Eugene had never thought he would have an adult male nearing thirty holding onto the end of his sleeve like a schoolboy afraid of losing their parents in the market, but there he was, tailed by someone bigger than him.
Funnily enough, Arthur kept quiet all the way to his floor. He was even quiet when he punched his passcode and opened the door with his fingerprint.
Fancy, huh? Eugene muttered inwardly while Arthur's door beeped open and the alpha stepped in. After taking two steps forward, the alpha turned around and stared at Eugene, clearly waiting for the omega to follow.
Eugene flinched slightly. He did consider slipping away for a second--just for a second. It was easy to shake off Arthur's hand, and he didn't really have to see Arthur again. The guy didn't even know where he lived.
But those fingers, that was weakly clutching onto the edge of his sleeve, felt heavier than an iron shackle. Not that he ever wore one--although he did wear a tight leather cuff that one time--
No! Focus, Eugene. Focus!
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Only then did Arthur finally let go of his sleeve. The alpha walked inside and then turned around, watching Eugene. He took more steps inside before glancing back again.
Sighing, Eugene raised his hands as if surrendering. "I'm not running away."
Arthur pursed his lips and walked to the sofa before turning around again. "Tell me."
Eugene licked his lips before answering. "I was scared."
"...what?" Arthur blinked. "You were scared...of me?"
Eugene bit the inside of his cheek. He was scared of Hannah getting snatched away from him, but he couldn't say that. Still, there were also others reason that fueled his fear.
"You thought I was a beta, didn't you?"
"...yeah?"
"I didn't correct you," Eugene exhaled heavily. "It was a ground for a lawsuit."
"Huh?"
Arthur was dumbfounded. He didn't know what he was expecting when he asked for an explanation, but it wasn't this.
"Y-you thought...you thought I was going to sue you?"
"We never know," Eugene shrugged. "It's not like we really know each other."
Arthur looked hurt. "E-even...even after we talked a few times?"
"Well..." Eugene winced, feeling needles stabbing his heart. He took a deep breath and added, "You were also...saying something else."
"What? What did I say?"
"That you didn't sleep with omegas."
"...what?"
Arthur looked utterly confused, frowning deeply as he tried hard to recall what he said in the past. As memories passed through his mind, Arthur shook his head defensively.
"N-no! No, I didn't say that!"
"You did," Eugene said firmly. He might not remember much of their conversation, but he remembered what made him averse to the alpha back then.
"No! I said...I said 'I don't sleep with omegas at first date'--actually, I don't sleep with anyone who has a womb after only a first date--"
Arthur paused and stopped speaking, while Eugene tilted his head in confusion at the discrepancy of their recollections.
Suddenly, Arthur gasped before groaning while grasping his head. "Ugh--the waiter came at that time! I can't...I can't finish my sentence."
Eugene arched his brow. "You have...a pretty good memory while drunk."
"Is that important?!"
Eugene looked at the ceiling and pondered over what Arthur was saying. Not sleeping with anyone who have womb meant the alpha didn't want an unwanted pregnancy. "You're...a conservative?"
"What? No--" Arthur pressed his lips and exhaled harshly, as if he was just remembering something unpleasant. "Well, I just...don't want any 'accident' happening before, uhh, before some real feelings develop."
Well, fuck. Eugene pressed his lips tight. Too late for that.
"Well, I do have one," Eugene said, unconsciously staring at his covered c-section scar. "Either way, I still misled you. It wasn't like..." he took a deep breath and shook his head. "It wasn't like it really mattered, you knowing it was me."
After all, they were only spending a few hours together. An hour or two of talking, and another hour or two of sex before falling asleep.
"It mattered to me..." Arthur said with a heartbreaking, sullen expression.
Fuck me--Eugene sighed. "I'm sorry," he said. "Crowley, I'm sorry--"
"Arthur," the alpha cut him off.
"Huh?"
Arthur pursed his lips. "I won't forgive you if you still call me Crowley."
Eugene arched his brow. "Alright," he couldn't help but chuckle, stepping closer as a sign of goodwill. "Will you forgive me, Arthur?"
Instead of answering, Arthur leaned forward. Eugene widened his eyes, thinking Arthur was about to kiss him, and staggered back to dodge the alpha. Arthur's head, however, lay over his shoulder. Ever so lightly, his arms circled Eugene's waist.
"Give me compensation," the alpha muttered on his shoulder, soft breath grazing Eugene's neck.
"...what?"
"You've been lying to me for so long, even after I told you how much Gin meant to me at that garden."
Well, fuck--he was right. Eugene truly had no justification for that. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel so guilty at that time.
Otherwise, he wouldn't feel so guilty even now.
"Don't you think I deserve some kind of compensation?"
Eugene looked at the high ceiling and exhaled in resignation. "What do you want?"
"Let me smell you."
Eugene widened his eyes. "What?! Ugh--"
Before he could do anything, Eugene was getting pulled to the couch. He felt his back collide against the alpha's chest as they collapsed to the couch.
"Hey--"
In the next second, Eugene felt Arthur's face on his nape, the alpha Inhaling deeply. Needless to say, Eugene was dumbfounded. What is this position? He was sitting between Arthur's legs, arms locking around his waist, and a nose pressed down on his scent gland.
Perhaps sensing the omega's discomfort, Arthur pulled a cushion and placed it between them so there was some kind of barrier between their lower regions. When he felt Eugene relax slightly in his arms, Arthur whispered. "I have been...searching for this scent for six years."
Huh...
So, it wasn't just about the pep talk?
Eugene chewed his lower lip for a few seconds before asking quietly. "Is it really...that nice?"
He only ever heard it from his daughter, so Eugene was curious. He also couldn't smell it himself, since he couldn't even smell the regular amount of pheromone--much less one as faint as his.
"Yeah," Arthur replied and continued to take a deep breath, inhaling Eugene's scent to his heart's content. "It's so soothing. Even regular pheromones are too strong for me, so this is perfect."
"So, it's about intensity?"
"No," Arthur shook his head; because of their position, it felt like the alpha was nuzzling Eugene's nape. "The scent itself is...so nice," he mumbled. "So nice..."
Eugene hummed, wondering if Hannah felt comfort in his scent because she came from his womb or because of Arthur's peculiarity. After pondering for a while, he realized that Arthur was staying totally still.
"Huh? Are you falling asleep?" Eugene glanced back, and the light brown hair strewed around his shoulder as the alpha's head lolled forward. "Arthur?"
The only reaction he got was slow, steady breathing.
"This brat?"
Well...the alpha was already drunk, so it was a given. Honestly, it was already good enough that they managed to have a sound conversation. Anything they had to talk about more could wait until...
Tomorrow?!
"Damn it!" Eugene grabbed the arms around his waist and tried his best to peel those sturdy arms away. When they refused to budge, he nudged the alpha with his shoulder. "Hey, Arthur, let me go. I need to go home."
A mumbling voice replied to him. "Dun wanna..."
"This punk?!"
"Stay..." instead of letting go, Arthur held him even tighter. "St..ay..."
After the last slurred reply, Eugene heard a soft snoring sound. No matter how hard he tried to peel himself away, Arthur did not move. Eugene was pretty confident with his strength, but as expected, he couldn't best someone who regularly spent their time at the gym.
In the end, he could only sigh while staring at the ceiling. "Uhh..."
He exhaled slowly, calming his mind. The first thing he thought of was his daughter. Hannah...should be fine with Sophie and Allen. It was fortunate that the pajama party would be extended to a warm waterpark the next day, so Eugene had a lot of leeway.
Finally accepting his fate, Eugene tried to lean back. If he had to sleep in this position, might as well make it as comfortable as he could. Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad--perhaps due to the existence of a cushion between them.
Leaning his head against the alpha's broad shoulder, Eugene cast his gaze at the high ceiling, thinking about how bizarre this evening had come to be while trying to fall asleep.
Truly. He never expected this kind of outcome, even in his wildest dreams.
It was the first time for him, having an alpha sniffing him out. Having an alpha requested to sniff him so badly as if he were some kind of drug.
Knowing that someone was searching for him through his scent--the scent he didn't even know he had...
Knowing that someone wanted nothing more than inhaling his scent...
Knowing that his scent was meaningful for someone...
Being desired for his scent, like other omegas...
It doesn't feel bad.
It doesn't feel bad at all.
Chuckling to himself, Eugene closed his eyes, drifting to sleep while listening to the soft breathing behind him.