and pillows. Seonghwa’s nest was a light pink, silvery, white cloud dream but this pillow was a bright blue. Embroidered where Seonghwa’s picks were simple.
Seonghwa inhales sharply as Yeosang picks it up, “Do you…do you want to build your own nest?”
Yeosang stares at the pillow. He bites his lip and nods.
“Do we get to go to the nesting store with you this time?” San asks, his eyes bright.
Yunho also looks excited, “Can we all go?”
Seonghwa gives them a look, “We can also build your nest out of what we have here if you’d rather.”
Yeosang shakes his head, “No, we can…go to the store.”
“All of us?” Jongho asks.
Yeosang smiles softly and nods. He hugs the pillow to his chest. Hongjoong’s heart warms and he hears a few coos from around him.
Which is how they find themselves at the nesting store as a whole group – very conspicuous to say the least but Hongjoong had their manager call ahead and rent out the store.
Hongjoong has never seen Mingi’s nest but Yeosang immediately heads in the opposite direction of the light, neutral colors that Seonghwa had picked. He cards his hands through blankets in shades of dusty reds and oranges, the oversized sweater he’s wearing falling down his arm.
The alphas – in a fit of needing to do something – had dressed him this morning. A clean white t-shirt from Jongho, a soft black cotton sweater overtop from Yunho, cream sweatpants that pooled around his feet from San, and chunky shoes he was clearly having some problems walking in from Wooyoung. Hongjoong had been worried they’d smother him but the happy scent of chocolate as they fluttered around Yeosang stopped him in his tracks.
Yeosang clearly doesn’t have any control over his scent, his every emotion is easy to detect but when he’s content like this, Hongjoong basks in it. And he can see the rest of his pa—band feels the same.
Hongjoong has to stop thinking of them as his pack. He is the leader of their band. He could never give them enough to be a full pack – never be enough to be their leader. He looks despondently at the fabrics around them. He doesn’t touch them. He can’t. He has to be strong for them. Help get Yeosang through this moment and help them get back to their own, separate routines. Routines that let each member follow their own dreams, uninhibited.
A hand touches his shoulder. It’s gone as soon as he registers it, even as his brain’s already begun the war between whether he should lean in or flinch away dramatically.
“Hey,” Seonghwa’s giving him an unreadable look.
Hongjoong cocks his head, “Hey.”
“You’re controlling your scent.”
Hongjoong breaks eye contact. He looks anywhere else, anywhere where he won’t be tempted to loosen his grip on his emotions. His eyes find a gossamer tent draping. It sparkles under the warm lights of the shop but he thinks it would look even more beautiful with light lining it. Maybe lights that he could control the color of? And maybe a few stars to hang from the wooden poles that would make up the structure of the tent. And underneath a bed of black sheets, embroidered heavily – maybe he could even do the embroidery himself? Adding to it as inspiration struck—
“Hongjoong?” Seonghwa sounds concerned.
Hongjoong shakes his head. What is he thinking? This is about Yeosang. Yeosang needs him. They already have two nests in the dorm and now they’ll have three. He’s never nested before, he doesn’t need to now.
“Hyung?” Yeosang’s voice breaks through the muddled thoughts overtaking him, “Come see!”
He looks eagerly at Hongjoong and Seonghwa nudges him forward with a small chuckle. Yeosang is holding up a comforter that’s a warm burnt orange.
“Feel this?” He holds it out to Hongjoong who takes it tentatively. It’s linen. Washed until its soft already and cool against his hand.
“It’s nice.” Hongjoong tries. Yeosang’s still looking at him expectantly and he coughs, “I like it?”
Yeosang tilts his head a little, “Do you?”
It’s not to Hongjoong’s taste but something about the dark orange against Yeosang’s pale complexion matches so well. He puts the blanket in the cart, “It fits you.”
He reaches out to tuck Yeosang’s hair behind his ear. Yeosang blushes, immediately running off to busy himself against some fuzzy navy throw blankets. Hongjoong can’t help the small smile on his face. Even though he can feel Seonghwa’s eyes on him, all too knowing.
Instead of looking back at the other omega – and no doubt getting back into an uncomfortable conversation – he watches his pa-group.
Wooyoung and San are holding up knitted blankets a few feet from Yeosang, clearly in a serious discussion about which is better. He can see Wooyoung getting more energetic. He’ll definitely be winning that argument.
Yunho is attached to Yeosang’s back, leaning way down to hook his chin over his shoulder as Yeosang holds up a fluffy throw. Mingi is making his way through the shelves, arms full of some basic base layers. And Jongho is standing back a little, rocking back and forth on his heels like he’s not quite sure what to do.
Wooyoung must’ve won his battle because he throws an arm around Jongho, murmuring something to the alpha that makes him squirm out of his arms.
Hongjoong allows himself to feel joy – pride at how well they all get along. At how well they’re supporting each other. Even if it only lasts as long as their contract, he’ll always feel proud of them.
Mingi dumps the items he’s collected into the cart with a huff. Yeosang is not far behind him. The omega places the fluffy throw he was looking at along with Wooyoung’s pick (already scented by both him and San) gently in the cart. He looks at the collection with unmasked joy. Outside of when they win an award, Hongjoong doesn’t think he’s ever seen Yeosang look this happy.
“Ready?” Seonghwa asks.
Yeosang nods happily and Wooyoung pulls him into his side, equally as excited.
“My best friend’s going to build a nest!” Wooyoung exclaims. Yeosang wiggles in his embrace, his ears bright red, but doesn’t fight too hard to escape.
They check out quickly and then they’re hauling everything back to the dorm.
“Where…where do you want to build it?” Seonghwa asks once they’ve arranged all the blankets and pillows in near piles by the hallway.
“Can I…” Yeosang bites his lip, “Can it be an extension of yours?”
Seonghwa stares at him open mouthed. He pulls Yeosang into his arms, a giant smile on his face, “Of course it can. I’d be honored.”
Hongjoong does his best to hold back his surprise. The rest of his members must be feeling the same, each staring at Yeosang. Traditionally, only omegas in a pack or family unit build nests together. For Yeosang to ask to build his nest as an extension of Seonghwa’s means something.
Hongjoong finds himself standing still in shock even as the other members snap out of their surprise and gush about about how pretty the two nests will look. Is a pack maybe something the others…want? No one looks so much as mildly uncomfortable. They’re laying down the extra mats, they’re scenting the items Yeosang hands them, eagerly waiting at his beck and call.
The nest Yeosang creates is vastly different from Seonghwa’s. Burnt orange sheets and comforters accented by dark blue throws. It’s grounded where Seonghwa’s is airy, colorful where Seonghwa’s is neutral, but both feel like the omega that created it. They match in a way.
“Will you scent this?” Yeosang runs up to him with expectant eyes. He holds a thin light orange blanket up.
Hongjoong smiles, “Of course.”
He’s brings his wrists to the blanket, scenting it thoroughly until it smells strongly of coffee and raspberry. It’s an honor to scent an item for an omega’s nest. And it’s the first time he’s been asked, he thinks giddily, his omega excitedly making sure to get every inch of the blanket.
“That’s enough, hyung,” Yeosang giggles. Hongjoong blushes. Maybe he went a bit overboard, his scent is strong in the air and Wooyoung is giving him an unreadable look.
His ears are burning when he hands over the blanket. But Yeosang just smiles brightly at him and returns to his nest. He tucks the blanket Hongjoong scented right into the center and Hongjoong tries to tamp down his pride.
Yeosang steps back to admire his nest and the other members hold their breath. It’s slightly smaller than Seonghwa’s but it looks equally as comfortable. He nods and steps inside, laying down in the middle.
He reaches his hands out to them in a grabbing motion, “In.”
The members whoop and jump in the nest, cuddling close to Yeosang. Hongjoong is a little more tentative – it still feels like such a precious moment – but Wooyoung pulls him down and presses his nose into Hongjoong’s scent gland.
“You smell so happy,” He murmurs.
Hongjoong breathes out. Then in.
Seonghwa’s fresh strawberries and cherry blossoms intertwining with Yeosang’s chocolate and orange.
Yunho’s clean cotton and juniper wrapped up in Jongho’s sweet apple with a dash of peppercorn.
Mingi’s sandalwood with a bit of lemon mixing with San’s leather and cinnamon.
The group…pack? Hongjoong’s treacherous brain corrects...is breathing calmly, scents balanced and content. The nest is warm, the only lights left on are the warm ambient lighting Seonghwa had set up when his nest became a bit more permanent. Small mushroom shaped lamps placed around the edges.
He turns further into Wooyoung, breathing in his sweet rose scent, letting his eyes flutter close.
By the end of the week, Mingi has moved his nest – all dusty blues and stormy grays – into the living room.
–
August, 2022
Seonghwa’s sweater is in his studio and Hongjoong has no idea how long it’s been there, tucked in the crack of the couch where he takes naps (or spends the night). A soft white cable knit that he feels the intense desire to bring to his nose.
He doesn’t though. He has more control over himself than that. Even if there’s no one around to see him.
He brings the sweater back to the dorm the next day and sneaks it into the wash.
A week later he finds one of Yunho’s t-shirts and a cardigan of Yeosang’s wedged in his couch. He doesn’t let himself think about how they got there. He brusquely puts them in his bag and sneaks them (cleaned of all scent) back to their owners.
Only to find San’s sweatpants and Jongho’s hoodie the next week. As he stares at the soft gray fabric he feels a sinking feeling in his stomach. But he pushes it down. He brings the clothing back. He tries to move on.
When he finds Wooyoung’s pajama top squeezed between the cushions only a few days later, he gives up. Maybe he’ll just let his omega keep it.
Want to be around our pack. It murmurs to him.
Well, he thinks, that doesn’t mean he or his omega should be stealing from them. Particularly since they are not a pack.
When he goes back to the dorm – Wooyoung’s shirt conveniently forgotten at the studio – it’s painfully late, nearly 4 a.m. Sometimes he wonders why he comes back instead of just sleeping at the studio. He’d get more sleep that way.
But then he walks through the door into the dimly lit room – they always leave the lights on for him – and sees them sleeping happily, cuddled against each other. And he knows he could never stay away. Sometimes they split into groups, each picking a section of the nest to sleep in but tonight they’re all sleeping together in Seonghwa’s center nest. San has pulled a blanket from Yeosang’s nest in with him, Yunho a pillow from Mingi’s, but they’re all pressed together.
Hongjoong’s heart swells with pride looking at them.
Be with them, be with them, his omega urges.
But he wasn’t here when they decided how to sleep. He wasn’t invited into the pile. He has a standing invite into any of their nests but he’s still cautious, afraid of waking them up or breaking the perfect way they all meld together.
His omega whines when he makes his way to Mingi’s nest, a good distance from the others, and slips under the blankets. Hongjoong’s proud yes, but his heart also aches as he waits for the blankets to warm around him. He thinks he wants to be a part of what they have. But he’s spent so many years focused solely on his dream – their dream. So many nights away. he doesn’t know where he fits…if he even fits at all.
–
October, 2022
Wooyoung wakes up to Seonghwa shaking him long before he wants to. He almost never hears Seonghwa’s alarm – it’s too quiet and Wooyoung needs a blaring alarm but Seonghwa banned them from the nest. The trade off is that the omega always wakes him up.
(It’s honestly a much nicer way to wake up.)
Seonghwa throws the curtains open. Yeosang groans in his arms, trying to snuggle further into his chest to avoid the morning light. Jongho chuckles from where he’s standing, he must have already been woken up. He pulls the omega up, forcing him to face the sunshine. Wooyoung almost wants to laugh at the absolutely disgruntled look on Yeosang’s face but Jongho pulls him in to scent him thoroughly and the irritation fades until the smell of chocolate covered apples is prominent in the air.
The smell slowly rouses the rest of the pack, quiet murmurs as Mingi stretches and San pulls Seonghwa back down for morning cuddles. Jongho and Yeosang’s scent gives Wooyoung some inspiration for breakfast though. He pushes himself up and out of the nest.
“Apple pancakes anyone?”
“Oh yes!” Seonghwa says. San is still clinging to him – San claims he’s grown out of his cuddling phase but that never seems to quite be true.
Wooyoung busies himself in the kitchen. They keep pancake mix on hand just to make things a bit quicker and he pops some bacon in the oven. As he pours the batter onto the griddle, he adds chocolate chip to each pancake. While he waits for them to be ready to flip he slices up some apples to put over top.
He plates the food nicely, smiling proudly, and moves it out to their communal table, “It’s ready!”
All of a sudden everyone is very awake and they scramble out of the nest to gather round with a few scattered words of thanks and appreciation. Wooyoung grabs a pancake and chews on it contentedly. His alpha’s a bit disquieted though. It often is nowadays.
Because Hongjoong is missing. One of his omegas is missing. Hongjoong has been home less and less, the warm coffee scent only barely there when they wake in the morning.
It must show in his own scent because Seonghwa leans closer to him, “Hey, you okay?”
Wooyoung frowns. He should let it go, he really should. But he can’t anymore. He knows most of them want to be a pack, a real pack, has had conversations about it with them individually. But Hongjoong has never shown any interest. He helps them with anything they need, just like a pack Luna would. But his scent is unreadable and he’s never home.
“I want to be a pack, hyung,” It’s time he says it aloud. It’s time any of them say it. There’s a sharp inhale around the table.
“I do too,” Yunho speaks up, “I’ve wanted to be one for a long time.”
“Me too,” Mingi is resting his head on Yunho’s shoulder.
The table is a chorus of affirmations and Wooyoung’s heart swells. They’ve been nesting together for years and they’re well past friendship. Only Seonghwa stays silent.
“What…” Seonghwa sounds nervous, “What about Hongjoong?”
“That’s what I was thinking about,” Wooyoung looks down at his hands, “I want him to be here, to be our Luna. But he’s so…he’s so…”
“Closed off.” San finishes.
Mingi hums, “Maybe he doesn’t feel comfortable expressing himself. He’s always been supportive of us and I can tell he likes how…pack-like our dynamic has become.” Mingi coughs, “But he’s still weird about even coming into the nest.”
“He keeps sleeping away from us,” Jongho complains, “His scent is always so far away when we wake up.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know what to do when we’re all asleep,” Yunho says thoughtfully, chin resting on his hand.
“We could try staying up? In shifts,” Seonghwa offers, “I don’t want all of us on his horrible sleep schedule.”
“I’ll take the first one!” Yeosang volunteers happily, “I miss him.”
Wooyoung smiles, “I’ll stay up with him, too. That way if this one falls asleep I can wake him up.”
“And we’ll try to make it more obvious that we love him too,” San adds.
“Oh, so obvious.” Yunho says with a wink.
Jongho chuckles, “You’re gonna smother him.”
“Maybe he needs some smothering.” Yunho says.
“So long as it’s not me.”
Wooyoung lunges at their youngest member, pulling him in despite his shouts for reprieve. When Jongho’s hair is sufficiently messed up and his scent is all over him, Wooyoung lets him go.
The rest of the day passes mainly uneventfully. Well uneventfully minus the looks of pure confusion on Hongjoong’s face when he spends almost his whole day with at least one member attached to him. Wooyoung notes the blush high on his cheeks happily when Yunho cuddles up with him during his working lunch.
Waiting up for him, on the other hand, is exhausting. Yeosang’s long grown tired of playing games on his phone and is doing his best to stay awake. Wooyoung’s not faring much better himself. At this point, they’re really just taking turns waking each other back up.
It’s around six a.m. when Yeosang, voice watery, finally says, “He’s not coming, is he.”
Even as Wooyoung pulls him close he feels rejection rear it’s ugly head in his chest.
Hongjoong didn’t know you were staying up for him.
“He’s probably just sleeping at his studio, you know him.” It doesn’t sound very convincing.
The next day, the two of them are almost dead on their feet, taking naps wherever their schedule allows it. Yeosang tentatively rolls a chair up to Hongjoong while he’s working but Hongjoong only runs a hand over his shoulders before focusing back on his computer. Wooyoung doesn’t know how Hongjoong misses the way Yeosang’s scent sours when his hand is gone.
Hongjoong does check in with them briefly in concern after he finally registers the bags under their eyes but he’s whisked off to talk to the director for their photoshoot before they can really talk to him.
They turn in for an early night while Seonghwa and San decide to stay up to wait for him.
Hongjoong doesn’t show.
It goes on for two weeks. It doesn’t matter how much they try to convey their love. It doesn’t matter how much time they spend with him or how much they scent him or even the small gifts they’d tried purchasing to convey their feelings. Even when Jongho spends half a day curled up against his side he doesn’t come home.
The…pack? Wooyoung thinks they might be a pack at this point, are sitting in the nest around one a.m. after their one day off for the week and Hongjoong hasn’t been home all day.
“Maybe he has someone else?” Seonghwa’s voice is small.
Wooyoung’s stomach turns at the thought. He doesn’t want—
“He never smells of any other scents though,” Jongho says with a frown.
“We should just go talk to him,” Mingi stands, “Figure out what he’s thinking and drag him home.” Yunho gives him a look and Mingi rolls his eyes, “Or let him go.”
Which is how they find themselves outside of Hongjoong’s studio. Wooyoung is practically vibrating with nervous energy as Seonghwa types in the code. The door gives a quiet ding! to let them in and Seonghwa pushes open the door.
He stops abruptly, hand frozen on the door handle, “Oh.”
“What? What is it?” Wooyoung pushes past Seonghwa. He only makes it a few inches into the room before his stomach rolls. He brings a hand to his mouth.
Because Hongjoong has pulled the cushions off his couch and surrounded them with a host of items from their pack. Wooyoung sees the pj shirt he lost months ago. Sweaters from Seonghwa and Yeosang, sweatshirts from Jongho and Mingi, t-shirts from Yunho. Their scents are all over the studio and Hongjoong is sleeping cuddled among them. There’s no blanket, no real pillows. He’s using an old sweater of Wooyoung’s as a pillow instead.
It’s a stress nest. The type of nest only an omega who is desperate to have the scent of their loved ones close and feels rejected or unsafe makes. Wooyoung feels silent tears roll down his cheeks. He wants to turn away in shame – how could this have happened? Hongjoong has…no idea that they love him?
He hears Yeosang whimper behind him and Seonghwa’s eyes look watery when he looks to him for help.
Mingi pushes through, face white as a sheet as his eyes land on Hongjoong. The jolt spurs Yeosang forward. He clumsily drops to his knees next to Hongjoong’s nest. His hands hover over him, skating over the rolled clothes surrounding Hongjoong. Mingi stumbles after him.
Yeosang still hasn’t really gotten the hang of controlling his scent – particularly when he’s distressed – and burning chocolate fills the air. Hongjoong wrinkles his nose and turns in his sleep. His eyes blink open. He smiles a little seeing him.
“Yeosang-ie…?”
Yeosang nods. He reaches out tentatively to rest his hand on Hongjoong’s arm. Hongjoong leans into it briefly, closing his eyes again. San makes a pained sound behind him though and Hongjoong opens his eyes again and Wooyoung can see the second panic sets in as he realizes that they’re all there. That they can all see the nest he’s made. With a sharp inhale, he rips his arm from Yeosang and pushes himself back against the sofa.
“I’m…I’m…” Hongjoong trails off. His eyes dart between them. He drops his head into his hands, “I’m so, so sorry.”
Yeosang looks back at Wooyoung in alarm but Wooyoung doesn’t know what to do. He feels distant, like he’s underwater, surrounded by wilting roses and burning patchouli. He feels Seonghwa pull him into the crook of his neck. Seonghwa’s scent is almost nonexistent, he’s holding it back but this close to his scent glands, but Wooyoung can still smell his strawberries. The smell is too tart but he breathes in anyways, accepting the comfort.
He feels Yunho push past him and he peeks out from Seonghwa’s neck. Yunho is approaching the nest, his scent is calm. Clean, fresh cotton and the faint hint of juniper clearing out their pack’s more distressed scents. He kneels next to Yeosang and Mingi, right on the outskirts of the nest.
“Hyung,” Yunho says, “Can I come into your nest?”
“Not a nest.” Hongjoong mutters. He doesn’t move his head to look up at Yunho.
Yunho hums, non judgemental without a hint of what he’s really feeling and Wooyoung doesn’t know how he does that. Pushes his feelings to the side so easily to help another.
“Can I come sit by you, then?”
Hongjoong gives one single nod and Yunho smiles. A small, sad smile. He steps over the clothes, careful not to mess with a single carefully placed garment. He sits next to Hongjoong, arm pressed into arm, leg pressed into leg. He doesn’t try to make conversation, not immediately.
“You know,” Yunho starts slowly, “We’ve been waiting up for you for two weeks now.”
“W-What?” Hongjoong’s words are muffled but Wooyoung can see that he’s tilted his head a little towards Yunho.
“It’s why we’ve been so tired,” Yunho says casually, facing straight ahead. Hongjoong looks up at him in surprise and Wooyoung’s heart breaks at the tear tracks on his face, “We thought you might not be comfortable joining us in the nest when we’re all asleep.”
Yunho takes a deep breath, “But you didn’t come home. And we thought maybe you had someone or…or didn’t want to be close to us like that. But then Mingi remembered, you aren’t the most observant when it comes to this stuff and you probably wouldn’t pick up on anything we were doing. He said we should actually just come right out and tell you.”
Hongjoong’s eyes dart over to Mingi before he looks back at Yunho, hesitant. He has that look Wooyoung has become all too familiar with over the years, the one where he looks like he’s two seconds from running.
“Tell me what?”
“We want to be a pack.” Yunho turns to look at Hongjoong. Hongjoong doesn’t break his eye contact.
“What?” He breathes.
“We want to be a pack,” Yunho reiterates with a smile, “And we want you to be our Luna.”
Hongjoong’s eyes go wide, “What?”
Wooyoung can’t help himself. He surges forward, stopping just short of the nest, “We want to be a pack and we want you to be our Luna.”
Hongjoong gapes at him, “Me?” He laughs, but there’s no humor to it, “I’d be terrible Luna.”
“What?” Seonghwa frowns, coming to stand behind Wooyoung, “You’re our leader—”
“I’m the leader of our band, sure, but I’m a pathetic excuse of an omega,” He gestures wildly at the nest and Seonghwa winces, “Look at what I created. You’re saying you waited up for me for weeks and I had no idea. I stole from you guys—”
“Your omega didn’t feel safe asking for them,” San’s voice is watery, his eyes shimmer with unshed tears, “We’re so, so sorry we didn’t see.”
“We would’ve given them to you willingly, hyung,” Jongho adds. The peppercorn in his scent is sharp in the air. San reaches over to squeeze his shoulder but Jongho shrugs him off. His voice is quiet when he continues, “We would give you anything you asked for.”
Hongjoong frowns but Mingi hold a hand up, “Don’t. We’re sorry. Sorry it wasn’t obvious how much we care about you.”
“No, no it’s not your fault,” Hongjoong shakes his head, “I…I don’t know what came over me – over my omega – I don’t even remember stealing your clothes—”
Seonghwa whines on instinct. He blushes when they look back at him, bringing a hand to his mouth, “Hongjoong, you don’t remember because you were suppressing your instincts.”
Hongjoong frowns, “I…”
Yunho nudges him, “You just put yourself second for too long – your omega stepped in.”
“I-I guess,” Hongjoong laughs awkwardly. It’s a little watery but Wooyoung sees the way he’s starting to relax.
“We’ll pay more attention,” Jongho says, a little forcefully. Wooyoung understands how he feels. His alpha is also upset that their potential mate felt so insecure he snuck clothing with his scent rather than ask, “We’ll make sure your omega never feels like this again.”
Hongjoong stares at him, stares at them all. Like he’s waiting for someone to object only no one does. Yeosang shifts a little in the silence.
“Can we…can we…come in?” Yeosang asks.
Hongjoong’s eyes find the other omega’s and he searches them for a minute. But when Yeosang offers a small smile, Hongjoong relaxes fully, opening his arms wide. Yeosang throws himself forward into them, nosing at his scent gland. The others pile after, one by one surrounding Hongjoong with whispered assurances and gentle scenting.
–
That night, when they’re all resting in the nest, Mingi thumbs at Hongjoong’s collar, “You know, I think our nest is missing something.”
Hongjoong chuckles. The sheets are perfectly soft around him, the scents perfectly balanced, Mingi’s arms are warm around him, the other members of his pack giggling around with each other.
“What?”
Mingi presses a kiss against Hongjoong’s two-toned hair, “There’s something of me, something of Seonghwa-hyung, something of Yeosang, but nothing of you.”
Hongjoong tenses, “Oh, I don’t know…”
“Oh, are you asking Hongjoong about the nest?” Seonghwa rolls over.
“Mhm.”
“I have just the thing,” Seonghwa gets up, carefully stepping over the other members to make his way to the closet just off the hall. He returns with a box so tall Hongjoong can barely see his face behind it and sets it down at the edge of the nest.
“Come over here, Hongjoong,” He motions and Hongjoong crawls over. The other members have stopped what they’re doing to watch him.
Seonghwa pulls off the lid and Hongjoong swallows back a gasp. Neatly organized, the box is full of everything he was looking at when they were at the nesting store for Yeosang. And right on top is the sparkling black fabric he’d wanted to use to make a tent, complete with three boxes of coiled star-shaped faerie lights.
Hongjoong looks up, eyes teary, “How’d you—”
“I watched you,” Seonghwa says, “That day, and then I went back later. Just in case you wanted – well, I hoped you’d want to add to the nest, make it yours too, one day.”
“Thank you,” He says, reaching out to pull the shimmering black gauze up.
“I got tent poles too,” Seonghwa adds, “They’re in the closet, if you need.”
Hongjoong nods and Jongho jumps up to get them, shooing Seonghwa back down when he tries to stop him. Hongjoong takes the tent poles from Jongho – they’re sturdy, durable. Seonghwa wasn’t getting them just for a few spontaneous updates to the nest, Seonghwa got them because he hoped Hongjoong would make permanent additions.
He sets them up around the edges of the nest, positioning them as evenly as he can around the sprawl. Once they’re set up and sturdy enough for him, connecting in the middle over the heads of his pack, he takes the shimmering fabric and starts arranging it around them. Seonghwa has bought yards of fabric – which is good because with a packs this big, their nest is very large – so he has plenty to drape.
Hongjoong steps back to ensure the tent looks how he wants before reaching for the lights. He strings them along the poles, creating a warm light that sparkles in the eyes of his member. When he goes back to the box, he sees a few larger stars than can be hung by themselves. So, under Seonghwa’s watchful eyes, he grabs them and hangs them around the tent poles.
Satisfied, he lets himself fall back amongst the pillows.
“Hyung,” Wooyoung’s voice was breathless, “It’s beautiful.”
There’s a murmur of agreement as they all stare up at the warm stars. Hongjoong feels his cheeks warm up. Pack likes it. Seonghwa lays down next to him, so the sides of their bodies are touching. He intertwines their fingers.
“It’s perfect,” He murmurs.
Hongjoong has to agree.
His pack is perfect.