𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 || 𝐉𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧

XIII

The older does so shortly after, and against all of Joshua's best intentions, he’s lulled in by the blissful warmth as well. He’s woken up around an hour later, Jeonghan's mouth painting his neck and chest red with needy bruises, and it’s safe to say, the sheets don’t get changed until very late into that night.

Jeonghan's heat lasts five days, two more than what they expected, but it's not unwelcomed; despite how exhaustive it is for both of their bodies, the sex is like nothing they’ve ever experienced before, beyond just the pleasure but including the bond they feel through it as well. With the exception of a few check up calls from his friends (one of them rudely interrupted by Jeonghan sitting on Joshua's dick midway through it), it feels like they're inside a perfect bubble with each other, living in the blissful fantasy of life together, as alpha and omega.

They fuck more times than either of them can count, but as the heat progresses and the time between each wave widens, they tangle themselves in Jeonghan's bed and couch and watch new tv shows together, even if it usually ends up in them bickering about every character just for the sake of it. Joshua cooks Jeonghan's favorite foods, or the ones he can, and the omega says it’s nowhere near Taeyong’s level but still asks for more anyway, sweetly kissing the alpha thanks afterwards.

Five days, and Joshua doesn’t want it to end. He knows it will; not only Jeonghan's heat, but everything else too. He’s going to get pregnant, and all of this will fall apart — the thought hurts so deeply at his chest all he can do is hold Jeonghan tighter, fuck him harder, and whisper promises into his ear he knows are fruitless, just to hear the omega say yes .

On the last day, he watches Jeonghan come out of the shower in his robe and sit on his lap, talking about the work waiting for him once he goes back to the office and the stupid texts he got from co-workers who can’t respect a heat break. He hears it patiently, but his mind isn’t totally there; he leans forward, taking a sniff off of Jeonghan's comforting scent, and his throat tightens.

He wants this. He’s wanted it all of his life, and now that he’s found it, he can’t believe it’s about to slip through his fingers.

“I fu— effed up.”

Taeyong rolls his eyes at the slip of Joshua's tongue, but doesn’t comment on it — the alpha guesses that he must look distressed enough right now, hugging Jisung so close into his chest it’s a miracle the toddler hasn’t woken up just yet.

“Did you?” Taeyong asks, half distracted by the food he’s cooking. “Because I saw Hannie yesterday and he was glowing, like he had the best week of his life.”

Joshua preens a little at that, because it’s true — since he left Jeonghan's apartament a few days ago, the omega has taken the time to actually call Joshua and thank him properly, saying it was a lot better than any heat he spent by himself. “That’s the problem— it was too good. I said a lot of, uh, stuff…”

Taeyong laughs, looking over his shoulders at Joshua with amusement. “Are you really agonizing over dirty talk you made while you were both drunk on pheromones? Josh, don’t worry about that, I’m sure Jeonghan knows whatever alpha bullshit you spilled doesn’t really mean anything.”

Joshua is silent for a second, mulling over how to say the next words. It’s a realization he’s only just fully come to terms with, even if he can now recognize it was glaringly obvious for a long time. This is the first time he’s saying it out loud to anyone, and it feels like the moment of no return. “What if I want it to mean something?”

Taeyong stops what he’s doing, and looks back at Joshua with surprise in his eyes. He puts the spoon away, turning around completely, and once his eyes take in Joshua's guilty and pitiful expression, he softens. “Oh, Josh. Have you finally understood what I meant about being careful?”

Joshua nods, and then takes a comforting inhale of Jisung's baby scent, just to make himself feel a little better. Taeyong turns off the stove to come and sit down in front of him at the breakfast table, and the omega’s caring nature doesn’t hesitate in reaching for one of Joshua's hands. “Be honest. How do you feel?”

“I love him.” Joshua declares immediately, surprising himself with the ease which the words come out of his mouth. Surely, he’s said it a million times before, but never in this context, never followed by his next words, and yet it feels natural . “And I want to be with him. I want us to be each other’s, and for us to have a baby together and— I want it all, Yongie, everything I’ve ever wanted. With Jeonghan.”

Taeyong’s lips smile softly, and he squeezes Joshua's hand in reassurance. “And what’s stopping you from telling him that, Josh?”

That pulls a dry laugh out of Joshua, short and self-depreciating. “Everything? We’re having a baby together and this only further complicates things, for both of us. I’m screwing things up, just like everyone said I would, because I wasn't careful enough.”

Taeyong sighs, shaking his head. “Josh, I already knew things wouldn’t work out the way you two imagined the very moment Jeonghan told me about it, and it’s not because I thought the idea was ridiculous, but because I knew both of you. It was always a matter of time for this to come up, this whole baby thing only added fuel to the fire.”

There’s a beat of loaded silence, in which Jisung's long breaths is everything that can be heard. “What do you mean?”

“Look, I’m not saying I always knew you had feelings for him because I can’t be sure what was going on inside there all these years,” Taeyong explains evenly, pointing at Joshua's chest. “But the way you cared for Hannie all of his life went beyond best friends, Josh, and I think a lot of people knew. You’re so attuned to his feelings, to his needs— it’s something even Ten and I struggle with sometimes. You shouldn’t blame yourself for falling for Jeonghan, he’s an amazing person and with the bond you two share, I think it was inevitable. It just sucks that the circumstances got this messy before you had the chance to realize it.”

It’s a tough pill for Joshua to swallow, but it doesn’t make it less true — he’s been living on the edge of a precipice for so long, only to let himself fall at the worst possible moment. It’s difficult not to wonder how things would’ve turned out if only he had said something sooner, but it’s a useless train of thought; at the end of the day, he doesn’t regret all the years he spent with Jeonghan as his best friend, and the love and life they built together like this wasn’t wasted time. 

“What do I do now, though?” He asks, pushing down the lump in his throat. “I don’t want to make things any worse.”

“If you try to keep this to yourself, it’s not going to help.” Taeyong leans forward, looking into Joshua's eyes with a grave expression. “Take it from someone who has a child, if you’re going to be parents together, you can’t keep something this huge from him. Get the cards on the table as soon as possible, so that both of you can figure out what to do about it before the pup gets here.”

“What if I say something, and he doesn’t want to go through with it anymore?” Joshua finally asks the thing that has been keeping him up at night. “What if I’m left with no pup, and no Jeonghan either?”

“If he does, then that’s his choice, and you’ll have to accept it, as painful as it’ll be.” Taeyong doesn’t sugarcoat, honest. “But you know Jeonghan is not going to leave you, Josh. You guys have been together for long enough to be family , pup or not.”

Joshua's heart twists at the words, and he nods, laying his cheek against the top of Jisung's head. “I know. But I’m scared, Yongie.”

“I know, and it’s ok to be, Josh.” The omega says gently, moving his chair until he can pull his friend into a hug; it’s awkward as they try not to wake up Jisung, but it’s enough to make Joshua feel a little better, comforted by the pheromones of an omega that cares and loves him. “But you have to be brave. For both of you, and for that baby too.”

A/n : One more chapter then it'll be done. How are y'all liking it so far? Especially the smut scenes? Don't hesitate to tell me if there's anything y'all want me to improve.

Also, today we FINALLY got an weverse update from Joshua and the moment I got the notification, I was in tears. The relief I feel is unexplainable atp. Delusional or not, I'm down bad for this guy and his wellbeing.