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Gumpa was one of Black’s favorite people in the world. Of course, he hadn’t always thought that. At times the man pushed him to train more and challenged his words, and his plans in the past. But he had over time become someone very important to Black. He also became important to his inner omega.
Black still had other favorite people. His twin for instance. White was clearly his favorite family member by far and his bond with his brother was essential to his life. It had become essential since his return from Russia. His pack members were also important to him.
But his connection to Gumpa was not something he expected. It was so satisfying to have someone he could communicate with just using his eyes. The alpha sometimes knew things that Black wanted before he knew what he wanted. It was just so…nice. And Black wanted to make sure that the alpha knew he was loved dearly. So, he commenced a plan. As Yok called it, “Operation Mate Appreciation.”
The last time that Yok, White, and Black nested, he tentatively asked for ideas. Although his tone had been almost gruff and reluctant, he did value their opinions. But he did make them swear to not tell any other pack members about it. Black would die of embarrassment if he had to endure remarks from Sean about him trying to pamper Gumpa. Black internally shivered in his head. Yok and White both swore they would keep it a secret.
Together they came up with three steps.
Step One: Surprise him with breakfast
Black waited until the weekend to surprise the older man. He would have more time to enact his plan. He wanted to try to do all three steps around the same time. He thought it would be better to do it that way. Before Black did step one, he made sure that Gumpa was going to sleep in by tiring him out the night before.
Gumpa had been in a good, teasing mood the night before. He opened Black up using his mouth before he finally pushed inside and skillfully rolled his hips in a fluctuating pace, teasing Black to the edge before stopping and starting again. It was practically torture but Gumpa made sure he was more than satisfied by the end.
Black knew the older man would probably be really tired so he would sleep in, giving the omega time to prepare breakfast. He made sure to wake up as early as he could and snuck out of the bed carefully. The alpha had a habit of curling himself around Black’s body so he replaced himself with a big pillow. The older man latched onto it but his eyebrows furrowed in his sleep like he could tell the difference subconsciously. He looked so cute that Black almost wanted to kiss him awake, but he decided to stick with the plan. The end goal was going to be good.
Although Black didn’t know how to cook a ton, he knew how to make omelets. So, he prepared a plate of rice with an omelet that had a vegetable filling and some sweet chili sauce. He also opened a bottle of chilled banana soy milk. It took only thirty or so minutes, which Black was very grateful the alpha hadn’t woken up yet.
He placed the plate on a tray he had picked up at the store with the open bottle and some utensils. With the most stealth he had in his body, he entered the bedroom. Gumpa was still where he had been, laying on his side clutching the pillow, a frown on his asleep face. Black sat the tray on the side table and kneeled next to the bed. He gently swept some of the hair from Gumpa’s forehead and leaned in to kiss his nose. The alpha’s nose scrunched but he didn’t open his eyes.
“Hia, wake up,” Black said softly and kissed his cheek before pulling back. The alpha blinked his eyes open slowly and he looked confused.
“What are you doing on the floor?”
Oh, wow.
No matter how many times he woke up next to Gumpa, he would never get used to the sleepy, deep voice of the older man. Although Black didn’t outwardly react to it, his inner omega swooned at the sound. But Black knew he could feel that through the bond.
Gumpa smiled a little at his mate’s feelings. The lightness. The attraction. The happiness seeped into their bond and it was a great thing to wake up to. Especially after such a long week.
“I was waiting for you to wake up and scoot over,” Black retorted.
Somehow, Gumpa had moved closer to the edge of the bed in his sleep, as if his body was seeking the omega out. The pillow had been a poor substitute.
“Yes, honey,” Gumpa replied and stretched his arms with a big yawn before sitting up and moving over so there was space. Black stood up and grabbed the tray.
“Oh, what’s this?” Gumpa asked, his eyes widening a bit at the sight of food. Black just hoped it tasted good.
“I made you breakfast,” Black said and kept his eyes on the food he placed on his lap.
“I see that,” Gumpa said and smiled before tousling Black’s hair. Black swatted him away and glared without heat before sitting on the bed next to Gumpa.
“Eat before it gets cold.”
“Yes, honey,” Gumpa took a bite with some veggies, an omelet, and a bit of rice. His eyes widened at the flavor and he nodded.
“Is it good?”
“Here,” Gumpa said and scooped up a giant bite before feeding it to Black. Black chewed with his cheeks full. Gumpa smiled and pushed another bite into his mouth. He continued feeding Black big bites in between his own and wiped pieces of rice from Black’s lips. His scent was happy and strong, satisfied with feeding bites to the omega and satisfied with the good food and sweet gesture by his mate. Black took a sip of the soy milk before handing it to Gumpa to drink some. They ate together in silence for a while. When they finished, Gumpa sat the tray to the side and pulled Black into his arms for long kisses that tasted a little like banana soy milk and traces of sweet chili sauce starting their morning off well.
Step Two: Showering
Before Black and Gumpa were anything more than friends, he never considered Gumpa to be a touchy person. At least he wasn’t as touchy as Gram or Yok. But when Black thought back to past memories, he remembered the easy affection that Gumpa offered. He would give pats on the back, arms over shoulders, occasional hugs when needed, and he would tousle hair.
Black knew that Gumpa was good with words and he was good with expressing feelings through touch. Black considered himself bad at both but touching was an easier way to show his affection. So, he decided to initiate a shower.
There was something so intimate about touching someone else’s body for no reason other than to wash and care for them. It was peaceful but a little exciting to have someone just want to do it. It was just the easiest thing in the world to close your eyes and let someone rinse away a long day’s worth of grime and sweat. Showering together was something he liked doing with Gumpa even though he always mildly protested it just out of the principle of being able to do it himself. Most of the time the alpha was the first to take a soapy rag and wash Black’s body carefully before Black returned the favor. The omega decided to switch things up a bit.
It was a Monday and Black had gotten home from classes just when Gumpa normally stopped working for the day. At times he would work on projects at night too but after mating, he normally set time aside for them to do things together.
Black was wearing scent blockers since he came from school and he tried to sneak into the garage as quietly as possible. Gumpa had his back to the door kneeling down as he looked at a bike.
Black leaned down and wrapped his arms around Gumpa and said, “Gotcha” in the alpha’s ear.
“You know I can always tell when you are near me, right?”
“You weren’t surprised?”
“Nope,” Gumpa said and moved his head so Black could see his smile.
“You also know that I am extremely sweaty and gross, right?”
“Yes, I do have a sense of smell,” Black teased and then put his lips against the lobe of Gumpa’s ear.
“How about we take a shower, hia?”
Gumpa nodded.
Black and Gumpa went to their bedroom first to get changes of clothes before going into their bathroom. The shower was tiny but they were used to squeezing in together. However, with Black’s plan, he made sure to shove Gumpa in front of the spray of the shower head and wrapped his arms around the alpha’s waist from behind. They stood until the spray let the water cool them down. The air outside was unbearable those days. Hot and annoying. Although Black didn’t mind seeing the alpha with sweat dripping down his body.
“Hand me the soap,” Black said, pressing a kiss to the alpha’s shoulder blade. Then he released his hold on Gumpa’s waist and took the soap that was passed back to him. Gumpa just quirked an eyebrow but allowed Black to soap up a rag and gently washed Gumpa’s back, scrubbing at the grim that was there.
“Turn,” Black said. Gumpa and Black had rearranged themselves so Gumpa was facing him, the spray hitting his strong back. Gumpa wrapped his arms around his mate and pulled him closer so that they weren’t super cramped in the tiny shower. Black took the rag and rubbed at the alpha’s chest and arms, concentrating on cleaning his skin. Gumpa just watched him work, looking at his mate’s determined face.
“How was school?” Gumpa asked suddenly. Black kept scrubbing his skin and shrugged.
“It was fine. I had an exam this morning.”
Gumpa hummed and pressed a kiss to the middle of Black’s forehead.
“You have so many exams.”
Black didn’t respond except with a small noise of acknowledgment. Then he started on Gumpa’s upper shoulders, noting the tenseness.
“You feel tense,” Black stated.
“Running a garage and pack can be stressful,” Gumpa shrugged.
“You know I can help with the pack if you need me to. I told you to tell me.”
“I know, I know, you do enough though…you make everything better.”
Black scoffed.
“You do,” Gumpa insisted.
Black was suddenly reminded of his original reason for initiating a shower. He intended to show Gumpa his appreciation and love, not to get the man to reassure him and make his insecurities go away. Black’s inner omega winced at his thoughts. He couldn’t help himself. Things were so steady and stable that he felt like he was losing his mind. He just wasn’t used to the stability of having good relationships and being honest with another person entirely.
He wasn’t a liar per se but he did keep things from his brother if he thought it would hurt him. Although White could feel some of his feelings, he didn’t always know the reasons. It would probably break his heart if he knew some of the things that plagued Black’s brain. It would probably hurt Gumpa too if he knew.
“Whatever, turn around so I can wash your hair.”
Gumpa plucked the rag from Black and added more soap to it before rubbing it all over Black. Black just tilted his head back and pursed his lips a little. He surrendered himself to the familiar intimacy of someone else washing his body. It had become a familiar thing ever since the first heat Black spent with Gumpa. The one where the alpha discovered he was an omega and he spent the heat with him, taking care of him, scenting him, and almost sponge bathing him to clean up some of the slick.
He closed his eyes and let the feeling of hands caressing his body. The scent blockers had long washed off and his lime and coconut scent with a hint of spice (courtesy of him mating with Gumpa) was getting stronger. Gumpa smelled so nice it almost made Black’s mouth water. He smelled strongly of spicy mango with a hint of Black's scent (courtesy of Black mating with him). He kept his eyes closed as Gumpa rearranged him to be under the spray and then he reached for the shampoo but Black stopped him with a hand. He opened his eyes and took a hold of the soap.
“I got it, hia.”
“Okay,” Gumpa drawled.
Black squirted shampoo into his hand and rubbed it through Gumpa’s wet hair, scraping his nails slightly on his scalp. The alpha closed his eyes and took in the sensation of Black’s skillful hands.
“Let me wash your hair,” Gumpa said suddenly with a slight lilt to his voice as a question more than a command.
“Okay,” Black said, “Tip your head back into the water.”
Gumpa followed his orders and rinsed his hair quickly before reciprocating the gentle treatment with Black’s hair. They finished their shower in quiet peace before getting out and drying off, redressing, and going to make dinner together.
Step Three: Gifts
The third part of the plan might have given Gumpa an idea that Black was up to something but he decided the third part was necessary. After all, in the beginning, the alpha had gotten him a lot of things both to court him and to make him feel cared for. Black wanted Gumpa to feel the same things.
So, he went to a store before he even started step one and bought Gumpa a t-shirt that looked like most of his others. Plain. Soft. Likely going to be worn from wearing often and washing. But it would be something useful and hopefully something Gumpa would enjoy because Black planned on scenting it. Black often stole his clothing to wear to sleep or to put in their nests when they made them. But Gumpa didn’t really have anything he stole from Black. Black didn’t know if it was because he didn’t want anything from him or what but it made him feel weird that the alpha didn’t have anything from him.
The t-shirt was a dark blue one that Black thought would look good on him. He made sure to get the right size and he started scenting it secretly. He would wear it when the alpha was gone from the garage. He put it in his pillow for a day or two and he put it in a nest that he made. Finally, he planned to give it to him when his scent was buried so deeply into the cloth but then he had another idea. Jewelry.
He knew that Gumpa couldn’t really wear rings because of his job but he considered getting him a nice chain necklace. He searched online before giving up and going to a store, dragging Gram with him because they had just finished studying and he kind of wanted a second opinion.
“Why are we in a jewelry store?”
“I need to buy something,” Black said distractedly, looking at the displays of hundreds of options.
“For hia?”
“Yeah,” Black said.
Gram groaned, “What is it with everyone bringing me to buy jewelry for their mates?”
“Huh?”
“Ai’Sean made me help him pick out earrings for Ai’White before they mated.”
Black scoffed and stopped walking abruptly to look at the silver necklaces.
“I feel so single right about now,” Gram said.
“What do you think about that one?” Black pointed at a thick silver necklace that was designed to look like chain links, ignoring Gram’s complaint. Gram leaned in and shook his head.
“I don’t think that would suit hia.”
Black nodded after a few seconds and said, “Too big and flashy.”
Gumpa was more of a simple person. He didn’t dress fancy and he didn’t wear a lot of accessories. His room-their room was simple but comfortable. Homey. Everything about Gumpa screamed simple protection and home.
Gram pointed at a few necklaces but Black already had an idea in his head. He wanted something simple and meaningful. After a long time of searching and avoiding consultants, he found the one. It was a thin silver braided chain with a simple round tire pendant on the end. The obvious reason for getting it was that Gumpa owned a garage and he worked on motorcycles for a living. But to Black and hopefully Gumpa it had a deeper meaning. Black had met Gumpa not only because of their ideas about society but they had met because of the shop. Black had purchased a bike that needed a bit of work and went to Gumpa. Somehow they got into a conversation about issues and everything clicked into place. Gumpa was the one who made his bike the way that it was and he learned so much from the older man. To him, bikes were the reason Gumpa came into his life and the reason he had the life he did.
“Oh! That’s perfect,” Gram said, nodding in his approval before a grin stretched across his face.
“Ai’Black, you are so sweet for doing this.”
Black glared slightly, “What do you mean? I’m just getting him a present.”
“For his birthday?”
“No, just because.”
“That’s sweet,” Gram grinned and pinched Black’s cheek for a second before releasing him. Black stared at him blankly for a second taking in what just happened.
“Did-did you just pinch my cheek?” Black asked.
“Yes, because you are just so cute when you’re in love,” Gram teased. Black spluttered for a second before his expression changed into an angry kitten look, his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed.
He pointed a narrow finger at Gram and said, “Let’s not do that again or I might commit a violent act in front of all of these people.”
Gram only laughed, watching Black then flag down a jewelry consultant to purchase the necklace. A lady came over and started getting it out of a case and Black said, “Let’s get some food after this. I’m starving.”
Gram nodded agreeing, silently thanking his luck that he hadn’t been murdered a few minutes prior.
____
After purchasing the necklace and overly scenting the shirt, Black decided to give it to him. But he didn’t have a plan for it. He had a more clear idea for the other things but he didn’t want to make it a big deal. Gumpa did quiet things for Black all the time and it wasn’t some big thing. He just did it because he loved him and that’s the same thing Black wanted to do for him. So, he stuffed it in a bag under the bed and just waited until the time was right. A day after he put it under the bed, the time seemed right.
Gumpa had already showered and Black had stopped studying for the night. They ate a quick meal that Black brought home from a takeout restaurant and settled in their room. Gumpa had a small tv sitting on a stand in front of the bed. They didn’t watch TV too often where it was a routine but they watched together sometimes.
Gumpa was propped up on some pillows when Black came back from the bathroom. He hesitated in the entryway, looking at how comfortable the alpha looked. How good he looked. Gumpa was wearing a red shirt with the sleeves cut off because it used to have holes from how often he wore it and black boxers. His hair was still a little damp and his scent was almost sweeter than his normal spicy mango with a hint of sweet coconut scent. He was quite happy.
Gumpa looked away from the TV and smiled a little before tilting his head.
“You going to sit down?”
Black nodded wordlessly before taking a few steps and climbing on the bed. He swung one leg over Gumpa’s lap and settled on top of Gumpa’s strong thighs. The alpha accepted it with ease, smiling a little, and wrapping his arms around Black’s small waist, pulling the omega’s body flush against his.
“You know, when I said sit down, I didn’t mean for you to sit on me,” Gumpa teased and leaned up to kiss Black’s jaw once, twice, then he pulled back to look into the omega’s eyes.
Black said, “It’s my seat.”
Gumpa released a low hum from his chest, his inner alpha satisfied at his mate’s words. Gumpa only smiled and pressed a kiss to Black’s chest, right above where his heart was buried under his flesh.
Black sat in his lap for a few moments, the TV quietly playing in the background. Black just stared down at the alpha who was staring up at him, a tender look on his face. Black closed his eyes for a few seconds to take in their scent. Since they had lived together for a long time, both of their scents were all over the room, especially saturated in the blankets and pillows on the bed. He opened his eyes again to see Gumpa watching him almost knowingly.
Black realized suddenly that Gumpa could probably feel waves of his happiness through their mating bond. That was how Black had known Gumpa was happy when he was in the doorway of their room. It had taken some time for Black to get used to feeling Gumpa’s emotions since their mating. It just always slipped his mind until his inner omega suddenly focused on the alpha’s emotions. He couldn’t feel the emotions full force but he could tell a hint of it through their mating bond. It had also taken Black some time to get used to Gumpa feeling his emotions. There was no hiding from his mate in that way. Not that he necessarily wanted to hide anything from the alpha, but it was still odd to have someone know everything that you are feeling. Sure he had the bond with White but it was different because they were brothers.
In the quiet moment of their happiness, he decided it was a good time to give Gumpa what he had bought.
“Hia, I got something for you,” Black said and pulled back to lean over to grab the bag under the bed. It required some careful maneuvering so he didn’t fall but Gumpa kept him steady with hands on his waist. Black straightened and put the bag on the bed next to them. Gumpa eyed it curiously but returned his arms to wrap around Black’s waist. Black ignored the alpha’s almost confused expression to grab the small box with the necklace.
“Close your eyes,” Black said and glanced at the alpha to see his eyes shut. Black opened the box and took it out, glancing every few seconds to make sure Gumpa’s eyes were still shut. He undid the clasp and put it around Gumpa’s throat, leaning his head over Gumpa’s shoulder in order to clasp it again. Once it was secure around his throat he leaned back and straightened it. The alpha’s eyebrows were a little furrowed.
“Open.”
Gumpa opened his eyes and looked down, struggling a bit with how close Black’s body was to his. He loosened his arms around Black's waist and finally just used one hand to grasp his waist and used the other to reach up and touch the pendant. Black waited for his reaction, slightly nervous on the inside until a smile spread across the alpha’s face.
“What’s this?”
“Do you like it?”
Gumpa hummed and looked up at Black before he pressed a chaste kiss on Black’s pouty lips.
"I love it."
“There is something else,” Black said and took the shirt out of the bag and passed it to him. Black’s scent was strongly wafting from the cloth. Gumpa brought it to his nose with one hand and took a deep smell before looking at Black. He sat the shirt to the side and rested his other hand on Black’s waist, a strange smile on his lips. He had a knowing look in his eyes as something had clicked into place in his mind.
“Are you courting me?” Gumpa asked teasingly, his head slightly tilted to the side. Black's eyebrows furrowed as he took in the question. He considered his plan and realized it kind of was like courting. He had brought him food, jewelry, and a scented shirt. Plus, he initiated a shower which was an intimate and non-sexual act. It was basically courting but done backward because they had already been mated for a while.
“...I guess I am…I didn’t think of it like that.”
Gumpa smiled wider and kissed Black’s throat while Black continued to think.
“You know, you don’t have to court me, honey. You already have me.”
“I wasn’t trying to court you. I was just trying to do something nice for you.”
Gumpa sucked lightly at a spot on Black’s throat before he released and spoke against his skin.
“You do nice things for me all the time.”
Black tilted his head back further, exposing more of his throat for Gumpa to press marks onto. His hands laced into Gumpa’s hair and his eyebrows furrowed.
“Like what?”
Black asked not because he wanted to hear praise but because he was genuinely confused. He didn’t think he did all that much for Gumpa. Sometimes he thought he took more from the man than he gave.
“So many things,” Gumpa said. When he received an unimpressed look he continued.
“You help me arrange pack meetings when I’m busy. You always keep me company when I have to work on something later than normal. You always know how to make me feel better when I’m stressed. You pick up my favorite food when neither of us feels like cooking. You make nests when you know I’m not feeling well. Black, I could talk about the things you do for me all day.”
“You do those things for me too,” Black pointed out. It was true. It took Black a while to realize some of the things that Gumpa actively did but once he noticed, he couldn’t un-notice it. Gumpa often ordered Black’s favorite dishes from takeout restaurants when it was his turn to get something when they didn’t feel like cooking. He would place good bites of food on Black’s plate because he knew he preferred it. He would place more cashews and mushrooms onto Black’s plate from the take-out Kai Med Ma Muang. Or Gumpa sometimes would give him shrimp from his bowl of Tom Yum Goong because he knew how much Black loved shrimp. When Black studied in the garage, Gumpa would sit nearby reading or doing something on his old laptop, just keeping him company. Sometimes he would go get a drink and silently place it next to Black so he stayed hydrated. There were so many things that Gumpa actively did for Black but he never considered that he did anything similar for Gumpa. He just did things to do them, not considering being noticed for it too.
“So? It doesn’t make anything less nice just because I do things for you too. I do them because I love you and I assume you do the same because you love me.”
“I guess.”
Black’s response must have made Gumpa feel the need to reassure him further.
“Black, I just want you to know that you being here is enough. Having you next to me will always be enough no matter what.”
Black’s nose scrunched.
“Hia, you’re so cheesy.”
Gumpa leaned up and kissed Black’s lips once, twice, and then a third time before he said, “Oh, I’m so sorry but I think you are even cheesier. You’re the one courting me after we’ve already mated.”
“Hia! I swear I wasn’t trying to court you.”
“Mmhm.”
Black groaned, “You are never going to let this go, are you?”
“I don’t think so,” Gumpa said with a large grin and leaned up to kiss Black who was leaning down. Their lips met in a sweet kiss, in their room, in the garage they called home, while their scents combined further in a blend of peace and happiness.
Black pulled back just a bit.
“I love you.”
“I'll always love you.”