Chapter Text
“이 밤 향기에 또 취하고 .”
ONE YEAR AGO
The music is loud.
The entire room is dimmed to match the late hour of the night, hues of color shifting from blue to purple and warm oranges flashing across and lightly illuminating the crowd of students that satiated their week’s stress with drinking and clumsy dancing to Chung Ha’s Stay Tonight that was blaring from the speakers.
Felix leans back against the far wall, quietly nursing a cup of some alcoholic fruit concoction that was far too strong— having taken small sips throughout the whole night with how strong and bitter it was on his tongue. His eyes scan across the crowd, landing on where Hyunjin was curled up in some alpha’s lap, giggling into his ear. He wonders if it’s the same beefy music student that the other omega had been gushing about for the past week.
Felix shuts his eyes with a soft sigh, shaking his head slightly. He didn’t even know whose party this was— some rich guy whose parents couldn’t care less about what their kid did in this huge house that probably cost more than both his parents’ income combined. It felt like Hyunjin was dragging him out to these parties every free weekend they got, whining about how Felix needed to go out more often.
It’s not that Felix hates partying or anything like that. He does enjoying getting buzzed and dancing in the crowd with his friends— that was never the issue. The real problem was—
“You come here alone, blondie?”
This.
Felix glances over, eyes meeting with the clearly drunken gaze of another man who leans facing him with his shoulder against the wall.
”I’m with my friends.” Felix responds, forcing a small polite smile onto his face.
The man, who he quickly realizes is an alpha by the overwhelming scent of metal that floods his senses, leans in towards Felix— and it makes him tense at the invasion into his space and the unwanted and unpleasant scent that is starting to wrap around him. “What was that?” The man asks again, a lazy grin quirking the corners of his lips and making Felix grimace.
”I’m here with my friends!” Felix repeats louder, smile gone as he takes a very clear step to the side to put some more space between them.
”Are your friends as cute as you are?” The man snickers, stepping towards Felix and reaching a hand out to ghost his fingers over his waist. “What’s your name?”
“Felix.” He answers curtly, body cringing away from the touch, the metallic smell coming from the alpha who clearly has no decency or self awareness to control his own scent making him feel nauseous. This was why he was starting to hate coming to parties.
He swallows thickly, setting his cup down on a nearby table as he spares one last glance towards the alpha. “My friends are waiting for me— I need to go, sorry!”
But it’s as he makes quick steps to get away that he hears the dreadful telltale sign of footsteps following after him. “Hold on— at least let me get your number!”
Felix looks behind him over his shoulder, seeing the man getting closer and quickening his steps as his heart starts to race up to his throat, the panic starting to grow at the realization that he’s being followed.
He had only just turned his head back forward when his entire body collides with another, stumbling back in a flail of limbs until a pair of strong hands grip onto his elbows and gently steady him against a firm chest— a loud gasp escaping him as he looks up, his petrified gold turned eyes meeting the startled gaze of a pair of soft brown ones.
“I-I’m so sorry—“ Felix stammered out, a jumble of nerves causing him to switch to English without even realizing. The man’s eyes widen even further upon hearing that, breath hitching slightly. “Woah— you alright, mate?”
Felix freezes, the fearful gold in his eyes shifting back to soft brown as he blinks in surprise back at the familiar accent that fills his ears, one he hasn’t heard in years since coming to Korea. It’s then that the scent of eucalyptus and petrichor fills his senses— an alpha. He lets his eyes trail across the man before him, awed.
The alpha is the same height as him, maybe an inch and a half taller. Despite that, he’s clearly much bigger than Felix— broad and thick shoulders that the omega can’t help but let his eyes linger on, the tight black muscle shirt doing its purpose and showcasing how beefed out this guy really is. The outline of his abs press against the tight material along with his strong thick thighs that pressed against the leather pants he’s got on.
His eyes trail back up, drinking in the sight of a strong jaw and thick nose where a pair of the plumpest heart shaped lips rested under. His hair is dyed blonde and falls across his forehead in gentle waves that were clearly styled, brushing against the tops of his eyes that had soft smoked out shadow on the lids. It’s only then that he notices the alpha’s eyes also trailing along his form, lingering on his cheeks with a stilled laser focus, lips parting slightly.
Felix can feel his heart stammering against his chest, cheeks flushing as he blinks fast— noticing the way the alpha’s eyes seem to sharpen even more upon noticing the redness growing across his face. “Y-You’re an Aussie.”
The man’s gaze flashes up from his cheeks to meet his eyes, his ears reddening as he lets Felix go to take a small step back, opening his mouth to say something when they’re suddenly interrupted by a loud voice.
”Felix!”
Felix tenses, turning with alarm to see the alpha from earlier coming up to him with a slight annoyed scowl. “Yah— could you not hear me calling your name? It’s a little rude to leave mid conversation like that.”
Felix glares at the man in front of him, his scent souring. “I told you— my friends are looking for me.”
The alpha rolls his eyes, clearly not aware of the very clear message the omega was desperately trying to send of not wanting to be bothered as he pulls out his phone, opening the contacts to add a new one. “Yeah, yeah— I heard you the first time. At least let me get your number—“
”I’m not interested.” Felix finally says, tone flat and final.
The alpha raises an eyebrow, a small glint in his eyes. “Aw, come on. Why so tight when we were having such a nice talk earlier?” He reaches out as if to wrap an arm around Felix’s shoulders and the omega tenses up in alarm at the approaching hand. He’s had to deal with plenty of pushy people, but this guy has got to be the worst he’s come across. His frustration and anger boils over, and he’s half a second away from going off on the alpha when he feels a strong chest press slightly against his back, an arm shooting out over his shoulder to grip tightly on the unwanted hand stretching out towards him.
”Back off.” The Aussie alpha states, voice calm but firm.
The creep scowls, eyes shifting from Felix to the other alpha. “Dude, butt out— this has nothing to do with you. Find your own omega to claim.”
Felix bristles at those words, but he can’t even get a word out when the grip on the man’s wrist tightens harshly, causing him to let out a small shout of pain— face scrunching.
”Watch your fucking tone.” The Aussie alpha snarls, the anger practically radiating off him in waves. “And control your goddamn scent, you’re like an unruly pup spraying all over the place.”
The man wrenches his wrist free, the outrage so evident on his face as nearby people begin to glance at the commotion, whispering among themself. “Fuck off, Bang. He’s clearly single—“
”He’s not.” The Aussie alpha cuts him off harshly, and Felix’s heart jumps when he feels a strong arm wrap lightly around his waist— almost hovering over to not touch but to appear as if he was. “He’s mine. And I don’t appreciate you putting your filthy unwanted fucking presence around him or anyone else who clearly doesn’t want your creep ass talking to them. BRIAN HYUNG!”
Felix flinches slightly at the booming exclamation, embarrassed by the growing attention they’re getting from people around them.
“Why are you screaming my name as soon as I come out of the kitchen?” Another alpha huffed, appearing from around the corner where the Aussie alpha— Bang— must’ve seen him.
“This guy needs to go.” Bang deadpans, nodding towards the cursing alpha in front of them. Brian takes one look at the fuming man, eyebrow raised.
”I didn’t do anything!” The alpha screeches and Brian rolls his eyes, understanding and irritation growing in his gaze as he grabs the man by the collar. “Yeah, that’s all you needed to say. Come on.”
The man thrashes in his hold as he’s dragged away, curses and angry arguing spewing out of his mouth as he goes, and it’s only when he disappears from between the crowd of people towards the front entrance that Bang quickly lets go of Felix and steps back as if he’d been burned— clearing his throat awkwardly. “You okay?”
Felix swallows, turning to glance at the alpha who’s sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “Y-Yeah. Thanks for that.”
“Of course! No problem.” His eyes look across Felix’s still trembling form, drinking in the way that the omega’s eyes seem to nervously filter around the room of stares directed towards them with an uncomfortable edge. “Um… Do you want me to grab you anything? Get someone for you?” He makes a step away and Felix panics at the thought of being left alone to the judging, curious gazes and whispers surrounding them— moving to grab onto the alpha’s bare wrist only to falter at the last second with embarrassment written across his face. “N-No— I…”
The alpha glances around with narrowed eyes at the gazes towards their direction, the burning glare enough to make everyone turn back to what they were doing before he looks back at him with softening eyes. “Here… Let’s step outside for a second, get some fresh air.”
Felix worries for a moment that they might run into the creep from earlier again as Bang puts a careful hand on his lower back to guide him, but that worry turns to relief when the alpha simply directs him towards the sliding doors leading to the backyard instead.
As soon as they step out onto the deck and the glass door slides shut behind them, drowning out the music and socialization, Felix lets out a deep exhale of exhaustion he didn’t realize he had been holding in. Leaning against the wooden rail of the deck, he droops his head and rubs his eyes tiredly, his orange and honey scent which had soured at the earlier interaction finally started to mellow out as he breathes in the night air.
”Are you sure you don’t want me to grab anyone?” The alpha asks, voice soft as he comes to lean against the railing next to him, a respectful distance away.
Felix glances towards him, chest squeezing at the sight of the other’s concerned yet gentle eyes. “It’s fine. Hyunjin will overreact anyway and I don’t wanna ruin his night.”
Bang’s brows raise, realization filling his gaze. “Hwang?”
Felix blinks, surprised. “You know Hyunjin?”
Bang snorts. “Tall, overdramatic, almost as obsessed with my best friend as my best friend is with him. Yeah— I know Hyunjin.”
Felix laughs quietly, head shaking as a small smile grows across his face. “Yeah, definitely sounds like the same Hyunjin. You’re Changbin’s friend?”
The alpha stretches a hand out, a wide grin overtaking his face and causing his twinkling eyes to crinkle as he dimples deepen. “I’m Bang Chan. Or Chris, either one for a fellow Aussie.”
Felix feels his entire body warm despite the chilly midnight air, gently taking Chan’s hand with a soft smile. “Lee Felix… You’re accent did take me by surprise at first. I haven’t met another Aussie here until now.”
”There aren’t that many of us, so you kinda shocked me too.” Chan laughs, almost shy as he pulls back and politely interlocks his fingers together against the railing, thinking for a moment. “Um… I’m sorry, by the way.”
Felix blinked, confused. “Hm? For what?”
Chan rubs the back of his neck, a nervous habit that Felix picks up on quickly. “Uh, just… I didn’t mean to overstep earlier. I know me jumping in so loudly just brought more unwanted attention to the situation— lying about being your boyfriend and all that. It wasn’t my business, but he was just being…”
”A cunt.” Felix finishes for him with an understanding smile, Chan’s laugh filling the space between them, amused. “Yeah— he was being a cunt. Still— I didn’t mean to do anything to offend you or make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry if it did.”
”You didn’t.” Felix reassures, his heart skipping a beat and cheeks heating. “I, um… Actually, I didn’t mind it. I’m used to people being pushy like that— I’ve always had to put up with it on my own and it gets pretty exhausting after so long. So it was nice to have someone step in for once and just… not have to deal with it.”
Chan’s brows furrow at that, seriousness growing across his face. “How often do you get harassed like that to be used to it?”
Felix traces shapes into the wood with his finger, shrugging quietly. “Um… Every time I go out? It’s kinda why I don’t like coming to these anymore. I get way too anxious and stressed to really let loose. But I feel bad for leaving Hyunjin alone, so I always go when he asks. I just don’t drink or unwind as much as I did before. It’s fine.”
Chan is quiet for a long time, staring at him with a grim expression. “It’s not fine, Felix.”
“No, really. It doesn’t bother me to not be able to party as much as I did before—“
”That’s not what I mean.” Chan cuts him off, firm. “I mean that it’s not fine you’re putting up with it at all to begin with. Does Hyunjin know?”
Felix winced, a small bit of shame seeping into him. “I… I didn’t want him to feel bad or stop going out because of me. He overworks like crazy throughout the week and this is like the one way that he de-stresses all of that. Especially now with whatever this thing is he’s got going with Changbin hyung.”
Chan goes silent again, staring out into the yard instead of at him, lost in thought.
Felix fiddles with his sleeve, biting his lip nervously the longer the alpha is quiet. “Seriously, it’s okay—“
”Do you want me to help?”
Felix’s mind goes blank upon registering those words, lip slipping out from between his teeth and wide eyes meeting Chan’s soft ones. “W-What?”
Chan stares back at him, gentle. “Changbin and Hyunjin are probably gonna start dating soon once they get their heads out of their asses, so you and I will probably be meeting more often. I don’t mind scenting you before parties and playing the part of your alpha at them so people think you’re taken and leave you alone. That way, maybe you could finally go back to enjoying yourself at these things without constantly worrying about someone trying something.”
Felix stares, at a loss for words. In a sense, it would be perfect. The whole reason people get so pushy even when he turns them down is because they know he doesn’t have an alpha, or anyone for that matter. Walking into parties with Chan’s scent on him— Chan with him… It would definitely send a message that would get some of the creeps to back off. And even if they didn’t, to know that Chan would be there to stop them before they even started…
But how could he possibly—
”I-I can’t ask you to do that for me.” Felix whispers, strained. “People will think we’re dating.”
”You didn’t ask me to do anything, I’m offering.” Chan responds, voice gentle and patient. “You don’t have to say yes if you don’t want to. I’m not trying to pressure you into anything you don’t want, I just want you to know that I really don’t mind. You’re Hyunjin’s friend, and hopefully mine too now.” Chan winks, and Felix can’t help but laugh at that, head shaking.
”I really don’t care what people think, Felix. Besides, maybe I’ll finally get left alone too if people think I’m taken.” Chan shrugs. “I’m not looking to be in a relationship right now with how busy I am. In a way, it benefits me as well. I really don’t mind. If you don’t want people to think you’re dating me, then I totally understand. But if it’s because you feel guilty, then don’t be. I think it’ll help a lot. Wanna at least give it a try?”
Felix stares at him again, drinking in the sight of the wind ruffling in between the bleached waves of Chan’s fluffy hair, tousling them even further. His brown eyes are warm, and full of patient understanding as they stare back at him. His chest tightens.
Dangerous.
These are dangerous waters he’s stepping into, and he can feel the warnings itching deep in his mind. There’s whispers in the deepest parts of his head that want to tell him of everything that could go wrong. Despite it all, he exhales softly, opening his phone and going over to the contacts.
”Sure. Let’s give it a try.”
If only he’d listened to his gut feeling that night—
He would’ve realized what a huge mistake he’d made by agreeing.