Part III
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Ichigo feels like a fool. He eyes the woman seated across the table from him with something akin to trepidation. It doesn't take much. One look at Rukia is all that it takes to once again remind him just how far out of his league she is.
There's a lump in his throat- heavy and choking. It's only gotten heavier since she finished telling the story of how she ended up here at his apartment.
Dressed in his shirt that looks more like a dress on her, she looks too at home, too at ease with her surroundings- at being here with him as though she belongs, has always been there. Her scent- Alpha! Rukia! Home! lingers and screams at him.
If there's a protocol on how to deal with a stranger who saw you through your heat and is now also privy to your biggest secret that could mean personal and financial ruin if word gets out, Ichigo would humbly beseech to be put out of his misery and be let in on it.
"We spent the heat together," he says dumbly. Part of him still is in disbelief as they sit across the table, eating breakfast like they didn't spend the last few days naked and personal with each other.
Rukia hums and nods, lips curving into a small sardonic smirk.
"That we did."
Ichigo frowns, gripping his cutleries tight. How is she not freaking about the lack of protection- that there is a chance that she might get pregnant from this?
"I am on the pill. I am not in heat. And I don't have any STIs if that's what you're wondering—" her eyebrow quirks—"do you have any STIs that I should be aware about?"
His face burns.
"What the fuck?! NO!"
What did she take him for? He is not a man-slut and he certainly does not go about spending his heat with every alpha that he finds himself trapped inside an elevator with!
Things are different with Rukia. She is the only one who has ever had this effect on him. The scent of her is potent enough to send him into heat. It doesn't matter if she decided to shave off her eyebrow or prance around in a potato sack for the rest of her life- part of him will always find her irresistible.
She shrugs, "then we have nothing to worry about."
The action causes the loose collar of her makeshift dress to slide further down, exposing her shoulder. He eyes it, swallowing thickly.
Her scent is utterly delectable. Even with a clear head above his shoulders, the murkiness of the heat no longer consuming his thoughts, he still wants her. It is torturing to be so close to her- so tempting when he's just come out of his heat. He is fighting against his instincts to not go running to her, to nuzzle and drown his world in her scent. Even now, the sight of her picking at her food with bare fingers makes him want to—
Ah!
He is doing it again! He shakes his head clear of those thoughts. He's not going to go into them. It's bad enough to have to tear himself away from her in the morning, away from the warm bed where her scent is the heaviest in the bedroom.
He reminds himself not to get distracted, to stand strong and not give in to temptations, no matter how good and tempting she smells.
"So you know then?" he gulps, "that I'm not- I'm not what Renji says I am."
"Yes."
Ichigo has an urge to face-palm- hard.
Damn Renji!
He curses soundly. He had been so careful. He spent years cultivating an image, a reputation- pretending to be something he's not and growing into this confidence, make-believing that he has people fooled and hoping against all odds that the charade will last.
To think that this was all ruined because that loud pineapple head can't even do a simple favour and had to drag another stranger into this mess and because someone up there loves to screw with him, that someone just has to turn out to be Rukia- the very person he is hoping to avoid in the first place.
Memories during heats are always spotty at best, too prone to sudden blanks from being overwhelmed with scents and sounds. Ichigo can't remember everything but he does remember some things, like the way Rukia's slick tasted on his tongue, the way her heat caught and sucked him in, the way her fingers felt sliding against his hair, the sound of her voice as she coaxes him to eat and to drink, how pleased she was when he did.
He remembers the way she made him feel.
Rukia- Alpha took such good care of him. Even in his heat-induced haze, there was still a part of him that was coherent and wanted to do the same for her. It made him do things to please her and make her happy. Like drawing her a bath even when it came at the expense of his inner omega whining at being deprived of her sweat and slick.
But now they sit in silence, a far cry from the intimacy they shared less than a few hours ago. Memories of what they did- the memories of the heat that they shared together seem almost mocking by comparison now.
He is torn, relieved and disappointed in the same measure of breath at the thought that he's still unmarked. Ichigo knows they have chemistry. A part of him- carnal and weak wished that Rukia had gone ahead and done it. She said such nice things about him in bed, sang praises about how good he was to her.
Was it stupid of him to think that she'll be pleased enough, taken enough with him to mark him and claim him for herself?
Maybe it's just pillow talk. Maybe he isn't what she is looking for after all.
Ichigo chides himself for his naiveté, for feeling hurt when he should have known better. He doesn't know why he even thought otherwise to begin with. He is never going to be anyone's first choice.
It was good while it lasted and he should take what he can and make do with it.
Just as he has always done since the day he presented as an omega.
He tells himself he's being stupid. Being claimed by Rukia would have made things complicated. His charade as an alpha for one, might not hold and he has no intention of ever being disgraced or having his secret revealed.
Ichigo knows what awaits- the shame of being ridiculed, the quality of his work being called into question, the legal ramifications at being caught lying on several official documents, his future going up in smokes.
With his mind made up, he draws up a plan. The minute she leaves, he's burning the bedsheets, cleaning every inch of the apartment with the strongest bleach he can find. Maybe that would lessen the blow, lessen the ache of her absence when he's alone within the four walls.
He clears his throat, but Rukia seems to read his mind, speaking before he has the chance to ask her to leave.
"I saw the premium grade scent blockers in the bathroom. They don't come cheap."
He stiffens.
Rukia's eyes are bright and a pretty shade of midnight blue in the morning light. Something tugs at his heartstrings, crystal clear memories of her peering at him like that in the low lights with her between his legs, pink tongue darting, cheeks hollowing, wet heat surrounding him.
Her looking at him like that- it makes him weak and his mouth goes spectacularly dry. He can deny her nothing.
"Why are you pretending to be an alpha?"
"I-It's none of your business!"
He is defensive despite his best attempts to behave otherwise. Ichigo tells himself that his aggression is valid. He doesn't need her pity.
Yet her expression seems unperturbed, her voice soft; seemingly unoffended by his tone.
"Relax. I can keep a secret. I won't go around blabbing it. I just want to know why."
Her curiosity- he should be wary of it. He doesn't know her. Heat aside, the real her is someone shrouded in mystery. He doesn't even know her last name for crying out loud! If she knew his secret, she might use it to blackmail him into doing something he has no intention of doing.
He is smart enough to change the subject.
"What about you?" he asks instead, "I was going into heat in the elevator. Right next to you! Were you just pretending not to notice?"
Rukia huffs, "You'll be happy to know that your investment in the scent blockers paid off. I couldn't smell anything. At least not until I came to your apartment. I assume your sweat must have washed it off you by then."
Ichigo stares, still suspicious. She is just trying to get him to lower his guard.
"But I was showing all the classic symptoms. The heavy breathing, flushed skin, glazed eyes- you're telling me that none of them gave you any idea that I was going into heat?"
Her voice grows quiet, a hint of pink blossoming on her cheeks as she looks away.
"Believe it or not, people don't like alpha females or their scents very much. I thought you were having a panic attack or just finding my scent offensive."
Ichigo hates the sudden urge of righteous indignation that swells in him. He bites his tongue, clamps his mouth firmly shut before he starts waxing poetry about how heavenly she smells to him. People who know him (and his true designation) say he's easily one of the mellowest people on earth, a quality they falsely attribute to his omega nature without realizing that it's because he simply doesn't care enough.
He is indifferent to a lot of things but Rukia's admission makes his hackles rise, makes him angry on her behalf even when he shows nothing outwardly. He keeps telling himself that the knowledge makes no difference to him. It's his secret to keep and he is not sharing it.
Not even if it is with a very pretty alpha whose scent sends him spiralling into heat and even now, still tempts him into a breathless state of bliss just by being there.
"Thank you for seeing me through my heat," he steels himself, ignores the painful twinges as he clears his throat- "but I think it's time for you to leave."
Rukia frowns and sighs, looking as though she would challenge his decision but then decides against it a heartbeat later.
"Ok."
Ichigo is glad. He doesn't think he could fight her off if she really pushes.
Instead, he watches as she changes into her newly washed clothing. Nudity shouldn't affect him so, not when he's already seen her stripped bare and naked, had her so many times that his body would know the curve and shape of her body even in complete darkness.
But his knuckles turn white, his breath hitching as she tugs off his shirt right in front of him. Dark bruises the shape of his lips and bite marks linger. Some are already fading on her breasts and collar bones, but the ones on her throat, the press of his hands on her hips are still fresh. They beckon at him and make his mouth dry. He fights to contain his whimpers and whines.
He doesn't want anyone else to see her like this, doesn't want her scent trailing and lingering on other omegas. Rukia is his alpha.
The woman continues unperturbed, appearing to be unaware of his inner turmoil as she pulls on her dress and puts on her shoes. His inner omega is outraged, whines at him to reach out and stop her before she makes it across the threshold and walks out of their lives for good, but Ichigo stands firm.
Rukia with no last name is dangerous. Her existence complicates his life. He has enough on his plate as it is.
"Wait!"
His voice stops her just as she is about to turn and leave.
"You won't tell anyone about this, right?"
If what Rukia says is true then she is the only one in the office who knows the truth, that he is an omega. They have no reason to suspect otherwise. He doesn't look or behave like a typical omega male for starters. His secret is safe as long as she is willing to play along.
The silence makes him sweat.
Anxiety creeps at him, enough for him to start entertaining thoughts about handing his resignation letter the day after and moving halfway across the world. But then a second later, she's extending her hand out at him- a knowing smile that has his heart racing as their eyes meet.
"Hi there, stranger! Thank you for breakfast. My name is Rukia Kuchiki. And yours?"
He swallows, his voice choking with relief as he grips her hand and shakes.
"Ichigo Kurosaki."
Hope is wild and dangerous thing, born in the clutches of his weak heart and held on tightly despite knowing both the harsh realities of this world and next to nothing about Rukia as a person outside of heat.
"Nice to meet you, Ichigo."
The warmth of her hand stills his nerves and at the sight of her soft smile, he thinks- maybe; just maybe everything will work themselves out after all. Maybe they can put all of this awkwardness behind them and start fresh- become something like friends even; if Rukia is willing to keep his secret.
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Needless to say, this isn't the last that they'd see of each other.
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Author's note:
I made a promise with the Quadforce. If I couldn't on day 3 in time for IIHWE, this is what I'd do. 🙈🙈🙈 I will get to it... eventually.
IIHWE 2020 has officially ended but we are still taking submissions. If you are interested in participating head over to ao3 for a collection under International Ichiruki Hentai Weekend (IIHWE) managed by yours truly or do it on Twitter or Tumblr. No lewd art on the latter unfortunately.
The Quadforce is always happy to receive!