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It had been a long day for Ohio. He had his usual classes and office hours, but he also ended up having a meeting that ran a bit longer than intended. Then, of course, he had to go grocery shopping for a handful of extra essentials.
Thankfully, Ohio made it back to the apartment he shared with Barnaby, and he looked forward to being able to relax with his boyfriend.
Ohio entered the apartment, which was a somewhat difficult task with a bunch of grocery bags in his arms. Said bags were, of course, reusable ones.
The moment Ohio closed the door behind him, Barnaby began to grab the grocery bags from Ohio.
And then, weirdly enough, Barnaby sniffed Ohio, and his face scrunched up.
"Kotetsu. Bath," Barnaby ordered, and Kotetsu padded away while Barnaby put away groceries. Ohio heard the bath turn on just a few seconds later.
Ohio was about to assist Barnaby with putting away the groceries, but Kotetsu stopped him, instead ushering him over to the bathroom.
Ohio could do little but let Kotetsu herd him to the bathroom, and he took the opportunity to actually use the restroom.
Barnaby came into the bathroom in a few short minutes, and he immediately got to work undressing Ohio. It was now that Ohio noticed both how large Barnaby's pupils were and how much more prominent his fangs were.
"Barnaby? Love? What's wrong?" Ohio asked, worried about his boyfriend but nonetheless allowing said boyfriend to continue undressing him.
"Smell w-w-wrong," Barnaby answered. Ohio tilted his head.
"How do I smell wrong?"
"Mine," Barnaby growled, and Ohio felt a shiver go through him.
Ohio was soon naked, and Barnaby was checking the temperature of the water. Once he deemed it good enough, he gently picked Ohio up and placed him into the bath.
As Barnaby wet Ohio's hair and began to massage shampoo into it, Ohio remembered exactly what was happening - Barnaby was in rut.
Ohio knew it was coming with how Barnaby prepared for it, but it was never clear exactly when it was going to happen, and, despite experiencing one of Barnaby's ruts before, Ohio was still a little bit caught off guard.
It had been a long stressful day though, so once Ohio realized that Barnaby was just having his rut, he melted into Barnaby's touch.
Barnaby seemed to sense Ohio's acceptance with the treatment as he began muttering sweet nothings.
"Good, p-p-perfect, mine, p-pretty, good, good, mine," Barnaby muttered as he carefully wet Ohio's hair and then began to massage conditioner into it.
Ohio, honestly, probably could've fallen asleep like that. Just Barnaby's sweet nothings as he began to clean and wash Ohio's body, taking his time with it as Ohio lost himself in Barnaby's touch, allowing himself to exist in a state of half-sleep.
There was no telling how long it had been, but Ohio woke up when he was lifted out of the bath. Barnaby wrapped a towel around him and dried Ohio off, being just as careful.
Once Ohio was fully dried off, Barnaby spoke.
"Kotetsu. C-Clothes."
Kotetsu left to get clothing while Barnaby rubbed his wrists together. Barnaby then rubbed his wrists against Ohio's neck, leaving a smattering of kisses over Ohio's face with extra attention paid to the scars that were there.
Barnaby's hands moved from Ohio's neck down to Ohio's own hands, pressing his wrists against Ohio's before bringing his hands back up to run through Ohio's hair.
Barnaby finally kissed Ohio's lips, pulling him close like Ohio was going to bolt at any second, and Ohio kissed back, perhaps enjoying how Barnaby's fangs brushed against his lips a little bit too much.
Kotetsu came back with the clothing, and Barnaby broke the kiss to start dressing Ohio in soft pajamas.
Barnaby pressed another kiss against Ohio's lips when Ohio was fully dressed.
Barnaby took the brown leather bracelet Ohio wore and unraveled it to it's full length. He placed it on Ohio's neck, threading the leather through to reveal that the bracelet was also a collar.
Barnaby brushed a thumb over the collar's tag before picking Ohio up and carrying him to the bedroom.
"You know I can walk myself, right?" Ohio pointed out, a statement that Barnaby growled at. "Okay, okay, you can carry me."
Barnaby seemed much happier with that, and he placed Ohio on the bed.
Ohio sat there while Barnaby concentrated on fluffing pillows and adding more blankets to the bed.
This allowed Ohio to notice that Barnaby seemed worried.
"Barnaby? What's wrong?" Ohio asked, knowing that he probably won't get a proper answer out of Barnaby at this time.
"Pack," Barnaby said, and Ohio eyes widened in realization.
"I can get Morgan-" Ohio began to get up, only for Barnaby to push him back down with a growl. "Okay, no leaving. Got it. I'll just call them, and they can come here?"
Barnaby nodded and returned to creating what was basically a nest around Ohio. Ohio got out his phone and called Morgan.
"Ohio James. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Morgan greeted, and Ohio cut right to the chase.
"Barnaby started his rut."
"Fuck," Morgan swore. "I'll be over there in just a few minutes."
"Sounds good," Ohio was about to hang up, but he stopped himself. "Hey, Barnaby, my love? Would you like Morgan to stay on call until they get here?"
Barnaby nodded, so Ohio didn't hang up.
"I am literally across the hallway," Morgan said, but they didn't hang up either, instead starting to ramble on about anything and everything, so Ohio put Morgan on speaker so that Barnaby could hear Morgan.
Ohio heard the apartment door open, and Barnaby perked up.
"Kotetsu. Morgan," Barnaby spoke, and Kotetsu left the room and ushered Morgan into the bedroom.
"Barnaby - are you doing okay?" Morgan asked, hanging up the phone. Barnaby approached Morgan, giving them a sniff before beginning to rub his wrists against Morgan's neck, ensuring that Morgan was properly scented.
Barnaby gave Morgan another sniff before plopping Morgan into the bed beside Ohio. Barnaby added to the nest through bits and pieces of clothing, and he searched the apartment for any more pillows or blankets he could add.
"Guess I'm not getting my freeze ray drone done today," Morgan huffed.
Barnaby came back with more blankets and pillows, and Kotetsu climbed into the bed to put his weight over top of Morgan and Ohio. Morgan absentmindedly began petting Kotetsu.
Barnaby left again and came back with an array of snacks and drinks. Coffee for Morgan and tea for Ohio along with water for both of them.
Morgan eagerly sipped on their coffee, and Ohio did the same with his tea. Ohio relaxed into the bed, enjoying the heat of the tea.
A bag of chips was opened, and then there was a chip in front of Ohio's face. He obediently opened his mouth and ate the chip, and Barnaby let out a happy noise.
The pattern continued with Barnaby doing his best to feed both Ohio and Morgan. Ohio finished up his tea, and Barnaby took the mug from him to set it on the bedside counter.
"Alright, who's missing?" Ohio asked, noticing how frazzled Barnaby still seemed to be.
Barnaby didn't get a chance to answer when suddenly Alex popped in.
"Morgan! Do you know where my-" Alex was suddenly cut off by Barnaby approaching her and sniffing. "Dog Boy?"
Barnaby didn't acknowledge Alex, instead beginning to unbutton her clothing, sniffing more.
"Hey!" Alex's face had turned red. "What do you think you're doing?"
"In-in-injured," Barnaby responded, continuing his journey in trying to figure out where exactly Alex was apparently injured.
"Don't be ridiculous," Alex scoffed. "I'm not injured."
"Smell blood," Barnaby pointed out.
"Are you going to give me actual proper responses, or are you just going to continue undressing me?"
"Barnaby's in rut," Morgan pointed out. "Just let him take care of you."
"I don't need to be taken care of," Alex said, to which Barnaby responded with a growl. "Do you think that scares me?"
Alex had been stripped to her underwear, and Barnaby finally found the source of the smell, and he visibly relaxed.
"B-Blood," Barnaby spoke, satisfied. "Kotetsu. Clothes."
"Hold on - did you just strip me down to figure out that I was on my period?" Alex asked, incredulous.
"Make sure," Barnaby responded, and he started to dress Alex into some pajamas.
"You know I could've just snapped on some clothing that actually fits me?" Alex said, but Barnaby didn't pay her any mind this time, focusing on making sure Alex was fully dressed.
Once Alex was, Barnaby began to scent her, another action that caused Alex to sputter.
"Dog boy. Why are you scenting me?"
"Mine," Barnaby growled, and that comment got Alex redder than even the undressing did.
"I-I-I'm not, I'm not yours!" Alex claimed, but she did nothing to stop Barnaby's scenting.
"He means it in a kind of pack way," Morgan announced. "You're just going to have to go with it."
"Why the hell does Barnaby consider me of all people pack?" Alex asked, but she didn't really get an answer.
"Mine," Barnaby insisted, finally finishing up the scenting before putting Alex into the bed as well.
Barnaby opened up a new bag of food and put some of it in front of Alex's mouth.
"Are you trying to feed me," Alex deadpanned.
"I don't know why you're being so resistant to this. Surely you know all about ruts with your powers and all," Ohio said.
"I've heard of them happening, but usually they're exclusively done with a sexual partner!" Alex responded. "And not...whatever this is."
"Eat," Barnaby demanded, and Alex finally just took a bite of the food that was right in front of her.
"Why are you even okay with this, Morgan? You hate people saying you're theirs," Alex stated.
"Barnaby and I are childhood friends. I'm pretty used to it. And Barnaby means it more in a pack kind of way anyway," Morgan pointed out. "Besides. It's kind of nice to be pampered like this."
"Oh, so you're okay with Barnaby pampering you but not me?" Alex pouted.
"Barnaby's different. This is, like, once a year type of thing. You, on the other hand, seem like you can't stop yourself from pampering people."
"I don't-" Alex started, only to get interrupted by Barnaby shoving another piece of food into her mouth and Ohio putting his own two cents into the conversation.
"You kind of do. It's like the moment you become friends with someone, you can't help yourself," Ohio said.
"How do you know how I treat my other friends?" Alex questioned, swallowing the food.
"Uh, you tell me literally everything?" Ohio mentioned. "You're gossip central."
"Shut the fuck up, Ohio," Alex grumbled as Barnaby fed her more food.
Eventually, Barnaby stopped feeding Alex, instead switching to ensuring that everyone drank some water before getting started on the very important task of attempting to cuddle with all three of them at once, and Kotetsu made an effort to do the same.
Alex took the rare opportunity to pet Kotetsu to her heart's content.
Barnaby ended up holding Ohio in his arms with his legs over top of Alex and Morgan. Barnaby busied himself with petting Ohio and muttering praises.
Alex, despite the entertainment of Kotetsu, was starting to get excruciatingly bored, especially since Morgan just fell asleep.
"Since when do you wear a collar, Ohio?" Alex finally asked, at a loss of anything else to say.
"Since always?" Ohio tilted his head, which gave Barnaby access to his neck to start affectionately nuzzling at it.
"I haven't seen you wear it before now," Alex said.
"That's cause I usually wear it as a bracelet," Ohio responded. "It's not very professional to just be wearing a collar at school after all."
Alex blinked, and realization dawned on her.
"That's what it is?" Alex hissed, keeping her voice low in fear of waking up Morgan.
"Yep," Ohio grinned. "What? Are you jealous that you aren't collared?"
Alex went so red that Ohio was almost tempted to say that Alex had shapeshifted to turn that color.
"No," Alex insisted, obviously lying as she looked down while petting Kotetsu very intently.
Ohio laughed, rubbing a hand against Barnaby's back.
"You know I bet if you asked Morgan really nicely, they'd collar you," Ohio teased.
"Shut the fuck up, Ohio."
"I'll shut up when you get a backbone and confess your feelings."
Alex huffed, a blush still on her face, and she quickly changed the course of the conversation.
"I'm bored. Isn't there anything better to do around here than lie in bed?"
Barnaby perked at that, and he got up and quickly came back with a Sudoku book and a pen, handing it to Alex before snuggling up against Ohio, Alex, and Morgan once again.
"Was I just given a puzzle?" Alex asked, and Ohio laughed again.
"And a pen," Ohio added, not being able to keep down his laughter.
Morgan stirred, blinking awake just enough to notice the Sudoku book.
"Is that killer Sudoku?" Morgan asked, their voice still laced with sleep, but still sounding excited.
"What the fuck is killer Sudoku?" Alex asked, and Morgan woke up a bit more, opting to lean on Alex's shoulder to look over at the booklet.
"It's a type of Sudoku. In addition to normal Sudoku rules, you also have these boxes with a number in them, and that's the sum of all the numbers in that box," Morgan explained.
"In pen?" Alex questioned.
"What else would you use for Sudoku?" Morgan inquired.
"A pencil," Alex answered, and Morgan made a face.
"Using a pencil for Sudoku is for children," Morgan insisted. "Right, Ohio?"
"Hey, don't be too harsh on Alex," Ohio responded. "Not even their Do Not Kill List is written in pen."
"I will erase your name off that list, I swear to God-" Alex started, only to be met with Barnaby growling and curling more protectively around Ohio.
"Hey! No killing my nemesises!" Morgan scolded, and Alex huffed. "Now. Do you want help on the killer Sudoku or not?"