Chapter Text
Changbin had been upset when Seonghwa told him that his packmates weren’t going to visit, even more so when he got to talk to them and heard how upset they seemed. His Omegas may have tried to keep their emotions out of their voices but Changbin knew them better than that. He could hear Felix crying even as he talked, and it hurt Changbin to hear it. Something had happened but no one in his pack wanted to say anything about it. Seonghwa had been tight-lipped too, at first. He broke when Changbin asked if his packmates were okay and told him everything that had happened. Afterwards, Changbin wished he hadn’t pressed so hard. It had only made him feel worse in every way. That was probably what Seonghwa had been worried about and why he hadn’t wanted to say anything.
The Alpha, along with the two Omegas present – Wooyoung and Mingi – and Yeosang had spent more than an hour trying to calm him down from his spiral of thoughts. His Alpha instincts screamed at him that Chan didn’t want him anymore and this was proof of it. Felix was crying because he knew Changbin was being pushed out – the Alpha was certain of that. It hurt, and he couldn’t stop the tears no matter how wet Seonghwa’s shirt got. It was hard for all of them, because no matter what the four said to try and comfort Changbin, no one knew why Chan had staked his reclaimed claim on the pack without Changbin there.
When Changbin woke up the next morning he was surprised to see Mingi curled up around him. Wooyoung had told him the night before that someone would be home with him while the rest were doing schedules but he honestly hadn’t expected anyone. He knew Mingi had to record his raps for Ateez’s new album and he had been so excited the night before when they were talking about their schedules. Most of the group would be in the studio recording their parts while Yunho and Wooyoung were set to be in the practice room, learning the choreography so they could help the rest learn it. Mingi was supposed to be with the group in the studio, yet here he was, treating Changbin like the small spoon. It was nice, if Changbin was being honest.
“Go back to sleep,” Mingi’s deep voice was even deeper when he was still mostly asleep and Changbin thought he could get addicted to hearing it. No wonder Wooyoung was obsessed with the Omega’s voice. When Changbin didn’t reply, Mingi tightened his arms around the Alpha and buried his face in Changbin’s neck. It felt nice, intimate in a way he hadn’t felt with his pack in a while, but not sexual. He would have never taken Mingi for the cuddling type but he was not complaining. Especially not when Mingi smelled so good, too. The sweet citrus lulled Changbin back to sleep.
When he woke up again, he was still cuddled up to Mingi, but the Omega was awake now. He was playing a game on his phone but didn’t have the sound up so Changbin could sleep. When the Omega finally noticed Changbin was awake his face lit up in a smile and he put his phone down.
“Mornin’. How’d you sleep?” Mingi sounded way more awake than he had earlier but the huskiness was still in his voice. Changbin let out a noise of appreciation at the sound.
“Better. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me today.” Mingi made a sound of disagreement as he moved his hand to Changbin’s hair where his fingers danced through the strands. Changbin relaxed further into the nest beneath him.
“I volunteered to stay.” Changbin looked up at the Omega above him curiously. He couldn’t understand why anyone would decide to stay with him, but even more so since it was Mingi who volunteered. They barely knew each other.
“But you were so excited to record today?” Changbin saw how excited the Omega was to record. He remembered thinking how adorable Mingi looked as he gushed about how much he loved recording. Changbin could understand the excitement, because up until Hyunjin’s rut ended just over a week ago he had also had the same excitement about being in the studio.
“But I also haven’t been able to spend much time with you. Youngie hogs you, Sannie and Sangie get to see you when they’re with him. Even Jongho’s gotten more time with you than me.” Mingi was pouting down at him and that was what spurred Changbin into shifting so he could cuddle the Omega again. He was rewarded with a bright, citrusy, happy scent as Mingi slid back into a laying position to easier cuddle the Alpha.
“I love your scent.” It was different than Minho’s honey or Jisung’s rain or Felix’s strawberries but it complemented Wooyoung’s blackberry and Hongjoong’s chocolate well. Still, it was wonderful as it was distinctly Mingi and it was flooding Changbin’s nose. He didn’t try to hide it like Jisung and Minho often did, but he didn’t flaunt it like Felix often did. Not that his youngest Omega was wrong for flaunting such a sweet scent.
“I think it’s too acidic and tart.” Changbin hummed before burying his nose in the Omega’s scent gland. It was easy to forget that they weren’t his pack with how comfortable Changbin felt around them. He paused and tensed for a moment but when Mingi didn’t push him away or show any other signs of discomfort, he relaxed again.
“You smell sweet and fruity, like Youngie and Lixie. Makes me want to bite you.” Changbin may have picked up a few bad habits after spending so much time with Wooyoung. The comment made Mingi laugh and Changbin decided he wanted to hear that sound again.
“Youngie and Joongie say that all the time.” Changbin smiled. He wouldn’t put it past either of the two Omegas to want to bite someone who smelled as good as Mingi did. Mingi’s fingers made their way back to Changbin’s hair as the Alpha indulged himself in the Omega’s scent. It was comforting in a way he had resigned himself to never experiencing again.
Changbin wasn’t sure how long they sat like that. He knew he was getting scent-drunk off the Omega’s scent but he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. Eventually, his stomach growled, as he had eaten nothing all day. The sound brought a small laugh from Mingi as he carefully pushed Changbin away.
“There’s some leftovers in the fridge from last night. I’ll go heat them up.” Mingi stood from the nest and Changbin watched as he walked into the kitchen. When he was out of sight, Changbin let out a small sigh of disappointment. He didn’t really want to be alone – even if just for a few minutes – but he also didn’t want to get up. The nest was comfortable.
For the first time since Hongjoong, Mingi, and Wooyoung built the nest two nights ago, Changbin was actually able to admire how it was built. He could see the similarities in how they weaved the scents together. The Alpha’s scents were on the bottom since they were the strongest, just like his pack nest was. Unlike the nests his Omegas made, the scents were weaved together instead of in blocks. If he had been in his own pack nest, he would likely only be able to smell one Alpha from his position. Jisung had told him once that because his scent was so similar to Chan’s and that because neither of their scents mixed well with Hyunjin’s they separated them so that they could smell everyone. Changbin had believed him then, but smelling how the Ateez Omegas had weaved four contrasting Alpha scents so perfectly together told Changbin it was possible.
His own pack nest had the Omega scents woven loosely and blocky against the Alpha scents, as if they were trying to suppress the scents. Minho’s honey scent was often paired with Changbin’s sandalwood – likely to drown out the dry scent and highlight the sweetness of Minho’s scent – while Jisung’s was usually paired with Chan’s and Felix with Hyunjin. Then the Betas were on top so they would be easily smelled. The Ateez nest – with his own pack’s scents added in – was different. He could smell each of the Alpha scents on the bottom but instead of pairing scents together like his pack did, the Omega scents were laced and threaded together just as expertly as the Alpha scents were.
From where he sat, he could smell all four Alphas perfectly, mixed with the three Ateez Omegas and his Omegas. The smells of cinnamon, two earthy scents that were distinctly different – patchouli and vetiver – and mint combined perfectly with chocolate, blackberry, citrus, honey, strawberry, and rain. And then on top, just as perfectly as the rest, the Beta scents were weaved on top so everyone could smell their fainter floral scents. Lilac, jasmine and rose accented the rest of the smells perfectly. His pack never made a nest so perfect and Changbin immediately felt horrible for thinking such a thing. Without being able to stop it, his scent started burning and tears were building in his eyes again.
“Hey,” Mingi returned with two bowls, but set them down immediately as he saw the state of Changbin’s distress. Mingi pulled him into his arms and settled him on his lap, much like Changbin had done to Jisung and Felix when they were upset in the past. Changbin’s nose was pushed into Mingi’s scent gland again as the Omega started pumping out calming pheromones. It didn’t take too long for Mingi to calm him down but they didn’t separate even after his tears stopped. It was like Mingi was afraid to let him go. Changbin was afraid to let Mingi’s arms leave him.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Mingi’s voice was soft and calm as he rubbed his hand slowly in circles on Changbin’s back. Changbin was silent for a moment as he gathered the courage to speak. How could he tell Mingi that he was such a shitty Alpha that he preferred their nest to one his own pack would make? He didn’t want Mingi – or any of the Ateez pack – to know how terrible he was. But Mingi deserved to know something at least since he was trying to comfort him.
“I’m a shitty Alpha.” His voice broke as more tears welled in his eyes again. Mingi didn’t stop his hand as he continued to rub circles gently and fill his nose with calming pheromones.
“And why would you say that?” Mingi’s voice was still calm, a tinge of worry hidden underneath, but nothing like when he would be confronted by Minho or Chan. They were often confrontational instead of understanding like Mingi seemed to be. It almost made it easier to tell Mingi what was going on in his mind.
“My Omegas never made such a perfect nest as this.” As if that explained everything. And maybe it did. Mingi offered him a small hum, but he didn’t get the chance to reply before the front door was opening and a trio of scents wafted in. For a moment, the smell of Yunho’s patchouli and San’s eucalyptus had him tense. Both Alphas were older than him – not by much but enough in his mind – and he wasn’t sure how he would feel about them knowing how terrible of an Alpha he was. But Wooyoung’s blackberry was just as comforting as Mingi’s citrus.
The three paused in their tracks when they stepped into the living room. Changbin felt rather than saw Mingi shake his head at the three. Wooyoung was frowning as he took the scene in. San was too, but he gently pulled Wooyoung away down the hall. Yunho knelt in front of them outside of the nest and smiled as he reached in to move the hair out of Changbin’s face.
“Can you heat the food back up, Yunnie?” Yunho smiled and nodded. Changbin relaxed as he realized Mingi wasn’t going to make him repeat what he’d said earlier. He knew that most likely Mingi would tell them all what he said, but he wouldn’t make him do it himself. Yunho picked up the bowls and went back into the kitchen. He was there for much longer than Changbin expected.
By the time Yunho returned with the food Wooyoung and San were coming back down the hallway. Instead of entering the nest with the two, Yunho handed them the food and nodded to Mingi and Changbin before turning around and going back to the kitchen. The sound of mugs clinking together indicated that he was making tea. Yunho came back out briefly, only to walk down the hall. Likely to change clothes as San and Wooyoung had done.
Changbin was distracted by Wooyoung as he took one of the bowls and held the chopsticks up to Changbin’s mouth. Behind them, San was doing the same with Mingi so the Omega didn’t have to remove his arms from Changbin. The Alpha was more than okay with the arrangement. He was still able to indulge in the comfort of Mingi’s scent and touch while also letting his stomach settle its hunger. Yunho returned after some time – when Changbin was at least halfway through the bowl of kimchi fried rice – and waited patiently for either of his Omegas to give him permission to enter. As soon as Wooyoung gave him that permission, he carefully slid in and started handing mugs of tea out. Changbin whined when Mingi released one arm to grab a mug of tea and held it up to Changbin’s lips. He wasn’t incapable of taking care of himself, of feeding himself and holding his own mug, but Mingi wouldn’t let him. And he was perfectly fine with letting the Omega dote on him.
Mingi waited until the bowls were empty and the tea was nearly empty before bringing the conversation back up. Being the comforting Omega he was, before he said anything to the three with them, Mingi pushed Changbin’s nose back into his scent gland and pumped out more comforting pheromones. Changbin was quiet and tense as Mingi explained about their day and what led up to Changbin’s scent smelling burnt and him crying into Mingi’s shoulder. Then, when he caught the three up, he turned his attention back to the Alpha in his arms.
“Want to tell us about your pack’s nests?” So Changbin did. He explained how the Omegas in his pack sorted and weaved the scents in their nests. How he didn’t like that he couldn’t smell everyone from any point in the nest but more often than not, he ended up pushed to the bottom of the nest where his own scent usually was paired with Minho’s while he took care of Jeongin. And how he loved the fact that he could smell everyone equally in the nest Hongjoong, Mingi, and Wooyoung made.
“It’s okay to appreciate someone else’s nest more than your own. I love hyung’s nests more than my own. And Mingi’s nests are amazing. That’s why we nest together.” Wooyoung’s scent betrayed how excited he was at hearing that Changbin loved the nest he helped make.
“The nest is as much for the Alphas and Betas as it is for the Omegas. They’re meant to be a source of safety and comfort. If you don’t feel that comfort in your pack nest, it’s not going to make you feel as safe.” Yunho agreed, reaching over with a tissue that Changbin didn’t even know he had to wipe the tears from his eyes.
“Liking another pack’s nest more doesn’t make you a bad Alpha. Especially not with all you’ve been through recently. I’m not surprised that this nest brings you so much comfort.” San agreed as well. Throughout the conversation he had been hugging his Shiber plushie but when he saw how upset Changbin seemed, he handed the plush over. Changbin was pleased as he held it firmly against his chest. Wooyoung shifted to lay his head on Changbin’s stomach while Yunho moved behind Mingi to let the Omega lean against his chest. Yunho’s hand found Changbin’s hair again and started playing with the strands. San found his new normal place against Changbin’s thigh.
That was how the rest of the pack found them a few hours later. Changbin was asleep again, as were San and Wooyoung. Mingi had his head resting against Yunho’s chest where his eyes were also drooping with sleep. Seonghwa smiled at the sight and snapped a quick picture before shuffling down the hall after Hongjoong and Jongho to change clothes. Yeosang wasn’t far behind him after he stopped to pick up the dishes around the nest.
And when Seonghwa returned Yunho nodded at him to sit by him. He did so, along with Hongjoong who was also cooing at how cute the puppy pile had looked. His admiration for the cuddles around him disappeared when he found out the reason for it – Changbin feeling like he wasn’t a good Alpha because of how much he liked their nest more this his own pack’s nest. That was something he and Hongjoong could bring up with Minho later, after – if at all – Chan apologized and Changbin returned to them. For now, Seonghwa was more worried about making sure Changbin knew he was still a good Alpha.