The next morning, Avery woke up before the sun rose. For once, he didn't linger in bed, watching the Omega curled up against his chest. Instead, he carefully slid away, making sure Noël didn't stir. He left a short note on the bedside table. Just a single line: I'm going to see the doctor. Nothing more.
When Noël woke an hour later and found the note, his heart sank. He sat up, clutching it tightly, his mind instantly running through the worst possibilities.
"Was Avery's rut too painful to handle? Did it get worse overnight?" he whispered to himself.
He tried calling Avery's phone again and again, but every attempt went straight to voicemail. Anxiety pooled in his chest, and the house suddenly felt far too large and far too quiet.
Meanwhile, Avery was sitting in the stark white office of the hospital, pen in hand, signing yet another set of documents. The nurse reminded him coldly that this was the last time the hospital could provide him with rut suppressants under his name for about 4 months. Any further requests within the 4 months would require legal approval, and if he tried to obtain them illegally, he could be dragged into court.
Avery didn't flinch. He knew the risks, but he had already decided. He wanted this date with Noël. One single day where his Alpha nature wouldn't interfere.
When the doctor entered, he gave Avery a pointed look. "You know, this Omega has really changed you. Since when do you care about dates? About… romance?" His tone carried irritation, as though Avery's request went against his medical principles.
Avery's expression didn't shift. "Since I found someone worth it," he replied flatly.
Doctor Wu sighed, clearly unimpressed, but he prepared the injection anyway. "This one isn't like the cheap suppressants you can find in stores. It will shut your body's signals down for 15 to 18 hours. but don't push it. It's meant for emergencies, not for playing house." He gave Avery a look to see if he understood before adding "These suppressants are strong, you might feel light headed at first but the effect will soon stop your rut."
Avery accepted the words silently. When the needle pierced his arm, he closed his eyes, feeling the familiar burn spread through his veins. The suppressant was strong enough to force his body into temporary stability, suppressing both his rut symptoms and heightened senses.
When it was over, Avery stood, buttoning his jacket. "Thank you. I won't forget this favor," he said with rare sincerity before leaving the hospital.
By the time he reached home, he felt a sharp clarity in his mind and a controlled steadiness in his body. For once, he could breathe without the constant undercurrent of his rut clawing at him.
The door creaked open, and Noël immediately rushed over, barefoot in his pajamas. "Avery!" His eyes were wide, his face pale with worry. "Are you okay? Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Avery didn't respond with words. Instead, he leaned down and kissed Noël firmly on the lips. The sudden affection made Noël's heart stutter, his worries tangling with confusion. Before he could speak again, Avery scooped him up into his arms with ease and started walking upstairs.
Noël clung to his shoulders, blinking rapidly. "Wait—what's going on? Why did you go to the hospital? Why are you suddenly in such a good mood?"
Avery only smirked and pressed a kiss against the Omega's temple. "You'll see soon."
"But—Avery, tell me—" Noël tried again, only to be interrupted when Avery pushed the bedroom door open with his foot.
Instead of answering, Avery set him gently on the bed and tilted his head. "How about we start with a shower together?"
Noël frowned, tugging at his pajama shirt. "Didn't you already shower this morning?"
"I did," Avery admitted without shame. "But I just came back from the hospital, and you're still in your pajamas. You need one too."
Noël looked at him suspiciously, still worried yet unable to resist the warm, almost playful gleam in Avery's eyes. Whatever he was hiding, it wasn't bad news.
"Showering together." Noël's heart skipped, then started racing so hard he was afraid Avery might hear it. In his mind, showering and sex were two different things, but the lines between them were dangerously thin. A shared shower could so easily slip into something more intimate. And with Avery, whose very presence already made his body react it was impossible not to think about it.
He lowered his gaze, his fingers fidgeting against the hem of his pajama shirt. He wasn't just shy about his body; Avery had already seen him at his most vulnerable, had touched him in ways no one else ever had. But this was different. With Avery looking at him with that sober, clear intensity, without the haze of rut or Noël's heat pushing them how could he possibly survive it?
Avery tilted his head, reading every nervous twitch of Noël's lips. A soft smile tugged at his mouth. "Relax. It's just a shower," he said, voice calm, reassuring. Then, after a small pause, he added with deliberate slowness, "And maybe a few kisses."
Noël's face flamed instantly. "A-Avery…"
Avery chuckled low, the sound rolling through his chest. He reached out, brushing his knuckles along Noël's cheek, and then tugged him gently toward the bathroom.
Helping each other undress was another trial. Noël kept trying to avert his eyes, but the sheer heat pouring into his cheeks betrayed him. Avery took his time, deliberately slow but never invasive, slipping the fabric from Noël's shoulders as though undressing something precious. By the time they stepped into the shower, Noël's thoughts were a whirlwind.
Finding the right temperature turned into a playful tug-of-war. Avery preferred his showers cool, almost bracing, while Noël liked the water nearly scalding, the steam wrapping around him like a blanket. Avery rolled his eyes when Noël squeaked from the chill, while Noël gasped when Avery complained it felt like he was boiling alive. After a few adjustments, they settled on a middle ground.
The water rushed over them, cascading down bare skin, filling the space with warmth and the faint scent of soap. Noël took the sponge in trembling hands and began scrubbing Avery's arm, careful and gentle, as though the Alpha might break under his touch. Avery leaned into him, watching his every move, and couldn't resist leaning down to press kisses against his wet shoulder, then the curve of his neck.
Noël squeaked again, nearly dropping the sponge. "Y-you said only a shower!"
"And I also said a few kisses," Avery murmured against his skin, his lips brushing with each word.
It was impossible to look at him. Noël tried, but every time his eyes flicked up, all he saw was the powerful, broad frame of a man too breathtaking to stare at directly. The water trickled down Avery's chest in rivulets, highlighting muscle and strength that made Noël's knees feel unsteady. He lowered his gaze again, cheeks burning.
By the time they stepped out and toweled off, Noël's heart hadn't slowed once. He was sure Avery could feel his nerves radiating.
But Avery simply pressed a towel into his hands, kissed his forehead lightly, and said, "Go get dressed. We are going out"
Noël blinked at him, confused. "Why?"
That was when Avery's lips curved into the smallest, rarest of smiles. "Because I'm taking you on a date."
The words hit Noël like a thunderclap. And suddenly, the shy heat in his chest had nothing to do with the shower anymore.