He dreamed of their family.
Children younger than they were, ran around the wooden walls of their house, playing games and shrieking with laughter. Mika closed the door behind him and smiled wearily at the sight, glad at least that they were happy, even as his vision hazed and his limbs trembled with exhaustion.
There were no teeth marks on his collarbone this time. Ferid, upon seeing him, had swept his gaze over Mika's body with a knowing smirk and claimed that he would be drinking from Mika's arm today, apparently at a whim. Mika wasn't exactly sure why he chose to avoid his neck when he showed no qualms to it before, but he hadn't exactly complained. Ferid had been surprisingly gentle when he sank his fangs into Mika's forearm, perhaps because he could sense how delicate he was when he held his wrist to steady it, which was more than what Mika was used to. He'd just been glad that he hadn't been subjected to the searing pain of the vampire's fangs clamping down on his collarbone, not when his neck had been feeling weirdly itchy and sore for the past few days.
That didn't mean that Ferid took any less than usual. Mika leaned slightly against the wall, a tired ache filling his bones, and answered the children's questions with a rigor and confidence that he did not feel when they came to interrogate him before they went to sleep.
It was only once the last kid settled into their bed and drew the curtain that Yuu approached from the corner where he'd been watching. Mika smiled at him, amused at the thunderous look on his face, which only pissed Yuu off further as he grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him roughly.
"Where in the hell have you been?"Yuu's voice was loud, irritatingly so, and Mika held his finger up to his lips, shushing him. Yuu grabbed his wrist and yanked it sharply to the side, glaring at him, but dropped his voice anyways.
"You're late, you missed dinner, and you smell weird." Yuu stepped closer, staring unblinkingly into Mika's eyes. Mika stared back, fully prepared to tease him, but something about Yuu's stance made him drop his gaze. "Like those creepy vampires."
Mika laughed, a joke ready to throw Yuu off his scent (literally), but Yuu's eyes widened with anger. "Wait a second- don't tell me you've been going to some vampire lord for favors! Is that why you haven't been letting me sleep next to you?!" He shook him harder, teeth bared in a hint of a growl. "Mika!"
Mika's heart sank, but he played off it anyways, shaking Yuu's hands off him with a smirk. "So? He gives me favors for my services, like good food. It's worth it." He stuck his tongue out at the fuming boy in front of him and winked cheerfully. "Why are you so upset about it? Aww, are you worried~?"
Yuu didn't respond the way Mika expected him to. Instead of reacting to his taunt with a huff of embarrassment and a turned back, Yuu growled- for real this time- and grabbed Mika's wrists, pulling him closer roughly. Mika blinked at him, startled, but Yuu ignored him, holding his wrists up for Mika to see.
"He grabbed you here, didn't he?" Something dark and feral was stirring inside of Yuu's eyes, but instead of feeling scared, like he should have, Mika felt a spark of warmth and safety. "I can smell him on you. It's disgusting."
Yuu slid his own wrists over Mika's and rubbed them furiously together, brow furrowed in determination, like he was trying to purge Ferid's touch. Mika moved to pull back, but found that he couldn't- something about him was relaxing under Yuu's touch, encouraging him to drop his head on Yuu's shoulder as the black-haired boy muttered furiously about death and uprisings, his slightly spicy scent tinted with anger as he scentmarked Mika with a vengeance and possessiveness the blonde hadn't yet seen before.
Mika shifted closer to Yuu's neck and hummed reassuringly, trusting his gut reaction. Yuu was nice to lean against anyways, and Mika was tired of standing, his exhausted body weary and ready to collapse. The position felt right, his instincts reveling in the reinstatement of being at one with his pack, the scents of outsiders fading under his friend's ministrations.
Yuu's developing scent was stronger here. Mika closed his eyes, relishing in it- he didn't quite know what it meant yet past the most basic of emotional warnings, but it was very distinctly Yuuichirou, familiar and comforting no matter what the circumstance. He nudged his cold nose against Yuu's skin, delighting in the jolt and the annoyed grumble he got out of it.
Yuu dropped his wrists and rested his chin on Mika's shoulder, a move that greatly surprised Mika. He tried to turn to look at Yuu, but his friend shifted as he turned, keeping him out of his sight before raising on his toes and pressing the side of his neck against Mika's, hopping slightly to do so.
Mika got a facefull of coarse black hair. He staggered, grabbing at Yuu's back to steady himself, but the questions he was about to ask died on his tongue as Yuu rubbed his neck against Mika's, his scent strengthening as he did so until all Mika smelled of was Yuu.
Mika stayed stock-still, weirdly reassured by the action. When Yuu moved to switch sides, Mika moved fluidly with him, pressing his neck against Yuu's to return the action before Yuu could start, tilting his head so that he could brush along the spots where Yuu smelled the strongest.
They pulled apart, blinking at each other owlishly, confused by their own instincts. Mika's own scent had risen now, the normal clean aura of a child tinted with something sweet, a scent that mingled with the slight tang of Yuu's when he sniffed curiously at the part of Yuu's neck he had rubbed against. The interaction was weird, but Mika felt oddly grateful for it; whatever unhappiness he had been feeling beforehand had been washed away, like the negativity of the day had been purged with Ferid's scent.
"That was weird," Mika quipped, not wanting the awkward silence to last any longer. Yuu's slowly-reddening face hit full blush as Mika stared at him, and he grumbled, turning around to ascend to their shared top bunk.
Mika followed him regardless. "I can understand the wrist thing, Yuu, but why the neck?"
Yuu turned around and swiped at him, frowning when Mika squeaked in surprise and dodged it. "Shut up! I-I just didn't want to sleep next to anything that smelled like one of those stupid bloodsuckers, alright?"
Mika reached the top of the ladder and scooted closer to where Yuu was getting ready for bed, ignoring the way Yuu resolutely turned his back on him. "Oh? But the vampire didn't bite me there, Yuu. You would've known, you would have seen the bite. So why did you go for my neck then, hmm? Are you becoming like those vampires too~?"
"Oi, shut up already!" A pillow whistled through the air and smacked against Mika's face, too fast for him to dodge this time. He fell over, laughing, then grinned when he saw the faint flush on Yuu's face before the other boy turned away again. "I don't know, okay? Th-the wrists weren't enough for some reason, you're harder to block than the other kids. You're starting to smell weird, you know."
Mika laughed. "You do too, you know right?" He wrinkled his nose in feigned disgust, though his bright blue eyes were still too full of mirth to make it a proper insult. "I mean, I smell like you now, and it's weird."
Yuu grumbled, muttering something like 'You should have pushed me off, then' as he scrunched the pillow over his ears. Mika hummed happily, a bloom of affection warming his chest, then plopped down next to him, resting his chin on Yuu's shoulder like they did before he started visiting Ferid's mansion.
"It's okay," he whispered, prying the pillow away so Yuu could hear him, then dropping his arm over Yuu's waist. "I don't really mind it at all."
Mika woke up crying.
He swiped at his eyes, then stared at the moisture on the back of his hands with a puzzled look on his face. What confused him wasn't that he wasn't sad- nostalgic, yes, but not miserably so- but the tears themselves. He hadn't cried since his presentation heat, when the fading scents and all-too-fresh memories of his lost family had reminded him of just how lonely he really was.
I won't be lonely for much longer.
He rolled onto his back and stretched, sinking deeper into the side of his nest, then sat up, yawning. The uncomfortable, buzzing warmth of preheat had faded, but hadn't disappeared, a constant hum of tension in the back of his mind as he carefully fixed his sleep-rumpled clothes.
He was restless, but not enough to bother with dispelling his energy yet. Urges to do something flitted at the corners of his mind, too vague to make out, but too insistent for him to go back to sleep, and, with a groan, he got up, unlocked the closet door, and padded out into the rest of his room.
There wasn't much to do out here. The nesting craze that had wracked him before he rested had restored his previously (somewhat) untidy room to spotless perfection, which meant he had no cleaning that he had to finish. The old books lining his shelves were a possible target for his boredom, but they were all written in old Latin, and he wasn't in the mood for a headache today.
He glanced at his sword, lying next to a polishing rag on his desk, but decided against sparring. He would do that later, when he was a little more awake- for now, he would focus on being productive in a different fashion.
Mika glanced at the book on Omegan physiology on his dresser and wrinkled his nose in distaste. The copy was relatively recent, but not new enough to dispel some old stereotypes and stigmas that used to apply to his dynamic. Mika had been able to tell just from glossing over the summary on the back that it was also most likely written by an alpha, judging from the way it had opened with "An introspective look into the lowest and yet most alluring dynamic of our society; the fertile, delicate being known as the omega."
Fertile and delicate, my ass, Mika thought bitterly. I'd like to see someone like you take me on and live.
And yet, the book was textbook-heavy and official-looking enough that it still kindled a small amount of interest within him. While he most likely would have to deal with some level of the bullshit views alphas had about omegas being fragile and sex-driven, there still was a high chance that it could explain the weird things going on in his body with a decent amount of detail- far more so than the pamphlets that Krul had given him after his first heat, anyways.
Mika grabbed it and flicked on the light in his closet, settling down in his nest to read. The introduction wasn't as bad as he feared- it looked like the author had been trying to bait alphas into reading this to better understand their omegas- but he still frowned uncomfortably at the way omegas were dismissed as the overall weakest of the dynamics, even as the writer mentioned that they were surprisingly physically strong.
Weak how? Mika thought, lightly ghosting a hand over his abdomen. Because I could possibly have pups if I so wished? Does that make me weak?
He flipped the page to the preheat section, grumbling under his breath. He'd remembered listening to news reports of scientists making more discoveries on the resilience of omegas before the virus, but he hadn't paid much attention back then, and this book had been published before that. He didn't need to get so worked up about it- his dynamic had never really affected him before, anyways.
Until now.
He skimmed the table of contents at the beginning of the chapter, stopping at nesting and mating attraction. The graphic on the subsection displayed a female omega, but he ignored it, focusing instead on skimming over the text.
"The nesting stage is a preliminary step for an omega in preheat. Nesting not only displays the omega's capability to the courting alpha, but also aids the future pregnant omega if the mating is successful, as the instinctual reaction of the new parent is to go into a relatively static state, so as to ensure that the pup(s) do not sustain damage in the first vital weeks of conception. Nesting before heat strikes ensures both that the majority of the hard work is completed before conception as well as providing an opportunity for the alpha to scentmark the area, which provides comfort for their broody mate."
Mika shifted awkwardly, glancing warily around him at the pile of soft things he was laying on. That…made sense, but the implications behind his instincts were somewhat uncomfortable. He liked kids, but he fairly certain he never wanted to give birth to them. There were too many orphans in the world for him to feel comfortable with adding more to the statistic.
Not to mention, the whole reason why he was curled up and humming with hormones was because he'd scented his best friend for the first time in four years, not just because his body wanted to mate. If that had been true, he would have been having some form of these pseudo-heats regularly like any other omega instead of four year of pure nothingness, starvation be damned. And even then, Yuu's scent shouldn't be having that strong of an effect on him. It wasn't like he was in rut in the couple of times after the tragedy that Mika had scented him, after all.
…Perhaps reading the chapter on mating bonds later would be a good idea.
After the nest is completed, omegas trying to seduce a particular alpha soon enter a stage of restless aggression, a behavior almost similar to that of an omega torn from their mate, but without the dire panic or stress involved. Omegas in this stage are prone to be irritable and easily angered, and are highly responsive to posturing or other courting behaviors. While the specifics of this stage are yet unknown, it is speculated that their aggressive outbursts are testing their prospective mate for patience, a quality necessary to ensure a secure bond and for the rearing of future offspring. In addition to this, they also show their own side of their courtship: though highly frowned upon and often discouraged by much of society, some omegas engage in fights and feats of athletic ability, perhaps to prove their ability to protect and care for their alpha as much as they protect and care for them. Before civilization, it is thought that this stage took place during the mating runs, in which an omega would tease an alpha into chasing them through difficult terrain until they were 'caught' (the success of the hunt often being entirely up to the omega due to their natural running ability, of which many alphas cannot hope to compete with) and mated.
Ah.
After this, if the selected alpha is still willing to go through with the courtship, the omega will invite them into their nest, oftentimes with the alpha bringing some items of their own to add to the pile, reminiscent of early courtship. The pair will then continue to court (on a flirty, less dangerous scale) until the omega's heat truly hits, and the mating commences. Up until then, the effect of an alpha's scent (especially that of the favored individual) would be highly stimulating to the omega, until the first knotting, in which the effect of the alpha's pheromones switches and becomes calming to the omega in response to the intensity of the omega's heat pheromones. It's now thought that it is this- the soothing agent within the alpha's scent- coupled with the emotional support of a mate that makes heats bearable, rather than just the sex behind it.
'Especially that of the favored individual'.
…
Fuck.
Mika bit his lip and flipped to the section on mating bonds, but all of its information was focused on already-mated pairs. He closed the book and glared at it, infuriated at the lack of information, then sighed and rubbed at his temples. His body temperature had dropped slightly, but now he was far more irritable than he had been before, though he couldn't tell if the catalyst was the book or his hormones.
He set the book down and got up, taking his sword off his desk and sheathing it before he buckled it to his belt. He wasn't quite ready to see Krul yet, but some sparring to relieve the tension in his mind might be in order.
.
.
.
The sparring guard fell with a shriek, burning into ashes. The clatter of a sword hitting the ground sounded loudly through the courtyard, the weapon, devoid of the owner's blood, turning back into ashen gray.
Mika barely flinched, his sword, now blackened with soot, tilting down to the ground. The yard was full of shocked faces, but he met none of them, turning on his heel instead to march back into the depths of the castle.
Footsteps tapped in his wake, but he did not turn to meet them. He registered Ferid's scent, sickly sweet, stale, and musty, like dried blood on books, and allowed himself to make a face before the noble came within sight.
"My, my, my, you lost your temper back there, Mika." Those pink bows were utterly repulsive. Mika longed to burn them. "That's the third you've killed in one session. I'm beginning to feel like you hate us."
Mika snorted in contempt. Two of the three vampires had been commons, and the one he'd just slaughtered had been a noble with little to no real significance, a fact that he knew Ferid was perfectly aware of. His behavior would be frowned upon, but he wouldn't face punishment for it. The killings had been worth it anyways; the soothing feeling of bone crunching under his blade had cooled him, his mind now fully in control over his body once more. He had successfully proven himself, and now he was ready for battle- ready to flee.
He only needed the word of his queen, and then he would leave this place and find Yuu again. He had heard from the other vampires that the JIDA had reformed and was ready to strike. If he timed his attack carefully, he would be able to slip in between battles, take Yuu, and run.
"Aww, don't ignore me!" Ferid trotted in front of Mika's path, grinning at him. The sour wash of his scent made Mika's nose wrinkle as he glared at him, but the noble paid him no mind. "You know, this attitude doesn't really suit your cute little face."
"...Get out of my way." Mika stepped around him and continued on towards the throne room. Ferid let him, but followed him regardless of the bristling hostility radiating off of the omega.
"I'm only trying to look out for you, Mika. You know alphas don't like surly omegas, right?" Ferid grinned slyly at him, eyebrows waggling. Mika's response was to wipe his sooty blade on the alpha's chest.
"Even more rude." Ferid sighed, plucking at his ruined uniform. His scent changed imperceptivity, a faint hint of irritation making itself present, but his demeanor didn't, and Mika paid no mind to it. If the bastard tried to scruff him, he would have another thing coming.
But Ferid made no move to attack him like he had on the battlefield. Instead of subduing him, Ferid only tugged at his cape, pulling him close. Mika flinched in disgust, every molecule in his body vibrating with the urge to kill, but he stopped once the words Ferid were speaking registered in his mind.
"Their next attack will be in Nagoya." Ferid whispered the information like it was something precious, a shit-eating grin exposing his fangs as he did so. "Yuu's squad will be coupled with one of older rank. If you want to take him safely, then your only opportunity will be to get him away from the battles when they are in transit and the squads haven't yet met. The queen will tell you to take him later, but if you want to minimize casualties, I implore you to listen to my advice."
Mika shook him off roughly, fixing the older vampire in an icy stare. "I will never trust you. If you expect me to go against Krul's orders, then I implore you to think otherwise."
"Oh?" Ferid leaned closer, smile changing into something more predatory. "My dear Mikaela, Krul has far more ulterior motives than you might think. I never expected nor wanted your trust."
Mika didn't move, not wishing to fall to the alpha's bait, even as Ferid's blood-red eyes leveled him in a taunting, domineering stare. He would not bow to him- not again. "Then how do you believe that you would be able to convince me? I know Krul wants more from me than what I am aware of. That will not stop me from disobeying her orders."
Ferid hummed low in his throat, amused. "I don't ask for much of you right now, Mika. All I want you to do is this: ask Krul why she wants you to retrieve Yuu in the first place, when its danger enough letting her little seraph out of her sight. And when she gives her orders and you follow them to the battlefield, make sure to keep my instructions in mind once everything around you goes to hell."
Mika drew his sword and leveled the blade at the progenitor's chest, a faint red glow seeping up the cold silver as he silently willed its power to activate. "I should kill you for treason."
"I implore you don't." Ferid pushed the blade away with the tip of his finger, ignoring the way Mika's push back made the edge bite into his hand. "That'll put our queen in even more risk, you know."
Ferid backed up as Mika growled, sensing the contempt in the omega's scent, and grinned. "Keep what I said in mind, Mika! And good luck talking to the queen."
The alpha turned and disappeared down a side tunnel, leaving a confused, fuming Mikaela in his wake.
Mika slammed his sword back into his sheath and ran for the throne room, hot fury blazing in his veins. Every instinct in his body screamed out to chase Ferid down and eliminate the threat he posed, but his mind was in control of his body now, and Mika refused to fall to his instincts once again.
So much for self- control.
