With arms crossed and a bored look at the games that took place on the court, Nicolas could not fully concentrate on his possible opponents.
Something was bothering him.
And that pissed him off.
Drumming his fingers on his left arm, the omega growled with the sudden twinge in the head. He ignored such a nuisance, or rather tried, however the image of a certain blonde alpha always popped into his mind.
Was he going crazy?
Touching his own lips, Nicolas sighed heavy for the thousandth time. That joke was going too far. His thoughts were invaded by increasingly uncontrollable desires. And in the end, he had to admit. He wanted to kiss Milles more and more, because.. May the heavens have kindness for him... because he liked it.
He had not been able to get out of his mind that anger stamped on the alpha's brown eyes when he confronted him on Thursday night. He seemed to suffer from something that Nicolas himself had caused, even without knowing exactly what it might be.
He had claimed responsibility, but what could he do for him? Nicolas only kissed him because he felt the need, because something inside him asked that if he did that look would disappear.
That Milles' pain would be gone.
He wasn't so sure now.
Having his vision blurred, Nicolas closed his eyes and squeezed them with his fingertips. He sighed heavy when the headache began to appear as a bomb thrown at full steam. He had gone back a few steps leaning against the wall, escaping the aromas that surrounded him. None of them was the right aroma to calm him.
What was going on?
What was that all about?
What a suffocating feeling...
— Nico! ― Theodore appeared next to him, holding his shoulders looking like his body was about to fall without him noticing. ― What was it? Did something happen?
Nicolas's hands trembled as he held Theodore's blouse, closing his fists.
― It's nothing. A headache, that's all.
― Are you feeling anything else? Should I go talk to the professor and ask him to take you to the infirmary?
Quickly the little man denied with his head, slipping through the wall until he sat on the floor still clinging to his best friend.
― No need. Soon pass. I need to take a nap, that's all...
— Your smell ― He stopped, Theodore looking at him frightened. Nicolas widened his eyes as surprised as to smell the air and feel his own sweet aroma. ― It's very strong...
― The stickers, Theo. Quick!
Theodore released Nicolas to go to his bag where he took the box of stickers, hiding in the pocket of the blouse. Soon he would return to his friend and pull him by the arm leaving him standing. Holding him tightly, Theodore took a deep breath searching for the nearest bathroom when Gabriel approached also looking worried.
― What was Theo? Did something happen?
Looking around to find out if anyone could hear them, the omega soon whispered to the fixer.
― Nico's smell is coming back, I'm going to the bathroom with him to put the stickers. Can you cover me?
― But of course. I'll help you.
And out as soon as Nicolas had ended up inside a bathroom stall next to Theodore, shirtless and with ten stickers spread all over his body. At the door of the cabin Gabriel waited disguising the strong smell of omega with his own, which certainly pulled prying eyes from other players who entered the bathroom.
― Why so suddenly? You were fine until now.
― I should suspect that this peace would not last long. I will ask my mother to make an appointment for me. I must be sick.
Theodore swallowed hard and agreed with his head when he finished gluing the eleventh adhesive on Nicolas's back. Six in the front and five in the back was the saddest sight for that omega.
— Okay. You'll feel sleepy since it's a lot of stickers. I think it's better to sleep before departure. I can wake you up about 20 minutes before we start and give you a quick orientation.
― All right.
Opening the cabin door, Nicolas went out to the sink to wash his face with cold water. His vision remained blurry and his head ached like hell. Shaking his head sideways, he tried to turn his senses, not succeeding.
Theodore put the cap on his head and helped him with the blouse before it caught cold. The last thing they needed was for the captain to get a fever.
― Do you still smell him?
― It is a little weaker, but it is still present ― Said Gabriel worried. ― Typical smell of omega.
― I'll try to get him to sleep so the suppressors have a faster effect.
― I'll stay with you, I can cover his scent if I need to.
Theodore held Gabriel's hand and gave him a friendly smile.
― Thank you, Gabriel.
The alpha leaned in to seal the omega cheek and then helped Nicolas out of the bathroom by returning to where his team would be near. Standing in the corridor leaning against the wall, Theodore watched over Nicolas's sleep with care on his lap. It was not long before the captain fell asleep, though he sweated cold and grew paler.
Once in a while Theodore put his hand on Nicolas's forehead checking his temperature. Luckily, and relief, his temperature didn't seem to rise.
― What could have happened? ― He questioned thoughtfully, looking at Nicolas already in deep sleep.
— It's Milles. ― Admitted Gabriel to his side, in a whisper so that the captain would not listen to him. Turning to the alpha, Theodore arched his eyebrow. ― I heard the Thunder comment on a girl asking to stay with Milles, and he accepted.
― Did he... stay with someone else? ― Gabriel agreed with his head ― But... the bite...
― I tried to warn him and say it wouldn't be a good idea. But he didn't care.
— If this is because of the bite, I do not have much to do. ― Theodore sighed stroking his own forehead in pure concern. ― The stickers won't do it.
Gabriel had passed his arm around Theodore's shoulders, depositing a kiss on the top of his head.
― Everything will be fine. We'll find a way out.
The two boys looked at Theodore's lap where Nicolas slept heavy shrunken in his sweatshirt. Why did that omega have to go through that situation? Nicolas never deserved something like that. He was always honest and protective of his friends, despite his dirty mouth and his fights. But he was a good boy.
Why did he have to go through that?
Theodore felt completely unable to help his best friend. There was no plan for him to help Nicolas get better and play well in a few hours.
All he can do is watch his sleep even when the players were called by the coach to gather. Theodore had made a sign asking them to go ahead, because he wanted Nicolas to sleep for a few more minutes.
When half an hour before departure had begun, Nicolas had awakened alone.
Dizzy and sleepy, as usual. The smell had already diminished thanks to the glued stickers, but in compensation he looked like a zombie.
― How are you feeling?
― A turd. ― Complained hoarse, looking at Theodore next. ― But I can play.
The blond bit his lips hard while watching his friend take off his shirt and pants to stay only with the uniform of the team he wore underneath.
Should he tell the truth? Nicolas could find a way out as well. At the same time, Theodore believed it was Milles' responsibility to tell the truth. Only now everything had become a real mess.
Before Nicolas got up, Theodore held his wrist until he had dark, sleepy eyes on him.
― I need to tell you something. And I already ask your forgiveness for hiding it from you, but I didn't think things would end like this.
― What is it, Theo? Can't wait for the game to end?
— I think you better know now. ― Nicolas had relaxed his shoulders and nodded to his friend, being able to feel his nervousness when Theodore's hot fingers were suddenly cold. ― When you got sick this week, before I came to visit you... I asked Milles to come to your house so you wouldn't be alone.
― What?
— I know I have no right to ask that of someone you hate. But he seemed worried and I thought there was something going on between you two. But the problem was when Gabriel and I arrived at your house.
Suddenly Theodore had stopped talking, raising his blue eyes to his best friend. Nicolas had felt a funny sensation in his stomach, a nervousness that made him nauseous. Without knowing what was to come, I could only hope for one big problem.
And he had come.
― While you were sick, you bit Milles, Nico.
The headache had returned.
A noise echoed in his ear.
But Nicolas did not bother with this.
He only stared at his astonished best friend without fully understanding the meaning of his words. What had he just said? Was it true? No... Was it a joke to piss him off? Would the coach have asked to make him angry and play his game willingly?
It could only be a joke.
A smile on Nicolas's lips.
― You're fucking with me, right?
Theodore denied it with his head.
― Believe me.
― Are you telling me to believe in shit like that? That I bit that guy?
― On the right shoulder.
The memory of Milles wearing a bandage on his right shoulder when training at school came immediately. Accompanied by the memories of that alpha fighting with blaming him for something.
What an urge to vomit.
Nicolas turned so pale that Theodore stepped forward to hold him in case he fainted.
It all seemed to make sense.
— You mean... do I have a connection with him? ― Whispered to Nicolas with teary eyes to Theodore, who agreed with his head. ― Why? Why'd you let me do that shit, Theo?
— I didn't imagine it would turn out like this! I swear! I just thought you guys were... understanding each other, so I asked him to come to your house to keep an eye on you until I got there.
The confusion only grew. Nicolas could understand many of the feelings he had had throughout the week. The strange feeling of always having Milles around, of smelling him and looking for him everywhere. He rather think it was your instincts seeking the ideal alpha... not that it was the consequence of an insane act.
Right he. Milles Mckenzie.
The person he hated most in the world.
― Why him, Theodore? Of all people, why does it have to be him? Couldn't he have protected me just once?
The words were thorns in Theodore's heart. His hands faltered the grip falling on his lap. Nicolas took a deep breath passing his hands over his face, blurring the trail of tears that insisted on dripping.
— I swear I can explain it to you later, Nico. And I will beg your forgiveness if necessary. ― Murmured Theodore without having the courage to look him in the eye.
― Is there anything else I need to know? I don't want lies.
The omega moistens the lips and nods.
― Gabriel told me just now that Milles was with a girl. Probably your smell was a reaction of the bite...
A punch in the wall interrupted Theodore, who raised his frightened eyes to his best friend. Nicolas growled punching the wall several times, being held by the blonde to see small bruises form in his hands.
But Theodore had felt his hand tremble.
Tremble in the purest rage.
― Nico.
― Hey, Moss! Twenty minutes to get in. Get ready! ― Screamed the coach.
― All right, we're leaving.
Awkward and trembling, Theodore held his friend's hand preventing him from punching the wall. Pulling his bag he removed a white gauze bandage that he had used to bandage Nicolas's hand hastily.
— Please Nico, be rational. I know I'm asking a lot right now, but it's accurate. We're in public and your smell almost escaped. Stay close to Gabriel and he will cover for you, I already organized the game with him so that this was possible. ― Chattered Theodore with his own teary eyes, his hands trembling with those of Nicolas who growled in constant anger. ― Focus on the game just this once. And I promise that until the next match I will help you in whatever it takes. Just don't... Hurt yourself.
The bandage had been hastily done and when finished Nicolas got up abruptly heading to the team. Theodore sighed leaning his arms on his knees lowering his head before the storm that had been created.
He had no idea things would get out of hand like that.