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There were so many drawbacks to being an omega, Alfred didn't think he would be able to list them all. It's as every time he thinks he's run out of complaints, that's there's no new inconveniences to discover, boom! He is swiftly disabused of the notion by an unwelcome introduction to yet another omega-specific obstacle, coming to slap him in the face like some cruel form of instant karma.
Susceptibility to alpha commands, for one. Luckily, he had trained that instinct almost out entirely all by himself. But, unfortunately for him, it's impossible to completely destroy the instinct, so ever now and then if he's overly stressed or anxious and caught by surprise by some asshole alpha, the command sticks.
And the nesting thing. Dear god, the nesting. Though all omegas are naturally protective of their nests, and devote great time and effort into constructing and maintaining them to the possible highest standards, Alfred's nesting instincts were stronger than the average omega's and dialed up to ten. He is unable to control his sudden snapping rage when someone touches his nest without his approval, and if someone enters it or tampers it? They're lucky Alfred doesn't tear their throats out.
He really doesn't mean to get so mad. But he builds his nests specifically to him, with great care and attention. Each blanket is chosen after a laboriously long decision-making process. Each clothing item, some his some that he stole from family and friends, is present for a reason and arranged in a carefully specific location. His nest is like his home. He misses it when he's gone from it for too long. Which is why he doesn't like others touching it.
Of course, when he does give permission, there is nothing he loves more than to share his nest with someone he loves. Be it Kiku, who he sometimes managed to draw in for much-needed cuddles, or a grumbling Arthur when he needed parental comfort. He imagines one day he'll invite in his alpha-once he finds one that is-but he isn't particularly eager to make that happen.
Because finding an alpha means submitting, and if there's one thing Alfred F. Jones is not, it's submissive.
Ivan hums to himself, acting like he doesn't notice the three alphas whispering to each other at a corner table, casting him looks every once and while. He was slightly disappointed that such a respectable place as his favorite coffee shop would attract such a crowd. Well, he supposed there's always going to be little hooligans wherever you went, so he couldn't place blame on the poor owners.
He caught the gazes of the group again, and made sure to send them the biggest smile, alpha fangs on display, making them go pale and look down. Content once again, he settled back down in his chair. So underwhelming, lesser alphas were no fun when he wanted a good challenge. Maybe he can go poke fun at them for a bit, itching to provoke a response from them.
Or, he realizes as his phone pings with a notification, maybe not.
Because he just received a message from Alfred, his friend, enemy, something in between(?), inviting him to his New York townhouse(Ivan's lip twitched in amusement, because of course the little omega was aware he was in the area). To stay the night.
Ivan has to read the message the text several times to confirm that he has read and comprehended it correctly, and even then it takes another five minutes of typing and backspacing before he can compose a half decent response.
Ivan has been invited to visit Alfred many homes time after time. He even has a spare key to most of them. But Alfred's town house? The one that he actually lives in 24/7, 365 days a year?
Ivan had never been invited there before.
What was he supposed to do in this situation? He doesn't want to say he's internally losing his shit...but he's internally losing his shit.
'Sure' is the reply he settles on after many minutes of painful deliberation, and he hopes with all his heart it sounds nonchalant enough without coming across as unenthusiastic. He didn't want to sound like he wasn't interested, but he also didn't want to come across as a pup.
Alfred replies with a couple of heart emojis, which simultaneously relieve Ivan and make his heart hammer ten times harder. Are they friendly hearts? Or romantic ones? Because the thing is, Ivan would like for them to be romantic. More than he would like to admit actually.
It's not just that Alfred is hot, he objectively is by all standards. Ivan is an alpha with functioning eyes, he can see how attractive Alfred is. And he definitely doesn't take that fact of his very fine assets for granted. But he's also- it's his personality.
It was the way he could be loyal to a fault, especially with his family and friends. It's the file of his smile when he thinks of something funny and doesn't want to laugh, like when pranked Germany by having him covered in glitter. He said something about 'Shining bright like a Doitsu' afterwards.
It's his voice, his scent like , his charming words, and quips, and jokes. It's his endless enthusiasm and compassion, and the way he manages to take command of a whole room with just his presence. He was never once afraid of Ivan, and though he enjoys them being on such friendly terms, he admits he also enjoyed the days when Alfred challenged him. Oh the days when they fought for dominance over each other, the little omega pinning him down with that cocky little smile of his and-
BUT, most importantly it's the fact that he is unmistakably an omega, with a sweet flowery scent and a slightly smaller stature and a pretty, pretty face. And how despite that, Ivan has never seen him submit. To anyone.
When he arrived forty-five minutes later, Ivan spends what feels like a millennia second guessing everything. He knocks on the door anyways, because he is a strong alpha goddammit. And he's going to get his man.
"Come in," a voice calls from inside the house, and Ivan lets himself in, closing and locking the door behind him.
The sight that greets him is unusual to say the least. He is very much aware of Alfred's legendarily nesting habits, and while they usually carry over to multiple parts of the house, it's still much cleaner than the average bachelor's pad. But today, it looks like a tornado has blown through the living room and kitchen, scattering dishes all over the counter, pillows and clothes on the floor, and paperwork all over every free surface. Alfred himself is nestled on the couch, hidden under a mess of blankets, pillows, and other assorted chaos.
Ivan steps towards him. "Hel-" he starts, but is interrupted by a snarl from the huddled lump of omega on the couch.
"No closer," Alfred snaps, baring his small omegan fangs. Ivan freezes in place.
"Okay, sunflower, I'll just be right here," he says , hands raised in a non threatening gesture. He did not want a feral omega trying to claw his eyes out.
The anger melts away from Alfred's face very suddenly, and he flops back onto his pillows. "Sorry," he said, raking his hand through his hair and looking ashamed. "I don't know what's going on. My instincts have been all over the place lately."
Ivan just nods, still standing and unsure of what to do with himself. He's about to ask, but Alfred beats him to it.
"Sorry, you can sit. There are, uh, there are chairs in the kitchen, you can bring one."
Still a little wary about disturbing the omega's space, Ivan drags a chair in from the dining room and sets it down a respectable distance from the couch. "What is it that you need? You wouldn't have invited me here for just any reason," he said once seated. Everything he has seen tonight has confused him greatly, and he needed answers.
Alfred rolled his eyes. "God, you don't have to just...sit there, in the middle of the room! Come sit on the couch."
Ivan stares, more than slightly perplexed. He knows omega instincts are, in a better sense of the word, different, knows he has never really, fully, understood them, but Alfred acting like this? This is new. This is weird. Ivan didn't like it, and it made him want to whine in frustration. "Okay," he says, slowly approaching the couch. "You just said-"
"Well, I changed my mind," Alfred said. "Sit closer. Now."
Demanding little omega.
And probably knows how to remind an alpha of their place. Shivering slightly, Ivan licked his dry lips, and sits, still a careful distance away. Alfred huffs angrily, and uses an arm to forcefully pull Ivan closer to him. "There, was that so hard?"
Ivan stares at him, both completely confused and extremely turned on at the same time. He cleared his throat, scolding him stupid pheromones. "What is a actually going on here, Alfred," he finally demands. "You're acting weirder than usual."
And just like that, Alfred suddenly looks sad and leans into Ivan. "I don't know," he says, sounding so upset and hurt that's Ivan's alpha instincts kick into gear. He wanted to find whoever put HIS omega into such a state, and rip them a new one. Make them regret ever being born-
"You're growling," Alfred says, snapping him from his daydreams.
"Sorry, I'll stop." Ivan assured him. "You can tell me whatever's going on, I promise. No matter what, I've never went back on a promise or shared your secrets." And it was true. They crossed many lines, but the trust between them had never been broken.
"I know," Alfred admits, nuzzling into him in a way that makes Ivan want to wrap his arms around him and never let go. "I think that's part of the problem."
Ivan tilts his head, mystified and a tiny bit hurt. "What?"
"I'll start at the beginning." Alfred removes himself from Ivan's side, looking miserable. Ivan instantly misses his warmth. "I had a bad heat."
Ivan winces in sympathy. Though of course he had never experienced a heat, he has heard bad ones were, well, bad. "Oh."
"Yeah, oh," Alfred mocked, but he seemed more amused than offended. "I couldn't figure out for the life of me what caused it, and then I remembered that interesting meeting I had with my new shitty neighbor." A blush of embarrassment spread across his face as he continued. "I was having a bad day and the asshole had somehow managed to figure I'm an omega. He tried an alpha command and I like, didn't submit or anything, but I hesitated for a moment. He had a good laugh after that." Alfred angrily wiped away the tears that were starting to fall from his eyes.
It took all of Ivan's willpower not to jump off the couch and find the man responsible for his omega's distress. He swallowed down another growl, but was still shaking in anger.
"So, that's basically what happened," Alfred continued, oblivious to Ivan's internal turmoil. "I-because of that I couldn't go into heat here, but I wouldn't feel safe anywhere else either, because my nest is here, and I wouldn't have to time rebuild one. It was just not an excellent heat experience."
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, sunflower," Ivan says, running his fingers gently through the omega's hair. "I wish I could have helped."
Hopefully Alfred wouldn't pick up on just how Ivan might have helped, nor how badly he wanted to.
Alfred whines, very quietly, an undoubtedly omega sound. He tilts his head just slightly, and his neck is bared to Ivan.
This is...this isn't full submission, but it's close. And not only is Ivan wondering what his mating mark would look on the slightly tanned skin, but also felt a tingle on his own neck where he wished the omega would mark him as well. Ivan leans forward to scent him, and-
Distress. The smell of it is thick and undeniable this close to the source, and it makes Ivan's protective instincts explode. HIS omega is distressed.
Not only that, but when he reaches out a hesitant hand to cup Alfred's face, he can feel his temperament is a lot hotter than normal. Feverishly so. The skin is damp with sweat, and too warm.
"Alfred, are you sick?"
Alfred shakes his head, grimacing slightly. "Just OHS, a bit, I think."
Omega heat sickness. Makes sense. It occurs when an omega has had a very bad heat experience, or when they have gone too long without a heat. It's not too serious usually- Alfred will be fine after a few days of care-but it still makes Ivan's heart clench with worry.
"Would you like for me to call someone?" Ivan asks kindly, not letting his jealousy at imagining another alpha, no matter how familial, with Alfred bleed through his tone. "The Brit maybe? Or your brother?" He continued to nuzzle Alfred very very gently.
When an omega has OHS, one of the most helpful things towards their recovery is care from a trusted alpha. Which Ivan presumes can't be him. No, he does not know why Alfred would call him here, when he does not consider Ivan a protector(the thought was preposterous) like Arthur his pack alpha, or Kiku, a potential mate, who have helped Alfred through heats before.
To his shock, Alfred shook his head.
"You."
Ivan freezes, unable to understand what he's hearing. "You want me to take care of you?"
"Please." And just like that, Alfred is tipping his head minutely again, and Ivan understands.
His omega wants him here.
His omega trusts him.
"Okay, sunflower," he coos, kissing Alfred's cheek as he stood up, earning him a small happy purr. "What do you need? Anything you want."
"Just lay with me."
Ivan immediately lowers himself onto the couch, but Alfred shakes his head, gesturing towards the bedroom. "Nest."
"Nest?" Ivan repeats, not sure he heard right. The omega is welcoming him in his nest. There are three people in the world he knows for a fact are welcome in Alfred's nest-Arthur, Matthew, and Kiku-and he had never imagined that he himself could ever be among those ranks.
Alfred nods, managing a little smile for him. "You can go in, just don't mess anything up too bad," he says, and if Ivan ever thought he understood what it was to love before, it was nothing compared to now.
Alfred had already plopped down on his bed with, and was waiting expectantly for Ivan to join him. Ivan still hesitated, afraid this was a trick to make him put down his defenses. "Are you sure? Because it won't be my fault if you change your mind and decide to jump me."
Now that he thinks about it, it wouldn't be that bad if Alfred tried to attack him. It was a little hot, actually.
With an annoyed roll of his eyes, Alfred opened his arms for a wide embrace. "Yes, I'm sure. Now come cuddle me."
That sounded as good as a yes as any to Ivan, and he climbed in a little too eagerly. He pulls the omega gently to his chest, and he strokes his back and kisses his damp hair. His heart beats quickly, excitedly, but his alpha is calm telling him that this is where he belongs, what he is meant to be doing. He is meant to be here, with this omega. He loves him. He loves him. He loves him.
Alfred is still hot and feverish, but he still shivers gently in Ivan's arms. Seeing the usually energy-filled man so still, was uncomfortable for Ivan. "How are you feeling?" He asks in a quiet, comforting voice.
"Not good," Alfred mumbles into his chest. He doesn't look that good either. Poor, sweet omega. Ivan wants to find the asshole that caused this, and put him in the fucking ground.
He vaguely wonders what people who would think of him if they saw him, he who was usually so scary and notorious, snuggled up in a nest with his needy omega. He smiles to himself, not quite knowing why, but he decides it's just Alfred. Because even sick, his omega makes him smile.
When they had been silent for almost half an hour, Ivan thinks Alfred is asleep, until he feels a tugging on his sleeve. "Give me this," Alfred says, continuing to pull at it.
"What's that?" Ivan asks, smiling in amusement. "You want my jacket, little omega?"
Alfred responds with another tug, this time baring his fangs slightly. "Give. Me. It." He demands.
Ivan chuckles and slides it off handing it to Alfred who snatched it away quickly. After careful consideration, the omega tucks it into his nest, right at the head, in the place of honor.
"There," Alfred preens, proud of his work. He curls back up again and closes his eyes, purring in content.
Ivan wraps him up tighter in his arms, determined not to let go. His omega wants him. His omega accepts him. He never wanted to leave.