Chapter Text
The rain fell on the ground, its rhythmic clatter creating a serene environment. The droplets fell against the window, making it appear foggy.
Lego sat there on the couch, looking through Netflix for their weekly movie night.
He was the only one who actually picked good movies (Hong’s words), so while he was put on movie duty, the rest were on cooking duty.
Well, more like a war to Nut, who was stuck between a bunch of toddlers who can't yet differentiate between salt and sugar inside the jar.
“P’Nut, don’t forget the chocolate cake you promised to make for us,” Lego shouted from the living room.
Oh, to shut that kid up, how nice that would be, but alas, he would rather drink a full bottle of hot sauce than pick a fight with their resident little fiery cat.
The smoke alarm going off made him look back at the kitchen to only see Tui and William now running an almost (read: fully) black pan under water, while Hong stood there, arms crossed and smug with the ‘I told you so’ look.
“Out, just get out. Go and be helpful somewhere else.”
After Nut was sure the troubles were out of his scared kitchen, he started on dinner and dessert.
Their only omega got what he wanted, okay.
Pack rules.
The kitchen smelled heavenly now that Nut was in his element, the alpha was the only one who can and who cooks like he is from a michelin star restaurant.
They all sat down with the food spread out on the coffee table, surrounding it in a tangle of limbs and grunts as they reached for the dishes and knocked each other accidentally.
The movie was going on its own path, a random comedy that Lego had chosen, the only one watching it as well.
The living room was filled with the scents of the pack, all warm and soft with the atmosphere and the rain.
Tui leaned back, stretching. “Ugh, I just wish every day was like this. I don't want to go meet my boss again tomorrow.”
“Well, if you actually finished that report in time, I would not have said anything, Mr. Secretary,” Nut replied, looking smug as he licked the whipping cream of his spoon and winking in Tui’s direction.
Tui looked away, muttering something about having your pack mate as boss and shitty ceo’s.
“Speaking of that, how is the cafe going now? It's been so long since we came there” William questioned
“Its nice, our sales have gone up, and the vibes have gotten five-star ratings… from the street cats. Also, there is a new shop next to ours now, and people from there come over all the time. We can check that shop out tomorrow.”
Before someone could say about their cat rated vibes being unreliable, the doorbell rang, loud and unapologetically cutting through the moment.
Hong got up to open the door (cause it was his turn according to that darn door duty spreadsheet). The minute the door was opened, the entire pack was curious. Darn that rule of only one person going to the door unless absolutely required
Est stood outside the door, nervous, scared, and questioning if he had to really do this.
“Its okay, you talk to random people on a daily basis, you can do this, deep breaths, Est. Yeah… you can do this.”
With that, he knocked on the door, slightly and hesitantly, which was not loud enough for them to hear. The doorbell it is.
While he stood there, praying that he did not disturb them or anything. Some people hate to be disturbed. Just as he was about to spiral out and leave, the door opened, and an alpha stood in front of him.
Deep breaths, Est, you got this.
“Hello there, I just moved in next door a few days ago and wanted to introduce myself. I am Est, and I work in a flower shop. Feel free to knock on my door for help… or just to talk… either works.”
The alpha looked at him before breaking into a small smile.
“I am Hong, nice to meet you, Est. We hope you have no hard time settling in, feels like you would fit right in perfectly.”
Est let out a small laugh at that.
“Maybe. Oh, and before I forget, these are for you,” he said, extending the basket he had prepared, which was wrapped nicely with a pretty ribbon tied at the top, perks of working in a flower shop.
The alpha looked like he was about to talk him into not accepting it.
“Uhh, no options provided here, you are taking these, its for your pack. A small gift from my side.”
Hong sighed, “Guess I can't talk you out of it, huh?”Est wiggled his eyebrows with a glint in his eyes.
“Well, if you could, I won't be here now.” They both let out a laugh.
“Here you go, and sorry for disturbing your moment, have a good night.”
“Same to you, Est, and you can also call us anytime, and thank you for the gifts, we appreciate it very much.” Est nodded with a polite smile before leaving for his room.
After a few minutes, once he was sure Est made it to his place, Hong stepped back in, his arms loaded and heavy.
The minute he closed the door, all of them were standing in front of him, making him yelp and almost let go of the basket in his hands.
“Why are you all standing here?” He asked, looking tired at this point.
“We were just curious phi” William said with a voice dangerously close to sulking.
“New neighbour, omega. Said he wanted to give us small gifts and introduce himself. Thats all.”
He explained and placed the basket on the dining table.
But patience be damned in this pack; they all rushed to open them, each something different. With each of the boxes filled with really nice and thoughtful gifts.
Candles, coffee blends, miniature flower bouquets, bath bombs, a few shot glasses, and a small box of really nice, expensive chocolate.
William already popped one of the chocolate pieces into his mouth, and he let out a groan, too satisfied to form understandable words.
“That is pure heaven, I am telling you, I have never tasted a chocolate like that.”
“And what are you, a professional chocolate taste tester ?” Nut took the box of chocolate from his hands, placing it inside the shelves.
“If any one of you touches that chocolate without letting me know and gets a sugar rush, best know you're on cleaning duty… for two months.”
And he left the room with a bunch of sulking adults who knew they lost yet another war to the oldest card and wont ever win it. Even if you're the pack alpha. William huffed
“Leave P’Nut aside, how is the omega? Is he pretty? Is he sweet or like those bitchy ones? Can I go talk to him tomorrow?” Lego asked with his eyes shining, making Tui roll his eyes
“He is… really nice actually, but he seems fun to be around, I guess?” Hong said, recounting the conversation.
“What about the last one, can I go talk to him pleaseee. I will behave, promise no more teasing you all… for a week at max.”
Hong rolled his eyes, and William looked done. They all know that their dear youngest wont even make it to hour one of the one week.
“You can, only if he is comfortable and you know you don't need to ask us, yeah? William stated, looking at the other two who nodded.
“I know that, just wanted to make you feel like an alpha for a minute before you go back to sulking for the chocolates.” William ignored him and went to complain about the unfairness of this situation to Nut, who just hummed at the right times at the right times in his passionate talk about him also being the youngest.
“Finally, I will have another omega to talk about stuff. If we get close.” Lego said with a giddy smile on his face.
“You can't betray me, Lego. I was and am your emotional support for years now, how could you huh?” Tui said, almost mortified.
“Yeah, but I can't talk to you about my heats or other stuff, you don't get them, do you? You don't even pretend like you do,” Lego sulked.
Hong intervened, “okay should we finish that movie or watch another one?”
“Another oneee!” Nut shouted from the living room.
Est let a sigh of relief the minute he closed the door. That was more exhausting than he expected it to be.
He sat down on his couch, more like flopped down with the grace of a cockroach. He was tired and lonely.
An alarm rang from his phone. He groaned.
“I hate past me. Why did you have to set an alarm for work? You perfectly scheduled, armed with spreadsheets, and miserable workaholic.”
He hit his head against the couch and then let out a small cry of pure annoyance and mild pain.
“Okay, let’s just get this done with.”
He sat up and took his tablet, going over the orders he needed to prepare for tomorrow.
Just a few generic bouquets and a few custom ones.
The custom ones are usually his favourite to work on, with more freedom to create.
He has already finished two of them before, and only three more are left
The first one had a mix of red and White roses, along with a few Peonies and Eucalyptus. This person was quite the romancist, considering she admitted she knew what these meant.
The next one was a display piece with Tulips, and Anthuriums, it screamed, bold with a touch of the minimalist modern touch.
The last one was for himself, a small thing he has been doing for a long time. Every two weeks, he takes himself out on a date and tries something new and arranges a new bouquet for himself.
His friends call it cute and screams ‘I don't need an alpha to take me out, I can do it.’ But to Est, it’s just another opportunity to try a different type of floral arrangement and try out a new diner or cafe, he might find his next obsession just like that on a random wednesday or sunday.
Who knows?
This time tho, he had no idea on what to come up with.
“Chrysanthemums ??? did that three months back, so nope, orrrrr sunflowers ??”
He thought for a while. He had options to weigh here, important ones too, at that
“Nope, screams I am hyper than a toddler on a sugar rush, which I definitely am not… yeah, I am not that… right? We need calm and composed, mature adult vibes in this household. Maybe daisies???? Nope.”
He looked at the ceiling like it held his answers; maybe it did in this moment.
“Blue roses… Blue roses… mystery…curious… yessssss that's it. Tomorrow's vibes are fixed, I shall be a mystery and enigma… for myself. Nice. Cool. Very adult.”
“One thing out of the way, now I need to decide what to wear and where to go, which is even harder.”
He looked up at the ceiling again, but to judge the ideas of his past self, the specific ideas he came up with on a whim.
“I’m choosing what to wear tomorrow morning, but where should I go? Let me check that list I got from Ciize. There is a cafe right next door, I shall go there, which also means… I can keep the shop open till the usual timings.”
“ Yeahhh perfect, let's do it. Is the cafe open tho?”
After triple checking the opening time on google and delivery sites, he was sure tomorrow was the perfect day.
After dropping a text in their friend’s group chatroom about his whereabouts tomorrow (cause otherwise they are going to send a search warrant for him), which had like two people aside him, Ciize and Daou, he decided he was fine to go to bed.
“Skincaree” he let out a groan, too tired, too lazy, and too much I don’t want to do it vibes.
Instead of pushing through his usual five-step routine, he went for a two-step one, which was basically wash your face, slap moisturizer on and go to bed and sleep.
He got into his bed, his nest looking really warm and comfortable.
He pulled a leather jacket close to his nose, inhaling his own muted scent and relaxed, which lulled him to sleep, something in him settling finally after a long time.
Cause after all, what the mind does not understand is understood by instincts.
Always.