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Way watched as Babe danced with Charlie, a huge grin on their faces. The group had gone out to celebrate their win against Tony and Way’s recovery. His shoulder would still ache periodically but other than that it was fine.
Sonic and North had gone straight for the dance floor the moment they arrived. Everyone else had settled at a table, enjoying their drinks and chatting. A short while later, the chaotic duo returned to convince the others to join them.
Alan had looked pleadingly at Jeff, who huffed and tried to hide his smile as he allowed the Alpha to drag him away. Charlie and Babe hadn’t needed much convincing after Sonic informed them that they could just grind against each other the whole time. Way had rolled his eyes at the soft growl that had left his friend as he dragged his slightly blushing boyfriend to the dance floor. Even Kim had managed to drag a reluctant Kenta to a hidden corner.
Way had ignored the looks Sonic and North had sent his way.
“Please,” Sonic whined, gripping Way’s arm.
“No,” Way replied, “I’ll keep our table, but you go and have fun.”
“Buzkill,” North mumbled.
“Yes,” Way stated, gently pushing the pair away towards the dance floor.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, it was that he was the only one without someone to dance with. He could see North, Sonic and Alan glancing at him occasionally, ensuring he was okay. He appreciated it, especially considering what he’d done. He sighed and took a sip of his drink. His eyes roamed the dancefloor and he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to dance with someone he loved or someone who loved him. Way’s eyes flicked over to Babe for a moment and his nose scrunched up at the way his friend and partner were dancing, if you could even call it that. Babe and Charlie looked like they were seconds away from tearing each other’s clothes off.
Once upon a time, Way would have been filled with Jealousy and heartbreak. It was nice, in a way, to look at his friend and just feel exasperated at his utter lack of decorum and control when it came to Charlie. Way’s feelings for Babe, now a thing of the past, had been talked about a lot during their reconciliation. They weren’t back to where they used to be but maybe that was for the best. Charlie was still weary of him and Way couldn’t blame him. He’d apologised and explained to Charlie that his feelings were gone. He hadn’t expected anything from the other man, he’d just wanted to let him know.
Way sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. There was someone he wanted to dance with, wanted to constantly be around. That someone was their team sponsor, the one person who hadn’t hated him at any point, and the one person who wasn’t able to come out with them. Pete.
Way knew it was insane and that he would just get his heart broken again, but he couldn’t help it. He’d fallen for Pete before he even realised he was falling. He was pulled from his thoughts by a voice near his ear.
“Way?” Jeff asked, a look of concern etched on his face.
Way had never been close to Jeff. He’d accused the man of sabotage, after all, and had forced him to reveal something he didn’t want to. Seeing concern on the boy’s face aimed at him was a strange experience and made Way want to curl up in Jeff’s lap and tell him everything. Way shook the thoughts from his head, putting it down to the fact that the younger man was the Pack Omega.
“Are you okay?” Jeff asked absently, grabbing a napkin and wiping the stickiness from Way’s head where he’d rested it against the table.
Way just blinked and his silence seemed to bring Jeff back and he quickly dropped the napkin.
“Sorry,” Jeff mumbled.
Way just gave him a small smile.
“Seriously, though. Are you okay?”
Way took a deep breath and half shrugged. “Everyone had someone,” he started in a quiet voice. “Someone they love to dance with and I just…” Way trailed off wondering why he was telling all of this to Jeff.
“You want that too,” Jeff finished for him.
Way hummed. “I just… I want to dance with someone who loves me.”
Jeff nodded in understanding. Way expected an Alan response, somewhere along the lines of We all love you, Way. Come dance with us but that didn’t come. The look on Jeff’s face told Way that although that was true, Jeff knew that wasn’t what Way meant.
Jeff patted his shoulder and Way was taken by surprise at the comforting gesture.
“You will,” Jeff replied, his face lighting up as Alan came into his line of vision.
Way just hummed. “No one will love me like that,” he mumbled.
Jeff’s eyes flickered away for a moment. “You may be surprised,” he replied before being dragged away by Alan.
Way frowned a little confused by what had just happened when the voice he’d wanted to hear all night reached his ears.
“You’re not dancing?”
Way spun around so fast he almost fell off his stool.
“Careful,” Pete said softly, hands coming up to stabilise him.
Way could feel his heart speed up at the contact.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
Pete shrugged. “Managed to get my work done early so I figured I should come and celebrate with you all.”
Way hummed. Pete was so close and it was taking everything Way had not to lean in and kiss him.
“So,” Pete stated, drawing Way’s attention back to his eyes. “You’re not dancing?”
Way shrugged. “Keeping our table,” he replied.
Pete narrowed his eyes. “The table’s reserved. No one can take it.”
Way blushed a little at being caught out. None of the others had picked up on that little fact.
“I had no one to dance with,” Way mumbled.
Pete looked over to the dance floor where all the couples seemed to be lost in their own worlds.
A soft smile spread across Pete’s face where he saw Kenta wrapped securely in Kim’s arms. Way followed the older man’s gaze and his heart clenched painfully. Of course, Pete cared for Kenta.
Way turned back to Pete’s face, wandering over his features. Way wanted to bury his face on the man’s neck and take in his intoxicating scent. If only Pete could love him like he loved Pete. Way’s heart clenched at the “I love you,” that sprang to his mind every time he looked at the man in front of you.
Pete’s gaze snapped to him in an instant and he moved away to grab Way’s hand.
“Dance with me.”
Way blinked, “What?”
Pete pulled him to his feet and towards the dance floor.
“Dance with me.”
Way, who was already being turned and pulled into Pete’s arms, could only nod as he let Pete guide his arms around his neck. Pete’s arms wrapped around his waist, tugging him close.
Way’s heart was hammering in his chest and he was sure Pete could feel it with how close they were.
Pete led the dance and Way allowed himself a moment to imagine this was real, that Pete loved him.
“Stop overthinking,” Pete whispered.
It was at that moment that Way remembered that Pete could read minds. He started to panic, trying to pull away only for Pete to hold him tighter.
“Hey,” Pete said softly, moving a hand from around Way to cup his face and make the younger man look at him.
“I’m sorry,” Way whispered.
Pete’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why?”
“For…” Way trailed off, unsure of what to say. “For not controlling my thoughts.”
“I don’t mind,” Pete said. “And for the record, I wasn’t trying to read your mind but your thoughts were quite loud.”
Way groaned and hid his face in Pete’s neck. He quickly realised his mistake when Pete’s scent filled his lungs making Way melt against him. Pete chuckled softly and urged Way to remove his face and look at him.
Way made a disgruntled noise which turned the tips of his ears pink as his eyes landed on Pete’s.
“So, is it as good as you thought it would be?” Pete asked.
“What?” Way replied, frowning slightly. “Your scent?”
Pete chuckled. “No. Dancing with someone who loves you?”
Way froze. “What?” He breathed, voice barely audible above the music.
“I love you,” Pete stated, pulling Way even closer.
“You do?”
Pete hummed. “Very much.”
Way couldn’t help himself, he leaned forward and smashed his lips against Pete’s.
Pete made a noise of surprise and his hold on Way tightened as he deepened the kiss.
They kissed until the need for air forced them apart. They rested their foreheads together, panting softly.
“I love you,” Way stated, burying his face back in Pete’s neck, pressing a soft kiss to the scent gland. He smirked against Pete’s skin when he felt the man shudder.
He glanced at the others and smiled at the enthusiastic thumbs-up from North and Sonic. Jeff had a knowing smirk on his face and Way realised that Jeff had known this was going to happen. Their conversation from earlier suddenly made more sense to Way and he grinned as he pulled back and let Pete claim his lips in a kiss.
“So much better than I thought,” Way thought, making Pete huff out a laugh against his lips.
Way pulled back, his fingers playing with the soft strands of hair at the base of Pete’s head.
“Take me home,” he whispered, and Pete’s eyes darkened as Way thought about what he wanted to do once they got home.
Pete let out a growl and dragged Way towards the exit, scooping up Way’s jacket as they walked past their table. Way could feel eyes on him but he didn’t care. He’d explain later, not that there was a lot of explaining to be done, Way figured it was kind of evident what they were doing and what was happening. He did get to see the scandalised look on Babe’s face out of the corner of his eye and it made him chuckle.
Way’s attention was drawn back to Pete as he was pulled into another kiss and pressed against the wall by the exit.
“Home,” Way pleaded.
Pete nodded and pulled Way to his car, not planning on ever letting Way go.