Chapter Text
Near instinctively squeezed his eyes shut tighter, his face scrunching up in displeasure as the morning sun's gentle golden rays swept over his slumbering form. A soft, inaudible groan escaped his lips as he tugged the white cover of the blanket upwards in a futile attempt to shield himself from the invading light, desperate to prolong the peaceful slumber he had only just managed to get himself into. Near let out a drowsy sigh as he surrendered to the embrace of the warm bed that cradled his vulnerable, unclothed body.
This....heat...was relentless and tormenting throughout the entire night. It left Near completely sleepless and on edge.
Initially, Near had attempted to ignore it. Opting to treat it as if it were a mere inconvenience in the back of his mind that would go away within an hour or two.
It never did though.
The heat's intensity only increased as the night progressed. It mercilessly enveloped his small form, causing his body to ache and yearn in places he, himself was still unfamiliar with. It wasn't long into the night before Near was rubbing up against his pillow, naked and mewling uncharacteristically like some lustful whore. The unfamiliar timbre of his own voice reverberated in his ears; adding to the disconcerting sensation he was experiencing.
It had taken nearly the entire night to expend his newfound surge of energy.
Now, Near's brows knitted together in disdain as he cursed himself for not fully closing the curtains last night. If only he had shielded his resting eyes from the intrusive morning brightness, he might still be immersed in blissful slumber. Oh, how he yearned for just an additional hour or two of quiet, uninterrupted rest.
—Alas, now that he had been roused, he could sense the rest of his being gradually awakening as well. Near shifted silently in his bed, the smoothness of his supple skin gliding against the crisp, freshly scented bedcover as he painstakingly maneuvered himself into a sitting position.
With a small tired yawn, Near rubbed the remnants of sleep from his eyes, a gradual realization dawning upon him that the all-too-familiar heat began to coil within his fatigued body once again, eliciting a discontented whine from the young boy. He despised having to confront this in the morning, finding it both humiliating and deplorable that someone as stoic and placid as himself could gradually succumb to such debased inclinations like some pervert.
Seated on his bed, naked and alone with a moment's clarity, Near could feel the heat begin in the middle of his chest, the sensation slowly wound its way through his veins like a twisted poison, igniting every nerve and inundating his being with an intoxicating poison. The warmth engulfed him, causing his skin to flush and the fine hairs on his arms to stand on end as if he had gotten the chills. Relentlessly, the heat permeated every inch of his body before settling in the depths of his flaccid cock.
As his cock stirred ever so slightly, Near let out a grumble of frustration, his eyes finally opening to gaze down at his naked form. He was well aware that trying to ignore his growing arousal would only exacerbate the discomfort of his heat, yet he lacked the energy for self-relief at the moment.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Near turned and reached for the partially open blue container resting on his bedside table. He retrieved two heat reliever tablets, placing them flat onto his open palm. Although these tablets had done very little during the night when the intensity of his heat reached its peak, Near held onto hope that taking them preemptively would aid in controlling the unbearable sensations for the remainder of the day and that the heat wouldn't get as bad as it had during the night.
Near frowned as he grabbed the glass that sat on his bedside table and lifted it to eye level to inspect it. It was empty. Not even a drop of water remained in the cup. He must have unknowingly gone through it all from the heat last night. Raising his gaze to the ticking clock on the wall, Near drew his bottom lip between his teeth, chewing on it gently in contemplation.
The time was only 6:40 am, the caretakers wouldn't start breakfast preparations until 7:00 am and since the orphans weren't woken up until 8:00 am by Wammys staff, the prospect of encountering any of the other orphans at this early hour seemed reassuringly slim to the boy. It would take less than 3 minutes to get to the kitchen, fill up his glass and return back to his room.
Gently peeling the comforting warmth of the blanket away from his small frame, Near slid his legs over the edge of the bed, taking a brief moment to steady himself before gathering his thoughts and collecting his crumpled clothes from the cold wooden floor. Pulling his pants on and doing his button-up shirt lazily, Near gave himself a look once over in the mirror before grabbing the glass from his nightstand and exiting his room quietly.
As Near silently slipped into the deserted hallway, the soft click of his bedroom door closing resounded through the empty corridor, filling the stillness with a subtle echo. Near's sock-covered feet, padded against the chilling cold floor as he made his way to the kitchen, empty glass in hand, Near was thankful that the kitchen wasn't too far from his room.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Near could see the light was on. His dark grey eyes scanned the room to find nobody in it.
Had someone left the light on overnight?
It wasn't an unplausible thought. It had happened before.
As Near cautiously navigated around the kitchen counter, heading towards the sink, a sudden movement in his peripheral vision seized his attention. He swiftly turned his head, and his eyes widened as he looked at Mello hunched over, vigorously rummaging through the shelves of the kitchen cabinet, an evident frown etched upon his face.
Mello's nostrils flared, momentarily before he diverted his attention from his search to glance up at the younger boy. His face contorted in an inexplicable manner, a blend of disdain and disgust.
"God, you stink even worse than yesterday," Mello jeered, unable to suppress a snicker, his words laced with a mixture of mockery as his blue eyes looked the white-haired boy up and down.
The corner of Near's mouth tugged downward, forming a subtle frown as his unwavering gaze remained locked with Mello's. Suddenly a rush of memories from their previous encounter the day prior unintentionally surged through the younger boy's mind.
The closeness, the touching and the exchange of hot breaths; Near swallowed the lump in his throat as he felt a surge of heat wash over his body. His senses were heightened, every fibre of his being tingling with an overwhelming desire that threatened to consume him. Near stood in silence as he tried to push the heat down to the deepest depths of himself.
Despite his internal struggle, the quick rise and fall of Mello's own chest and the subtle shift in the older boy's scent didn't go unnoticed by Near. It didn't take long for Near to conclude that despite his efforts to quell the raging pheromones within him, Mello was beginning to be affected by his heat. He needed to get back to his room quickly.
"What are you doing out here." Mello's voice hissed with irritation as he rose to his feet, his height making him tower over the younger boy. The intensity of his gaze bore into Near, demanding an explanation, "You can't be out of your room...like this." Mello's voice became strained as he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stop inhaling the younger boy's sickly sweet alluring scent.
Near subtly shifted under Mello's gaze, becoming acutely aware of the effect his presence was having on the older boy. "I'm aware. I just needed more water to take the heat suppressants. I didn't think anyone would be awake at this time." Near finally mumbled back as he quickly diverted his attention away from Mello's piercing eyes.
Mello's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he snapped, "Can't the caretakers fill it up for you?" His tone was biting as Nears scent continued to envelop him, causing his breath to now come out shaky.
"They aren't around at the moment, they don't usually leave their quarters until they begin breakfast preparations," Near mumbled quietly.
"So? You can still go to them if it's an emergency and this...I'd classify as one," Mello retorted annoyedly, "You can't be wandering around the orphanage when you smell like an invitation for the nearest Alpha."
Near's lips pressed into a thin line as the hold on the cup in his hands tightened slightly, "I apologize," Near replied back with a monotone voice, "I had mistakenly believed that there would be no one around at this hour, especially you, Mello."
The older boy let out an irritated grunt before he knelt back down, continuing to rummage through the kitchen cabinet, "Yeah well it's not like I want to be up this early, I'm looking for the chocolate Roger unfairly confiscated from me yesterday."
"Unfairly?" Near's voice carried a hint of scepticism at Mello's words.
"Yeah, unfairly. Some kid knocked into me but when I retaliate and kick him and end up hurting my ankle, I get punished by having my chocolate confiscated and getting sent to the nurse."
So that's what Mello was doing in the infirmary yesterday with a hurt foot.
Near remained silent as he turned to the sink and filled up his empty glass quietly.
"Here," Near turned back to see Mello was holding out an unopened bag of plain chips. The white-haired boy furrowed his eyebrows slightly in confusion before moving closer to Mello and gently taking the bag of unopened chips. "A snack for the day, so you don't leave your room again," Mello commented as he closed the cabinets in disappointment from not finding the chocolate and standing back up.
"Thank you." Near quietly said as he kept his eyes trained on the bag of chips in his hand, trying desperately not to acknowledge the short distance between them now.
It was uncharacteristically nice for Mello to do something like this. It stirred a bit of uneasiness in the younger boy as the idea of Mello doing this for a hidden motive flooded his mind.
Mello's eyes narrowed slightly as if sensing what Near was thinking, "Don't worry, I'm not trying to court you Near," Mello huskily stated as he inched his face closer to the younger boys, "I have a feeling someone like you wouldn't be that easy to get anyway." Mello's voice was purposefully low.
Near drew in a shaky breath as Mello's musky scent invaded his senses, making alarm bells start going off.
Mello was too close, his body was too close, his face was too close, he was too close.
Near knew he needed to get out of there fast but his feet felt rooted to the cold floor.
"You should leave before someone gets affected by your pheromones."
"Like you?" The words slipped past Nears lips before he knew he was even saying them. Both of them widened their eyes in shock as the air grew thick with silent tension.
It took a moment of silence before Mello was able to muster up a response, "Well...I wasn't meaning me, I was meaning the next random person who walks in here as they're no doubt going to get a nose full of the pheromones you've carelessly been letting off." Mello inched forwards, their chests now gently brushing together.
Near could feel his cheeks grow hot at the slight physical contact. He felt embarrassed by how quickly this heat made him flustered. With effort, Near managed to push out a few words, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mello, please... Give me some space."
Mello's lips curled into a predatory smile, his gaze locked onto the younger boys, "Why, Near? Afraid of a little proximity?" His voice was laced with amusement and something darker, something that sent a shiver down Near's spine. "Or are you afraid you're going to be turned into my bitch?"
Near tried his best to glare at Mello as he felt his pulse quickening and the adrenaline surging through his veins, "Don't be crude Mello, I just—" Near choked on his words as Mello leaned down, their faces dangerously close now.
"Don't be crude? How about you not be in denial Near. I can smell how much you want to be bent over and bred by the nearest alpha. The scent is all over you." Mello's voice was low and taunting, his hot breath ghosted over Nears lips, "—and yesterday, when we were in the infirmary together and you created that slick..." Mello drew in his bottom lip and gently bit it, "Oh you really proved my point then."
Near finally brought his hands up and pushed Mello away gently, the same as he did in the infirmary the day prior, "I assure you, my desires are of no concern to you. I don't need an alpha, I can handle this heat on my own." Near bit back in a rush.
Mello smiled mischievously, "Denial suits you, Near," Mello whispered, his voice cunning, "But I don't believe you." With that, Mello straightened back up and took a step away from the younger boy. The sound of adults chattering echoed down the hallway.
Near sighed with relief, the caretakers must be awake now to start breakfast preparations. Mello took the opportunity and moved passed Near, quickly heading for the doorway. Before leaving, Mello paused for a second and then turned his head to give one last jab to the younger boy, "Don't come out of your room smelling like that again. There are a couple of other orphans here who are alphas too and I know they won't be as nice as me." Mello warned as he took his leave.
Near held back rolling his eyes at Mello's departing message. Finally getting the chance to process what just happened, Near felt the word 'Nice' was a misrepresentation of Mello's persistent teasing and crude remarks. He did however acknowledge he should be more cautious when leaving his room, especially since now, his heat had kicked off into full force.