Aether's POV
I was home alone. Kazuha and Tomo went together on a small date to relax. I was actually glad that they agreed to my offer. Being alone was something I needed right now.
So many things happened today. I still can't believe that Xiao is my fated partner. It doesn't feel real.. it feels like a dream. But even if it is real and it's not a dream.. I don't know what I should do. Xiao might be my destined partner.. but I have feelings for Scaramouche..- at least I think I do.
I might fear him now.. but it's only because I remembered what happened on that day. I got scared that this might happen again.. but it wasn't his fault it happened.. right? My brother felt responsible for what happened. I don't really understand it for now, but my heart tells me it wasn't Scaramouche's fault. I don't want to blame him. But at the same time.. I don't know what should I do..
I have known Scaramouche for some time now. He isn't a bad person after all. He showed affection and care towards me multiple times. And.. apparently, we do have high pheromone compatibility.. but I don't feel it. I don't know the reason.. but could it be.. that I do have a twin sibling? But then.. how would I not know about it? No one ever said anything about it..
And then, there is Xiao. He is my fated partner. I.. don't know much about him. He saved me.. on that day. And today.. we ended up as a fated pair. I know nothing about him.. how can I know if I will like him? It would feel awkward to be friends with him from now on. They say that a fated partner is the best thing that could happen to you.. but how can it be?
Ah.. I must be the only one who thinks like that. After all.. I'm not driven by my Omega side. I act and think on my own accord, while others go with their second-gender instincts.
I just don't want to make a mistake in my life. What if I won't like Xiao? What if only my instincts want him? This.. is so complicated and messed up- Why do I have to be an Omega?? I never asked to be one..!
My hands formed into a fist as I hit a wall beside me. I gritted my teeth as I leaned onto the wall with my head.
"Why..." I hit a wall again with one of my hands feeling frustrated "I... don't wanna be.. an Omega...! Just- why!" My eyes started to get wet as small tears slid down my cheeks.
I know nothing will change. I can't do anything about being an Omega. I should just finally accept it and live on with it. But it's hard to accept it. My second gender.. caused a lot of problems. How can this be any good? So far I have been through only suffering with my second gender-
No.. wait... things were fine.. before my parents died. Back then... everything was fine, everyone was happy... but now.. this happiness is gone. I'm causing trouble to my brother.. he has to take care of me.. ah.. I hate it...
I hugged a pillow and buried my face in it. My hands were trembling a little bit. I hated myself for causing trouble to my brother. He has to worry about me all the time.. and make sure I am fine and safe. Why.. is he still doing this? Isn't he tired of doing this..? Tired.. of me?
Ahh.. my head feels a little weird...- No.. my whole body feels weird. It's losing its strength.. I feel so weak right now.. ah.. what's happening..? Everything feels so strange..-
I tried to grab my phone but it was hard to move my hands. After a moment I did succeed. My fingers were barely moving- no.. they were shaking as well. It was hard to pick my brother's number but I did it after a moment.
Wait.. why am I calling him? He is on a date.. I shouldn't disturb him. I should just take a nap and everything will be fine-
"Hello, Aether? Do you need anything? Is everything fine?" It was Kazuha's voice. He picked up. He still worries about me on his date.. why..? I am not worth it..
"Ah-" I opened my mouth to speak, but no words wanted to come out. I started to feel even more weak. My vision was going a bit blurry.
"Aether? Hey! Talk to me, what's wrong??" I was able to hear a great worry in his voice. He was panicking..
"W-we..-a..k.." I was barely able to blur it out from my mouth. After a few seconds, my lungs were having trouble taking in air as they should be. I have no idea what's going on with me. I felt terrified in my mind, but my body felt calm about it "he...lp.."
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Kazuha's POV
"He...lp.." Aether was barely able to speak. It made me really worried. No, I was freaking out. His voice was so weak and quiet.
"Aether..! Hey, talk to me! What's wrong, what's happening?? Are you at home??" I was trying to get anything from him.
"Y..es.." He was able to respond to my last question, which was probably the easiest to answer.
Knowing he was at home.. me and Tomo rushed back. Thankfully we weren't far away so it didn't take us long to get back home. Tomo was worried as well. We had an idea that might have gotten a panic attack or something like that. But his voice wasn't indicating it, which was worrying me.
"Tomo.. he didn't do anything stupid.. right..??"
"Hey, Kazu.. do you think Aether would be capable of doing anything to himself? He is too weak mentally. Something must have happened.. like a panic attack"
Tomo is right. I shouldn't be worried that Aether would do anything stupid.. like a suicide. If he called me.. then he must be scared himself.
Once we arrived at the house, I opened the front door and rushed inside. But once I stepped inside, I froze in place. My body started to feel nauseous, the whole house was filled with Aether's pheromones. But they weren't just normal pheromones.. that was a special type of pheromones.
"He..- Oh god no..-! Not this..! Aether..!" I rushed upstairs to his room. I covered my mouth and nose with my clothes. I have no time to spare now! "Aether!" I opened the doors to his room.. and my heart almost stopped.
His eyes slowly gazed upon me. He was weak, super weak. I was terrified to see him in this state. I ran up to him and hugged him gently. My heart was beating super fast. He was still alive..
"Aether.. please.. don't do it.. I know you're scared of what's happening to you.. but please.. don't.. reject your second gender.. I beg of you. I am here for you.. I will help you every time, okay? I will never leave you.. so please.. don't reject Omega inside you.. p-please.." My voice was trembling as I was speaking. I was scared to lose my brother..
His state was serious. If he doesn't calm down and accept who he is.. he might end up killing himself. He already is super weak.. his life is in danger. His pheromones.. they try to tell that the Omega is in danger of dying.. and in a state of fear.
Even Tomo is able to smell them. I noticed how he froze when we entered the house. He might not be able to understand the meaning of those pheromones, but he is able to sense the vague meaning of them.
I brought Aether closer to me. I felt him trying to hug me back, but his body was too weak. His body was trembling.. he was scared..
I released a little bit of calming pheromones, trying to not release a lot. Pheromones might trigger his state of rejection even more, so I have to be careful. A small amount might help him calm down a little bit. But that doesn't mean it will fully help.
"Aether.. I know you are strong.. I know you can do it. You know I love you, right? You're my little brother that I love so dearly. I always wanted to give you the best and happiest life. I promised myself to protect you in the future when we were kids" I closed my eyes as I laid my head on top of his.
"You were so little and fragile back then.. mom always told me to be gentle with you. I was always scared to play with you. But I had the need to protect you.. I knew I had to do it. You know.. whenever you did something wrong or broke something as a kid.. I always covered up for you" I chuckled a little bit remembering the memories" But mom never believed me anyway.. heh.."
I felt him shifting his position. That made me know he was listening to my story. I don't know if telling him will help.. but I'm having my hope that it will.
"Once my second gender turned out to be an Alpha.. I was happy. But I wasn't happy because I am an Alpha.. but because I can protect you even more like that. My only worry was.. that you were going to grow up to be an Alpha as well in the future.. and be stronger than me. It was silly though, I know..~ But I wanted to be the one to protect you"
As a kid, I didn't care if Aether would turn out to be a Beta or an Omega. As long as he would need my help and protection, it didn't matter. I wanted to be a proper older brother. And now.. I'm trying to be one.
I'm blaming myself for not going with my parents and Aether on that day. Maybe our parents would have been alive today.. or.. I could have died alongside them.. not being able to fulfill my promise to protect Aether. I almost died on that day as well.. but it was from my own stupidity.
If Aether would have been left alone because of me back then.. I don't know if he would have survived to this day. And if he would.. then most likely be inside a mental hospital.. or end up erasing his whole memory to survive. Omegas are capable of doing it, if it raises their chances of survival.
I was able to feel Aether slowly regaining his strength. Which means.. his condition is slowly getting better. He stopped rejecting his Omega side. This calmed me down a little bit, but it was only a little bit. This doesn't mean he will get better right away. But it's better than having his state get any worse now.
"H-hey..! How did you-?! No! You can't!" I heard Tomo's voice from downstairs. My body became alert almost instantly.
"Let me go..! I need to see him!" Ah- this voice..
There was something.. that I had forgotten about. Something I didn't think about. It didn't cross my mind.. and now.. I noticed it happening.
His fated partner.. Xiao. He is here..
Aether started to shift his position. It felt as if he noticed who was here now. I looked down at my younger brother and patted his head. I let out a small sigh as I looked at the door. He will come here any second..
"You feel it, right? You know who came here.." I slowly let go of my brother. He started to look at the doorframe as well "Yeah.. you do feel it. Your fated partner.. is worried about you as well. You have people who do care for you, Aether. Remember it, okay? We do care for you.. a lot"
Xiao arrived at the room. Tomo was trying to drag him away. I gestured to Tomo to let Xiao do his thing as it was fine. He understood and left after a moment.
I glanced over at Xiao. His hair was a mess.. as he was trying to grasp in some air. He must have been running here. He knew the street we did live on but didn't know which house was ours. Either his instincts did lead him here or he asked around.
I looked at Aether to see him staring at Xiao. He was a bit afraid, but at the same time, he wanted to be near him. They're fated partners after all, so they're going to be drawn to each other no matter what. Aether won't be able to resist it..
"Make sure.. to not worsen the situation. I was able to help him. So please.. don't trigger him" I fully let go of Aether as I made my way out of the room. I stopped to glance at Xiao as he nodded his head. I sighed and walked downstairs to Tomo.
"Is it a good idea?"
"For now.. yes. I feel like.. he might help him at some point. They are a fated pair, he wouldn't want to hurt him. I can only imagine how scared he is right now. He could lose his fated partner, he wouldn't risk it" I leaned on Tomo as he embraced me. My body started to shake a little bit.
"Shh.. it's okay Kazu. Nothing bad will happen. You won't lose him. Have faith in them both"
"Mhm.. okay.." I know I have to trust them both. But it's hard to do it. Fear of losing my brother.. is there. And it's very strong.
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Words: 2305
Next chapter gonna have Xiao perspective~ And it's gonna start a bit before everything happened. So once he got home after the school. Be prepared~