Three weeks have passed since the band reached Tokyo, but Tiwa is still feeling screwed, to say the least. No, things are much, much worse. If he calculates how many hours of sleep he's gotten, the number will be terribly low. He wants to scream and rethink his life choices because everyone takes the matter of his heart as a joke. Especially Jaran and Decha!
They treat him like a puppet, forget that he has a heart too, and it gets hurt. He feels suffocated getting in between them. He knows he needs to speak up and assert himself, but the fear of confrontation holds him back. He can feel the tension building within him, threatening to explode at any moment as Decha takes too much right on him and bombards him with questions.
"What do you plan for your future?" Decha's voice echoes in his mind, pushing him further into a corner. "Do you have any plan to repay for Pravat's help even if you don't want to repay for his love?"
"Decha.." Tiwa warns, his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface.
Decha ignores Tiwa's warning, continuing to push his buttons. "How long are you going to be selfish, only caring about your adoptive family? You can't even see how much Pravat has done for you. He has given you everything that your so-called family never could. Yet you're blind to the truth."
Tiwa struggles to keep his emotions in check; his jaw clenched tightly as he tries to find the right words to respond. The pressure weighs heavily on him, the guilt of not being able to fully reciprocate Pravat's feelings gnawing at his conscience. He knows that he needs to confront Decha and stand up for himself, but he sees nothing wrong with his questions.
He stands up and walks to the bathroom, splashing water on his face as conflicting emotions consume him. He heaves a breath and looks at his reflection in the mirror, tears mingling with the water on his cheeks. "I'm not blind. I know Pravat and I are mates, but.. I'm scared of what will happen if I follow my heart. I don't want to be selfish and be the cause of everyone's fall. If I fall, I will fall alone," he sobs quietly.
When he hears a slight conversation coming from the living room, he quickly composes himself and wipes away his tears. Taking a deep breath, he exits the bathroom and joins Decha and Jaran, trying to push his inner turmoil aside for the time being.
As the evening wears on, he can't shake the feeling of uncertainty that has settled in his chest. Despite the laughter and chatter around him, he feels a sense of isolation and fear creeping in. Deep down, he knows that he shouldn't stress out when he has a concert after the meet and greet.
The bandmates reach the arena without any trouble and are scheduled to have a meet and greet in a couple of hours. Tiwa is exhausted, with bags under his eyes that are a deep purple, so he pulls his cap low over his face to avoid being seen by people. Winding through the arena, a young teen makes an aborted noise, catching his attention. He makes eye contact with them but quickly shoves his cap lower and hustles away.
He avoids the long line outside the arena and enters the service hallway, where he is impressed by the sheer volume of people waiting to meet them. It feels like a whirlwind at this moment. There is only an hour before the doors open to the public, and they probably need their faces retouched, the itinerary read to them ten times, and a meeting with their manager to get some instructions before they are finally physically manhandled into a chair behind a long desk.
Decha carefully chooses a seat next to Tiwa and laughs at the audible sigh of relief. "You're sighing just for this!" He starts in that incredibly amusing tone of his. "The real struggle is going to start then."
Tiwa rolls his eyes and takes soothing sips of tea to calm his nerves.
People are slowly being let in, and Tiwa can see the tops of their heads as they navigate the maze. Making himself comfortable, he attends to each fan with enthusiasm until something happens. His eyes widen and suddenly dilate. He slams his hands against the table, and a painful groan escapes his parted lips.
His heat is arriving at the worst time. He gulps hard more than once, his tongue feeling too big for his mouth. "Oh, God!" He panics and wants to sink to the floor as other people's scents suffocate him. He closes his eyes and whispers words that, thankfully, don't reach anyone's ears. "B-Brother," he chokes out, his voice already turning hoarse and hopeless.
"Tiwa? What's wrong?" A familiar voice calls out to him, followed by a gentle shake. Opening his eyes, he sees Decha looking at him with concern.
"Nothing. Where is my brother?" Tiwa asks, turning to look around.
"He's with my brother," Decha responds while sniffing something in the air. He then grabs Tiwa's hand and brings him closer to whisper in his ear. "I can sense a sweet scent. Can you?"
Tiwa shakes his head absentmindedly and stands up slowly, ignoring the dizziness from the sudden movement. He walks to the back, feeling eyes on him the entire time.
His head hurts so badly, draining all the strength out of him. His body all but collapses at some point. His legs give out and barely give him time to try and catch himself when a warm body suddenly drapes itself around him and strong hands seize him, pressing him flush against a firm chest.
***
Pravat tenses up and starts searching for Tiwa everywhere after receiving a text from Decha about his disappearance. He doesn't realize why, but his heart is pounding heavily, indicating that something is wrong. He wonders how it could be possible. Despite making careful arrangements, Tiwa always seems to get into trouble. He is unsure if Tiwa is attracted to trouble or if trouble is attracted to Tiwa.
Suddenly, his feet halt as he catches a whiff of something unusual, like an omega in heat. Confusion clouds his mind as he looks around, but horror takes over when he recognizes the scent. "Not just any omega, but my omega! Oh no!" He mentally scolds himself for not considering this possibility earlier. With no time to spare, he follows the scent until a soft body crumples before him.
Rushing to catch Tiwa, Pravat wraps his arms around him and coddles him close. "Baby deer!" He pats the omega's cheek gently, trying to bring his consciousness up.
Bleary eyes flutter open, thick eyelashes barely allowing for any sense of sight as a sudden heat raptures Tiwa's body. A sharp intake of breath only makes him collapse closer to the alpha. "Pravat, help me! I don't feel good." He whimpers, tilting his head close to Pravat's torso, inhaling and craving contact. "I don't understand. It's not supposed to… It's too early. I think… my heat is triggered."
Pravat can already guess what's happening, so he doesn't waste time thinking about it. He needs to figure out what to do next. Soothing Tiwa's sweaty hair away from his face and holding him with one arm, Pravat fishes his phone out to inform the manager about the situation, but the omega stops him with pleading eyes and shakes his head.
"Don't do that. I want this concert to go well. I don't want to break everyone's dream," Tiwa cries.
Pravat grits his teeth and clenches his fists, trying hard not to hit Tiwa for his stupidity. Here, he is worrying about him, but Tiwa keeps talking about dreams. What the hell!
He shakes his head as his nostrils flare suddenly, having trouble controlling his emotions at the overwhelming scent and heat radiating from Tiwa's body. He inhales deeply, allowing the scent of sweet jasmine, accompanied by cinnamon, to pool on the roof of his mouth. The scent is so sweet, with notes that draw him in and leave his nose burning and begging for more—so heavy and yet so palatable.
He clears his throat headily and tries to take a deep breath to steady his mind. He understands that if Tiwa lingers around here too long, not only attracts him but also other alphas, and then the consequences are worse. Pravat can sense some prying eyes around them as well. Wanting to keep Tiwa safe, he circles his arms around Tiwa's waist and gently hoists him off the floor, carrying him in bridal style.
"Pravat, help me! I.. aah! It's hot.." Tiwa brings his face closer and lets out a throaty moan, followed by a soft purr as he nuzzles into the source of the scent within Pravat's neck.
In return, Pravat can only restrict his breathing, ignoring the tantalizing scent, and keeping himself from entering a rut. He bites his tongue as he fights against the carnal desires that run rampant in the back of his mind. He breathes out a sigh of relief at the sight of spare rooms at the far end. With as much poise as a horse scrambling upon the marble floor, he kicks one of the doors to lay the omega on the couch gently.
Just as he is about to step away, Tiwa grabs onto his shirt, tears in his eyes, and whispers, "I need to sing."
Pravat nods and clenches his fist, controlling himself not to do something stupid. He calms Tiwa with his scent before walking to the door and locking it, preventing anyone from getting in. He then takes his phone out, calling the other omega to explain things and asking if he has any remedies. However, what Decha is saying is not good when he has remedies. Because it's in the hotel, which he can get as soon as possible until then…
Pravat paces back and forth, running his fingers through his hair as he watches Tiwa's condition deteriorate by the minute. If this continues, Tiwa won't be able to perform on stage, even with a remedy. Pravat remembers Decha's last words and decides to approach Tiwa. He doesn't want to forcefully take Tiwa, but he's willing to do whatever it takes to save him and his dream.
"Do you trust me?" Pravat asks, gently cupping Tiwa's cheeks in his hands.
In response, Tiwa leans in and kisses Pravat slowly and deeply, pouring all of his unsaid love into the kiss.
Pravat closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before releasing his pheromones around Tiwa. The sharp smell of rich musk, warm and comforting, wraps around Tiwa's senses.
Light brown eyes flutter, panic resting its cruel claws over his throat as he struggles to speak. "N-No, Pravat! It's wrong," He agitates, trying to sit upright against the impact of the heat. "I will lose everything I have worked hard for if it happens."
"You will never lose anything, I promise. I'll take responsibility," Pravat reassures as he takes Tiwa's hand, never intending to let him go. He's not going to give up on him when Tiwa needs him. He's going to be with him every step of the way.
"P-Pravat!" Tiwa tries not to lose his senses, refusing to inhale the overwhelming warmth seeping into his bones and practically making him weep.
"I will take care of everything," Pravat says, dipping his head down and nosing under Tiwa's jawline. Tiwa subconsciously tilts his head back, exposing his neck. Pravat's heart seems to burst at any second, filled with so much love and desire that he wishes to come out. He has wanted Tiwa for so long, and now that he has the chance, it feels like too much to comprehend. An approving growl reverberates within his throat as he buries himself in Tiwa's shoulder and scent glands to inhale deeply.
The motion leaves Tiwa trembling, and he suddenly, desperately, reaches his arms around Pravat. His heart and body yearn for the alpha's touch, no matter how much he struggles, because he understands to whom he belongs. To Pravat. To the lunatic Pravat: It always has and always will. Finally, he stops fighting and surrenders to the overwhelming emotions and desires that Pravat stirs within him. In that moment of surrender, Tiwa feels a sense of freedom he never knew existed. He lets go of all the inhibitions and walls he has built around himself, allowing Pravat to claim him completely.