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Ash stumbles into the bathroom, unable to stop the terrible ache and itch of the scar on his neck. The other scent gland on his neck has been secreting extra oil since last night, spreading his pheromones everywhere he lays. He knows his heat is approaching, the fifth one he’s gone through since he and Eiji made things official. It feels childish calling their relationship “official,” but Ash can’t be bothered to care that much. Especially right now, when he’s practically throwing himself into the cold spray of his shower. His heats are irregular, according to his doctor. Sometimes, he gets flashes of them a week or two after his actual cycle. Other times, they’ll last up to two weeks once they start. He hasn’t had one for the past seven months, so he figures it makes sense that it’s suddenly hitting him like this.
The freezing beat of water against his skin makes his nausea disappear almost instantly. His skin finally feels like it’s not about to melt off his muscles. At last, Ash can sit comfortably and just breathe for a minute. The scar on his neck still aches, but it’s more a vague throb than anything else. Tilting his head to rest on the tile, Ash pulls his knees close to his chest and hugs them.
Ash scratches at his swollen scent glands desperately, bordering on tears because of how tender they are. Despite their tenderness, he needs to rub them to soothe some uncontrollable itch at his skin. He’s got sweat beading up all over his body, stomach churning violently. Taking off his shirt, Ash uses it to wipe his face and under his sweaty armpits. Something wetly drips between his thighs, his knees tremble with the effort it takes to stay upright. His vision swims, and he stumbles against his dresser. Ah. His dresser, it’s so cool against his skin. Feels good. Ash presses his face against the finished wood, pants against it hotly. “Fuck…” He hisses, grabbing at the lower area of his abdomen. “What’s wrong with me?”
Ash turns, trying to press his swollen neck against the dresser to get some of the coolness of it on the tender area. The door to his bedroom opens, and Ash turns to see Dino standing there. The old man’s nostrils flare visibly. “Oh my, Ash.” A chill runs straight down Ash’s spine, spreading to his fingertips. Something is wrong, something bad is going to happen to him. He’s got this sense, knows these kinds of things. Has developed it since he’s been under Dino’s special care. Dino gets closer, closer, closer. The smell of cigars and gunpowder fill his nose. There are other scents underlying those two, but the potency of them makes him dizzy. Something else wafts into Ash’s nose, further weakening his knees until he’s collapsed on the floor. Dino lifts his chin with his palm, Ash’s small face fitting into it too easily. His other hand slips lower, grips the waistband of Ash’s pants. Starts to tug them down, press his hand places he shouldn’t.
The boy claws his arms, trying to pull back but Dino holds him in place. After turning Ash’s head to the side, the boy starts to screech. Protesting the teeth that come to rest around one of those swollen glands, Ash digs blunt nails into Dino’s arms until he rips skin away. Blood drips from Dino’s arms, skin caking thickly under Ash’s fingernails. He does the same to the man’s neck, clawing desperately. He makes sure to cut into his scent gland, receiving a sharp snarl in return. When large fangs sink in, Ash is forced onto his back. Warmth floods through every centimeter of his body, down to his tippy toes. Feels like magma drips down his spine, and his ears ring at how painful it is. Someone’s screaming. A hand clamps over his mouth, and only then does Ash realize it’s he who’s screaming.
“Ash.”
“Ash, you’re so wonderful.”
“What a good omega I’ve got.”
“Ash!” Eiji shakes his shoulders, snapping Ash out of the moment. Ash’s fingernails are wet with blood, and his neck hurts. His throat hurts, too, like his vocal cords are raw. Slick drips between his thighs, although it’s quickly washed away by the cold water. Blood dyes the rivulets dripping down his skin pink, and Ash turns his head quickly when he swears he can still feel Dino’s hands on him, his voice in Ash’s ear. Was he screaming again? He doesn’t remember screaming.
“We need to leave, Eiji.” Ash insists, standing up to start pushing Eiji out of the bathroom. He doesn’t know quite where they are, but he’s sure once they’re outside he can navigate as usual. The streets of New York are ingrained into his mind like they’ve been branded into it. Stumbling from his weak knees, Ash grabs onto the door of the shower. Eiji’s hands come to rest on his shoulders gently.
“Ash, listen to me, we need to bandage—”
“I can bandage it later; we need to go before Dino finds us.” Ash hisses at him, grabbing Eiji’s wrist to start stealthily dragging him through the room. Eiji resists a third time, and Ash finally turns to look at him. “Now isn’t the time, Eiji.”
“Ash, Dino is dead.”
That can’t be right. Not with the way Ash feels a hand press firmly against his back. He turns and half of a semi-transparent face flashes across his vision. “No, no, Eiji he’s going to come back. You need to go, or he’ll kill you.”
“Ash,” Eiji’s voice is gentle, warm hands reaching behind Ash to grab a fluffy towel, “we’re not even in New York right now. We’re in Japan. We’re on vacation, remember?”
Ash stares at him incredulously before looking around. The bathroom he’s in is… slightly familiar, and so is the soft white towel Eiji wraps him in. “Come on, Ash, let’s go sit and I’ll get you some water.”
Ash is slowly guided by Eiji to sit down on the edge of their bed, and Ash doesn’t know how much time passes before Eiji comes back with the glass of water. Holding onto it with him, Eiji slowly tips the glass back until Ash has had a few sips. “Here, eat this.” Eiji slides something into his mouth, and Ash almost bites his fingers off before he smells him. Too often he has had a pill shoved into his mouth to keep him blind and quiet. Ash’s face puckers up immediately at the sourness of the candy Eiji has shoved in his mouth.
“Eugh!”
Eiji hovers a hand over his mouth, fingers barely brushing Ash’s cheek. “Don’t spit it out! Just suck on it for a little. It’ll help, promise.”
Much to Ash’s relief, the candy does help. He grinds his teeth against it, lets the sour exterior sting the sides of his tongue. It’s enough to make him relax for Eiji to examine his neck, which is still dripping with warm blood. “Sorry, Eiji.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” Eiji assures him gently, using the towel Ash has around him to apply some pressure. At the sting of pain, Ash hisses. “You’ll need some stitches…”
“I can stitch it myself.”
“You’re going to an actual doctor. Remember what the last one said? You don’t want to cause much more nerve damage to this gland.” Eiji scolds gently, not letting Ash’s responding pout deter him. “I don’t know what the scar is from, Ash, but… I know that I want you to be healthy. So, we’re following the doctor’s orders!”
“I’d hardly call those orders, more so suggestions—”
“Ash,” Eiji starts, “there’s already damage to the gland. If you caused any more damage, it could end up pretty bad, it’ll take longer to heal because it’s a scar too.”
“If I agree to go to a doctor, will you stop making that face? You’re gonna get worry lines.” Ash pokes at the crease in Eiji’s eyebrows, grinning up at him. The frown he receives in response is all Ash needs to know that his deflection has failed. He’s been trying to get better at not doing such a thing and instead be honest with Eiji. “Okay, Eiji. I’ll go… is it really that bad?”
“It’s… yeah, it’s pretty bad. Looks like you were trying to rip off your whole gland.” Eiji frowns, lifting the towel slightly to see if the bleeding has stopped. Ash must commend him, even like this Eiji doesn’t ask questions about it. He can’t tell if it’s just due to cultural differences or if it’s just Eiji himself. Even after two years of being together like this, Eiji doesn’t pry. The man lets Ash tell him on his own time, which can be equal parts frustrating and reassuring. He doesn’t like to jump at the opportunity to talk about what he’s gone through, but he doesn’t want Eiji to feel like he’s just keeping things from him and shutting him out.
“Dino bit me there, during my first heat.” Ash looks up at Eiji, watching his expression. Eiji’s brows dip inward, scent growing sharp. At first, Ash leans back from him, his upper lip starts to curl. Eiji seems to catch on to Ash’s discomfort, eyebrows relaxing until Ash mimics his relaxation.
“I’m sorry.”
Ash shrugs. “It was just… something that happened. When I came to after my first day, I cut it out.” It’s a much nicer way to put that he stumbled about the halls in the throes of heat, his instincts crying to go back to his mating bed. Ash had found his way into the bathroom, ripping razor blades from their packaging and cutting away the fresh bite upon his neck. Honestly, Ash can hardly remember most of it, just that he did it. He’s got vague fragments of memories here and there, of excruciating pain at the removal; both internally and externally. He remembers the blood. It was everywhere. The doctors told him he was lucky he didn’t kill himself, but Ash wished he had. Now that he’s gone, and Ash is with Eiji, he doesn’t have as many thoughts like those. They still come, occasionally, but he’s better about ignoring them, has more to live for. Those doctors knew what Dino was doing to him, didn’t bother to do him any favors by finishing the job Ash started. No one wanted to help him. No one bothered to care about him, scared and a child. He briefly wonders if things would be different if he had met Eiji earlier. If they would’ve hit it off like they had before. If Ash would’ve taken his bite with stride, flaunted it. He’d like to, now, he thinks. “I ended up in the hospital for a long time afterwards. Doctors did skin grafts and everything. They told me I had severed Dino and I’s bond, but… I didn’t believe them, not completely.”
Eiji leans forward, resting his head on Ash’s lap as he listens. Ash puts a hand on his head, pets the man’s head gently. Plays with different pieces of his hair, twirling them around his pointer finger.
“He didn’t try to bite me again, but… some part of me felt free when he fell into that fire. As if his death finally completed something I’d started a long time ago.” Ash murmurs.
Quietly, “Do you miss him?” Eiji asks. He’s just… curious. Ash knows this, but the question still feels as if it extracts all the air from his lungs. In return, he takes a deep and shuddering breath. Feels hollow despite filling his lungs.
“Sometimes.” He answers, fingers slowly carding through Eiji’s thick hair as he stares at the wall behind the alpha. “I hate that I do, but sometimes I miss him. I miss knowing what it would be like, to be with someone else. Even if it wasn’t the right way, I just… I knew what to expect when it came to him, most of the time. When he wanted sex, when he wanted me to do something, when he was about to give me an order.” Ash’s throat clicks with his next swallow. “I hate the things he took from me, and how he still manages to take and take like the greedy bastard he is. Nothing was ever enough for him; he always wanted more and more and more.”
“He can’t take anything else from you. Not anymore.” Eiji reassures, tilting his head up to look at ash with warmth. It’s like a blanket, the way Eiji stands to wrap his arms around Ash. Staring off behind him, Ash sighs.
“I know. Logically, I know he can’t. But somehow it feels like he still has things of mine I can’t get back. I barely know shit about my own body as an omega.” Scoffing, Ash wraps his arms around Eiji to keep him close. “But… I suppose that means I just have to learn, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right, and I’ll be here to help you learn.” Eiji promises, rubbing their faces together gently. Ash purrs at the action, then grimaces at the slick feeling that gushes between his thighs again.
“Should I really go to the hospital like this?” Ash asks.
“Yes.” Eiji huffs at him, unrelenting. “If it makes you feel better, they’ll put you in a room in an omega-only wing of the emergency ward. You’ll be in your own room, not just separated with a curtain or anything.”
Ash shifts, trying to settle the rising heat in his stomach. Eiji just smells so good, so sweet. He’s so caring and—
“Ash,” Eiji grasps his hand gently, smiling, “come on. I’ll get you some clothes. They should take us right back since you’re in heat.” Ash’s eyebrows rise in surprise. In New York, omegas would just be put in a separate waiting room from the main emergency waiting area. To hear that he’ll at the very least be cared for quickly is… reassuring, somehow. He can come back to their little apartment, crawl into his nest and have Eiji against him. Already at the idea of being in his nest with Eiji, Ash is reaching out to grab his arm. Pulling him close, Ash kisses him.
Ash doesn’t flinch when the nurse injects him with some local anesthetic, far too used to needles. Regardless, Eiji holds onto his hand like some worried mother. He’d make a good dad. The thought is fleeting but does nothing except stir the need in his stomach. His fingers dance up to the scent gland on Eiji’s wrist. Rubbing the pads against the area gently, Ash grunts softly when the nurse holds his head firmly in place. “Please refrain from moving, I’m almost finished.” His Japanese is better than it used to be, but she still speaks to him in English. In her defense, Eiji checked him in, and probably asked for a nurse that could speak both.
“Ouch.” Ash grumbles. Luckily, the pressure of the needle sewing his skin back together helps him stay grounded. Some of the scratches aren’t deep enough for stitches, so they slap some steri-strips over them and call it a day. Honestly, that’s far more than Ash would’ve done. He begrudgingly lets the nurses run a few more tests on him to make sure he’s alright. “Eiji, how much is this gonna cost?” He personally never had to worry about medical fees thanks to Dino, and his own stubbornness for tending to himself, but he’s not excited for some big bill.
“Should be cheaper than what I was billed for when I got shot, if it makes you feel better. We do have to pay upfront though.” Eiji teases gently, laughing at Ash shooting him a little glare.
“Don’t joke about that Eiji, I thought you died.”
“Sorry, sorry. It’s been so long I can look back on it with a bit of amusement now.”
“Amusement certainly is a word for it.” Scoffing, Ash wraps himself up a bit tighter in the blanket they’ve given him complimentarily. “Seriously, though, should I prepare myself for bankruptcy?”
Eiji laughs, although it’s more perturbed than tickled. “No, Ash. You’ll be fine.”
Ash looks towards the door, listens to the bustling of omega and beta doctors and nurses outside of the room. “Eiji…” They’re alone, and Eiji’s scent is so enticing. Eiji reaches over to dab gently at Ash’s sweaty face with a damp paper towel he’d wet earlier.
“We’ll be able to leave soon.” The alpha assures. Ash takes hold of his wrist, bringing it to his mouth to lick the scent gland on the Eiji’s wrist. His scent is so strong here that Ash can taste him. Dragging his tongue across the area, Ash raises his eyes up to look at Eiji through his lashes. The alpha has turned bright pink, shoulders raised up. “Ash! We’re in public!” He hisses in a whisper. They’re not, not really. The door to the room is barely ajar, and they can shut it fully if they like. Ash thinks he would like to very, very much.
Shrugging, Ash drags his teeth across the area. Goosebumps spread across Eiji’s arm, and Ash knows they’re elsewhere too. Eiji is just so sensitive, so fun to play with and tease. Ash loves to rile him up sometimes; loves to watch his fangs grow too big for his mouth and force drool from his lips. “Ash, please,” his alpha whines softly, “they’ll be back any minute.” Ash knows he’s right, but he can’t be bothered to care. Not right now, at least. Not when Eiji’s pulse quickens against his tongue and the plum blossom smell fills Ash’s lungs. The faint, sweet taste spreads across his tongue. He watches Eiji press a hand between his thighs, a soft whimper ripping itself from the alpha’s throat.
The door opens, and a nurse clears her throat. Eiji tries to escape his own skin with how hard he jolts and pulls away from Ash. “Excuse me!” He pulls himself away, trying to keep himself covered. He’s a deep shade of red, now, no longer the cute pink color he was before. That’s okay, though, because Ash still thinks he’s cute. Very cute, cute enough to sink his teeth into and eat a piece of. Like a little cake.
“It’s quite alright, nothing out of the usual. His drive is actually a good thing. It means that the episode shouldn’t have disrupted his hormones too much.” The nurse explains, walking over to wrap some bandages around Ash’s stitched wounds. “Now, you’ll need to keep this area very clean, okay?”
“You got it.” Ash assures.
“And you need to be careful with your movements or else you’ll pop these stitches.”
Ash turns to her finally, tilting his head as he gives her a lopsided grin. “You tellin’ me not to rough him u—” A hand clamps over his mouth quickly.
“Thank you so much! We’ll make sure to be careful with it, promise!” Eiji assures the nurse, bowing the deepest he can to her with the hand clamped over Ash’s lips. She just smiles at them. Ash must miss some sort of exchange between the two of them, because Eiji looks far more ashamed than before.
When the nurse leaves, Eiji moves his hand to Ash’s good shoulder and shakes him. “Ash! You can’t just do things like that!” He insists. “We can’t just do things like that in public, and you can’t be so vulgar.”
“Don’t see why not. The door has a lock, and we’re all adults. Like she said, nothing out of the usual, right?” Ash leans in, brushing their noses together. Eiji’s pupils dilate a little. The alpha leans in for a moment, entranced by everything that is Ash Lynx, as he always has been. Their skin rubs together, a slightly slick slide from Ash’s sweat. Eiji’s other hand rests over Ash’s, the one on Ash’s shoulder pulling him closer. Pulling until their lips brush treacherously, Ash sighs against Eiji’s and calls his name.
Eiji somehow manages to pull himself away, pressing the back of his hand to his lips. “No, we have to wait, and your wound… It’s inappropriate. We can’t.”
“Please, Eiji? I want you when we get home.” The omega insists. His scent is cloying, invading all of Eiji’s senses. It’s a privilege they even let Eiji stay with Ash like this since they’re not a mated pair, so Eiji has to reign it all in. He can’t let Ash’s sweet scent and even sweeter voice lure him in here.
“When we get home.” Rubbing his sweaty palms together, Eiji tries to avoid eye contact the best he can. Knowing he’ll cave at Ash’s big begging eyes, he has to keep his own averted. When the doctor comes in, she gives Ash some painkillers and some extra bandages.
“Keep it clean, don’t tear your stitches.” She says, and Ash is sent home. Ash leaves the blanket behind easily, choosing to cling to Eiji’s arm instead. The trip back to the apartment is filled with Ash tugging at Eiji’s clothes. Hands slip under Eiji’s shirt from time to time, forcing him to reposition Ash’s hands because they’re walking. Sure, it’s the middle of the night and no one is really around, but they still need to keep up a semblance of decency. By the time they reach the apartment, Ash has stolen Eiji’s jacket and is essentially huffing the faux-furred collar. Eiji barely gets the door closed behind them before his omega is pressing him against it, tugging at Eiji’s belt.
“Ash! Wait, just slow down!” Eiji insists, immediately fretting over Ash’s wound. He gets promptly ignored by the omega, who manages to unbuckle his belt and drops to his knees. Eiji’s body feels like mush when he looks down at Ash, watching him mouth at his cock through his boxers. Emerald eyes gleam up at him through thick blonde lashes. Eiji questions if he’s been harder in his life than in this moment, with Ash on his knees pulling down his underwear.
The alpha’s cock smacks heavily against his stomach, and his omega purrs loudly at the sight. Pink lips press gentle kisses to the flushed tip of Eiji’s cock. A soft, warm tongue drags from where his knot forms to the tip of his cock. Eiji moans so loudly his chest shakes from the force. Ash’s mouth feels so good, and Eiji frets over the fact that he can already feel a coil tightening up in his gut. Ash wraps his lips around the head of Eiji’s cock, sucking and dragging his tongue across the slit. Warm hands settle on top of Eiji’s thighs and he whines low in his throat. “Ash, wait… s’too much…”
Ash doesn’t seem to care much, though, because he sinks further down onto Eiji’s cock. His throat is so warm, smooth like velvet. Eiji is going to lose himself in the feeling if he’s not careful. Ash’s sweet omega scent is driving him crazy enough as is, his throat is spiraling Eiji towards unimaginable bliss. Swallowing around him, Ash’s soft breath tickles Eiji’s pubes as he exhales against his pelvis. Fuck, fuck it’s too much. Eiji’s fingers tangle in Ash’s hair and tug gently. There’s no way Ash can breathe in this position. He’s got to make sure his omega can breathe, he has to be gentle and take care of his omega. Eiji’s job as an alpha is to make sure his omega feels taken care of. So he tries to tug Ash back by his hair gently. The omega refuses, growling softly at him and sucking hard on his way back to Eiji’s tip. It feels like Eiji’s soul is going to come right out of his cock. The wet muscle of Ash’s tongue swirls around the tip of Eiji’s dick. Then, the omega begins with a slow rhythm, bobbing his head up and down. Eiji’s head thunks back against the door gently, and Ash’s fingers tighten on his trembling thighs. Wrapping a hand around the part of Eiji’s cock that isn’t in his mouth, teasing his knot in particular, Ash squeezes where it’s meant to form. With stars behind his eyes, Eiji presses down on Ash’s head a bit. The omega purrs at the action, which only stirs Eiji on more. Giving small, slow thrusts, Eiji slips his cock in and out of Ash’s mouth. Ash sinks down on a forward thrust, and with the feeling of his throat tightening around Eiji’s cock at the intrusion the alpha almost cums.
“Ash, please, I’m so close.” Eiji mewls, trying to tug the omega off. He needs to get Ash to the bed so he can knot him in their nest. Needs to put a pup right in his womb because Ash has been so so so good and deserves a reward for all his efforts. Eiji needs to knot him right now. “Ash, let me knot you, please. Please, Ash, I need to. Wanna be good for you.”
Ash looks up at him through his long, blonde lashes. Pulling off slowly, he keeps using his hand to stroke Eiji’s cock with a twist of his wrist that forces Eiji’s toes to curl. “You want to knot me, Eiji? That’s so sweet.”
“No, no, that’s not…” Eiji shakes his head, heat rising all the way to his ear tips. “I want you to let me knot you.”
Ash’s pace falters, and the unintentional squeeze he gives around Eiji’s unformed knot forces him to whine. “Oh, Eiji… you’re so sweet, like a puppy.” He leans forward again to lick the precum beading at the slit. “You can knot me when I tell you that you can. No sooner though, alright? I’ll have to punish you if you do.”
Eiji nods eagerly at the idea. With renewed vigor, Ash sucks the tip back into his mouth. Drool pooling in his mouth with the taste of Eiji coating his tongue. Ash is prolific at things like this, used to get paid to do this. Something about Eiji, though, makes him a bit sloppier than he’d be otherwise. Raw. Hallow, even, with the way Eiji worships his halo of blonde hair. It hardly ever feels such a way, like Ash is holy. Oftentimes he feels the opposite, like a hollow husk left behind by everyone who’s scooped something out of him. Everyone who’s taken pieces of him that they shouldn’t have. But Eiji? Eiji, who makes him feel so full of warmth. Eiji, who’s cupping the back of his skull and chanting his name like he’s praying to him. Drool drips down the side of Ash’s lips as he presses his lips to the thick hair on Eiji’s pelvis.
“Ash!”
Ash looks up at him, eyes teary because he wants Eiji’s knot just as bad as Eiji wants to give it to him. Still, though, he waits. Good things come with patience, and he wants to see how far Eiji’s patience extends when it comes to him. Before Eiji gives in to the urge to hold Ash’s head in place and fuck his throat. For now, though, Ash does it for him. Bobs his head up and down ruthlessly, moaning each time Eiji’s cock forces his throat to bulge around the middle. Fingers tighten in his hair, tug this way and that and Eiji struggles to stand without leaning back against the door. “Closecloseclose—”
Ash pulls off with a small gasp, filling his lungs back up with air. “Eiji,” he purrs, traps Eiji’s cock against his soft cheek to kiss along the length, “you wanna cum, Puppy? Want me to let you cum?” His free hand trails up Eiji’s thigh, squeezes his balls gently. Eiji whimpers, a glob of pre escaping the tip of his cock.
Tightly, voice two pitches higher than usual. “Yeah, yeah yeah please please please.”
Ash can’t help but laugh lightly, kissing the tip of Eiji’s cock before he stands. His grip is firm, stroking up and down slow enough to make Eiji growl in frustration. “Poor thing. Have I been teasing you too long, Alpha?” He watches the alpha’s lashes flutter, feels the throb of his cock, the desire. Ash just can’t help himself, Eiji’s so pretty like this, trying to be good for Ash, trying not to knot yet. Taking a little bit of mercy on him, Ash presses their lips together. Licking into Eiji’s mouth, licking those big fangs he dreams one day will dig into his skin. Release him from this flesh he’s never felt at home in. Dreams, that’s all they are. It’s not like Ash has taken care of his body over the years, never believing he’d live to see this sort of day. The day where he finds an alpha he can confidently say he likes. Loves, even, if he lets himself admit it.
“Come on, Eiji.” Ash pulls away, snickers at how he can hear the alpha stumble after him without a second thought. Follows Ash the same way a puppy follows their mother. Clumsily, cutely, nipping at his heels. Ash slips off his clothes on the way, they’ll pick them up later. Hears Eiji’s pants hit the floor somewhere near the entrance to their bedroom as he follows suit. Ash turns to slide onto the bed, beckoning Eiji closer with a finger. “Come here, Puppy.”
Eiji crawls over him, metaphorical ears perked, tail wagging. Ash can see it now, might even get Eiji a cute little headband to match. Just to see him flush all the way down to his little brown nipples. Reaching up, Ash pulls Eiji down. Plays with the baby hairs at the base of his skull as they kiss again. Eiji grips his waist gently, pulls him closer as he settles between Ash’s thighs. Briefly, Ash considers their position, wants to make sure he can see Eiji’s face the whole time. “Eiji, Puppy,” he cups Eiji’s cheek, pulls him in for another peck when Eiji presses his face into his palm, “lie on your back for me.”
Eiji listens without question, unquestionably trusting. Sheets frame Eiji’s soft, pretty face, and Ash can’t help but kiss him again. Then again. Once more, for good measure, must make sure he’ll never forget the feel of Eiji’s lips against his amongst the blur of other men who’ve shoved their disgusting mouths against his own. “Eiji, you’re so good to me.” He murmurs, strokes his cock up and down as he throws a leg over Eiji’s thighs. They’re plush, smooth. Ash’s have a few scars here and there, ones that Eiji never fails to trace whenever he sees them. Like now, where warm fingers rub up and down. Ash shivers. Like magma dripping down his spine, Eiji’s touch sets him aflame. With his cock resting against Eiji’s, Ash wraps his hand around them both. He’s generally bigger than Eiji, so it’s not hard. Ash isn’t as big as Eiji, either. “Watch closely, Eiji.”
A splotchy flush spreads across Eiji’s chest, matching the color of his face. Red, eyes all wide. He throbs under Ash’s hand, cock dripping heavily onto his own stomach. “Does it feel good, Eiji? Are you close? Wanna knot me?”
Eiji nods enthusiastically. “Please? Please I want to so bad. Please let me knot you.” A breathy plea, soft whimpers ripping themselves from Eiji’s throat. He rocks his hips into Ash’s hand, without permission, chasing that high he feels approaching rapidly. Ash pulls his hand away, pouting down at Eiji.
“Not yet, Eiji. You have to be a good puppy, remember? Don’t you wanna be a good boy for me?” He tilts his head, giving Eiji his best pout. The pout that’s made powerful men fold for significantly more than this. More than just play: Ash’s pretty face had melted hearts of politicians, made them give up vital information, gang members, informants. It’s unfair for him to use it on Eiji just for this, but it makes it so much more fun for them. Eiji’s letting Ash have what he’s never truly held before: power. Eiji caves to him immediately, forcing himself to stay as still as he can, even as he still trembles beneath Ash’s body.
“Good boy, that’s a good puppy, Eiji.” Ash reaches with his clean hand to pet Eiji’s hair, coos down softly at him like he’s speaking to an actual dog. Ash pats his cheek, rubs his thumb over Eiji’s bottom lip, presses it in when Eiji sucks it into his mouth. “Greedy, Puppy.” Eiji drags his tongue over the pad of Ash’s thumb, moaning when Ash wraps a hand around them again. Ash rocks his hips, too, grinds down against Eiji’s cock to push himself further to his own release.
As soon as he feels Eiji’s thighs begin to tremble again, he pulls his hand back. “Not yet.” He purrs, and Eiji groans in frustration. His head presses back into the sheets, presenting the front of his throat for Ash to lick and suck bruises into. Too high to hide easily without makeup or a turtleneck. Eiji mewls helplessly, grasping at Ash’s wrist to try and guide him back to their cocks. Ash hums curiously, he should edge Eiji longer for it, because he really is being a greedy puppy. However, Ash is weak to him, to those big doe eyes.
“Please, Ash, please?” Eiji begs so sweetly. Ash wants to give in to him, but that’d be a disservice to Eiji, wouldn’t it? Especially after he asked so politely for Ash to make him work for it.
“Almost, Puppy. Eiji, be a good boy.” Ash responds gently, tucking some hair behind Eiji’s ear before leaning in to give him a gentle kiss. Pulls away too soon, makes them both want more, and more, and more. Ash damn near gives in, just for their sakes. He raises his hips, grabbing Eiji’s cock to hover himself over it. He slips it between his cheeks a few times, bites his lip at the way Eiji’s cock throbs. Little tears gather on his puppy’s eyelashes as Ash slips the head in. Ash moans, slick dripping down Eiji’s cock. “So good, Puppy. Your cock feels so fucking good.”
Eiji sniffles, and Ash’s eyes draw sharply to his face. “Eiji? Eiji, are you—”
“S’good, please… please let me cum, can’t hold it… m’gonna knot, Ash, please.” Eiji hiccups softly, throwing an arm over his eyes to hide the way he cries. Ash moves his arm slowly, just to make sure. “Don’t wanna knot without permission. Please, please I can’t…”
Relief trickles down Ash’s body all the way to his toes. He sighs softly, leaning down to kiss Eiji’s teary cheeks. The alpha sniffles again, nearly sobbing as Ash takes the rest of his cock all in one slow descent. His legs fuss in the sheets, and he struggles not to buck up into Ash’s tight heat. “Oh, Puppy… you’ve been such a good boy for me.” Ash murmurs against Eiji’s ear, drags his lips along the shell to feel him shudder. “You can knot me, Eiji. I want your knot so bad.”
Eiji doesn’t need anymore permission than that, Ash barely has to grind on his cock before Eiji’s knot swells. It fills him so wholly, so well that Ash is cumming in just a few strokes. “Fuck, Eiji!” His cum paints Eiji’s stomach, and his puppy still hiccups and sobs at the relief he feels. Boneless, trembling beneath Ash like a leaf. The omega leans down, peppers his face in little kisses. Smooch, mwah, kiss.
“You did so good, Eiji. What a good Alpha I have.” Ash praises, the heat in his gut finally tamped down for the time being. Eiji’s so good to him. “Love you, Eiji. I love you.”
Eiji’s arms wrap around him; he holds Ash so close. They melt like this, tied together. “I love you, Ash. I love you so much, please stay with me.”
Ash’s heart swells, soars through the sky on a brand-new pair of wings. Hallowed, not hollowed. “Eiji…”
“I mean it,” Eiji insists, holding him tighter, “I don’t want anyone else. I couldn’t if I tried. Just you, it’s… only been you, really.”
“You don’t mean that, Eiji.” Ash sits up, hand on Eiji’s chest as he weighs the gravity of what Eiji is saying to him. It’s heavy, too heavy. Eiji is young, and has opportunities, but Ash? He’s… a street whore. Has slept around for money, food, a damn bed to sleep in. Briefly, Ash thinks about how he deserved better, too. Dino took that from him. He’s not even sure if another mating bite would take.
“I do!” Eiji sits up, or tries to at least. He balances Ash with a hand on his lower back until they move vomfortably into a sitting position. They’re stuck together for at least twenty minutes or so. No better time to talk like now, Ash supposes. “I mean it, really! Listen, Ash, all that stuff… your past and everything, I don’t care. Really. None of that means anything to me. It’s not like you chose to do it. You’re not dirty, and you deserve to move on.”
“Moving on is hard to do, Eiji.” Ash frowns. “I can’t just forget about stuff like that.”
“I know, and I’m not asking you to.” Eiji rubs his hand up and down Ash’s back, over old scars. “I’m just… I want to be there for you, for everything. Dino is dead, and you’re… you’re free, Ash. You can do anything.”
Ash stares down at him, blinks. Blinks again. A laugh bubbles up in his chest. He rubs a hand over his face. Knows what this will mean. “Eiji, you’d be tied to me forever, I don’t think—”
“I wouldn’t want to be tied to anybody else.” Eiji says firmly, staring up at Ash with a stubbornness that hasn’t changed. Constant, something he knows. Somehow, though, this throws him. Eiji keeps him on his toes, for sure. “You’re the person I want. If… if you want me, too, at least.”
“Oh, Eiji…” Ash smiles, warm inside and indulgent. Maybe it’s the afterglow, maybe it’s the way he’s still in heat, but… “I’ve wanted you for years.”
A purr explodes in Eiji’s chest, and he surges forward to nuzzle Ash’s throat. Tilts his head for Ash, whose heart damn near stops in his chest because oh, they’re doing this right now! He swallows thickly. “I dunno if your bite will even take, Eiji.”
“I don’t care. As long… as long as you know I’m yours. Until the very end, okay?”
Ash licks over his own fangs. Smaller than Eiji’s, sharper though. Built for eating the hearts of men much older than him. Eiji is only two years older. He’s soft around the edges, built for easy eating. Easy prey. But through it all, all Ash can see is Eiji’s strength, his resilience. “You’re sure about this?”
“Never been surer about anything else.” He gives Ash a little squeeze, encouraging. With a deep breath, Ash leans in. Takes in that sweet plum blossom scent. Sinks his teeth in. When iron fills his mouth, he pulls back, bares his throat for Eiji. The unscarred side. Eiji nuzzles it, presses kisses to it and licks up the oils with a few strokes of his tongue. Savoring Ash as if he’s a five-star Michelin meal. It gives time for Ash to back out. Being bound with one bite is enough, even if a bite from both is customary in these times. Having the omega bite alone, though, it’s… rare. A sign of submission to the omega. It’s dumb, stupid, and boring old-timey sexism stuff. Ash had to learn about it when he was younger, only made him hate his mark more, cut out or not. “You taste so good, Ash. You smell good.” Eiji praises softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Eiji.” Ash has never meant anything more in his life. Has never told a truth that exposes his soft underbelly so much it could kill him. Eiji is his weakness, and it’s hard to not see it. Blanca would scold him for it, the old hypocrite. Ash doesn’t care anymore. Blanca isn’t here, Dino isn’t here, no one can stop him from doing what he truly wants now. What he wants… Christ, he’s always dreamed about finally getting what he wanted for real. The facsimile of freedom Dino used to give him only made him crave more. Ash got greedy to escape his cage, and the more locks Dino tried to apply, the harder Ash fought to free himself. In the end, Ash won. He deserves it, too, presently. Finally, finally, he can have this. He can let himself have this.
Eiji’s fangs sink deep, careful. He’s a bit too slow with it, and it hurts more than a quick bite would’ve. Ash wouldn’t have it any other way. Something in his mind seems to just… click into place. A wrong righted. The ache on the opposite side of his neck seems far, far away from him for now. When Ash fills his lungs with air, he feels whole.
“I love you, Eiji.”