[风情 | FengQing]: You Are Giving Me Christmas In Mid-Summer [TGCF ABO Universe]

★ Part 19: Touch (And Go)

Hua Cheng was frowning.

All this drama was a thing he would have normally just rolled his eyes at, and sniggered at, amused at the foolishness of it all, but this time it was all about... his friend.

Ever since that night at the pub, Hua Cheng couldn't help but notice how his relationship with Feng Xin had been gradually changing. Sure, the grumpy Alpha still had to keep face, but too often, they would have what normal people called a "heart-to-heart". This realization had struck him mightily, as throughout his whole life, Xie Lian had been the only other person he could actually talk to, share with. Everybody else was either contemptuous of him, avoiding him, or straight out – scared of him. He had the misfortune to grow too tall, too strong, too scary-looking, and... with a penchant for young, kind-eyed Alpha boys.

Now, after the initial commotion was over, he actually stepped closer, not to talk to his husband, but rather – to place his palm on Feng Xin's shoulder. The bulky Alpha was so very tense, and so terribly on edge, that he had to hold his breath when the massive young man turned towards him sharply, glaring at him with dread-instilling, blood-shot eyes.

Yet, he didn't flinch, his hand just squeezed the strong shoulder a little. And once Feng Xin saw who it was that was bold and suicidal enough to be touching him, he relaxed, and took a small step back. Of course, his scent was one of fear and stress, but Mu Qing seemed to be safe, for now, in their boss's arms.

- Come, dude. – Hua Cheng mumbled hoarsely. – Come away.

The sturdy Alpha growled, a little suspicious, still quite disgruntled, but stepped away, just a couple of steps, hesitating.

Hua Cheng swallowed, the worst was over now. So, he rolled his eyes, and now mumbled louder:

- Come along, you shithead!

Feng Xin was frowning terribly, but he walked away from there, leaving a sobbing Mu Qing in Dianxia's arms, and turned a couple of times, on his way to the counter, to make sure the little Omega was OK.

***

Of course, Feng Xin's first instinct was to be tearing people to pieces.

And sure enough, it made sense, the very moment his mate's scent exploded in distress and utter misery. And it most probably would have happened too, with all the grim repercussions to follow, had it not been the talk he had just had with his Papa.

His Omega father had caught his scent even before entering the building. The smell of your own child was the most deeply imprinted smell in the world, deep in his heart, and his genes. He felt his pup almost supernaturally, and he knew that something was seriously wrong. Well, it wasn't the scent only; the very fact that Feng Xin had swallowed his pride and called him for advice already spoke volumes.

He had entered the bar, a little confused by the rich variety of scents inside, and when his son dragged him, literally, to a corner, where they could talk in peace, he decided not to pout and not to joke about it. Today was going to be serious.

He was staring at his coffee cup, and Feng Xin was staring blankly into his beer, blushing all the time.

- Ask me. Ask away! – he finally sighed. – We're just wasting time like this!

Feng Xin tentatively turned his head back, to stare at the way his Omega was talking to Xie Lian at the counter, and how well the two seemed to be getting along, how smoothly. Lately, it had been so hard to get anything out of the stubborn boy that he now envied their friendship, a little jealous of the other Alpha – something that had never happened before in the past. Xie Lian was just Xie Lian. Moreover – the idiot was married now!

But his heart was anxious, for many reasons – and now there was one more, added to them.

- We're trying to make a baby. – he grumbled now, not looking his father in the eyes, just staring at his warm beer.

The Omega nodded. He knew.

- So?

- It ain't working. – Feng Xin growled aggressively, still managing to control his scent.

- Well, sometimes it doesn't. – his Pa made a point to put extra emphasis on the correct grammar.

- Why? – the Alpha grunted, his nostrils flaring now, inhaling all possible smells in the room, searching for changes, for danger. – I need to know. I really need to know.

The frail Omega raised an eye-brow and pouted.

- I don't appreciate this tone, pup! – he scoffed now.

But Feng Xin ignored him shortly, because the scent indeed changed, it intensified and not in a good way, and it all came from behind his back – from the bar's counter.

He sharply turned his head, his scent changing beyond his control, just to see an upset-looking Mu Qing and a sheepishly grinning Xie Lian, waving at him like a totally retarded person.

Feng Xin clenched his teeth. He had to stay out of this. His husband had the right to his own friends and his own talks. It shouldn't be just the two of them all the time, right? He shouldn't be too... possessive. Right???

- Ughh... - he groaned now, turning to face his dad.

The Omega bit his lips.

- A-Xin, you don't look so good. Your scent is also... - he hesitated for a moment, putting in an effort not to scrunch his nose.

Feng Xin didn't seem to hear, to listen. His whole attention was on scents, all focus – in his nose, all he wished for: to be able to hear what Mu Qing and Xie Lian were discussing right now. He needed to finally know what was going wrong with his marriage!

- Pa, I really don't need a lecture. – he growled low. – Really, not right now.

His father nodded his head again; this was clear to him, even without words.

- Son? Look at me. A-Xin? – he coaxed now, hoping that Feng Xin would obey, and look up from his stupid beer that he wasn't even drinking anyway.

The Alpha obeyed alright, but he looked grumpier than ever.

- Pup... How do you expect to be taking care of someone else, of a family, when you are not taking good care of yourself? A wife? A baby? A-Xin... You cannot force things. Nature knows i---

- I swear to god, if you just dare to say that FUCKING NATURE HAS ITS WAY, I am going to---

Well, no one got to know the ending of that threat. Because Mu Qing's scent flooded the place with the sour taste of extreme unhappiness and stress, and Feng Xin jumped to his feet, not a moment of hesitation even, and rushed to that counter.