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Babe did not quite know when Charlie became a constant in his life. He couldn’t tell you when Charlie went from being stress relief to being more.
He found himself gravitating towards the strange alpha, so unlike any other of his kind. Maybe it was his lack of scent that had him addicted, maybe it was the way Charlie fucks him so sweet and so good, or maybe it was more. He’s thrown a wrench in his routine, and for the first time, Babe could not bring himself to care. So, he misses nights at the bar with his friends to stay home with Charlie.
Home with Charlie. His once empty house was now occupied by the shorter alpha and his quirks. Small pieces of him to be found in every corner. It’s made him reluctant to leave behind the constant presence of his addiction to go about his day. But even he has to go out sometime. Babe sits up, adjusting his jacket before checking the time once more. Charlie’s made them late. Again.
Strolling into the bedroom, Babe watches as Charlie goes through his side of the closet (God, when did that happen?). He sneaks up behind him, choosing to slither his arm around the shorter alpha’s waist and bury his head in the crook of his neck. “What’s the hold up, Puppy Charlie?” He nips at his ear, watching the flush travel up to color his face.
Almost instantly, Charlie pouts, “I can’t decide what to wear, P’Babe. It all seems so plain.”
Letting out a soft sigh, Babe untangled himself and walked over to his closet, pulling out Charlie’s favorite sweater of his. He tossed it at the other boy who happily caught it, immediately throwing it on and sniffing his sleeve. Charlie had always liked his scent. God knows why.
(Why does the thought of that make him feel like this? Why does it matter to him? More importantly, why the fuck did he give Charlie his sweater to wear out? Why does he like it?)
The bar was a five minute car ride, barely giving them time to be alone (not that Babe cares). He walked along side Charlie, allowing him to chatter away about his latest project. They quickly spotted Way, who’s smile dropped slightly as he caught site of the smaller alpha. Weird.
North got up to sit on Way’s side of the booth as the two approached, allowing them to sit next to each other. Babe slid into the booth and Charlie quickly followed, letting himself be tugged close and taken under Babe’s arm. He gave him a smile as he cuddled into his side that left Babe breathless. As he looked up from the alpha, he could see Way looking closely at Charlie in a manner he didn’t quite like.
North and Charlie flew into a discussion about something Babe was not too interested in, more than happy to watch Charlie’s expressions as he converses. He watches as his body becomes less tense, somehow letting himself cuddle closer into Babe’s side, not that he minded.
“Charlie” Way cut in “you do realise there’s a whole booth next to you, yes? You don’t have to shove yourself against Babe.”
North shot him a confused look, whereas Charlie looked concerned. He tried to scoot to the side, apologizing about being a hassle, but Babe held him where he was and tighten his grip around his shoulders.
He turned to Way, face set and eyes cold, “YOU do realise that I was the one who tugged Charlie into my side, yes? That my arm is stopping him from moving?”
Way’s eyes widen and he sputters something about how Babe is uncomfortable with such gestures, but he was hearing none of it. “You know, you’ve had a problem with Charlie for some time now. Are you going to tell us what the fuck your issue is, or am I going to have to start avoiding you just to avoid another lecture about trusting Charlie?”
Way directed a glare at the aforementioned boy, who tensed up next to Babe. Babe’s alpha bristled at the thought of someone making his alpha uncomfortable (he doesn’t want to think about why this matters to him). He tugs Charlie impossibly closer, allowing him to be shielded by part of his body, his chest puffing out and teeth barring as a sign of displeasure.
“You don’t look at him, you look at me. If this is about your crush on me, I’ve made it clear multiple times that I am not interested. That does not give you the right to dictate my life.”
The reaction is almost instant as Way reddens and tries to defend himself, but Babe is having none of it. “And I don’t quite appreciate you talking to my mate as you do. When you kicked him out the other day, that was you being a petty dick.”
He hadn’t realised what he’d called Charlie, but the others clearly did as North’s eyes widened, Charlie beamed, and Way looked as though he’d been slapped.
Instead of backing down, Way continued to sneer at Charlie, “Yea well your precious mate seems to be non-existent. What is he hiding that I can’t find anything on him?”
Babe froze, eyes narrowed and body not moving an inch, “You looked him up. You ran a background check on him after I told you not to.” Babe knew what Charlie was hiding, or rather why he was hiding it. He’d stumbled upon the adorable alpha’s little secret a while back, never had the heart to confront him, and decided to simply let him be. He was not planning on hurting anyone, he was trying to protect him.
“For your information, Way, Charlie is entitled to his privacy. He is allowed secrets. He confides in me what he deems necessary to know and what he has hid from me, from us, is none of our business. He’s here with me. And until you learn to respect him, I don’t want you near me nor my mate.”
Way reddened in anger as he got up to storm off.
Babe sighed, nodded at North to leave, and turned to Charlie. “That was quite the shit show, huh?” He saw the way Charlie looked down, biting his lip. His shoulders were hunched in and his hands moving in worry.
He moved his hand to pet the younger boy’s hair, “Don’t worry Charlie. Way was the one out of line. You’re not in any sort of investigative trouble or whatever he was pulling.” The boy looked up, eyes wide as Babe continued, “whatever it is you’re hiding, I’m sure you’ll share when you deem it time. Just pay attention to me.”
Charlie’s smile reappeared as he cuddled into him further, “so, I’m your mate now?”
Babe froze, turning to him in confusion. “You called me your mate. Didn’t know I levelled you like this.”
He stuttered to defend himself but was unable to say much, and resigned to the boy’s teasing. He isn’t getting out of this one.
And he’s not sure he wants to.