Chapter Text
Lunar. That dreadful app.
Taeui hadn't even been the one to download it. His friend had, insisting that it was healthy to actively track the hormonal cycle, especially as an omega (although receiving that advice from an alpha younger than him felt rather demeaning). As a person who had never spared much attention to the sub-normalities of secondary genders, Taeui complied, not wanting to entertain the conversation any further than he had to. He could appreciate his friend’s concern, but it didn't take much away from the fact that he quite unfortunately didn't care.
And so, the app remained on his phone, occasionally pinging him with a notification that was bothersome enough that he would scoff when it showed up, but not enough so that he took the time to delete it. After all, it had only been a week or two since it was downloaded. Perhaps it would show some use soon.
Now, wrapped up in his philosophy book—A Theory of Justice—Taeui decisively ignored the familiar ding of the app. Though pretentious to say, Rawls' challenge of utilitarianism was far more engrossing than knowing what phase of the cycle he was in (whatever that meant).
Frankly speaking, the worst part of the app was when Ilay found about it. That bastard, always so smug with that look as if everything had an underlying implication that he wasn't planning on enlightening Taeui of anytime soon. He hadn't even said anything when his phone had so perfectly notified him just as he passed it to Ilay.
It wasn't bad, so to speak, just a banner informing him the next part of his hormonal cycle was beginning. But when Ilay glanced up at him, with that gleam in his eyes like everything was oh so amusing about the situation, he couldn't help but feel an inexplicable rush of humiliation throughout his body. He wasn't even doing anything wrong, but that look had conditioned him to feel as such.
"Follicular phase, huh?"
The heat rising to Taeui's cheeks was burning to the point where he wanted to either bury it into the cushion next to him or run into the bathroom, lock the door and collapse on the floor. That slight smile on his face—the way his voice dropped to a teasing lilt—it all had Taeui feeling like he was missing out on something very important.
He would've asked for an elaboration, he really would've, if Ilay hadn't shrugged ambiguously and passed the phone back to him. Judging from how he moved back to his work, typing away at his laptop as though nothing happened, it couldn't have been that important, anyway.
Taeui wouldn't have been able to tell, considering Ilay could hold onto things for months at a time before abruptly springing them onto Taeui with such intensity that even if Taeui wanted to, he wouldn't be able to piece together where in the world it came from. Besides. Over a week had already passed and nothing had gone wrong. Actually, with further contemplation, something was oddly awry.
Ilay had left him alone ever since that day.
Normally, he would cling to him in the utmost irritating manner, never allowing him a single moment of rest. However, for the past week or so, he hadn't touched him at all. Which was more concerning than anything anticipated. Usually when Ilay did something of this nature, it was because he was tormenting him. Teasing, he would like to call it, though when you were the one experiencing it, you very quickly learned that torture was more appropriate a label.
Whether it was leading him to climax and suddenly stopping him simply to observe his expression, or whispering the lewdest of words in his ear, not letting him crawl away from his robust embrace. Ilay was sadistic, be it in bed or everyday life. It was unfortunate he chose Taeui to be by his side and endure all of that. The only consolation he had was the rare moments his gentleness would arise to the surface in soft ripples, caressing him with such adoration it was more mortifying than when he would tease him.
Taking this all into account, Taeui was on edge, ready for the moment when the wolf would strike and leave both his body and mind in shambles.
Here he was, lying in bed, waiting for Ilay to skulk into the room as he would in the middle of the night to sleep. Technically, they had separate bedrooms which occurred by a miracle in which Taeui was grateful to the universe for when they (Ilay) bought their house. Once again, Ilay most likely had ulterior motives when allowing this choice. Which was ridiculous! He was his own person, no matter how much Ilay insisted his body belonged to him. If not in body, then at least in mind. But it was better not to think such things. If Ilay were to find out…
A shiver ran down Taeui's spine, and he burrowed further into his sheets to remove the thought from his mind. Maybe it was better to just go to sleep. Whatever Ilay did, as long as he wasn't conscious to sit through the process, it was bearable.
Ilay wrapped up with most of his work by 1-2AM. Having resigned himself to mainly online work, though it created a heavier workload for the same amount of income, it at least allowed him to spend his days with Taeui. And it was certainly much better this way, considering just how much of Taeui's life he was privy to. The moments when he would wake up with his unkempt hair, yawning and stretching before flopping back over without a care in the world were more than enough to justify the ridiculous hours he worked.
What with working in the international affairs, the majority of Ilay's work day ended up being from around 5 PM to midnight, if not later. And since Taeui's 'day' began at around 12 PM, he didn't get enough of the omega as he would've preferred. Even so, it was better than before, when he would be away for months at a time with his only solace being the sound of Taeui's voice over a phone call.
There were about a thousand more habits of Taeui's he learnt of during their time together. How he got so worked up over soccer games. How he hated okra. How chaotic of a sleeper he could be. Even how his instinctive expressions of love would arise silently and languidly. He wouldn't admit, or even realise it, but Ilay was well aware of how he eventually shifted his reading spot from behind the sofa to Ilay's study, sitting on the arm chair by the fireplace to compensate for the lack of sunlight.
The best part? Or more specifically, the most amusing part?
His hormonal cycle.
Ilay never paid much attention to such details, but noticing the rapid change after Taeui became an omega, he couldn't help but do his own research. Knowing Taeui, the omega wouldn't bother with learning about his biological changes, brushing them off under whatever delusion he desired. However, that left Ilay with a surplus of delightful information to use at his will. Taeui would cling to him during his luteal phase. He would curse him out during menstruation. He'd be jubilant during his follicular phase.
And, most important, he'd be horny as fuck during his ovulation. His heat.
Knowing this allowed Ilay the upper hand in most situations. He knew when he needed to prepare for whatever cravings Taeui would have, or when to he could smother him in physical affection without any repercussions.
Putting that all aside, it was quite surprising when he found the Taeui did have a hormonal tracker, though judging from how humiliated he appeared, it wasn't by his own choice. Whatever means by which the app was downloaded—he already had an assumption how—it was there and it might've undermined his upper hand. Although, Taeui's lack of understanding remained the same, so there was the high possibility it didn't change much. Especially with how he would ignore the notifications.
But what it did mean was that Ilay could play a little more at this game. Tease him, really. He fucking loved teasing his omega. His reactions were so authentic— so deliciously innocent that Ilay couldn't help but indulge himself. So he kept his hands off for a bit. The waiting game was the boring part, but it made the reward all the more enjoyable.
He wanted to see that expression on Taeui's face. The one where he was helpless to his own biology- no, his own desires, and wanted to beg Ilay for more but would refuse for the sake of his pride. Fuck, it was so sexy, he'd be all red and hot, pleas morphing into something borderline whiny as his eyes grew glassy with tears.
It had only happened once before. After his bitching. One time too little, really.
He remembered it all vividly, down to every lewd detail.
"Oh, Ilay," he had moaned, squirming below him restlessly. Ilay had paused in that moment, not used to that tone of voice. "Please- please- just put it inside."
Testing his luck, he had leaned in closer, stroking his sweat slicked hair.
"What do you want, Jeong Taeui?" He had murmured, planting a tender kiss to his forehead.
"Put it in me. Fuck- fuck me!" Taeui had cried out, throwing his arms around Ilay's neck.
And, shit, when he finally did, Taeui orgasmed so quickly, inner walls contracting around his cock and milking him dry. He was so wet with slick, and warm, sucking him further inside and swallowing his length. That look on his face, where his eyes fluttered with mindless pleasure and his jaw slackened while a copious amount of tears stained his face, it was like he was in heaven because of him.
It was so hot. And Ilay, being Ilay, wanted to see it more.
So, yes, here was he, slinking into Taeui's bedroom, ready to sleep off. If his calculations were correct, his plan could be set in motion either tomorrow, or the day after.
Ilay gazed down at his omega, soothed by his placid expression. It was a bit cute seeing him so obliviously asleep even when it was quite obvious he had realised what kind of game Ilay was playing. Anyone else with a fully developed frontal lobe might’ve had a little more reservation when sleeping right beside someone like him, so how convenient was it that his dear omega didn’t have one.
His hand hovered above Taeui, tucking a strand of askew hair behind his ear and caressing his cheek. Taeui hummed in response, causing Ilay to lean over and nuzzle the junction of his neck and shoulder, where his claim mark lay. A light drizzle of earl grey seeped out, weak and tentative due to his recessive omegan nature. That and all the pheromone blockers he desperately suppressed himself with in an attempt to tune down his obvious reactions to Ilay.
Still, it was amusing nonetheless, making the times when he couldn’t restrain himself anymore all the more endearing.
Ah, there it is. His heat will approach soon, Ilay thought pleasantly.
You might ask just why he was so exhilarated in particular. Well, put simply, this would be Taeui’s first fully regulated heat cycle. It had taken him a few months to adjust to the changes of being an omega, with his first few heat cycles being more painful than anything else.
It had been concerning right up until two months ago where his body finally seemed to calm down and get the memo. The first one he had locked himself in his room out of pure shame. Ilay was tempted to break down the door and throw those ridiculous pheromone blockers out the window, but he didn’t exactly want to scare the omega.
The second was the same thing—Taeui locked away in his bedroom, but simply without the pheromone blockers. Meaning that Ilay could sense, not just smell, but sense how aroused his omega was. The scent of toffee and bergamot was so thick and heavy, Ilay was certain Taeui had been absolutely dripping with slick, and it slipped out his room in such a tantalising manner it was like it was enticing him, speaking volumes of the very thing Taeui wouldn’t ask himself.
Come fuck me.
It was a god given miracle his own rut didn’t trigger with how alluring Taeui’s heat was, but now he could feel it approaching as well—presumably having built up with how long he had gone without entering a rut. If their cycles aligned, fuck, Ilay knew he was in for an even sweeter treat.
As if hearing his thoughts, the familiar ding of that app resounded softly within the room, disturbing his fantasy. He chuckled darkly, reaching over the omega to pick up his phone.
And as usual, it seemed the universe was smiling upon him, with the notification, bright and cheerful, reading out:
[Ready to get knocked up? Well, it's the time for you! You are entering your heat and are at your most breedable!]