It was 7:02 a.m., and for Alpha Choi Seungcheol, that meant one very important thing
Morning cuddles.
He cracked one eye open, stretching his arm across the bed and finding nothing but cold sheets. A frown formed on his lips. Where was his little omega?
Then he heard it the soft rustling from the kitchen, a cupboard slamming, and an indignant grumble that sounded an awful lot like:
"Where the hell are the honey oat granola bars?!"
Seungcheol smiled. Joshua.
He got out of bed, yawning as he padded toward the kitchen in nothing but his boxers, hair fluffed on one side, scent calm and content. He turned the corner, leaned against the doorframe, and watched his mate.
Joshua stood there in one of Seungcheol's oversized hoodies because of course he did. hair a tangled halo of bedhead, one foot tapping irritably. His bunny slippers looked violently offended as he opened another cabinet with the force of a mafia boss.
"I swear," Joshua muttered, voice still thick with sleep. "If this is Jeonghan's revenge for that prank with the whipped cream, I'm reporting him."
Seungcheol cleared his throat.
Joshua turned, squinting. "Why are you shirtless?"
"Morning cuddles," Seungcheol said simply, walking over and wrapping his arms around the omega's waist.
Joshua immediately squawked.
"I will file a restraining order," he grunted, struggling. "It is too early, your scent is too strong, and if you don't let go, I'm mating with Jeonghan instead."
Seungcheol chuckled, burying his face in Joshua's neck. "You say that every day."
"And I mean it every day!"
"But you never do it."
"I might."
"You won't."
Joshua huffed, face flushing as he squirmed harder. "You're like a heat pack made of desperation. Move."
"Stay please," Seungcheol teased.
Joshua turned, narrowed his eyes, and snapped, "I'm going to poison your Food."
Seungcheol grinned.
"Okay, okay," he murmured, finally pulling back just enough to press a soft kiss to Joshua's forehead. His lips lingered there, and he whispered against his omega's skin "Mine."
The reaction was instantaneous.
Joshua froze.
Then just as predictable as the sunrise he melted. Shoulders relaxed, head dipped, arms wrapping slowly around Seungcheol's torso like it hadn't just been World War III five seconds ago.
With a dramatic sigh, Joshua muttered into Seungcheol's chest, "Still a loser, though."
Seungcheol chuckled, hand gently stroking the small of Joshua's back. "Your loser."
"Don't flatter yourself."
But he was already leaning his head on Seungcheol's shoulder, eyes fluttering shut again.
"Do I get to carry you back to bed now?" Seungcheol asked, hopeful.
"No," Joshua murmured, voice muffled. "You get to carry me and find my granola bar. And if it's the wrong flavor, I'm waking Jeonghan and making him cuddle me out of spite."
Seungcheol pressed another kiss to his omega's hair.
"Challenge accepted."
Joshua lay curled up like a kitten, hoodie riding up slightly, one leg thrown over Seungcheol's. His hand rested lazily on the alpha's chest, and his scent was sweet, warm, and completely content.
Seungcheol didn't say anything, just smiled and held him tighter.
Until Joshua whispered sleepily
"Still a loser, by the way."
Seungcheol smiled even wider.
"Yeah, but I'm your loser."
And Joshua, already dozing again, just muttered, "Ugh, disgusting."
But didn't move an inch.
Seungcheol was on a mission.
He'd learned his lesson...wake up early, before Joshua, and claim his cuddle privileges without having to dodge death threats.
Except... Joshua was already awake.
The omega sat cross-legged on the couch, hair sticking in ten different directions, hoodie sleeves dangling over his hands as he scrolled through some drama on his tablet. A bowl of cereal balanced on his knee, and he was chewing loudly.
Seungcheol squinted. "You're eating without me?"
Joshua didn't even look up. "You were snoring. Sounded like a tractor dying. I assumed you weren't going to make it through the night."
"...Excuse me?"
"Don't worry," Joshua continued sweetly, "I already planned your funeral. Jeonghan's giving the eulogy. He said he'll make it short like your stamina."
Seungcheol gaped. "Stamina?"
Joshua smirked, finally meeting his eyes. "You heard me."
That was the final straw.
Seungcheol pounced onto the couch, practically tackling Joshua into the cushions. The omega shrieked, cereal bowl flying into the air, splattering milk across the rug.
"CHOI SEUNGCHEOL!"
"Apologize."
"Never!" Joshua kicked, slapped, wriggled like a possessed cat. "You're crushing me, you oaf!"
Seungcheol buried his face into Joshua's neck, growling playfully. "Say I'm not a loser."
"Fine," Joshua gasped dramatically. "You're... you're a-" He paused, smirking. "Super loser."
Seungcheol groaned. "You're impossible."
"I know."
And just as Seungcheol thought he had him pinned, Joshua executed his secret weapon he leaned up and licked Seungcheol's cheek.
The alpha froze. "...Did you just?"
Joshua grinned wickedly. "Consider it an omega dominance display."
"You're disgusting."
"You love me."
"I do," Seungcheol admitted, sighing in defeat as he flopped back against the couch. "But now we're sticky, the rug's ruined, and I'm calling Jeonghan to tell him you licked me like a popsicle."
Joshua gasped, scandalized. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, I would." Seungcheol was already reaching for his phone.
Joshua shrieked, diving to snatch it out of his hands. In the struggle, they both rolled off the couch, hitting the floor with a loud thud.
There was a moment of silence.
Then Joshua groaned. "If Jeonghan hears about this, I am mating with him out of spite."
Seungcheol leaned down, kissed his forehead again, and whispered with a smirk:
"Mine."
Joshua melted instantly...again.
"...Still a loser, though," he muttered, cheeks pink.
And this time, Seungcheol just laughed, pulling his omega into his arms despite the milk-soaked chaos around them.
