Archive of Our Own

No, Mingi was going to be happy at his new job. No more sulking, now.

He sat down on his office chair, taking a deep breath. He had known things would change for the better. He was an optimist after all. He switched on his computer, looking at the login data on the little sticky note that his coworker had given him.

Yunho. A very tall, lean, and very pretty alpha. His eyes made Mingi’s head swirl and lose focus for a moment, having to ask the man to repeat himself with flushed cheeks when he realized he'd missed everything Yunho had said. But the man was patient and only laughed at his embarrassed admission, before repeating himself. Mingi was so lucky.

It would be different this time. He would be fine, he would do his job well and show everyone that he was worth of carrying his alpha title. That he could earn it, even if it hadn't fallen into his lap like for other people.

“Mr Song, the boss wants to see you again.”

Mingi looked up to see those pretty eyes looking down at him.

“Uh yeah, sure, one moment—”

“I should maybe let you know,” Yunho looked a bit concerned now. “Mr Choi is pretty strict when it comes to keeping the pheromones out of the office, if you understand what I'm saying.”

It took Mingi a moment longer than it should've, but then he quickly nodded.

“Oh, yeah um, that shouldn't be a problem.”

“It has become a problem for pretty much everyone here at least once. Don't feel bad about it. It's only Mr Choi who is a fanatic.” He smiled encouragingly. Mingi returned the smile, getting up.

“Thank you. That's kind.” He bowed his head quickly before leaving to go to his bosse's office.

When he stepped out of it again, his throat felt tight. He walked over to his desk with a lowered head and quickly opened his search browser on his computer. His fingers were hovering over the keys, he was holding a breath, thinking of what to type. Can your employer ask your subgender? No, that's stupid. No one had to “ask” anyone's subgender. This wasn't something that happened to normal people. He deleted the text. Can your employer fire your for he stared at the screen. What was it he'd been scolded about? How could he even call it? Accusations of a wrong subgender? For fuck's sake, that didn't happen to normal people. What can your employer not ask about your subgender? Was what he went with in the end. He scrolled through the options, finding a few articles about omegas in the workspace, rights of pregnant omegas in the workspace, privacy of omegas in leading positions in the workspace—

“Mr Song?”

Mingi yelped, whipping his head around. He reached out with one hand to close his laptop instinctively, forgetting that it was a big ass desktop on his desk, not a small laptop like he had at home. His cheeks immediately flushed red when he realized how stupid and suspicious that must have looked, but Yunho didn't seem to care at all. He just frowned a little.

“You don't look too happy. What did he ask?” Yunho asked him, nudging his head towards the big screen that still showed the results of Mingi's Internet search.

“Uhm- ah, it was nothing… Just like you said, it was kind of uncomfortable,” Mini replied, trying to brush it off.

“What about the omega stuff?” Yunho looked between him and the computer screen.

“That's nothing either, I didn't find what I was looking for.”

Yunho nodded, acknowledging his words.

“If you have any questions, maybe I could help?”

“Not right now,” Mingi quickly brushed it off. “But thank you.”

Maybe he had been a bit quick at judging his new workspace. All of his coworkers seemed nice, he got along with most of them. They even invited him to get food together; he had never felt this easily included at a new job. But his boss made up for it in glares and condescending words.

Then again, he let Mingi work together with Yunho, whom Mingi by now had a full-blown crush on. He didn't even deny it anymore, had stopped trying to surpress the thoughts just flooding in whenever they wanted, images of the puppy-like face and the fluffy hair; the sharp but kind eyes giving him butterflies and the one or the other unwanted half-mast at work.

It all would have went smoothly if Yunho didn't show such enthusiastic interest in him. Giving him bright smiles, letting his hand linger on Mingi's just a moment longer than necessary when he showed him something on the computer. Every time Mingi caught Yunho looking his way when he was supposed to be working, he got butterflies, and was met with the sickeningly adorable view of Yunho snapping back into reality and giving him a dazed grin before looking away. At this point, his crush on Jeong Yunho was a terminal illness.

“Mingi-ah?”

Mingi had no idea when or how they went from last name to nicknames, but he was here now, and nothing in this world would make him go back.

“Hmm?” Mungi turned his head. Oh those damn puppy eyes.

“I uh,” Young's chest puffed out a little, before he chuckled and went back to a more slouched posture.

“I wanted to ask if you wanna get lunch together. After work. I wasn't sure if that's early to ask, since it's only been a few weeks—”

“Yes. Sorry, I interrupted you. Yes. I wanna go out. For lunch! For lunch I mean.” Mingi tried to cool down, but he wasn't good at hiding a blush. So he just slapped his cheek, trying to pull himself together. Then he realized Yunho was seeing this, and just got even redder. Yunho’s smile only widened, though.

“It's on me, then.”

“Oh, thanks. That's nice. That's… yeah.” Did he feel stupid? Yes. But was he going out with Yunho? Also yes. So he would celebrate the win, no matter how embarrassed he was right now.

“Looking forward to it,” Yunho said, already walking back to his desk. Gosh, Mingi was so fucked. It's been ages since he'd gone out with anyone. And for good reason, he knew. If Yunho was seriously interested in him, this would get really scary for him. But he wouldn't let the past define it. Mingi was an optimist, after all.

The exact moment that Mingi knew he was royally fucked, was when Yunho looked at him with a shy smile at the end of their lunch and asked, with that damn, way too sweet, way too kind, making-Mingi-want-to-rip-his-heart-out-and-serve-it to-him-on-a-silver-platter voice: “What would you say if I called this a date?”

Mingi had to grab a tissue and cover his mouth, hoping the juice he'd been trying to drink wouldn't come out of his nose as he coughed. He was completely caught off guard, even though he wasn't stupid, and had seen the hints Yunho had been dropping all around him. Still, he hadn't thought Yunho would actually ask him out. Like, actually actually. Like for real.

“That um…. That's… It would be… very…” Mingi swallowed again, putting the tissue away with an awkward smile, his eyes searching around on the table. “That would be...nice?”

“Is that a question?” Yunho chuckled.

“No- no obviously not, it's… I'd like that,” he corrected himself, now looking up at Yunho again. Yunho was biting down on his bottom lip, probably trying to tone down his massive grin. Mingi wanted to bang his head against the table. Oh he was so fucked.

“And would you ever go on one with me again? Like, officially?”

Mingi took in a sharp breath, trying to sort his thoughts. He gave up pretty quickly; it was just too much.

“Sure, yeah. I'd love to.” So, so, so fucked.

“May I ask something first?”

Yunho nodded eagerly, taking a sip of his drink now. Mingi could see his thighs squeezing together and bouncing in excitement. If he didn't know any better, he would think Yunho was dying to go to the toilet. But he just seemed to be that excited. About Mingi. He was excited about Mingi. It was so unreal.

“Uhm,” Mingi thought of where to start. “First of all… I didn't think you'd ask me out, since… y'know, I'm an alpha,” Mingi stated truthfully, scratching the back of his head. He watched Yunho closely, whose eyes blinked a few times, then his lips parted, and he just looked at Mingi for a moment.

“Oh.”

Oh? Oh? What did he mean oh???

“You uhm… you were not…aware. Yes?” Mingi gave him an awkward smile. Everything was already crumbling before his eyes.

“I thought you were a beta, to be honest. But this isn't… it's not a deal breaker for me as is. You?”

Gosh this man would make Mingi lose it way too quickly. He had already left his dignity at the doorstep when they had entered the little restaurant together, so this shouldn't have even been as embarrassing as it was.

“You don't mind?” Mingi was the one blinking a bit dumbly now, not sure if he heard Yunho correctly.

“Honestly, okay, I know this might sound crazy but you're just so…” Yunho tilted his head, looking at Mingi in a way that made him want to sink deeper into his chair and squirm like a teenager in love.

“You're so amazing. Just everything about you. I watch you at work. You've probably noticed. You've got me in a chokehold, Song Mingi,” Yunho admitted. He didn't look one bit embarrassed about being head over heels. This was the face of someone who knew how to give and receive love without the constant fear of sudden rejection waiting just around the corner. Just one wrong sentence, one blink of an eye away.

“I couldn't care less about your subgender. Not that it doesn't matter to me, it just doesn't matter when it comes to… how much I like you,” Yunho smiled widely. Mingi nodded slowly. This wasn't something he'd expected, really, but he wasn't really complaining either.

“That's really sweet. Really, I'm not met with that attitude a lot,” Mingi replied, before his gaze fell to his hands again that were fidgeting with his glass. His sweaty hands were leaving a little glaze of tiny droplets on the cold glass, smearing it with his thumb.

“It's just that uh… I don't know if I'll be…what you're hoping for.”

Yunho took a moment to just look at him, the big smile toned down to a soft smile that was only visible in his eyes now.

“If there's anything that you think I need to know, then I'm ready to hear it whenever you're ready to tell me. But I don't think anything could change how I see you enough to make me not want to date you, Mingi. You're just such a kind person. So…” Yunho chuckled. “I could write a list on all the things you are, and I've only known you for a few weeks.”

“That's the problem,” Mingi said, swallowing dryly. “You haven't seen the downparts yet.”

“That's something I'm very ready for.”

“How can you be so damn confident about all of this?” Mingi asked, now just sounding desperate. “How do you know I'm not actually a total freak when I'm off work?”

Yungo gave him a cranky grin.

“I like freak.”

“You're insufferable,” Mingi muttered, letting out a sigh in defeat.

“Alright you win. I'll go out with you. But if you end up being weirded out by me and hating me because I didn't tell you from the start that I'm a freak- this is the moment I'm telling you. Just keep it in mind, alright? I'm telling you right now so I can later say ‘I told you so’ when you drop my ass.” Mingi pointed at him.

“Why are you so convinced that you're not worthy of my love?”

And that shut him up for the rest of the day.

Mingi had been stressed out all morning. Basically a normal morning, except for the additional sweat and his increased appetite. He looked at the food he'd packed himself, but nothing looked good. He didn't wanna eat it, even though he had prepared it for himself. So he went on a quick trip to the convenience store during his break and bought himself an arm full of apples. He had no idea why he wanted apples out of all things, but he put them in a big bag and got back just in time for his boss to catch him in the hallway.

“Mr Song.” The voice was stern and made Mingi break a sweat again.

“Yes Sir?”

“My office.”

“Yes Sir.” Mingi sighed and put his bag with apples down before walking towards his bosse's office. Yunho sent him a questioning look that he avoided, embarrassed. When he entered the office, his boss was looking up at him pretty annoyed.

“Mr Song, I thought I had made this clear in the beginning. This is not how we go about things in this company.” Mingi stood in front of the desk with an open mouth, not knowing what to say. What was this man even talking about?

“I expect you to cover up your scent or I will be sending you home.”

Oh shit. How had he not noticed? Mingi quickly straightened up, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Yes Sir, I'm really sorry. I will take care of it immediately.” He said, bowing. His boss just dismissed him with an annoyed gesture. Mingi wouldn't let himself be twice. He rushed out of the room, getting to his desk and scrambling for his bag. He went through it, then again, and again. Shit. Wrong bag. He'd packed the other one in a rush this morning. He had no scent patches with him.

He took a shaky breath, sitting down on his chair. Okay. Think, Mingi. Don't panic. Think. He looked around the room, his eyes catching the image of Yunho typing away at his computer, chewing on his bottom lip. He lookes so pretty. This isn't the moment to fanboy, Mingi scolded himself internally. He got up and walked over to Yunho's desk. Yunho noticed him before he even got close, a little frown settling on his face.

“Mingi? You alright?”

“I have a really embarrassing question,” Mingi said quietly, standing next to Yunho who took a deep breath, his frown deepening.

“This isn’t—”

“Do you have scent patches? Please? I can pay you back if you want, I just- just please?”

“Calm down Mingi, you don't have to beg me like it's about life and death. Mr Kim isn't that scary.”

Mingi bit down on his lip, trying to calm himself down. This was pretty much the end of the world for him, he just couldn't exactly tell Yunho that. But before Mingi could try to come up with some explanation, Yunho was already going through his bag and pulling out a package of scent patches.

“There you go. Alright?”

“Thank you so much, you're a life saver,” Mingi said, letting out a heavy breath and scurrying away to the toilets. Yunho shook his head in amusement. There was no reason for Mingi to go to the toilet just to put on scent patches. Mingi knew that. But he couldn't risk anyone smelling his scent for another second, so he bailed.

Mingi had a longer shift that day. Damn him for not looking at his calendar and adjusting his schedule. He wanted to get home fast and bury himself into his bed whole, covered in his soft sheets, getting rid of the scratchy material of his clothes. It had been bothering him all day, so he was looking forward to getting out of them and snuggling into a giant pile of pillows and plushies. But he had barely left the building when Yunho walked up next to him.

“Mingi-ah? You didn't eat your lunch today. I saw you only eating apples. Wanna go grab something?” He asked with a sweet smile. Mingi really wanted to say yes. But the scent patches he was wearing were slowly wearing off, and while blocking his scent, they didn't block out the crazy heat creeping in on him, not the swirling thoughts telling him to pounce onto the man in front of him.

“I really want to, it's just… I'm not feeling so well, uhm- I better get home,” Mingi replied, his mind screaming at him to go with Yunho, but he had to be reasonable. He was strong!

“Alright, wanna at least get a drink or something? Do you like boba?”

He was not strong. A few minutes later he was ordering himself his favorite bubble tea, watching Yunho pay before he could even get out his wallet.

“You didn't have to,” he muttered, but Yunho just made a dismissive hand gesture and smiled.

“I'm spoiling you. I have to court you right.” Mingi was glad he wasn't drinking right now, or else that drink would've gone everywhere. He really couldn't afford a second juice-situation. He had already embarrassed himself enough in front of Yunho.

“Mingi… earlier in the office,” Yunho started, looking over at Mingi, whose look averted already. “Your scent was…” Yungo stopped talking, looking at Mini and reading his expression. “I won't ask about it if you're uncomfortable,” he then said, not hesitating one bit. Mingi sighed and took another sip, then looking up at Yunho again. He looked almost guilty. Maybe he should've told him right from the start. Would Yunho think he's leading him on? He had warned him, but in the end… he hadn't been fully honest to begin with. It wasn't a full lie. He was an alpha, but… to end the sentence there wasn't truthful, and he knew it.

“You can ask,” he eventually said. Yunho let his arm sink down, holding his drink with one hand next to his body and tilting his head a little.

“Your scent… It's- well, not the typical scent you'd expect of an alpha. Not that I'm judging. If that's just how you smell then I wouldn't mind it. It's just… you know, it… it's kind of…”

“Sweet,” Mingi finished the sentence for him.

“Yeah. It's really sweet for an alpha,” Yungo agreed. Mingi nodded.

“I know. I know what you're thinking, probably.”

“Oh yes? Enlighten me.” Mingi looked at Yunho a bit unsure, not quite knowing if Yungo was serious or mocking him. He didn't have a sarcastic look on his face. Was he pissed? Mingi couldn't tell. He took a deep breath, suddenly becoming aware of the waves of hotness spreading to his body.

“It's… a condition.”

“A condition? Your scent?”

“Not the scent itself,” Mingi clarified. “It's just part of the package, kind of. It's hard to explain.” He looked at Yungo for a moment, who was just looking back at him with the most understanding, compassionate eyes. It was unfair what he was doing to Mingi.

“No actually, it's not hard to explain. It's just embarrassing,” Mingi admitted, and he could watch Yunho's eyes soften even more in real time. Those puppy eyes were gonna be the death of him one day.

“You don't have to explain me anything, Mingi. Whenever you're comfortable, we can talk. If you ever feel like it.” Mingi nodded slowly. How was this man even a person? He was probably just an angel in disguise. Yunho was way too good to be real. Or maybe he was dreaming all of this? Either way, there was no way this man was standing in front him, buying him food and drinks and being so damn understanding all of the time. What nation did he save in his past life to deserve something like this?

Or maybe it was the universe making up for all of his failures and hardships he'd gone through all his life by giving him the most perfect, unreal angel of a boyfriend. If Mingi would even get that far. If life didn't snatch Yunho away in front of his eyes again before he got to call him that title, right when it hurt the most.

Three days had passed. Mingi was at war with himself. He stared at his phone calendar every morning, willing it to magically turn back the time. But of course that wasn't possible. He sighed and grabbed his bag in defeat, making his way to work. Possibly his last day at this work place, if things went like he knew they'd always eventually go. But he wanted to believe that this time, things would be different. He had an amazing work place. Amazing coworkers. And he had Yunho. It would go well this time, he was sure. Mingi was an optimist, after all.

Mingi wore his scent patches today. He changed them every hour, and he smiled at everyone, giving them kind words. Being on his best behavior. Calm and collected. He even brought Yunho his coffee to his desk, which Yunho accepted with the sweetest smile and a flying kiss that made Mingi blush. He was trying his best – his very best. He could ignore the heat in his stomach, the burning in his lungs with every whiff he got of the people around him, even the lingering eyes of Yungo on the back of his head while working. But it had to come to an end when his cramps set in.

It hit him out of nowhere and caught him off guard, too late to surpress the painful groan that he let out, grabbing the edge of his desk. A few heads turned towards him, and he quickly bit down on his lip, awkwardly hiding his agonized expression. He could count to ten in his head and Yunho stood beside him. He should've been more on alert. Damn it!

“Mingi-ah?” Yunho put a hand on Mingi's shoulder, and Mingi shuddered. “Mingi what's wrong? You don't look good.”

“I have to go home,” Mingi just muttered, already reaching for his bag and shutting down the computer. Yunho looked at him surprised, trying to get a glimpse of Mingi's expression.

“What happened? Are you feeling unwell?” Mingi could hear the worry in Yunho's voice, but he had to get home before everything would start falling apart.

“I'm….” Mingi took a deep breath, pushing himself up from his chair. “My rut started.” Yunho's eyes widened.

“Right now? You mean here? In the office? Mingi why aren't you at home?!” He whisper-shouted, taking Mingi's bag from him. “Let's go.”

Yunho brought Mingi downstairs and out of the building. He led him to his own car, not letting Mingi protest on the matter. He would bring Mingi home, no matter what.

“What's your address?” Yungo asked as he put his seatbelt on, looking at Mingi who was squirming in the passenger seat. Mingi knew the scent patches could do nothing for him anymore now that his rut was coming on full force. He managed to croak out his address, seeing Yunho's deep frown. Still, Yunho drove him home. It was a short ride, since Mingi would usually walk or take the bus, but he knew that that would be a bad idea right now. He was reeking of…. What was it? It wasn't even a distinct rut smell. It was something, and it was slowly driving Yunho insane.

When they arrived, Yungo helped Mingi up to his apartment. Mingi leaned against his bedroom door, exhausted, needy, but he didn't open it. Yungo reached out to help him, but Mingi quickly grabbed the door handle, holding it still.

“I'm alright hyung—” Yunho let go of the handle, looking at Mingi. Mingi knew he wasn't gonna press. Wasn't going to make him say it, would never pressure Mingi to tell him anything. But the sadness was visible in Yunho's eyes. And right now, Mingi was weak. He was weak, and he would drop to his knees in front of Yunho to beg him to stay if that last bit of self control would leave him.

“Hyung, I…” Mingi breathed heavily. He couldn't explain everything in this short of a time. His rut was taking over his mind quickly, and he knew he couldn't stop it. He didn't want to embarrass himself. That would turn out to be a challenge.

“Can I have your hoodie?” He question came out of nowhere, Mingi's voice hoarse and desperate. Yunho complied without a word, handing Mingi his hoodie. Mingi slid down against the door, burying his face in the soft fabric. He took deep breaths, like he was suffocating, like he couldn't survive if he was away from this intoxicating smell for a second too long. Yunho crouched down in front of him, patting over his head gently.

“Please say something Mingi. I don't wanna leave you here. I promise you, whatever it is… if it's a part of you then it can't be bad,” Yunho spoke to him softly. Mingi could hear the desperation in Yunho's voice too, now. A hint of something deeper, something more primal in the way they were now.

“Hyung…” he sighed, peaking out behind the hoodie he was still pressing against his face. “You may not understand.” Yunho just shook his head.

“I don't have to understand everything right now. I just want to help you. Please?” Mingi could see that Yunho wasn't lying. He knew that trusting anyone with his rut wasn't smart, but right now, all he wanted was to be embraced by Yunho and never let go. So he reached for the door handle again and pushed the door open. Yunho helped Mingi get up again and stumble into the room, where Mingi let himself fall into a nest.

Yunho stopped in his tracks, staring at the nest made of different fabrics, clothes, pillows and blankets, looking blankly at it. Mingi looked up and froze, seeing Yunho's expression.

“Hyung-?”

“Why? Why, Mingi?” Yunho muttered, still unmoving. His eyes wandering over the clothes that all smelled like Mingi.

“What do you mean—” Mingi looked down at the nest, visibly embarrassed, but he didn't understand why Yunho would react this…dramatically. It wasn't normal for alphas to build nests, he knew that, but Yunho was really playing it up a little—

“I took you out on dates. You said you would like that. You said…” Yunho let out a shaky breath, and Mingi started to panic. Had he upset Yunho? What was happening? Yunho swallowed hard.

“I'll stay with you through your rut if you want me to,” he said in a hoarse voice. “But don't expect me to stick around after this.”

Mingi's expression dropped, and his eyes widened. Yunho was this upset about him not fitting the standard. Mingi's eyes glistened with tears, he had nothing to say. If this was Yunho's decision, he would respect it. Mingi subconsciously pressed Yunho's hoodie to his face again. His lungs were burning with the need to breathe in more of this heavenly scent, but his wolf was deeply distraught at the fact that the pretty alpha in front of him didn't like him.

Yunho looked conflicted, and Mingu wanted nothing more than to make that go away, if there was even anything he could possibly do to make that happen, but his rut brain was urging him to other things, and Mingi started pawing at his own hoodie, needing to get it off, needing to escape the heat—

Yunho let out a gasp, and his expression could only be described with horrified.

“Mingi…” Yunho slowly came closer, eyes wandering all over his body, taking in the view of scars over scars. “What- what…” Yunho tried to find the words, but he just ended up staring down at Mingi in absolute terror.

“‘ts just… my…” Mingi panted, trying to stay level-headed, which was getting harder by the minute.

“Mingi, I don't understand anything anymore. I know I said you can tell me whenever you were ready, but… I didn't think that would mean I'd have to find out something like this. I told you that I'm fine dating an alpha only to find out you're not, apparently, and I… that wasn't how I imagined this to go. I'm sorry, Mingi.” Yungo sighed, his face showing how much it hurt him to say these words. Mingi didn't understand.

“But- but I… I like you..?” Mingi said, his voice unsteady and almost whiny. Yunho swallowed hard.

“Then whose nest is this?” He asked eventually, voice cracking a little as he spoke, his eyes falling down to the piles of planets and clothes.

“M-mine…” Mingi replied, a bit unsure of what Yunho was trying to get at.

“Your nest? Mingi, do you think I'm stupid?”

“No!” Mingi sat up, only to whince in pain when his cramps his again, tears collecting in the corners of his eyes now. “No, I- I'm- I lied, Yunho, and I'm sorry I did, I thought you'd hate me if I wasn't a…” Mingi let out a sob, not wanting to say it. He had promised himself not to use this phrase anymore, but right now, Mingi was weak. Really weak. “I'm not…a real alpha,” he brought out, and everything inside of him cramped, he wanted to throw up with the feeling, a sob getting stuck in his throat while he felt his body heating up even more. He was burning up now, and he wanted to hide away from Yungo in embarrassment. It was silent for a while before Mingi felt a hand on his shoulder, almost making him whine.

“It's okay. I don't understand any of this, I'll be honest. But if you really mean it… if you actually mean it, that this is your nest, and that no one else…”

That's the moment it clicked for Mingi. Did Yunho really think that an omega had built this nest? It wasn't a good one by any means, it would have been a compliment in any other situation, where Yunho didn't think he had been two-timing the entire time. Mingi shook his head hard.

“This is my nest. I made it, no omega has been in my apartment since I moved here, you can… you can look around, it's…” Mingi winced, distress souring his sweet scent. Yunho quickly hushed Mingi, rubbing his side and nodding.

“It's okay, it's okay, I believe you Mingi. It doesn't make any sense, but I believe you. I want to believe you, at least.”

“I can explain,” Mingi scrambled to sit up, his mind swirling with different emotions and the constant pull towards Yunho and his sweet scent. Mingi tried to get out a coherent sentence, but ended with his face in the crook of Yunho's neck, desperately taking in the scent there, holding back from right up lapping at his skin. Yunho just patted over Mingi's head, letting him indulge in his scent. He still wasn't sure what any of this meant, and Mingi's thoroughly scarred body still had him on edge, but he was trying his best to remain calm, pumping out his alpha pheromones which Mingi seemed to be starving for.

It wasn't long till Yungo had needy, sweaty Mingi in his lap, whining against Yunho's scent glands while helplessly rutting his hips up, not finding the friction he was hoping for. Yunho almost pitied him at this point, wanting to help Mingi, but he wasn't sure if Mingi would want this if he wasn't in rut, or how he would even go about this. Mingi had said something about not being a “real alpha”. What did that even mean? What could he do for Mingi in this state without overstepping multiple boundaries? In the end, Yunho settled for letting Mingi squirm around in his lap till the wave would go away. Maybe if Mingi had a moment of clarity between waves, he could speak to him and they could talk about consent and what Mingi needed. This turned out to be a longer wait than expected. Yungo watched Mingi fall apart in his lap, gasping for air, tears running down his cheeks as he let out strings of incoherent words and tried but failed to articulate his needs.

When the first wave finally seemed to be fading, Yunho made Mingi sit up and take a few sips out of a bottle he found next to Mingi's bed. When Mingi appeared sane enough to think and speak again, Yunho was quite relieved.

“Feeling alright?” He asked carefully, not wanting to push Mingi right into the next downward spiral. Mingi just nodded a little, looking pretty exhausted.

“I want to help you, Mingi-ah,” Yungo said in a calm voice now. He was set on making the best of this situation. “Tell me what you need, how I can help… please.” Mingi just looked up at him with puffy cheeks, and Yunho's eyes fell back on his exposed chest. He hadn't been able to keep his eyes off the scarred and demolished skin, and with Mingi sitting so calmly now, it was almost impossible not to look. Mingi noticed, of course, and Yunho quickly shook his head.

“You don't have to tell me. This isn't my place, I'm not gonna press on it—”

“You can ask.”

Mingi's voice was hoarse but steady now. Yunho looked over his chest one more time. The scars were obvious bite marks, some seemed deeper than others, but they must have been really dangerous. There were so many, and Mingi was still wearing his pants, too. Yunho didn't wanna know how many more they were. He took a deep breath before asking: “What happened?”

“I got bitched.”

The words stung in Yunho's chest, his eyes widening, he didn't know what to say. It was pretty obvious that it had been against Mingi's will. Bitching and studding were controversial topics even in modern society, but from the looks of it, this was not a voluntary act with safety measurements being taken.

“Why..?”

Mingi swallowed dryly before looking down at Yunho's chest and shoulder, his scent still alluring to his rut-riddled brain.

“I grew up in a cult. I know that sounds pretty insane, but maybe you heard of it. They call themselves the alpha supremacy movement. They're activists who believe that alphas should be on top of society. And they don't play around with people who go against their… teachings, or whatever.” Mini shrugged. His eyes were still zeroing in on Yunho's scent glands, and eventually Yunho pulled him closer, allowing him to indulge in the heavenly scent right from the source.

“So you went against their rules? And they bitched you…for that?”

“In simple terms, yeah. My biology got stuck in between somewhere. I ran away. My omega didn't make it.”

Yunho's eyes widened at that.

“You had an omega?”

“Arranged,” Mingi explained. “When an alpha is of age they're given any omega if they haven't chosen one already. I was forced to mate with them. Which would be the end for the omega.”

“So you tried to run away?”

“I tried to help the omega escape.”

Yunho nodded slowly.

“So I'm taking they caught you?”

“Yes. I saw horrible things that day. Things I can never forget.”

Yunho let out a heavy breath, nuzzling his nose into Mingi's hair.

“I'm sorry I just assumed something about you. I had no idea. This is why your scent is unusual, I suppose?”

“Yeah,” Mingi nodded, getting more restless again. Right, Yunho had wanted to talk about helping Mingi, he was still in rut after all. Or was he? Was it a heat? Yunho didn't know.

“The doctor diagnosed me with intersexuality of my wolf because I have no distinct subgender. I'm basically in between but not quite. I'm both and nothing. I don't really know either.”

Yunho felt those words tugging on his heart, and he wanted to pull Mingi impossibly closer to him and promise that no one would ever hurt him again. Yunho felt his own alpha instincts flairing up and urging him to keep Mingi safe, protect, protect, bite—

Yunho quickly shook his head. No, he was here to help Mingi. He had to stay focused. They only had so much time before his next wave.

“Mingi, is there anything I can do to help you? I don't know if you'd be comfortable with that, but I'd love to help you through your…rut? Heat? Whatever you uhm…prefer.”

“I uhh- rut.” Mingi muttered, looking slightly embarrassed now. Yunho had a feeling that Mingi would be embarrassed about his omega features or behaviors, and he was very ready to make him feel good about it. Whatever the sweet man wanted, Yunho couldn't imagine denying him anything.

“So what do you like for your rut? How do you like to spend it?”

“Alone,” Mingi said before he could think about the implications of that, and he quickly shook his head again.

“I mean— I used to— I'm just not very… I'm kind of… I'm just shy,” Mingi admitted with red cheeks, squirming in Yunho's lap. He was getting restless again, pawing at Yunho's shirt and burying his nose in Yunho's neck.

“Would you like some help? Let out that pent up energy? Rut energy?”

“But I…” Mingi was uncomfortably shifting around, and Yunho just held him gently.

“Mingi. You have to tell me what you need.”

“Hyung~” Mingi whined, looking more needy than anything. “I can't… I don't have a knot anymore,” he whispered, and Yunho could basically hear the shame that was carrying the words to his ears. Before Mingi's scent could sour again, Yunho shook his head quickly and pulled Mingi closer in his lap.

“I don't care. If you need to mount someone I'll volunteer.”

Those words just made Mingi curl in on himself more, and Yunho didn't know how to coax him out of his shell of shame and embarrassed.

“Mingi it's okay. There's no pressure on anything. I just want to help.” Mingi let out a small whine, gripping Yunho's shirt closely.

“I- hyung, I…”

Yunho patiently waited for Mingi to form his sentence, rubbing soothing circles on his back.

“Tell me what you need, Mingi. I wanna help.”

Mingi took a deep breath, never backing away from Yunho's addictive scent, before finally making his confession.

“Please fuck me.”

Yunho was caught off guard for only a second before quickly gathering himself again and keeping his scent warm and comforting.

“You mean you want to bottom?”

“Yes. Need to. Need it, hyung.” Yunho nodded.

“Yeah, yeah that- okay.”

Yunho helped Mingi get rid of his pants, revealing more scars to the light of day. Yunho still wanted to ask about them later, but right now was not the time. Mingi needed him, and now.

Yunho had Mingi splayed out in the nest in no time, pumping two fingers in and out of him slowly. Mingi was a hot mess, his scent strong and confusing, giving a strong mix of something sweet and something earthy that made Yunho's mouth water. Yunho had been with omegas before. Had helped them through heats, had been in that position before. He believed himself to have quite good self control when it came to his partners. But Mingi was a whole different case. Because Mingi was no omega.

This should be making everything easier for Yunho, but it just didn't. With every languid stroke of his fingers along Mingi's tight walls and every needy sound Mingi let out, Yunho was growing a little bit more insane.

He prodded a third finger carefully, the sound Mingi let out was calling out to him in a way Yunho could only describe as addictive. He wasn't used to this. Omegas didn't have this effect on him. But Mingi made him want to forget himself and let go of all restraint. But that wasn't going to happen for now. Mingi was tight despite everything, and Yunho was committed to stretching him out nicely. He wasn't exactly small for an alpha, and he knew that.

“Hyung, ah- I'm ready, please,” Mingi wailed, back arching off the mattress.

“Not yet, darling,” Yunho replied, his voice almost a growl. He didn't know what about Mingi made him so protective, but he eventually had mercy on Mingi, pushing a fourth finger inside.

Mingi let out a little sob, trying to push back against the intrusion. Yunho watched him hungrily, letting him move freely. He's never understood the obsession that other alphas had with being in control of everything in the bedroom. Yunho was obsessed with the way Mingi was craving him, it would feel wrong to try and hold him back from expressing all that.

“Mingi, baby, you said you don't knot anymore, yeah?” Yunho asked, just to go completely sure. There was a reason why alphas didn't bottom most of the time, and any alpha who had ever popped a knot without stimulating it right knew exactly why. It was unbearable. Mingi winced at the question, looking up at Yunho with his reddened eyes.

“‘ts tiny,” he panted, the embarrassment visible on his face.

“Aww. Got a tiny lil’ knot, yeah?” Yunho pressed a kiss on his cheek, watching Mingi squirm and ears turning pink as he nodded.

“That's adorable. You gonna show me, baby? Let me fuck you and you can show me your pretty little knot, hm?”

Mingi let out a sob. He felt so good, Yunho's fingers were so long, reaching all the right places, and his words were making Mingi’s head swirl. He had expected Yunho to be condescending or even make fun of him, but Yunho asking him to show off his knot to him was incredibly hot to think about.

“I wanna see you pop a little knot for me,” Yunho said, pulling his fingers out carefully. Mingi whined at the loss, but quickly caught sight of Yunho undoing his belt, and that was something he liked to see. It wasn't fast enough though, anything that wasn't immediate sex was not enough for him right now, he needed to be filled immediately and that wasn't happening. Mingi turned around to his stomach and pulled his knees up, arching his back to present himself to Yunho. He did his best to allure the alpha, wanting to impress him the best he could. Yunho could basically taste Mingi's desperation in his scent, and quickly got rid of his own clothes. Right as he tossed his briefs away, he picked up on a new scent. It was a bit weak still, but it was distinct and unmistakable. Slick.

Yunho took a deep breath, a growl rumbling somewhere deep in his chest.

“You slick?” He asked, sounding almost breathless.

“Not usually, jus’ on my rut,” Mingi replied, gripping desperately onto the sheets. He needed it now, now, faster, now already, he wanted to cry out with the need, but before he could, he felt a flat tongue swipe over his entrance, making him shudder. He let out an embarrassing moan, immediately pushing back against the feeling.

“Hyung please,” he whined, and yes okay, Yunho couldn't resist him any longer. He kneeled behind Mingi, who was still presenting himself. He truly looked like an animal in heat. In rut, Yunho reminded himself. Mingi preferred to call it a rut.

“You ready?” The desperate whimper was enough answer for Yunho, and he started to press the tip inside slowly, moaning loudly when Mingi's entrance gave and allowed him to slip inside. Mingi was shaking under him now, Yunho assumed it was with need, so he didn't wait too long before slowly sinking deeper, eventually connecting his hips with Mingi as he bottomed out. It felt heavenly. Yunho realized that he wouldn't be able to do this with anyone else without thinking about this. About Mingi.

“Hyung,” Mingi tried to rock back already, and Yunho knew he needed it bad.

“Don't worry, I'll fuck you good,” he assured, pulling his hips back slowly. He let out a loud moan at the first snap of his hips together with Mingi, who was clutching the sheets tightly.

“More, more, more,”

“I got you,” Yunho panted, starting to build up a steady rhythm, but it was hard with how tight Mingi was. The slick wasn't much, but enough to make it smooth, and Yunho wanted to taste it again so badly. Mingi was messing with his mind more than any omega had. In that moment, Yunho suddenly wished that he could get Mingi pregnant. It came out of nowhere, the thought, and it made Yunho's whole body shudder.

He didn't want children. He wasn't at that age, not ready for such a commitment. Not realistically speaking. But the thought of knocking Mingi up was starting to seem really appealing right now. Yunho tried to forget the thought and give Mingi what he had been begging for so much, but it was hard to forget with Mingi moaning under him like that. Yunho was leaning over Mingi more and more, fucking into him fast and desperate, teeth scraping over his back carefully. He avoided the scars, licking over his skin, tasting the saltines of his sweat. Mingi was coming apart under him, moaning with every thrust. This was heaven on earth. Yunho could barely contain himself, he was burning up with the need to knot Mingi, despite him not having the usual omega scent that was supposed to have that effect on him. No, Mingi smelled like something different. Like something unique, calling out to all of him, drawing him in and keeping him obsessed.

Mingi was shaking, being pushed into the mattress with every powerful movement. It had been so long for him. He didn't remember the last time he had felt so full and sated, filled to the brim with alpha cock. His brain was turning to mush with every thrust, and he could feel the telltale tingling of his knot forming, even though he knew it would be barely visible.

To say that Mingi was ashamed of his knot was an understatement. The knot was every alpha's pride, not just as a powerful sign of his subgender, but also because of the underlying meaning it held. An alpha without a knot can't satisfy. Can't lock himself together with an omega. And most importantly, can't get an omega pregnant. At least that's the popular belief around the topic. Of course it's technically still possible for an alpha without a knot to impregnate an omega, but it was deeply rooted in the minds of people that this wasn't possible. Something evolutionary, Mingi had been told. To make it short – an alpha without a knot just isn't an alpha anymore. And Mingi hated his small excuse of a knot.

He had tried everything. Tried pills, tried various shady Internet methods. He couldn't correct his subgender anymore. He had long ago tried to make peace with that knowledge. But being here now, getting fucked into oblivion and feeling his knot tingle, made him want to disappear into the ground. He was so exposed, so vulnerable, and Yunho could see absolutely everything if he only wanted to look. His pathetic attempt of a knot.

Yunho noticed Mingi's scent thickening with bitterness, and leaned closer to lick over Mingi's scent glands.

“What is it?” Yunho purred, teeth scraping over the skin, making Mingi shudder and squirm again.

“Close,” is all Mingi gave him, so Yunho slammed his hips forward, punching more moans out of Mingi.

“Are you gonna show me your knot? Wanna see it,” Yunho panted, one hand gripping tightly onto Mingi's waist. It was quite slim for his proportions, yet unmistakably the broad and strong body of an alpha, Yunho noted to himself. An alpha he wanted, no, needed to get pregnant. As impossible as it was. His brain just didn't care. He wanted to see Mingi's knot, wanted to make him cry out from pleasure, kiss him, fuck him, bite him—

Mingi wailed when he felt Yunho's teeth dig into his shoulder a bit too hard, and Yunho quickly let go of him again.

“Sorry baby, smell so good,” he panted out, trying to lick over the irritated skin to soothe it, seeking out more of Mini's scent. He'd never want to add to the scars on Mingi's body, unless Mingi ever asked him for a claiming bite. That, he would do without hesitation.

“S’ close, hyung,” Mingi sobbed, trying to bite into a pillow, drool smearing around the sheets. Mingi was seeing stars, but the feeling of his knot forming was filling him more and more with shame, especially since he could very clearly feel the swelling of Yunho's knot. It was fat and strong and it would undoubtedly lock them together for a while, meanwhile his own knot would barely be visible. Tears filled his eyes anew and he felt his dick slap against his stomach with every thrust, and all he wanted to do was disappear in his nest so Yunho couldn't see the pathetic thing forming at the base of his dick.

“You gonna cum for me, baby?” Yunho rasped, gripping on Mingi's waist, fucking into him desperately. It was no secret that Yunho was very affected by all this, and Mingi was glad that Yunho wasn't far behind. Despite all shame, he did still want Yunho's knot more than anything. Something in him was screaming for it, and he could feel the desperation seeping through the cracks of Yunho's tough facade.

“You can cum for me baby. Don't worry. I'll help you through it, gonna fuck a baby into you—”

Yunho choked on his own words as they left his lips, his dignity leaving with them. How could he slip up this badly? To his surprise, Mingi only moaned, panted, and came with a cry, legs shaking litke he was about to give out. Yunho hadn't been fully prepared for this, but he wasted no second, keeping up his rhythm while reaching around Mingi and gripping his base. He could feel the slight bulge of something resembling a knot, and Mingi had been right, there was barely anything. Not caring at all, Yunho squeezed. He squeezed Mingi's tiny knot, because that's what you do, that's how you help an alpha ride out their orgasm, squeezing their knot hard, giving them the dizzying friction they needed. Mingi gave out. He was just a body hanging off a cock now, blissed out, sobbing into the sheets, trembling through the most intense orgasm of his life. Yunho groaned at the sight, picking up his pace again, he needed to cum inside of Mingi this instant.

Still giving Mingi's knot pulsing squeezes, he chased his own release, till he had to let go to hold onto Mini's waist.

“Can I knot you?” He asked, out of breath, so close to finishing. Mingi just nodded, brainless and boneless, allowing Yunho to use his body however he wanted.

“Gonna—” Yunho grabbed Mingi closer, closer, hips speeding up, needy, addicted, desperate. “Gonna breed you full,” Yunho choked out, mouth falling open right above Mingi's neck, fighting the urge to bite down with all left self restraint in him.

“Gonna fuck my pups into you,” Yunho almost growled, before feeling himself tip over the edge. He pressed his hips up, grinding hard into Mingi until his rim opened up and Yunho's knot popped inside. Yunho groaned out a long moan as he spilled his seed into Mingi, mindlessly rutting forward, almost as if he was the one in rut. Definitely knot dumb, Mingi noted. And so easily. It was intoxicating.

“Knock you up,” Yunho mumbled, his voice quiet and fucked out.

“Knocked me up so good,” Mingi assured him, still catching his breath. Yunho's knot was stretching him out so good he never wanted it to go down. He was reveling in the feeling of being filled to the brim while Yunho was still babbling nonsense about putting his pups into Mingi – something that was very much impossible – and Mingi couldn't have been happier. He was full, sated, and he felt his rut already wearing off. Who knew all he needed was a good orgasm and a fat knot?

It took almost 20 minutes for Yunho's knot to go down. Mingi wasn't happy when it did happen, going full moody on Yunho and demanding to be filled again. And really, who was Yunho to deny him? If it meant he got to fuck Mingi again then sign him the fuck up. The next time he put in the effort to suck Mingi off, hearing him sob in embarrassment over his small knot. Yunho just moaned around him like it was the best meal he's had in years, making a small show of licking down his base and sucking over Mingi's little knot, who definitely didn't cum from that, no way.

To put it short – Yunho was heaven. Mingi was almost disappointed when his rut ended, because it meant he would have to face the situation. The situation being that he had initially lied to Yunho, and they still very much had to talk about that. And also the painful truth that he and Yunho were still nothing official. Mingi almost mourned his last orgasm when he finally got out of the shower and Yunho dried him off with a soft smile. He carefully rubbed down his chest, softly tapping over the scars. Mingi felt so small next to Yunho, even though he really wasn't. Yunho just had a way of making him feel soft and cuddly.

When they finally sat on Mingi's bed, fresh sheets and a new blanket, Yunho couldn't help himself anymore. He ran his hand through Mingi's still drying hair, looking at him like he was his everything.

“I really wanna kiss you.”

Mingi blinked at him a few times.

“I think we did worse…”

“But that's different. And I still wanted to ask. If I can. Can I?”

“Yeah.” Mingi gave him a shy smile in return, feeling way too excited when Yunho leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Mingi kissed him back gently, almost carefully, enjoying the tenderness of the kiss. It was no heat anymore, just honest feeling and the pulling on their hearts and their lips come together once again.

“Never thought I'd fall in love with an alpha,” Yunho admitted with a small chuckle, chasing after Mingi's lips for another quick peck.

“Well…technically…” Mingi shrugged, seeming a bit unsure. “Technically I'm not really an alpha.”

“Don't care. If you say you are one, then you are to me.”

Mingi couldn't contain the grin spreading over his face, eyes turning to little crescents. He couldn't with Yunho.

“Well, for being in love with an alpha you sure did try hard to knock me up.” Now was Yunho's turn to blush, and he hit against Mingi's shoulder embarrassed.

“Shut up, I was… that's different…”

“I kinda liked it,” Mingi admitted, playing with his fingers. “Would you, like… do it again? Or like, I mean… would you… could you imagine yourself with me, being like, something serious?” Mingi asked, using all his courage.

“I really want to. I wanna be something with you. Be your's. A lot, Mingi. I really like you. But I think there's some things I wanna know. About you. Your past. I want to understand. I want to know how you came to be the person you are today. Not to say that I don't love you like this- I just… I want to understand. And I want to know how I can be there for you.”

Mingi looked at him with a touched expression, hugging his knees to Chris chest. He was stupidly in love with this man, and nothing could save him from that anymore.

“You can ask, hyung.”