Being a man true to his word, Alexei showed up right on time to accompany Ethan to lunch every day. Eventually, getting closer, largely in part due to Alexei's own effort. Initially, Ethan was far too standoffish, so much it was off-putting but as the days went by, his aloofness melted into what one could consider a cute and shy reservation.
Alexei had the time to accompany him little qualm, which was entirely on Dawson as he would disappear, regardless of where he was expected to be or do. The acquisition, by all indicators, was clearly dragged out for as long as possible. He had a vague idea of their intended goal, but he didn't mind. No matter what they did, he would win anyway.
"D-do you like sweet things?"
Alexei's attention returned to the young lad seated opposite him. He enjoyed watching Ethan struggle to open up and get close to him. It felt fulfilling, like a gardener who finally gets to see a stubborn willful flower blossom.
"I do." He answered with a reassuring smile "Is that strange?'
Ethan shook his head hurriedly "N-no. I think it's nice, not a lot-lot of al-alphas are open about liking sweet... sweet things." His voice occasionally dropped a few registers below its normal volume, almost disappearing at the end of the sentence.
Alexei chuckled. This was probably the longest sentence he had ever spoken to him. He knew Ethan didn't have a stutter, when they were still unfamiliar, he spoke clearly now he was just shy. It was…. endearing "I like sweet things. I like cute things too."
"I... I can design a character for you."
Alexei leaned in "Really?" he asked in a hushed tone "Will it be cute?"
He nodded eagerly "As a-a thank you... for-for always accompanying me."
"Will you make it a sticker?"
"N-no... a phone case… maybe"
Alexei held out his phone, making a show of examining his current phone case. "Hmm... This is a bit bland, but does this mean that anytime I see my phone I get to think of Ethan?"
His eyes widened and his ears grew hotter as the implication of what Alexei had just said dawned on him. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the coffee mug "I didn't mean it like that." His voice carried a dire need to be properly understood "I just..." He stopped when he saw the obvious look of amusement on Alexei's face "Don't tease me!". He pouted and begun to fan his heated face with his hands.
Alexei snickered thinking the other was simply too cute.
"Very well then, I shall eagerly await this gift of gratitude."
It had been ten days since this odd arrangement began, the harasser who made it happen had actually stopped making an appearance some five days ago or so but neither said anything about it. They seemed to share a tacit agreement and simply enjoyed each other's company.
"In a few days, I will have to return home..." Alexei started after some thought.
Ethan's face fell, the news made me just a little bit unhappy. Only just a little...
Alexei watched him closely as Ethan made series of very interesting facial expressions ranging from disappointment and sadness to curiosity "I'll be back soon, I'm sure it will takes a week or two. I'll try to text you every day, okay?"
"Oh..." His eyes brightened and h suppressed a small smile "I'll wait for it."
He was very obviously happy now. He laughed to himself, thinking how easily it was to read him.
Acquired glandular hypoplasia: a condition characterized by the underdevelopment of one's pheromone gland due to a cause does not present from one's birth such as the exposure to certain drugs, trauma, diseases or allergic reaction. Symptoms include gland atrophy, underdevelopment of secondary gender characteristics, little to no pheromone production and very low sensitivity to other's pheromones.
"There are still no changes?" Dr. Noelle's tone mirrored he dissatisfaction. Even though she had the results of his latest checkup in her hands, she still asked. It had been this way since Ethan became her patient. No treatment method was putting forth the desired outcome. She was frustrated, but she knew Ethan was even more frustrated and disappointed. She gave the boy a once over, he came to her when he was 20 years. His condition had been present for four years, treated for two. If there had been an effort to treat him earlier, his situation might have been more favourable, but there was no point in 'ifs'. When asked, he only said it was a reaction to some unbranded medication, and nothing more.
"How about we use another tactic..." She reached into her desk drawer for a bottle "... This is a new gland stimulant. It's stronger than the previous one and might make you feel some discomfort, a little lightheadedness, maybe some nausea but it's worth a try." She drew in a deep breath "Ethan, drugs can only do so much, but you have to take care of yourself too. Get proper rest, eat healthily, drink lots of water and keep your mood up."
He acknowledged her request, accepted the new medication gratefully and left her office. His next stop was another doctor's appointment in another building. He glanced at his phone to check the time and then hastened his pace.
The two-hour session started and progressed just like every other session Ethan had had. He would come in, sit down, fiddle with his clothes or his phone or bag for a few minutes; make small talk with his omega therapist and answer questions about his mood, what he was feeling, his plans, hopes and all that. The therapist, a much older omega by the name, Dr. Beck, with hair greying at the temples, always spoke kindly and dealt with him patiently.
Today, the session started out like a repeat of the previous sessions until Dr. Beck asked about the man with whom Ethan has just became acquainted with. A few sessions back, Ethan had offhandedly mentioned that he met a weird recessive alpha that annoyed him so much that he couldn't help but give him a slap across the face. Later, they met at a park and at some point, became properly acquainted. Every time, this man was brought up, Ethan's countenance would immediately brighten, and he would show a very rare shy side that could be best described as endearing.
"Alex travelled home for some work but he's coming back. He sent a message that he'll be back soon."
"Are you looking forward to his return?"
He nodded shyly. "I'm making him a gift..." He fiddled mindlessly with the hem of his shirt "...but I don't know what to draw. He said he likes cute things, but I don't know..."
"How about an animal?"
"Too many..." he shook his head, he had given the idea some thought "…too many."
"Hmm..." Beck feigned a deep deliberation "...how about a cartoon version of him? That would be cute, don't you think so?"
Ethan met his gaze for a brief second before staring at the floor with a pout "If I draw a cartoon about us, he's going to tease me about it." There was a clear sense of grievance in his voice "He's always teasing me."
"What did he tease you about?"
"He said... That I wanted to give him a phone case so he would think of me when he uses his phone." He answered in a tiny voice.
"Is that true? Do you want him to think about you?"
"M-maybe...just...a... little." His answer was given in almost a whisper.
"You look like shit." Jason commented with great nonchalance as he took a seat by Alexei's bedside.
"Hmm... This time it hurt like a bitch." Alexei answered mindlessly with his full attention on his phone.
It was always like this with his rut, he had to pass them under heavy sedation, while pheromone fluids would be extracted from his gland twice every day, early morning and night, for almost a week. The whole procedure always left him groggy and exhausted, not to mention how much it hurt when he woke up.
"What are you looking at?" Jason asked, stealing a peek at the screen, not that he needed to because Alexei proudly showed him the screen.
"It's cute right?" He asked with a wide smile "The little beta drew this."
Jason glanced at the cartoon "Sure." His answer, non-committal.
"Are you jealous?"
Jason snorted, watched his brother tap away happily on his phone and finally decided to ask "Hey, do you like this kid or are you messing around?"
"What?" Alexei's attention was still firmly attached to whatever was displayed on his screen "Why would you think I'm messing around?"
"So, you like him? What would happen after the acquisition?"
He put away his phone, leaning lethargically against the pillows "I like him but it's not like that. It's like when an unfriendly kitten rubs against you or lets you hold it or something like that."
"Unbelievable, you think he's a cat?"
"No. I think he's very cute."
"Cats are cute."
"He's much cuter." He grabbed his phone "I'll show you, his picture."
"I have seen his picture." Jason pinched the bridge of his nose as a brief montage of all the pictures of Ethan he had previously received flashed in his mind "I have seen a lot of his pictures."
"You haven't seen this one."
"I don't want to."
"Come on, he's very cute. It will cleanse your wicked soul."
Jason rolled his eyes and hopped to his feet "I like my wicked soul. I just came to see if you were still alive, if you have the energy to drool over your sneak shots then I guess you're fine." He looked at the man in the hospital bed "Pervert." He muttered under his breath.
"I can hear you..." He glanced at him "You're already leaving? It hasn't even been an hour."
"I need to pick up Rosalein, I don't like him driving his bike at night."
Alexei smirked "I'm surprised he's still driving it at all." He glanced at the wall clock "It's 3 a.m., what is he doing outside?"
"Work."
"He's still working at the bar? Haven't you been together for a few months?"
"Training takes a little time."
Alexei scoffed "Fucking psycho."
Jason headed for the door but not before throwing him the middle finger. He couldn't help but feel that Alexei was right though, the bike definitely had to go, it was too dangerous. His job too, the idea of Rosalein working as a bartender in such a distasteful bar left a very bitter taste in his mouth. Even if Lein could hold his own, he was still an omega and thar bar was always crawling with trash that should not be recycled. Maybe he could find a way to convince him to go back to school and get his degree or just bring him into Hanzel, at least he can better watch over him there but the problem was Rosalein is only obedient in bed, the moment he senses the conversation headed in a direction he doesn't like he would immediately run off. He had only just managed to convince him to put on the pheromone patch...
These were the thoughts in Jason's head when he pulled up to the bar, Rosalein was already waiting for him.
Jason scrunched his nose, he hated the smell of alcohol, cigarettes and that mish mash of pheromones Rosalein always had on him whenever he returned from the bar.
"Seat belt."
Lein complied and soon they were on the road.
"You didn't wear the pheromone patch." He could tell that much without taking a look, his pheromones were all over the place.
Lein reached for the back of his neck "It's uncomfortable and itchy."
"It's illegal, you know this and I've told you several times that you can't do that."
"What's the big deal?"
"I don't like it, the fact that my boyfriend just has his pheromones on display for everyone makes me very uncomfortable."
"You knew I was like this before we started dating." He grumbled.
Jason remained quiet, focusing solely on the road ahead. The rest of the drive was spent in heavy silence.
"Well, you're dating now, shouldn't something change?" Jason asked as soon as they got home.
"Jay, I said it fucking makes me uncomfortable."
"I'm uncomfortable too."
"Why are you being such a nag about it?"
"It's not nagging, it common sense and basic etiquette, Rosalein. You can't be squirting pheromones all over the place, it's obnoxious and illegal."
"Fuck!" Lein screamed and stormed off.
Jason decided against following behind. It was always this way, when an issue was brought up, Lein would get defensive, throw a tantrum and storm off, sometimes leaving the house completely, just to show up four or five days later and act like nothing happened. Times like these had him wondering if it was worth it taking their relationship seriously, even if the sex was… they had good chemistry. But he genuinely liked him and wanted him to have a more stable life. It was time for a change in strategy. If a conversation didn't work, maybe action will?
The days that followed were quite unpleasant for Lein.
had changed.
No, more like he simply stopped caring, it was like the person he had known was an illusion. The sudden indifference was jolting, and this indifference spilled into their bedroom.
Lein practically had to go on his knees and beg Jason to touch him and even then, the man was noncommittal and always seemed bored. At first, Lein was annoyed, then he became anxious and finally asked about it.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Jason replied.
"What?"
"You want to keep living like you're single, so why should I act like I have a boyfriend."
Needless to say, Lein was pissed. He stormed out only to return after one night with an apology. An apology that barely earned him a glance from the other man. He decided it was time to make a concession, it's just a fucking patch, how hard could it be but even then, Jason remained unmoved.
He snorted "I don't need your false show of compromise. Next week, you'll turn around and take it off."
This much was true, Jason knew him well enough. The pair remained in a state of heightened tension until Lein eventually broke down and cornered him. "I'll wear it so can you stop now?" he asked, tightly gripping the other's shirt with trembling hands.
Jason's eyes narrowed as he showed a displeased expression "Is this because of the sex? If that's the case, we can just go back to how we were."
"It's not that..."
"I know that this is your first relationship so it's difficult for you. So may-" the rest of the sentence was lost in a kiss filled with Lein's despair. Jason peeled him away from his body "Rosalein..." He swallowed his words when he saw Lein's hurt expression "...fine." He walked briskly to the bathroom and returned with a box of pheromone patches "These are from Hanzel..." He announced, placing the box on the coffee table "... it's porous, so it's breathable and it's tailored to dominants like yourself. It blends with skin too. You have to wear them, I'll check and if you don't, I will become very upset."
Lein lunged at him, wrapping both arms and legs around his body.
"I'm still upset with you, get down."
Lein shook his head.
Jason sighed helplessly and shuffled to a couch "Were you that worried?"
"It was scary. I woke up and you were different. I didn't know what to do."
Jason said nothing but kissed him instead, it started out kind and gentle only to grow hungry and rough. He put his hands to work and soon enough, Lein had been stripped bare while he himself remained fully clothed.
Lein could barely hold himself back. It was only for a few days, but it was too long. He touched himself, shamelessly. Wantonly. One hand roamed over his own body tugging on his nipples and fingering himself, while the other took his member and stroked it fiercely as he grinded himself against Jason's partially erect member. He called out for him, repeatedly, burying his face in the crook of the other's neck to get just a whiff of his scent as he pleasured himself greedily to the anticipation of what was to come until he found release, collapsing into the man's chest. Jason had always been a different kind of high for him, the kind that satisfied both his body and his heart.
"It seems you don't need me very much."
Jason's voice pulled him out of his reverie. Lein had never been one to be embarrassed about sex, but he couldn't help but feel ashamed. Here he was, naked masturbating to climax to a man who was fully clothed and hardly sporting an erection. He wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground. He felt pathetic and Jason didn't seem to impressed either. In fact, he didn't have much of an expression, it was very difficult to tell what he was thinking. This made Lein want to flee.
Jason put a hand on his shoulder, putting some distance between them, an action Lein took as rejection. He panicked but soon understood what was expected of him when Jason's thumb brushed over his lower lip before pressing against it. He dropped to his knees, hands moving as fast as possible. Every action reflected his eagerness to please his alpha before he lost his attention. If Lein had looked up, he would had seen Jason's wicked and calculating eyes watching him.
Jason placed both hands on his head and forced it down. There were no tender touches or sweet caresses, no endless whispers of praise for Rosalein's body or commendations for how well Rosalein was keeping up with him, just the sound of Lein gagging on him. Jason let his body loosen under the pleasure received as he stared up at the ceiling.
Training just took a little time…