Alexei watched the person lying on his stomach, full attention given solely to whatever was displayed in his phone screen, for a brief moment before he leaned over to whisper "What are you looking at?"
Ethan yelped and quickly hid his phone away "I told you not to creep up on me." He howled.
"Show me your phone." He said as he reached out to grab it.
"No." He scurried away.
Alexei grabbed his ankle and dragged him back "Why not? Is it something exciting? Porn? Are you looking at porn, baby? Show me. I want to know what my little nympho is into."
Ethan squealed and tried to crawl away, adamant on holding on to the device. Soon the two were playing a game of cat and mouse around their bedroom.
"Don't look at it."
Ethan lost.
Alexei had already seen it, he just wanted to be a jerk "Eh? 15 ways to spice up your-"
"Aaaaaaah!" He blocked his ears "Don't read it out loud."
This had him quite amused "Eh? My little nympho is a bit of a freak. Look at number five." He wiggled his eyebrows "Baby, I also think you should sit on my face. Please sit on it. I'm already you designated chair."
This man was really too deplorable. He threw a pillow at him.
Alexei caught it and tossed it aside. He climbed the bed, full of excitement "I want you to sit on my face and play with your nipples."
Ethan's jaw dropped. He was speechless. He just couldn't believe it. How was it possible that someone could be so shamelessly perverted? He struggled and struggled but no words came out.
"Baby..."
"You... You... You..."
He crawled closer "Yes, me. Me. Me. Sit on my face, please."
Ethan rolled his eyes and jumped off the bed "You are so shameless."
"But you're not saying no."
He gasped in disbelief. How was this even happening? It true that they had been doing a lot of unconventional things in their bedroom… well it was mostly Alexei doing and saying the most shameful things to him. Just the thought of it made in flush with embarrassment but this was beyond the pale.
"Ethan... Why don't you just say no?" Alexei dragged him back onto the bed. Cupping his butt with both hands, he continued "Hm? Baby, it's just one word. Say no. if you say it, I'll let it go and never bring it up again."
Ethan turned away pouting, feigning annoyance.
He teased his waistband with a finger "Or could it be you're thinking about it? Are you imagining already imagining it?" He asked as he bit lightly on Ethan's lip "Hm? Is it exciting?"
It happened. Alexei got his wish.
Ethan was steadily bopping his hips while he supported him with one hand on his waist. His tongue circled, licked and probed when he rimmed him and teased when he sucked him. His free hand snaked up his belly to his chest to play with his nipples.
Ethan, on the other hand was at a complete loss, he didn't know what to do to make Alexei feel good and he really wanted to do something for the other. So, he took the hand caressing his chest and brought it to his lips, sucking on each finger and licking the spaces between them just like Alexei had always done to him. He licked Alexei's palm, spreading his fingers apart before using the now lubricated hand to feel up himself from his face down to his chest as he gasped and breathlessly called out his name.
Alexei saw this.
It was no doubt the sultriest thing he had ever seen this person do.
A familiar feeling well up within him… more accurately, a stirring in his loins. It had been happening lately, like an itch he needed to desperately scratch but sometimes, the itch went away before he could… well, scratch. But today was a little different, the 'itch' only grew in intensity.
Watching his lover, he could feel, in that moment, the emergence of a new… preference. One that involved pleasing Ethan to the point of ecstasy. Just the sight caused him to harden and without a single thought in his head, the hand that held Ethan's waist steady was one in his own briefs. For the first time in almost seven years, Alexei had an unburdened erection and a pleasurable masturbation.
Ethan looked down to find the other looking up at him with shining eyes, like he had just stumbled upon something completely novel.
Alexei did feel like he had stumbled upon something he considered truly novel. He was wonderful. For him, Ethan was nothing less than a treasure.
He came.
They both did.
Alexei into his hands and Ethan, well… where else but on Alexei's face.
"That was fucking awesome..." Alexei mumbled breathlessly.
"Why can't I go to the gym?"
"Lein isn't there. You can work out at home. There's a gym here."
It was the weekend, usually Ethan would be at the gym by this time but for whatever reason Alexei just refused to let him go.
"I can go if Lein isn't there, I don't need a chaperone."
Alexei eyed him "A beta sneaking into an omega-only gym is a bit... You'll get in trouble. Use the gym at home."
Ethan paused, he had yet to tell Alexei about his little situation. Honestly, most times, he himself had completely forgotten about his second gender.
"But I wanted to see Lein. It's been almost a month." He pouted.
Alexei's gaze narrowed. Did he like that Ethan idolized Lein? Of course not, if he could, he would go back to make sure they never met. It was probably his petty jealousy at play. Now he wanted them to meet even less.
One, Ethan was too impressionable, he could get caught up in something ugly.
Two, he just couldn't bring himself to ruin Lein's image. He was sure the boy would be crushed. Also, Lein was currently missing. He has been missing for almost a week.
"Do you like him that much?"
He nodded enthusiastically "He's so cool."
"Really? What about me."
"You're a pervert." He answered immediately as he threw him a playful look of disgust "You're just a perverted old man."
He patted his butt "Oh? I see."
Ethan looked up to find him watching him with eyes full of wonder. Alexei did that a lot lately. Whether he was eating, reading a book, getting dressed, playing on his phone or just whatever, he would look up to find Alexei watching him. It made him a little self-conscious. He was nestled in the man's arms, he had nowhere to run so he chose to pick at the hem of his shirt.
"Ethan..."he called his name with a husky voice, tilting his chin up with a finger so he could see his face clearly.
"Why... Why do you-you keep looking at me like that?" He whispered.
Alexei laughed softly, leaned closer to give him a light kiss before returning his attention to the TV screen.
Once more, Ethan was at a loss.
It was a rare moment of clarity.
Lein didn't know where he was, he couldn't say who he was in bed with and he couldn't tell what day it was. He glanced out of the window, it was still bright out. Just before dusk. With shaky unsteady moves he climbed out of the bed. He felt weak all over, barely had the strength to hold himself up. His ears were ringing and his vision, blurry.
Even worse was the empty feeling that kept gnawing at him, threatening to drag him into a pit of endless misery although, he felt like he was already there.
He despised it.
He despised himself.
He struggled and with great effort, managed to dress himself and stumbled out of the room.
He yearned for the sea.
He was going to find the sea.
When Jason received a message from Hank asking about Lein's whereabouts, he really wasn't that surprised. Not that he thought Lein was being completely irresponsible, it's just that's how Lein was. In the early days of their relationship, sometimes even in the layer stages, Lein almost never felt the need to keep anyone informed about his activities but as the days rolled by, he also begun to worry. Lein had no friends to speak of and after that night, it had become obvious that he was being maliciously targeted. He refrained from informing his parents about the Rush II incident, he didn't know why he couldn't say it. Honestly, he didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to find Lein, he hoped the other was alright. Lein always felt things more intensely than others, he could only pray that he wasn't doing something dangerous. He turned the corner, ready to go to Sayer's again to look for him, that was when he saw a familar figure stumbling down the sidewalk. That person looked just a few breaths away from collapsing.
He immediately brought the car to a stop and rushed out to him, making it in time to catch him before he fell face flat on the pavement. Without a word, he stuffed Lein's near unconscious body into the car and raced to the hospital.
After Lein was admitted, this time, he called his parents.
Hank met his wife, Mari, when he was young. It was not a story of fate or anything passionate, just an arranged marriage but that did not mean they did not love each other. They did, rather deeply in fact. It was the kind that was carefully nurtured with mutual respect and understanding.
At the time, he was enlisted in the army, a few steps away from becoming a Captain while Mari, at the time was in a nursing program. They met, felt they were suitable for each other and eventually, got married. A few years later, Mari graduated and got a job. Back then, society was very different from right now. A married omega working was seriously frowned upon, it was the same with single omegas but what could be done? Getting a job she enjoyed was as rebellious as Mari could get and he staunchly supported her decision, even when her family was hard on her.
They left the town, moved to A City and settled down. Things continued as normal until Mari got pregnant. They didn't really know anyone in the city. He resigned, used what money he had left to open a gym. First, for alphas and later on, when they were financially more stable, for omegas.
After Rosalein was born, he swore they would have no more children. Watch a small lady like Mari go through the pain of childbirth was too much of a harrowing experience for him. It led to quite the argument, he had never seen his wife so… feisty. They had no more children, no matter how much she argued or begged. He told her she could go find another partner, after that he slept on the couch for a month but the fight was ultimately settled. It's not like she could reverse his vasectomy in his sleep so she reluctantly let the whole thing go.
Watching Lein grow up was considerably the most beautiful experience of their lives. He was independent, charming and had always had a mind of his own with a clear idea of what he wanted. To have a child so grounded in his own identity and unmoved by the demands or expectations of society, it made them proud, especially Mari. She was confident that no matter where their son ended up, he would not be pushed around or trampled upon.
Would he have preferred a cute little omega child that took after Mari? Probably.
But that didn't me he did not adore Rosalein, the child that looked like him and was the pure embodiment of his wife's hopes.
So why is it that that beautiful child that they adored so much was lying in a hospital bed unconscious while his boyfriend, no, ex-boyfriend was apologizing to him, saying it was his fault Rosalein ended up this way? He wanted to punch him, so he did. Socked him right in the jaw and said he should never show up in front of his child again.
Jason left, without a word.
He went to find Mari. She was huddled at the edge of Rosalein's bed suppressing a sob.
"Mari..."
She handed him the boy's medical chart with trembling hands.
When he read through it, wracked with anguish "Rose is doing drugs?"
Mari is by every definition a petite omega female, so the sight of her slapping someone, who is almost twice her height, to the ground was quite the stunning sight. Granted, the person in question was actually unwell and clearly lacked the energy to stand on his own feet but nevertheless, it was a little fascinating to see.
Hank briefly reminisced about the time he too had received such a slap, it was that one time he told her she should get another partner if she wanted another child that badly.
He rushed over to pull her away before she could dish out another.
"Ma..." Lein said softly looking up to his mother in shock as he held his throbbing cheek.
She stared back, cold eyes filled with righteous anger and disappointment "I have never been so ashamed of you!" She spat out at him, pushing her husband aside to tower above his limp figure "You will go straight into rehab from here. Your bike is gone and I'm taking your phone. You will get clean, Rose! You will do as I say or so help me I will rip you apart and scrub you clean myself." Having had her say, she stormed off.
Hank helped Lein off the floor. He had been in the hospital for four days and now he was getting discharged. The bills had long been settled, Jason had paid for them earlier on.
The ride to the rehabilitation center was quiet, agonizingly so.
Lein sat in the back of the car staring out the window, watching the world go by. He dreamt he met Jason but couldn't ask if it was real. He hoped it was a dream or something. He never wanted to be seen by the other in such a pathetic state. The thought made him shudder with unease.
The centre was far from the city, they were basically in a different city at this point. When they arrived, no one made a move. The family of three remained seated in silence until Hank asked "Was it Jay? Did Jay get you into it?"
He wanted to scream that Jay would never. Jay wasn't like him, he was different. He wasn't dirty like him but all he could manage was a shame filled tiny "No."
"It's good then…" he nodded " …it's good that it wasn't him." He let out a sigh, disembarked and led Lein out of the car.
He kept staring back to his mother but she shunned him.