A/N: Just a quick public service announcement regarding my update schedule. I get a lot of comments along the lines of "update soon" and "keep writing," so I'd like to answer everyone's concerns at once.

This is a complete story that I am editing and updating every Tuesday, and only on Tuesday. If Tuesday comes and there's no update, wait for next Tuesday. I ended up on a semi-involuntary hiatus a while ago, so I understand (and apologize) if that worried anyone, but I've decided to drop editing two other stories in favor of updating Never Ever more consistently. There shouldn't be any more interruptions in this schedule.

Thanks for your support thus far! Happy Tuesday!

To Kotetsu's pleasant surprise, the doctor arrived a few hours after Barnaby left with good news. The veteran could be released from the hospital on the strict condition that he take it very easy for at least the next two weeks. Kotetsu told his most heroic white lie and promised he would, and then showed up to work that afternoon with his shirt hiding his extensive bandages. He got to proudly brag to Barnaby that the wounds were not as bad as he thought, and that worrying about Kotetsu was pointless. The rookie just turned away and advised Kotetsu to finish his paperwork since the pain was apparently manageable, but Kotetsu still smiled, overjoyed by that morning's revelation that Barnaby was at least capable of putting aside Scenting and caring about Kotetsu because he was a human being.

For the next few days, Kotetsu poured his energy into maintaining to everyone that yes, he was fine, nothing to worry about, and if they saw him skipping out on training or not lifting things with his right arm it was because he was a silly, lazy old man. Sleeping in the oxygen chambers helped dull the pain, and least for a little while, but it blew his cover in regards to Barnaby, since he took off his shirt for each session. Still, Barnaby didn't berate or harass him over it. Every so often, he'd ask, "How are your injuries?" or "Is the pain manageable?" or something like that. Actually, it reminded Kotetsu of a kid in a car asking "are we there yet?" but he tried his best to accept Barnaby's concern, even if he got snippy and said a few words too many about Kotetsu lacking positive qualities.

All in all, things were looking up.

Kotetsu had a few calls where the most he could do was run by Barnaby's side, with his shoulder too tender for punching or swinging from his wires, but luckily he didn't cost Barnaby any points, so he stayed calm. But then Agnes called him to answer an emergency that was most definitely not an emergency: babysitting. Babysitting! Looking after the mayor's son was most not work for a hero! It strayed into the territory of sponsor-schmoozing. Teeth gritted, Kotetsu knew why Hero TV wanted to keep the mayor's opinion of their superhero show favorable, but it had been years since he changed diapers, an action which was not included in his job description.

Even so, job description or not, Kotetsu couldn't abandon a little baby. Evne when the baby can make everything explode and fly around when he cries. Even when it turned out Kotetsu couldn't do a thing to calm the tiny baby—that was Pao Lin's special talent. So Kotestu pulled together an awesome backup plan that let Pao Lin watch over Sam, let Kotetsu watch over Pao Lin, and kept his stuff from getting broken.

He brought them to Barnaby's place.

All the way there, it seemed like the perfect plan. If Barnaby's apartment was anything like his desk, there'd be little to break that couldn't be replaced. But he forgot to take into account one very important fact—something that he never anticipated. After Barnaby opened the door and Pao Lin stepped inside with the little baby Sam, Kotesu followed, thoughtlessly inhaling through his nose.

The whole space smelled overpoweringly of Barnaby. The seductive atmosphere in the room filled his head instantly and greatly compromised his knees' ability to bear his weight. His skin flushed hot, but his body shivered, craving someone to come and touch him, touch him and claim him and make him their precious treasure.

He took a step forward, half-stumbling, and his ankle rolled. He fell just a few inches before Barnaby's arms caught him from behind and held him up. And that was good, because now Barnaby could scoop Kotetsu up and throw him down on the bed and make an absolute mess of him, hold him tight, mark his body with his nails and teeth. Yes, just let Barnaby care of him, let Barnaby make things all right, let Barnaby make him feel good—

"Are you alright, old man?" Barnaby asked. Kotetsu couldn't even get mad at him for calling him 'old man,' he felt way too loose and trembly to get mad, but he did remember himself in time.

"T—Tripped," Kotetsu stuttered. His legs were still not up to the task of supporting his weight. Some part of Kotetsu, independent of his imagination, knew he couldn't just lean on Barnaby for the whole night. They had kids here, so they couldn't do anything inappropriate. And not to mention, Kotestu would not let himself be claimed! Reaffirming his mantra, hero or Omega, hero or Omega, Kotetsu wobbled back onto his feet and straightened his spine, trying not to shiver any worse as Barnaby scrutinized him with an unconvinced stare. He beamed back, and then took some shaky steps toward Pao Lin, to check on Sam's adjustment to the new environment. The baby didn't seem to care where he was so long as he was with "Mama."

The incident ended up largely forgotten, and after an adventure with one of Barnaby's childhood toys, Kotetsu looked at the clock and realized he still had the entire evening and night left to endure. If he paid a little attention, he could sense which areas of the room smelled "strong" and "weak" compared to each other. The chair in the middle of the room was a "strong," the paths between doors were "strong," but Kotetsu found a "weak" area under that giant hibiscus picture on the wall, so he entered Survival Mode and camped there, half-pretending to play games on his phone. Barnaby busied himself with forms and files he brought home to justify his departure with the Babysitters Club, and Pao Lin played with Sam and kept him happy. Kotetsu only moved when his stomach started to ache with hunger, and he figured he should be a gracious guest and cook food for everyone. The stone-and-steel kitchen hadn't absorbed Barnaby's Scent as completely as the main apartment, but all the "strong" paths centered around appliances Kotetsu would need to make fried rice. At least he was practiced enough to make a good batch without needing to think too hard.

The late dinner went rather well—even after a snafu with Kotetsu trying to feed Sam himself and a glimpse of a wall-screen full of research—and the children started to tire out. While Kotetsu washed the dishes and Barnaby prepared his bed for Pao Lin and Sam's use, Kotetsu happened across Barnaby's alcohol. And it really was an accident! He was trying to find where to replace the plates, but with his head so blissed-out, he opened a cabinet, found some wine bottles, and then just stared at them for a full five minutes. Kotetsu didn't even notice that he had stopped moving in favor of breathing the Scent in the air until Barnaby's hand reached across his field of vision, selected a bottle, and offered it to Kotetsu.

"I don't mind if you drink once the children are asleep," Barnaby said. "Just don't make a bigger mess than you've already made."

"Huh… Wha? That… that I made? The mess I made?" The insult got Kotetsu's gears turning again. "That was Sam's fault! His NEXT power made the mess! Don't go assigning blame for a baby's mess!"

"Since I can't blame the baby, I'm blaming you," Barnaby said, but a teasing tone seeped into his voice. "Dishes belong in the cabinet two to the left. Wine glasses are on your right."

Kotetsu fully intended to refuse the drink, until he read the label and realized exactly how good the stuff Barnaby wanted to share really was, so he changed his mind. After a quick change of his bandages, Kotetsu brought the wine and two glasses out to the main room. He had missed the super-secret second nap in Saito's oxygen chamber that he'd die if Barnaby found out about, so even with the possibility of Barnaby's Scent driving him crazy, Kotetsu sat in the strong-zone recliner, wine in hand.

He could compare it to nothing short of heaven. The Scent enveloped him, warm and luxurious as a down comforter, sweet and dark, and even the lingering pain couldn't compete with this wonderful sensation. Eyes sliding closed, Kotetsu lay back and breathed deeply. No longer concerned with standing or talking, he let his thoughts go.

You… You're the… the…

Kotetsu found his chance to ask Barnaby about the research he had caught a glimpse of after the kids went to sleep. He didn't know what to do about any of it, so he did his best to remember relevant details so he could think about them later. He liked to think he would have given the same advice while sober and without Scent in the air, but he knew Barnaby's stress answer would come in time, and undue stress wouldn't help.

Honestly, Kotetsu could barely remember what stress even was. Never before had he spent so long in a room saturated with such strong pheromones. His bones and muscles felt heavy and relaxed while his blood and skin rushed with that sparkling itch that Kotetsu couldn't smooth out himself. His brain conjured an astounding variety of situations that involved Barnaby leaning over the chair and laying hands on Kotetsu's body, with the electricity converging on his fingertips in pleasurable arcs. Kotetsu tolerated the presence of these little fantasies a lot better since he knew more about Barnaby, but no way could he actually go through with any of it. He had to be a hero, not an Omega.

Barnaby took to pacing, back and forth in front of the large screen, steady as a metronome. Kotetsu followed him with his eyes, studied the bend of his knees, the sway of his arms, the swish of his hair around each turn.

"Is it that bad?" Kotetsu's own jaw protested the movement, but with alcohol and pheromones pushing some inhibitions aside, he asked anyway.

Barnaby ceased pacing and looked at Kotestu. "What's bad?"

"M'Scent," Kotetsu slurred, still working out the kinks in his mouth. "Makes you twitchy an' annoyed an' stuff."

"What makes you think I'm annoyed?"

Kotetsu flipped one hand around to gesture. "I heard Alphas get all tense with Omegas. It's gotta be annoying, right?"

Barnaby smirked and adjusted his glasses. "You've just heard that recently?"

"Maybe…"

"You should have paid better attention in school. Alpha pheromones are a relaxant to Omegas and Omega pheromones are a stimulant to Alphas. The physiological response prepares the two for mating."

The big words buzzed in Kotetsu's head, but he understood 'relaxant' and 'stimulant.' Actually, Kotetsu couldn't remember a time when he felt this fully relaxed with an Alpha in the room. He had always kept a bit of panic in the back of his mind, thinking of what might happen if he paid too much attention to the Scent in the air. Well, in the here and now, Kotetsu was too far gone to worry about that. He couldn't put up a fight if he tried. "So… it is annoying."

"For extended periods… yes," Barnaby admitted. "I can't say it's any more annoying than the situation with which you've been coping."

"Huh?"

"This is my home. Since I live here, of course it's going to smell like my Scent." Barnaby continued with a snide little glance, "You seemed quite unprepared for that fact."

Kotetsu pouted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You swooned when you walked through the door."

"Did not!" Kotetsu protested. "I tripped!"

"And then you stuttered, and then had difficulty maintaining balance," Barnaby listed. "You're very bad at disguising your initial response to Alpha pheromones."

"I—I am?"

"The exact moment when you recognize a Scent is very easy to pinpoint."

Kotetsu sighed, closing his eyes for a second. "And you've got it all wound up in an iron grip. You're so Mr. Calm-N-Cool… I didn't believe Scent stuff affected Alphas until a few weeks ago."

"You honestly didn't know?"

Feeling a little guilty, Kotetsu mumbled, "I thought it was just because Alphas are rude."

With that statement hanging in the air, Barnaby changed the subject. "If I may ask a question in return, how do you find the will to oppose Alphas?"

Kotetsu smiled a little. "For a while, I was married," Kotetsu said. "I don't care what anyone else does, but I'd never have an Alpha and a wife at the same time. But before that, and after that… I chose to be a hero instead."

"Instead?" Barnaby asked.

"A hero stands up and protects others. An Omega sits back and gets protected. It's an easy choice."

"So you've always treated this matter as an either-or question," Barnaby leaned on a section of the wall and adjusted his glasses again. He's been doing that a lot more…"Did it ever occur to you that you could be both? A hero and an Omega?"

"Nuh-uh," Kotetsu shook his head. "A hero isn't submissive."

"A hero isn't weak," Barnaby corrected. "Weakness and submission are not the same."

"Easy for an Alpha to say," Kotetsu grumbled. "Being an Alpha isn't hard at all."

"It presents is own challenges."

"What sort of challenges do Alphas face, then?"

Barnaby paused for a long time, staring at Kotetsu with a very strange look. He really should be used to them by now, but every time he saw the 'strange look' it had a different, unreadable emotion behind it. The tingle in Kotetsu's body flared and begged for Barnaby's touch, but he almost felt a motive behind it—if Barnaby touched Kotetsu, then he'd have no reason to look so… lonely.

After a very long silence, Barnaby decided, "I suppose you're right. It's better to be an Alpha than an Omega."

"Well, don't write yourself off," Kotetsu protested. "There's been a few times when being an Alpha was a pain, right?"

"Once or twice." Again, he touched his glasses.

"So? What's an Alpha-problem?"

"…Resisting temptation," Barnaby admitted at last.

Kotetsu nodded. "I figured it'd be that."

"Yes."

"If… If it makes you feel better, you've treated me way better than any other Alpha, ever," Kotetsu ventured. "You should be proud of that."

"I should," Barnaby blandly agreed. "Will you be alright sleeping in that chair, with your injuries?"

Kotetsu blinked at the abrupt subject change "Ah… Yeah, sure," he said. Frankly, he could probably fall asleep anywhere right now. Every bit of tension in his body had been smoothed away by the combination of alcohol, super-chair, and Scent. "Where are you gonna sleep?"

"I'm not tired."

"You should still sleep, Bunny."

"The floor."

"Eh?"

"I'll sleep on the floor."

"No, that's no good…" Kotetsu swung his legs off the chair and stumbled to his feet. "Here—you can have the chair—and I'll—"

"Old man, you're still injured! You should sleep in the chair!" Barnaby protested.

"Just let me sleep where I want, Bunnyyyy…" Kotetsu whined, kneeling and finally flopping down on the floor, eyes sliding shut as he fell into the thick plush, that particular section of carpet almost as strongly Scented as the chair. "Your carpet is soft, anyway…"

"This is ridiculous! I won't take the chair from you!"

"What're you gonna do, Alpha?" Kotetsu cracked one eye open. "Are you gonna make me sleep there?"

Even at a fuzzy distance, Kotetsu saw Barnaby turn his head away. "I won't force you. But you can't force me to use the chair, either."

"Whatever…"

This had to be due to the pheromones. Kotetsu felt put to sleep while Barnaby stood awake and wired. Completely awake and alert in a room with a weak and disoriented Omega… the old instinct to panic reared its head: Kotetsu should get out of there, before Barnaby jumped him, before this Alpha claimed him. He had been stupid to let his guard down—he can't trust an Alpha! He can't trust Barnaby!

Yes. I can. Kotetsu thought as sleep took over. Bunny won't do anything. I know he won't.