Chapter Text
Jeon Jeongguk has always had intense instincts. His parents told him it was a sign of a strong wolf. Or at least, a strong connection with it. Jeongguk has always thought of it more as a nuisance.
Jeongguk presented as an omega just after his fourteenth birthday, younger than what was usual. He barely remembers anything other than snippets of being overwhelmed, hot, and achey. Jeongguk’s now pack members had had to explain to him what had happened after he essentially blacked out for three days with fever.
He remembers being in one of BigHit’s practice rooms, stressed as any trainee trying to make it to debut would be. Jeongguk thought he was just tired, maybe a little nauseated. With the rigorous training schedule he thought it was perfectly normal. What wasn’t normal was the painful cramps that shortly followed this time.
By the time he had made it back to the dorm, the pain was almost unbearable. His developing scent glands were irritated and itchy, shivers wracking through his body, and cramps stabbing through his abdomen. Looking back, the overwhelming scent of the shared space should have been a major clue as to what Jeongguk was about to go through.
Jeongguk wasn’t sure how he made it to the bed in the end. He just remembered a general sense of safety, and then nothing. First heats were like that sometimes; too many things happening all at once that the brain just decides not to process it. A coping method derived from a traumatic event.
Yoongi had told him that he had come home first. How he had been so angry at the thought of Namjoon bringing someone into their private space he had basically kicked the door in so hard the handle had imprinted in the wall.
“Your scent was so strong Jeongguk-ah. And I was convinced Namjoon had brought someone over just to piss me off.”
Yoongi had walked in, taken one look at the boy curled up over the mattress, and almost wished that was the case. Jeongguk was whining painfully with every breath and Yoongi was thinking about how he could barely look after himself during his own heats. How was he going to look after this kid going through a presentation?
Yoongi cursed and called Namjoon first, to demand he come help deal with the situation. Second, he called management to let them know there would be a change in schedules. By that point, Jeongguk had become aware enough of the older omega to helplessly whine at him.
Yoongi had helped Jeongguk build his first nest.
“‘Help’ is probably too strong a word,” Yoongi had said. “Once I started handing you stuff you were very particular about what you wanted and where everything needed to go.”
Hoseok had been the second to arrive back at the dorm. He had freaked out at the new hole in the wall before Yoongi had yelled for him to enter the bedroom. Hoseok had walked in to find Yoongi holding onto an enthusiastic Jeongguk who was frantically rubbing his irritated scent glands against the other omega’s.
“I think I managed to say “what the fuck’ before Yoongi threw a sock at me and told me go start making preparations. I had to call my eomma for advice.” Hoseok told Jeongguk with a laugh.
Namjoon and Seokjin were the last to arrive, with Taehyung being sent to a hotel for the duration of Jeongguk’s presentation. Namjoon had, similarly to Yoongi, burst through the front door with Seokjin following closely behind. The alpha almost tripped over himself with how fast he sprinted to the bedroom.
“You almost took a chunk out of Namjoon’s face after he tried to get into your nest uninvited,” Seokjin had told Jeongguk later on. “But Yoongi got to him first! I think that’s the fastest I’ve seen Yoongi move. And maybe the first time I watched Yoongi yell Namjoon into submission.”
It’s universally known that it’s ill-advised to enter an omega’s nest without a clear acknowledgement of welcome. While there is a ranging variation of reaction from every omega, entering a nest uninvited is likely to give you lasting physical scars. Saved by Yoongi’s fast reflexes, Namjoon was fortunate to avoid getting mauled by a growling Jeongguk.
Seokjin had taken over raiding the kitchen for Hoseok and ordered a delivery for provisions for the next couple of days. They certainly weren’t a pack yet, but they were familiar enough that they knew Jeongguk was unlikely to part with them for the duration of his presentation. Jeongguk spent the next three days in sheer agony but surrounded by people he was closest to.
Jeongguk had been extremely clingy, upset that it was physically impossible to be attached like a barnacle to the five of them at once. If anyone tried to leave the nest, distressed whines were followed by a hand reaching out to drag the leaving party back into the nest. Any impairments to the nest, while almost always accidental (and almost always a result of Namjoon’s clumsiness), left Jeongguk sobbing.
“‘You don’t like my nest?’” Seokjin mimicked Jeongguk after the fact. “‘You think my nest is ugly?’ ‘Why are you ruining my nest?’ I think it’s shocking Namjoon didn’t combust from panic.”
“Yoongi-hyung was never that bad!” Namjoon grumbled back, insisting on defending himself. “There’s only so much space on that tiny mattress.”
“I don’t sound like that…” Jeongguk grumbled, thoroughly embarrassed. But his newly awakened omega was still thrashing at his nest being slighted. He rubbed a hand against his chest, trying to self soothe.
If the four members thought that Jeongguk was extreme during his presentation, he was almost just as bad outside of it. It felt like the higher the pressure was to perform well, the more chaotic Jeongguk got about his nesting.
Even though Jungkook was given the best sleeping arrangement, six people- and soon to be seven- couldn’t live in such close quarters without encroaching on each other’s personal space. Jeongguk would get teary eyed whenever he noticed his nest had been touched or altered with, even if it was accidental.
While Yoongi claimed a more reserved nesting style, Jeongguk was fairly open about stealing the other members' clothes and blankets. Yoongi would growl at anyone who dared to complain about Jeongguk’s thievery.
“He can’t help it!” Yoongi had screamed at Hoseok once. Hoseok had tried to ask for one of his hoodies back after Jeongguk had taken it from the alpha’s laundry pile. “No omega can! You think he wants to purposely piss you off by taking your dirty fucking laundry? It’s instinct, asshole.”
Yoongi had walked in on Jeongguk hysterically sobbing because his alpha wanted to “dismantle” his nest. Hoseok couldn’t fit two words in to defend himself before Yoongi started scolding him.
When Jimin finally moved in a few months before the group’s debut, he and Taehyung presented at the same time which kickstarted their soulmate agenda. Taehyung’s presentation was quite milder due to his beta status. Jimin, on the other hand, had the very familiar aches and cramps that came along with omega presentation.
It was a long four days of Jimin nesting around Taehyung and snarling at anyone who came near. Only Seokjin was granted the privilege of making sure they hadn’t died from dehydration because of his nonthreatening beta status.
Jeongguk remembers frequent fights with the newly presented omega over who could have specific scented articles of clothing found around the dorm. Yoongi played peacekeeper more often than not.
“I swear you two fight more than me and Namjoon,” Yoongi had groaned once after following the scent of distress and finding the pair of omegas brawling under the dinner table over Namjoon’s sweatshirt he had thrown over one of the chairs earlier in the day. They were days away from their debut stage and emotions were running higher than usual.
Jeongguk was pinned underneath Jimin, stomach down and right arm behind his back caught in Jimin’s grasp. The sweatshirt in question was abandoned a couple feet away from where the omegas were wrestling.
“Hyung,” Jeongguk started, turning his head so Yoongi could see his doe eyes brimming with tears. “I saw it first!”
“You only saw it after I already had it in my hands!” Jimin protested, twisting the younger omega’s arm further. Jeongguk whined at Yoongi for help.
Yoongi merely sighed and picked up the sweatshirt. Jeongguk growled, scent flaring in agitation, as soon as his fingers touched the fabric. “Yah! If you weren’t handling this like pups I wouldn’t even have to be here!”
Yoongi stepped backwards and took out his phone, intending on texting the group chat about a group meeting later. Jimin grumbled and lifted himself off of Jeongguk and offered a hand to help the younger up. Jeongguk swatted the helping hand away and stood up on his own, eyeing the hoodie still in Yoongi’s hand.
Yoongi looked up from his phone and pointed a finger at the younger omega. “Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi said sternly. “Don’t you dare.”
Jeongguk was edging closer to Yoongi, eyes fixated on the sweatshirt.
Yoongi reacted before he even realized Jeongguk had moved. Dropping the sweatshirt and his phone, he whipped the boy around and bit down at the top of his neck. Yoongi wrapped his arms around the boy’s armpits as he immediately dropped in response to being scruffed.
“Jimin-ah grab his legs.”
Jeongguk let out a long whine in protest.
“Was it really necessary to scruff him?” Jimin asked. He followed the elder omega’s instruction.
“It’s not a game for him. His instincts drive him to hoard nesting materials. He’s described it to me– that it feels like he’s being boiled from the inside out.”
“Oh.”
Jeongguk had been laid down on top of his nest by the two omegas to recover from being fully scruffed. Later that night, Yoongi had called everyone into the living room for a roommate meeting, recapping what had happened a couple hours prior. Jeongguk begrudgingly apologized to Jimin for his behavior.
Namjoon asked what would be best going forward to reduce the arguments over nesting materials. With how limited their budget was at the time, it was hard to share scented items between the three omegas. Yoongi didn’t care much for nesting except for when he was in heat, but he liked to have at least a couple scented items to soothe him to sleep.
And while Jimin was more particular about keeping a larger, more organized nest to sleep in, he was a million times more relaxed about it than Jeongguk with his nest. Jimin even let Taehyung nest with him and allowed the beta to move around the materials.
“Without pack bonds, Jeongguk’s omega sees Jimin as a threat.” Namjoon told the group. “I’m not sure how to reduce incidents when there’s seven of us sharing such a small space.”
Jeongguk was curled up practically on top of Namjoon on the couch with his head on the alpha’s chest. Namjoon had one hand in the omega’s hair, running his hands through the strands affectionately.
“We could ask Bang PD-nim to share some more of his salary,” Taehyung grumbled from his space on the floor. Jimin poked him in the side.
“I think it would go really well if you asked PD-nim, Tae,” Jimin giggled and Taehyung butted his head against him.
“We haven’t even debuted yet and you want to ask boss-man for a raise?” Hoseok laughed with Jimin.
“I have a friend whose pack uses, like, a donation bin of nesting materials,” Seokjin said, diverting the conversation back to the original topic. “Their omega was struggling, you know, asking to take stuff so the rest of the pack just made a pile of stuff they were willing to part with. I mean, they rotated stuff out obviously. But maybe we could try that.”
“The issue is that Jeongguk gets laser focused on anything that’s left out. And there’s always something left out,” Yoongi pointed out. Jeongguk’s scent started to turn sour, expressing his dislike of being the center of the conversation. Six calming scents flared to meet his.
He twisted his face into Namjoon’s chest to hide as everyone turned to stare at him. “I can’t help it,” Jeongguk mumbled, keeping a death grip on Namjoon’s shirt.
Namjoon chuckled. He took a fistful of the omega’s hair and tugged gently, receiving a soft whine. “Jeongguk-ah, you have to tell us what’s going to be easiest for you. We know you have strong instincts and we’re trying to be accommodating. But you gotta meet us halfway, baby.”
Jeongguk pouted and turned his head slightly. “I don’t know, hyungs. Maybe I should just go on suppressants.”
Yoongi’s scent immediately burned. “Absolutely not. That shit messes you up.”
“It’s not the worst idea. A lighter dose might take the edge off.” Namjoon’s face turned thoughtful.
“Suppressants aren’t supposed to be used long term. And definitely not this young. He’s still a pup!”
“There was a study done last year about how small doses of suppressants can actually benefit those who struggle with strong instincts.”
“There’s nothing wrong with his instincts,” Yoongi snarled. “What would a fucking alpha know, huh? All your instincts tell you is how to shove your knot in a wet hole.”
“Oh fuck off. Like you don’t like my knot in your-”
“Okay!” Seokjin clapped his hands together, pushing out calming pheromones. “I think we should wrap this up later. Jimin-ah, Taehyung-ah, go take Ggukkie to the bedroom.”
Jimin and Taehyung begrudgingly got up and dragged Jeongguk from his spot where he clung to Namjoon. Jeongguk watched as Seokjin took a hold of a seething Yoongi and led him out the front door, telling Hoseok to do something about Namjoon.
Taehyung’s grip on Jeongguk’s wrist loosened when they entered the bedroom, Jimin shutting the door behind them. Jeongguk wandered over to his bed and sat down on the edge, putting his face in his hands.
“What a mess,” Taehyung huffed.
Jimin pursed his lips. “Yoongi’s not wrong. About the suppressants thing. Not- yeah.”
“It’s a miracle those two get anything done in the studio,” Taehyung muttered. Jeongguk wasn’t sure if he meant about agreements on music or the amount of sex they were having behind closed doors. He didn’t exactly feel like asking to clarify. Jeongguk rubbed his eyes and sighed.
“I’ve thought about it. Going on suppressants. It’s not as taboo as it was like ten years ago,” Jeongguk said.
“But there are side effects. And none of them are to be taken lightly. Can I sit?” Jimin had moved closer to Jeongguk, patiently waiting for permission to sit at the edge of his nest. Jeongguk nods, shoving down the feeling of wrongness his wolf was throwing at him. He let Jimin wrap an arm around him and the older omega begins rubbing the inside of his wrist against the younger’s neck.
“Ultimately, it’s your decision Gguk,” Taehyung says, sitting down in between Jimin’s legs.
“I hate that I keep being the reason that hyungs fight. I know that I’m not doing it on purpose but it feels like I am. My wolf is just so restless.” Jeongguk rubs circles at his chest. Both Jimin and Taehyung release calming pheromones to ease the discomfort Jeongguk was feeling. Taehyung reaches a hand to squeeze the omega’s knee.
“We know. It’ll get better once we debut, okay?” Jimin told him.
And it did, for the most part. Debut came and went, Namjoon claimed all of them as pack with a bite, and Jeongguk’s wolf finally felt calm enough that everyday wasn’t a battle fighting his own instincts. His ire towards Jimin turned into something lighter. And no one brought up suppressants after that night, but Jeongguk thought about it often.
Years later, things have settled exponentially. A bigger apartment, pack bonds tug through the seven of them, and a decent sum of money sitting in all of their bank accounts.
Jeongguk even has a whole room to himself, a queen mattress covered in blankets and clothing that filled most of the space. While it was a serious improvement from the tiny apartment the pack had shared before, Jeongguk had a full blown meltdown about deconstructing the nest he had built there.
Laundry day was bad enough, but Jeongguk was inconsolable on the last day of moving out. His nest had been left for last since everyone had expected this outcome. Jeongguk spent an hour sobbing and snarling at anyone who dared come close to his nest.
Hoseok had shoved a reluctant Namjoon forward when Yoongi had conveniently disappeared. “You’re the pack leader, you deal with him.”
In the end, Namjoon had forced Seokjin to placate him while the alpha circled and tackled Jeongguk. Namjoon scruffed the omega with a bite and had to let the rest of the members pack up his nest while he carried Jeongguk down to the car.
“I’m not sure he’s ever going to forgive me for this,” Namjoon had told Seokjin when he finally had Jeongguk in his arms.
It took Jeongguk two weeks before he talked to Namjoon again. Two weeks of tension, awkward dance practices, and Namjoon doing everything he could to beg for the omega’s forgiveness.
Jeongguk still has the stuffed dragon, named Joonie out of spite, that the alpha had left at his door on one of those days. He stares down at it now, sitting cross legged on his nest, taking a deep breath to inhale the fading scent of Namjoon. He’d have to ask the alpha to scent it again soon.
Jeongguk tenses at a soft knock at his door.
“Gguk-ah?”
He lets out a breath and tucks the stuffed dragon back in its rightful place in the nest. It’s just Hoseok. “Yeah?” He calls back.
Hoseok opens the door and sticks his head in. “We’re leaving in five, just wanted to give you a heads up.”
“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.”
Hoseok smiles and closes the door on his way out. Jeongguk sighs and gets up, smoothing the wall of his nest that he’d brushed past. He forces himself to draw his hands back and focus on getting ready for the upcoming photoshoot.
Promotions for their upcoming album had Jeongguk’s instincts acting weird again. He’s been more involved this time around with production and figures the stress must be getting to him. He vows to go to the gym later and get rid of his excess energy. Sometimes exhausting himself is one of the only ways to suppress his instincts. That, or getting scruffed.
“Focus,” Jeongguk mutters to himself when his omega thrashes at the thought of getting scruffed.
He throws on a hoodie and joins Hoseok and Seokjin in the living room while they wait for Jimin. The rest of the pack were going to meet them at the venue of the shoot.
Seokjin brightens when he spots the omega. “Jeongguk-ah, let hyung scent you before we go.”
Jeongguk agrees easily, dropping next to the beta on the couch. Seokjin immediately lifts him onto his lap and starts nosing at his neck. Jeongguk sighs happily at the warmth of being held and the nice, clean scent that starts to surround him.
“Such a good boy for Hyung, right Ggukkie?” Jeongguk’s scent sweetens at the words which in turn causes Hoseok to look over at the two of them.
“Yah! Don’t get him scent drunk right before we have to leave.”
“Don’t be jealous, you can scent him too.” Seokjin grins from behind the omega while Jeongguk starts nodding in agreement.
“Scent. Please?” Jeongguk puts on his best begging face. Doe eyes wide and round and full of pleading. Hoseok instantly cracks.
“You’re lucky Jimin-ah is taking his sweet time.” Hoseok sits down next to the pair. “Give me the baby, Jin-hyung.”
Seokjin passes him over with a smirk and Jeongguk happily squirms until he’s comfortable against the alpha’s chest. Hoseok wraps an arm around Jeongguk’s stomach to keep him steady. He shivers when he feels lips press against the back of his neck, right over where his bite mark is placed. Hoseok takes a deep inhale, trying to catch the omega’s scent, nose wrinkling slightly when most of what he smells is Seokjin. The alpha’s scent grows stronger as he begins to rub his cheek against the crook of Jeongguk’s neck. When the alpha licks a stripe up his scent gland it’s all Jeongguk can do to hold back a moan.
He’s not sure when he starts purring, but he is aware of the growing hardness against his back. He feels his body starting to return in kind, the scent of slick joining the mix of pheromones. Of course, this is when Jimin decides to make an appearance.
Jeongguk notices him first, sensitive nose picking up the omega’s sweet scent. “Jimin-ssi,” he grins.
“God, it reeks in here. What did you do, rub one out on him?” Jimin holds his wrist up to his nose, trying to muffle the strong scents in the room.
Seokjin laughs and the squeaky sound fills the room. “Hob-ah got a little carried away. All I suggested was a little mild scenting.”
Jeongguk feels the rumble of growling from the alpha encasing him. He keens and tilts his head in submission, the omega trying to appease his upset alpha.
“Sure you did. Mild scenting does not require boners, hyung.” Jeongguk looks down and sure enough he’s hard as well. “Ugh, go put scent patches on. And take care of that.” Jimin’s eyes flick down to the bulge in Jeongguk’s.
Jeongguk smiles sheepishly. “You wanna help?”
Jimin immediately picks up a box of tissues left on the table next to him and throws it at the younger. With the intent to maim, Jeongguk isn’t sure. He yelps and scrambles to catch it.
“Hyung,” Jeongguk whines. “I could have died!”
“You’ll live. Can we go?” Jimin heads towards the door and Seokjin moves to follow him.
The alpha winces as he removes Jeongguk from his lap, setting the omega to the side as he stands up. “Sorry Ggukkie. We’ll finish this later, hmm?” Hoseok holds out a hand for him.
Jeongguk is thinking they could just finish it in the car but he’s sure the group isn’t trying to traumatize their driver. He stares at the bulge that is much more eye level with him now. He drags his eyes to meet Hoseok’s. He bites his lip. Hoseok gulps.
“Absolutely not! We are late already.” Jimin groans from the doorway.
“And whose fault is that?” Jeongguk whines.
“C’mon kids, orgasms can be for post-work activities.” Seokjin wiggles his eyebrows from his place beside the other omega and Jeongguk considers taking a page out of Jimin’s book and throwing the box in his hands at him. He resists the urge and takes the offered hand from Hoseok and sticks his tongue out at Seokjin. Hoseok hauls him up and takes him to the bathroom to grab the stock of scent patches they keep exactly for situations like this.
“You might want to- uh. You still smell of slick,” Hoseok tells Jeongguk after placing the patch over Jeongguk’s scent glands.
“Ah, yeah give me a minute. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Hoseok nods and leaves him alone. The absence of the alpha helps Jeongguk pull himself back together a bit. He cleans himself up and tries to ignore the stirring of his wolf making itself present again. The restlessness is back and Jeongguk forces himself to take a deep breath, trying to calm the ache building up in his chest. He leaves the bathroom and hurries to follow the others into the car.
He spends most of the shoot in a daze, following instructions from the staff without protest. The interview that follows also goes fine. Jeongguk laughs at the right moments, answers questions in earnest, lets Taehyung poke at him in jest. It goes fine, until the interviewer decides it’s time to ask questions about their at-home life.
“Who would you say is the hardest member to live with? Do you ever have any conflicts?”
It’s not even the worst question they’ve gotten. It’s probably not even in the top twenty worst questions. In fact, they’ve been asked numerous variations of this question. Jeongguk understands that the fans are always curious about the group’s dynamic and how they get along so well after being randomly grouped together and shoved in a small dorm. But it’s also a stupid question. Of course there’s conflict. Who wouldn’t have an argument here or there when there’s seven people shoved together? It was bad enough having all of them sleeping in one room in their first dorm. And so Jeongguk is suspecting the usual “RM snores” or “J-Hope is a clean freak” or “Jimin and V have petty arguments over everything.”
Which does happen. And then-
“I’ve never met an omega as strict as Jeonggukkie is about nesting,” Taehyung laughs. “I think he would kick us all out and turn the whole dorm into his nest if he could.”
It shouldn’t rub him the wrong way. It’s said in jest, just a joke. But isn’t it in bad taste to talk publicly about nesting habits? Jeongguk feels his heart speeding up. And then Hoseok says-
“Ah, our Jeonggukkie does steal a lot of clothes. I think I’ve had half my wardrobe in his nest at one time before.
“Try your entire closet. I’ve had to buy new shirts because he wouldn’t give any of mine back,” Namjoon says.
Jeongguk has never been more grateful to have scent patches pasted to his skin. He doesn’t have to fight to keep his scent neutral but he does have to fight to keep the smile on his face, playing along and laughing with the other members.
“Yah, you’d be uptight too if you had alphas constantly messing up your hard work.” Yoongi says. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed you stealing your omega’s clothes Joon-ah.”
“Jimin-ah always lets me mess up his hard work.” Taehyung reaches a hand behind him to shake hands with Jimin, who giggles back at him. Namjoon’s face turns red at Yoongi’s comment. Jeongguk continues to stare at the camera.
“That’s because you two are disgustingly in tune with each other,” Seokjin says.
“My testicle buddy,” Taehyung sings at now wildly cackling Jimin.
A sigh from Namjoon. “Please edit that out.”
The conversation moves on and Jeongguk swallows down a wave of anxiety. He knows his nesting posed as a problem before, but he thinks he manages the urges okay now. Was it still bad for the others? Did his nesting make them uncomfortable? Or was it just that Taehyung decided he should be the butt of the joke today? Jeongguk isn’t sure, and he doesn’t exactly want to ponder it too deeply. But his omega is thrashing at the thought of his nest being insulted.
There’s only a couple more questions to answer and Jeongguk does his best to stay engaged. He’s not sure it has escaped Yoongi and Seokjin’s notice that he hasn’t said much in this interview.
In the time between filming, Jeongguk escapes to the bathroom to take a moment to himself. He stares at himself in the mirror, noting that the skin underneath the patches on his neck look a bit swollen. He takes his index finger and pokes at it, sucking a breath in through clenched teeth when the action causes a flare of pain. He was just scented hours ago so what was his body protesting for?
When he exits the restroom, Jimin is there waiting for him.
“Hi Gukkie,” Jimin says as he falls into step with Jeongguk.
“Hi hyung,” Jeongguk turns to look at him expectantly, a small smile playing on his lips.
Jimin’s eyes drop to his neck and Jeongguk suddenly hopes this isn’t an interrogation. “Yoongi said you might not be feeling well. I just wanted to apologize about earlier, if it upset you.”
“What, the thing with Hobi-hyung?”
“Yeah. I kinda ruined your scenting session didn’t I?”
Jeongguk huffs a laugh at that. Was it just a scenting session? It felt more like a precursor to a threesome; foursome, if Jimin was in the mood. “I think we’re lucky we weren’t later than we already were to the photoshoot. Namjoon-hyung would have killed us.”
“I think he would just be jealous he couldn’t slobber his scent all over you.”
They make it back to the room where they were supposed to be being freshened up for the variety show they had scheduled next. Jeongguk opens the door and holds it for Jimin.
“We really wouldn’t have made it out the door then.”
The conversation eases Jeongguk’s nerves a little, letting him continue the day of promotions without feeling completely insane.
It’s a week later, and Jeongguk is getting increasingly upset at how anxious his wolf feels, how his scent glands are randomly inflamed. He finds himself slipping into old habits of nesting too much, then being upset that he’s nesting. He tries not to let that interview get to his head but he can’t seem to stop thinking about it. His nesting has always been a problem, hasn’t it? Even the clothes he knows that have been left out purposely for him to take, he carefully puts back. He doesn’t want his pack to feel like they have to constantly appease him with scented clothing. The only thing he can’t seem to help take is Namjoon’s socks he finds in the alpha’s gym bag, drenched in sweat and musk and pine. Sue him, he knows it’s gross.
What’s worse, however, is how aware Jeongguk becomes of the lack of attention he’s been getting. He knows life gets busy, especially in their line of work, but he doesn’t think he’s been scented since that morning with Hoseok and Seokjin, at least not full scenting. He’s sure there’s been subtle scenting between dance practices, vocal sessions, and promotions but his wolf is howling for more. It also doesn’t help that Namjoon and Yoongi have locked themselves in their respective studios when the group isn’t filming or practicing. Jimin and Hoseok have been tweaking choreography late into the night, like tonight. Taehyung’s on a flight back from some other country where he was doing a brand ambassador photoshoot and such. Seokjin, Jeongguk thinks, is sitting in the living room playing Overwatch.
He walks out of his room to find Seokjin lounging in RJ themed pajamas on their well-loved grey couch, controller in hand. Jeongguk plops himself down next to the beta and draws his knees up, hugging them. Seokjin doesn’t acknowledge him and Jeongguk watches the screen, taking quiet breaths of the calming scent.
He waits patiently for the round to finish before he starts bothering the elder. Jeongguk tugs at the sleeve of Seokjin’s sweatshirt.
Seokjin hums. “Hyung’s a little busy, Gguk-ah.”
“No you’re not.” Jeongguk tugs again petulantly, and Seokjin huffs a laugh. He raises his arm and allows Jeongguk to stick himself to the beta’s side. Jeongguk immediately rubs his cheek against Seokjin’s scent gland, enjoying the warmth the beta’s body was emitting.
“I’m serious, though. We have the night off and I intend to spend all of it beating other people up on here.”
Jeongguk bites down on Seokjin’s shoulder in retaliation. He’s certainly not moving from his spot without force.
“Yah! I’m not a piece of meat.” Seokjin brings a hand up and grabs a fist of hair, tugging. Jeongguk bites down harder. “Ah, Ggukkie, you brat.”
Jeongguk’s lips twitch upwards until Seokjin’s hand moves down to the back of his neck and squeezes lightly. The omega immediately releases him, a small whine tears from his throat. “Hyung.” Jeongguk pleads, eyes wide and pout evident.
Seokjin turns his head away from him and shuts his eyes quickly. “Not gonna work. Hyung’s busy. Go fluff your nest or whatever you omegas do.”
Jeongguk huffs. “This omega wants to cuddle.”
“I’m sure Jiminie and Hob-ah would love a cuddle buddy when they get home. Now, shoo.” Seokjin pats his butt lovingly as Jeongguk stands begrudgingly.
Jeongguk trudges back to his room and flops onto the floor. The rejection stings. If Seokjin had just scented him a little it might have hurt less. He stares at the ceiling, contemplating nothing but the gradual boredness that sets in. He sits up as quickly as he laid down. He rummages through his drawer of the desk until he pulls out the Nintendo DS that’s been rotting in there. He checks the game card slot, wondering what he last played. Super Mario Bros. Yes, that’ll cure his boredom alright. He blows out a breath of frustration when he can’t find the charger for it.
Jeongguk walks back to the living room. “Hyung, do you have a DS charger?” He speaks loudly, trying to gain the elder’s attention over the game.
“Mmm, I think Hob-ah has one.” Seokjin says, distracted.
As always, Jeongguk’s instincts are the reason to stir up trouble.
He wanders into the room Hoseok shares with Jimin, searching through the alpha’s desk with no luck. He sticks his head under Hoseok’s bed, spotting a plastic tub that’s filled with miscellaneous items. He digs through it until he spots the familiar dark grey wire.
“Ah-hah!”
Spoils of war in hand, Jeongguk turns to leave when he spots something out of place on Jimin’s bed–or more accurately–his nest. The sleeve of a sweater hangs down from the methodically messy spread of clothes and blankets. Jeongguk curls his hands into fists, fingernails pressing into his palms so harshly he’s sure they might draw blood.
Fix it, his instincts scream at him.
He tries, he really tries to ignore the pressing need to place the sweater back in its rightful spot. Alas, Jeongguk has never been good at impulse control. The charger slips out of his hands and lands with a quiet thunk.
He tucks the sleeve back into the nest.
And once he starts, he can’t stop.
Jeongguk’s eyes glaze over as his wolf takes control. The urge is persistent. Fix it. It’s not right. Have to make it perfect.
Jeongguk comes back to himself with a gasp. He stares wide eyed at the nest he’s perfected ruined.
“Oh, fuck,” Jeongguk looks up to see Hoseok frozen at the doorway, eyes widened in disbelief at the sight in front of him.
“Hyung, move,” Jimin whines from behind the alpha, trying to squeeze his way past. “What-”
“Hyung, hyung it was an accident I-” Jeongguk shuts his mouth with a click at the glare Jimin sends his way. Jimin’s burning scent is overwhelming and Jeongguk holds a hand over his nose to muffle the smell.
“I’m seriously going to kill you,” Jimin says through gritted teeth, pushing past Hoseok with a growl building up in his throat.
“Jiminie-” Hoseok moves forward to pull the omega back but yelps when Jimin whirls around and snarls at him.
“Do not involve yourself in this.” Hoseok puts his hands up in surrender and backs up, unsure of how to resolve the situation, eyes flicking between both omegas. Jeongguk watches Jimin quietly, trying to remind himself that he deserves whatever hell is about to be unleashed on him.
Omega doesn’t like it? But I fixed it? Jeongguk’s wolf seems to be saying.
Jimin stalks towards him and Jeongguk tries to make himself smaller, curling up on his– no, Jimin’s nest. He flinches when the smaller omega reaches out and wraps his fingers around the neckline of the hoodie Jeongguk is wearing. He lets out an involuntary whine when he’s dragged off the bed, the grip on his sweatshirt making him choke a bit.
“Jimin-ah, don’t-”
“Shut up!” Jimin snarls again. Jeongguk kneels on the ground at Jimin’s feet and fights with his own omega who is snarling at the thought of being ripped from a nest he’s claimed. He pants, waiting for Jimin to do something. He tilts his head up to see Jimin looking over his bed where Jeongguk had basically rearranged everything. The omega is still growling, obviously in distress at the thought of his nest being destroyed. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Jeongguk?”
Jeongguk doesn’t say anything, just focuses on controlling his breathing through the fear the human part of him is feeling. Jimin’s hand wraps around the top of his neck, squeezing. It’s too high up to be a scruff, but Jeongguk anticipates it won’t be long before he’s sent down into submission.
“I thought we were past this.” The hitch in his voice makes Jeongguk realize Jimin is crying and he whines again. Upset that Jimin’s upset, upset that his omega is upset, upset that he can’t go one day without his instincts ruining everything.
He closes his eyes and embraces the endorphins when Jimin’s hand drops further on his neck and squeezes roughly, sending Jeongguk barreling into submission. His body falls back and Jimin doesn’t break his fall.
“Take him, hyung.”
Jeongguk feels arms pull him up and he’s powerless to help ease some of his weight. Hoseok carries him bridal-style out of the room. He feels the alpha pause for a moment on their way to what Jeongguk assumes will be his own room.
“Taehyung-ah.” Jeongguk cracks his eyes open to see they’re now in the living room. Taehyung’s head pops up from where he was laid on the couch against Seokjin. Jeongguk can’t help the keen that comes out of him at the sight. So Taehyung can be a bother to Seokjin but Jeongguk can’t? “Go help Jimin-ah.”
Taehyung stares directly at Jeongguk, who can’t speak or move. “What happened?”
Hoseok shakes his head, refusing to answer the question. Or maybe, refusing to speak aloud what Jeongguk did. “Go.”
There’s no room for discussion and Taehyung doesn’t protest further before slipping out of the room. Hoseok continues to Jeongguk’s room, Seokjin staring after them but making no move to follow them. Hoseok places him gently on his nest.
“Jesus Jeongguk, what were you thinking?”
Jeongguk is pretty sure he wasn’t thinking at all. And he definitely isn’t now, head fuzzy and body floating.
Hoseok’s scent is a mix of sadness and frustration as he paces around the room and Jeongguk once again can’t help the keen that slips from his throat. His alpha is upset and there’s nothing Jeongguk can do but lay where he’s been put down. He watches Hoseok pull out his phone and dial a number, putting the phone up to his ear. It must ring a few times before the person on the other end answers.
“Hey hyung, are you still at the studio?”
Hoseok continues to pace.
“Yeah, I know mixing sounds can be a real bitch.”
He huffs an unhappy laugh.
“You think you’ll be home soon?”
More pacing.
“Ah, it’s Jeonggukkie.” Hoseok turns his eyes to look at the omega sprawled on the bed. “It’s… I think it’s probably best if you ask him yourself what happened. I don’t even really know myself.”
Whoever is on the other side of the line, and Jeongguk has an inkling it might be Yoongi, says something else before Hoseok says goodbye and ends the call. The alpha wanders over and sits on the edge of Jeongguk’s nest. He ruffles the omega’s hair with a small smile.
“What are we going to do with you, huh?”
Jeongguk isn’t sure what he’s going to do with himself either.
────────────────────
Jeongguk finds himself the next day at the tiny corner store a couple blocks from the dorms, looking at over-the-counter subgender suppressants. It’s almost seven in the morning and Jeongguk is prolonging the inevitable talk he’s going to have to have with the pack when everyone wakes up.
He’d come to buy some of Jimin’s favorite snacks as part of his apology when he had finally awoken after the effects of the scruffing had worn off and had left his wolf restless again. But he’d stared down the heat supplies aisle and his mind had once again drifted to suppressants, which Yoongi still refuses to let him try. But Jeongguk is a grown ass adult. And Jeongguk is thoroughly frustrated by his wolf’s lack of boundaries.
He pinches the edge of his face mask where it touches the bridge of his nose, staring at the different brands of suppressants. It’s split between heat suppressants that delay inconveniently timed heats, scent suppressants (as opposed to scent patches or cream), and general suppressants that suppress instincts. Jeongguk picks up a random box and flips to the back, skimming through the information. All it says is that it ‘limits an omega’s instincts to scent, nest, and produce and receive pheromones.”
Well, that’s just about what Jeongguk needs. He shrugs, takes it with him to the self checkout kiosk, and tries to ignore the stare of the attendant overseeing the store.
The omega spends the walk back to the apartment thinking over how he’s going to plead for Jimin’s forgiveness. Jeongguk is pretty sure his pack members are going to start balding soon with how much he stresses them out. He snorts at the thought.
Jeongguk reaches the front door and starts patting his pockets looking for his keys. He puts down the bag of snacks with a frown when he doesn’t immediately find them.
“Fuck,” Jeongguk groans quietly. The key is probably sitting next to his phone where he left both on the nightstand. He slides down the wall next to the door and puts his head in his hands. He bites back tears of frustration. With luck, someone will have an early schedule and let him in soon.
He pulls out the omega suppressants again and stares at the bottle.
He sits out in the hallway for an hour and half before there are voices filtering through the door. Jeongguk makes to get up before he freezes at hearing his name.
“It’s not fair that Jeongguk-ah keeps getting free passes. We all have instincts. He went too far this time.”
“I know.”
“Yoongi-yah.”
There’s a pause. Jeongguk presses his ear to the door.
“I don’t know how to help him.” Yoongi sounds pained and Jeongguk feels his heart clench knowing he’s the cause.
“I think he’s a little bit beyond our help,” Seokjin laughs half heartedly. Jeongguk feels like he’s taken a punch to the gut. He closes his eyes and takes measured breaths. “Where is he anyway? Thought you were making sure he didn’t mess anything else up.”
“He wasn’t here when I woke up. I tried to call him but the kid left his phone on the nightstand.” The sound of running water, then Yoongi speaks again. “I think I need a break from this.”
“We could all use a break. Alas, fortune and fame calls.”
“I’m serious, Jin-ah.”
Another pause. Jeongguk starts rubbing his palm against his chest.
“What do you want to do?” Jeongguk strains to hear the softly spoken words. “He could always go on-“
“No. No, there has to be something else.” Jeongguk cracks his eyes open and stares at the bottle of suppressants still sitting in his hand. Why was Yoongi so against this?
Jeongguk decides he doesn’t want to listen anymore. He quietly picks himself up and rubs at his eyes that had grown wet. He hopes he doesn’t look as bad as he feels. Jeongguk places the suppressants back in the bag and steps quietly to the end of the hallway before walking back to the door with purposefully loud footsteps. He knocks. The muffled voices stop and he hears footsteps growing closer.
The door opens to reveal Seokjin with Yoongi standing a few paces back, both looks turning from confusion to apprehension.
“Hi, sorry, I forgot my key.” He tries to smile but it probably looks more like a grimace.
“Where were you?” Seokjin asks, it’s probably mostly out of curiosity, but it feels like an accusation.
“Out.” Jeongguk doesn’t know why he doesn’t just say where he was. “Can I come in?”
Seokjin silently moves to the side to let the omega in. Jeongguk glances as he walks past at Yoongi but quickly averts his gaze when he notices Yoongi’s eyes are narrowed in suspicion. Jeongguk tries to keep his scent neutral.
Jeongguk quickens his pace and hurries back to his room hoping the older omega isn’t following him. But of course, Jeongguk’s luck strikes out.
“Are you going to tell me where you were?” Yoongi takes a loose hold around Jeongguk’s elbow.
“Why?” He keeps his eyes trained on the door, knowing if he looks at Yoongi his resolve will crumble.
“Just making sure we won’t have to run any damage control if there’s articles.”
Jeongguk huffs. “I’m not stupid.”
“Didn’t say you were. Just a lot of sasaengs.”
“I’m always careful.”
“You didn’t remember your key.” Jeongguk sees Yoongi raise a brow at him out of the corner of his eye.
“Yeah, whatever. It won’t happen again.” Jeongguk shakes him off and steps into his room and slams the door behind him, locking it.
“Jeon Jeongguk!” Yoongi shouts angrily, rattling the door knob. Jeongguk stares at the door and curls his hands into fists to stop himself from opening it and apologizing. After a moment, he hears a sigh and footsteps receding.
He changes out of his clothes and drops onto his bed. Jeongguk rolls around in his nest trying to soothe himself with the scent of pack, but it mostly smells of him. When was the last time he had let any of his packmates into his nest? The feeling of wrongness sits heaving in the pit of his stomach. He turns his head to stare at the bag placed on the nightstand. Jeongguk sits up and grabs it, opening the bottle with shaky hands. Before he can change his mind, he takes one out and drops it in his mouth, dry swallowing it.