Hello and welcome back to another chapter. Warnings for this chapter include mentions of being sold and owned. There is also an omega in heat which means there is mentions of sexual activity but nothing explicit in this chapter. I believe that should be all please tell me if there is anything else I should add. Happy early Thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates it. As always take care of yourself and thank you for reading.
"I am on my way. I can go the distance! I don't care how far! Somehow I'll be strong. I know every mile will be worth my while. I would go most anywhere to find where I belong!" Patton sang along with Hercules while Roman happily hummed along to the predictable repeating notes.
"You really seem to be enjoying these movies, Ro-bro," Remus grinned, leaning back on the couch to place one of his fuzzy sock covered feet on Roman's shoulders.
He rolled his shoulder to knock off his brother's disturbance.
"Well yeah! They are all amazing. I don't even think I can pick a favorite! And all of the music? I can't believe I never got to experience and of this until now," Roman ranted, smiling brightly with excitement.
It was a nice change of pace from the slump he kept slipping into. They could all agree on as much. Humming along to music, watching all of the magic, mystery, and love with great intrigue.
"We told you. We all love these movies. Although Virgil will go on for hours about the darker meanings behind them if he gets the chance, isn't that right Virgie?" Patton chirped looking over to his emo mate.
"What? O-oh, yeah, right…" Virgil mumbled and he pulled himself into a tighter ball on the couch.
Roman's brow furrowed a bit with concern as he saw the state Virgil was in. He was aware that every time he'd interacted with Virgil he never seemed comfortable, he seemed to be rather on edge or awkward, but this was still different. He looked closed off, ears back, tail wrapped around himself, face mostly buried in his knees. His fingers were digging into and scraping at his pant legs as he drew heavy breaths. Something clearly wasn't right. Roman wanted to help, of course, Virgil was a younger omega in distress, Roman would always try to take care of and protect omegas like that. Still, it didn't change the fact Virgil didn't like him that much. Sure, they talked normally now for the most part and Virgil had apologized, but Roman was still an intruder, it wasn't his place to step in at the moment. The others could take care of him.
"Hey Kiddo, you doing okay? Are you starting to have a panic attack?" Patton asked worriedly, also taking notice of the situation.
"I'm fine, d-don't worry, mnh, don't worry about it. Just, heh, what time is it?" Virgil asked, his voice seeming a bit strained.
"It is three thirty seven in the afternoon," Logan replied.
"Thanks, Lo," Virgil mumbled, his shoulders slumping a bit as he stared at the TV where Hercules was finishing his reprise of Go The Distance and heading to Philatitie's house.
A silence fell over the room for a moment and Roman hugged at one of the couch pillows that had formerly been on the floor. Remus not so subtly slid over towards Roman and leaned to rest his head on an empty part of the couch cushions to look up at the ceiling.
"If you want I can tell you the dark part of the actual story this movie is based on. The other Disney movies too," Remus suggested.
"Yeah let's not do that one Kiddo," Patton suggested.
"Indeed. As much as I have an appreciation for facts and sharing knowledge, your brother doesn't need to be scared for life by Grim's Fairy Tales or Greek Mythology. Let him have his happy musical princesses," Logan added, giving the erratic man a pointed gaze.
"Poopy, you're all no fun," Remus pouted.
"That isn't exactly the correct word… Oh well," Patton sighed.
Roman chuckled softly at the ongoing banter as he hugged the pillow tighter and leaned against Remus's side. His focus returned back to the movie where the sassy short goat man had appeared on screen and begun arguing with the main protagonist.
"Two words, I am retired," Phil said, followed by Hercules comedically counting the said words on his fingers.
Remus cackled at Roman mimicking the action with confusion.
"B-but, what? Did he not think about what he was going to say before? He's supposed to be the trainer of heroes he can't be that idiotic," Roman argued.
Logan joined in Remus's chuckling for just a moment, much softer and kinder.
"It's a bit of a joke. The words 'I am retired' in Greek are actually said as two words. Despite the movie's inaccuracies to the original story, they did throw in a bit of Greek humor," Logan explained.
"You speak Greek?" Roman asked excitedly.
"Regretfully, no, I don't. I know a few key phrases of many languages but I am not multilingual," Logan replied.
"Then how do you know that?" Roman asked, figuring that the phrase was a bit too odd to be one that Logan just happened to pick up.
"I have an appreciation for facts of all kinds and my favorite pastime is reading, be it books or online articles. Reading up on little known facts about the classic Disney movies happens to be an amusing pastime," Logan said, adjusting his glasses a bit as he looked down at the starry eyed omega.
"Well you aren't going to keep them for yourself are you?" Roman pouted.
"Later Roman, just enjoy the movie," Logan chuckled.
Roman let out an upset whine of protest as he crossed his arms a bit indignantly, his ears falling back to lay flat against his head.
"It's not like I'll never tell you Roman, later simply means later. Will you be happier if I tell you that there is going to be a Lion King cameo in this movie?" He asked.
Roman lit up again as he turned to look up at Logan again, completely perked up with interest.
"Remember how Zazu from Lion King said Scar would make a 'very handsome throw rug'? Well in this movie you can see Hercules posing for a portrait using a lion skin felt that very strongly resembles said lion as a bit of a throwback for their observant fans. It's very much not one of their more subtle cameos quite like Beast from Beauty and The Beast being one of the figurines in the sultan's stack of animal figurines in Aladdin, but I think you'll enjoy it nonetheless," Logan informed him with a pleasant smile.
"Kiddo, are you sure you're okay?" Patton asked worriedly.
Roman shifted his gaze over his other shoulder to look at Patton and Virgil. Virgil still seemed closed off and was beginning to release a clearly distressed scent. His head had lulled back onto the back of the couch and his eyes were pinched closed as he was clearly grimacing. Despite the pungent scent of distress meant to ward off all stressors, there was a sweeter smell that was more gentle and submissive.
"How long have you been in preheat Virgil?" Roman asked with a worried brow.
Virgil sat up a bit and shifted uncomfortably as he gave a soft shrug.
"My sense of smell is too dull to tell, but I was suspecting that might have been the problem," Logan sighed.
"Kiddo if it's getting to be too bad you don't have to force yourself to be here," Patton added, placing a gentle hand on Virgil's shoulder that caused a soft whine. "We take you up to rest in your nest and call Janus to hurry up and come home."
"No!" Virgil cried desperately, clawing at his pant leg. "Don't wanna be alone. 'N don't bother Janus. He'll be back in an hour 'n a half."
"We can stay with you in your nest, if you want," Patton suggested.
Virgil made a hiss of protest, the fur of his tail bristling annoyedly.
It wasn't anything that surprising to Roman. His master didn't let them nest anywhere but the omega room which was also the sleeping area so it was typically already built up into a series of premade nests unless they were washing everything. That being said, as the first omega, he'd seen plenty of freshly bonded omegas get distressed and even aggressive about anyone other than their alpha getting near what they decided was their nest. Virgil seemed to surprisingly be the territorial type.
"Ya know, I didn't take Virgil to be the type to deny Patton comfort," Remus scoffed.
"It's not that he doesn't want comfort, that's why he doesn't want to be abandoned right now. He just doesn't want anyone other than his and Janus's scent in his nest this time, right?" Roman stated, waiting for Virgil's genuinely surprised little nod. "Seriously did none of you experience any aggression? I know the needier, clingy attitudes are more common but really none of you?"
"Nah, don't know about Patty-Cake but my first after getting a bond mark I spent the entire day leading up to it clinging to Lo-Lo," Remus replied.
"Unfortunately I remember you doing that as well," Logan sighed.
"Janny had been on summer break when I had mine and Janus was very careful and didn't leave my side at all during the days leading up to my heat since his mom had kinda warned him about it. Now that he is working he doesn't have that luxury," Patton mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
Roman let out a bit of a sigh of frustration which earned a chuckle from Remus.
"Didn't take you for the frustrated type either, Ro-Flake," Remus laughed.
"Well apparently your perceptions are very off today," Roman grumbled before taking a breath and softening a bit. "It just reminds me of my own little Omegas in Distress. I took care of all of them and protected them."
He was the one they all loved and cherished. The one that came to their rescue whenever they were hurt or distressed in any way. Their protector. Their hero. The job he actually did right, until he couldn't. He wasn't there for them anymore.
"Patton you're the Den Mother of this household, correct?" Roman questioned.
"The what?"
"He's referring to you being the first omega of our household, thus the one who usually cares for all of the others that come after you," Logan explained.
"Ohhhhh… Yeah, I guess I am then," Patton chirped.
"Shouldn't you be aiding Virgil and giving him some relief? He's fully entering his heat already," Roman asked worriedly.
"Well, I mean, we can't give him much relief until Janus gets back. Would you like some cuddles Kiddo?" Patton asked.
Roman blinked for a moment in confusion before he just slumped and gave up with the mind boggling situation that was this group.
"Patton, may I have permission to take care of one of the omegas in your care?" Roman requested.
"Um, I guess?" Patton slowly said in his own confusion.
Roman got up and gestured that he'd like to take the spot next to Virgil. Patton and Logan both backed off to give Roman room for whatever he wanted.
"Is it alright to help you? I know how to take some of the aching away," Roman suggested, not wanting to force anything upon Virgil who still barely knew him.
Virgil let out a whine and nodded, allowing Roman to guide the shorter, lighter male onto his lap, his back flush with Roman's front.
"Just relax and watch the movie, okay? I won't do anything bad," Roman promised.
He unzipped Virgil's hoodie to give himself a bit more access and began rubbing and kneading a small circle on the sensitive skin just above the pelvis. Virgil in turn visibly relaxed and let out a pleased little sigh.
"I see, you are working out the knots the muscles are trying to form to diminish the overarching desperation the need to mate creates by erasing much of the source of pain," Logan hummed.
Roman gave a nod. The stress of being in heat made those muscles tense and knot, he'd learned that by keeping the area warm and working out anything that tried to tense in the area he could calm down the others in his care. They obviously still craved and desired sexual intimacy but would lack the same desperation at least for a bit of time.
"I would have assumed anyone in heat would be too sensitive to the touch for something like this to help and not just make the situation worse," Logan continued.
"Sometimes it does. But usually it's just enough to keep them content without any problems," Roman murmured, trying not to startle Virgil.
Virgil's head was leaned back and turned to the side trying to enjoy the relaxing hormones of the omega that'd recently given birth giving a familiar maternal scent. He looked over Virgil's form to see how he was doing. He was sweaty and flushed but he seemed a bit more relaxed. Roman was a bit surprised he couldn't even see any form of arousal in Virgil's lower end however. It was strange. Omegas are quite a bit smaller in that department but he should be able to see it, Virgil's clothing wasn't that baggy. Patton's words about how each of them had some issue, small trauma that led them here made Roman start to think. Virgil seemed like a healthy young adult, he couldn't possibly have some sort of erectile dysfunction or something of that nature, at least that's what he'd like to believe. He supposed anything could be possible. He supposed he wasn't in the right to question something that personal this early in the friendship. There was one other thing he was heavily questioning however.
"I don't get it though," Roman hummed, not looking up at the others.
"Get what. I don't get a lot. Like why Hercules never thought to seduce any of the monsters," Remus said a bit too seriously.
Roman spared a glance at the television and was confused by how he'd missed Hercules getting in an epic fight with some multi headed monster, but chose to ignore the screen instead of just frustrating himself with the lack of details, he'd have to ask if they could rewatch it later.
"No, about Patton. How do you not know what a Den Mother is or about what it entails. I thought everyone knew that. I mean obviously, not what I'm doing now, I found that out on my own by accident but still, I just don't really get it," Roman rambled.
"Well I told you, I wasn't from any breeders. I came from a normal family," Patton replied.
"You insinuated you were still a kid when you met Janus. How did you even end up here then if you weren't sold," Roman asked.
"I never said I wasn't sold."
Roman fell silent, completely stunned by the words.
"It's okay. It's a pretty complicated story. If you want to hear it, I'll tell you once Janus comes home and can take care of Virgil, okay?" Patton suggested the smile never leaving his face even though his rounded ears were folded back and his fluffy tail had wrapped around him like a security blanket.
All Roman could do was give a little nod and guiltily lower his gaze again. Patton's story was going to be a lot different than his, he had no way of telling what to expect. For now all he could do was sit and wait.