Chapter Text
“No wonder those two get along, they’re both faulty.” Someone whispered.
“The star has certainly been trying to get everyone’s attention. Look how he struts about with his scent.” Came a voice is a hushed tone.
“Better than the outsider. He doesn’t even have a scent. How useless.” A voice jeered.
It was typical. Olruggio had gotten so used to the side eyes and unwelcome comments that it didn’t even phase him anymore. He’d had even grown to prefer the ones that criticized his status over the ones who seemed overeager to praise him for it.
Even the comments about Qifrey now rolled off his back. He used to start fights the second he heard someone criticize his friend’s status. But after too many bloodied knuckles and reprimands from his professor, he had to start letting things go.
At the end of the day, people could gossip all they want. As long as Qifrey remained by his side, then nothing else mattered. He suddenly felt to need to grab Qifrey’s hand, but when he reached for it, no one was there.
Strange? Hadn’t they just been walking together down the corridors of the Great Hall. He turned to see where his friend had gone, but he was nowhere in sight. Run off, surely. But Olruggio was growing hotter and needed Qifrey. The comfort his friend provided him was the only solace Olruggio had. Qifrey ran away yet again though, abandoning him.
Suddenly the voices that were just criticizing him were now getting louder as they approached him. Annoyance and intrigue on their obscured faces.
The primal fear set in, Olruggio had to run, but the only person he wanted to run to was nowhere to be seen. He was scared. He was so scared. His lips formed around the letters, searching for a voice to scream, and scream he did.
“Qifrey!” Olruggio launched himself forward in his bed, panting as the world came into view around him. He was at the Atelier, the morning sun pouring into his room.
It was just a dream. Another blasted dream. His hair was drenched in sweat and his stomach was in knots. He put his hand on his abdomen, seeing if he could feel the heat on the outside of his body, the same way he felt it on the inside.
He exhaled, “fuck.” Luckily it seemed quiet enough that the girl standing in the doorway didn’t hear his profanity.
“Master Olruggio, are you alright? Do I need to get Master Qifrey, he’s out gathering some herbs at the moment-“ Tetia had a concerned look on her face. She was far too attuned with emotions. If the scream wasn’t enough, she could very clearly see the fear and distress in her watchful eye’s appearance.
“No!” Olruggio said far too desperately, burying his face in his palms. He let out a groan which only made the poor girl look even more worried for him. But the last thing he needs right now was for Qifrey to know Olruggio had screamed his name in his sleep. He could just imagine the look on Qifrey’s face after hearing such a thing. It made him want to punch him real bad.
“Sorry, just a bad dream’s all.”
Tetia seemed concerned until her gaze fell down to his desk that was covered in a mess of papers and contraptions. She furrowed her eyebrow and puffed out her cheeks, “no wonder you had a nightmare! You need proper rest master. Stop staying up all night.”
She shut the door, telling him to get some more sleep and that she’d come to collect him when breakfast was ready. Olruggio collapsed back in his bed and let out another groan for what seemed like the hundredth time since he awoke. What a pitiful watchful eye he was if the apprentices were fretting over him.
——-
“I’mma be heading to the Great Hall tonight, for some business. Be there for about 3, 4 days.” Olruggio said after finishing the last of his breakfast, scraping his utensil against the plate as he did so.
Qifrey was standing over the washing basin, already beginning on dishes even though half the girls weren’t done with their meal yet. He had his cloak tied around his waist loosely. Olruggio cursed himself in his head for letting his eyes linger for far too long.
“Oh,” Qifrey piqued. “So suddenly? did you get a last minute commission?”
Olruggio buried his chin into his hand muffling his voice as he responded, “Some’ing like that.”
Of course Qifrey wouldn’t know the reason. Despite the heat that has been gradually building up in the pit of his stomach and the dampness that seemed to linger on his whole body, Qifrey was none the wiser to the inner workings of the omega’s body.
Olruggio was probably already releasing pre-heat pheromones, it was hard controlling them. But not a thing seemed out of place to Qifrey. Olruggio could release the most potent ‘fuck me right now’ pheromones and the scent wouldn’t even register to Qifrey.
Olruggio hated how upset it made him, cause like himself, Qifrey couldn’t help his messed up wiring. But he just wished somehow, someway, the other would notice.
“You feel more comfortable at the great hall?” Richeh asked, standing up to help put away the leftovers with Agott.
“Hm?” Olruggio mumbled.
“I figured heats were best spent at your home.” She said bluntly, not a sign of ill intent in her voice, but Olruggio felt like he’d just been slapped across the face.
“Richeh! It’s not our place to question where omega’s choose to spend their heats! It’s not polite.” Tetia all but shouted as she lept to cover Richeh’s mouth.
“But he already has a nest here and everything. Omega’s are quite peculiar.” Richeh mumbled through Tetia’s clasped hands.
“Ughhh!” Agott groaned, face construed. “Would both of you quiet, I’m sure he just wants to go to the medical bay there. They have many accommodations for omega’s.”
“But isn’t master Olly different from others? He can’t used any of those medicines.” Tetia pondered letting her fingers slip away from Richeh’s mouth. The three pondered over the food for a second as they seemed to be trying to work something out.
“Ah!” Richeh said pounding her fist in her other hand, like she had the most brilliant thought. “Master Olruggio has an alpha there.”
Suddenly everyone’s attention was turned to the sound of glass shattering. A glass teacup had slipped from Qifrey’s hand. He stood there, towel in one hand looking completely astounded.
Too much had happened in such a short amount of time. Olruggio didn’t know if he wanted to crawl into a hole and die or set the whole Atelier ablaze. Anything to get out of this uncomfortable situation.
“Um,” Coco piped up, from her seat. “Perhaps us apprentices should go outside to work on casting today.”
Olruggio didn’t dare lift his head from where it had nestled in his hands, but he could hear the desperate plea in her voice and seemingly could also hear the collective acknowledgment from the other girls. They hurriedly rushed out the door, and in that moment Coco was Olruggio’s savor.
There was still one glaring issue in the room though. He finally lifted his head to where Qifrey was standing, still with the same dumbfounded look he had from when he initially dropped the cup. The cup didn’t seem to be the cause of his expression though, as his gaze was fixated on Olruggio. If Olruggio wasn’t already flushed from embarrassment, he was sure he’d of turned red from the intense gaze.
He finally stood up and walked over to where Qifrey was, then crouched down to begin picking up the pieces of the broken glassware. It seemed like Qifrey finally snapped out of whatever trance he was in and quickly crouched down as well.
“Since when do those kids know so much?” Olruggio asked, not really expecting an actual answer.
“Well as a professor I have to teach them about the world as well as magic. They’re at an age where they’ll soon have to understand these things so I gave them The Talk.” Qifrey glanced up at Olruggio, “I did it when you were away last time. I figured you didn’t want to deal with any questions they may have had.”
“Right ya were about that,” Olruggio said bluntly.
The two let out a chuckle, finally breaking the tension between the two.
“Surprisingly Coco was the most knowledgeable. I think we may have sheltered the other girls too much.”
“You’re the one that’s too overprotective.”
“I can’t help it! It is my nature as an alpha to protect their pack.”
“Oh, so you can do that as an alpha?” Olruggio mindlessly said. As the words crossed his mouth he realized how it came across. He shot his eyes back up to meet Qifrey’s. A soft hurt was prevalent in his eye. “I’m sorry- I didn’t mean- Ow.”
While distracted Olruggio had grabbed a sharp piece of the glass, a nice cut forming around it as blood began pooling out. It wasn’t that bad, but enough to bother him for the next few days. He dropped shard, causing it to break into even smaller pieces.
Before he could start examining the wound himself, Qifrey had snatched his hand. Bringing it close to his eye. “No glass stuck? No stitches need… Hm, so, who’s helping you through your heat?”
The question was out of left field. Olruggio tried to study Qifrey’s face, but he was still examining the cut. It was useless, “Well, Utowin-“
“Utowin!” Qifrey pulled on Olruggio’s arm causing Olruggio to stumble forward a bit, bringing their faces close together. Qifrey’s face was darkened, his piercing blue eye almost void of any light. Olruggio shivered, feeling a rush of warmth pool in the pit of his stomach. He may have to set off earlier to the Great Hall than he anticipated.
“-Utowin told me last time,” he continued, when courage finally built up in him to speak once more. “that my old professor is in between apprentices right now. I was going to ride it out in my old dorm room,” Olruggio tore his face away from Qifrey’s piercing gaze, too embarrassed to look at him directly, “I ain’t got an alpha and it’s not like I want one either.”
He didn’t dare to look back up at Qifrey. But when he felt a warm, wet feeling in the palm of his hand his he couldn’t help but shoot his glance Qifrey’s direction. Qifrey was lapping his tongue around the wound. Burying his face far too much into Olruggio’s hand despite it being a shallow cut.
“I-I”
“Don’t go to the Great Hall. You hate that place almost as much as I do. Stay here.”
“I don’t want the girls to be around while I’m in heat. I don’t care how sound proof my room is.”
“Me and the girls will head to the Great Hall instead. It’s important for an omega to be where they are most comfortable.”
“You hate that place though. It’s really not a problem for me.”
“But it is for me! Please Olly,” Qifrey begged as he used Olruggio’s hand to cup his face. Looking desperately pathetic. Qifrey was not fair at all.
——
It was a busy afternoon as the girls had to hurriedly pack their bags for the unexpected trip. They excitedly chattered about what they were planning to do while they were there. Qifrey was glued to the kitchen, trying to prepare as many meals as he could. If Olruggio didn’t know any better, he’d assume that the man was planning on feeding an entire army for a month.
Before the girls left they lined up one by one in Olruggio’s tower. He quickly rubbed his wrists over the girls face, neck, and wrists. Scenting them let other’s know whose apprentices they were and not to bother them. He hoped it was enough. They seemed to relax at the scenting. To them Master Olruggio’s scent was the most calming smell in the world. Be that as that may, omega scents weren’t known to ward off others that well. It was an alpha’s scenting that accomplished that. But Qifrey’s scent would hardly do any warding either.
For now, this was the best they could do. When Agott stepped up for her turn she looked the most tense. It made Olruggio’s heart ache. He felt horrible sending her to a place she hated so much, but she was trying so hard to brave it. As soon as his scent glands came into contact with hers, she immediately relaxed. Closing her eyes and exhaling the breath she was holding.
Olruggio made sure to pay special attention to her neck, she tended to work up a sweat while focused on her studying. He needed his scenting to last as long as possible, so she could remain at peace.
He didn’t want to pull away as she began to purr. Instead, he was almost considering letting them all stay. His room had soundproofing right? But those girls were all so nosey, he didn’t want to risk them getting curious and then scarring them for life.
“Alright girls, the windowway is open. Beldaruit is waiting on the other side to greet you, let’s get going.” Qifrey announced as he walked into the room carrying his own, compact bag.
They all scurried to the stairwell with the windowway. Olruggio was saddened to see them go, but was also relieved. His heat symptoms were encroaching on him faster than expected and he desperately needed to be alone as soon as possible. Before Qifrey left the room he turned towards Olruggio.
“Are you sure you want to do this alone?” He looked concerned, it made Olruggio want to pounce on him.
“It’s not like I ‘aven’t done this for years. I’ll be fine. Plus it’s not like I got alpha’s lining up outside my door.” He stood up and began pushing Qifrey out the door. “Now go, before Beldaruit steals all your apprentices for himself.”
Before Qifrey could say anything else in retort. Olruggio had slammed the door on him. After a few seconds he heard Qifrey’s steps echoing in the direction of the stairwell.
With that Olruggio could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but that relief didn’t last long before he collapsed to his knees. He had never had symptoms sneak up on him this fast.
But the heat that began in the void of his womb now spread outward across his whole body. His clothes began to cling to his slightly damp skin and Olruggio all but ripped his clothes apart as he scrambled to remove them.
He managed to stumble to his bed, well, nest would be a better word for it. Looking down at it, it really was a pathetic excuse of a nest. Strewn about were various blankets and pillows Olruggio had deemed as worthy over time. He even had some that have followed him from his tennage years at the Great Hall. But a nest was more than the comfort of blankets, it was meant to be full of various items of the people who provided you comfort as well.
But Olruggio was a stubborn old fool. He had considered asking the girls for a blanket of theirs or an article of their clothing multiple times, but every time he would talk himself out of it. He was their watchful eye after all, not their professor. They probably didn’t think of him as a part of their pack like he did with them.
As for personal items there were only two, buried deep beneath the layers of blankets. The first one he brought out, a small and tattered blanket. He held closely to his chest- the smell faint by now, but still calming. It helped eased his symptoms for a while. Bringing him back to reality, and wrapping himself in a warm, fuzzy feeling.
For quite a while he tried to fall asleep with the blood stained blanket held firmly against his stomach. The memories it brought back were painful, but happy just as well. He drifted in and out of sleep for several hours clinging to those bittersweet memories, but memories were not enough for the ever increasing needs of a heat.
He finally relinquished, carefully bury the precious blanket back to where no one could ever find it. He instead focused on the other item he had. White shirtsleeves, the memory of how he acquired this item just plainly pissed him off. It was a random shirt Qifrey threw his way years ago. He probably never would’ve guessed Olruggio would be using it all these years later. But here he was.
He held the bundled up fabric so close to his nose that he practically couldn’t breathe, but yet, he inhaled as deeply as he could. There was barely anything to smell when he first acquired the shirt, and by now Olruggio’s own scent had far overtaken any other scent that tried to cling to the shirt.
Still, as he inhale, a rush of slick leaked out. He whimpered and bucked his hips into the empty air. Just the thought of the owner of said shirt was enough for Olruggio to get turned on. He used one hand to hold the article of clothing close to his face, his other free hand made its way down to the hot, wet mess behind him. Slowly he inserted a finger into himself. His body seems to scream in joy at the action, tightening around the single finger, thinking it was something better.
He worked fast as he inserted another finger, then another, sloshing them in and out as his body ached in want. By now, the poor pillow that had unfortunately found itself under him had turned into his own personal friction contraption. He insistently pressed himself down on the pillow swaying back and forth to get any sort of pleasure from the action. He began biting the fabric as he tried his best to climax, but his tricks didn’t work. His body yearned for an alpha, and would not be satisfied until it got what it desired.
Olruggio cursed dropping the shirt back onto the bed and instead burying his head in his hand. A sharp scent drifted into his nose for a split second. It was enough to make him cum on the spot. As he moaned and tried to ride that high as long as he could. It didn’t take long for his body to begin craving more. He shot up and looked around. Where did that smell come from. He needed it. Unsurprisingly, he was in the same dull and alpha-less room he started in.
He exasperatedly groaned and ran his hand through his hair. The bandaging on his hand becoming damp from the sweat droplets in his hair. That’s when it hit him. He quickly unraveled the banding reveal the cut he had received earlier.
The wound was still red and lightly raised, but it was healing quite nicely. Qifrey had said the saliva would be enough and the wound would heal on its own, wrapping the wound up before they finished cleaning the broken glass. That specifics didn’t matter to Olruggio right now though. Instead he deeply inhaled his hand. The scent of Qifrey was stronger. He lapped over the wound with his own tongue, savoring any saliva Qifrey left behind. It was pathetic and probably disgusting, but it was the closest thing he had to an alpha. His alpha.
Qifrey.
His.
Qifrey was his.
He was Qifrey’s.
At this thought, he spent himself again. Much more satisfyingly this time. He laid there collapsed on his nest for a while, eyes rolled back and chest rising and falling rapidly.
He seemed to regain his senses for the first time in a while. As he rose from the bed he noticed it was still very dark out. It could only have been a measly few tic marks and he knew he had at least three whole days of this.
He was tired of cursing at how unfair the world was and instead used this brief moment of clarity and strength to eat and cool off. For when the second wave hit, he was bound to become even more pathetic.