Chapter Text
In a world where secondary genders exist, the term ‘fated pairs’ is not too far fetched. Although in this era, nobody really cares to hunt for their happily ever after with their fated pairs anymore; with how there is only a 1% chance of you being able to meet your fated pair, realistically speaking.
While the term itself sounds rather romantic, there really is nothing special about fated pairs ending up with each other.
Sure, fated pairs are bound to have higher fertility rates as well as a slightly higher percentage of producing a Prime Alpha—something that is almost impossible to achieve unless you come from a purebred family of the prime bloodline—but honestly, the thought of wasting your youth waiting for The One isn’t exactly that enticing to Alban.
Especially when he’s found home in his high school sweetheart, Sonny Brisko.
Alban had presented rather late compared to the rest of his peers, giving him the temporary belief that he is a Beta. And even then, Sonny had expressed both his adoration and attraction towards the shorter male, not minding the fact that they would make quite the unconventional pair, for Sonny Brisko is an Alpha with a good background who has countless Omegas lining up just for him.
And yet even then he had his interest set on Alban and nobody else.
And the fact that Alban ended up presenting as an Omega in the middle of their PE period only cemented Sonny’s decision that,
“Let’s bond once we graduate university.”
Alban’s mind stopped working for a split second.
During their third year of high school in their school infirmary, a red-faced 17 year old Sonny Brisko had proposed to him.
“We might not be fated pairs, but I know that you’re fated for me.”
Alban and Sonny, Sonny and Alban. The two were always together, so in love, and absolutely sweet with each other.
So Alban really doesn’t know how to react when he sees his boyfriend, his future mate, his home, suddenly ripping himself away from Alban’s grip…
… Only to run into the embrace of his brother’s fiancé.
How does one know that they’re fated pairs?
The moment you stumble upon your fated pair, a symptom akin to pre-heat or pre-rut would immediately slap you in the face. The heightened sense of smell, the increase in body temperature, the loss of strength in your legs, along with the overwhelming sense of need to mark your fated pair, cementing the bond almost immediately.
And really, even now Alban finds the whole situation to be both tragic and laughable at the same time.
Because that day, in his second year of university, Alban originally had planned on introducing Sonny to the rest of his family.
“You’ve met my family, isn’t it about time you bring me home to greet your siblings?” Sonny suggested with a cheeky smile. Alban mulled over it. “... Wait. Are you actually considering it?”
“Yeah? We’re going to mate after we’re done with university anyway,” Alban smiled, shooting Sonny a confused look. “Now that’s only two years left, isn’t it better for you to familiarize yourself with your future in-laws?”
Alban squeaked when Sonny pulled him into a tight hug, peppering his whole face with soft kisses.
“I love you, Alban. I really do.”
“And I, you,” Alban smiled softly into Sonny’s shoulder.
And so Alban made a plan; for Sonny to come visit the household the weekend after that conversation took place.
“Shu’s going to be there too, so it’s the perfect chance for you to come.” Alban clasped his hands excitedly. Sonny turned to him with a confused blink.
“‘Shu’?”
“My older brother’s fiancé,” Alban hummed out.
“Ah, right. You said your brother’s getting married next month, right?” Sonny recalled. “What kind of person is this ‘Shu’? You seem to be super fond of him.”
Alban brightened up instantly, because he truly adores Shu.
“He’s like, super smart, super kind and super pretty too at the same time. I don’t know where and how Luca managed to find him, but Shu’s absolutely perfect—Don’t you dare to even think about falling for him when you’ve seen him, okay?”
Sonny laughed and pulled the other into a side hug, pressing a wet smooch on Alban’s soft cheek.
“My eyes are for you and only you. The same goes with my heart.”
And yet when the two of them landed their eyes on each other, they didn’t think twice before discarding their own partners to embrace each other.
Fated pairs. Alban finally understood what it is about them that people glorified so much. The sight truly was beautiful. Shu and Sonny made a beautiful image, two soulmates meeting each other by pure chance, embracing each other in a tearful union with no care in the world for their surroundings.
And Alban? He only stood there with his fingers still spread out, frozen still, unable to process, unable to breathe properly.
And on the end of his line of sight is his own brother, looking equally stunned and broken. Betrayed.
Alban didn’t give himself a chance to grief for his lost love, for the loss of a home that’s been ripped away from his heart.
Because deep inside Alban’s heart he knew; that it was him to blame, for bringing Sonny to their house that day. For uniting the fated pairs at the cost of his and his own brother’s future.
“Is the fated pairs' bond really that powerful…? Shu-nii, he… He always looked at you with so much affection…”
“That’s just how it is, Yochuha, it’s okay,” Luca smiled sadly as he gently ruffled the girl’s strands.
In the background, the sound of the knife slowly hitting the chopping board could be heard. Alban had opted out to find solitude in the safety of their kitchen instead, while Luca gently explained the situation to their very young sister, in a way that an elementary student can process.
“But the dramas and movies made it so romantic…” Yotsuha pouted as she hugged her plushie tighter to her chest. “I never thought I’d see my brother being in the place of the second male lead instead.”
“Mm? Why is that?”
“Because Luca-nii is so cool! So strong! And so handsome too! Luca-nii should be happy like the first male leads in those rom-com dramas instead!”
“Is that so…”
Alban let out a shuddery breath as he quietly put away his knife on the chopping board. His hands were not exactly at their most stable state, but since they can’t really eat out to celebrate the occasion, Alban opted out to cook for the family instead.
Their parents stayed quiet about the incident, but he knew. He knew that his parents, especially his mama, was very disappointed with the outcome of the supposedly-to-be happy reunion. She didn’t say a single thing, only shooting Alban a stare from the corner of her eyes throughout the whole explanation.
Luca was very mature about the situation, and he did a great job at keeping the fire as low as possible. But Alban knew that his decision had disappointed so many people for the long run. And his suspicion was proven true when their mama wordlessly picked her clutch up and left the front porch.
“She is worried about you guys,” their Omega papa firmly patted Luca’s shoulder before he turned to Alban with a small smile. “Don’t worry, we have things under control. Just… Don’t forget to eat your meals and sleep properly… Okay?”
And when their parents had left the house, Alban resumed with his cooking while Luca humored Yotsuha with her countless ‘Why’s and ‘How’s.
‘How can they still smile at times like these?’ Alban wondered.
While he didn’t shed any tears, he felt unbelievably empty ever since he saw Sonny dispose of his hold so roughly in order for him to be able to pull Shu into his arms.
It happened instantly.
One second Sonny and Alban were laughing together at some stupid random things, the next second, the moment Luca and Shu greeted them from the front porch, Sonny stiffened.
Alban still remembered the confused noise Luca made when Shu suddenly stumbled in his spot, clutching onto his own chest as he gasped for breath.
And before Alban could reach out to ask ‘what’s wrong’, Sonny suddenly leaped forward and buried his face into the curve of Shu’s neck.
As the two sank to the ground, their scents flaring to comfort each other, intermingling into a sweeter scent, Alban got the hint immediately.
‘... Ah. So that's how it is. So we were merely protecting someone else’s destiny after all.’
Alban put down the knife for the fifth time that day, gripping onto the edge of the counter as he shut his eyes tight, willing the mental image to leave his mind as soon as possible. His Sonny—no, not his anymore—not sparing any hesitation in pushing Alban away in order to get to his brother’s fian—ex-fiance…
“Let’s bond once we graduate university.”
“My eyes are for you and only you. The same goes with my heart.”
“We might not be fated pairs, but I know that you’re fated for me.”
‘Fated pairs.’
“Alban?”
Alban let out a loud gasp, wide eyes immediately locating the source of the voice only for him to see a concerned Luca standing by the kitchen’s entrance.
“O-oh,” Alban let out pathetically. “Uh. Dinner’s not done yet, do you… Uh.”
“Alban…”
“U-uhm, is Yotsuha hungry already? I’ll try to find something light for her to munch on—”
“Alban.”
Alban stiffened. Luca had used his Alpha voice, and his Omegan nature responded immediately to the silent order. Luca quietly studied the younger male before he softened both his expression and tone.
“Let’s just order something in.”
“But… I’ve been prepping—”
“Your hands are still shaking.”
Alban quieted down. Despite his initial calmness, his hands had not stopped trembling ever since. Luca slowly approached the younger to loosely wrap an arm around his brother’s frame.
“It’s okay, let’s just order something in,” Luca murmured, patting the other’s back comfortingly.
“... I’m sorry, Luca… I shouldn’t have brought him home—”
“Eventually you will. You have to, especially if you were planning to bond after university.”
Alban flinched. Luca went quiet for a few seconds before he pulled away slightly to place both hands on each of Alban’s shoulders, gazing at the younger male intently.
“Don’t blame yourself too much, Alban. It’s inevitable.”
Alban’s breath hitched. Inevitable. Shu and Sonny being together was something unpreventable.
“If any… I’m thankful that you brought him earlier before the big event,” Luca gently squeezed Alban’s shoulders. “Can you imagine what a mess it would’ve been had they met for the first time at my wedding?”
Alban stayed mum, but Luca knew that the younger male was listening to him. He smiled and gave Alban’s shoulders another pat before he straightened up.
“It’s alright. It wasn’t your fault. There’s nothing that could've been done.”
Alban blinked slowly, watching Luca nonchalantly scrolling through his phone as he searched for nearby restaurants available for delivery. His heart and head felt heavy yet empty at the same time.
‘Why? Why aren’t you blaming me for bringing him home? Why aren’t you blaming me for ripping your future away from you?’
Alban would rather have Luca yell at him, slam him against the wall and give him a good beating. But he didn’t.
Instead, he smiled kindly and told Alban that he shouldn’t blame himself. He told Alban that it’s okay, that it’s inevitable, that he’s thankful.
The realization slowly hit Alban.
Luca had gritted his teeth and played the strong front for Alban and Yotsuha, in order to prevent his younger siblings from worrying too much over him.
And so, Alban decided to respect his decision, and pretended he didn’t hear the muffled sobs coming from his older brother’s room that night.
‘Such bad timing…’
Two weeks after the siblings’ breakups with their respective partner, Luca goes into a rut. It’s two weeks early, much earlier than his expected schedule—their family doctor suspected that the stress took too much toll on the Alpha’s body, sending his whole system into haywire.
‘Had the wedding been progressing nicely, he should be spending his rut with Shu,’ Alban bites onto his bottom lip.
But well, his brother’s ex-fiance is pretty much gone and whisked away by his ex-boyfriend, so that is not within the realms of possibility, and Alban’s just thankful that Yotsuha is currently staying with his parents.
He sends a text to his family group chat just to be sure, not forgetting to inform Luca’s workplace regarding his prolonged absence while at it. ‘It wouldn’t be a short one now that Luca’s forced to handle his rut on his own…’
It feels like going back to his high school days, when Luca hadn't met Shu and he had to spend his rut locked up inside his own room. Just like the old days, this time too Alban's staying home to keep the house clean as well as making sure that his brother stays fed and hydrated. Despite being an Omega, he wasn’t as affected by his brother’s scent, so everything's supposed to be fine.
… Or at least that’s what he remembered. The moment Alban steps inside Luca’s room to take away his breakfast tray, the intensity of the Alpha pheromones almost makes him stumble in his steps. It's real dizzying.
‘What the fuck? This isn’t how I remembered his last rut to be,’ Alban scrunches his nose, sniffing at his own sleeve to neutralize his senses with his own scent.
Gently patting the blanketed lump at the center of the bed, Alban whispers a small, “Luca, you good…? Do you want me to open the windows to air your room out for a bit?”
“No, don’t.” The growl coming from underneath the blanket doesn’t sound like his brother at all. “We can’t let it affect the neighbors.”
“Okay, alright,” Alban tries to keep his breathing steady, not wanting to inhale too deeply when Luca’s scent is so thick like this. “Just text me if you need anything, okay? More water, painkillers, anything.”
Luca’s rut isn’t in full swing yet, but it definitely is there. Alban frowns at the calendar pinned at their fridge, the dates now all a jumbled mess of circles and lines and arrows here and there. His brother is two weeks early, but then what?
Five days, that’s the general rut and heat cycle for Alphas and Omegas alike. Alban hasn’t taken care of Luca for at least two years now, he doesn’t know anything other than the outdated information he has from during his high school years. Alban sighs, hopefully his cycle is going to be at least regular.
… And then there's more, there's one specific thing he hasn’t mentioned to his parents or Luca; Alban is late for his heat.
He’s been late for a week, and Alban suspects that it is also caused by the exact same reason for his brother’s sudden irregular schedule. The moment Luca’s rut started, he too started consuming his suppressants in hope that his cycle wouldn’t suddenly start while his brother is in the middle of his rut. The last thing he wants is for their cycles to magically align.
“An ice pack. He needs an ice pack,” Alban reminds himself as he opens the fridge. He felt it earlier through the blankets, his brother was heating up.
The temperature in Luca’s room feels much higher than the rest of the house, and Alban’s starting to worry that he might have overestimated his capability in taking care of an Alpha without actually ending up in their beds.
‘His scent earlier though…’
Alban’s vision suddenly whites out and he gasps as he stumbles forward, having to hold onto the frame of the fridge for support as everything slowly comes back into focus.
“Are you alright?”
Alban whips his head to see his brother standing a few distance away from him, all sweaty with strands matted against his forehead, his cheeks all flushed from the heat. A frown makes its way to Alban’s feature.
“Should you be leaving the bed?”
“I’m horny, not incapacitated.” Luca laughs when Alban makes a sputtered sound. “And I’m heating up.”
“Take off your shirt, I'll turn up the AC. And here’s some ice to help you out for a bit,” Alban presses the packs against Luca’s pretty much drenched shirt, “or do you want to shower instead?”
“It’s not even ten yet and I’ve showered twice already, I think I’ll pass,” Luca rubs the ice packs against his forehead and cheek. “It’s just… It feels really uncomfortable, y'know? To put it into terms, there’s an itch I just can't seem to scratch… Like, 'something' is missing.”
A twinge of guilt. Alban’s chest throbs uncomfortably.
“Um…” Alban furrows his brows. “Have you tried nesting?”
Alban’s pretty sure Luca hasn’t nested. In fact, most Alphas don’t really ever feel the need to. While Alphas nesting is not unheard of, it is primarily an Omega thing to build their own nest, to find solace in a familiar scent that is most comforting to them.
“I don’t have anything to make a nest out of,” Luca pouts, eyeing Alban who’s only staring back up at him. “... Are you offering your clothes?”
“Will that be fine?” Alban doesn’t have the heart to ask ‘do you not have anything of Shu left?’
“Yeah,” Luca bends down to lightly sniff at Alban’s nape, making the latter jump slightly in surprise. “I think your scent will be okay.”
“Okay. Alright. I got it. I’ll get some things from my room for you to nest with, for now… Take off your shirt and turn up your room’s AC.”
As Alban pads away from the kitchen towards his own room, he rubs his face tiredly. Luca’s scent is permeating through the air so thickly, and Alban’s starting to get a little more than just dizzy from the effect of his pheromones. Now isn’t exactly the time for whatever instinctual desires his brain so graciously decides he can have.
Shakily, he reaches out for his bedside desk, popping out several pills before dunking them inside his mouth at once. He’s playing a dangerous game, Alban is well aware of it. He’s heard stories of Omegas turning infertile, no longer having their heat cycle ever again after overdosing on suppressants. But Alban would rather have that than pushing his own older brother down while crying for his knot. And truthfully,
Alban really doesn’t know if he would be able to try again, imagining a future filled with pups and a mate.
‘What are the chances? That they won’t end up finding their own fated pair out of nowhere?’ Alban thinks bitterly, dunking the now empty pill bottle into the trash bin.
The mental image of his ex-boyfriend running away from his grasp vividly replays itself inside his mind. Alban frowns.
He can worry about those things later, for now he’s got an Alpha brother to take care of.
Alban wakes up with a start, finding himself to have dozed off in their living room couch. Stretching out his sore limbs, he lets out a small yawn. The first wave has passed, and Luca’s passed out from the heat and discomfort. Thankfully Alban’s suggestion somehow helped with relieving his so-called itch, and now Alban’s left with nothing to do until Luca summons him again for aid request.
He turns on the TV instead, surfing through the channels for anything interesting to watch before he ends up stumbling upon a title that he doesn’t exactly recognize. It’s already halfway into the B-rated zombie movie and yet Alban tunes in anyway, because the loud sounds from the gunshots and explosions help with his sanity.
Alban turns up the volume a bit higher than he normally likes it, trying his best to ignore the fact that Luca’s getting himself off behind that door. And he tries his best to focus on the movie, he really does. But his head throbs, his heart pounds inside his ears. The scent of Luca’s rut no longer slaps him in the face, but it’s still lingering in the air.
And it’s messing with him.
The scent is stronger, more piquant than Luca’s already intoxicating natural smell. It feels weird that his own brother’s pheromone is playing with his head like this.
He feels the need to spread his legs, to feel something rutting against the space between his thighs, for someone to pin him down and grind against his ass.
This isn’t good.
Not long after, he receives a notification from Luca, asking for him to come into his room. Alban slowly rises from the couch, not forgetting to turn off the TV before he comes knocking at Luca’s room.
“Come in,” comes the muffled reply, his voice sounding rougher than Alban remembers.
“Are you alright?”
Alban frowns, shutting the door behind him as he approaches the other’s bed. Luca looks even worse for wear, he isn’t imagining the dark circles beneath the older male’s eyes. And throughout the time he ever aided Sonny with his ruts, his ex-boyfriend never looked this bad before. Did he catch something else aside from his rut?
“... Alban, this is a weird request but,” Luca swallows thickly, his hand reaching out from beneath his blanket. “Can I… Can I borrow your hand?”
When Alban wordlessly holds out his hand, Alban blinks as Luca gently takes his hand, holding it up to his nose. He steps closer, his shins bumping against the bed frame as he pushes his wrist closer to the older male, and Luca starts nuzzling his cheek against his wrist instead.
‘Oh. He’s scenting.’
“Thank you,” Luca breathes out, yet the wrinkles haven’t really disappeared from his forehead.
“Does it usually get this bad? Your rut?” Alban slowly sits at the edge of Luca’s bed, concern mars his entire feature.
“... I haven’t told you, have I,” Luca blinks and presses his cheek against his pillow, a somber smile playing on his lips. “Me and Shu, we’ve actually bonded.”
“... Huh?”
Luca shifts to lay down on his side, and Alban finds himself unable to peel his eyes away from the flash of bare skin beneath his blanket. But since Luca pats the empty spot next to him, Alban ends up following the silent invitation, laying on his back right by his older brother’s side.
“Me and Shu, we bonded about a year ago,” Luca hums. “Since we started dating with the intention of getting married, it was something we didn’t worry too much about.”
“A mating bond… How does it feel?” Alban blinks.
And Alban knows that Luca really, truly cherished Shu being a part of his life because the stretch of those lips into a grin is almost instant.
“It’s… an amazing feeling. Like in that specific moment, you have your whole life set in place. Obviously there’s the pain from the mating bite. But that moment of realization when you can sense your mate’s feelings with ease, to share each other’s joy and to feel the love rushing in through that bond…”
Luca’s voice trails off, and Alban’s shoulders sag slightly when he notices that very familiar sign of melancholy glinting in those purple orbs.
“... That’s why,” Luca swallows thickly, “when Shu… detached himself from my side that day, I could actually feel it.”
Alban’s gaze falters, his fingertips start to mindlessly toy with Luca’s thicker digits.
“The instant recognition, the joy, the adoration, the relief,” Luca breathes out, “... There wasn’t an ounce of any regret, or even guilt that exact moment…”
“Luca…”
“He was happy, contented. Such a scary thing, fated pair is.” Luca darts his tongue out slightly to wet his lips. “The next day we talked it out properly, I could no longer sense anything from his side.”
“... Why…?” Alban questions, despite having an inkling of what the answer might be.
Luca only stares at Alban with a sad smile, and Alban immediately knows that he is right. Sonny’s bond with Shu must have superseded their initial bond.
Usually with breaking bonds, two parties’ consent is needed in order for them to remove their mating marks through medical procedure. But apparently such a thing is unneeded when fated pairs are inserted into the equation.
Truly, such a scary thing a fated pair is.
Quietly, Alban holds his wrist out again, “you can scent some more, if you need. Or do you want to scent my neck instead?”
Luca considers the offer for a bit before he lifts an arm up, stopping right before his hand touches the other man.
“Can I?” Luca bites onto his lower lip. “Alban, you don’t have to if you don’t want to—”
“As an Omega, I know how hard it is when you can’t have anyone to share your heat with,” Alban nods with a smile, “so as much as possible, I want to help relieve that ‘itch’ you have.”
With a chuckle, Luca gently rests his hand on Alban’s shoulder, pulling him closer, a bit more aggressive than necessary, but whatever bite Alban has dies on his tongue when Luca presses his nose into the curve of his neck.
Luca shifts him gently, laying on his back with Alban laying on top of him, and Alban’s quick to accommodate. He shifts so he isn’t resting his entire weight on top of his Alpha brother—although honestly, Alban truly weighs nothing compared to the older male.
And the close contact must be comforting for the Alpha, because Luca rounds his arms around Alban’s back, keeping his grip firm yet loose at the same time around the Omega.
It doesn’t necessarily remove the itch from beneath his skin, but Alban’s presence in his embrace makes things feel better. His inner Alpha is sated, comforted, like he could spend the rest of his life like this, with Alban on top of him, and his nose in the Omega’s neck.
The scent Luca emits finally feels sweeter than overwhelming, and Alban finds himself growing content and drowsy at the same time. A soft purr slips past him as Luca continues to nuzzle at the base of his neck, dangerously close to his scent gland.
Alban’s mind starts to wander, does Luca act like Sonny during his rut? Sonny would always scent him thoroughly after he was at school all day, feeling the need to stake a claim on his Omega.
“Sonny, come on now. I just finished with PE, this is so uncomfortable.” Yet Sonny would let out a low growl and hug the Omega tighter against his chest, nuzzling his nose into Alban’s nape persistently.
But Luca’s not Sonny, and Alban’s definitely not Luca’s Omega. The thought sours Alban’s mood for a split second.
And Alban must’ve forgotten about an Alpha’s heightened sense during their rut, because Luca hugs Alban tighter and starts rubbing directly at his scent gland, much to Alban’s surprise.
The younger male’s eyes widen, shudders run up his spine as Luca continues to nose at his gland, trying his best to soothe the agitated Omega in his nest.
Luca licks his chapped lips, wetting them. His tongue barely brushes against Alban’s scent gland, and Alban couldn’t suppress the small sound from slipping past him.
“... Alban?”
‘Oh fuck.’
“Uh!” Alban gasps, scrambling to push himself away from his Alpha brother’s hold. Luca loosens his grip instantly. “I– I’ll get something cool and sweet for us to eat, you– You just wait here and rest for a bit more!”
Alban scurries out of Luca’s bed—Luca’s nest, stumbling a bit in his steps as he hurriedly makes his way out of the older male’s room, gently shutting the door behind him before resting his back against the wooden surface.
He stills, trying to will away the rapid thumping of his heart, to get rid of the heat creeping up his chest all the way up to the tip of his ears.
‘Oh shit. Oh fuck.’ Alban’s gaze trembles, shaky fingers curling into tight fists.
He has been affected; by his own brother’s scent. His inner Omega is slowly recognizing Luca as a potential Alpha. Alban slowly slides down against the door surface, burying his face into his palms, too distraught to notice the simmering heat slowly pooling at the base of his gut.