Chapter Text
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The second hand on the clock makes its way around, and blue eyes follow it for a full minute. The seconds turned into minutes, the minutes turned into hours. One hundred twenty-two hours since Megumi's birth.
The pregnancy went smooth; other than cravings for more protein and savory treats, Satoru carried on as usual. The labor had no complications; sure, he was a pain in the ass to the staff, but he was scared and without Suguru. The alpha had left the room to let the nurses prepare Satoru, and he spent a few minutes speaking with the doctor. Once he had arrived back to the room, however, Satoru relaxed, and soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Geto Megumi. His eyes opened, revealing blue swirls of sweetness and joy. Suguru had cried, so full of love and pride for his family, husband and son alike.
Satoru had cried as well, but for what, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was from the rush of relief from being able to safely deliver a baby, knowing that not too many defiant omegas were even recorded to want families.
Maybe it was from the drop in hormones that he was experiencing, a side effect of labor that the nurses had warn him about.
Little fingers reached out, as Megumi searched for his mother to hold onto. Suguru had kissed them both on the heads, told them they were beautiful and perfect. Satoru looked at Megumi, seeing with his own eyes and hearing with his own ears, the newborn's stats. Every finger and every toe accounted for. Strong heart beat. Clear lungs.
Satoru knew he was beautiful because his face reminded him of Suguru, minus the sky blue eyes. A tuft of midnight hair, peach lips, and a sense of calmness that he only associated with his husband.
But when the moment had subsided, Satoru couldn't remember his reason for crying. In fact, from that moment on, he felt…odd. The next five days were a blur in the hospital. Emi and Isamu arrived to see them first, since Suguru wanted his parents to meet Megumi before he was introduced to their friends.
Satoru smiled when Emi and Isamu took turns rocking the pup, still wrapped snugged in a baby blue blanket, a gift made by Yu. The pale man smiled seeing his parents happy, he smiled when Suguru gave the baby his first bath in the basin, but when Satoru looked at Megumi….nothing.
"It's shock from the delivery," the nurses said, "once your mind catches up to your body, it will be fine."
He mentioned his lack of emotion to the lactation consultant, someone who was helping him with breastfeeding. It was two days after labor, and Megumi still hadn't latched on. She thought nothing of it, and opened her suitcase, one full of hospital supplies for new mothers.
"You just need time," she said, as she prepared a package to pump his breast milk, "so in the meantime, just relax."
On the edge of the bed, he held the pump and plastic storage milk container, pumping the handle with his hand to express milk manually, since Megumi still hadn't latched on after three days.
"Mom?" he called for Isamu. The older omega was there to have dinner with him, since Emi and Suguru were out going grocery shopping and buying last minute things for Satoru's recovery.
"Hm?"
He asked about Isamu's labor with Suguru. Gentle crow's feet crinkled with happiness as he retold his son's delivery. "I looked at Sugu, and immediately fell in love."
Fell in love?
Satoru didn't feel that. Sure, he loved Megumi. He was a part of himself and Suguru, so why wouldn't he? But there were no tears of love when he held him. No urge to embrace and inhale the soft scent that only newborns have.
There was nothing.
Satoru took care of him and then placed him in his hospital bassinet. There was always someone in the room to visit, to hold and snuggle Megumi, that no one paid attention to the fact that Satoru rarely touched him.
The night before he was discharged from the hospital, Suguru was sound asleep in the recliner after a long day of speaking with nurses and running back and forth to the apartment to ensure that everything was ready for the next day.
Satoru laid in the hospital bed, on his side, staring at the bassinet. Megumi cooed, as he usually did, never one to fuss unless he needed something. From the bed, Satoru could see a chubby hand with little fingers reach out of the bassinet. Searching for his mother.
Satoru stared for a few more seconds, before turning away to go to sleep, never reaching out to hold his little hand.
"Bird?"
Satoru's eyes stop focusing on the clock to respond to his name. He's been sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall for the past ten minutes. The nurse is standing there, holding onto a wheelchair, while Suguru is carrying Megumi's car seat. The newborn is snapped in, eyes closed as he quietly sleeps. Blue eyes look at the alpha, who is giving him a warm smile. Warmer than he thinks he deserves.
"Baby, I've been calling you. Are you ready?"
Satoru pauses before nodding his head. The omega had been discharged from the hospital thirty minutes ago, and the nurse was now here to help the family to their car, parked in the new mother's section by Emi.
Once he's helped into the wheelchair, the nurse pushes him down the hallway. They make their way past other rooms, sounds of sweet voices and laughter arising from mothers enjoying their new bundles of life. Satoru peeks over at Megumi in his car seat, secure in Suguru's arms. Still nothing.
After thirty minutes, they arrive home. The welcoming scent of cedarwood hits his nose and he smiles. His muscles slightly relax and the tense beating of his heart temporarily subsides.
Emi and Isamu plan on staying for a month, sleeping in Satoru's old bedroom. It was already transformed into a nursery, but Suguru had purchased a couch for the room that pulled out into a bed. Megumi, in the meantime, would sleep in a bassinet on Satoru's side of the bed, since the baby will be waking up numerous times for night feedings.
The plan for the month is simple: recovery and bonding. Emi and Isamu would prepare most of the meals, and Suguru would help them cook if Satoru and Megumi didn't need him at that moment. The alpha was also in charge of doing laundry.
Most importantly, he would learn how to be a supportive parent and active father. He was already active in the sense that if Megumi needed something, besides a feeding, Suguru would do it and not wait for Satoru. It was something that had been done since the hospital. He changed Megumi, rocked him, provided attention and gave him a bath without Satoru or the nurses telling him to.
From the moment Satoru found out he was carrying a pup, Emi told Suguru: "Toru's main focus is recovering and being with Megumi. Your focus is that and doing everything else in the house".
Suguru, as usual, did so with no complaints. He even woke up at night with Satoru. Although the omega was still trying to breastfeed, Suguru woke up to grab him a snack and provided small talk. As always, Megumi never latched on so Suguru would take the baby to bottle feed while Satoru would pump the milk for storage.
Satoru sits up in bed, expelling the milk from his breasts. He produced alot, which was great. However, Megumi would not take it from him.
He stares at his husband in silence, mind still numb in certain places yet sparking like a live wire in others. Suguru had Megumi in his arms, feeding him. If it had been any other time, Satoru would swoon over his husband; the man is gorgeous, in his typical pajamas of only a pair of sweatpants.
His hair is pulled back into a braid. Megumi looks like a baby doll in the alpha's arms, with how tiny he looks compared to the massive bicep and forearm cradling him, with even the bottle being tiny between his fingers. But as usual, there is a certain smoothness to Suguru. For such a huge man, he is extremely nimble and precise with his movements, something he has worked on for years when products have always been too small for his hands.
Suguru sits there, looking divine as usual. Satoru frowns and observes his own body. He's dressed in a loose tank top and a nursing bra to make it easier to feed Megumi. He's wearing a pair of the alpha's basketball shorts, and underneath that, an adult diaper. The doctor said he has at least two more weeks of bleeding, typical with births.
He felt gross, looked gross and probably smelled disgusting. If he does though, he would never know from Suguru.
"Bird?"
Satoru snaps out of his thoughts and sees Suguru kneeling in front of him, checking the pumping device. Megumi had been finished for a while now, and after being burped and having his diaper changed, was fast asleep again in the bassinet.
Brown eyes, tired but still full of love for his husband, crinkle as the alpha smiles. "Baby, it looks like you're done. Do you want me to help you?"
At that, Satoru looks down at his breasts, now completely empty of milk. He sits there in silence as large hands shut off the machine, an automatic pumper gifted from Isamu. Removing the storage bottles and unhooking the tubes, Suguru moves in a steady rhythm to store the liquid gold in the mini fridge, beside their bed.
"Ace, do I smell?"
Suguru looks at him, confused. "What?"
Satoru reaches for his wedding rings, nervously twisting them around his fingers. "I feel like I stink."
The alpha leans closer and smells the soft skin on his neck, pressing his nose against his husband's scent gland. "You smell like vanilla and milk. Comforting and sweet."
Pale skin turns bright red. He goes to speak but Suguru beats him to it. "If you want to take a shower, I'll help you if you want."
He takes a shower everyday, and yet the smell is stuck in his sinuses. It smells like-
"I'll just take one tomorrow," he says before giving a reassuring smile. He's softly kissed on his neck, his jaw and his pink lips. Suguru climbs over him to lie on his side of the bed.
An hour later, Satoru continues lying in bed. The room is quiet and dark, the only light coming from the window by the moon. He doesn't remember the last time he felt well rested. Even with Suguru, Emi and Isamu here, Satoru still finds it difficult to relax. Most nights, in between Megumi's feedings, Satoru will doze on and off for maybe an hour and then lie awake until the baby stirs.
During this time, he lies motionless beside Suguru, with the alpha's arm wrapped around and his warmth surrounding him. It's the only thing grounding the omega at the moment, to be close to his husband while trying to filter and unravel whatever thoughts are causing him to feel out of sync with his body.
"Satoru, you stink."
He whips his head to the side, getting ready to yell at Suguru for his rude remark. However, the alpha is fast asleep, his chest slowly rising and his face completely relaxed.
Satoru furrows his brow. He could have sworn someone said something to him.
"Satoru, are you an idiot? Look this way."
His eyes scan the bedroom. Megumi is asleep, and the television is off. His gaze stops on a figure, sitting on the edge of the bed. Satoru squints, trying to identify what's sitting beside his feet. The breath catches in his throat and he clutches the blanket tightly when the figure hops.
He freezes in horror and confusion when a rabbit lands on his chest.
A white rabbit, with dark blue eyes and a black stripe of fur across its cheek.
Satoru stares at the animal, and his eyes grow in fear as it opens its mouth, revealing a row of sharp teeth.
"Satoru, any presenting omega should be clean and attentive. You reek of milk and blood. Spoiled dairy and rotten meat. Do you like being rotten, Satoru?"
Satoru lets out a blood curdling scream, jumping up from the bed and running across the room. It causes Suguru to jolt awake, and Megumi to whimper. The alpha turns on the bedside lamp before running to Satoru, who's now standing in the corner.
"Baby, what's wrong!?" Large hands rub his arms in an attempt to soothe the omega. Satoru is shaking from head to toe, frantically pointing to the crumpled blankets.
"It, there, I," he says, not knowing how to answer or what to say. Megumi continues to whimper, so Suguru walks over to peek into the bassinet, and place the pacifier back into the baby's mouth. That seems to do the trick, because soon, Megumi is calm once more, eyes heavy with sleep.
Suguru then walks back over to Satoru and caresses his cheek.
"Baby, did you have a nightmare?" He wipes the sweat off of Satoru's clammy forehead. He must have dozed off and seen something in the shadows.
It's the only reasonable explanation for what he saw. He shuts his eyes and gulps, his throat dry and sore from the unexpected scream.
"I'm sorry."
Suguru kisses his white eyelashes and the tip of his nose. "Don't apologize, you had a bad dream. Come on."
He's pulled back to the bed, and the lights are turned off. As large arms pull him close, Satoru shuts his eyes, burying his face in the pillow so he can no longer stare at the shadows.
Suspenseful music flows out of the living room television, from a scene in a horror movie that they're watching. Satoru is sitting on the couch, legs crossed and underneath a blanket.
Isamu is in the chair, cuddling Megumi, while Suguru and Emi are cooking lunch. The three adults are socializing, cracking jokes and discussing current events.
Satoru hasn't spoken, continuing to blankly stare at the movie. His mind ventures back to the night before, when his heart almost stopped during his nightmare. Was it a nightmare? He could have sworn that he was wide awake.
Well, if he wasn't awake before the incident, he was wide awake after. He tossed and turned for the rest of the night, eventually just giving up and getting out of bed to make a cup of coffee.
Mindlessly, he bites on his cuticles, his once manicured hands now raw and sensitive like they were years ago. The smell of food tickles his nose and he looks down at the kotatsu. His tray, plated by Suguru, has honey garlic beef, rice, sweet potatoes, light coleslaw and strawberries.
Satoru looks up and forces a smile. "Thank you."
Suguru's smile drops when he immediately notices something is wrong. He looks at the tray before addressing the omega.
"Is it the meat?"
Satoru's mind takes a little longer to register the words. In all honesty, he didn't even pay attention to what was on the tray until Suguru mentions it. The alpha leans over to grab the plate of beef, worried that it's upsetting the pale man.
Satoru reaches for Suguru's arm. "I can eat it. Just put it back." He sees hesitation in brown eyes, before Suguru slowly returns the plate to the tray.
Not wanting to make it awkward at lunch, he grabs his chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef. Without smelling it, he pops it into his mouth.
A hand reaches out to cradle his chin. His heart twists and a wave of nausea hits him when he looks at his husband, someone he doesn't deserve.
"I can make you a protein shake instead. Strawberry? I'll top it with whipped cream."
"Whipped cream is high in fat and sugar. Is he fattening you up like a pig that is preparing for the slaughter, Satoru?"
Satoru's entire body stiffens. Before Suguru can ask him what's wrong, Megumi stirs in Isamu's arms.
He stands to his feet, wanting desperately to find a reason to leave the area. "I'll go feed him," he says, walking to Isamu to pick up the baby. Quickly, he heads to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He shuts his eyes and sighs, and then looks down at Megumi. He's still whining, and Satoru thinks he has about a minute before he starts to actually cry.
Once he sits on his usual side of the bed, he pulls up his tank top and unhooks his nursing bra.
The lactation consultant suggested to Satoru that he offer his breast first to Megumi, and then if he doesn't latch, to give him a bottle of breast milk while still proving skin to skin contact.
However, when he brings the baby closer, Megumi turns his head away. Immediately, Satoru frowns. He doesn't understand what the issue is. He's producing an adequate amount of milk and there are no distractions for the pup to focus on. Yet, Megumi always turns away, lips tightly shut yet whining for milk.
Satoru clenches his jaw. "Please, Megs, just try. Please." He places Megumi in a different positioning, alternating breasts. Megumi, still frustrated, turns his head and starts to fidget.
A small patter of steps can be heard on his right side.
"You aren't motherly enough, Satoru. The poor pup can sense it and he's disgusted."
Satoru shuts his eyes. "Please leave me alone."
The white rabbit hops on his lap, leans over to look at Megumi, and sucks its teeth.
"Not fit to look after children. He hates you."
Satoru breathes through his nose, the bile in his stomach threatening to climb up his throat.
"Leave me alone."
"He hates you. Soon, Suguru will too. You aren't worthy to be a mother and you aren't worthy to have a mate."
Suguru is finishing the protein shake in the kitchen while Isamu packs up the leftover food. The alpha almost drops the blender when he hears Satoru yell from the bedroom.
"WHY WON'T YOU FUCKING LEAVE ME ALONE!?"
Megumi screams.
Suguru sprints to the bedroom, with Emi and Isamu closely behind. Swinging open the door, he runs to the bed. Megumi is crying, face red from frustration and being frightened by the intense scent of rotten vanilla in the room. Satoru looks manic, rocking back and forth on the bed while tears flood his eyes. "He hates me! He hates me!"
Suguru stands there, not knowing what to do. Isamu runs past him and kneels in front of Satoru, whose cries are equally as loud as Megumi's. Emi grabs Suguru by the shoulder. "Suguru, your pup is in distress. Take him out of the room, now."
He reaches out for Megumi, but Satoru doesn't let go. The omega is loudly sobbing, broken blue eyes looking into Suguru's. "Please don't take him! I have to try!"
"Bird, give him to me."
Megumi cries even louder, as he tries to move away from his mother.
Emi and Isamu are on both sides, trying to comfort a hysterical Satoru. "Toru, let Sugu take him," Isamu says.
In a shocking move, Satoru growls and yells, "No!"
Megumi begins to cough, so overwhelmed and hysterical that he's short of breath.
For the first time ever, Suguru must state a command. His voice drops an octave and it blares over the omega's.
"SATORU, LET GO NOW!"
It's the loudest his voice has ever been, causing everyone, including Megumi, to quiet down.
Satoru looks completely heartbroken. But he listens and loosens his grip on the newborn.
Suguru holds him close to his chest, immediately scenting him, and then he rushes out of the room. Behind him, he can hear Satoru begin to wail, loudly sobbing as Emi closes the door.
A few minutes later, she steps out, closing the door behind her. Isamu is still in the room with Satoru, and the sobbing has been reduced to soft whispers and whimpering.
In the living room, Suguru is sitting on the couch, feeding Megumi a bottle. The pup is back to his usual self, calm and relaxed in his father's arms, his little fingers lightly scratching at the alpha's tan skin. His sparkling blue eyes gaze at Suguru with wonder and attachment.
Emi kneels in front of her son and pats his knee. When he looks up, he looks pained as tears fall from his eyes.
"You did great, Sugu. You did the right thing."
Suguru is absolutely devastated. He's never yelled at Satoru like that before, much less stated a real command. His stomach is in knots and his heart feels like it's been pulled in opposite directions.
"I feel terrible, Dad," he chokes out. Emi moves from her position on the floor to sit beside him, her hand sliding to his back to rub circles as a way to soothe him.
"I know it was rough. But, you kept your scent controlled and therefore, didn't submit him." She looks at Megumi and, with her other hand, reaches over to rub the baby's scalp.
"Megumi is defenseless," she continues, speaking in a voice soft enough to calm both her son and grandson. "He was in distress and you moved him to a safer location. You did what you had to do."
The bedroom door creaks open and Isamu quietly strolls into the room. Emi then takes Megumi from Suguru's arms and places him on her shoulder, patting his back to burp him.
Isamu kisses his son on the forehead and gives a warm smile. "We'll keep Megumi tonight. Go get some rest with Toru. He's waiting for you." Suguru kisses Megumi before hugging his parents goodnight. He stands from his seat and walks to his bedroom.
Satoru is sitting on the edge of the bed, biting his fingernails, his habit when he's nervous. His eyes are swollen and his heart feels as though it's beating a thousand times a minute.
I fucked up and now Megumi hates me and so does Suguru and he'll leave with Megumi and soon everyone will finally realize just how terrible and rotten and unlovable I am and
A soft whistle catches his ear. He hasn't heard it in years, a sound from long ago when Suguru would pull him out of the despair that his mind would sink to.
When he looks over, Suguru is kneeling in front of him, brown eyes filled with sadness and guilt.
"Hey," the alpha softly says, "are you alright?"
Satoru presses his palm tightly against his forehead. A pounding headache has grown behind his eyes. It's too much. He's too much. And now Suguru and Megumi will leave.
"You and Megumi hate me. I'm a terrible mother, and he knows it."
His eyes are dry from crying, so he thought he had nothing left to give. He was wrong. He feels tears wet his eyelashes and the lump in his throat has returned.
Large hands slide from his thighs to his face, thumbs trying to dry off his freckled cheeks.
"Bird, we don't hate you. You're a wonderful mother. You're still adjusting to everything, that's all."
Satoru looks back at his husband. "Thank you for not submitting me."
Suguru deeply sighs. "I never wanted to yell at you either. I'm sorry."
The omega shakes his head. He wasn't upset about that at all. Even though it was the first time that he's ever been yelled at by his husband, Suguru's voice still didn't carry the threat of violence and punishment. It was loud because he had to snap Satoru out of whatever the fuck he was doing.
He looks at the door. "Is he alright?"
Suguru kisses his cheek. "He's fine. He's asleep. Want to go say good night to him?"
Satoru pauses. He does care for his pup, he swears he does. But there's still a struggle to show affection. Slowly he shakes his head. "No, I'll leave him be."
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Suguru look concerned. The alpha stands and holds out his arms. Feeling exhausted, Satoru stands and climbs into his embrace before being carried to the bathroom.
The shower is hot, soothing his aching muscles. The smell of cocoa butter hits his nose as Suguru starts washing him. Satoru holds on to his broad shoulders to keep his balance, exhausted from the day in general and the ordeal with Megumi.
His half lidded eyes focus on the alpha's chest, occasionally glancing up into deep brown eyes. Whenever they bathe together, Suguru has always washed him up. Half of the time, it evolves into kissing and sliding hands to places that make Satoru blush. But after having Megumi, the showers have been different.
While they still carry affection, Suguru maintains his self control, focusing on cleaning and soothing his partner. It causes Satoru to relax, muscles unknotting under the water and the caress of large hands. However, he tenses up when he sees the alpha kneel in front of him.
He should be used to this by now; during labor, the skin tore while he pushed out Megumi, a little tear that, luckily, didn't need stitches. But it did require to be washed everyday, and rinsed off every time that he used the bathroom.
Suguru, with his large hands, knelt down while washing Satoru to make sure that he didn't scrub too hard or cause any discomfort. It should be nothing new. But today, it causes Satoru to close his legs shut and push Suguru away.
"No, I stink."
Suguru, still on his knees in the shower, looks up into his blue eyes.
"What?"
"I don't want you being down there. I stink."
He takes a step back, as if they have enough room in the shower. Black eyebrows furrow.
"Why do you say that?"
Satoru isn't stupid. Between his breasts producing milk, the constant sweating, and the bleeding from giving birth, he knows he smells awful.
"Ace, my pussy is fucking bleeding and I'm leaking milk right now. I know I smell bad. You know I smell bad. And I'm…embarrassed."
Suguru stands, with a serious look on his face.
"Bird, you just pushed out a baby. You leaking everywhere is normal. Your body is shedding afterbirth, I know that. Of course it would have a smell, it's blood and tissue. But that doesn't mean that you stink."
He reaches for Satoru's hand to pull him closer. Blue eyes look away, and he doesn't know why he does it, but he also covers his breasts with his other hand.
Suguru's hand gently cradles his chin, turning it so they can make eye contact. "Do you think that you smell rotten?"
Satoru bites his lip, tears flooding his eyes and threatening to fall. Slowly, he nods his head.
Suguru sighs before nodding his head in response. "Okay. Tell me about the bees that you were researching before you went on leave."
The random question is meant to distract the omega, leading his mind elsewhere other than the dark opinions that he has of himself. Satoru is just tired enough for it to work, and without questioning why he was asked that in the middle of a serious conversation, begins to babble.
"I was looking into carpenter bees and their contributions to the ecosystem."
Suguru is now kneeling in front of him again, lathering soap into his hands. "Oh? I thought all bees contributed to the environment?"
Pale legs slide open and to keep himself from falling, Satoru leans on his husband's shoulder.
"Yes, but bees pollinate differently according to their species. Carpenter bees use sonication. Their flight muscles vibrate against the flower to release the pollen."
If there's one thing that lightens Satoru's mood, it's talking about his research, and Suguru knows it. The pale man hasn't been in classes or the lab since the week before having Megumi. He and Suguru were permitted by the university to complete their semester early, since the end of the period landed around Megumi's due date.
Satoru hasn't studied or gone to a lab since, the longest that he's gone without researching anything botany related. His graduate thesis involves declining flower populations in the region, and in order to do that, he also has to research the bee population. He continues discussing carpenter bees, before Suguru then asks him about honey bees. By now, they're already out of the shower.
Suguru has not only successfully washed him, but also inspected and applied some ointment on his tear. He's lotioned from head to toe and Suguru helps him step into a clean diaper. He talks about local wild honey as his hair is blow dried. He's carried like a koala back to the bed, where he's placed on the edge, while Suguru grabs them clean clothes from the dresser.
Without even paying attention, he's then picked up and carried to the kitchen, being placed on the counter as Suguru and Isamu open the fridge and turn on the kettle, the older omega also asking questions about bees to keep the conversation going.
Satoru talks about his research for thirty minutes before he takes a break, sighing happily. By now, he's completely dressed and tucked under the blankets. His strawberry protein shake is on the nightstand along with a hot cup of tea. On the tray between them are bowls of sweet potatoes, rice, and mixed vegetables.
Suguru slides beside him and grabs the remote.
Satoru looks at him, mouth dropping open. "You tricked me!"
His husband snorts, leaning over to blow raspberries on his neck. "Did I? Or do you just like talking?"
He goes to insult Suguru, but stops. For the first time that day, he gives a genuine smile. "Thank you." His eyes flutter close when he's kissed on the lips. His smile turns into a groan when Suguru licks the tip of his freckled nose.
The alpha clicks on the TV as Satoru grabs his protein shake. As usual, they decide on a horror movie, and for the first time since arriving home, Satoru finishes a meal.
The next day, breastfeeding becomes the family's main focus. He and Suguru call the lactation consultant and explain the omega's difficulties.
The consultant suggested that Satoru try one more day; if it was still stressful for both him and Megumi, then he should take a break and just focus on pumping.
After breakfast, Satoru carries Megumi into the room with Suguru following. Although he typically didn't sit with Satoru during breastfeeding, they decided to try something new today.
At first, the omega thought that it was because Suguru was worried that he would yell again. However, that wasn't the case. The alpha rarely stepped foot into the room while Satoru breastfed, always thinking that it was a bonding time for mother and pup and he didn't want to interfere.
But today, his main focus was keeping his family relaxed. He believes that nothing physically is wrong with the way that Satoru is breastfeeding; he think it's all because the omega is nervous.
He suggests that the feeding position change to make it more relaxed. Satoru hears his idea and agrees. Pillows and a backrest are propped up against the headboard. The automatic pumper is placed on the nightstand by the lamp.
Suguru leans over and scents Satoru, watching his muscles relax in front of his eyes. Then he lightly scents Megumi who immediately smacks his lips together.
The tan man holds the baby until Satoru slides on the bed, his body against the backrest. Holding out his arms, he's given Megumi, before Suguru climbs over him to sit in his usual spot.
The alpha makes small talk, bringing up the horror movie from the previous night as Satoru unhooks his bra and readjusts Megumi.
Suguru looks over and smirks.
"Bird, your tits are as big as my head."
"Shut the fuck up."
Megumi coughs and rubs his eyes, little legs stretching in Satoru's arms.
Suguru tilts his head, still looking at Satoru's breasts.
"How much milk is in there?"
"I don't know."
Megumi glances at Suguru then at up at Satoru, before staring at the nipple right in front of his face.
The alpha's eyes light up. "Bird, think of how much we can save on our grocery bill if you made strawberry milk with this."
Satoru stops looking at the baby to stare at his husband. "What?"
"Your milk. Strawberries. The blender. We might be able to save enough money to get a car!"
The ridiculous idea causes Satoru to snort, covering his mouth. A giggle then escapes his throat. "Why are you so fucking stupid!?" He laughs, grinning from ear to ear at the dumb ass suggestion from his husband. His vanilla gives off a hint of happiness and relaxation. The scent reaches Megumi, and his nose twitches.
Satoru gasps.
Cradled in his arm is Megumi. Latching on and happily feeding.
He sits there, shocked. Meanwhile, the alpha starts crying, kissing him on the cheek.
"Bird, you did it," he chokes out. One would think that he was the one who was struggling with breastfeeding with how emotional he is.
Megumi continues to suckle, body still relaxed and chubby hands smacking the omega's skin, entertaining himself as he eats.
Satoru still can't believe it. "He likes me," he whispers, to himself or to Suguru, he isn't sure. His emotions, when it comes to Megumi, are still all over the place. His embrace is still somewhat awkward, holding the pup as if he was created with porcelain. But it's improved compared to before, when he sat on the edge of the bed trying to breastfeed.
Naturally, he leans against Suguru, the one who is always his safe space. The alpha, in turn, scoots even closer, resting his chin on Satoru's shoulder. His large arm wraps around him, tears falling down his face.
"Baby, he loves you. And I love you. So much."
Satoru can barely even look at him, already knowing if he glances at his husband that he'll start to sob. He sniffs and clears his throat. "You crying is making me cry, so knock it off you dweeb," he says, with no bite in his words.
Suguru was the same person who could shatter a jaw and laugh about it, yet ugly cried when Satoru's belly bump finally showed. When it came to their bond, the alpha was hopeless, and Satoru thinks he's going to be even more of a sap now that he was a proud father.
The couple stares at Megumi, who doesn't seem to have an issue with feeding at all. They sit there in silence together, with Satoru being embraced by Suguru. As the omega looks down at his pup, he sighs with relief. Maybe he can do this.
After the feeding, the couple heads into the living room and gives the good news. Emi squeezes Satoru in her arms and kisses him on the forehead. Meanwhile, Isamu starts crying, leading Suguru to cry again.
The rest of the day goes by smoothly. Satoru finally feels well enough to call Yu to catch up. Typically, friends and most family members were not permitted to visit a dominant household when a pup recently arrived. It was a time for the dominant alpha to establish his new role in the den, and to ensure that no problems occurred from becoming too aggressive toward visitors.
The pups also didn't have their own scent, needing their parents pheromones consistently for comfort and to form familial bonds. Other alphas rarely even entered a household until the two month mark. Emi was the exception. Not only was she was great at controlling her scent, she also wore scent patches and took scent blockers. As an alpha herself, she knew of the importance of Suguru establishing dominance in his household. But as Suguru's parent, she also wanted to be there for her family. Suguru and Satoru, in turn, never pictured being without her.
But as far as everyone visiting, it won't happen for awhile. Besides, all of their friends were experience life changes themselves; Larue had just given birth to Uraume, so no one could visit them either. Sukuna didn't take a leave from classes or work like Suguru did, but Mei Mei did, and she was home with Larue.
Utahime just revealed that she was expecting her first pup with Shoko. Since she was pregnant, she didn't want to run the risk of being covered in Suguru's scent if she visited, so she kept her distance until the new family adjusted.
Kento and Yu, after buying their first house, were now trying for a pup as well. Since he wasn't pregnant yet, Yu could come over to visit. He made plans to head over to the apartment once Satoru felt comfortable with people seeing him.
Megumi finally latching seems to have made Satoru relax, and after speaking to his friends, Riko, and Yuta on the phone, he spends the rest of the afternoon with Emi and Isamu, while Suguru falls asleep on the living room rug.
It's after dinner when Satoru decides to feed Megumi before the baby goes to bed. There will be two night feedings as well, when both parents will get up with the baby. The first feeding, Satoru will breastfeed while Suguru manually pumps his other breast. The second feeding, Suguru will bottle feed so Satoru can use the automatic pumper for both his breasts. Although the alpha suggested that he just sleep through one feeding, he refused. Satoru really wanted to increase his milk supply, and in order to do that, he had to pump on schedule.
They prop up the pillows as they did before, having the same set up. Satoru holds Megumi, and immediately, he latches on. Suguru smiles and leans down to kiss his tiny forehead. "He truly is perfect."
Satoru gives a fake pout. "I thought I was perfect?" He jokes. Suguru grins and then kisses him on his pink lips.
"You're perfecter."
Satoru snorts. There's a knock on the door.
"Sugu," Emi says, "the elders are on the phone."
"I'm coming," he replies before standing to his feet. "I'll be back, Bird. I'll make you some tea while I'm in there."
The elders needed to speak with both Emi and Suguru to create an official announcement for Megumi's birth and add him in the clan records.
He closes the door behind him, leaving Satoru there alone. Quietly, he hums, holding on to the baby as he continues to feed.
"Well, look at you. You should excel at breastfeeding. After all, you'd be the perfect cow. Isn't that why Suguru called you perfect?"
The color drains from Satoru's face when he hears the voice.
Hop, hop, hop.
The white rabbit sits beside him.
"My, isn't he a cute little one? I'm surprised that you created something so cute, Satoru."
"Go away."
Hop, hop, hop.
The rabbit sniffs Megumi's scalp. Whiskers twitch and it grins, teeth still sharp but yet now, with an orange tint to them.
"He's so cute. Don't you just want to squeeze him?"
Satoru closes his eyes, trying to ignore the rabbit's words.
"Go on. Squeeze him. Squeeze him until his bones break and his little head pops off."
Megumi finishes feeding just in time, because Satoru tenses once more, his chest quickly rising up and down.
He quickly slides off the bed and places Megumi in the bassinet. When he wipes off the baby's face and neck, the rabbit hops on his shoulder and whispers in his ear.
"Break that cute little neck of his, Satoru."
Satoru immediately heads to the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
He thought that if he spent more time with Megumi, that the rabbit would go away. Instead, now the animal is constantly there, following him around to plant ideas in his mind.
Every feeding, it's there.
"Smother him, Satoru."
"Break his little arm. Let's see what the meat looks like inside."
Every time he tries to cuddle with him, the rabbit speaks.
"Drop him on the floor. Don't you want to see if he lands on his feet like a cat?"
"Throw him and see if he flies, like you. Isn't that why they call you Bird?"
The rabbit not only tells him to harm Megumi, but eventually tries to instruct him to harm Suguru.
When the alpha is sleeping peacefully beside him at night:
"Wrap your hands around his neck and squeeze until you hear a pop."
"Yank his canines out. Let's see how dominant he is without them."
When Suguru shows him affection, the rabbit mentally abuses him even more.
"He knows you stink. He feels sorry for you, a rotten fat piece of flesh. His cow. Moo for him, Satoru."
"Suguru thinks about other omegas when he kisses you. He can't wait to throw you out like trash."
With each passing day, the rabbit transforms into something uglier, more sinister. Its body gets larger, teeth are more stained. Patches of fur are now missing, whiskers now bent and some are ripped out.
However, the rabbit's voice remains the same. The woman's voice from long ago, when Satoru was a child being beaten at the Gojo estate. The same voice who has cursed his very existence since birth, one who hated herself so much, that she poured that same hatred into her son, wanting to poison his soul and taint his blood.
"Satoru, you're eating like a hog."
"Satoru, you're too opinionated."
"Satoru, you have too much muscle."
"Satoru, no alpha wants an omega who is too knowledgeable about the world."
"Why can't you ever do anything right and shut up for once?"
"Why do you have to make life so difficult?"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
Satoru, as usual, tries to ignore her. He's tried to ignore her for years. But, as always, it affects him. He doesn't want to hurt Megumi or Suguru, but what if the rabbit gets to them?
And so, he starts to pull away. He wants to protect them. Wants to protect his family. After tending to Megumi, he immediately gives him to someone else or puts him down. When Suguru embraces him, he counts to five in his mind before pushing him away.
Suguru starts to worry, but he tries to reassure the alpha that he's just tired. Technically, he was. He barely slept now, looking over Suguru and Megumi, terrified that something will happen to them.
It's early in the morning when Satoru is in the kitchen. It's another sleepless night. Recently, he just started leaving the bedroom so he could distance the rabbit from his family. He's making himself a second cup of coffee, scooping heaps of sugar into his cup. He's utterly exhausted; now, the rabbit speaks to him all day, spewing abuse with each breath.
She's now as large as a wolf, and is sitting on the counter, dipping her blood-soaked foot into the sugar bowl.
"No wonder you have such a huge ass, Satoru. Look at how much sugar you're eating."
Satoru grabs the creamer from the fridge and pours some in his coffee.
"You consume too much dairy. That's why you're so muscular. Disgusting."
He grabs his cup and turns to sit at the kitchen island. The rabbit leaps from the counter to his space. She lies down on the surface and scowls.
"Sit up straight. You can't even sit like an omega. Are you sure you gave birth to Megumi? Maybe that's Manami's pup. She was the better choice, after all."
Satoru shuts his eyes and presses his palm against his forehead. Nausea grows in his stomach as his head begins pounding. Slowly, he slides the cup of coffee away.
"What do you want from me?" He asks, feeling a sense of defeat.
The rabbit's ears twitch as she sits up. On the counter, she's taller than he is while he's sitting, and she seems to enjoy it. She's always enjoyed looking down on him.
"I want you to accept who you are. A cow. One who eats. And I want you to eat Megumi."
Satoru's hand drops as his head snaps up to look at her, confusion on his face.
"What?"
The rabbit leans closer and grins. There's a piece of flesh dangling from her lip.
"Eat your pup. EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM EAT HIM-"
"No!" Satoru yells, jumping to his feet and slamming his hands on the counter. The cup drops to the floor, shattering immediately.
"Satoru?"
The omega turns and sees Suguru swiftly walking over. When he woke up to use the bathroom, he had seen the kitchen light on and heard mumbling coming from the room.
Satoru looks back to the counter. The rabbit is gone.
Large hands reach for his to pull him closer as he continues to stare at the now empty space. He swallows, the lump in his throat feeling like sandpaper.
"Bird, please tell me what's going on." Suguru looks part concerned, part saddened with the omega, and Satoru fights back the urge to cry.
"I-"
What can he possibly say? How can he explain to Suguru why he's pulling away? Eventually he'll tell him. But for now, he has to protect his family as best as he can, and to him, that includes not telling his husband the truth.
A large hand caresses his cheek, and he leans into the touch. He needs Suguru beside him so badly, but he needs to protect him just as much.
His hands hold on to familiar broad shoulders. His blue eyes gaze into deep chocolate, always warm and loving when they stare at Satoru. He doesn't deserve Suguru. Doesn't deserve him at all.
As always, his husband tries to soothe him. Tries to give him what he wants and needs.
"Maybe you need some omega time? Without me here? Maybe you want to spend time with Ma."
Suguru suggests that maybe Satoru needs a few hours alone with Isamu. Maybe he needs time to bond with a motherly figure and relate to someone who went through pregnancy and labor as well.
Satoru thinks for a moment and then agrees. His body relaxes once more, and he's instructed to sit down as the alpha cleans up the kitchen. Once everything is wiped down, Suguru drags him to the bed. Satoru snuggles in his arms and shut his eyes.
However, he stays awake until the morning, as the rabbit sits on the pillow and continues to insult him.
The next day, the family decides to split their time. Suguru, still thinking that Satoru is just exhausted and not sleeping enough, encourages him to sleep in. When he wakes up, the omega is greeted with a huge spread of different foods that he might enjoy, all cooked by Suguru, Emi and Isamu. They all agreed not to cook meat, focusing on seafood dishes and strawberry desserts, Satoru's favorite kind.
After lunch, Isamu suggests that he and Satoru spend time together around the house; the younger omega still didn't feel comfortable with going outside yet, so Isamu decided to kick out the alphas for a few hours.
Emi didn't mind. She thought it would be a great time to speak to Suguru, to see how he's holding up and adjusting himself. He was always one to put his well-being and needs after Satoru, and refused to do anything differently.
At first, it confused her. Suguru had always been independent and with a good head on his shoulders, and yet would blindly follow and support Satoru in everything. Then again, Satoru blindly followed Suguru as well. Their intense entwinement was a topic of private conversations between Emi and Isamu, a concern that the young couple loves each other so intensely, that they would push back their own concerns for the safety of the other.
Separating them today is a good thing; Emi will bond with Suguru and Isamu will spend time with Satoru.
The alphas decide to head to a movie, followed by grocery shopping. Meanwhile, the omegas agree on a movie evening on the couch, with fluffy blankets and hot cocoa. With the weather being dreary outside, it was the perfect excuse for a movie marathon and to talk in the living room.
Isamu and Satoru look through the DVD collection, now on their second movie, and agree to watch Pulse. Megumi is on the floor, now moved from the bedroom since waking up from his nap. Soft blankets surround him as he's lying snug in purple pajamas.
The blinds to their patio are open, letting them see the view of the rain storm from outside. Megumi coos, hands sticking up in the air as he tries to catch the shadows on the ceiling from the rain and wind through the trees. Isamu places their hot cocoa on the kotatsu by their snacks, the small heater turned on as the two omegas sit on the floor. He notices Satoru staring at the pup, yet not making an effort to pick him up.
"Toru, can I ask you a question?" Isamu asks.
Satoru turns his focus to the other man. "Yes?"
"Are you nervous? Is that why you don't pick him up?"
The pale man freezes at the question. How on Earth is he going to answer this? Actually, Mom, I don't pick up Megs because I'm worried that I'm going to eat him.
"Yeah," he lies. Isamu warmly smiles and rubs his back.
"You know, Emi had that same fear. Her hands are so huge, she was worried that she would squish Sugu in her hand like a persimmon." His smile softens as he reminisces about Emi, holding a newborn Suguru as if he were made of glass.
He looks at Satoru. "She had to apply teething gel on his gums once, and her hand was shaking. She was terrified that she would accidentally poke him in the eye or something. Imagine her shock when Sugu grabbed her finger and bit her!"
Satoru giggles, laughing as he pictures Emi screaming because baby Sugu, with one tooth, had bit her.
Isamu shakes his head, laughing as well. "Babies are stronger than you think, Toru. You're taking good care of Megumi, sweetheart. Give yourself some grace."
Satoru stops laughing, and stares down at the table. He reaches for his cup of hot cocoa, staring at the marshmallows. He struggles to believe that he's taking care of him. Half of the time, the minutes past by in a blur, as he desperately fights to make it to the next hour. He feels a gentle touch, as Isamu rubs his back.
"Satoru, you're a wonderful mother."
The older omega opens his arms, and Satoru leans forward to embrace him. Even though he was taller than Isamu, Satoru always found a way to snuggle in his arms and rest his chin on his mother in law's shoulder. He closes his eyes and inhales, smelling the light scent of Isamu's lavender on his shirt.
Just then, a sharp pain pierces through his shoulders, and he hisses. Isamu turns to look at him, his hands no longer rubbing Satoru's back. "What's wrong?" he asks.
Satoru frowns as he pulls away to sit back in his seat. "My shoulders. It's like a stabbing pain." Isamu instructs him to turn around so he can observe. He runs his fingers along the shoulder blades, trying to feel for any tensed muscles.
"Hm, maybe a spider bit you?"
Satoru shakes his head. "My skin isn't itchy or anything." He flinches when the pain shoots from his shoulders to the middle of his back. Isamu stands and extends his hand. "Maybe sitting on the floor is giving you back pain. Let's sit on the couch."
When Satoru stands, he bends over in pain, his back now stiffening up. As if he could sense something, Megumi starts to whimper.
Before he can say anything, Isamu walks over to pick up the baby from the floor. He turns to Satoru. "Toru, why don't you take a hot shower? Then I can get a heating pad ready for you and we can finish Pulse once you're relaxed."
To the new idea, Satoru agrees. Taking a shower sounds great, especially now that it feels as though he pulled a muscle. Isamu carries Megumi to the kitchen to make a bottle. Satoru had pumped enough breast milk to store most of the supply in the freezer, with he and Suguru labeling each bag with the date and time that it was pumped.
It helped to ease the load when the omega was too tired to breastfeed. It also gave Suguru a chance to take over feedings, making Megumi feel comfortable with other people feeding him compared to only Satoru. The supply has been particularly helpful during his postpartum recovery, since Emi, Isamu and Suguru all took turns with mealtime.
Slowly, Satoru shuffles to the bedroom, grabbing a clean change of a clothes, along with the manual breast pump, before making his way to the bathroom. He should stay in the bedroom to pump, but his back is killing him. Instead, he decides to pump to relieve the ache in his chest, and then just dump the milk down the drain. He doesn't think he has the patience to properly store the supply.
Locking the bathroom door behind him, Satoru then undresses. He throws his dirty clothes in the hamper, and wraps his diaper in a plastic bag before tossing it in the trash can. Suguru, every night, empties the bathroom and bedroom trash cans, after collecting both Megumi and Satoru's diapers.
The omega thinks of all the ways that Suguru has supported him throughout his pregnancy and after giving birth. He truly is such a wonderful husband. Satoru's mind wanders as he steps into the shower, the hot water hitting his skin with light pressure.
He didn't expect his recovery to be this difficult. Yet, Suguru has helped him through it all, with no complaints. Satoru's sure that his husband is probably whining to Emi right now, and he laughs when he thinks of her response. When it comes to partners, Emi is almost as hopeless as Suguru, bending over backwards to give Isamu everything he ever wanted. If she could, she would probably carry him around on a throne, with how much she adored him.
Suguru truly is a papa's boy, learning how to nurture and love his partner by observing and copying Emi for years. Satoru smiles. He's so grateful to be a part of such a caring family. Proud of taking Suguru's last name.
"Fuck!" he yelps, bending over in pain as the stabbing sensation shoots throughout from his shoulders to his hips.
Along with pain is now intense pressure on the muscles between his shoulder blades.
His hand reaches for the wall and tries to keep his balance. The color drains from his face and bile climbs to his throat once he realizes that the pressure is from something climbing on his back.
"You think, since you're a Geto now, that you're safe? That you are free?"
The rabbit, now as tall as a school aged child, digs her sharp claws into his shoulders. Satoru's knees buckle when the animal's feet dig into his thighs as he latches onto his body. Blood and flesh drip from her extended jaw, and when she speaks, her breath is hot and smells of rotten flesh.
Satoru shuts his eyes, tears having already escaped, now running down his cheeks. "Please."
Her smile stretches across her face, dark blue eyes now bloodshot.
"You think that you're free? You'll never be free from me."
Satoru's heart pounds even faster and his breath staggers. The hot water against his skin intensifies, feeling as though it's burning right down to the bone.
The pain in his back increases and he whimpers when claws wrap around his throat. She presses her mouth against his ear, sharp whiskers slicing through his skin like fresh razor blades.
"You are your mother's mistake. A hideous, destructive monster. A creature incapable of love. You are nothing. YOU ARE NOTHING!"
Satoru opens his mouth to speak, his voice broken from terror. "Please….just let me go."
It feels as though the world is caving in around him, his vision distorting and his hearing now muffled. The only thing he can feel and hear is her. Only her.
Wide blue eyes dart to the side to stare into the rabbit's. In her soulless eyes, all he can see is his own reflection.
"You're a monster. Just like me. And the way that I have destroyed you, you will do the same to Megumi."
Satoru yells when the rabbit unhinges her jaw, latching her teeth into his flesh. He screams even louder, his arms frantically reaching for his back as it feels as though she is fusing to his body. His nails run through his skin, blood dripping down his shoulders. The pain covers his entire body, and he panics when he and the rabbit start to become one. "PLEASE LET ME GO! MOTHER, PLEASE!" Satoru screams at the top of his lungs.
Knocking can be heard from the bathroom door.
Satoru continues grabbing his skin, turning in a circle in the shower. Steam now blinds his vision, as he hears the rabbit in his mind.
"EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM! EAT HIM!"
He lifts his head and cries out to the ceiling for Suguru. Once his husband's name leaves his lips, Satoru passes out, dropping to the floor.
Suguru wipes a tear from his eye after laughing for a full five minutes at Emi's antics. He was having a great time with his dad, with the two going to the movie theater to see Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. before ending their evening at the grocery store.
An older omega, looking to be in his 80s, had asked Emi for help to grab a bag of flour from the shelf. That, in turn, led to the elderly man following Emi and Suguru around the store, asking the female alpha to work with him to complete his shopping list.
Emi, at one point, turned bright red when the man pretended to feel lightheaded, in an attempt to lean on her and squeeze her bicep. She had to kindly remind him that she was happily married and spending the evening with her son, to which the man looked at Suguru and asked if Emi had any hot siblings.
After the omega finally left the store, Suguru proceeded to tease his dad, threatening to tell Isamu about 'the other man'.
Emi rolls her eyes as she scratches the nicotine patch on her arm. Suguru had quit smoking as soon he found out that Satoru was pregnant. She had quit a few weeks before Megumi's birth, wanting to support the family as much as possible.
The two just left the grocery store after picking up more fruit and anything else that Satoru might eat. Since Suguru has some time alone from his husband, he wants to speak to Emi about something important.
"Hey, Dad," he asks, "can I ask you a question?"
Emi opens a pack of mints and offers him one as they locate their parking space. "Of course."
Suguru pops one in his mouth, pushing the shopping cart through the lot. He's noticed the way that Satoru is struggling, even though the omega is downplaying it.
He thinks of everything that has happened within the last few years; finally becoming a couple, finishing their undergraduate degree, getting married, entering graduate school, and having Megumi. Throughout everything, they have lived in the same apartment, the one they signed the lease for a month after graduating high school.
Although he and Satoru both work while going to school, they don't make the full salary that other professors make. During Satoru's maternity leave, Suguru had taken time off as well, both taking off a semester. They had their savings to live off of, and Suguru had worked a second job earlier in Satoru's pregnancy to save more money. However, his idea requires help from his parents, especially since he would like to accomplish it sooner rather than later.
"I know Bird is having a difficult time. I think a change will help, like a fresh start. I'd like to move us into a house. Do you think you and Ma can loan me the money for a down payment?"
Emi taps her lower lip with her finger, as if contemplating something that she and Isamu would already agree to anyway.
"Tell you what," she starts, "why don't you think of the funds as your missed allowances?"
From the moment that Suguru married Satoru, he had rejected his clan allowance, wanting to provide for the omega on his own. Emi respected his wishes, but still had to keep record of the amount that Suguru was allotted.
The younger alpha stops and looks at Emi as she opens the trunk of the car. Placing the bags inside, she gives him a small smile when she sees his jaw drop.
"You mean it?" he asks. Emi groans. Although she knows her son is a prideful man, she wishes he would just accept that he was their son first, and a dominant alpha second. She and Isamu would have never accepted the money back anyway.
With the bags now loaded in the car, Emi slams the trunk shut. "Sugu, of course we mean it. Whatever you need, we will help you." She snorts when Suguru practically leaps into her arms, hugging her as he's thanking her profusely.
It didn't matter how old Suguru was; that would always be her baby. She wraps her arms around him and squeezes. "You're doing great. You're a wonderful father, Sugu." She feels him nod against her shoulder, so she rubs his back.
"We love you, Toru and Megs so much. Our babies."
"We love you too, Dad. Thank you for everything."
Emi kisses his forehead, and when he leans back to look at her, she softly pats his cheek. They look up at the sky, noticing the storm clouds. She hums. "Looks like your place just got the downpour and it's heading this way. Come on, let's go."
Suguru agrees and walks around to the passenger side as Emi goes to open the driver's door.
As soon as Suguru sits in the car, his phone rings, scaring him almost to death. He's only had the phone for a few weeks now, and he barely used it. He and Satoru shared the phone for emergencies with the plan on purchasing a second one, to have separate lines, once they started classes again.
He reaches into his pocket and flips open the phone, immediately answering the call.
"Suguru, I need you home right away!"
Suguru sits up straight in his seat as Emi starts the car.
"Ma? Are Bird and Megs alright?"
"Satoru locked himself in the bathroom. I heard screaming and crying. I keep banging on the door, but he won't answer," Isamu answers, his voice sounding as though he's on the verge of tears, yet keeping his composure for Megumi.
Suguru's chest tightens. "Bird won't respond to you?"
"No. I can try to unlock the door, but I'm….scared."
Emi speeds out of the parking lot, eyes focused on the road. She can hear Isamu panicking through the phone all the way from the driver's seat.
Although Satoru has never been aggressive toward his family, he was taller and stronger than Isamu. The older omega can't physically confront him if need be, especially since he was watching Megumi. Also, even if Satoru wasn't aggressive and only needed medical attention, Isamu wasn't strong enough to lift him from the floor.
Suguru clears his throat and looks at the time on the car dashboard. They'll be home in ten minutes.
"Ma, put Megs in his crib and stand watch in his hallway. If something happens, go in his room and lock the door. We're in the car."
"Alright."
Isamu ends the call to move Megumi to his bedroom.
Suguru pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales. He's dreading what he's about to say, but he knows it needs to be done. He looks at Emi.
"Are Bird's medical records still sealed?"
Emi glances at him quickly before making a right turn.
"The clan elders only have access to surface level information, per my orders. Same for yours."
Suguru nods and then nervously twists his wedding ring.
"Once I see if he's alright, he's going to the hospital."
Emi stays silent for a moment. Soon, they turn on the street.
"Whatever you decide for your family, Sugu, we will support you."
Suguru swings open the front door, running into the apartment with Emi close behind. Isamu runs out to greet them. He looks nervous as he stares at his son.
"Megumi is asleep. Toru…I can't hear him in the bathroom anymore."
The alpha sprints down the opposite hallway until he reaches the bathroom. He knocks and presses his ear against the door.
"Bird, baby, I'm here. Open the door."
A small voice answers.
"It's not safe. She has me."
Suguru readjusts his body to slam his shoulder against the door. On the first try, it opens.
He can't speak as he rushes toward his husband.
The shower is still running, but the steam has dispersed, the water now cold. Satoru holds up his hand to stop Suguru.
"Don't come any closer. I'm dangerous."
Suguru's eyes fill with tears as he kneels outside the shower. There, pressed against the tiled wall, is Satoru. The shower curtain is on the floor from when the omega passed out.
There's a large gash on his forehead and his cheek is bruised. Blue eyes are swollen from crying and his pale hands grasp at the wall.
"Satoru, love, what happened?"
Satoru stares at him as if he's a wounded animal in a snare trap. "She's here."
Suguru slides closer, slow enough not to startle the omega. Behind him, he can hear muffled voices, probably Emi on the phone with the hospital.
"Who's here?"
"Mother."
Brown eyes dull even more when he realizes that Satoru is talking about Reiko, his mother who is still living at the Gojo estate.
"Where is she? I'll help you get rid of her, Bird."
Satoru shuts his eyes as his lip quivers. With a shaky hand, he grabs his own shoulder. "She's attached to me. Won't let me go. She's been wanting me to hurt Megs, but I can't, and she's angry. I love him so much, I can't…"
Suguru's heart sinks. This entire time, has Satoru been hearing his mother's voice, yet he hasn't mentioned it at all? Is this the reason why the omega has struggled to bond with Megumi?
The alpha stretches out his hand to rub Satoru's leg, his thumb rubbing circles on his now cool skin.
"Megumi is safe. He's safe, baby. Come here and I'll help you."
He shuffles closer, finally shutting off the water. Meanwhile, Isamu is in the bedroom, grabbing the blanket from the bed, while Emi is at the front door waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Satoru slowly opens his eyes to stare at his husband. A pained look grows on his face as he begins to sob again.
"She said you'll leave me when you find out that I'm a monster. Please don't leave me, Suguru. I can't do this without you, I can't…."
Suguru is now close enough to pull Satoru onto his lap. Immediately, he scents him and presses his palm against his back.
"You're not a monster. You're Satoru, my Bird. Feel my hand? That's me, not her. She isn't here anymore. She's gone, and I'm here."
Satoru wraps his arms around his husband and sobs, finally feeling relief that he's told Suguru the truth and he's no longer alone. Isamu, now seeing the situation is diffused, walks in with a blanket to cover the omega, who is now shaking from the water and from fear. He kneels beside Suguru and softly combs Satoru's hair, the sirens of the paramedics now within distance.