Chapter Text
When you're an idol, you are expected to fulfill all your schedules whatever, whenever, wherever. You are only excused when you're injured or sick. As an omega, the hardest thing for Renjun are the days when his heats would coincide with official schedules. Unfortunately, such a natural condition isn't good enough of an excuse for an idol to be absent - a suppressant or scent blocker is good enough for them to last a day. But the bad side of this is the after effect, where one's heat or rut could cloud up their minds once the 12-hour effect is over. They need to take more or else they'll lose themselves.
Many call Renjun the group's lucky charm, winning awards with his birthday score, predicting winning lottery numbers, and the million-seller sales. But on this particular day, he doesn't really feel lucky at all. He knew it was coming, he was just not expecting it to be today, on their first offline concert where they'd be meeting the fans personally for the first time. He doesn't want to skip like he has a choice either. So when he woke up that morning, he immediately gobbled up two suppressant pills and dazzled himself with scent blockers. He has no qualms with the members, his roommates know that a scentless Renjun means an omega in heat, making them extra careful not to overwhelm him with anything they do. So far, living with two Alphas, and a Beta was never a problem. Not until today.
They were the last to perform, an achievement from their hard work. The loud cheers were music to their ears, they missed the fans so much they stuck around where they could see them, the glowing light sticks reflecting on their eyes. One by one the members moved back into the tent, the fireworks were done but Renjun lingered near the stage. He waves at a few fans who were flailing around their neobongs. He was so happy he failed to notice the telling signs of heat.
"Renjun-ah." He hears Jaemin call out from behind him.
"Come back inside." A worried frown on his face. "Did you bring extra blockers? You're scent—it’s starting to wear off."
Renjun comes closer, blinking at him. "It is?" Jaemin nods arm coming around the other's shoulder, keeping him close, guiding him back to their tent, wary of anyone who could've picked up his scent. "You should put some on later."
Renjun bit his lip. "I, uh, forgot to bring one."
Jaemin pauses to look at him. "What?"
"I didn't know it was a three-hour drive so," Renjun fidgets with his fingers, "I didn't bring any blockers. I thought it could last longer…"
Appalled, Jaemin hurried them back to their tent, the other three members busy on their phones, make-up already removed. Now that he is far away from the stage, Renjun feels whiplash with the number of scents coming from all directions. He should have prepared for this, suppressants help keep his biology stable, delaying his heat, and scent blockers help to keep his and other scents muted. Now that it’s starting to wear off, he could recognize each of his members’ muted scents. Jaemin pushes Renjun to sit next to Jeno, farthest from the two Betas, as his heat could trigger their ruts.
"Take care of him." Jaemin tells Jeno and leaves to look for their manager.
The moment Renjun sat next to him, his scent wafts straight to Jeno, his mind reeling from the omega's scent, much sweeter but dimmer, a work from the scent blockers. He pauses his game, looking straight at the fidgeting omega beside him. "Renjun, you - "
"Ah! Hyung! We lost! Why did you stop? I could've gotten the kill!" Jisung cuts him off, Chenle withering beside him, it was a rank game they lost. Jeno paid them no mind, his eyes were dead set on Renjun's form.
"Where are your blockers?"
"I didn’t bring any."
"Suppressants?"
"I only took two today."
"Why didn't you tell manager-hyung or one of the staff noona?" Renjun huffs, already irritated with the sudden interrogation.
"I forgot okay! It's not a big deal. I can handle this. We're leaving soon anyway." Renjun replies in frustration, arms crossing in defense, feeling cornered with Jeno's scrutinizing gaze. It doesn't help that the alpha himself didn't wear scent blockers like Jaemin did. Out of all of them, Jeno has the best control of his system. But Jeno’s scent is making Renjun's breath heavier, body growing hotter.
"Hyung? What's going on?" Chenle asked, they could sense his distress too, see his shoulder hunch, one leg shaking from nervousness.
"Everyone, let's go!" The managers came, hurrying the group to move out and into their van. They were supposed to go after the staff packs up their things but Renjun's growing heat alarms the managers. He shouldn't be out in the open like this.
Renjun sits in the middle row next to Jaemin, already closing the door. The other three at the back, Jeno sitting right behind him. He could feel the lingering stare from the alpha, he steals a glance only to lock eyes with Jeno. The intensity of his stare made him shudder. Immediately, he looks away, arms surrounding himself, cold sweat already forming. He could already taste himself in the air. Damn it Jeno! Why didn’t you wear blockers?!
The two youngest shift uncomfortably, being betas stuck inside an enclosed space with an omega close to heat doesn't sit right with them. Renjun could trigger their ruts the same way an alpha could trigger their heats. And they never had a situation like that before, hopefully, they could get home fast enough before Renjun's blockers completely wear off.
The managers berate him, an omega in heat in the middle of a concert is not unusual as long as they keep themselves supplied with blockers and suppressants. He should have been more careful and brought back-up supplies in case the medication wears off. Renjun kept quiet, already accepting his mistake. He knows the necessities, knows the rules, but the idea of meeting the fans filled his mind so much he momentarily forgot about his own condition. He curses at the unfairness of it all.
They stopped by a pharmacy, their stylist-noona went out to buy him medication. They had to wait minutes, the betas squirming in their seats, hands on their mouths. Their blockers weren’t enough to hide the scent but at least it doesn’t affect them that much. Their manager was unperturbed, already dozed with heavy blockers from the early morning rush, probably an expensive one. Renjun should buy something similar that would last a day. Out of the two Alphas in their group, only Jaemin wore his blockers so the effect of Renjun's heat didn't cloud his mind. On the other hand, Jeno didn't, at least he can keep himself steady. But that doesn't stop him from getting riled up with Renjun's heat.
The stylist returns empty-handed. The pharmacy didn't have what's on their prescription. They were in a dilemma. They don't have much of a choice. They couldn't risk getting him to a hospital or a hotel for his heat to subside, schedules could be compromised, unwanted rumors could happen. The managers have no problem with Renjun's heat, it doesn't affect them. The betas, although with blockers, are quite young and might be triggered. The alphas, they could only hope the two can keep it together for a three-hour drive back to the city.
They were nearing Seoul by now, the night sky contrasting with the array of city lights and headlights from moving cars. They could have fallen asleep but they are too worried about their only omega in the car.
Renjun was sweating, the AC not helping him to cool off the impending heat. He starts to shake, breathing heavily as he leans into the cool glass of the car window. His abdomen starts to cramp, he lifts his legs up, folding himself into the chair, trying to subdue the pain. If anyone noticed his change in position, no one made a comment.
Just one hour, just one more hour.
Another wave of cramps and Renjun starts to groan. His insides feel like they’re twisting and squeezing all together. He shuts his eyes close, willing the pain to go away. He could hear Jisung and Chenle shift away, whimpering as they held onto one another. Jaemin casts him a concerned look, knuckles turning white from holding himself steady on his seat. Renjun shifts again, alarmed when he feels slick coming out. He hears a low growl from behind him, Jeno’s scent starts to cloud the van, overwhelming everyone.
“Jeno! Keep it together!” The manager scolds, driving already at the speed limit, thankful police cars were out of sight.
Renjun squirms again, he hears a thud from behind. Jeno hit his head on Renjun’s seat, gritting his teeth as he breathed in shallowly, which did not help as Renjun’s scent grew heavier by the second. His blockers were off, his scent is not muted, and his heat is coming to a full blast.
Renjun’s mind starts to haze, the scents are now bare, purely wafting into the air. Strawberries, Lemons, Cinnamons, Vanilla. His mouth starts to water, slick coming out more. He hears a curse from behind, Jaemin speaking in angry tones, whimpers from Jisung and Chenle. Oh no, my heat is here. He will himself to listen around him and clear his head, he needs to get a grip of himself.
“Hyung, let me take him please.”
“You can’t!”
“Hyung, just this once. I won’t mark him, please.”
“We don’t have much time, we’re still far from the dorms.”
“Fuck this!”
“Just let him scent him up, we can’t have the betas go into rut or else everyone in the dorm will go into rut!”
“Fuck! Fine! Just this once!”
They were in the city, the traffic was heavy, cars honking nonstop, lights glaring from everywhere. Renjun doesn’t know how, but he was suddenly taken out of his seat, shifted around in someone’s arms, and into the lap of someone else, all from the same scent. Somehow he could tell he was still in the middle row, far away from Chenle and Jisung. He lets himself curl around the other’s arms, head immediately nuzzling on the other’s neck, breathing in a heavy vanilla scent. Renjun preens, his omega calming down. An alpha, his alpha.
He feels the alpha adjusting him in his seat, making him straddle, his nose never leaving the alpha’s skin. He hums in content as the alpha runs a comforting hand on his back, the other arm on his waist keeping him close. Renjun lets out a shaky breath, the alpha nose around his scent gland just below his ears down to the juncture of his neck and back again. Renjun moans, body shaking in pleasure.
“Jeno, don’t bite.” he hears their noona scold.
“I won’t. I’m scenting him.” he murmurs on his skin, hot breath making him shiver.
Renjun whines, arms tightening his hold on Jeno’s neck, he nuzzles his face more, scenting the alpha in return. He is thankful for Jeno's control, despite not having suppressants or scent blockers on. Jeno was always the strongest for him, so reliable, so kind. Renjun feels lightheaded, the scent of vanilla filling him up, nothing else flooding his senses. The scent of vanilla grew denser, almost as if he could taste it, his mouth started to water. So he did what his inner omega told him.
Renjun widens his mouth, canines digging into Jeno’s skin.