Chapter Text
"I think we should no longer drag this relationship." This is what Harua's partner says when he once settles on the chair in front of the said man. It's a calm Saturday, maybe a little bit too ordinary.
"If you think it is what you want, we can break it off," Harua replies. He thinks it's not something out of the blue, because it is coming from somewhere, and they both know where. They have been going strong for a while until they weren't
The omega sips his milkshake, and Harua's eyes catch on the glint from the piercing on his lip as the summer sun hits his face. His blond hair was sticking to his neck. The heat is taking a toll on both of them. But especially more on Harua, he feels like melting. Skin too tight, head fuzzy.
"But is it really what you want?"
"As you know, if it is mutual, we can break the contract before it ends." The blond omega leans closer, lowering his voice when he says the last part. He totally ignores Harua's question, clearly made up his mind.
It doesn't matter if it is hot, so the pheromones get more potent. Harua can't smell them— nor can the other people in the cafe, hence why they chose this place. But there was a faint flower smell lingering in the air.
You cannot call what they have a relationship, nor a typical one, even if you can. They are not in love, and Harua is neither an alpha nor a dominant one; it's unusual for a beta and an omega to be in a relationship. But it's more common than you think.
It is the kind that is unusual.
"If it is what you want, we can end it. But no one last play before saying goodbye?" Harua probes; he was expecting this conversation to happen sooner or later, but still, it would've been nice if they had one more play. He was feeling extra pent up these days.
"Ah, no, believe me, one last play would make me hate you, and I don't want that."
With that being said, they settle into a mutual silence. The chatter of the cafe fills the gap. They have been in this agreement for a while now, if you even count before it started, they have known each other very closely for the past 5 months.
Meeting consistently once a week, if not twice, Harua was his go-to in heats, and the place he let himself be free when he wasn't. The same went for Harua as well; it was relieving to be able to be with someone you don't need to hide your true self.
It's a shame it ended, but it is probably for the best, Harua thinks.
It was fine, really, because for the last few weeks, and most of the time, in the scenes Harua had been observing a difference from the omega. It was not a matter of time but who had the most problems with the situation.
"You can still come to R.U.S.H, you are a member too. Don't let our past hold you back from finding someone," The pretty omega smiles with the cutest and most innocent way, tugging on his lips, but Harua knows better not to trust the glint in his eyes.
But Harua smiles back regardless, even if it is bitter. Because his partner— ex-partner knows how Harua is.
"You know I will go more than you." It is not his fault that he is the way he is.
"I know, but I also know how you get when you don't let it out. So don't hold it in for too long, okay?"
The sexual chemistry between them is beyond the charts. Harua can't ignore the obvious. And he learned everything he knew about BDSM through the older omega, experienced it right from the source.
Maybe they clicked too fast because of physical attraction, and since Harua was inexperienced and not exactly sure what he liked, it lasted longer than it should. As they explored each other's bodies and personalities, their preferences soon started to clash. And it became a chore rather than something they both enjoyed.
"Don't act as if you care now." The omega scoffs at the beta's words and shakes his head in disagreement. Again, it's not like they're in love; they don't need to act like they are. The two of them had started this relationship because finding someone who fit their preferences was as hard as finding someone who also loves them back.
Harua had noticed from an early age that being a beta in a world ruled by alphas and their omegas, he was too unimportant for the rest of the lot. But he also knew he was not the normal kind of beta, or person, for that matter. So it did not stop him from taking what he wanted. You see, he liked being in control, dominating, and giving orders, and making an omega submit was easy; Harua had not felt any accomplishment from making someone who was meant to submit.
But when he met an alpha boy in high school, just freshly presented— slowly growing into the role of the dominant species he is supposed to be, it made him want to act on his instincts. And soon enough, he had the alpha in the palm of his hand, relinquishing on the scene of an alpha kneeling before him, begging for his attention and care. Harua realized what kind of person he is.
Someone who exercises control.
Regardless of their gender and sub-gender. And it affected both his love and sex life. So why was he bound with a contract to an omega?
"Don't miss me too much, okay? And don't call for anything, call Fuma-san. From now on, we only know each other from the music club."
The omega in front of him was not like the others; that's why he even started the relationship in the first place. He was not an easy person to begin with, all spoiled and needy, but no, he was the opposite of what he wanted. He had learned it after conducting a professional Master-pet relationship with the omega over the summer.
And it did make his life easier, at first, but now it was not enough. Harua needs someone who can let go of control and give the reins into his hands, not because they can, but they want to.
"I won't even look your way, actually." Without even saying goodbye, the omega leaves the cafe like a cat, leaving Harua. Swift movements of hips, too much confidence for his own good.
And this is how Harua broke off his first Master-pet relationship over the summer of his first year in college.
⋆⦮ ⦯𝄢
Maki had always thought that sub-genders did not hold too much significance in his life. He had grown up in a house full of alphas and dominant alphas. And in high school, he went to a non-sub-gender mixed school, so he had not thought betas and omegas were that much different from him. All of that had changed the second he started university.
Sure, there were still communities exclusive to sub-genders, but he had never interacted with the other species this much, mingling and operating in the same place. Since he was a dominant alpha, every pheromone was like a constant buzzing, a riot of colors, and various tastes. He got headaches from all the different pheromones he got exposed to in the first weeks.
The only time he could give himself a break was when he went back to his dorm, an Alpha's dorm close to the campus, but Maki soon realized he had no luck when it came to things like that. His roommate was, well, too sexually active, and it wouldn't have bothered him if he hadn't sneaked omegas into their room as well.
Good thing his roommate was thoughtful, even if a little; he did not bring anyone at night, or usually when Maki was in the dorms, he conducted his restricted business, only when he had the room to himself, but the pheromones lingered. And it reeked; it got Maki closing his nose and breathing through his mouth for the entire night so that he was always sleepless most of the week.
It was too obvious that he was struggling, falling asleep in classes or dozing off in the middle of the day. He had started to spend some nights at Mackiah's room. But not this week because the other alpha's rut was approaching, and it was not the best time to be in close quarters with the other. He had plenty of experiences with his sister and brothers' ruts, snapping at the littlest things, getting handsy, and picking fights.
Maki didn't have ruts, perks of being a dominant alpha, and he didn't make the lives of his close friends a living hell with the uncontrollable pheromones. He is able to control his pheromones, releasing them when it's necessary and sometimes using them to his advantage. But of course, the high ability to be prone to them was one of its cons. Regardless, Maki was okay being in his skin. If only he could get a new roommate, life would be better.
"Dude, at least try not to make it so obvious that you're sleeping." And if he could get rid of the other alpha. Not that he had hated the guy, they were good friends, just Mackiah was too much sometimes. Especially when Maki was sleepless, and he was near his rut.
"I am not sleeping." Maki tries to open his heavy eyelids and acts as if he is listening to the professor's long monologue and Mackiah, who has been blabbering for the last fifteen minutes.
"Sure, what was I talking bout then?" Mackiah mumbles, not taking his eyes from the board full of writing. Maki doesn't know when they were written.
"You want to go to an SM bar but don't know how you will get in, see, I am listening." The sleepy alpha whispers back. It is not the wisest topic to talk about in the middle of the class, but when has Mackiah had any decorum?
The other alpha had been going on about trying BDSM for a while. Maki has no idea what it means— not entirely, but he didn't know there were bars and clubs for it. He was around the time of his rut, and the instincts lingered, and he was young, handsome, and a healthy alpha in college. Why would he not try new things? Only Maki was not that eager to go to a place he had no experience or information whatsoever.
Mackiah fidgets with the pen in his hand, "Even if I find a way to get in, I can't go in alone." Maki knows where this is going, and he has no intentions of getting himself into trouble. He has enough problems in his life already.
It was not hard to adjust to college, going to clubs, being swamped with new subjects and exams; he was just getting used to the rushed routine, but he loved the new life he had. "I swear to god if you try to drag me into this—"
"Why are you so uptight! Let's go and enjoy our time, we have just finished our exams."
"That is exactly why I just want to get some rest!" But then he remembers who he has in his dorm, and his face distorts into a scowl. He needs to change his room. He had complained and talked to the alpha about it after busting them in the act; his roommate had said he would take care of it, and he thinks he did, but the pheromones are everywhere, and Maki knows all too well that the other had not stopped his habit. So he has to go to the administration and request a change of rooms without exposing his roommates' ass, again, he doesn't want any problems, not with anyone.
"Just for one night, dude, I will let you sleep in my bed if you come." And it's a tempting offer, really, but then he remembers a certain omega with piercings and the smell of lilies, and he turns it down.
"What would I do there? You'll go and look for someone, and I will just sit and get bored."
"But—"
"Can I have some silence?" The professor looks directly at their table, and Maki wants to bury himself in a ditch.
They both nod and shut their mouths, but Maki knows Mackiah will drag it out until he gets what he wants.
But it does not matter, Maki doesn't have it in him to go to an SM bar; it does not interest him the slightest. Up until now, he didn't have any dating experience, well, not exactly, he had dated, but none of them were serious, he had messed around and had small hookups also, but again, nothing too big and unforgettable. Another con of being an alpha and going to an Alpha-only high school. He was too young to date in middle school, and when it was just the right time to date, there was no one in his environment with whom he could take a step. And going to an SM bar was like trying to marry before even dating.
So he shuts his mouth and closes his eyes. He needs to get at least some sleep. Even if it means missing out on the lecture, he can ask for notes from Mackiah later.
It is around mid-lunch hour when Maki gets lucky for the first time; they are heading back to class with Mackiah, and he sees Nicholas and Jo playing basketball with a few others. But he also sees the black head of an omega, who is way too familiar to Maki ever since the beginning of university.
Nakakita Yuma. An omega in third-year who Maki has had a very obvious crush on for 3 months.
You see, suddenly being exposed to mixed sub-gendered accommodations also brings the possibility of finding yourself a mate, but once again, Maki was not the luckiest when it comes to things like this. Of course, he has to fall for someone so out of his reach. In simple words, the older omega was the campus sweetheart and heartbreaker. Maki was not the only alpha tailing his scent.
He first saw Yuma in the music club, it was a meet-up for the new members of the club, and he had sang, Maki fell in love with the omega the second he heard the omega open his mouth.
He was like an angel, too pretty, too sweet, and too cute. The other people may not use those exact words to describe him, but in Maki's eyes, the eyebrow slit and the piercings did not take away from his cuteness. The older omega had this way of making everyone love him instantly with his easygoing personality and big smile that came to him easily.
After he entered the basketball club, Maki learned that Jo was a close friend of Yuma, and he also learned that the omega was a third-year student in the fine arts major. The older did not play basketball, or any sports for that matter, but he was close with the basketball club members, and Maki was also a basketball club member. So you would expect them to at least get familiar by now, but Maki was sure the other didn't even know his name. His luck was so bad that for the last 3 months, he had no chance to interact with his crush.
So he lunges at the chance at hand when he sees him play. Mackiah could whine all he wanted; he knows if he doesn't help him, Maki would talk nonstop— he will talk nonstop about Yuma either way, but at least it will be about the real thing and not his daydreamings about the older omega.
"Hey, do you guys need more people?" Maki calls out for Nicholas, gesturing to both of them with his other hand after the ball strays out of the court. He picks up the ball with one hand, bounces it a bit, and passes it back to Nicholas. They are all a little sweaty, probably from playing under the sun. Matthew is red- faced and Yuma looks energetic.
Nicholas shrugs, placing the ball under his arm. "Maki, hey! Sure, we are even anyway." Maki had learned way too late that the pink-haired club captain was actually an omega, a dominant one, hence why Maki didn't pick up his sub-gender in the beginning. But it didn't affect the way their friendship worked at all. Nicholas was a social butterfly, and since he was a fourth year, it felt like Maki had another big brother. The university was a place where Maki questioned everything he had known about sub-genders.
"How are you with basketball?" Nicholas means for Mackiah, who tries not to show that he doesn't want to play. Not that he was shy of all these people, but because he was not the best at the sport.
"Mackiah's good, better than Matthew probably." That makes Yuma laugh, a melodic sound Maki knows he won't get sick of. He can trash Matthew all the time if it makes Yuma happy, even though Matthew looks at him, judging. Maki shrugs.
Mackiah creeps up behind him while they're deciding on the teams, "You know I'm close to my rut, right?"
"So, I am helping you with letting out some steam, just don't get too into it, and you'll be fine." The other alpha already had his pheromones radiating; it did not bother Maki that much, but he knew the other omegas might pick up on it. But he cannot say not to play, if so, the teams wouldn't be even. So Maki came up with the worst idea he could come up with, "If your team wins, I'll come to that bar."
With that, Mackiah's eyes open wide, "Are you being real?" They're whispering in the middle of the court, and Nicholas is bouncing the ball while waiting for them. It shouldn't take too much time to make up the teams, but they wait for them regardless.
"Yeah, just don't embarrass me, dude." In this context, Maki is sure he will be the one embarrassing himself, but whatever.
The court is no match for their actual court in the club's building, with erased paint and designated borders with a ripped basketball net, but it's enough to play around. And so they split up into two teams of thirds: Maki, Nicholas, and Matthew, one team, and Yuma, Jo, and Mackiah, the other. Maki was whining internally that he was not on the same team as Yuma, but that meant he had the chance to go against the omega.
"Ready?" Jo asks when they stand face to face below the hoop, Maki flashes a smile,
"Whenever you are." He loved the older beta a lot, but he was not going to go easy on their team. Not when the stakes were too high.
So they start. They are playing with only half of the court, since they're not grand in numbers. And it would be all for fun and games if Nicholas and Jo didn't get all competitive. Seriously, they had just eaten. Maki feels like dying already.
He runs after Jo when he steals the ball from Matthew easily and strides with his long legs, but unfortunately, he has no chance to block him when he jumps high and scores a two-pointer.
It feels like Jo and Nicholas are only playing with each other. Mackiah only goes after Matthew, and that leaves Maki to go against Yuma. There is a big skill difference between them, but exactly because of that and nothing else, especially not because Maki can't even touch Yuma to get the ball from his hands, that they are losing.
"Aren't you in the basketball club?" Currently, Yuma has his back against Maki; the others are waiting for them to make a move, but Yuma just stalls Maki, switching the ball from hand to hand whenever Maki gets too close to swiping it from his hand. The omega is sweaty, with black hair sticking to his neck from the sweat, and the smell of lilies has Maki dizzy. Another thing about Maki that he didn't know was that omegas could smell this good, and it makes it so hard for him to focus.
"I am questioning myself too, don't worry." Yuma laughs, turning around quickly and passing the ball to Jo, who is waiting under the basket. Nicholas tries to block his shoot but the beta is too tall and too close to the basket, and the ball falls after it passes through the net.
Nicholas catches the ball mid-air and turns to him, "Maki, what are you doing, man?" And he has nothing to say but sorry.
Somehow, Matthew always gets his hands on the ball. But he knows he is an easy target, and so does everyone, so the ball ends up on Yuma— somehow, he is untouchable, before ending up in Jo's experienced ones and going through the net. Then what do you know, they are getting their asses handed to them.
They take a quick water break, but he and Mackiah just sit on the floor, breathing out. Yuma passes beside Maki and grabs his bag on the corner of the court. He takes out his water bottle and starts drinking with big gulps, eyes wandering around until he finds Maki already watching on. The water spills from his mouth to his sweaty neck. Maki gulps, Yuma winks, and wipes his mouth after chugging down the bottle to the last drops.
Nicholas's voice makes Maki break from the trance Yuma has him in. "Okay, let's continue!" And he gets up with red cheeks and a dry mouth. They start the set, Yuma is all cheerful; he probably figured Maki isn't able to get the ball from him, so they fall into a cycle until they're at match point and Maki's team is losing.
"Maki!" Nicholas yells from under the hoop, his two hands on the ball. Mackiah has him cornered, so his only option is to pass the ball, and Maki is just before him with Jo behind. He is at a perfect place to shoot; if he can make it, they will be tied.
The ball is in the air, Maki jumps, but Jo's long arms try to grab it from his sides. Maki catches it regardless; he rounds the beta and shoots from the free-throw line. It's a long shot, and Maki's sure it won't make it, but the ball hits the backboard and goes in perfectly.
"Holly shit!"
"Dude, that was a good shot!" Now they're at a tie. Nicholas high-fives him, and he claps Matthew while Jo goes to retrieve the ball. All Maki has to do is help Nicholas while holding back Jo from scoring, and all will be well. But it's just his luck that Matthew was so bad at playing that even his life depended on it.
"Hyung pass, pass me the ball!!" It is the last mark; they're in a tie, so the next who scores wins. After a few unsuccessful attempts from their team, they're still going strong. Maki is just under the hoop, and the ball is in Matthew's hand. He is blocked by Jo, towering above him, so he does the next best thing, passes the ball, it goes up, flying over, but not to Maki, but to Nicholas, who was closer to him.
Right when Nicholas was waiting for the ball to land in his hands, Maki sees Yuma lunge like a cat, arms over his head, and his shirt rides up, exposing the omega's stomach. Maki can't help but look, but when his eyes land on a patch of blank ink right on the omega's hip, it is half covered by his pants, but Maki makes out the petals of a flower, which throws him off balance. He momentarily freezes.
Yuma runs to the basket, bouncing the ball along with him. Maki is right in front of him now, blocking his way. The omega halts, a playful smile on his lips. Maki's arms are open wide, their bodies swaying in opposite directions. Then Yuma leaps to the side with a big step, their faces an inch apart. Maki smells the omega's pheromones from the proximity, sweet vanilla and lilies. His eyes close automatically. Then, the sweet scent vanishes, and Maki blinks open his eyes as quickly as he closed them.
Yuma turns his body abruptly, getting past the alpha who is currently frozen in his place. The next is the sound of the ball going through the hoop and bouncing off. Yuma's laugh echoes in his ears, but he is still frozen.
"Maki, what the hell was that!" Nicholas complains. Yuma is still giggling. But Maki doesn't know what had come over him, too. He turns around and sees Nicholas's scowl and Matthew's self-conscious face.
"We beat your asses, that's what!" Yuma yells over, jumping around an out of breath but smiling Jo. Mackiah is on the floor, legs wide, all slouched over. Everyone's more smelly now.
"Yeah, we did, we won Maki." Mackiah chirps from where he is, taking big breaths between each word. There is a big ass smirk on his face, and Maki knows what that entails all too well.
⋆⦮ ⦯𝄢
Maki knew the second the red-blue lights of the neon bar sign hit his eyes that he had made a mistake. It glowed extra bright over his head, since the sky lacked moonlight, and the clock on his phone was almost midnight.
He shifted on his hips as he looked at the sign, an abbreviation of words he did not know that read as R.U.S.H. They were in the queue of the so-called BDSM bar Mackiah had been bubbling about for the last week. After their match and Maki's big blow-up, and Mackiah's rut week, they finally made it to the bar.
And he would not have come if he had not lost the stupid bet. All because he was too greedy to spend more time with Yuma, and his stupid hormones.
It was not his fault entirely, well, it was his fault, alright, but you can't blame him for something he has no control over, which in this case was Matthew. The dude was a total disaster at playing basketball.
"Dude, are you sure we can just enter?" As far as he knows, clubs like these don't just let anyone in; they also need a membership, and neither Maki nor Mackiah has one.
"Tonight's an open night for new members, but of course I have invitations." The other alpha flicks his wrist, flashing two black tickets on his hand.
The music spilled out from the big door, with the hum of the cars passing by the street; it was loud enough that Mackiah was nearly screaming in his ear.
"How did you even get them? Aren't you like broke this month?" Maki yells back as he leans closer and gets slapped with the other alpha's pheromones, nose scrunching. He is too eager.
"Don't worry about it! I didn't pay too much anyway."
Maki feels all the more underdressed when multiple people exit the club with high boots, leather pants, and, lastly, masks that most of the time cover only their eyes.
"Okay, I didn't know this was a masquerade ball." Maki nudges beside him, as the other alpha sees where he is looking, a smile spreads on his face.
"Don't question, just go with the flow!"
He doesn't wear any masks and has not brought one with him. Nor does Mackiah. He is wearing an almost cropped metallic printed white shirt with fishnet sleeves that is under his thoroughly worn basketball club jacket, which is not a good look, promoting his university in an SM bar. He also has black pants with too many belts, which he can say fit the nonexistent dress code, but he doesn't feel like he fits in. It was not a feeling thing anyway; he does not fit in.
Why are they here anyway? They have no experience, no information— say for Maki. Just pure curiosity and dumb luck— from Mackiah's point of view. As the queue shortens and they are nearing the gate, Maki feels he is waiting to be judged to enter hell.
"Tickets." The bodyguard waiting outside before another entry asks, as if they are obviously not members, not that they are, but it all hurts Maki that they looked like it. Maybe he should not care about things like this too much, but he can't help it.
"There you go, two tickets for two alphas." Mackiah seems way too excited, bouncing from one leg to another as his hands swing in his pockets.
"That was not necessary information, I think," Maki says as he grabs Mackiah from his arm and brings them inside once the bodyguard nods towards the red wood door.
They both push from each side of the gate as the loud music hits their ears, along with another wave of pheromones of all kinds. The floors were covered with a red velvet rug, leading them to the opening. He doesn't know how a place like this—mixed with sub-genders- operates.
If he were just an alpha, he would only smell the pheromones and nothing more, but since he is a dominant, the pheromones tell him all he needs to know about a person, their emotions, or their cycles. It's all rendered in their scents.
Maki lets out his own pheromones as a defense mechanism, just enough to surround himself with his own scent. Pines and rosemary, not too musky, just fresh and strong enough.
The hallway eventually leads to the grand space where lights keep flashing and are crowded with bodies, but just about when they're going to step in, a certain someone with a black mask— a mask he sees on multiple people throws her hands to stop the young alphas.
She stands behind a table, "I know you guys are eager to get in, but you need to wear masks. Different colors rep—" Her speech cuts short, hands over the baskets frozen.
"Okay! Can we just pick one?" Mackiah talks over the girl; Maki thinks she's an omega, fresh, flowery pheromone. She is short and too pretty. All big eyes and lips with a smoky eyeliner, only the white of her eyes separating her makeup from the mask.
Maki picks the last white mask from the basket on the table, opposite to what the girl is wearing. There are some symbols in front of the baskets with arrows and circles. They shouldn't make sense to him, and they don't, so he just follows his heart.
The omega girl blinks her eyes and tilts her head, but Maki is already putting it on.
"I wanted the white one too," Mackiah rumbles from his side.
"Okay, we are out of them if you can wait a bit—"
"Well, actually, I can switch, so I don't mind." The girl nods, her lips pursed. Mackiah takes the black mask, but Maki couldn't put on the mask, so he turns around after giving it to Mackiah and waits until he is done.
"Can we go now?"
"I need names, not real names but nicknames."
"Why so uptight?" Maki slaps his arm. How his friend can be both understanding and stupid is beyond him. Just follow the instructions, nod, and try to blend in. That was his condition for tonight.
"There are people who want to keep this side of their life secret, just because they can." And they had every right to want it so, Maki can understand the reasoning behind it. He started to regret wearing the club jacket now.
Mackiah turns over to him, "Okay, do you have anything in mind?" he is wearing a skin-tight shirt with a sleeveless black denim jacket, showing his arms, unlike Maki, who is hiding under layers. It was late autumn, and he did not share the hot-blooded nature of the recently out of rut alpha beside him.
"I'll go with Kiri." The name pops into his head as they had watched Avatar with Nicholas the other day.
"Okay, I pick— hmm, Ron! How about Ron? It's fitting, I think," Maki nods as he wants to just get on with this stupid night. He was still adjusting to Mackiah's weird suggestions for hanging out.
"Ron and Kiri, it is, I need your wrists." The omega finishes writing up their names and picks up a stamp standing on what looks like ink beds.
She stamps Mackiah's wrist first; the stamp is small, just enough to cover his wrist. Once she lifts the stamp, black arrows forming an almost circle contrast with Mackiah's white skin.
Then Maki gives out his wrist, the hand closing around is warm and soft, he feels the cold ink, and he is also stamped. An invisible circle with a black arrow pointing upwards paints his wrist. And Mackiah is dragging him through the door from his other arm, Maki catches the wink the female omega sends his direction with her lips mouthing enjoy.
The place is big, alright, they step down a few stairs, and to the side, there is an open bar with glass shelves filled with colorful liquor and a few bartenders shaking drinks. There are black leather couches around the other corner with booths and tables, and the space in the middle is filled with dancing people.
Somehow, the pheromone smell is less potent here; maybe they use ventilation. But no matter what, it is not like how Maki had expected the place to look. Okay, he did not imagine people going around naked, or sex toys and chains hanging from the walls, but this felt normal, like he could enjoy his time here.
"Okay, let's split up—"
"What? No, let's not do that." Maki grabs Mackiah, the alpha turns around with a playful smile on his lips, "I was joking, let's get something to knock ourselves out. "
Maki squeezes his arm and lets go with relief. They go to the booths first, tables full of glasses and bottles. The music beats high in Maki's ear, and the flashing lights hit his eyes from time to time, but it gets his blood pumping in his veins.
Mackiah's eyes are going around, and he keeps drinking from the bottle in his hand, and they keep getting drawn into the conversation with all kinds of people. Asking about his preferences, teasing him, and sending teasing smiles in his direction. Maki feels like he is being watched by too many eyes.
"You're new, what's your name?" A female alpha with blood red lips grabs his attention. They're at the corner, Mackiah's dancing with a possible omega with a white mask.
"Kiri," Maki replies, his lips pursed into a straight smile. He doesn't understand why he keeps getting hit on by other people— all of them with black masks, alphas, omegas, and even betas.
"How do you find the place?" The woman is probably older than him; she has this way of carrying herself, too confident, and she smells too heavy. Her arm is resting above the backseat behind Maki, and he nods slowly.
"It is not so different from a normal bar," Maki answers and sips from the glass in front of him, avoiding talking much. He didn't come here to socialize after all.
"Then you haven't been to the playrooms. Wanna check it out? I can show you around."
"Oh, I think my friend is calling me, give me a second." Mackiah is not calling him; he is actually making out with the omega now, arms around each other and swaying to the beat of the music.
He hates that he has to interrupt their make-out session, but he couldn't think of a better excuse to drag himself from the situation. "I'm going to the bathroom!" Maki screams beside Mackiah, the other alpha doesn't even care, he swishes his arm his way and waves him off.
And Maki actually goes to the bathroom, his eyes catch the sign, and he goes down a few stairs, the music dimming as black walls close around him. He pushes on the door with the alpha sign. The bathroom is mostly empty, and a few of the stalls are closed. Maki starts washing his hands while checking himself out in the mirror. The white mask complements his short blond hair, and he actually looks unrecognizable. The mask covers half of his face, mostly his eyebrows and forehead.
He presses his wet palms to his scent glands; he is burning up from the heat from above. It is too crowded, and the cold soothes him a little. His eyes flick to the back with a small, muffled sound hitting his ears. He locks eyes with someone in the mirror— no mask, heavy eyeliner all smudged, black disheveled hair, but his face is covered from another person blocking Maki's vision from the angle.
Oh, they're making out.
He doesn't mean to stare, no, there are lots of people making out in every corner here, and if Maki had stopped and watched them like a virgin, he is, he wouldn't make it out the night, but the stranger's eyes also don't stray from his. And Maki gets a weird feeling that he knows the person, but just can't quite place who.
Then the other guy changes the angle of their faces, and Maki's eye catches the piercing on the familiar person's lips. He closes his eyes and moans out loudly when the other person lifts his hand inside his cropped shirt. The movement lights up the fluorescent lamp, and Maki gets a clear shot of the exposed skin of the person shoved back to the stall, just above his leather jeans.
A flower tattoo, too familiar for Maki to ignore. The same wires and the blooming flower etched on the skin of Yuma's hipbone he had seen just the other week. And then it hits Maki like a truck that the person who is moaning out in the alpha's bathroom of the BDSM club is no other than the omega he has a crush on.
It doesn't matter if Yuma recognizes him or not, Maki bolts out of the bathroom like he is chased and loses himself in the crowd. The music feels louder, the lights blind him, and there are too many people around him; he gets pushed from the sides.
He needs more alcohol to get through the night.
The mask kind of restricts his vision, and it's itchy; he can't exactly see his right or left, but he can make out where the open bar is; it's the most illuminated place in the bar. He seats himself to the end of the counter, easy to see the room but not too far away from the eyes. He takes in the shining bottles in front of him; he waves his hand for a bartender.
A bartender quickly makes his way to him, "What can I get you?" All the bartenders are wearing the same uniform and masks, of course, but they're red, matching their suits. This one, however, isn't, and it makes Maki feel he doesn't need to belong; he can just be.
"Something to make me forget? Oh, and keep it coming, please." Maki flashes a smile he thinks makes him cute, dimples popping. The bartender smiles fondly and shakes his head before heading for the bottles.
But still, he is out of place; he doesn't know how to move here. So he hopes it isn't too obvious. Because Yuma seemed like he belonged, with shadowy eye makeup and cropped shirts, tattoos, and making out with alphas in the bathrooms.
"Tonight is for making new memories, not forgetting them." The bartender quickly fills the glass with different liquids from a few different bottles. Then transfer them to the big cocktail glass after shaking them well, no ice or straw, and the drink is served.
"Well, I have made memories, and now I want to forget them," Maki says after tasting the drink. It's not too heavy but sweet, even, but he knows if he drinks a lot, it will get him drunk for sure. Just what he needs.
The bartender smiles at him softly, and before he can say more, he gets called by others, leaving Maki alone with his thoughts, the loud beat not enough to stop them from forming.
He would not in a million years have guessed Yuma was into BDSM; he did look the part, sure, but it wasn't smart to put people into stereotypes from their looks, but still. Maki had no idea that the sweet omega he liked dearly, with innocent feelings and hopes, was like that. The alpha who had this tongue down Yuma's throat may or may not be his boyfriend, but it did not change the fact that Yuma was with someone.
He downs two more glasses before sensing the pheromones coming his way. A musky scent wafts towards him, before a small shot glass with a big hand enters his eyesight. He turns around, it's an alpha, taller than Maki by a few inches, with a too smug of a smirk for his liking. Not that he prefers alphas, but still not his person. He has an almost see-through black mask bound on his head.
The blank look on his face brings a smile to the alpha's face, "You seem like you need something stronger." The alpha explains, leaning on his side between the space of the high chair Maki is sitting on and the empty one.
"I don't like tequila, though." It's an honest answer, although even if he did like it, he wouldn't have accepted the offer.
"So you're the sweet type. Are you new? You're cute." Okay, maybe the person next to him does prefer alphas; nothing wrong with it. But Maki usually goes for pretty omegas or female betas. Also, he didn't know he attracted alphas. Getting hit more than once tonight— even one was weird. Seriously, he didn't look the omega part either.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" He downs the last remaining of his drink before turning away, eyes looking for the bartender who served him drinks. He looked like the person to help.
"You see, alphas like you aren't a majority here." So he did know that Maki was an alpha, but what does 'alphas like you' mean?
"That doesn't change anything." That bartender is busy, and it gets on his nerves; he isn't drunk enough to deal with the other alpha right now, with any of the alphas, for that matter.
"Don't play hard to get now—"
"Oh, Lin, you are too bad at reading the room. He clearly isn't interested in alphas." A third voice joins the conversation as Maki was just about to open his mouth and say he was not interested.
Maki whips his head to the other direction. It's a guy with a black mask as well— why does everyone wear a black mask?! It also covers the upper half of his face. He is shorter than both of the alphas and prettier than the others, almost as pretty as Yuma— even though he can only see his nose and lips under the dim light, the only other feature he could pick out was the deep red hair. But Maki sensed no pheromones; he didn't even realize he was approached from behind.
So a dominant omega then.
Maki finds it unusual since the place was basically for letting out pheromones. "What, you think you have a chance?" The alpha scoffs, since Maki is the only one sitting, and in the middle, it is a bit hard to get out of the situation easily.
"Maybe if you ask the person, he might answer? I am right here, you know." Maki turns his back to the omega, facing the other alpha. His tongue has started to weigh heavily in his mouth, but he manages to make it sound sassy.
"Whatever man, I'm off." The alpha swats his hand and drifts away into the sea of bodies. Maki waves behind the alpha with a smirk, then he makes eye contact with another bartender, just as he was about to gesture for her to come, his seat gets turned around by the omega, a hand lingering on the seat while he leans on the counter.
Maki blinks blankly. He feels slow, probably from the alcohol swirling in his veins. The omega is wearing a black cropped suit jacket, probably nothing inside, with only the bottom buttoned up. His waist looks so small, like he can wrap around both of his—
"So, what is your answer?" He sounds too smug. But still, it makes him seem cute rather than arrogant.
Maki decides to play along, "What answer?"
"Are you interested or not?"
"Oh, just because you saved me doesn't mean I fell in love with you." He was getting sick of everyone tonight.
"In alphas, I meant." Maki's eyes widen behind the mask. The omega squints his eyes, a smile turning into a giggle. Not everyone, it seems.
"I was not trying to be your savior, but you're welcome." He winks at Maki. "You look like you can use some distraction." There goes his wishful thinking.
He actually isn't looking for anyone to hang out with; he already has somebody in mind, well, had. Because now it seems more impossible than before. He was just tagging along because Mackiah didn't have the guts to come here alone. With that somebody now out of the equation, he is not looking for anyone, if not tonight, preferably not for a long time.
Maki smiles at the bartender, who arrives at just the right timing, ignoring the omega, "Can I get two fruity cocktails?" he says. The bartender nods and leaves to prepare it. He is getting sick of drinking the same thing.
"Does that mean you are not interested?" The omega removes his hand and settles beside the stool next to Maki. He isn't like the other black-masked omegas who bat their eyes or talk with their noses in the air; he is friendly, or maybe Maki feels like he is.
"Yes and no." It makes the redhead tilt his head. When the bartender slides the two glasses— one in front of him, the other to the omega, Maki pulls the second glass to himself. He gathers the two straws and takes a long draw from the drinks. It's sweet and bitter at the same time, and cold, but it's all Maki needs at the moment.
"You aren't here because you are curious about BDSM, aren't you?" Maki almost spits out his drink. It tries to get out of his nose regardless, and it burns a lot. The omega laughs, face resting on his palm, looking at Maki like he is something interesting to watch.
"Where did that come from?" He straightens his body, trying to look above the omega, as he never removes his eyes from him— even though Maki is taller and he is in fact looking over the redhead, he still feels bare under his gaze.
"What do you think the white mask means?" The omega taps the mask on his face and waits for Maki to answer.
"I actually hadn't thought too much about it." A smile blossoms on the face of the person, all too knowing, and it gets on Maki's nerves because why is he getting himself embarrassed?
"Show me your stamp." Maki complies and puts his hand on the table, palm up. His other hand was still clutching both the straws. They both look at the ink on his skin.
Cold fingers wrap around his wrist, "So you also got the wrong stamp, too." It sends a shiver down Maki's spine.
"What does that mean?" Maki raises his head and meets with serene eyes. His first instinct is to keep looking into the omega's eyes, not even blinking until one of them gives up, but then he feels too conscious and averts his eyes.
"It means you're a sub. And you just fell into the den of doms." It was a mistake coming here, yes, but not doing a little research beforehand was the stupid move. But Mackiah was to blame, not him.
The blank look Maki is giving him is enough to let the omega know he doesn't know what all these mean, and he tries to hold his laugh after Maki opens his mouth.
"But I am a dominant too."
"You are probably a dominant alpha, right? The terms dom and sub aren't related to the sub-genders." Maki's mouth turns into an O shape as he nods in understanding.
He feels so stupid, "So the white masks are for subs, and the black masks are for doms?" He knows better not to ask the meaning of the terms, but then there is also another question, and the omega lets him continue before answering.
"But then what are the stamps for?" Why would they get both masks and stamps?
The omega runs his fingers through Maki's arm, and he hooks his fingers into the fishnet of his sleeves, all while still holding eye contact, "They're indicators, for owners, and owned subs, also for switchs." Then he flattens his fingers onto the base of the cocktail glass and drags it to himself.
Maki only realizes when petite but shiny lips close around the pink straw that he got one of his drinks stolen. "What you got is an unclaimed sub stamp because you are not owned, I suppose, but you are not looking for ownership." The omega licks his lips after another sip and smiles.
"What about you then? Are you a dom?" The omega nods and shows his wrist; his stamp is different.
"It would've been inverted if I owned a sub; the same goes for you." Maki nods and sips more; his brain is fuzzy, and he isn't sure of how he feels.
"I'm Ruby." The omega extends his hand; he has a few rings here and there, nails polished with art. Maki turns his chair, facing the other, and shakes his hand. Maki's hand nearly covers all of his hand, and they're still cold.
"Cute name, I'm Kiri." They keep shaking their hands, neither of them letting go. When it starts to become awkward, Maki tries to let go, but Ruby tightens his grip and pulls Maki closer, and he almost falls from the chair.
"You're clearly not a sub, so why are you here sulking like a kicked dog?" Maki's heart thumps against his chest. The sweet, almost friendly tone he used is gone, and it feels like he got splashed with water.
"My friend dragged me here, and I saw the omega I like making out with another alpha." The words tumble out of his lips; he can't look away. Ruby lets go of his hand and leans back. "Are you sad that he is with somebody else, or because you didn't know they were into BDSM?" Maki feels like everyone reads him like a book today.
"Both? Do I look that bad?"
"Understandable, and you look like you got broken up with, actually." Ruby laughs sarcastically after Maki drinks the whole glass; he has to get drunk tonight.
"Well, do you know if that alpha is his mate or boyfriend?"
"Nope, no clue."
"That's one thing to not be sad about then, but if you are still sad over the fact that the omega you like is a little kinky, I think you are looking at it from the wrong angle." Ruby mirrors his motion and drinks the cocktail, then he scrunches his nose. "Nope, it still tastes like ass."
Maki laughs, he feels like crying, maybe he looks like he is crying, he doesn't know. "Well, I have no idea about BDSM."
"Then why not try while you're at it? You are in a BDSM club if you haven't noticed." Maki rolls his eyes, but he knows Ruby is right. He just doesn't have it in him to let go of the depressive mood, yet. "Even if it is, I wouldn't know, haven't been to a lot of SM bars."
Ruby nods, "This place is just a front, the real thing is upstairs, if you are interested." Then his eyes slide to the side as if he is trying to remember something.
"You don't look the part, but we can try it." Maki doesn't answer; instead, he bends over the counter to wave for a bartender, again. He knows he has a high tolerance to alcohol, but he has already drunk more than he ever has, and he doesn't feel that drunk. There are already lots of empty glasses in front of him, but it doesn't matter.
When he sits back on the cushioned chair, he gets a glimpse of the omega who is responsible for his suffering tonight. And it shouldn't make him panic; it's all dark around, and he is far away, and he is unrecognizable, but it makes him want to run away, again.
"Don't look back, but he is just behind you." He blurts out, eyes never straying from the omega who is currently dancing. Ruby tilts his head and tries to look back, but Maki grabs onto his arm. "I said don't look!"
"Well, if you say don't look, it makes me want to look!" He looks back regardless; Maki doesn't know why he made it into a big deal. There is no way Ruby knows Yuma anyway. "Is he the one in the white cropped shirt?" Okay, pause.
"NO, how the fuck do you know him?" Maybe Maki is drunk; everything feels like he is watching it through a telescope, maybe he does. He is wearing a mask after all.
"I was right. It is him."
"No, it's not him."
"Black suits him."
The musics too loud in his ear and he feels thirsty. "What?"
"Nothing particularly."
"You're no fun."
"And you are drunk."
"It doesn't make sense. How do you know him?" He hates not being included, hates missing out, hates that everyone knows everything already, and he is just a big fat joke.
"You're not a joke." Ruby looks stern now. Wait, did he tell everything out loud just now?
"Whatever, you don't even know me." The mask itches his nose, and he feels too hot, so he removes his jacket and hangs it on the chair. The itching doesn't go away fuck this stupid mask.
"Wow, okay, wait, don't take off the mask."
"But it itches." His hand tries to undo the knot of the ribbon, but his fingers don't listen to him.
"Kiri, remove your hands." He stops for a second, but the knot is already untied, so the mask drops from his face to his lap.
Then he is getting pulled on his feet, the mask falls from his lap, and Ruby puts his arm on his shoulders, and they're walking. He whines and tries to complain, but nothing coherent leaves his mouth. "Nope, you are too drunk."
"How are you holding me up?" His legs aren't the best in their department right now, and he sure feels like he is being dragged. Maybe he is being dragged; it doesn't matter. Ruby walks them until they're out of the bar and at the red hallway. He stops, then makes them enter the elevator, which Maki makes out to be when it starts moving upwards.
He gets pushed back to the walls of the elevator, as Ruby pushes on the buttons and leans back to the opposite side of him. Ruby has his basketball club jacket under his arm, but the mask is long forgotten on the floor.
He doesn't look at Maki, watching as the screen on top of the buttons shows which floor they are on, the mask closes over his nose, but Maki can make out the shape of his lips and jawline. "You're very pretty."
His voice gets lost when the elevator stops, and it dings. Maki thinks Ruby hadn't heard him as he gets a hold of him and drags both of their bodies to another hallway with black painted walls, the lights are dim, and Maki doesn't know where they are going, but he lets Ruby anyway.
"Okay, dominant alpha, time to go to bed." They stop in front of a door, once again black with a golden knob. He pushes the door with his feet as Maki is now slumped against Ruby's shoulder.
Maki doesn't see the interior of the room as his legs stumble, and they both lose their balance. Maki hits his head against the wall beside Ruby's head, his hands caging the small omega as to hold himself up. Ruby's hands are around his waist, holding him steady.
He sighs, "Should've left your drunk ass downstairs." Maki groans back as a reply, pulling back until he captures Ruby's eyes, and they both pause. Maki even holds his breath.
Then he looks down at the omega's small but rosy lips, shiny with gloss. Maybe he should enjoy the moment, a pretty omega in his arms, and he even brought them to a room.
"Can I kiss you?" Ruby's face doesn't change, then he scoffs, and Maki retreats, now face-to-face. He can't read the omega's expression.
"I don't kiss around with untrained puppies," his tone is gentle, leaving room for conversation. Not entirely shutting Maki off.
And all Maki wants to do is taste the omega, "Don't you? Ever?" He probes, never taking his eyes off, giving the redhead his puppy eyes. He sure looks pathetic.
Ruby smiles, "You can't give me what I want, it's no fun that way." But it's more of an apologetic one.
"Can't you make an exception just for tonight? I'll be good, I'll do whatever you like." Ruby stays silent for a heartbeat. Maki can see his reflection in his eyes under the dim light of the room.
He smiles sweetly at Maki, then he nudges his head upwards, as if giving a silent invitation. Maki knows he only has one chance, so he takes it. His hands still on the wall, he closes the gap between their lips. So slowly, testing the waters first, Ruby's lips part instantly as their lips lock into their positions. The omega's lips are soft, his mouth warm, and his body pliant.
Maki tilts his face to deepen the kiss, tasting him more on his tongue, and Ruby sighs into his mouth. He wants more, more than this; he needs to be closer, and just as he tries to slide in his tongue, he gets pushed. Ruby's cold, pointy fingers grab Maki from the jaw, squishing his lips and cheeks.
"I'm not gonna break, kiss me properly," is all he says, but Maki's eyes never leave the pink lips that got more shiny with their joined spit. "Do you hear me?"
Ruby pulls Maki from his face to his level, his grab hurting as he digs his fingers into his cheeks, now eye to eye. Maki gulps. He feels more sober now, funny enough.
"Yes, yes, I'll kiss you properly." He hears Ruby chuckling before connecting their lips again, and it feels too good. Without noticing, he releases his pheromones, the strong scent of pine and rosemary filling the air around them. Ruby doesn't react, nor can he feel the omega's pheromones, but he can smell a faint citrus scent, probably from the lip gloss.
His hands push himself off from the wall, wrapping around Ruby's waist, fingertips brushing against the skin between the gaps of his jacket and pants. His body is also cold, almost icy under his touch. Maki is burning, so the contact makes Ruby shiver. He catches every ripple going through with his palm planted firmly on his back.
Maki had never had any one-night stands before, he had one omega girlfriend over the summer but they had not gone all the way, not entirely. So kissing a random omega he just met at an SM bar should make him freak out, he shouldn't even entertain the idea of it, yet he was kissing and licking the said random omega to his heart's— well, dick's content.
"Move back," Ruby says between sloppy kisses that have Maki dizzy. It shouldn't feel this good, probably because he is drunk, or he is actually attracted to the omega. What if it were Yuma? Would it also feel this good?
So Maki does, hands never leaving their position on Ruby's waist, feet stepping backwards. When he sits down on the big-sized bed, their lips part, Maki looks up with expectant eyes and parted lips.
Ruby smirks, hand cradling the side of Maki's face, gently, "If only you were a real sub, we could've had so much fun." Then he pushes Maki down, a slight push, a finger burying itself in his shoulder. Maki goes down without a fight. Hands sprawled at his sides.
"We can still have fun." He places his hands on Ruby's hips once the omega settles above his middle, body weight pressing tightly.
Ruby smacks away his hands and grabs them from his wrists. Now, hands above his head, held tightly with the omega's two hands, Maki starts to understand the danger of the situation. "I wouldn't wanna break you," he says, breath fanning Maki's ear.
Somehow, he doesn't feel threatened or dominated that his wolf gets irritated; it's just an omega playing around. "I could use some of that." He says in a low tone.
Ruby giggles instead of a reply and dips down to Maki's neck. His left hand rests on his bicep, while the other still holds— more like stays on his wrist. He isn't trying to get out of Ruby's hold; if he wanted, he could easily break free, but he lets the omega lick and suck on his throat.
His laid-back demeanor hitches as Ruby starts moving his hips against his, small jerks that make a warm feeling pool in his stomach. "Can't you remove your mask?" He says after Ruby goes up to capture his lips, but he pauses.
"Why?" He sits upright, looking down at Maki, who is slightly out of breath.
"I wanna see your face because."
"We won't see each other again; you won't come back here."
"Exactly, let me at least remember your face." Maki feels drowsy. The bed is comfy on his back, and Ruby's body feels like a weighted blanket.
Ruby straightens himself, hands going up to the back of his head. His jacket was riding up and exposing smooth skin. "If it shuts you up." The mask comes off, and he throws it somewhere beside Maki.
At first, it feels a little unfamiliar, but the omega is even prettier without the mask. Sharp but big eyes with fitting eyebrows. He has little makeup on, and Maki knows the blush on his face isn't one of them.
"You're so easy." Ruby smiles condescendingly, the light shines above them, Ruby's shadow falling on his face.
Maki's hand leaves their post, now grabbing on Ruby's thighs, squeezing the soft flesh. "And you are too beautiful." Ruby shuts him off halfway with his lips.
So he closes his eyes and enjoys the taste. Maybe coming here was not so bad after all. But he feels too sleepy, breath heavy, and movements too slow. Drinking that much was the biggest mistake he made tonight.