Chapter Text
Windows had to be opened, Matt had to be lead to his nest to pass out, and the living room was a mess. Active rage had passed, but static energy buzzed throughout the room as the remaining pack members cleaned up. The sofa was put back up-right, the table fixed, and Tom swept up the shattered pieces of their clunky old phone, grumbling all the while.
"We'll all have to stay." Edd decided aloud through gritted teeth. The other two jerked their heads into a short nod. It'd be rough, but there wasn't particularly a choice. They couldn't morally take Matt away from his nest and tensions were high enough as it was. It didn't need to be said that Tom wouldn't be leaving the ginger behind, and Edd... Edd didn't do well alone. So they were all staying.
Edd left to buy scent defuser strips. They had time- the mandatory heats were scheduled to be triggered the following Monday- suddenly stopping suppressant use tended to send the body into whatever cycle it went through after 24 hours had passed to get the drug out of the system.
There was mild discussion of skipping this one altogether, but Tord's house arrest was set for a whole year. Skipping cycles for that long would wreak havoc on anyone's systems. Buckling down and taking precautions was the best they could do.
Matt emerged around dinner time, heavy bags under his eyes and clothes wrinkled. He planted his head on Tom's shoulder, ignoring the way his friend recoiled in favor of burying his face in the crook of his neck. "I forgot to take them." He mumbled. Tom shifted to look down at the ginger as best he could. "Say again?"
"This morning. Got too distracted." Shaky hands raised to grab onto Tom's shirt. "Forgot to take them."
Tom's expression twisted into one of horror as he shot Edd a look. The alpha's chair screeched against the linoleum flooring when he got up, already digging through the cupboards for a glass.
"Take them now, it's probably not too late."
The cries coming from the attic at 4AM informed them of the contrary.
With tissues shoved up their nostrils, the pack set to work tediously pressing the diffusers into the doorframes, scentless fumes hissing out of them to form a barricade. Every door, window, and even the catflap were plastered with the things just to be sure that when they finally dared to remove the tissues no-one would be set off. The sounds were a whole other kettle of fish.
Tom was used to them, mostly. Whilst alphas were predispositioned to keep their ruts as far away from eachother as possible, omegan cycles tended to sync up. He usually just blocked up his door to muffle as much out as possible, but... they'd never done this whilst Matt was in the attic. How do you block out something right above you? They couldn't block up the attic entrance either- Matt needed to access a bathroom too afterall.
Tom was unfortunately thrown to the dogs. When not in their rooms his alphan packmates glued themselves to the side of the house furthest away from Matt's nest, which meant it was up to Tom to block up his nose and brave the upper floor.
Usually he and Matt stocked up on smaller snacks and bottles of water to keep in their rooms to get by, but Edd had insisted Matt get his normal meals. Without taking part in the delivery of course.
The omega grumbled as he pushed up the attic door, holding his breath against the powerful heat pheromones that hit him once he passed the diffusers. So they only kept scents in. Good to know.
"Matt." He picked through the miscellaneous trinkets and scattered knick-knacks, holding the plate up to show he wasn't a threat. Ginger hair popped up from beneath a heap of blankets like a shark's fin. He watched Tom approach with cautious curiousity. His stomach rumbled.
"Dinner." Tom placed the offering down next to the bed with surprising gentleness. "You need anything?"
Matt held his gaze, mouth opening and closing a few times before settling on, "Contact."
Tom had prayed that request would not come.
Many a lull between waves had found the pair bundling up together in a psuedo-nest in the living room, Ringo curled up with them as they lazed about. Truth be told it was key bonding time, inhibitions shed and instincts just taking what they needed. A nesting buddy.
But Tom's inhibitions were very much intact and he feared his friend's heat dragging him into one too. At least Matt was dressed. The other man peered up at him hopefully as he took a bite of potato. Tom sighed loudly and climbed in.
As much as he wished it wasn't so, his softspot for the older omega was clear as day to those looking hard enough. He grimaced as Matt chirped delightedly, climbing ontop of him to rub his cheeks atop Tom's hair, forcibly squishing it down with his stupid boxy face. Alas, it was easier to just sit there and let himself be scented and moved around. Matt seemed happy to stuff his face with food and yap at him. He was an easy purrer, the smallest joys could set him off, and now was no different.
"I'd kill for a takeaway," Tom muttered, eyeing the quickly emptying plate. "He keeps insisting you need proper meals." He nudged Matt. "Get me chips when I'm in the throws. I deserve greasy shit."
Matt puffed out his chest. "Of course I deserve proper meals," he bumped his head against Tom's shoulder. "But just this once I shall use my dashing good looks for evil- tell Mate I demand pizza on the morrow or no man shall be spared!"
Tom raised an eyebrow. "And you want me to include the Mate part?" Amusement filled his features.
Pale cheeks flushed a deep red, eyes averting. "... No."
"Oi. Matt wants pizza. Fork over the hoodie." Tom slid the dirty dishes onto the side. He was pleased at the lack of questioning when the green fabric was offered up. A brief trip back up saw Tom lobbing it at Matt's face, the omega cackling at the flailing panic as he clicked shut the attic door. The diffusers had all but wiped the heat scent from him, though his inner mourned the loss of Matt's thorough scenting.
"Pizza's not good for him in this condition- we can't order one to the house anyways, what if-"
"Go collect it then."
Edd frowned deeply. "You know I can't do that."
Tom snorted. "Well I'm not going to be the one to break the news. Good luck."