Tangled Hearts And Classroom Smiles

Acceptance

The next day dawned slowly for Fourth. His body was still burning, the familiar ache of his heat making every moment feel like both a blur and an eternity. He groaned, blinking awake in the large, comfortable bed in the penthouse.

His phone buzzed with a barrage of messages from his boyfriends, each one checking in on him.

Gemini: Morning, love. How are you holding up?

Pond: Did you sleep well? Let us know if you need anything.

Joong: Stay strong, Fourth. You're doing great.

Dunk: Sending you love and strength. Almost halfway through!

Phuwin: I'm not letting you die from that heat.Stay alive for us.

Fourth smiled despite himself, feeling a warm, fluttering sensation in his chest at their concern. He quickly typed back his response, his fingers sluggish from exhaustion.

Fourth: Still burning up, but alive. I'm starving, though. I really want some street vendor chicken noodles...

Almost immediately, a chorus of replies flooded in.

Pond: What?

Joong: Why would you want street noodles when you're staying in a hotel with world-class food?

Dunk: You need to eat properly!

Gemini: The hotel has everything you could want. Stay inside, please.

Phuwin: Chicken noodles? Really?

Fourth frowned at their collective concern. He was craving chicken noodles, and nothing else would satisfy him. His body felt like it was rebelling against him, and he was so close to just breaking down into frustrated tears. His fingers hovered over his phone, and he typed back, his message a little more emotional than he intended.

Fourth: But I want chicken noodles! I'll cry if I don't get them! The hotel food is too fancy, I just want the noodles!!

A few seconds later, Phuwin's message popped up.

Phuwin: Alright, alright. Don't cry. I'll get it for you. The others can't risk their ruts being triggered, so I'll come by.

Fourth's heart did a little leap at the message.

Phuwin always knew how to handle him, especially when he was in this state. He could be strict, but he always gave in when it mattered most.
Fourth: Thank youuu!
Please hurry.

He stared at his phone after sending that, feeling a little pathetic, but also content knowing that his cravings were going to be satisfied. Time moved slowly after that, each minute stretching as he tried to distract himself from the rising tension in his body. The heat was pulsing through him, making him restless, but knowing Phuwin was coming soothed him— at least for now.

About half an hour later, there was a soft knock at the door. Fourth practically leaped from the bed, his body moving on pure instinct. He flung the door open, and there stood Phuwin, holding a steaming bag of chicken noodles, looking mildly amused and slightly concerned at the sight of Fourth in one of their hoodies, his hair mussed from sleep, and eyes bright with heat.

"Here," Phuwin said, handing him the bag, clearly intending to leave quickly.

But Fourth wasn't about to let him go so easily.

His heat-clouded mind and the overwhelming scent of Phuwin were too much for him to handle alone. Without thinking, he grabbed Phuwin's arm and pulled him inside, shutting the door behind them.

"Whoa, slow down," Phuwin muttered, but he let himself be dragged into the suite.
Fourth's grip tightened, his fingers trembling slightly as he led Phuwin to the couch. "Stay," he said, his voice already dipping into something needy, even though his focus was still on the food. He climbed into Phuwin's lap, the weight of the heat and his exhaustion making him seek the comfort and strength of his alpha.

Phuwin raised an eyebrow but didn't protest, his arms wrapping loosely around Fourth's waist. "You're acting spoiled," he teased, though his voice softened when he saw the state Fourth was in.

"I need you," Fourth whispered, his hands shaking slightly as he opened the container of noodles. "I can't... do this alone."

"I'm here, but you need to eat first," Phuwin said firmly, holding up a fork and twirling some noodles around it before offering it to Fourth.

Fourth leaned in, his lips parting as he accepted the bite, his body relaxing in Phuwin's arms.
The taste of the familiar chicken noodles was comforting, and he let out a soft moan of satisfaction as he ate. Phuwin continued to feed him, each bite slow and deliberate, letting Fourth savor the simple pleasure of eating while being held.

But the heat wasn't going away. It was getting worse, more intense, and by the time Fourth had finished the noodles, his body was practically vibrating with need. He shifted in Phuwin's lap, his fingers curling into the fabric of Phuwin's shirt as another wave of heat hit him, hard.

"Phuwin... I can't... I need—"
"Fourth." Phuwin's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. He cupped Fourth's face, forcing him to meet his gaze. "If I touch you, this will change everything."

"I don't care," Fourth panted, his hips already moving instinctively, grinding down on Phuwin's lap. "Please, I need you."

Phuwin's eyes darkened, his grip tightening on Fourth's waist. "If we do this, it means you're ready to let me in. To let us in. Not just me-Gemini, Joong, Pond, Dunk. Are you ready for that?"
Fourth didn't hesitate. His heat-clouded mind couldn't think about anything beyond the overwhelming need for touch, for connection.

He was already scenting Phuwin, already craving him in ways he hadn't fully understood before. And he wanted it. He wanted them.

"Yes," Fourth breathed, leaning forward until their foreheads touched. "I'm ready. Please."
Phuwin groaned softly, his control slipping as Fourth straddled him, their bodies pressed together in a way that left no room for doubt.
"Alright, love," Phuwin whispered, his lips brushing against Fourth's. "If you're sure."
And with that, Phuwin finally gave in, his lips crashing against Fourth's in a heated, desperate kiss. Fourth melted into him, his body responding instantly, his hips rolling as he deepened the kiss, hands tangling in Phuwin's hair. Every inch of him burned with desire, and Phuwin's touch was like gasoline on the fire.

They spent the rest of the afternoon tangled together, giving in to the heat, to the connection they had both craved. Phuwin took care of him, easing the pain of his heat, and by the end of it, they were both breathless, sated, and utterly spent.

For the next two days, Phuwin stayed by his side, helping him through the worst of it, offering both comfort and release when the heat became unbearable. It was intense, raw, and by the time Fourth's heat finally subsided, he knew that something between them had shifted.

He wasn't just a mark anymore. He was theirs.

All of them. And he was ready to fall in love with every single one.