Chapter Text
It had been a hard match, Luka was exhausted and frustrated, he had tried to do everything right, every pass he sent, every cross he threw, he tried to do it perfectly, but it wasn't enough. They had lost the match and La Liga. And if it couldn't be any worse, they were playing at their home, with thousands and thousands of fans cheering for them.
No one had tried to approach after the final whistle, being the only omega on the team meant the alphas and betas were always protective of him, but they also knew when to stay away, and right now it was one of those times.
He was kneeling on to the grass, tears prickling at his eyes seeing how Barcelona players were celebrating their first place, leaving them as seconds. Luka hated being second.
He stood kneeling there for a few minutes, taking in the atmosphere, he felt his chest starting to hurt and his throat felt dry. He saw Xavi—the captain—coming his way with a sincere smile on his face, it took all of him to stand up to greet him.
"You played really good" the other omega said sincerely.
Luka could only hum at that. Why if I played so amazing did we lose? he wanted to scream at him, but he just his hand courteously. Xavi leaving to greet another player.
Some of the other Barcelona players came his way too, half hugging him as a way of greeting, he said his congratulations to them to show them respect, they had played better and that was it. He wanted to run.
Luka started to feel sick, all the lights and noise making his head spin. His own thoughts eating him alive from the inside, he hated the way his mind worked, it was always too much, too loud, too mean. His hands started shaking, anxiety creeping through his body in a way it hadn't in a long time.
Through the fog in his gaze he saw his teammates going to the dressing rooms, some had exchanged shirts with the other team, others had their heads bowed looking at the grass, Luka looked at the bleachers, their fans were leaving. Of course they'd leave , the must feel the same way as they did, disappointed. He looked around searching for certain alpha, but Sergio was already gone.
He took a deep breath, begging himself to please get his shit together, he couldn't lose it in the middle of the pitch. The patch covering his scent glands was starting to itch him, but he couldn't take it off right now and let everyone smell how he felt.
He started walking towards the dressing room with his head bowed down. He passed Marcelo and Isco who didn't even try to talk to him, they knew the omega and how he was probably already beating himself up.
He looked around the room, some of his teammates were sitting, already waiting for their coach to come and talk to them. He took a seat aat one of the benches, all the way to the back of the room, He kept his head down. A few more minutes passed, the prickling on his neck not stopping, making him want to rip his skin off.
After all of his teammates arrived Mourinho showed up. Luka didn't look at him, he didn't even know what he was saying, there was only a buzzing inside his head. He felt trapped in a cage of his own thoughts. He looked at his hands and realized they were still shaking. Luka closed his eyes, begging whatever higher power existed to please just make it all stop, that he could just go home and rest.
All of a sudden a scent hit his nostrils. The strong smell of oranges with a tint of wood wrapping around him like a protective blanket.
Luka opened his eyes, raising his head to look around the room. All of his teammates looked like they were still paying attention to their coach. He looked at his side and saw Sergio, he was too absorbed in his own thoughts he didn't realize when the alpha sat next to him. Sergio was looking to the front, pretending to pay attention. Luka realized the alpha's scent glands were uncovered, the scent blocker gone.
Sergio didn't look at Luka, but the omega knew he was silently comforting him. Luka smiled, his own hands little by little stopped shaking, the scent of the dominant alpha making him feel safe. Next to him Sergio took a glimpse at the omega's hands, a tiny smile showing up on his face when he saw that the trembling had stopped.
Luka let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding, the itchiness on his neck calming down. He inhaled deeply, allowing Sergio's scent to wrap around him. He went through the rest of the talk without more issues.
Luka and Sergio had developed a sort of closeness the omega hadn't had with anyone in any team he had been before. He usually was either the only or one of the few omegas in the team, so everyone always tried to stay away from him, not in a way where he felt left out or anything like that, but in a way where they wanted to show him respect.
Luka had gotten used to it, being alone after a match, having to train alone, people used to pat him on the back after a goal or a nice pass, no one really hugged him or touched him more than necessary. That was of course until he joined Real Madrid.
The alphas and betas of the team had quickly pointed out his sweet but strong and dominant scent. Some had laughed and said things like 'of course Mourinho was going to sign a dominant omega' as a joke, gaining a scolding from the Portuguese. Omegas were rare, and dominant ones were even rarer. He had only heard of another player who was playing at Barcelona.
The team was full of betas and alphas, all of them greeted Luka happily, quickly making him feel at home. The Croatian realized all the alphas had their scent glands exposed during trainings, being a dominant omega had the perk of being resistant to most scents, most of them fading before they really reaching him, all except for one.
It was on his first day of training with the team. The moment he entered the room he felt one particular scent, it was the smell of oranges and wood, a weird scent for an alpha to have, and if Luka was not wrong—he usually never was—a dominant alpha. He searched for the owner of the scent, his eyes landing on Ramos. Luka knew him of course, one of the best center-back in the history of the team and probably of football. He was fierce and didn't care if he had to foul someone if it meant the other team was not scoring.
He locked eyes with him, the Spaniard's gaze strong and calculating. Luka tried to hold it but he had to look away when one of his other teammates called his name, making the moment disappear. They asked him about his other teams, how he was able to send passes that accurate, it felt like an interview, but Luka was happy to answer all his questions.
The coach called them for training after a few minutes. Luka could still feel Sergio's gaze on him on the pitch, he tried to ignore it, if the alpha wanted to tell him something he could do it afterwards.
His first day with the team went smoothly, everyone was nice and friendly with the right amount of competitiveness. He was taking a shower in one of the stalls when he felt someone joining him on the one next to him. The scent of oranges hitting him again.
"You're pretty good" Sergio said while letting the water fell on his face. Luka tried to gather all his inner strength to not look at the alpha's firm chest too much.
"For an omega?" he replied instead.
"What?" Sergio looked at him, his long eyelashes filled with drop of water.
"I'm pretty good yes… for an omega" he finished. It's something Luka's heard before, too many times if he was being honest.
"Listen, love, I don't care what other people might have told you before. Here you're either good or you suck, and for what I saw you're good. I don't care if you're beta, alpha or omega, as long as you do your job that's all we care about" he stated, focusing on his shower again. Luka tried not to think too much about the nickname. He looked at him dumbfounded. It was the first time someone has ever talked to him like that, and it didn't make him angry, it felt good.
He finished taking his shower with a smile on his face.
Ever since that day he had gotten closer to the alpha. It started with Luka sitting next to him at pre-game talks, then he'd go to Sergio if they got told to choose a partner for an exercise, and then there were the extra training they did together.
They would stay after training to practice corner routines. The alpha had the perfect height to score from a corner kick, and Luka had the ability to put the ball where he wanted it. A match made in heaven, some of their teammates had called them.
Sergio had become an important piece of Luka's life in a short time, he had shared a lot of things with the alpha, his childhood memories, his fears, his weaknesses. Everything, except one thing.
"C'mon, Lukita, let me see your nest" Sergio had told the omega. They were at Luka's apartment watching a movie. Luka had his head on Sergio's lap while the alpha was sitting on the couch.
"For the hundredth time, Sergio, no, I don't want to" Luka said, his tone with a pinch of annoyance of having to repeat himself.
"C'mon, c'mon, por favor, we've been friends for more than a year now and I haven't seen your nest, ever! I've been to your apartment I don't know how many times, but you never let me go near your room. Do you not trust me?" Sergio said, his voice lowering in a sad tone. Luka sighed and looked at the alpha, realizing the other one already had his brown eyes on him.
"I don't hate you, dumbass", he told him. Okay we are doing this, "I don't have one" he said earnestly.
Sergio looked at him as if he had grown a third head.
"What do you mean you—you're an omega, you're a dominant omega, how do you not—" Sergio was starting to ramble until he saw the look on Luka's eyes. The omega looked sad.
"I know I know. There was never someone to teach me those things, my first heat I spent it hiding at home laying on the floor because of the pain, no scent to comfort me. I learned to live my life without a comfort scent, so I always saw nests pointless" Luka said while shrugging, trying to dismiss the ache on his chest.
He turned his eyes back to the T.V in front of them, blinking repeatedly to keep the tears from falling. Sergio didn't say anything else, Luka felt Sergio's fingers running through his hair. He started to doze off after a few minutes, and before sleepiness took him Luka swore he felt a pair of lips on his cheek, but maybe that was his imagination.
After that day a few months ago Sergio never brought the topic again, and Luka thanked him for that. They focused on winning matches and spending time together and with the team. They were sure they were going to win everything this season, but oh how wrong they were.
Mourinho's voice took him out of his own thoughts.
"You're all dismiss, go rest and we'll see each other in a few days", he said before leaving the room.
Everyone stood up, some where going for a shower, others were already taking his things and leaving. Luka was still sitting next to Sergio when he heard the alpha speak.
"Wanna come to my place and watch crappy T.V while we drown ourselves in alcohol?" he asked with a smile on his face, making the omega smile.
"I'd love to" he replied while standing up and stretching his legs, ready to go for a shower. Sergio had already taken one before, so he waited for him outside.
Luka stood below the water for a couple of minutes, allowing it to wash his tears away. He knew they had done everything in their power to win, but still, he hated losing, hated feeling like he wasn't enough, not good enough of a midfielder, not good enough at throwing crosses, not good enough of an omega.
The conversation he'd had with Sergio a few months ago returning now. He wasn't even a good omega, he didn't even know how to make a damn nest. He felt a sob pass his throat and allowed himself a few more minutes of silent tears falling down his face.
After the shower he quickly changed. Sergio was waiting for him outside while talking to Marcelo, who smiled at him kindly before saying his goodbyes and leaving.
"Ready?" Sergio asked him. Luka nodded and they walked silently to Sergio's car. The car ride was also spent in silence, soft music playing in the back.
They arrived at the mansion, Sergio quickly getting out the car to go to the other side and opening Luka's door.
"You're so dumb" was the only response the omega gave him while laughing.
They walked inside, leaving their bags and shoes on the front. Luka threw himself on Sergio's massive couch, the alpha throwing himself on top of him.
"Oh god I'm gonna die, get off me!" the omega exclaimed, Sergio falling on him like a weighted blanket.
"Don't want to" was the alpha's response.
Both of them had taken their scent blockers off, and were letting out their scents in the comfort of their privacy. Oranges and honey mixing together. They stood like that for a few minutes, Sergio's breath on Luka's neck while the omega passed his fingers through the alpha's hair softly.
Sergio took his head off Luka's neck and looked at him, his hands on each side of his head to lift him a little so now they were face to face.
"Hey" the alpha said, he looked tired and sad. Luka knew how draining a bad game was on him too, but he barely let any emotion show, always taking care of everyone except himself.
"Hi" Luka said back. Sergio looked at him, an emotion Luka couldn't decipher hidden on his eyes. He saw how the alpha's eyes fell on his lips, he saw Sergio getting closer to him. And Luka was okay with all of it. He could blame the fatigue or the sadness or whatever he wanted later, but he needed it. Sergio's minty breath hit his mouth, they were only a few centimeters away from each other when a phone rang, braking the moment and making them jolt with surprise. Sergio quickly stood up, leaving Luka alone and feeling cold all of sudden.
"It's my sister" he said while going for his bag and taking out his phone. Luka saw him answer the call in Spanish, she was probably calling to check up on him after the match, she was always looking at the games. Luka had met her and she adored him.
He saw Sergio walk around the living while holding the phone, he would move his hands and make gestures with his face.
Apparently he was also in the mood for cleaning around because he took both Luka and his bags and carried them to the second floor, leaving Luka laying on the couch. Luka stood there, looking up at the ceiling, questions repeating in his mind.
Was he really gonna kiss his best friend?
Was he really going to ruin the best friendship he's ever had just because he felt sad?
It's not only that he heard himself replied back you were not going to do just because you're sad.
And that was the harsh truth, wasn't it? If given the chance Luka would kiss Sergio in any circumstance. He knew about his feelings for the Spaniard. Hell, he probably had them ever since the first week they met. But Sergio had never showed any sign of reciprocating them, so Luka had buried them all down in a chest and had thrown away the key into the vast ocean of his own thoughts.
Luka stood up and looked around him. White walls and expensive decor screaming at him that he didn't belong here, Sergio had already made a name for himself, already a World Cup champion, already one of the best player of the world, and Luka's name was barely being spoken.
He knew he wasn't a bad player, but he still needed a lot to prove in the team if he wanted people to remember his name.
He was debating on what to do when he heard Sergio coming down the stairs. He was no longer on the phone and had changed into a pair of shorts and a white cotton shirt.
"Sorry it took me too long, my sister gets really chatty, and I lost track of time" he said while looking at the Croatian who was now standing by the window, being in a more troubled state than what he had left him in, "everything good, Lukita?" he asked, his head tilting the same way cats do.
"Yeah, I just, I think I'll leave, I don't feel so good, you know how these type of games make me feel, I'll go home and sleep" the omega replied, "thanks for letting me come but I think it's best if I just leave. We could see each other tomorrow or any other day". The omega was talking so fast it'd be a miracle if Sergio had understand half the things he was saying.
"Is this because I almost kissed you?" Sergio asked, "I—I won't do it again, I promise, just don't leave, we can watch T.V like we said, we could order something or talk, or play a board game, whatever you want, just don't leave" he sounded like a scared child who was about to be left alone in the dark. Luka knew Sergio needed company after a day like the one they had, but right now Luka feared that if he stayed he would end up ruining everything.
"No—I mean, yes, I don't know, Sergio. I know we're both tired and frustrated and sad, and I don't want a stupid mistake to ruin our friendship. You're my best friend and I would never forgive myself if I lose you over an impulse". Luka's voice broke mid sentence, all the emotions he had been bottling since God knows when threatening to go out.
"Luka" Sergio said his name like he was talking to a scared child, "nothing I'll ever do with you is going to be a mistake. Do you think I was going to kiss you because I'm sad? Joder, if that was the reason I would have kiss you months ago!" he spoke with so much raw honesty in his voice it left Luka shocked, "I was going to kiss you because I like you, a lot actually, and for a long time, but I also didn't want to lose our friendship. And today just fucking sucked , I felt awful, and then I looked at you kneeling on the grass, and you looked so sad and tired. That broke me just a more than having lost the game", he came closer to the omega. "You're the most amazing person I've ever met in my life, and I had the best luck of meeting you and becoming your best friend and being someone you could trust that it terrified to make a bad move and make you ran away", a step closer, "but I'm tired of pretending I don't like you like that, that I don't want to hold you and scent you and kiss you whenever I want. That I don't spend half my time thinking about you", another step closer, "I cannot keep fooling myself and my heart and pretend I don't want you" he was now in front of Luka, the Croatian having to look up to the hold his gaze. "So please, Lukita, give me a chance, give us a chance".
Luka felt a lump inside his throat, how can a perfect alpha like him say all those things about him when Luka didn't feel enough most of the time.
"I'm broken, Sergio. I barely know what to do most of the time when I'm not playing. My mind is mean and loud. I'm an omega, a dominant omega that doesn't act like one, I don't even have a nest to comfort myself in because I never learned how to do that simple thing we're supposed to be programed with. How could you want me?" his voice broke, his eyes sparkling with un-shed tears.
"I don't care about that, I don't need that, I need you" he said while holding Luka's face on his hands. "You're perfect just the way you are, perfect for me, and that's all that truly matters. Besides, I've already done my research on the whole nest thing, let me show you". He let go of Luka's face, holding out his hand for the omega to take. Luka looked at it, and then at Sergio, and decided that he was tired of running away. Maybe he did deserve love, and someone to take care of him after everything he's been through, and right now the comfort he needed could be provided only by the alpha in front of him.
Luka took his hand, and Sergio lead him towards the second floor, they walked to the guest room, causing Luka to look at him with a confused expression.
"What are we doing here?" he asked. Sergio didn't reply, the alpha opened the door to reveal the room. Luka opened his eyes. In the middle of the room there was a king size bed, but what took him by surprise was not that. The bed had a lot of pillows and sheets on it, not really arranged in any way, just there to be placed in order.
That wasn't the only thing Luka realized. Their bags were also there, and in Sergio's bag there were more things than just his jerseys.
"I asked our teammates to give me something of them scented so you could make your nest" the alpha said when he realized Luka was looking at the bag, "most of them gave me their second kit jersey, we will have to explain to Mourinho that we'll need more but I think he'll understand" he pushed Luka softly into the room, pulling him towards the bed.
"I know you said a few months ago that you don't know how to make a nest because you never felt like you needed one, and I mean, I am an alpha, I've never make one, but I did some research and I got things that it said could help you. Not pressure though, we could make it any other day or never or whatever you need and—" he was interrupted by Luka's hands on his face, the same gesture he had had with the omega downstairs. The omega stood on his tiptoes, pulling the alpha towards him to softly kiss his lips.
"Does this mean you like it?" the alpha said after Luka pulled away.
Luka nodded and kissed him again. It started soft at first, their lips moving in sync the same way their bodies did on a match. Sergio grabbed Luka's waist, pulling the small omega towards his body, pressing him into him more and making the omega let out a whine on his mouth, allowing the alpha to push his tongue into the omega's. He moved his hands from his waist to his thighs, pulling him up and making Luka wrap his legs around the alpha's waist for support. The alpha walked them both towards the bed while still kissing the omega on his arms. He softly put Luka on top of it, crawling on top of him. He was about to kiss him again when he saw the pout on Luka's face.
"What's wrong, love?" he asked.
"The bed, it's not ready" the omega replied, his cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment. Sergio smiled tenderly at him.
"I can wait until it's ready, take all the time you need" he said while leaving a little peck on his lips before standing up and going to the sofa that was in the room. A promise that he'll wait until Luka was ready.
Luka stood up, going for the pillows first. He settled two on the headboard, softly hitting them to make them softer. He took other two and put them on either side of the the bed. He frowned, Sergio quickly realized there was something wrong.
"What happened?"he asked.
"The bed's too big, I need more pillows" the omega replied.
Sergio left the room, leaving Luka there, alone with confussion showing on his face. Who am I trying to fool, I don't even know what I'm doing… he thought. Luka was starting to spiral again, but before he could fall into his thoughts he saw Sergio coming back inside the room, carrying a pile of pillows with him.
"I bought a lot more but I didn't want to overwhelm you so I hid them in another room, but I think these might be enough" he said while throwing them on the bed. Sergio saw Luka's eyes sparkle and a big smile showing up on his lips. Sergio's inner alpha rejoicing for being able to provide for his omega.
The omega didn't say anything else, he took them one by one and started arranging them around the bed. He would take one, softly hit it and them put it where he wanted it. Sergio looked at the omega move around the bed like his life depended on it, a smile unable to leave his lips.
After the pillows were ready he took the sheets, putting them on top on the pillows and tucking them under them. Now it did look like a proper nest. Luka stood in front of the bed admiring his work.
"Do you like it?" the omega asked.
"I do, but what's important is that you like it" the alpha replied.
"I do" he said.
Luka went to grab Sergio's bag, carefully taking off each jersey and placing them at the foot of the bed. He would smell them and sometimes if the scent was too familiar—like Marcelo's—he'd place it by the side instead, but never on the top. The omega finished arranging the jerseys around the bed, leaving the side of the headboard naked.
"Yours isn't here" he reproached the alpha, a scowl showing on his face. Sergio stood up, and went to grab the other bag on the floor, he put it on the couch and opened it. A collection of different jersey inside, there were ones from his early years as a football player, others from the national team, Real Madrid ones. All of them scented and with the comforting smell of oranges impregnated on them.
He showed them to Luka who quickly kissed him again before taking them out one by one and folding them so they could fit on the headboard. Luka realized Sergio had put the jersey he had worn today inside meaning that one had the strongest scent on it. He saved it for last and placed it carefully on the side of the bed Sergio knew he liked to sleep on thanks to some sleepovers they had had throughout the years.
"Perfect" the omega said, admiring his work.
Sergio came from behind him, embracing him in his arms and placing his head on top on Luka's.
"It looks perfect, Lukita. Now the only thing missing is a cute omega in the middle of it". Sergio said. Luka got embarrassed but hummed in agreement. He walked towards the bed, carefully crawling into it and sitting in the middle of his nest. All the scents wrapping around him like a protective blanket, being a dominant omega meant the scents didn't hit as hard, but Luka was thankful for that, it would be too overwhelming to have every scent hitting at full force.
Luka saw Sergio looking at him, the alpha had sat on the couch again and was admiring the scene in front of him with loving eyes.
Luka realized how much he loved him, and how much Sergio loved him back. They just had been too dumb to realize before, or maybe just too scared, but not anymore.
"Join me" the omega said, "I wanna share my new nest with my alpha" he laid on the bed, taking a deep breath to the shirt next to his face, he had always loved Sergio's scent. The alpha usually scented him only when he saw the omega needed comfort or if there was a 'dangerous alpha' near him.
He still remembered the time an alpha from another team had tried to flirt with Luka after a game. The poor man hadn't even been able to ask for his number when the angry pheromones hit them both. At first Luka had gotten scared, but at the recognition of the scent he relaxed, the same couldn't be said for the one in front of him who had looked behind Luka and said his goodbyes.
"You scared him" Luka had said.
"You never know, maybe he was a dangerous alpha"
"You're a dangerous alpha" Luka told him while laughing.
"Of course, but never to you" Sergio retorted.
Luka felt the bed sink a little, Sergio was now laying in front of him with a big smile on his face.
"We could try that scenting thing" Luka said, "I—I wanna be able to scent you too, to make you feel just as comfortable and safe as you make me feelt" the omega shyly said.
Sergio took him by his waist, bringing him closer to his body, turning them over and putting Luka on top of him, similar to how they were on the couch but with the positions reversed. Sergio placed a hand below Luka's shirts and started circling the omega's back.
"Relax, cariño" the alpha said, "you need to feel safe and relaxed"
"I always feel safe when I'm with you" the omega said while hiding his face in the crook of Sergio's neck. Sergio smiled and kissed Luka's cheek.
"I love how you didn't say relaxed because we both now how I can get on your nerves from time to time huh" Sergio joked.
They stayed in that position for a while, Sergio letting his own scent out so it could embrace his omega, he could feel Luka starting to relax the more he stayed in his arms, the soft honey mixed with walnut scent starting to sip out of him, surrounding them both. Sergio put his wrist on the scent gland of Luka's neck, bringing out a soft gasp from the omega.
"This is a more direct and intimate way of scentin", Sergio explained, "you have no clue how long I've wanted to have you like this" he softly rub his wrist along it mixing their scents directly, the room was a mixed of oranges and honey. Luka could feel his body calming down on top of the alpha, his inner omega content for being on his alpha's arms.
Safe, he'll keep us safe. His primal side said to him.
After today events this was exactly what he needed, to let go, to feel that he didn't need to carry all the weight all by himself, and he knew Sergio felt the same thing.
As if reading his thoughts, Sergio spoke.
"Today was a bad day, and there will be more to come, that's the way this world is, Lukita. But I need you to know you don't have to hide behind the mask of the strong omega when you're with me. Of course I know you're strong, I've seen you tackle players twice your size. But you don't need to prove anything to me" he whispered in Luka's ear while he played with his hair.
Luka took his face off the alpha's neck and looked at him lovingly. Sergio cut the distance between their faces and planted a soft kiss on Luka's lips, the hand on the omega's waist tightened its hold.
Luka smiled as they kissed.
"Can I try something?" he asked, Sergio nodded in agreement.
Luka placed his wrist on Sergio's neck scent gland, softly rubbing it the same way the alpha had done with him. He felt Sergio's hand squeezing his waist, a whimper coming out of him. Honey wrapped around him, he knew Luka's scent was strong but the omega had never willingly let it out to scent him, and it felt amazing.
Luka started kissing him again while still rubbing his wrist on his gland. Sergio returned the kiss with a little more force, trying to pass his tongue through the omega's mouth. The omega moved his hips involuntarily. Sergio groaned below him,moving his own hips in return. Both of their scents turning spicier.
"If we don't stop now, Lukita, I can't promise I'll be able to hold me back later, right now my alpha is screaming at me to take and bite you, but I wanna do things right", he said sincerely. "I wanna date you and court you before", the vulnerability in the alpha's words made the omega's chest fill with love.
Luka moved from on top of him, taking his side of the bed again. Hugging Sergio and placing his head on the alpha's chest.
"Yeah, we can wait" he said. Sergio pulled him closer to him, his leg coming on top of Luka's, hugging his whole body. The room was filled with their scents, and Luka knew that he will be smelling like Sergio for a couple of days, the thought making him smile.
All the thoughts about the match being forgotten. Luka knew they would come back at some point, that they would have bad matches again, but now he had a place to come and let it all go, a nest where he could be held by his alpha.