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Minghao will be the first to admit that he’s living a lot of people’s dreams. He’s living his own dreams. He gets it. That doesn’t mean things are picture perfect.
He’s still an omega, he’s still had to crawl his way to the top, and he’s still shooting with fucking Junhui.
That last one may be a little petty. He doesn’t really care.
“A little closer together, please,” the photographer says. Minghao is a professional, so he moves closer to Junhui. They’re already pretty wrapped in each other. Minghao doesn’t know why they need to be even closer.
This shoot is more of an art shoot, a more editorial piece in Elle, and it means their photographer has them draped in jewelry and far too close. Their noses are brushing. Minghao wants to say something about how much he hates this, but he’s a professional. Besides, he thinks it’s an open secret that he and Junhui hate each other. It no doubt fuels the appeal of having them in a shoot together.
Besides, they have unrivaled chemistry. So Minghao is told.
“Foreheads together, please.”
They put their foreheads together. They’re both professionals.
When they’re done shooting, Minghao goes back to wardrobe to give back the clothes and jewelry, stripping down in the middle of the room. He’s a model. You get used to it. He’s never quite gotten used to Junhui doing it in the same room as him though.
“Stop staring,” Junhui snaps.
Minghao looks away quickly. “I was distracted by how awful to look at you are.”
Junhui laughs. “Good try. You know we never go for looks because it would be a lie. You’re just embarrassed that you think I’m attractive.”
“Sure, Junhui,” Minghao says, getting himself together enough to roll his eyes. “That’s exactly it.”
“Are you going to be at Soonyoung’s party tonight?” Junhui asks after they’ve pulled their clothes on.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just wondering what I need to avoid,” Junhui says. “I guess I’m not going.”
“Oh, you poor baby, can’t handle being at a party with me,” Minghao taunts. “Grow up.”
“Fine, I’ll go,” Junhui spits out. He turns to go without another word and leaves Minghao to wonder what the fuck just happened.
Minghao is trying to ignore Junhui.
He usually is, to be fair, but it’s pressing right now because they’re both out at a rented out club for Soonyoung’s birthday party. It’s drawn a small crowd, but Junhui and Minghao keep passing each other. Junhui glares every time.
“He likes you,” Seokmin says, watching Junhui pass by them. He glared again. “He totally likes you.”
“He hates me.”
“He can’t keep his eyes off of you,” Seokmin laughs. “Besides, are you guys really competing for jobs anymore? You’re both at the top of your game. This isn’t like ten years ago when you were starting out.”
“You said it though,” Minghao says. “We’ve been competing for ten years. That doesn’t just go away.”
“It could fade.”
“Still.”
Seokmin sighs. “You’re not really denying it. I know you’ve gone soft on him.”
“I haven’t at all,” Minghao insists. “I hate him.”
“Sure thing.”
“Seokmin,” Minghao whines.
Seokmin laughs again and there’s something diabolical on his face. Minghao doesn’t like this at all. “I dare you to go dance with him.”
Seokmin and Minghao have known each other for over a decade. In that time, they’ve also established that both of them will go too far if the other one dares them to. They’re weak for it.
“No,” Minghao says, but he knows he’s going to take the dare. He groans. “Fucking fine. I’ll go dance with him. I’m only one drink deep, that isn’t enough for this.”
“Too bad, so sad,” Seokmin says. “Go, my chicken.”
Minghao groans again before looking across the room, finding Junhui, and walking over. He tries to look casual. He feels anything but.
“Junhui,” he says when he’s next to Junhui. Junhui looks at him with his eyebrows raised. “Would you like to dance?”
Junhui laughs. “You’re not asking me to dance.”
“I really am.”
“Why?”
Minghao sighs. “Seokmin dared me to dance with you. I’m legally obligated to follow through with that.”
Junhui hums, clearly thinking about it. “I’m not drunk enough for this, but sure.”
Minghao tries not to look shocked. He puts out his hand and Junhui takes it gingerly, letting Minghao lead him onto the dance floor. It’s a bit awkward for a moment, but they finally settle with Minghao’s arms over Junhui’s shoulders and Junhui’s hands on Minghao’s waist.
“You know, this is going to start something,” Minghao says into Junhui’s ear. “You never get seen with omegas.”
“Keeping track of me?” Junhui asks with a laugh. “You never get seen with alphas, so…”
“You’re definitely keeping track of me,” Minghao says.
“For competitive purposes.”
“Sure, sure,” Minghao laughs. “Is that why you’re dancing with me? Competitive purposes?”
Junhui pulls Minghao closer by the waist and slides his hand down to Minghao’s hips as the song changes. “Nah. I’m just doing this because I wanted to. Why are you still dancing with me? You followed through on your dare.”
Minghao doesn’t really know, if he’s being honest. It’s just that—
“I wanted to,” Minghao says in Junhui’s ear, lining their bodies up. “I want to.”
Junhui’s thumbs run low into the dips of Minghao’s hips, underneath his waistband. Minghao tangles a hand in Junhui’s hair and is this what all of the photographers were talking about when they said Minghao and Junhui have chemistry? Maybe.
“I’m going to do something stupid,” Junhui says in Minghao’s ear before he nips at the lobe of Minghao’s ear. Minghao sucks in a breath right as Junhui kisses him.
Minghao might hate himself for this later, but he kisses back. He might regret this. He doesn’t care right now as Junhui grips Minghao’s hips tightly and licks into his mouth.
He’s a little unsurprised when Junhui pulls away just enough to whisper “bathroom?” into his ear. Minghao nods because he’s always been a little stupid and he follows when Junhui takes his hand and pulls him to one of the single bathrooms, locking the door behind them. Minghao gasps when Junhui pushes him against the counter, crowding in between his legs to kiss him again.
They don’t have time to just make out, someone’s going to end up knocking, and Minghao kind of needs Junhui to fuck him. He knows he’s already leaking slick with the way Junhui is kissing him.
“Are you clean?” Minghao asks. “I am. I don’t have a condom, but I’m on the pill.”
“I’m clean,” Junhui says with a nod. “I’ll pull out. You sure?”
“Fuck me like you mean it, Junhui,” Minghao says against Junhui’s mouth. He palms Junhui through his jeans and Junhui groans into his mouth before he flips Minghao quickly, bending him over the counter and tugging down his pants.
Minghao watches in the mirror as Junhui pulls his own jeans down far enough that he can wrap a hand around his cock. He runs his fingers through the mess of slick at Minghao’s cunt to slick himself up before he’s sliding inside Minghao. Minghao’s head drops down as he takes it, but Junhui’s hand goes to his hair to pull his head up.
“Watch,” Junhui says. When he makes eye contact with Minghao in the mirror, he smirks. Minghao supposes it’s fair, considering he’s literally inside Minghao right now. It would make Minghao cocky too.
Junhui picks up a brutal pace, fucking into Minghao’s hard, and he gets his free hand around Minghao’s hips to rub at Minghao’s clit while he fucks him. His hand is tight in Minghao’s hair and Minghao braces himself against the counter and tries not to moan too loudly.
He comes with a quiet cry when Junhui speeds up his hand and it must get Junhui close, because he pulls out quickly. Minghao has just enough wherewithal to turn around and drop to his knees, swallowing Junhui down and tasting his own slick while he works Junhui over.
Junhui’s hand is back in his hair and he whispers “good boy” before he tugs on Minghao’s hair. Minghao stays put and he swallows when Junhui comes down his throat with a moan.
When Junhui pulls out of Minghao’s mouth, a bit of cum gets on the corner of Minghao’s mouth and Junhui wipes it with his thumb, watching with heavy-lidded eyes as he pushes the cum back into Minghao’s mouth. Minghao sucks on Junhui’s thumb and Junhui’s eyes flutter closed for a moment before he pulls his hand back.
“You should clean up,” he says. “You smell like slick.”
Minghao laughs. “You do too, asshole. Good try.”
Junhui helps Minghao up off the floor and they both clean up quickly, and Minghao is determined to get out of the bathroom before they get caught. That would be humiliating.
Junhui really does smell like slick and arousal as they leave the bathroom, Minghao following behind Junhui. It’s a very fucked-an-omega scent. Minghao has got to get out of here before someone other than Seokmin puts that together. Minghao’s vanilla scent is slightly sticking to Junhui’s skin. Can’t have that. Junhui needs to get out of here too.
“We should go,” Minghao says in Junhui’s ear.
“We already fucked?”
Minghao laughs. “No, you smell like slick and me. I’m sure I smell like you. We should leave before anyone puts that together.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Junhui says. “Yeah, let’s go. Quickly now.”
Junhui puts a hand on Minghao’s back to usher him out of the back door near the bathrooms, avoiding the photographers out front.
“Well, ah, goodnight, I guess,” Minghao says. “See you around.”
“See you,” Junhui says as Minghao walks away. Minghao doesn’t look back.
Junhui is trying not to think about Minghao. That’s kind of the usual situation for him lately.
Lately, as in the last two years. Lately, as in the last three weeks since sleeping with Minghao. Lately, as in right now, while he’s watching Minghao walk a runway.
He’s seated in the audience for once, attending instead of walking, and it gives him the perfect view of Minghao’s elegant model walk. He’s gorgeous. It’s infuriating.
See, Junhui doesn’t like that he can’t stop thinking about Minghao. He doesn’t like that he wants to settle down, have two children, and retire to Maine with Minghao. He doesn’t like that at all. He’s been competing with Minghao for over 10 years. He isn’t supposed to want to hold his hand on the street. That’s too much.
Still, here he is: watching Minghao finish out the show with a final walk and wondering if he slammed his head hard enough into concrete, he would forget about how he feels about Minghao.
It’s worth a shot.
He’s an idiot, so instead of doing that, he goes backstage after the show. He’s ostensibly going to greet the designer, to congratulate her, but if he “runs into” Minghao, he’d be fine with that. This is humiliating.
The designer is a lovely woman and he greets her happily, congratulating her on a successful show, before he wanders away and toward wardrobe. He’s calculating about how he bumps into Minghao, acting like he wasn’t looking where he was going.
“Oh, sorry, I—”
“Junhui,” Minghao says, and he looks… scared? He looks scared. It’s something Junhui has never seen on Minghao.
“What’s up?” Junhui asks immediately.
“Um—” Minghao cuts himself off. He bites his lip as he thinks and Junhui thinks he’s holding his breath. “Can I talk to you? I live around the corner, maybe you could walk me home?”
Junhui resists the urge to ask if Minghao is sure, if Minghao actually wants to be seen with him. Minghao isn’t an idiot. He knows what Junhui walking him home will look like if anyone sees. He’s made the careful calculation and decided it was worth asking Junhui. Junhui can’t really say no to that, as if he can say no to Minghao at all. Loser.
“Yeah, sure,” Junhui says. He knows he should put up a fight for show, but Minghao looks so anxious. He kind of doesn’t think Minghao could handle that right now.
“Let me grab my bag,” Minghao says, ducking back into hair and makeup to get his bag before he comes back to Junhui. “Follow me.”
Minghao leads Junhui out of the building with quick steps and Junhui picks up his pace to keep up, walking beside Minghao. They don’t say anything, but Minghao takes Junhui’s arm by the elbow when he needs Junhui to turn onto another street and Junhui feels it through his whole body. Loser.
They get to a townhouse and Minghao unlocks the front door before he steps back to let Junhui inside. Junhui toes his shoes off when Minghao does and he follows Minghao into his living room.
“You can sit,” Minghao says as he sits on the couch. He sounds so tense and his shoulders are tight. Junhui sits on the couch with him and looks at him with his eyebrows raised. “Um, I wasn’t expecting to have to tell you this before I made a decision, but there you were and I just thought— I don’t know. I thought I should tell you now.”
“Tell me what, Minghao?”
“I’m pregnant,” Minghao says quietly. “It’s yours.”
So many things flash before Junhui’s eyes. His life, mostly.
“It’s mine?” he lands on asking. He isn’t sure what else to say.
“You’re the only alpha I’ve slept with in the last six months,” Minghao whispers. “It’s yours.”
“Oh.”
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet,” Minghao says. “If I’m going to have an abortion. It’s— A big decision. It’s a big decision.”
“Yeah,” Junhui says faintly. He thinks about it for all of a few seconds before he says, “well, if you decide to keep it. I’ll be here.”
“Wait, really?” Minghao asks. “You hate me.”
“Sure,” Junhui says, which makes him a liar, but whatever. Semantics. “It’s a baby though. You can’t hate a baby.”
It’s enough to make Minghao laugh, even though he looks like he’s on the verge of tears. “I guess that’s fair. I really don’t know if I’m going to keep it, Junhui. I’d have to give up everything.”
At least for a little while, Minghao would have to give up his career. You can’t model while pregnant. You can’t model while freshly post-partum, and there isn’t a guarantee he would ever get his body back to how it is now. Junhui gets it. Minghao has clawed his way to the top and even if they’re nearing retirement age for their career, it’s still a lot to abandon just for a baby with a guy he hates.
“I understand that,” Junhui says gently. He’s very bold in that he puts a hand out. Minghao takes it tentatively and Junhui smiles. “I’m not going to pressure you to keep it. I’m just going to say that if you do, I’m here. I know that may actually be a deterrent, but…”
Minghao laughs again, more full this time. “Maybe. Maybe not. I haven’t decided on that part yet either. I appreciate it anyway.”
“Do you want to, like, go through the pros and cons?” Junhui asks.
Minghao is still holding his hand. If nothing else, this is Junhui’s in. Junhui is going to have a baby with this man, whether it’s now or later. He’s determined.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Minghao says. “I haven’t actually told anyone else and I’m kind of an external processor.”
“When did you find out?”
Minghao bites his lip. “Two days ago. I was going to try to decide what to do and then tell you about it, but then you were there. Sorry. I probably should have told you when I found out.”
“It’s alright,” Junhui says soothingly. “I understand. Go ahead and do your processing.”
Minghao smiles. “Pros to start. Um, I’ve always wanted kids. You wouldn’t be a deadbeat dad, so I wouldn’t be doing it alone. I’m nearing retirement from consistent modeling anyway. I’ve made enough money to retire and do something else. I’m 30, I’m not getting any younger. Neither are my ovaries, I guess.”
Junhui laughs. “You guess.”
“I guess,” Minghao says, that smile still on his face. He’s still holding Junhui’s hand. This is huge. “Cons, I wasn’t expecting this, I would be a single mom, and any person I would want to date later would have to come into the kid’s life. That could be a lot of change for them.”
“It could.”
“What do you think?” Minghao asks. “If you could choose.”
Junhui smiles, small and soft. “I’m not going to tell you that, Minghao. This is your decision entirely.”
Minghao squeezes Junhui’s hand before he speaks, nearly whispering. “I want to keep it.”
“Really?” Junhui asks carefully.
“Yeah, I want to keep it,” Minghao says, and he sounds more confident now. “I want to have the baby. With you.”
He says “with you” almost like an afterthought, like he’s reminding Junhui that he’s there too, but Junhui is so aware. He’s so aware and he’s crying so hard.
“Junhui—”
“I’m happy,” Junhui chokes out. He wipes his eyes with his free hand and he holds onto Minghao’s hand tightly. “Sorry. Sorry I’m crying. I’m so happy.”
“Oh, good.” Minghao sighs, presumably out of relief. Junhui imagines that the crying probably freaked him out. “I was worried there for a second.”
Junhui gets himself together after a moment, trying to focus on not crying anymore until he gets everything under control. “Sorry. I’m just really excited. A baby. An actual baby. We’re having one.”
Minghao laughs. “We’re having a baby. God, we have so much to figure out.”
“One thing at a time,” Junhui says. “Let’s be excited first.”
“Sure, sure,” Minghao says with a smile. “I guess our rivalry is over? If I’m not modeling anymore, what else is there?”
“You got over that quickly,” Junhui laughs.
“I got over it after we slept together, honestly,” Minghao says with a shrug. “I figured I didn’t hate you after that.”
Junhui sees the light at the end of the tunnel, honestly. This could be it for him and Minghao.
“Well, same,” Junhui says. His smile is probably embarrassing. That’s fine. “We’re probably too old for rivalries. Also, we’re having a baby together.”
Minghao laughs. “We’re having a baby together. I’m glad you’re excited. It would suck if you weren’t.”
“It would suck,” Junhui says. “I’ve always wanted kids. This is thrilling. If they look like you, they’re going to be so cute too.”
Minghao’s cheeks go a little pink, which is crazy considering he’s a model and gets compliments in spades. Junhui grins.
“Oh,” Minghao says softly. “They’ll be a cute combination of us both.”
Junhui grins. “What’s the next step? Doctor?”
“Doctor,” Minghao says. “I’ll make an appointment and call you? I’ve got to call my mom right now.”
“Give me your phone, I’ll put my number in,” Junhui says. Minghao opens his phone to a new contact and hands it to Junhui, who saves his number with “Junhui” and a lizard emoji.
It makes Minghao laugh. “Lizard emoji?”
“Felt fun,” Junhui says. “Just let me know when the appointment is. I want to come to all of them if you want me to.”
Minghao smiles and squeezes Junhui’s hand. Did Junhui mention that he’s still holding Junhui’s hand? He is. It’s monumental. “That works for me. I don’t particularly want to do this alone.”
“You’re definitely not doing it alone,” Junhui says softly. “Go call your mom. I’ll see you soon.”
Minghao lets go of Junhui’s hand just to be able to walk him to the door. Minghao hangs in the doorway while Junhui lingers on his front step.
“Bye, Minghao,” Junhui says softly. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” Minghao says, just as soft. Junhui smiles. “Bye, Junhui.”
Minghao doesn’t close the door until Junhui is on the sidewalk.
Minghao: [Link: Minghao Xu Spotted Out with Alpha?]
Minghao: They got us walking out together, which is fine. The detailing of my history with all alphas is a little much though.
Junhui: You really don’t have much of one, do you?
Minghao: Lol no. I don’t usually like alphas. They’re so… alpha about everything.
Junhui: I’m honored? I guess?
Minghao: You’re not like the other girls, Junhui.
Minghao: Btw, appointment tomorrow at 3. Can you make it or should I move it?
Junhui: 3 works. Just send me the location and I’ll meet you there.
“I’m nervous,” Minghao says in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. He’s bouncing his leg and Junhui sets a hand on his knee to get him to stop. “What if it was a false positive?”
“Did you only take one test?” Junhui asks.
“No,” Minghao says, burying his face in his hands. “I took four.”
Junhui laughs. “I think you’re okay then, Minghao. I don’t think you got four false positives.”
“Minghao?” a nurse calls. Minghao stands up too quickly and Junhui has to set a hand on his back to balance him. He really is so nervous and Junhui doesn’t know what to do about that, but he slips his hand into Minghao’s on the way back to the room. Minghao clings to Junhui’s hand.
They go through the motions of Minghao disappearing to take the pregnancy test before he comes back and sits, putting his hand back out for Junhui without looking at him. He’s so cute. Junhui is so charmed.
The doctor comes in with a bright smile on his face. “Congratulations are in order.”
“I’m pregnant?” Minghao asks, and he looks so hopeful.
“You’re pregnant,” the doctor confirms. “We have a few things to talk through before you can go celebrate though.”
The doctor walks them through the next steps—what to expect, when to set up doctor’s appointments, how to take care of Minghao and the baby—but it’s still early and there isn’t much they can do besides wait. Wait for the ultrasounds, wait for the gender reveal, wait for Minghao to start showing. Oh, that’s going to make Junhui feral.
“Do you know when I might start showing?” Minghao asks. “For my job.”
The doctor hums. “Usually, pregnant people won’t start showing until their fourth or fifth month, in the second trimester. You have a bit.”
“I’ll stop taking jobs in the next two or so months then,” Minghao says to Junhui. Junhui nods. It will be good for Minghao to be off such strenuous, long days too. Junhui would worry.
He’s never felt more like an alpha than right now, when he has a pregnant omega to worry about. It’s a strange feeling. He isn’t sure that he likes it, but he has to cope with it anyway. At least it’ll make him attentive.
They wrap up the appointment and make their next one before they leave, Minghao’s hand in Junhui’s on the way to Minghao’s car. Apparently Minghao really doesn’t care about being seen together. Junhui might cry.
Minghao leans against his car, swinging their joined hands between them. “I was thinking maybe we should get dinner or something, start to get to know each other if we’re going to be co-parenting. I know we’ve known each other for a decade, but I feel like I only know so much.”
“Yeah, that works for me,” Junhui says. He tries not to sound too excited about it. He’s cool, he’s casual. He’s totally nonchalant. “Tomorrow? I’m done with my shoot at 5.”
“Yeah, that works for me,” Minghao says. “I’ll make a reservation and send you the location.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Junhui says with a smile. “Bye, Minghao. Get home safely.”
“Bye, Junhui,” Minghao says softly before he lets go of Junhui’s hand. He gets in his car and Junhui has to try not to kick his feet and squeal on the way home.
So Junhui finds himself at dinner with Minghao, halfway through eating and halfway through making Minghao laugh about Junhui’s disastrous first day on a photoshoot 13 years ago.
“You fell how many times?” Minghao asks through his laughter.
“Four,” Junhui groans. “I was so surprised that my manager didn’t drop me after that.”
“God, me too,” Minghao says. “I nearly got dropped for going into heat unexpectedly, even if that’s an Equality Act violation.”
“Yeah, what the hell?” Junhui asks. “Your current manager almost dropped you for that?”
“Old manager,” Minghao says. “Stand down, alpha.”
Junhui loosens his posture. “Sorry. I don’t mean to do that.”
“Probably a product of having a pregnant omega around,” Minghao says with a shrug. “I’d imagine you’re probably on high alert. You can’t help that.”
“Biology is a bitch.”
“Heard that,” Minghao laughs. “How is being an alpha? I’ve always wondered.”
“It’s weird,” Junhui says, wrinkling his nose. “I’m jacked up on hormones like, all the time. Nothing ever feels chill or comfortable, really. And then ruts are terrible and there are all of these expectations around being dominant or something. I hate it, honestly.”
“That sounds kind of awful.”
“Can’t be more fun than being an omega,” Junhui says. “I’d imagine you have some stuff going on.”
Minghao laughs. “I do. I hate that people assume I’m going to be submissive or weak or that I can’t manage myself. I hate heats. I hate that it took me twice as long to climb the modeling ladder than it took you—no offense.”
“None taken,” Junhui says. “It’s a fair criticism.”
“There are things I like,” Minghao says. “I like my body. I like being able to wrap certain alphas around my finger just by existing.”
He’s certainly got Junhui wrapped around his finger. Junhui doesn’t say that.
“I’d imagine that’s kind of fun,” he says instead.
Minghao smiles. “It is. I like that I get to carry our kid too. That’s pretty sick. My body is making a whole pup.”
Junhui’s heart flutters a bit about “our kid.” “It is, which is sick. That’s so hot and sexy of you.”
Minghao laughs so hard he nearly snorts. “Glad to know that’s what you’re into.”
“Biology, baby,” Junhui laughs. “I’m still an alpha. Of course I’m into that. Of course I’m into a very pretty omega carrying our pup.”
Minghao taps his ankle against Junhui’s and his cheeks are such a nice pink. “Have you been this sweet the whole time and I’ve just missed it?”
“Definitely not,” Junhui says. “I hated you so much for so long.”
Minghao laughs. “Okay, good, because I’m the same. It softened in the last few years once we started working together and were both established.”
Junhui doesn’t say that it softened for him because he fell halfway in love with Minghao. That seems like a lot.
“Yeah, that sounds right,” Junhui says instead. “I’m 32. I’m too old for petty rivalries and it turned petty sometime in the last few years.”
“Speaking of being too old,” Minghao says. “When were you planning to retire?”
Junhui hums. “I’ve been thinking about that lately. I’ve saved enough that I can take a few years off before transitioning into something else, so I was going to ask if you wanted me to retire with you, stay home for a bit. I could help out.”
“You would do that?” Minghao sounds so tentative.
“I would,” Junhui says, nodding. “I was nearing retirement anyway, but you two are more important than anything else. I don’t want you to have to do this on your own.”
Minghao’s eyes are so wide. “You really mean that.”
“I do.”
“Okay,” Minghao says softly. He puts his hand out over the table and Junhui takes it with a smile. “I guess the industry is losing us to the domestic life.”
“They’ll be fine,” Junhui laughs. “We’ll let the younger generation thrive. I have another question.”
“Hm?”
“Do you want the public to think we’re together?” Junhui asks. “I don’t know how you feel about being a single pregnant omega.”
“Oh,” Minghao says, clearly thinking about it. “Yeah. It would probably be best if people thought we were together, right? But we don’t have to go all out. We’re already spending time with each other, so we just won’t deny any rumors that we’re together.”
“Yeah, that works,” Junhui says. It’s thrilling, if he’s being honest, but that’s another thing he doesn’t say.
“Sorry,” Minghao says with a frown. “You won’t be able to date for a while. You won’t be able to spend your rut with anyone either, I guess.”
Junhui shrugs. “I’m fine with that. I don’t usually spend my rut with anyone anyway. Makes me feel weird to just sleep with someone that intensely for days on end and not be dating them.”
“A gentleman,” Minghao laughs.
Junhui smiles. “Sure. I’ll take that.”
The waitress comes over with the check and Junhui is quick to pay despite Minghao’s protests before they leave, Junhui trailing behind Minghao. They’re close to Minghao’s townhouse, so Junhui walks Minghao home, staying close. So he’s protective. Sue him.
“I’ll see you next week in Paris,” Minghao says in his doorway. “Probably my last Fashion Week runway walk.”
“Big deal,” Junhui says with a small smile. He’ll likely walk a few more Fashion Weeks in September before retiring, so he can focus on Minghao. “We’ll celebrate afterwards.”
“Paris with no wine sounds like a tragedy,” Minghao sighs. Junhui laughs. “We’ll figure something else out.”
“We will,” Junhui says. “Goodnight, Minghao.”
“Goodnight, Junhui.”
Minghao: [Link: Minghao Xu and Junhui Wen End Rivalry, Get Cozy at Dinner]
Minghao: So it begins.
Junhui: That’s a cute photo of us.
Junhui: Monumental dinner too. We should put it in the baby’s scrapbook.
Minghao: I’ll get it printed.
Minghao and Junhui are walking different shows for Paris Fashion Week this week, so Junhui finds himself backstage at the Saint Laurent show, waiting for Minghao to be done with his walk. He wonders when it will get out that Minghao is pregnant, when people will put together that he walked while pregnant, that he closed out the show while pregnant. It’s a bit iconic of him. He’s going to be the coolest mom out there.
Minghao finds Junhui after the show with a bright smile on his face and Junhui lets out a breath of relief. He was so worried that Minghao would be devastated to be done.
“It was perfect,” Minghao says. “My last hurrah.”
“I’m sure you were beautiful,” Junhui says with a small smile. “I propose we get fruit and bread and go look at Seine.”
“Sounds lovely,” Minghao says. Junhui sets a hand on his lower back to guide him back out onto the street and they’re absolutely going to get photographed, but Junhui doesn’t think either of them care. It’s best for Minghao anyway, because single pregnant omegas are constantly harassed. As much as Junhui hates being an alpha, it’s helpful now that he’s able to protect Minghao from that.
They find their bread, fruit, and cheese on one street before Junhui takes Minghao to a spot on the Seine that he’s found throughout his many Paris Fashion Weeks. Minghao lights up when he sees the semi-secluded bench.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” he says softly. They settle on the bench and Junhui smiles when Minghao sits so he’s facing Junhui instead of the river. “The perfect way to celebrate my retirement from runways.”
“You have a few more photoshoots and then you’re done, right?” Junhui asks.
Minghao hums and nods. “Three more shoots so I can finish out a brand deal and that’s it. That’s the end of modeling. You’ve got a few more months?”
“I’ve told my manager I want to be done in four months,” Junhui says. “So I’ll carry through the next Fashion Weeks and then be finished. I think I would be more sad about it if it weren’t for why I’m doing it.”
Minghao sets a hand on his stomach and Junhui smiles. “Yeah, that’s about how I feel. I’d be sad if it weren’t for the little chicken.”
“Little chicken?” Junhui asks with a laugh. “Is that what we’re going with?”
“Well, we don’t know the sex,” Minghao laughs. “The pup. Better?”
“You call the baby anything you want,” Junhui says. “You’re growing them, so…”
“Fair point,” Minghao says, nodding. “Little chicken it is. Anyway, it means I’m not all that sad to leave. I haven’t officially announced my retirement, but we’re nearly there.”
Junhui smiles. “It’ll be good. Now eat up so we can go to the Eiffel Tower.”
Minghao laughs and diligently eats, listening to Junhui talk about the trip to Paris and which other models he’s seen. When they’re done, Junhui grins when Minghao takes Junhui’s hand on the short walk to the Eiffel Tower. It’s late, the Tower lit up, and Minghao looks so pretty in the lights.
“Let me take your picture,” Junhui says, letting go of Minghao to push him forward. He gets a beautiful photo of Minghao laughing that he’s going to save in the baby’s scrapbook for sure.
Minghao puts his hand out and Junhui takes it, smiling when Minghao pulls out his phone to take a photo of both of them.
“Oh, that’s cute,” Minghao says, looking at the photo. He posts it on his Instagram story quickly and Junhui fucking grins. He made it on Minghao’s Instagram. He’s only taking wins tonight.
Minghao takes Junhui’s hand again. Only wins.
Junhui hates being an alpha.
He wants to be celebrating Minghao being pregnant for two months, wants to be celebrating their weekly dinners and twice-a-week walks. He wants that. He doesn’t want to be going into rut.
He understands that he’s lucky that ruts are only once a year on suppressants, that heats are every three months and it could be worse, but he still hates them. He’s only spent two ruts with someone before and while that makes it easier, he hates asking someone to be with him for four days of rut, so he ends up miserable every time.
He’s going to end up miserable again. He’s two days away from rut and he’s pissy about everything on his walk with Minghao. He’s trying to be in a better mood, but it isn’t quite working.
“You smell like pre-rut,” Minghao says when they get back to his townhouse. They’re getting water in the kitchen and Junhui freezes. “Is that why you’re in such a bad mood?”
“Um, yeah,” Junhui finally admits. “It’s just going to be a miserable few days.”
“I can help you,” Minghao says easily. “If you want. I’ll help you through it.”
“Minghao, no, I can’t ask you to do that.”
Minghao shakes his head. “You’re not asking me to do it. I’m offering. I’m the reason you’re not dating someone and we’ve slept together before. We’re friends. I want to help you with this. Besides, I’m already pregnant, so you can knot me without a condom.”
Heat rushes to Junhui’s stomach and he hates it. He loves it. He doesn’t know what the fuck is going on.
“Are you sure?” he asks carefully.
“I’m positive,” Minghao says with a smile. “Let me help you with this, Jun.”
“Okay,” Junhui says after a moment. “Alright. My rut starts in two days if you want to come over beforehand and get settled? They’re usually the full four days.”
“Might be shorter if you’re with someone, but four days is fine,” Minghao says. “I’ll come over tomorrow with my things. Sound okay?”
“Mhm,” Junhui hums, and he’s bold in how he pulls Minghao into a hug. Minghao laughs and hugs him back. “Thank you, Minghao. You’re the best.”
Minghao giggles. “Sure, sure. Go home and get comfortable, you reek.”
Junhui laughs and lets go, waving goodbye to Minghao before he lets himself out.
The next day, Junhui opens the door for Minghao and smiles, because Minghao is dressed down in a sweatshirt with messy hair and sleepy eyes, but he has a bag on his shoulder and he’s here to help Junhui. He’s sweet.
“Come in, come in,” Junhui says, stepping back to let Minghao in. “You look cute.”
“Thanks,” Minghao laughs as he takes his shoes off. He follows Junhui to his bedroom to set down his things. “Nice place. We should figure out where we’re living when the baby is born, by the way.”
“We’re living together?”
“I assumed?” Minghao says. “We’re not taking a newborn back and forth, Junhui.”
“No, you’re right,” Junhui says quickly. “I just hadn’t thought about it. Omegas are more territorial, we can live at your house.”
“So sweet,” Minghao says, patting Junhui’s cheek. “So caring.”
Junhui smiles. “I want you two to be comfortable, that’s all. You should be where your nest is.”
“Thank you,” Minghao says softly. “Do I need to go grocery shopping? How prepared are you for this?”
“Um, mostly prepared,” Junhui says. “Meals, water, snacks, all taken care of. I’m usually pretty clear-headed during rut though.”
“You’ve never fucked a pregnant omega during rut,” Minghao points out. “You’ve barely fucked an omega during rut. I’m not going to hold you to that.”
“Yeah, alright,” Junhui laughs. “Do you want to, like, play a card game? I shouldn’t go into it for another day.”
“Come here,” Minghao says. “If you want to trigger it, I have an idea.”
Junhui might as well get it over with. He goes to Minghao and lets Minghao move him so his face is tucked in Minghao’s neck, right where his vanilla and spice scent is the strongest. As his pregnancy has progressed, it’s started to leak into his scent, and Junhui tries not to be weird about how deep he inhales.
Minghao cards a hand through Junhui’s hair and holds his head down right as he scratches his teeth along Junhui’s mating gland and that’s— Yeah. Yeah, that’s enough to do it for Junhui. He feels something deep in his stomach snap and the force of his rut hits his brain all at once.
“There you go, baby,” Minghao says soothingly. He must be able to smell it on Junhui. He keeps carding his hand through Junhui’s hair as he guides Junhui back to the bed. He washed his sheets for this. That probably won’t matter for long.
Minghao is tender about how he undresses Junhui, almost loving in how he kisses Junhui when they’re both naked even as Junhui grips his waist tightly. Junhui is just trying his best not to rush this. He wants to pry Minghao’s legs open and sink inside him. What he’s going to do is kiss Minghao thoroughly and run his hands wherever he can reach.
Finally, finally, Minghao’s legs fall open and Junhui slips his hand down to feel where Minghao is leaking slick, down to push two fingers into his cunt to start to stretch him out. Minghao lets out a breathy moan and Junhui is going insane as he licks into Minghao’s mouth and presses a third finger inside him.
Junhui thinks he’s going to break down and come then and there when he realizes that, as he’s fingering Minghao, Minghao is cradling his stomach with one hand. He’s cradling his stomach because he’s pregnant with their pup. The last of Junhui’s self-control breaks and he pulls his fingers out of Minghao and pulls Minghao’s hips up so he can sink his cock into Minghao’s cunt.
It’s somehow better than the last time they did this, messy and dirty in a club bathroom, because Minghao is moaning and he’s hot and wet and tight around Junhui and he’s still cradling his fucking stomach. Junhui fucks him harder for it, catches Minghao’s mouth with his, runs his hand down to cradle Minghao’s stomach with him.
Minghao smiles into the kiss. “Yeah, baby? Thinking about how you fucked a pup into me?”
“Minghao,” Junhui groans, and there’s nothing else to say to that because yeah, Junhui is thinking about it. He’s thinking about how it’s his baby that Minghao is carrying, that he’s the only one who gets to fuck Minghao—pretty, perfect Minghao, his sweet omega. He’s Junhui’s. He belongs to Junhui, at least for now, and that’s enough to get Junhui’s knot into all of this.
“You can knot me,” Minghao says softly. “Fill me up, alpha.”
God. Junhui grinds his knot into Minghao and Minghao’s head falls back in a moan. Junhui nips at Minghao’s mating gland, just barely there, and Minghao winds his hand into Junhui’s hair and holds Junhui’s face there and the room smells like Minghao, Minghao, Minghao, and Junhui comes with Minghao’s hand in his hair and Minghao saying his name.
Junhui can’t move much, but he snakes a hand down to rub his fingers on Minghao’s clit, coaxing him into coming and feeling him clench around Junhui’s cock in waves as Junhui works him through it. Minghao is nearly panting when Junhui pulls his hand back and Junhui presses a kiss to his neck.
“How are you feeling?” Minghao asks softly as he cards his hand through Junhui’s hair.
“Better,” Junhui whispers. “You?”
“I’m alright,” Minghao laughs. “I would tell you I can handle you being rougher with me, but I’m pregnant.”
Junhui laughs. “That was more than enough for me, really. More than enough. You’re perfect.”
“You’re sweet,” Minghao says. “You’re so lucky that these are only once a year.”
“I’m lucky for a lot of reasons.”
“You’re a sap.”
Junhui smiles. “Usually. Do you want to take a bath once we can move?”
“You don’t want me to leak cum on your sheets?” Junhui’s dick twitches and Minghao laughs. “Seems like you’re going to fuck me again first.”
Junhui’s head is already clouding over again.
When Junhui’s rut is over three days later, Junhui is exhausted and Minghao is covered in hickeys. It’s alright. He isn’t modeling anymore.
Minghao laughs when he sees himself in the mirror, tired and bruised. Junhui finishes brushing his teeth and he smiles at Minghao.
“You look pretty like this,” Junhui says.
“You have to say that,” Minghao laughs. “You’re the artist behind all of this.”
“Exactly, it’s art,” Junhui says with a laugh. “You get it.”
“I have to go home like this,” Minghao says, peering at his neck. “It’s fine. If I get caught, I get caught.”
“Only fuels the rumors that we’re together,” Junhui points out. “Good for you eventually.”
“When are we telling people?” Minghao asks. He leans against the counter, looking at Junhui. “I was thinking about the second trimester.”
“Whenever you want, honestly,” Junhui says. “I just want to tell my parents soon.”
“You can tell your parents now, Junhui,” Minghao laughs. “You’re sweet for keeping it secret, but you can definitely tell your parents now.”
“I’ll do that then,” Junhui says. “What if we wait to tell everyone until you’re showing? Then we kind of can’t hide it, so we do an announcement of sorts. I just want to keep it private as long as possible. Keeps you away from public scrutiny.”
Minghao hums. “Yeah, that works. We’ll wait until I’m showing then. Should be in the next few months.”
Junhui smiles and sets his hand on Minghao’s stomach. “You’re going to be so cute. I kind of can’t wait.”
“The stretch marks might kill me.”
“The stretch marks will be lovely,” Junhui says. He sounds almost too earnest. “You’re always so pretty. I highly doubt some stretch marks will take that away.”
Minghao’s cheeks go pink again and he’s so cute. “You’re too much.”
“Not at all,” Junhui laughs. “Will you come with me to tell my parents? They’ll want to meet you.”
“Oh, sure,” Minghao says, his eyes wide. “What will we tell them about, um, us?”
“That we’re friends,” Junhui decides, even if that tastes horrible in his mouth. He’s never wanted to just be friends with Minghao, but here they are. “Is that alright?”
“Yeah, that works,” Minghao says after a moment. “That’s fine. We can tell them whenever. Not like I’ve got much on my calendar.”
Junhui laughs. “No, I suppose not. We can go this weekend?”
“Let’s wait until these bruises heal.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
When the bruises heal, Junhui takes Minghao to meet his parents. They’re standing on his parents’ front step, Minghao’s hand cradled in both of Junhui’s because Minghao seems nervous out of his mind.
“Minghao, breathe for me,” Junhui says softly. “This is going to be fine. What has you so worked up?”
“They’re going to hate that we’re not together,” Minghao sighs. “They’re going to hate me for being a knocked up single omega and—”
“Minghao,” Junhui says sharply, trying to get Minghao out of his spiral. “Nobody’s going to think that. Nobody’s going to hate you. My parents are very kind people and they’re going to want to hug you for carrying their grandchild, but that’s it. My mom might ask you about the morning sickness. That’s it.”
“Okay,” Minghao says. His eyes are so wide. “Okay. We can go in.”
Junhui gives Minghao another moment to say no before he knocks on the door. His mother opens it with a wide smile.
“Junhui!” his mother says. “And Minghao, it’s so nice to meet you. Junhui said you would be coming with him. You’re just as pretty as you are in the magazines.”
“Oh, thank you,” Minghao says softly. He’s gripping Junhui’s hand tightly. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“Come in, come in,” Junhui’s mother says. She steps back to let them in and they take their shoes off at the door before Junhui guides Minghao into the living room.
His father stands to greet them, hugging Junhui and putting a hand out for Minghao to shake. “It’s good to meet you, Minghao. Junhui speaks very highly of you.”
“That’s kind of him,” Minghao laughs nervously. Junhui takes Minghao’s hand again to draw him down onto the couch with him. His mother and father sit on the chairs across from them. It feels a bit like an intervention. Junhui ignores that.
Junhui clears his throat. “We have something to tell you. It’s kind of big.”
“Go on, dear,” his mother says.
“Minghao is pregnant,” Junhui says softly. “We’re having a baby.”
It’s silent for a beat and Junhui is genuinely afraid that Minghao is going to throw up, but a smile grows on Junhui’s mom’s face before she gets up to pull Junhui into a hug.
“A baby!” his mom says. “You’re having a baby, oh my goodness.”
His mom lets go of Junhui and sits down next to Minghao to pull him into a loose hug. Minghao hugs back and Junhui smiles.
“We’re so happy for you, son,” Junhui’s father says as he gets up to hug Junhui. “Really, this is wonderful.”
Minghao looks at Junhui and smiles. Junhui goes to sit with him again, taking his hand, and both of Junhui’s parents sit just to smile at both of them.
“How has the pregnancy been?” Junhui’s mom asks Minghao. “Have you been alright? Junhui was rough on me.”
“Hey!”
“I’ve been okay,” Minghao says softly. “Morning sickness hasn’t been fun, but Junhui’s been good about bringing me ginger ale, that kind of thing. Overall, it’s been okay. I’m only two and a half months though.”
“Oh, you’re early,” she laughs. “You just make sure Junhui is taking care of you. Call and let me know if he’s not and I’ll straighten him out.”
“Mama,” Junhui groans.
“He’s been great,” Minghao says with a laugh. “Really. I’m sure he’ll keep being great.”
They talk a bit about how Minghao is doing, how Junhui’s mother wants to throw a baby shower, and they don’t touch on Minghao and Junhui’s relationship at all, thank goodness. Junhui thinks Minghao really would throw up. They wrap up so Junhui’s parents can go to dinner and Junhui sets a hand on Minghao’s lower back to guide him out of the house.
When he looks back, his mom winks at him. He grins.
A few weekly dinners later, Minghao calls Junhui over in a bit of a panic. Junhui is over quickly, unsure what’s wrong, and when he lets himself into Minghao’s house with his key, he finds Minghao in the bedroom, staring into the middle distance.
“What’s up?” Junhui asks, coming to sit next to Minghao. “Minghao?”
“I’m showing,” Minghao whispers. “My stomach.”
“Oh, honey,” Junhui says quietly, because he’s pretty sure why Minghao is freaking out. He’s a model and models are so caught up in image, in having the perfect body, that his stomach not being perfectly flat is almost certainly freaking him out. Junhui has a bit of an idea, but he’ll see if Minghao will go along with it. “Can you show me?”
He helps Minghao stand up and Minghao pulls his shirt up. Sure enough, there’s the smallest swell to his stomach, but it’s visible. He’s so pretty like this.
“Pretty boy,” Junhui says softly, cradling a hand underneath Minghao’s stomach. “This is the prettiest I’ve ever seen you. You’re so beautiful, Minghao.”
“I’m not,” Minghao says, and there are tears in his eyes. Junhui brings him back down to sit, keeping his hand on his slight bump.
“You really are,” Junhui insists. “You’re growing a whole baby, honey. This is just a mark of that. You’re still gorgeous.”
“I’m just—” Minghao’s voice breaks into a small sob and Junhui’s heart breaks. “I’m not supposed to—”
“That’s bullshit,” Junhui cuts in. “You’re pregnant. You’re not supposed to be anything except pregnant, and this is just showing that. I think you’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen, exactly like this.”
“You’re just saying that because it’s your baby,” Minghao says through his tears.
Junhui laughs. “I’m really not. I don’t have to say it, but it’s just true. I’ll keep reminding you.”
“You don’t still— No, you wouldn’t. That’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid, babe?” Junhui asks.
“It’s stupid that you would still, um, want me.”
Junhui thinks it’s probably not appropriate, but he laughs. The idea is just so ridiculous. “Of course I want you. I always want you.”
“But I’m—”
Junhui kisses him. He kisses him quiet, kisses him firmly, and he waits for Minghao to kiss back to smile into it. “Do you want me to prove it? Because I absolutely will.”
Minghao nods hesitantly after a moment and Junhui kisses him again, laying him out underneath Junhui on the bed. Junhui rucks Minghao’s shirt up to keep a hand on his stomach while he kisses him, deepening the kiss easily while his thumb strokes on Minghao’s skin.
It isn’t at all like the other times they’ve had sex—it’s soft, sweet, and Junhui is so gentle with Minghao while he undresses him. He waits until Minghao seems more relaxed to kiss down his chest, stopping to run his hands down Minghao’s stomach before he settles between Minghao’s thighs.
Junhui coaxes Minghao into coming more than anything, careful fingers inside him and lapping at his clit while Minghao tangles a hand in his hair. Junhui keeps one hand on Minghao’s stomach and Minghao gasps when he comes, leaking slick all over Junhui’s fingers.
Junhui moves back up to kiss Minghao, to let him taste himself on Junhui’s tongue, before he speaks again. “Do you want to keep going or do you want to rest?”
“Keep going,” Minghao whispers, running his hands down Junhui’s chest to hook into his waistband. “Please.”
Following directions is what Junhui is made for, so he undresses quickly and he slips three fingers inside Minghao to make sure he’s ready before he slicks himself up and pushes into Minghao’s cunt. Minghao’s head falls back and Junhui brushes a kiss across his mating gland, a little thing, and Minghao moans.
“Good job, baby,” Junhui whispers against Minghao’s skin. “Good boy. Pretty boy.”
Junhui picks up an easy pace, slow and deep, and Minghao nearly squirms underneath him with how overwhelmed he seems to be. It makes Junhui smile, makes him press Minghao’s hips into the bed a little more, makes him pick up his pace until Minghao is whining. It doesn’t take much when Junhui drags Minghao’s hand down to his clit for Minghao to come again and Junhui tumbles after him, filling Minghao up in a way that makes Junhui dizzy.
Junhui is just glad that he doesn’t really knot outside of rut, so he can move to make Minghao comfortable as soon as they’ve both come down. He pulls out and notes that he’ll need to change Minghao’s sheets before he leaves a kiss on Minghao’s collarbone and goes to run a bath.
Once he’s satisfied that the bath isn’t too warm for Minghao, Junhui goes back into Minghao’s room and picks Minghao up to make him laugh. It works and Junhui smiles.
They end up having to drain and re-run the bath once Junhui has carefully fingered Minghao clean, but it means they can linger with their legs tangled together. It’s maybe the most intimate thing Junhui has ever done with someone else. He’s just glad it’s with Minghao.
He’s just glad he gets to look at Minghao like this, laid out with his stomach out. He really is so pretty.
“How are you feeling?” Junhui asks.
Minghao hums and looks up. “Better, I think. Yeah. Better.”
“Good,” Junhui says. “Because you really are so cute. I was so right. I love your little bump.”
Minghao giggles softly, his lilting laugh that Junhui likes so much. “It’s your baby in here, so I would hope so.”
“It’s my baby in there,” Junhui says, smirking. “I got so lucky.”
“You got lucky that you knocked me up in a club bathroom?” Minghao asks with a laugh.
“Mhm,” Junhui hums. “Remarkably lucky that I knocked you up in a club bathroom. You wouldn’t get it.”
“No, I get it,” Minghao says quietly. “I got lucky too.”
Junhui smiles. “We both got lucky. We’ll go with that.”
“I’m going to be showing more soon,” Minghao says. “We can tell people soon. Tell people that I got lucky.”
Junhui laughs. “You seem excited about that.”
“It’ll be good to talk about it, actually tell my friends,” Minghao says. “I can officially announce my retirement.”
“And you want people to know it’s mine?” Junhui asks. “Everyone?”
“Everyone,” Minghao says with a smile. “Yeah. Everyone should know.”
Before they tell everyone, they get to find out the sex of the baby. It’s a big doctor’s appointment. Junhui might scream with the anticipation.
“Junnie, it’s going to be fine,” Minghao says with a laugh while they’re waiting for the ultrasound technician. Junhui’s leg is bouncing and Minghao reaches out to set a hand on his knee. “What are you so nervous about?”
“I just want to know,” Junhui says, because he isn’t quite sure what he’s so nervous about. “What if it’s twins?”
“Then it’s twins,” Minghao laughs. “There are two of us. It would be fine. It isn’t twins though. They would have caught that by now.”
“Right,” Junhui says. “Right.”
“It’s going to be alright,” Minghao says. He puts out his hand and Junhui takes it gratefully.
The ultrasound technician comes in and Junhui feels like he holds his breath until she says “do you just want me to tell you?”
“Yes, please,” Minghao says with a small smile.
“It’s a girl,” she says with her own smile.
Junhui can’t be blamed when he starts crying. It’s a girl. They’re having a girl.
“Oh, Junhui,” Minghao laughs. “It’s alright, Jun.”
“I’ll give you two a moment,” the ultrasound tech says, laughing. She hands Minghao a few paper towels to wipe the gel off his stomach on her way out and Junhui takes them to help. He’s still crying. This is fine.
“Why are you crying?” Minghao asks softly.
“I’m happy,” Junhui says. He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand so he can keep getting the gel off of Minghao’s stomach. “I’m just so happy.”
“Good,” Minghao says with a sweet smile. “Me too. I wanted a girl, but I didn’t want to say it in case I jinxed it.”
“How could you jinx it?” Junhui laughs. “We made the baby months ago.”
“I’m superstitious!”
“I can tell,” Junhui teases. “You got your girl. I’m so excited. We have so many names to pick from.”
“We’ll go through them,” Minghao says. “For now, we have a party to plan.”
They plan the party for a Saturday, inviting everyone over to Junhui’s apartment. Minghao’s friends aren’t surprised to be invited over because Junhui and Minghao have been seen together so much, but Junhui thinks Mingyu and Seokmin look at him awfully suspiciously when they come in.
When they’ve shoved everyone in Junhui’s living room, Junhui calls for everyone’s attention before he looks at Minghao. Minghao is so dramatic, so he just unzips his jacket and waits.
“Oh my God, Minghao!” Seokmin yells first. “You’re pregnant!”
“I’m pregnant,” Minghao laughs. “Junhui and I are having a baby. I’m nearly five months.”
“Oh my God,” Soonyoung says, his face pale. “I knew you two fucked at my party!”
“We definitely fucked at your party,” Junhui says. Minghao groans along with Soonyoung.
The noise picks up when Minghao and Junhui separate to say hello to everyone and Jihoon slips over to talk to Junhui.
“You finally got him,” Jihoon says. “After two years.”
Junhui feels his face fall. “We’re not together.”
“You’re not?” Jihoon asks. He looks shocked. “But the way he looks at you…”
“That’s because we’re sleeping together,” Junhui says, shaking his head. “Isn’t that fucked up?”
“That’s fucked up,” Jihoon says. “Like, more than once?”
“Like once or twice a week for the past month and a half,” Junhui sighs. “It’s so fucked. I want him so badly.”
Junhui knows he looks like he’s yearning when he looks across the room at Minghao. Minghao looks up and smiles at him. Junhui yearns.
“You should tell him,” Jihoon says. “I think it would go better than you think it might, particularly if you’re sleeping together.”
“Yeah, but we don’t kiss outside of that. We’re not very affectionate. We hold hands, but that’s it.”
“So try to be more affectionate,” Jihoon says with a shrug. “Test the waters before you tell him. I don’t know, man, but you look miserable. I think that could be easily solved.”
“I’ll think about it,” Junhui says after a moment. “Yeah, I’ll think about it. No promises though.”
Jihoon sighs. “Alright, dude. Congratulations though.”
“Thanks, man.”
Minghao comes over to join them and he slips his hand into Junhui’s and maybe Jihoon is onto something. Just maybe.
Minghao lets Junhui post it in the end. It’s a photo of Minghao in the kitchen, bare-footed with his bump fully visible, one hand cradled under his stomach and the other holding Junhui’s hand, just barely in the frame of the photo. Minghao is laughing in the photo about something stupid Junhui was saying to get the photo.
Junhui posts it with the caption “coming soon ❤️” and Minghao laughs as he hits “post.”
“Sappy,” Minghao teases.
“Surely that isn’t what made you realize that I’m a sap,” Junhui laughs. “Surely not.”
“Definitely not,” Minghao says. “I’m going to miss you when you’re gone for the next few weeks.”
Junhui has to be in London, Milan, and Paris back to back for his final Fashion Weeks and he’s already dreading being away from Minghao for so long. So he’s codependent now. So he’s unprecedented levels of protective. Sue him. He’ll be gone for nearly a month. It’s too much.
“I’ll call,” Junhui says softly. “You’ll have to tell me all about your days.”
“They’ll be so boring without you,” Minghao sighs. “I’ll have to take dares from Seokmin again.”
Junhui laughs. “No one’s telling you that you have to do that.”
He presses a kiss to Minghao’s temple, because he’s trying to be more affectionate per Jihoon’s advice. Minghao smiles.
“It’ll make things fun.”
“Sure,” Junhui laughs. “Just be careful with yourself.”
“You too,” Minghao says softly. “Be careful while you’re gone.”
“I will,” Junhui says, just as soft. “I’ll be careful.”
It wasn’t Junhui that needed to be careful, it seems. He’s in Paris, getting ready for the final show that he’s set to attend for the week after walking for Maison Margiela, when he gets a call from Seokmin, strangely enough.
He picks up immediately. “Hey, Seokmin.”
“Hey, um, I should start with the fact that Minghao is okay,” Seokmin says. Junhui sucks in a breath. “He got mobbed. That’s what you’re probably about to see all over the internet. He’s also kind of freaking out. I’m with him now, but he asked me to call you.”
“Yeah, put him on,” Junhui says quickly. He waits for Minghao’s soft “hi” before he lets out his breath. “Hi, honey. How are you feeling?”
“Not great,” Minghao says, and Junhui can hear the tears in his voice. “They were all over me. One of them touched my stomach.”
If Junhui were any other alpha, he would probably want to kill someone for that. As it is, Junhui just wants to be sick.
That’s his omega. He hates thinking like that, he really does, but it’s kind of hard not to right now when Minghao is crying on the phone with him. He thinks he might be losing his mind.
“I’m so sorry, Minghao,” Junhui says, trying to keep his tone soothing. “How can I help?”
“I don’t know,” Minghao chokes out. “I just wanted you and you weren’t here and I—”
“I can come home now,” Junhui says, cutting Minghao off. “I can come home now, be back around, what, midnight your time? Is that alright?”
“Are you sure?” Minghao asks tentatively.
“Absolutely,” Junhui says. “I’ll be on the first flight back. Just stay with Seokmin, okay? Do you want Mingyu there?”
“No alphas,” Minghao says quickly. Something in Junhui relaxes. “No other alphas.”
“Alright, baby, it’s okay,” Junhui says. “I’ll be home soon. Sit tight.”
“Okay,” Minghao whispers. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” Junhui says. “I’m going to go get my things together, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll come straight to you.”
“Thank you,” Minghao says softly. “See you soon.”
Minghao hangs up and Junhui puts his head in his hands for all of a moment before he starts packing his things. His manager is going to hate this, but he was retiring after this anyway, and he kind of doesn’t give a fuck. His Google alerts for Minghao’s name start going off and there are pictures from the mobbing and yeah, Junhui doesn’t give a fuck. He’s going home.
After a flight spent trying not to chew on his cuticles, Junhui lets himself into Minghao’s townhouse to find Seokmin and Minghao curled around each other in bed, asleep. His heart kind of aches.
Junhui changes quickly in the bathroom before he goes to sit next to Minghao and runs a hand through his hair. Minghao wakes up and blinks at Junhui a few times.
“You’re home,” Minghao says softly.
It makes Seokmin stir and Seokmin smiles, untangling himself from Minghao. “I’ve done my duty. Good to see you, Junhui.”
“Thanks, Seokmin,” Junhui says with a small smile. Seokmin pats Minghao’s head before he slips out of the room and Junhui hears the front door close and lock behind him.
“Hi,” Minghao whispers. He tugs on Junhui’s hands until Junhui lays down and wraps himself around Minghao.
“Hi, baby,” Junhui says softly. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“It’s better now that you’re here,” Minghao says. He shifts so he can pull Junhui’s hand to rest low on his stomach and Junhui tucks Minghao in closer to his chest. “I’ve never wanted, like, my alpha before. I’ve never had that thought before.”
“You had it then?” Junhui asks. Minghao nods and something protective lights up in Junhui’s chest.
“I think I just wanted you there and my hormones are flaring and it just—” Minghao sighs. “I wanted my alpha. That feels stupid to say out loud.”
“It feels stupid to like hearing it, if that helps,” Junhui says. Minghao laughs quietly. “My omega. Feels silly.”
“Here we are anyway,” Minghao sighs. “I have a question.”
“What’s up?”
“Are you, um, mine?” Minghao asks quietly. “I know we’ve been— But are you mine?”
Junhui buries his smile in Minghao’s neck and he presses a kiss to Minghao’s mating gland. “Yeah. I definitely am.”
Minghao reaches up to run a hand through Junhui’s hair. “Good. Good, because I’m yours.”
“Good,” Junhui murmurs. “We’re in agreement then. I’m yours, you’re mine, and the pup is ours. I’m happy with that.”
“Yeah, me too,” Minghao says. “I think I’m going to fall back asleep now. Big day.”
“Big day,” Junhui says. “I’ll be here in the morning.”
“Goodnight,” Minghao whispers. He sounds on the verge of sleep when he says, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Junhui whispers back. He falls asleep like that, wrapped around Minghao.
In the morning, Junhui finds out which reporter touched Minghao’s stomach and pulls every string he has until he knows the man has been fired. Minghao looks relieved when Junhui tells him, so Junhui thinks it was worth it.
Junhui moves in when Minghao can’t quite move like he used to anymore. They only have a month left before the baby is born and Minghao is struggling with more basic tasks, which means it’s time for Junhui to shine.
It means Junhui is at home with Minghao when Minghao’s water breaks. It means he’s just in the kitchen when Minghao yells for him from the bedroom.
“Can you not get out of bed again?” Junhui asks, peering in the doorway.
“No— Well, yes, I can’t get out of bed, but I think my water just broke?” Minghao says. “Like, a lot. We’re going to have to deal with that.”
“Oh, shit,” Junhui says, his eyes wide. “Alright, well, let’s get you cleaned up first before the contractions hit.”
Junhui would like to think that he’s very calm about the whole thing. He gets Minghao into the shower with him so he can get clean before Junhui helps him to the couch because their bed is certainly not an option right now. If Junhui asks nicely, he bets Seokmin would help with replacing the mattress before they get home from the hospital.
He lets Minghao bite down on his shoulder when the contractions start hitting and he thinks he’s very brave for it—Minghao’s teeth are sharp and his jaw strength is admirable. They finally make their way to the hospital and Minghao gets set up with the epidural and he stops biting Junhui as much. It’s great for both of them.
He does nearly break Junhui’s hand when things get down to it and Junhui has to shake out his hand before he cuts the umbilical cord—which, gross—before he’s watching Jinyi being handed to Minghao with a wide smile on his face.
“Come here, Junnie,” Minghao whispers. Junhui sits next to Minghao when Minghao shifts over and he wraps his arm around Minghao’s shoulders. “She’s perfect.”
“You did so well, honey,” Junhui says softly. He strokes the backs of his fingers across Jinyi’s cheek. “She’s got your ears. She’s beautiful.”
Minghao leans his head on Junhui’s shoulder. “I love you. I love you both.”
“I love you too,” Junhui whispers. “Love you both.”
They wait until Jinyi can walk with purpose to get married, solely so they can put her in a little flower girl dress and have her walk down the aisle ahead of them. She’s only two, she gets a little distracted, but Junhui lures her up to the altar by kneeling down and calling to her, holding onto her while Minghao walks down the aisle.
Junhui hands Jinyi off to Seokmin, her favorite uncle, and takes Minghao’s hands.