TAGS/WARNINGS : Fluff, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega John, Alpha James, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, AU, Knotting, Anal Sex, Rimming, Mpreg
Written for the Rare Pair Bingo-Word: Summer
Tumblr about my stories: JaimiStoryTeller
Thank you for any form of communication, I love it and it keeps me writing!
This take place several years after This Changes Everything and Changes Continue, there will actually be another story between them too called Everything Settled, however that prompt hasn't come up yet so this is a bit out of order. Once that prompt has come up they will be put in order
James' POV
They had been bonded for a several years now, with him out of the military for the last two. When he had first come home things had been difficult, mostly because he was very self-conscious of the scars that now mapped his skin. For the longest time he was ashamed of himself, had not wanted his omega anywhere near him. As such he only saw the younger man four times a year when he went into heat, avoiding him the rest of the time by living in a small cottage and not allowing his love to see him at all. Every time they were together, he made sure the room was fairly dark so that it would be difficult to make out the marks and kept John's hands busy gripping something so he could not explore his skin.
Now though, he was heading to London because he almost felt pulled. Something was happening and he was not sure what. However, he could feel the conflicting emotions in his love through their bond. He was both excited and worried, frustrated and joyous, angry and delighted.
While they owned their own flat, it was a small two bedroom thing, the second bedroom the size of a closet. His omega lived in a different part of town with an odd alpha who didn't even seem to notice he was an omega. However, at the moment they were staying with his half-brother; something that always made him nervous because that alpha seems to be missing a few screws. Apparently their flat had a bit of a fire problem and his love didn't want to go back to the small flat.
When he reaches town, the first thing he does is head to the store for supplies. He is sure that their flat will need food and cleaning after sitting unused for the last two months since his love's last heat. He is surprised when he arrives to find a tall, brute of a blonde alpha, one that is vaguely familiar, cleaning the flat while muttering to himself.
"What are you doing in my flat?" he demands softly but firmly, years of being in charge giving him a tone that can carry when he wants.
He's startled by the other alpha barely paying any attention to him as he continues to scrub the wall.
"Don't bother repeating yourself," the blonde alpha states when he has finished what he is working on and turned towards him, "As for what I am doing, John likes this place clean and Jim didn't want him cleaning so here I am." Grumbling the alpha remarks, "Personally I think John should just buy a flat he is happy with, but he won't because that's not what you want."
Blinking, he glances about and realizes that this flat is rather sad looking. He had inherited it from a cousin when they died, and since he was never here anyways because of being off in a war zone, he had never considered whether it get rid of it or not. Now as he looks around, he can easily see why the younger man had not wanted to stay here and a flush covers his skin.
"Is John still with his brother?" he inquires politely.
"Of course, the mad geniuses are debating about the best care for him. They figured that you probably weren't going to be around for another month, be in town just long enough for his heat, and then leave again since that has been your habit since getting back," the blonde alpha replies, there is something in his tone that makes him study the taller man.
Nodding, instead of speaking, he debates about whether to put the food here or not. He needs to have a nice long talk with his mate, find out what other details he has missed in the last few years due to his depression. It might also be time to start trying to get past it, rather than staying in the dark place he is currently in mentally.
Giving a small shake of his head, he studies the taller alpha who has gone back to cleaning, though a quick walk around the small flat tells him it's not all that necessary. This place is already dust free from what he can tell. Actually its military clean. Frowning, he studies the other alpha for a few minutes, trying to place why he is so familiar when it hits.
"You're Sebastian Moran, ex-sniper, working as a bodyguard these days if I recall." He pauses for a minute, "John's mentioned you, said you worked for his brother and that you were one of the ones who taught him self-defense."
Nodding once the alpha replies, "That's correct, along with Lestrade, and the three mad geniuses."
It takes him a minute to figure out that Lestrade is Greg's last name, his mate's long time best friend, and the mad geniuses must by the Holmes brothers and his half-brother.
For a long time neither alpha says anything, finally he inquires, "Is he happy?"
"No. Hasn't been in two years." The other alpha snaps at him, one hand resting angrily on his hip, "He wanted his mate. Wanted to be there for him, help him, support him. Hell, John was even willing to give total control over to the manager instead of working at the café. And what did his mate do? Pushed him away and make him feel like unwanted shit! For the last two years, the five of us have watched the slow spiral of depression and, if not for the fact John made each of us promise not to pay you any sort of visit, you would have been hearing about this a lot sooner! Actually, we had to promise not to send minions too. Not the point." The alpha points at him, still snarling, "That sweet omega, who has abandonment issues due to that piece of shit that sired him, has been fretting that you're just trying to find a way to tell him you want someone different or don't want him anymore." Growling, the taller man steps forward and freezes before spinning around to slug the closest wall, putting a rather large hole in it. "I'll have a repair team here shortly."
Blinking, he internally recoils from the fury in this alpha, years of service is the only thing that keeps him from physically recoiling as well. Several things flash quickly through his mind as he stares at the other alpha, the biggest and most important fact being that he is hurting his mate with his behavior. That was never the goal.
"I need to fix things with my mate," he murmurs to himself as he starts to plan. First off, he knows the younger man appreciates home cooked meals, so he should see if he is willing to have dinner with him the following night since he has a feeling tonight is going to be taken up with him getting reamed by his mate's four friends and half-brother.
"You can say that again," the other alpha snarls, his scent all sorts of angry.
He nods, accepting the criticism and understanding he deserves it. He should have considered the bond between himself and his mate. Realized that his depression would bleed over, particularly when his mate was prone to depression on his own.
"We discussed getting a different flat once, before I left on my second tour." He remarks as he stares the hole in the wall, "Then we had decided to discuss it when I got home so we could get one together since he was staying with Greg while I was away." Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, forcing himself not to try and lash out at the other alpha whose scent is filling the room. "Excuse me, I need to call my mate," he murmurs before stepping out of the flat and pulling his phone out. He ends up standing there in the hall for a good five minutes while he pulls himself together before pressing the send.
"He's sleeping. What do you want?" Is the first thing he hears before he even has a chance to say anything.
Blinking, it takes him a minute to identify the voice, however before he can answer a second voice, this one deeper remarks, "If you have finally returned to your senses you may ride back with the overgrown oaf and we will discuss your behavior before you see him." A moment later the line is dead according to the dial tone coming through his speaker.
Stepping back into the flat, he glances at the fact all the groceries have been put away then states, "I am to ride with the 'overgrown oaf' if I have come to my senses."
Chuckling darkly the taller alpha remarks, "That's me, as Sherlock likes to call me." Glancing about the blonde continues, "This place is as clean as it gets; let's go."
Sighing internally, he nods once before following the other alpha out, and locking the door behind them.