"... and that's what's going on."
Queen Lee and Jisung had left once Felix had calmed down, to go and give Hyunjin and the King an update on Felix's state. The moment the royals were gone, however, Jeongin promptly launched himself into an explanation, having somehow figured out that Felix genuinely had no clue of what was going on. He explained betas, alphas, and omegas, along with things such as presentation, scents, and instincts. It was all a bit complicated, but Felix was clear-minded enough to understand that this was a biological rule not even he could avoid, even if he was from another timeline.
"To be frank, subgenders are beginning to lose prestige," admitted Jeongin. "More and more people are beginning to present as betas, and they aren't as in touch with their instincts. Seungmin has theorized that, in the distant future, subgenders will have become completely obsolete and, as such, the genes will simply become dormant."
It made sense. There was no such thing as subgenders in modern times, but the genes falling dormant would explain it. Many historical documents were badly translated or lost to time as well, so it could be that any trace of subgenders in History had simply been lost or erased, hence why he didn't know anything about it. And, if the genes were dormant rather than dead, it would explain why Felix had now presented, to a certain degree.
"Though subgenders may have become obsolete in your time, it is still heavily present in ours. I believe your biology might have simply reacted and forced you through a delayed presentation in order to better your chances of survival in this period," continued Jeongin, offering him an awkward smile.
Felix nodded in agreement, feeling strangely... resigned. Now that the initial panic and confusion had ebbed away, he just felt tired. It felt as though this era was trying to suck him in, making it even more difficult to return to his own time, and he was just too exhausted to fight it any longer. So what if his body had suddenly modified itself? He'd dealt with the shock of time travel, he could deal with this, too.
"You won't be able to carry children, but your body and your instincts will still try and make it happen, through bi-annual periods we call 'heat'," then explained Jeongin. "It's meant to be an omega's most fertile time but, for you, it'll simply mean a craving for proximity, attention, and intimacy that'll last for about a week. You will also become much more sensitive, and mood swings are to be expected."
It certainly didn't sound all that fun, but he supposed he'd have panicked more if he was suddenly told that he could carry children – that would have been an entirely different pill to swallow. Still, he wanted to know everything about his new... condition, even the less pleasant stuff. He gestured for Jeongin to go on, and the healer thought it over.
"Well... You have a distinct scent, now. Betas don't usually have one, hence why we assumed it to be your subgender before. Now, though, you have a very sweet smell akin to sugar – alphas also have a distinct scent, akin to spices. As such, everyone will immediately be able to tell you are an omega."
Felix grimaced, then pointed at his jade seal that marked him as Hyunjin's personal guard, which was carefully placed on a pile of folded clothes. Jeongin's grimace when he understood the question didn't go unnoticed.
"... there's never been a guard omega before," he then admitted. "Omegas in general aren't allowed to hold many jobs, but male omegas... They are extremely rare and are usually hidden away by their family or their partner – a treasure cherished behind closed doors."
Felix narrowed his eyes upon hearing that. Just because he'd just presented as an omega didn't make him any more fragile or more likely to get hurt in a fight – he was still the same person, with the same abilities and the same spirit: he absolutely refused to spend his days hiding, of all things.
Jeongin offered him a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry, Felix. Just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't be done now. Until you've spoken with the Prince and the King, however, don't let it get to your head, alright? It will only cause you undue stress."
Felix heaved out a small sigh, nodding in agreement. He then waved his hand in a 'anything else?' gesture, and Jeongin bit his lower lip.
"Your instincts... they're going to be all over the place for a while. You shouldn't fight it if you can. Let things happen, follow the flow. The more you resist, the harder it'll be on your body, so just do what feels right, alright? And if you have any questions or insecurities, you should discuss them with Queen Lee and Prince Han – they're the only male omegas in the palace, after all. Now, you should really get some rest. I'll be back later with some food, alright?"
Felix definitely didn't have the strength to argue, so he simply caved in and tried to make himself a little more comfortable, pulling the sheet up over his nose and relaxing a bit as he inhaled a comforting, somewhat flowery scent. Jeongin hummed and gently petted his head before taking his leave, and Felix was finally left alone with his thoughts.
An omega, huh...? Here's hoping it won't stick once I go back...
If he noticed his own lack of enthusiasm at the thought of going home, though, he tried his best to ignore it.
.
("You're unusually attached to the boy, aren't you, dearest?"
"My instincts have deemed him kin, Chan."
"I'm not entirely surprised, to be honest. You've always had a tender spot for people like him to begin with – honest to a fault and admittedly endearing."
"I'm not quite surprised either, and I will certainly do my utmost best to develop this bond we now share. However, I do worry about what kind of danger would be drawn to him should others learn of our bond... The boy is already a trouble-magnet as is, and I fear it'd only enlarge the target already on his back."
"A kin bond is different from mating in the sense that it stems from a nurturing instinct rather than one that seeks partnership, but it isn't irreversible. A kin bond will fade over time if it isn't properly developed and preserved – but the longer you wait, the harder it will be for the both of you to severe it, and it could have lasting impacts on your respective healths."
"I'm aware, yes. The decision must be made now if we wish to avoid any future complications."
"What do you wish to do, then? You'd need to stay away from him for a few weeks at the very least, until he's completely overcome his presentation and no longer needs your guidance as an older omega. Prince Han could look after him in the meantime—"
"No. I..."
"Minho?"
"... I'll do it. Felix has gone through enough hardships as is, and destroying such a rare, precious bond without even telling him would be wrong. He deserves... he deserves someone to look after him properly – and if our respective instincts have deemed me as that person, then so be it."
"Very well. If that is your decision, then I can only respect it. Will you tell him?"
"Not unless he directly asks me about it. This situation is confusing enough already, I do not wish to scare him any further."
"Hmm. My perfect husband. I know you'll take good care of him.")
.
"Etiquette lessons...?"
"Yes. As an omega, certain manners and attitudes will be expected of you and, as Hyunjin's personal guard, it is of the utmost importance that you learn the omegan ways. If you wish to maintain what little respect you've managed to glean from the court officials so far, then you need to be irreproachable."
Felix scowled a bit. "Excuse my honesty, but you're not making much sense. Omega or not, I'm still the same person – I don't see why I'd suddenly need to adapt my ways in order to fit the stereotypes of my subgender."
"I understand this may appear somewhat unfair, but I can assure you that it is in your best interest to take these lessons and assimilate them quickly," insisted Queen Lee, thankfully not taking offense to Felix's honesty. "Word of your sudden presentation has yet to leave our circle, but people will know of your new status the moment you return outside, and many will see in it an opportunity to degrade you or will use it as an excuse to discriminate you further."
Felix couldn't hide his dejection even if he tried, and Queen Lee's words made his chest hurt. Why would anyone be this mean? Just because he'd presented as an omega? The thought made him want to cry, and he could literally feel the tears building up as a low whine escaped him. Queen Lee's traits softened considerably, and he extended a hand to gently card it through Felix's hair. The freckled man almost immediately relaxed, leaning into the touch without thinking. However, his mind quickly caught up to the moment, and he promptly pulled away despite his heart crying out in protest.
"I- I'm sorry, I don't know what- what's taking over me—"
"You needn't apologize for this, Felix. It's only natural for your instincts to go haywire following your presentation, and you will likely be more emotionally sensitive for a few more days," explained the Queen, reaching out to grab his hands, and squeezing them slightly. "Felix... I understand this may not make much sense to you, but I swear that I only wish to help you, and I will do my utmost best to take good care through this difficult period."
"But why?" asked Felix, sniffling a bit as he forced his tears down. "You're- You're the Queen, surely you have more important things to tend to..."
"Because I know how difficult it is, when you have no one to guide you," answered the Queen, offering him a somewhat sad smile. "Back when I presented, all I wanted was for someone to help me understand, to answer all of my questions, to offer me the reassurances I needed... I was left to handle all of it on my own. And I swore to myself that, if ever the chance presented itself, then I would become the person I wished would have come to my aid."
"But still, your duties..."
"It is true that I am quite busy. That is why your lessons will be divided between Jisung and I. He will come to keep you company on days I cannot excuse myself from my duties, and he will be teaching you the basics in regard to eating etiquette, greetings of various social casts, and also appropriate wear. With me, we will mostly go over posture, proper manners, and the art of conversation."
"The art of conversation?"
"Yes. Such as not repeating every single thing that's being said to you," replied the Queen, his tone light and teasing.
"So- sorry."
Queen Lee gently flicked his nose. "We will also work on that meek and apologetic attitude of yours. You needn't apologize unless you've done something wrong, understood?"
"Y- yes, Your Highness."
"Good. Also, from now on, you may call me hyung, when in private. My title grows quite tedious when in the mouth of a friend."
Felix's eyes widened a bit at the unexpected offer of friendship. The Queen considered him a friend? As confused as he was, it also made him incredibly happy – which unfortunately translated into outright crying, his volatile emotions immediately taking control.
"I- I- I'm sorry, I can't- I can't stop...!" he wailed, tears rolling down his face.
"Did I say something that offended you?" fretted the Queen.
"N- no, it just made me- made me happy...!" cried Felix, wiping his tears away only for more to fall. "I wanna be friends...!"
The Queen's... Minho's eyes crinkled up as he smiled, endeared. "Then friends we shall be, little one. You're a sensitive little thing, aren't you?"
This only made Felix cry more, however, because his stupid, weirdly-wired brain decided to take that comment very personally, and his happy cries immediately turned into saddened ones. Minho immediately began cooing as he tried to reassure him, reassuring him between every two laughs or so. Felix's lack of control over his own emotions made him quite frustrated, which only served to make him cry even more, if possible.
This entire situation might be incredibly confusing, but one thing was for certain: presenting as an omega absolutely sucked.
.
Without Felix really noticing, three full weeks passed. He never stepped foot outside the heat room once, nor did he really want to. There was a bathroom linked to the room and either Jisung or Jeongin brought him food every day, so there really was no need for him to go out. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to leave rather than he physically couldn't, really. The presentation had taken a heavy toll on his body, and he spent a good part of his days just sleeping it off. He could walk and move on his own, but it always exhausted him, and so he mostly stayed in bed.
As told, Jisung came by every single day, either to keep him company or go forward with the lessons Minho had mentioned. It really wasn't as bad as Felix first expected, thankfully, and Felix quickly picked up the basics – it was mostly a matter of practicing and making it all look more natural.
Minho would usually spend half-a-day with him every two or three days, and he always came by in the evenings to check up on him. It was slightly awkward at first, Felix not quite knowing where to stand in regard to the Queen's sudden and unexpected support, but he quickly came to realize that the older omega truly wanted nothing more than to help him.
As Jeongin had suggested, he tried his best not to resist his instincts – which included indulging in Minho's care. Once Felix just gave in, their relationship immediately grew somewhat... smoother, in a sense. Minho was in tune with his feelings, and Felix quickly learned to trust the older, which definitely brought about a comfort he didn't know he needed.
However, in the last few days, Felix had begun growing... restless. There was an itch under his skin, a discomfort lingering in his stomach. He needed something, but he couldn't tell what, and it frustrated him to no end. When he tried to leave the heat room to go and find out what bothered him so much, however, the Queen refused.
"You're not back to full strength just yet, and your scent glands have only just stopped emitting pheromones – it'll take a few more days for them to dissipate completely and, until then, it isn't safe for you to go out," he instructed calmly.
"Oh, come on! I've been stuck in this room for weeks, now!" protested Felix, genuinely aggravated. "I won't be gone for long!"
"Felix, I said no."
The Queen's rebuttal made his hackles rise and, unable to help it, he hissed at the older omega, baring his teeth the slightest bit in defiance. Minho immediately narrowed his eyes at the slightly threatening display.
"Felix—"
"You can't just keep me in here like a fucking prisoner!" snapped the freckled man. "And stop telling me what to do! It's not like you're my parent or even part of my family, so stop fucking acting like it!"
Something changed in Minho's eyes – for a brief moment, a glint of genuine hurt flashed through them. However, Felix was far too aggravated to truly notice, and he promptly used the Queen's distraction to make a beeline for the door and run outside.
He didn't make it far, however, as none other than King Bang suddenly stood in his way. For the first time since they met, the man looked angry.
"Felix. Go back in there."
"No!"
"I said: go. back."
"I don't want to!"
The scent of spice Felix had already noticed lingering in the air suddenly grew thicker, making him cough. Still, he stood his ground and kept his eyes locked with the King's, unwilling to back down. The scent began growing even thicker, and a small growl climbed its way out of Felix's throat.
King Bang's eyes flashed red, and the scent abruptly became suffocating.
"Go back to the room!"
The order anchored itself deep in Felix's bones and soul alike, the words echoing over and over in his head as a violent tremor ran through his entire body.
Do it!
Don't! He's not your alpha!
You have to!
Run!
Go back!
Find your—
"CHAN!"
Felix wheezed as his back harshly collided with the floor, air suddenly filling his lungs as black spots danced before his eyes. He was shaking like a leaf from head to toe, sweat coating every inch of skin, and his skull pounding as if he'd just hammered it against a wall ten times over. He could hear angry voices arguing in the background, but he couldn't make out any of the words. A defeated whimper escaped him – he didn't want to leave anymore, he just wanted to go back to his nest, where it was safe. As if on cue, familiar hands cradled his face.
"Shh, you're okay, sweetheart, you're okay," murmured Minho, wiping away some tears Felix hadn't even realized had begun falling. "The dumb alpha scared you, but you're safe, I promise. Come on, let's go back inside."
Felix clung tightly to Minho as the older picked him up with ease and carried him back inside the heat room, burying his nose against the omega's scent gland and inhaling deeply, trying to get rid of the spice still clinging to his nose. By the time Minho helped him lay down in the nest, he was already knocked out. He unconsciously nuzzled the nearest pillow, a small frown twisting his delicate features. Minho frowned at the sight, but he now understood what was going on – really, he should have seen the signs sooner. With a sigh, he pulled the blanket over Felix's still trembling body before heading outside again.
Chan was still there. The thick scent of spice was still lingering, but was now almost completely devoid of the pheromones the alpha had let out earlier. He lowered his head in contrition when Minho returned, guilt leaking through their bond.
"Dearest—"
"Don't. I'm aware you were only trying to help, but you have most definitely gone overboard," cut sharply Minho. "What were you thinking, imposing your pheromones on a freshly presented omega? And using your Alpha Voice, of all things?"
"I didn't expect him to actively resist it—"
"His instincts are still all over the place – of course it wasn't going to work. Even if it did, however, you know how damaging an Alpha Voice can be on an omega. You could have plunged him into a feral state – or worse, an outright coma!"
The King lowered his head again, properly chastised. "... I'm sorry. It has been so long since someone has outright defied me, but it is no excuse for me to lose control of the sort – even less so with a newly presented. I'll make sure to extend my sincerest apologies to Felix once he wakes."
Minho nodded firmly. "See that you do. However, I doubt he'll wake before late morning, with the state you just put him in. In the meantime, send for Hyunjin."
"Hyunjin?"
The Queen quirked a brow, as if to say 'are you in any position to question me right now?' and his husband immediately caved in, eager to earn forgiveness for his reckless actions.
"I shall go fetch him myself. What should I tell him?"
"Simply that Felix requires his presence."
Chan nodded and promptly took his leave. Once the door closed behind him, Minho heaved out a sigh – he knew his husband hadn't meant any harm, and that he'd surely sensed Minho's mild distress over Felix's words, but it certainly didn't warrant such extreme measures.
And as if to complicate things even further, Felix is...
Minho's line of thought trailed off as he felt it – a shift in the air.
A threat.
Without hesitation, he rushed to the heat room and flung the door open. The room was dark, the fire in the corner having been snuffed out, but he could still make out the distinct shape of a man now hovering over Felix's unconscious body, and the still-burning ambers reflecting the shine of a blade.
Minho's abrupt entrance startled the assassin, and the Queen used that brief instance to pull a gold hairpin out of his hair and threw it at the man, immediately hitting his throat. Moving swiftly, Minho kicked the assassin into the nearby wall, where the man collapsed, already dead. A shuffle behind him made him turn around, just in time to catch glimpse of a shadow vanishing beyond the window. Minho rushed to catch it, but the other assassin was already gone, having apparently escaped through the balcony of the floor below.
Cursing under his breath, Minho however elected against giving chase. He couldn't leave Felix alone, not when he was this vulnerable. Kneeling beside the mattress, he was quite relieved to find Felix still sleeping soundly, with not even a scratch to show for the attempt on his life. He grabbed the nearby bowl of water, dabbing a bit of his sleeve in it before using it to wipe the few droplets of blood that had fallen on Felix's face. He also changed the blanket, for good measure. Once done, he then began combing through Felix's hair, taking comfort in the warmth emanating from the younger.
Had I been a few seconds late... he wouldn't be as warm anymore...
The relief could barely rival with the genuine fear he now felt. Because, even though he wasn't Felix's blood family... Felix was still his charge. His pup.
He'd protect him, no matter what.
.
A familiar, comforting scent made Felix stir and, through bleary eyes, he noticed familiar blood hair as a body pressed itself against his.
"Hyunjin..."
"Go back to sleep, Felix," the Prince urged softly. "I'm here, now."
The itch was gone, the discomfort vanished. Finally, Felix felt like everything was right again, and he didn't hesitate in pushing himself closer to the Prince, exhaling in relief as Hyunjin's scent engulfed him. Hyunjin gazed down at him, trying his best not to let his guilt submerge him.
To think I could have lost him... when I swore to protect him...!
In the other room, the King and Queen secretly got rid of the assassin's body.
Felix would be better off not knowing.
.
.
.
And I'm back! Sorry it took so long, I was gone on vacation for a couple of weeks. But there you go! Felix finally knows what subgenders are, and things certainly won't become any simpler from here on out xD
Thank you all for your patience and thank you to all those who posted reviews, they really help motivate me!
PS. I am officially 22! Cheers to another year of not dying!