Chapter Text
The Real youth academy pitch echoed with boots and coaches' commands. Sae Itoshi sliced through midfield, taking the ball in stride, his eyes on his run. He wanted to advance, shoot, and feel the net ripple. But the coach's voice cut in:
"Itoshi! Hold your position! You're an attacking midfielder, not a striker. Pass it!"
Sae clicked his tongue in frustration. Instead, he threaded a perfect pass, setting up the winger for the goal. His teammates cheered, but Sae's blue-green eyes narrowed. Someday I'll be the one finishing these. Not feeding.
Two teammates approached. An Alpha from the other team slapped him on the shoulder, too firmly. "Good vision, Itoshi. You see the gaps no one else does." An Omega reserve chatted about formations, his tone syrupy. Sae nodded politely but didn't care. He felt held back, the coach clipping his wings. He couldn't let it dull his hunger. Sae stepped back.
Across the field, Bunny Iglesias watched. At 6'3", he towered over most. Lavender hair neat, red eyes calm behind a fake smile, he adjusted his gloves but watched Sae. They're getting too close. Bumping shoulders, letting their scents out. Sae couldn't smell it, but Bunny could. Their scents clung to Sae, unwanted. If they kept marking him...
Bunny moved closer, closing the distance quickly with long strides. His shadow fell across the group. The Alpha and Omega looked up and instinctively stepped back. Bunny's Alpha presence was silent but undeniable, a low hum that made the air heavier.
"Sae," Bunny said warmly. He draped an arm over Sae's shoulders; it was casual, but the height difference made Sae tilt his head to meet his gaze. "Nice pass. But you're carrying extra weight today."
Sae blinked. "Weight?"
"Nothing physical." Bunny's smile remained gentle. "Let's go to the locker room for a moment. I need to talk to you about a new tactic."
He led Sae away without waiting for protests, his arm still slightly propped up. Behind them, one of the reserves murmured, "Did Iglesias just... push him away like that?"
"Yeah, the guy's always hanging around Itoshi lately," another replied. "A lot of protection?"
Sae didn't hear him. Or if he heard it, he ignored it.
The locker room was filled with steam, the sound of slamming doors, and voices overlapping. As soon as they entered, Sae shrugged Bunny's arm off him; Bunny stumbled and fell to the floor awkwardly. Not looking back, Sae went straight to his locker, pulled out his bag, and began to change.
"That last goal was rubbish!" someone yelled from the showers.
"Shut up, you'll make the coaches think we're bragging."
"Too late for that."
Sae sat down on a bench, a towel around his neck, methodically untying his boots. A teammate—Marco, a talkative Beta midfielder—sat down next to him.
"Hey, Itoshi. Seriously." Marco leaned in. "You know how that backup Omega keeps hovering around you? And the Alphas keep bumping shoulders? Their pheromones are sticking to you. It's weird, since you're a Beta and can't smell it, but I can, because I'm an Alpha."
Sae paused, his boot half-extracted. "Pheromones?"
"Yeah. Subtle stuff: Omegas use pheromones to calm, while Alphas use them to intimidate. But they can also be used to flirt, excite, claim space, or whatever. It happens to prodigies. But it's distracting for the team. People get tense when the scents clash."
Another teammate, Javier (an Alpha winger), poked his head out from the locker next door. "Seriously. I smelled it during practice. I thought it was just my paranoia, but no. You're like a walking scent magnet today."
Sae frowned, jaw clenched. "I didn't smell anything different."
"That's because you're a Beta," Marco laughed. Betas can't smell pheromones, but sometimes they notice them—like when Alphas use theirs to intimidate.
Another teammate joined in. “Sae is blind to drama. Unless it's football, everything else is a distraction. But keep this up, and it might affect you. The team needs you to be alert.”
Sae looked down, processing the information. “...Annoying.”
Bunny appeared, a towel draped over his shoulder, standing up silently. He smiled at the group. “Speaking of dispersed scents?”
Marco grinned. “Did you hear that?”
Bunny placed his hands on Sae's shoulders, engaging him directly. Then, with a light, teasing tone, said, "I can fix it."
Sae looked up at him. "And how can 'you' fix it?"
"My Alpha mark. A quick bite on the gland in your neck; it cancels out scent traces, leaving mine as a shield. Others smell it and stay away. It's temporary; it disappears in a day or two unless renewed. It'll be very practical and will repel both Alphas and Omegas. You won't have to deal with people trying to get close, and it'll be for the good of the team."
Javier whistled under his breath. "Damn it, Iglesias. Are you going into bodyguard mode?"
Bunny chuckled softly, as polite as ever. "I'm just helping out." He glanced at Sae, eyes steady. "Sae's focus shouldn't be wasted on this stuff."
Sae considered it, doubting the damned rabbit's intentions. But if it meant no more dealing with troublemakers, then it wasn't a bad idea. "If it works... fine. Let it be quick."
Bunny's smile didn't waver, but inside: Perfect. A legitimate reason. No one questions the protection. No one else can leave anything behind.
They moved to a quieter, darker part of the locker room, away from the main chaos. Once seated on the corner bench, Bunny gently placed his hands on Sae's shoulders to turn him. "Tilt your head slightly. The back of your neck is the easiest spot," he instructed.
Sae obeyed, bending awkwardly. He had to stretch a little to maintain eye contact as Bunny leaned down (the height difference made it difficult...). The movement was smooth but perceptible. Lavender hair fell forward, brushing against Sae's shoulder.
Sae, still not entirely trusting, growled. "I swear if you do anything weird, I'll kick your balls." Bunny just smiled. "Relax, I swear on my balls this is only for your protection and the team's well-being."
Bunny leaned down. A quick, warm brush against Sae's neck; Bunny licked the spot where Sae's soft skin met it, sending a shiver through him. Bunny tried to reassure him, then a bite: light, firm, careful. But no matter how careful Bunny was, it caused Sae pain, but also a warmth in his stomach. Bunny pulled back and proudly observed the mark he had left on Sae. It was a small red mark at the base of Sae's neck, like a slight bruise from the pressure. Five seconds. Which felt like an eternity to Sae. For Sae, it was the most painful experience he'd ever had, but he refused to shed a single tear. He'd rather die than cry in front of his rival.
Sae stiffened, his ears turning pink. "Urgh... it hurts."
Bunny straightened up and inspected the mark with quiet satisfaction. "My scent will protect you, and prevent others from getting too close." Without saying anything, he leaned down once more and gently kissed the spot he had bitten, offering comfort. "All done. Protected. My scent will serve as a shield. No more strangers crowding around you," he assured as he stepped back.
From the doorway, Javier peered out, wide-eyed. "Holy crap... Did Bunny just mark him? A real bite?"
Marco appeared behind him, grinning. "Dude. That's basically alpha boyfriend protocol. Iglesias and Itoshi? Confirmed?"
"Shut up," another voice hissed. "Let them have their moment."
Sae absentmindedly rubbed the spot. "That's not it. He said it's for concentration."
Bunny nodded calmly. "Exactly. Team first."
But his teammates exchanged a knowing glance, unconvinced. Sae let it slide. For him, the mark meant freedom from drama. Bunny, meanwhile, let his features soften as he regarded Sae's neck. His eyes held hope—and a restrained hunger.
Later, as they headed to the dormitories, the change was immediate. Any lingering reservations from before? They glanced at Sae's neck, saw the fresh mark, and sensed a powerful pheromone emanating from it, causing those around them to flinch in fear. They moved away without a word. No lingering. No further conversation. Some even fled in terror.
Sae noticed. "...Wow. It really worked."
Bunny walked beside her, their steps keeping pace despite the difference in stride length. He offered Sae a bottle of water without asking. "I told you so."
Sae took it and murmured, "Thanks."
Bunny smiled to himself. First, he made a mental note: no one else should approach her. Small steps... but she'll see. In time.
The group chat buzzed on the team's phones:
Javier: [blurred photo of the corner scene] ME, IGLESIAS, CALLED ITOSHI?! What the hell?! 😳
Marco: Was it unlocked as a boyfriend? 😂
Carlos: Damn protective king! Respect. ✊
Enrique: Seriously, Iglesia's pheromones are the most threatening I've ever smelled. 😂😂
Fabián: Even I could smell them, and I'm on the second floor. 😩
Julián: Poor devil who dares to ask Sae for anything.
Bunny's phone vibrated. She looked at it, chuckled, and turned it face down. Tomorrow would bring renewal. And maybe, just maybe, Sae would start wondering why Bunny's "help" felt so… effective.