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''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!''
Hidan hits the cell's door with another blow, the metal shaking in its frame, but unyielding. He hits it again, and again. His throat is raw from his feral shouting, and the bones of his hands are dust from impacts.
''YOU CAN COWER ALL YOU WANT! YOUR SOULS ARE JASHIN'S!!''
''Shut the fuck up or we gag you!'' Shouts back a man from outside the door.
''I'LL EAT YOUR FUCKING HANDS!''
Hidan can hear the man curses under his breath, tired of his shit.
The Jashinist stops once he's breathless from exertion. He sits to take a breather and lets his hands heal from the pounding. He curses their souls loudly.
He got captured one month and a half ago. He and Kakuzu were to collect a bounty, and that's pretty much all he remembers, in the fight, he fell from a cliff. He doesn't remember the fight, he doesn't remember if he managed to make a sacrifice or if his partner saw him fall. He woke up, his entire skeleton broken from the plunge, under the very interested eyes of three alphas.
The rest was a blur, he woke up again in a facility, in a dark room smelling like disinfectant and with needles into his neck and his arms. The liquid pumped was excessively uncomfortable, he had hallucinations from fever and his body ached like he ran a marathon, his brain was in cotton for the whole duration.
Hidan found himself in a padded cell with chakra-infused chains larger than his biceps. It smelled like dust and mold and he could see stains all across the room. The door opened and a tall man entered. The first thing that he noticed was the smell, the pheromones to be exact, powerful and stirring something deep in him. The man was an alpha.
''Sit up.'' Orders the man.
Hidan completely disregarded the order, but a voice inside his head was saying otherwise. The alpha frowned and ordered again, with another whiff of pheromones, and Hidan's muscles twitched to obey. The Jashinist growled, pushing himself back. No way he's going to listen, who does he think he is? He felt like a kid standing up to his father, which was utterly perplexing.
''Feisty are you, little omega.'' Says the man with a mischievous smirk.
Hidan glares at him. ''Go get your nose checked, I'm not an omega.''
The man's smile grew. ''You are now. The hormonal therapy was a success. You're an omega and I can't wait to break you.''
To say Hidan was incensed is the understatement of the century.
First, the modifications of his body without his consent made him feral with rage, second the souvenirs from the Steam village coming back made the bile rise in his throat. Memories of arrogant alpha senseis bullying the students, of alphas taking all the high placements in the army even if they were weaker than a beta, how the omegas could not become nin because they were a liability, stashed away in the village, treated like things. Just like his sister was, until her alpha mate killed her because he fancied another omega.
The Steam Village always closed its eyes to the alphas. And the omegas were to take the blame every time.
In the cult of Jashin, everyone is equal. For Hidan, this obscure cult hidden in the mountains and tunnels of his country was a beacon of hope, a way to escape a stifling village's culture. It gave him the resolve and power to overcome societal expectations. And more.
Jashin was very clear in his doctrine, everyone was accepted, but they could not stray from their paths. The dévots were put under harsh training of torture, physical and mental, to never let go of their religions and principles, to train them for the jutsus of their god. The omegas of the cult were trained to withstand their heat, and the alphas their ruts, to fight no matter their instincts or body weaknesses. The betas were to consume enough drugs to make an addict faint and withstand the same non-existent inhibitions to pleasure and sex. They were killing machines no matter what.
Who do they think he is? He's a Jashinist, he's from a ruthless cult. It was ingrained in his brain and soul to never stray from Jashin.
To the Alpha's dismay, the immortal doesn't obey any orders, no amount of pheromones or torture makes him obey. They try to tame him by forcibly claiming him, but the bite mark disappears after minutes, and his scent glands back to their original state. His sheer will is stronger than the artificially inseminated instincts in him and the mating instinct fails as well.
Hidan doesn't have one single natural heat. The scientists and the medics present have to artificially provoke it with hormones. Even with slick coating his legs and an erection, he fights the Alphas tooth and nails. He spat the cock of one in their faces. He bit one on his scruff, ripping the flesh of his scent glands, making the alpha feral from the rage of getting defiled by an omega.
The immortal shouts in anger again, hitting his jail cell's door again. He's going to get out. He's not going to be a plaything, or worse, a baby machine. He knows that's what the human trafficker wants. Omega males are rarer and they often die in childbirth. Being immortal, he was perfect. His ass healing each time after mating was perfect. He was dead tired of listening to his jailer telling him he was the greatest omega they ever created. They were making bets on when he breaks.
Hidan won't break, he won't fucking kneel to these maggots. He kneels to no one but Jashin!
-------------------
The Jashinist kicks one of his jailers in the face and spits on him. He can't stand their smell, overpowering and dizzying. They shove him on the ground to immobilize him while a medic checks him. He resists everything, writhing and insulting them. The little voice in his mind telling him to stand down is drowned by the roar of his rage.
''GO FUCK YOURSELF!''
''Tranquilize him! He already killed two men in the last week.'' Shouts an Alpha, holding his right arm.
Hidan thrashes and growls, trying to bite anything in front of him. The traffickers hold him down while the medic puts a needle in his neck. He snarls when he smells two more alpha at the entrance. Their pheromones were heavy on his senses along the chaos of the room.
''So, this is the one. We're already making a killing from the waitlist. We have a prize for the alpha that successfully mates him. The doctors will tell if he's mature yet to breed him.'' Says an Alpha leaning on the door, speaking to another one.
Hidan turns his head toward them, trying to murder them with his eyes, invoking Jashin in his mind to smite them to dust this instant.
''YOU CAN'T HOLD ME FOREVER! I'LL DANCE ON YOUR BONES!'' Shouts the Jashinist, kicking the face of a beta so hard he loses teeth.
''Immortal you say, mmmh. It's Hidan from Akatsuki, right?'' Asks the second man.
The Jashinist zeroes on the alpha saying his name. The alpha has his hand under his chin, the other arm holding it, with a mustache, a scar on his right eye, and a bald head. He knows his face from somewhere. He stares at him, thrashing, trying to remember if he's a sacrifice that escaped until he sees the alpha's wrist. He sucks a breath in surprise.
On the Alpha's wrist, there is a slit, a scar with stitches. The stitches are made from thick, onyx threads.
Kakuzu's.
Now Hidan remembers. It's the bounty exchange master from the land of Fire, the one in the lavatory, Zangei.
Zangei holds his stare and a ghost of a smirk draws on his lips. He rubs his wrist and turns to the other alpha. ''You are getting creative for obtaining omegas.''
''It doesn't always work. Most of them die in the hormonal therapy, but since this one is immortal...''
Zangei nods and crosses his arms while the trafficker tells how many betas they turned to omegas and what they do with the pups.
There's a loud crash rattling the building. Everyone scrambles on their feet and runs outside while more thunderous bangs are heard across the facility, except for Zangei still leaning on the wall. There are shouts and more crashing. A brawl has erupted further and Hidan can't get out, he smells fear and adrenaline. Smoke begins to fill the room and from the smoke, a figure emerges in a black cloak covered in red clouds. Hidan stares bewildered at Kakuzu entering the room like a demon from hell, smelling like blood and steel. The older man crushes the heavy chains with his Earth Fear Grudge, liberating the immortal from his month-long shackles.
''You were right, Kakuzu-san. Impressive.'' Comments Zangei. The stitches on his wrist unlodges itself and the thread slithers back to his master.
The treasurer lifts Hidan by the shoulders and gets him on his feet. The immortal is getting dizzy from the drug they injected earlier and Kakuzu has to hold him upright. He barely can stay in focus as they walk toward the exit, fire roaring on their paths and corpses littering the way.
''Drop him!'' Shouts a man further.
Hidan bares his teeth instinctually as two alphas land in front of them amidst the flames and what rest of the faculties.
''You drop the omega immediately, beta!'' Shouts one of the alpha, trying to will down Kakuzu.
Kakuzu snorts and the next second his hand shoves itself in the man's sternum, crushing his heart in a splatter of blood.
''Pompous ass, all of you.'' Mutters Kakuzu shaking his head.
The other alpha snarls and tries to stab the treasurer, but one of Kakuzu's mask blast him to pieces. Zangei whistles in awe. ''You did a number on this place. I don't see you fight often, Kakuzu-san.''
''You know better than to anger me.'' Responds the treasurer curtly.
Hidan faints as the sun touches his skin, the drug finally taming him. Out of this shithole finally.
------------------------
The Jashinist opens his eyes, coughing and rolling on his side. He feels a sheet and a pillow under him, he clutches it immediately groaning in relief. It's not a padded floor smelling like mold or musk. There is no chain on his wrists and calves. He bounces out of the tent and the smell of nature is what hits him first. The smell of fresh grass, flowers, the musk from animals running in the forest, the smell of embers and food.
Kakuzu is sitting near the dying fire, roasting some fish. The older man looks at him, the creases in his forehead not moving, and throws him an Akatsuki cloak.
''Eat. We have to move.'' Says Kakuzu.
Hidan blinks, holding the cloak. There's a faint smell of iris. A turmoil of emotions begins to rise in his chest. ''It's been two months... Leader will not be happy to see me back.''
''Not if we catch the Two-Tails. He'll have no reason to refuse you. From my sources, she's one day of walk.''
''...Even if I'm...''
The Jashinist wants to shout and shove his scythe into someone. An omega. That's what he is now. His village called them useless. Only good for pack dynamics and raising families. Hidan curses loudly. Like hell he'll EVER bend to an alpha, to listen to his commands like a good little maid or fuck toy. Just knowing it's ingrained in his instinct now makes him shiver in disgust.
''I don't particularly care.'' Says Kakuzu, tone neutral. ''The fact you're not mated is a testament to your strength.''
Hidan stares at Kakuzu, trying to see if the older man will add anything to disprove what he just said or insult him like usual, because it makes him feel a tad better.
''If Kisame tries anything, I'm shoving him into a fire.'' Spits Hidan sitting in front of the older man to eat his fish.
The entire Akatsuki are betas, with the exception of Kisame, an alpha, and Konan, a mated omega. Pain is a weird mix of smelling both alpha and beta, but he doesn't react to anything. No one knows if he's truly mated with Konan, he doesn't act like it anyway.
Kakuzu nods and looks back at the embers from their campfire. Hidan gazes at the older man once he finishes his food. He hugs his knees and looks at his traits: the usual lines of his face still hard from his perpetual scowl, but there is something... relaxed in the slump of his shoulders. Then peridot eyes meet his.
''Zangei, is it? He said you were right... Were you searching for me?'' Asks Hidan, voice low.
There's a pregnant silence between them until Kakuzu speaks, impassible. ''Zangei heard through the grapevines about an immortal. He has a lot of connections.''
Hidan sighs when Kakuzu stops at that. He won't get a straight answer from his partner. Still, it somehow confirms that Kakuzu either searched for him or cared enough about him to get him back. And that makes the immortal shove his face in his knees and smile softly. He tries to chase off the emotions, they are hardened criminals for Jashin's sake, and they're not supposed to be soft. However, Hidan hates to admit he feels other emotions than rage and disdain for the old man. From the way they used to be at each other throats in the beginning to the way they now compliment each other after a fight. The way Kakuzu went from refusing to heal him like a petty old fuck to threads worming their way on his chest as he finishes a ritual without asking.
And now Kakuzu has come and got him out of a shithole that menaced to keep him for a very long time.
The old man wants to act like nothing happened, fine. But he doesn't know how long he can keep up the charade before falling even harder for the treasurer.
--------------------
They arrive in the rain village and Hidan notices the change immediately. People stare a lot more, people smile at him or eat him with their eyes. At least no one approaches him, the scythe in his back intimidating enough. He really hoped the rain would chase his new scent.
The door of their base opens and they enter to see most of the Akatsuki there. Hidan instinctively pulled on the collar of the cloak, and zipped all the way for once, trying to hide his new status the most he could.
''Hidan?!' Says Deidara, noticing him first. ''So you didn't abandon Akatsuki?''
''No, I got captured.'' Says Hidan curtly, then seeing Pain's eyes staring at him. ''Didn't breathe a word about Akatsuki. Torture doesn't work on me. And they are all dead now.''
Pain looks at him a bit more, gauging, then nodding slowly, turning his head to Kakuzu holding the two tails on his shoulder. Konan's eyes are wide, shocked. Shit, she knows. The immortal turns his head to Kisame and the alpha has his eyebrows to his hair, but hasn't moved a centimeter toward him.
''And you got the two-tails... How did-'' Begins Deidara.
The blond stops in his tracks and smells the air. Hidan's face twists in embarrassment.
''You... I thought they were urban legends the beta to omega stories.''
''Well, they're not.'' Snaps back Hidan. He wants that conversation over. His hand instinctively reached for his neck, where his rosary used to be. The traffickers threw it away. ''You get used to it. Nothing changes.''
Hidan snaps his head to Kisame, glaring at him to try anything, but the shark man still looks at him bewildered. He hates how he can smell him way stronger now, the smell of water lily and nori. But it's mild compared to other alpha he met at the facility. Could he be mated?
''We will begin the ritual for the two tails.'' Says Pain.
The Jashinist sighs. At least the attention is off him.
----------------
''Get him down!!''
Hidan curses them loudly as two stone nin placate him down. He trashes under them, biting the hands trying to make a stone cuff around his arms. The Jashinist doesn't see the Alpha of their group, but he can definitely smell it, the hair of his arms and back lifting.
''Stand down.'' The low rumble of the alpha comes, along with the intoxicating smell.
Hidan's body's first reaction is to obey, but not a millisecond after he's trashing and insulting. Hands roughly grab his shoulders and a drop of warm water falls on his right shoulder. Not water, saliva from the Alpha's mouth, clearly inhaling his scent now. The fucker wants to mark him, right now and there without any fucking shame. There's a visceral thrill coursing Hidan's body, knowing he's about to be bitten. The omega in him wants to please, the Jashinist in him wants to FIGHT.
The immortal manages to slip his hand from under one of the stone nin and grab his second spear on his hips. In a sickening 'shlik' the spear has pierced one of the stone nin's stomachs, blood running on his ankle. He manages to kick the second off and immediately stabs his head, the skull cracking with gray matter spraying on the floor.
The alpha growls and begins to move his hands for a jutsu. Too slow, Hidan pierces his right hand and jumps back to the circle he drew earlier. His skeletal markings appear and he stabs his left hand. The stone alpha howls, now with two useless hands, unable to use jutsus.
''How dare you!'' Shouts the stone nin, voice dripping with disgust.
''Fuck you!''
Hidan stabs his groin, just to make the alpha emasculated. The stone nin shouts in pain, falling on his knees, his hands clutching his bleeding groin. Pheromones of pain and utter fear spread in the air. It tastes acrid in Hidan's mouth, but just like alcohol, he'll make this smell an acquired taste. He'll revel in it.
Kakuzu loudly cackles on the side.
It hurts like a bitch, but Hidan wiggles the spear in his pelvis just to make the alpha cry out more. The tears on his face look divine. When has enough, he pulls back the spear and stabs his heart.
The immortal sighs in delight. He lies down in the circle and mumbles his prayer.
''Animal.'' Says Kakuzu, kicking the alpha's corpse.
The bounty was for the alpha stone nin. Hidan can agree with the old miser. In the Steam village, it was a common occurrence and it always made Hidan pissed. The outsider omegas were made prisoners of the mating and stripped of their power if they were nin. The alpha took whatever they wanted like some sort of divine right.
''I thought Stone was more civilized.'' Mumbles Hidan, in a satisfied tone.
''They are supposed, as one of the five great nations. But those were criminals, so any pretense were dropped.'' Says Kakuzu while he loots the corpses. ''Still better than Steam.''
''Yeah. Steam can eat my ass.''
Kakuzu chuckles. ''I might want to raze my old village to the ground one day, but I got to admit they have the best way of dealing with packs.''
''How so?''
''Everyone is on suppressants. Alphas and omegas. No mating and no packs allowed with outsiders. In anbu, nothing at all. Those who refused to take the suppressants were chained like dogs or forcefully sterilized. It works. No one feared to enter the ninja training so our number was high for such a small country. Waterfall managed to not be invaded by the great Nations repeatedly.''
''You never had a pack?'' Asks Hidan. Kakuzu is the oldest nin Hidan ever met, so he expected he would have one at some point.
''Not one that mattered.''
A true lone wolf.
Hidan gets up and wipes the blood off his chest. There is some sort of yearning in his body, he's left unsatisfied and he shakes his head to chase the feeling.
-------------------------
The Jashinist looks at the cup of tea in front of him. It's made from some flowers and long grass Kakuzu picked. He takes a sip and almost spits it.
''What the hell is that?'' Asks Hidan.
''Yarrow and milk thistles.'' States Kakuzu. ''Natural suppressants. You hate when people notice you.''
Yeah, he does. He especially hates when alphas dare come to ask for a drink, or even worse, ask Kakuzu about him like he doesn't exist and is standing right beside him. It even happened at the reception of their inn an hour ago, but the alpha quickly decamped when Kakuzu used a thread to subtly strangle the man. The chamber they have is small, but with doors acceding to the zen garden. There's even a koi pond.
Hidan looks at the tea once more. It's fucking flowers, so it's free, fitting the old miser. He didn't want to take suppressants out of spite for all the other nins, showing he's intimidated by no one, but at this point perhaps it's not worth it. He finished the cup and let the warmness soothe him. It's not good, far from it.
Hidan is surprised to feel the effect almost immediately. The way his skin becomes less sensitive to the clothes he's wearing, the way the yearning in his body, sometimes bordering on distress, dissipates, and how he's less stressed about Kakuzu going away to meet one of his men later. He feels better with people around him, omegas rarely want to be alone for a long period of time. And Kakuzu is almost unofficially his pack, his...mate. Which is a thought he pushes back.
But... Kakuzu searched for him, or actually found him in a fated way, and got him out. He had the perfect opportunity to let him rot and get another colleague he would have killed off in a week. There got to be something going between his partner and him.
However, it's known omegas can only mate with alphas. You can have a relationship with a beta, not a mate, it's not as fulfilling, as his village used to say.
Hidan blinks when Kakuzu gets something out of his bag, his momentary brooding interrupted. It's a dark silver, very high, thick plastron necklace.
''What's this?'' Asks Hidan.
''If you don't want to take suppressants or we don't have any; it's going to protect your neck from unwanted bite. Useful during heat.'' Answers Kakuzu, throwing the necklace to Hidan.
The Jashinist catches it looks at the back, and there are seals, but on the front, there's the symbol Jashin welded on it. He traces his fingers on the symbol. He looks up at the treasurer, but Kakuzu is back to ignoring him and getting his suitcase open to count the money from the day bounties on the lone table of the room they rented.
''Thanks, old man.'' Murmurs Hidan. He's touched, truly.
''Akatsuki can't have you unwillingly mated.'' Responds Kakuzu, rolling his eyes.
However, by the custom symbol, Hidan knows Kakuzu means more than that.
--------------------
The plastron is mighty useful. Anyone looking at him has the very clear message that Hidan is not interested, at all. So people leave him a lot more alone, and the alpha gets frustrated when they fight him. Win-win.
They are camping in the Fire country, trying to get information on the nine-tails. Hidan is making his bed, wrestling with the covers he stole from the jonin's equipment they killed earlier. He shivers when a gust of wind enters the open tent. He smells pine trees, and pauses, sniffing the air. There are no pine trees here. He turns around to look at a possible intruder, but he doesn't feel or see anything, no chakra signature except for Kakuzu resting near the fire with a book.
The old man is relaxing, with a rare instance of not wearing his mask or cowl, his Akatsuki cloak off, and the masks of his back in the open. He seems sure they won't get attacked in the night.
Then it hits Hidan. The pine scent, it's Kakuzu. When he was beta, other beta's odors were always subtle. Inexistant for Kakuzu because of his cowl. Recently, he did smell the pine subtly but thought it was the environment. Without his cowl, his scent was now present for his omega senses.
And he is drawn to it.
Kakuzu lifts his eyes with an inquisitive grunt, his brows frowning. The Jashinist tries to approach his partner without raising suspicions.
''What do you want?'' Asks Kakuzu curtly.
The treasurer can read him like a book. Hidan sighs and sits beside his partner.
''Give me your wrist.'' Asks Hidan.
Kakuzu stares at him a bit more suspiciously but complies surprisingly. Hidan delicately takes the stitched forearm and approaches his face from the dark skin. It smells like pine, fresh fern, and a bit of poppy. Kakuzu's original heart chakra is Earth, it makes sense. And Hidan feels the back of his neck getting hot by the scent.
''What are you doing?'' Asks Kakuzu, perplexed.
No need to lie. ''I smelled pine in the tent, wondered if it was you.''
''Pine?''
''No one told you what you smelled?'' You smell good, but he doesn't dare say it.
''No. No one.''
Kakuzu huffs and gets back to his book while Hidan tries to regain his composure. He goes back to the tent, finishing his bed to lie down. It took some time to get used to the plastron as he slept, but he knew it was worth it.
==
Hidan wakes up. He's hot. He wipes his forehead. His eyes widen as he moves his legs to roll on his side. The tingles from his groin, his erection, and the sudden prickles of his skin; he's in heat. He curses and the necklace suddenly seems way too tight. His first natural heat. He hates it.
''What is it, Hidan?'' Snaps Kakuzu, almost ripping open the tent.
The old man's eyes widen. ''I'm going to look for Wolfsbane.''
''Sure! Whatever!'' Responds Hidan angrily.
The Jashinist grits in teeth, removing his pants drenched from slick. His brain is in fuzz. He just wants to spread his leg and masturbate for days on end. His mind provides him pictures of alphas they met earlier, which he quickly discards with disgust, and then Kakuzu holding the back of his neck and aggressively kissing him. He hates it, he hates it so much the way it makes his skin prickles and the omega in him yearning.
The older man comes back with some flowers and boils water in their dented kettle while the immortal paces around, mumbling prayers, trying to regain composure to power through his heat with minimal discomfort.
''Here.'' Says Kakuzu, handling a piping hot tea. ''A little bit of wolfsbane helps as a heat controller... and abortions. It's poisonous. Since I didn't have a scale I judged with eyes, but I'm not too scared for you.''
''Thanks.'' Says Hidan between gritted teeth.
The Jashinist wants to shove Kakuzu on his back and licks his skin from his scent. He feels slick going down his legs as he continues to look at his partner while he drinks his tea.
--------
The wolfsbane only helps for sixteen hours. When they arrive back at the main base, Hidan is now without pants and only his cloak. He's tired of drenching his pants. They made sure to go by the rooftops and not the street to avoid any alphas. The bounty they caught earlier was one and had gone feral to the immortal's pheromones. However, the Jashinist had made mince meat out of him.
One bold Rain alpha nin did try to chase Hidan, but Kakuzu's growl and Hidan's defiance chased him away.
Kakuzu opens the door and makes a beeline to Sasori, immediately asking for wolfbane or suppressant at the sand nin. Hidan has his arms crossed and acts like nothing is happening. Deidara is looking at him with round eyes along with Konan. Tobi and Zetsu look confused.
''You uh... Feel good, un?'' Asks Deidara.
''Yes.'' Snaps Hidan.
''He can fight without a problem.'' Adds Kakuzu, trading goods with the puppeteer.
Deidara nods and begins to chat with him. Hidan relaxes and speaks normally with his colleague, ignoring completely the way his body wants to befriend even more the blond explosive maniac. They chat about their best kill and their next bar outing.
Hidan's sentence is cut to the very potent water lily scent appearing in the room. He snaps his head toward the source, the back of his neck getting hot and his thighs getting wet from slick. His instincts tell him to stand down, but he growls instead.
Kisame blinks and puts a hand in front of his nose, stepping back. The mist nin bends down and nuzzles his face in Itachi's neck.
Uh? Those two are mated? Hidan knew about Alpha mating beta, even in his village, but usually the beta were side pieces.
Deidara looks outraged as Itachi opens his cloak and removes his shirt to hand it to Kisame, the shark bite very clear on his neck. The shark man holds the shirt to his nose and stays near his partner, looking everywhere except Hidan. The Jashinist was so engrossed by Kisame's loyalty that he didn't notice Kakuzu was now beside him and staring down Hoshigaki.
Pain enters the room and doesn't comment on the situation, going straight to the explanations of their next group mission before Hidan can dwell too much on the implications of his partner's action.
------------------
Hidan curses again in the air, across the tall buildings of the hidden rain village. He looks down at the railing of the roof he's standing on. The heat doesn't seem to stop. It's way longer than the artificial ones.
''Hidan.''
The Jashinist turns around and looks at Konan walking toward him.
''How can I help you?'' Asks Hidan acidly. He's not in the mood for chatting.
''I wanted to know how you were holding up.''
''I can fight.'' That's all that mattered.
''Yes, I know.'' Konan pauses and leans on the railing as well, looking at the raindrops falling on the street under them. ''Do you have... questions?''
Hidan sighs angrily. He shouldn't be angry at her, but he's angry at himself so much and just despises everything around him. He mourns his life as beta, the frustration building every day, still clinging to the futile hope he'll wake up as a beta and it was a temporary nightmare. His only solace is the words of Jashin, where everyone is equal in death.
''I don't want a fucking alpha, okay. I prefer to be in eternal heat than have one ordering me around.'' Spits Hidan.
''You don't have to.'' Answers the paper user.
''Yeah, yeah, sure.''
''You can mate a beta. As omega, we search to be with people, it's... in our nature.''
Hidan frowns and looks at rain nin. ''No. It won't work as well.''
Konan looks back and blinks. ''Steam village, right? Yes, you can mate a beta. My first mate was a beta. Then we introduced an alpha in our pack. You can ask Sasori too, he briefly mated with an omega.''
Konan removes her cloak and shows the two bites on her neck. Hidan tightens his fist on the rail. She has no reason to lie. Steam village was full of shits, shoving lies in their brains.
''The main difference will be alphas challenging your mate, but no difference outside of that. Alphas and omegas are just more inclined to be together because of their pheromones. A claiming bite, a mating, will make two strangers fall in love with each other, which doesn't happen with a beta. I think... a relationship with a beta is more meaningful. It's true love instead of hormones messing your brain.''
Hidan stares at her, the rain falling from her temple, emotions in turmoil in his chest. The faint odor of iris coming from her soothes his nerves.
''Smell from beta can trigger you if you like them enough.'' Adds Konan.
The Jashinist swipes down his face from the rain, sighing in exasperation. ''Yeah... I noticed. But I can't believe mating a beta will make my scent less potent for Alphas.''
Steam made it very clear that omegas were to have an alpha, and made all sorts of scary stories to convince the omegas to ignore betas.
''It does. You will smell mated, just like you would with an alpha. I was an orphan and I was a survivor from war with... Yahiko.'' Konan pauses at the name, almost regretting saying it. ''We liked each other enough for the mating to work, even young as we were. All the alphas stopped trying to chase me. Later we introduced Pain to the mix. And Yahiko led the pack.''
So Pain was an Alpha. His scent was still funky nonetheless.
''I still don't care enough to mate. Omegas die when their alphas do. I can't imagine what it'll feel like.'' Retorts Hidan.
Hidan truly believes he's immortal, but Kakuzu... Kakuzu's brand of immortality isn't foolproof.
Konan blinks again. ''More lies from Steam. Alphas have more tendencies of not surviving the death of their omega or packs. I would not be surprised if there was a stupid law or seal back in Steam that obligated the omega to follow their alphas in death.''
Hidan's ears perk at that, souvenirs from his village flowing back. It...could be true. And Hidan snarls at the memories. The way his sister used to cry for her friends when they died in their homes after the news of their alphas dying on the battlefield. The way their shitty house smelled of distress and mourning.
And it makes Hidan laugh in irony that a cult of destruction and death could have been the thing to save his sister, the only one who loved him for the longest time.
The Jashinist begrudgingly allows Konan to show him how to mask his scent glands with chakra, which could be useful. She also asks if he began nesting or had the urge to and Hidan looks at her like she has three heads. He had no idea omegas nested.
''Well, it is very intimate.'' Says the paper user, making a flower in origami to ornate the rail. ''And I suppose you didn't have time to do it since you are constantly on the move with Kakuzu. You may use your room in Amegakure as one, piling clothes and belongings of people that make you feel safe... As safe a building full of S-class missing-nin can achieve.''
Well, that's a lot too sappy for his taste. And if he was to take belongings to do this... nest, he pretty much just have Kakuzu, and now Konan, and perhaps Deidara on a good day, to steal from. And the old miser would know immediately. He has just four of everything in terms of clothes and is meticulous in his organizing.
''You could do a shrine for Jashin.'' Proposes Konan at Hidan's skeptic face.
That's... not a stupid idea actually, and put the oh-so-mysteriously lost belongings of his partner or his boss on the altar to ask for forgiveness for their heathen ways.
However, this is so, so embarrassing to have. To feel safe, for Jashin's sake. He was trained to be a killing machine. He hopes he never has the urge, he would die of shame.
''We have prisoners we need to get rid of. Would you like them as a sacrifice?'' Asks Konan.
''Gladly!''
-------
They move silently in the thick forest of Sound Country. Half the group hopes to come across Orochimaru and slit his throat, the other half have no idea why, but they'll gladly join. To have so much of Akatsuki means the mission is perilous and they need to do it quickly. It's not a matter of Jinchurikii, but a matter of killing an army of dissidents for Earth Country, who wanted to do a coup, for an enormous sum of money. The army traveled through two other countries to Sound hoping to get some protection and a treaty with the Snake Sannin, but for the moment, there were no arrangements made.
The army has holed itself in a delipidated fortress, and the Akatsuki takes it in a siege. The blood is pumping, flames rise and shouts are heard. Most who surrender are taken prisoners, the majority have fled, and the ones who resisted for their honor are food for vultures.
Each time an Alpha tries to take him down or order him, Hidan responds with a prayer, a passage from his holy book. He does not stray. He does not yield, not to his enemies nor to the omega inside him.
The fire is cracking in the night. Hidan is drenched in blood and still feeling the afterglow of his many, many sacrifices. The blood is caking on his skin, but he doesn't care he's filthy. He rests and feels at peace, praying silently. Kakuzu and him had taken the north side, while the other duos had attacked other cardinal points. They are resting in a forest of the Moutains' Graveyard, all around a fire mending their wounds and sharpening back their weapons. Konan is gifted to forage food and is currently cooking with Itachi helping her.
The Jashinist hears something metallic, which is not a kunai or a sword. He lifts his eyes and it lands on Kisame, hands behind his neck with a metal mask on his lower face. The metal mask has fangs resembling an oni on the front, but the sides of the teeth are holes, so he can see the corner of Kisame's lips and his lower jaw. He didn't see any of his colleagues after going away from the Rain Country and they had to arrive from different points at the fortress to not arouse suspicion. Moreover, Hidan definitely didn't notice because of the bloodshed and violence of terracing an army.
''What's this?'' Asks Hidan.
Kisame makes a low chuckle. ''A nuzzle.''
The immortal blinks and looks at it while Kisame finally undoes the seal to eat. The shark man looks back at Hidan, still staring at the half-mask.
''It's the Mist's way to make sure Alphas don't make claiming bite on other inhabitants of the lands. Mist wants nothing to do with strangers.'' Kisame takes a bite of the roasted boar Konan hands him. ''I've kept the mask. Blood excites me a bit too much, so I'm not taking chances.''
''The... alphas didn't protest?'' Asks Hidan, staring at it. The alphas from his village would have rioted.
''The day we present as an alpha, the mask is glued to our face from genin to jonin because of the hormonal teenage year. I had to sleep and eat with it. Good times.'' Answers Hoshigaki, like he reminisce a fond memory.
''And the omegas?'' Asks the immortal.
Deidara snorts. ''Have you seen omegas from the Mist? They're all minimum 6ft tall with sharp teeth and muscles bigger than your head.''
''Heat seasons put more people in the hospital than a deluge. Omegas claim, they're the ones who choose, and they make sure you don't walk after. Alphas from the Mist have... particular traits. So the omegas are built to withstand that.'' Kisame chuckles, throwing at knowing look at Itachi, and the leaf nin smirks. ''Alphas like myself had to take vacations and long missions when it was mating season.''
''In Stone, we were put by categories. Omegas with omegas, alphas with alphas, and the betas. It worked surprisingly well since everyone was keeping each other backs.'' Adds Deidara taking a bite of roasted mushrooms.
''Leaf and Cloud... I believe allow many options to deal with the secondary natures. It's up to the nin to choose the one that fits him best. We are also the few villages that allow both mates to stay in the villages when a pregnancy occurs instead of only the pregnant one.'' Says Itachi, rolling rice flour to make mochi.
''Sand makes the mating season the vacation period. The elders raise the sandstorms to make sure anyone who tries to infiltrate the village gets lost or dies since the effectives are reduced. We use suppressants and hide the scent gland with chakra.'' Says Sasori, looking at Deidara eating with enthusiasm.
''Rain, we try to copy Cloud laws and ways. There is some resistance, but it's getting better.'' Says Konan, getting more logs for the fire.
They turn to Kakuzu. ''Everyone on suppressants and scent blockers. No exception.'' Answers the elder.
They turn to Hidan and some snort or look at the young man with sympathy. ''Don't let me start on Steam.'' Says Hidan with a hint of a growl.
''Steam has one terrible reputation... and look at them now. They're just a tourist trap.'' Responds Konan, sneering. She seems to have a fang against Steam and she never put a foot in there.
Hidan continues to eat and listen to the other member telling anecdotes of their villages, in a time when they were still loyal to it, where their villages didn't betray them. That is until Kakuzu berates him to take a bath, telling him he can smell him even with a mask on. He argues more for the form of it than true resistance because he wants to sleep in the same tent as the waterfall nin. The omega in him imagines he'll curl up to his side.
The Jashinist washes himself in the cold water with the moon as his only light source, scrubbing away the filth, scrubbing away the flesh until he bleeds, trying to get his scent away. He stops when he feels Konan arriving near, a couple of meters away with their cloaks. He looks at her washing them from the blood and dust. And when she hangs them, she rubs her wrists on them. The paper user is scent-marking them. He noticed before, the iris smell, but he never registered it.
Is... Is the Akatsuki her pack? Hidan wants to laugh from disbelief. He wonders for a moment what are her traumas to want to pack with them. She's even the one that beat half their asses and dragged them by force in the organization. They have to be the most chaotic, least cohesive pack to ever exist. And she's the pack leader. Pain gives the order, but everyone usually listens to Konan. An omega.
Hidan stops scrubbing his skin to look at his hands, glistening from water and blood. There is no reason it can't be him as well.
The Jashinist lets a long exhale like he had held his breath too long in his chest when Konan sits beside him in the water. They both silently stare at a couple of wolves on the other side of the river.
-------------
The village they arrived was in festivities. The civils were outside, eating sweets and drinking. Some musicians play in the street happy and melodic songs. Hidan looks at Kakuzu entering a bank to exchange loot. He leans back his hat to observe the scene and relaxes on the wall.
They got a bounty, Hidan got sacrifices, and they didn't have another mission for the next few days. He had a second natural heat after a month of respite. He thought those things were yearly, but Kakuzu told him it can happen from 2 weeks to 3 in the mating season, which is January to April. They are in April, so he expects it the be his last one until next year.
Prayers to Jashin can only help so much with the uneasiness when he feels alone now, his god answers none but itself. He tries to remember the omegas of his cult, and they were always with other betas or with another omega for pilgrimages and sacrifices.
The smell of sticky ribs cuts his reverie and his mouth water immediately.
''Well, Kakuzu, feeling generous today.'' Says the Jashinist, taking the plate from his partner's hands.
Kakuzu doesn't answer and they eat on a small table put for the festivities, with their hats obscuring their faces. The older man lifts his head and Hidan can feel Kakuzu's killing intent flaring, some people approaching now change paths. It must have been some alphas smelling him.
''Let's go to the illuminated path. Everyone is raving about it.'' Says Kakuzu, once they finish eating.
Hidan follows him. They are in no rush and the fresh air of the night helps his overheating skin. A breath of fresh air before they go to a dubious inn and it gets stuffy.
The path itself is decorated with red paper lanterns leading to bigger lanterns in the form of animals and plants; cranes, bears, cats, wolves, and even paper lanterns in the form of boats and fishermen illuminate the small lake. It's very serene, the couples and friend groups in the path are whispering and keeping close.
The end of the path finishes with a torii and some kitsune and yokai in paper lanterns. They are alone here, surprisingly.
It could almost be romantic. Hidan could make it romantic actually, but the serious look on Kakuzu's face makes him hesitate. His peridot eyes are calculating on the torii and the immortal.
''Hidan...'' Begins Kakuzu, with a forced neutral tone. ''We could make claiming bites for convenience.''
Hidan snorts. This is so... Kakuzu. Even with a kunai to his throat, the old man would not speak his feelings clearly. For convenience, of course. Like Kakuzu would do something so emotional and intimate for convenience. After being without one for so many decades, now he wants a pack. If the old miser wants to hide behind this reason, be it, it's still what Hidan yearns.
''With each other, just to be sure?'' Asks the Jashinist.
''Yes.''
''Yeah, sure.''
Hidan can feel the heat on his cheek and his heart drumming in his chest.
--------------------
The Jashinist throws his cloak on the floor, his body even hotter from anticipation. The room they rented was the farthest of the inn, a very decent inn with clean sheets and not a single cockroach. The clerk at the front was definitely trying to make Hidan's life easier by secluding him. He couldn't be happier.
Kakuzu removes his cloak, cowl, and mask entering the room. The smell of pine and poppy slaps the Jashinist's face and he can practically feel slick running between his cheeks. He instinctively tilts his head and exposes his scent glands to the older man, then his fingers try to undo the seals of his necklace to give access to the waterfall nin.
''Begin with me.'' Says Kakuzu, making a bun with his long hair.
The older man gets near Hidan and exposes his neck, and the Jashinist's mind stops with a record scratch. Omegas... never got to bite first. He feels an excitation growing in his belly and almost slams into Kakuzu, his teeth digging into the older man's neck.
The taste of blood and musk hit his mouth and nose full force, he gets dizzy from the pheromones. The growl coming from his partner sends a thrill inside him and it's so satisfying. The metal necklace falls on the floor with a thunk. He lets go of the older man from his teeth and yelps when Kakuzu bites him in return. The pain quickly subsides by the wave of warmness and pleasurable tingles from it.
Once Kakuzu lets go of his claiming bite, Hidan grabs his face and kisses him. He kisses him another time, clumsy and hungry, then another time. He growls when Kakuzu pushes him away weakly. ''Hidan... We don't have to go farther.''
The waterfall nin is usually way better to hide his unwanted emotions. His eyes are full of want and the grip on his shoulder is possessive.
''Don't try to lie, Kakuzu, you like me. I do too.'' Responds the Jashinist. ''Just mate me.''
The Jashinist groans when Kakuzu kisses back, just as hungry now. He feels so, so good. For once the slight anxiety at the bottom of his stomach since he became an omega is gone. He shivers when the older man grabs his hips and threads slither on his body, caressing and tightening like ropes.
''You smell like patchouli.'' Says Kakuzu, pushing the younger man on the bed. ''It's often used in incense sticks. There's also a hint of sweet peas.''
Hidan can't ignore the threads pulling his arms above his head, knotting on the bedpost, they slither on his stomach and thighs as Kakuzu pulls down his drenched pants. The older man licks his lips when he spreads his legs to show his erection. The threads on his legs coil and uncoil, placing his legs well open and exposing him to the waterfall nin. He's trembling in his bounds, overheating from apprehension. All he wants is to get fucked, right now. He watches hungrily as Kakuzu removes his pants and reveals his toned body, the stitches littering his back with the masks and sinful legs. He's not packing light either.
Hidan groans and writhes in his bound as Kakuzu begins to kiss his knees, then leaves butterfly kisses lower and lower. Every press of lips against his feverish skin makes him jolt. He's oversensitive and he yelps when Kakuzu flattens his tongue against his entrance. He groans when the tongue pushes inside.
''D-don't prepare me! I can take it! Fuck!'' Cries out Hidan. He wants to rut against his partner, wait, mate, until he's breathless and boneless. He pulls against the thread, not even able to move an inch.
Hidan moans and pleads as the tongue plunges deeper, thrusting in and out lazily, making his core tremble with excitement. Kakuzu lifts his head, his lower face wet from slick.
''You taste good...''The waterfall nin pauses, looking at Hidan, his eyes calculating. ''I'll make sure no alpha can please you more than me. I'll kill every one of them who dares to seduce you. You're mine now.''
Hidan got the most possessive, jealous beta of all the land and it couldn't be more perfect. He doesn't want anyone else. ''Y-yes! Like I'll ever let an alpha order me around....''
Kakuzu chuckles and leans down to kiss his chest, then kisses up to his neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps. The older man nibbles his neck and he gets tingles from the playful bites from the base of his head to his ear. He moans when he feels Kakuzu's cock rubbing against his, precum pooling on his stomach. The threads put down his legs flat on the bed and the older man straddles his lap.
Hidan eyes widen as his partner grabs his erection and lines it with his entrance. Kakuzu slams down, grunting, and Hidan throws his head back. ''FUCK! KAKUZU!''
The Jashinist moans and tries to buck his hip into the older man's heat, but the thread keeps him firmly in place. In Steam Village, it was seen as weird to be topped by an omega, a niche fetish, and those who partook in those practices were humiliated. It makes Hidan almost sob in joy to know his mate doesn't care.
Hidan makes breathy moans as the older man rides him. He can feel Kakuzu clenching around him as he sinks down, and he looks divinely good too, with his hair in a loose bun, eyes half-lidded from pleasure with a sheen sweat glistening on his body and his thighs flexing to ride him.
The young man bites his bottom lips as his partner coax his orgasm with thrusts that make the whole bed shake, the tightness and heat around his cock make his eyes roll back in his head, and in two more thrusts, he comes inside his partner with a stuttering moan, slick gushing out.
Kakuzu smirks and gets out of Hidan's lap. The immortal gets his breath back, his erection still stiff, and the thread lifts his legs back, exposing him again.
Hidan gasps when Kakuzu presses the tip of his erection against his slick hole. And pushes in hard. The immortal shouts; his body still clenched from the orgasm. He's stretched uncomfortably, but it's not hurting, it's not tearing compared to when he was in the facility. He groans when Kakuzu rocks his hips, the slick helping for the friction. The older man kisses him hard and demanding. Pheromones intoxicate the young man.
The stretching soon turns to pleasure and Hidan makes filthy moans at each thrust against his prostate. His nerves feel on fire, the jolt of pleasure makes his abs contract at each thrust. The pleasure goes up his spine like molten lava. His toes crook in bliss when Kakuzu bites his neck hard again. The threads on his body slither and move to stroke every inch of his skin.
''Ka-kakuzu!! I-I...'' Moans Hidan breathlessly.
Pleasure is fogging his brain, his body is taunt like a bow. He orgasms once again at another harsh thrust, pleasure going in waves in his pelvis with unprecedented intensity, he sees stars behind his eyelids.
The Jashinist takes a sharp breath when Kakuzu flips him around immediately, hands clutching on his hips, and the thread bounds him trembling on his hands and knees. He cries out when the waterfall nin thrust back into his quivering body, pleasure making his cock throb again, even after two orgasms. His thighs tremble from the pleasure mixed with the exertion. He bends his head down to bite the pillow to muffle his filthy moans as Kakuzu fucks him to an inch of his life, his thrusts with so much strength the bed is rocking against the wall and the sound of clapping skin downright obscene in the room.
The young man arches his back when Kakuzu bites his neck again, making shallow fast thrusts now against the swell of his prostate and his eyes roll back in his head. He can hear his mate's labored breath, and smell his scent all over, it's making him crazy with lust and he wants Kakuzu to finish inside.
Wait.
''Ka-AH-Kuzu! Don't- Don't finish-'' Tries to formulate Hidan, each syllable with a hard thrust against his prostate.
''I'm sterile.'' Answers Kakuzu with a husky, breathless voice.
With that affirmation, Hidan's worry ups and fucks off. He pushes back against the older man, straining against the tendrils, feeling a third orgasm building, pleasure and visceral thrills going up his spine. He pants as the thrusts accelerate and he comes again, his body quivering with a moan. Kakuzu makes a guttural moan and rocks slowly inside the young man's clenching body. Hidan can practically feel the warmness inside him, enveloping his whole lower body. The threads loosen on his wrists and ankles, but he stays in the same position, feeling Kakuzu's softening cock inside him. There's no knot, so no uncomfortable stretching at the end, just pure satisfied bliss.
The waterfall nin slides out and Hidan slumps on his side, getting his breath back. He feels good, very good. He looks at his mate and can't prevent the smile from stretching his lips. Kakuzu brings towels and a glass of water before hogging the covers.
''Hey, give me some, asshole.'' Says Hidan, playfully pulling back on the covers.
''You don't speak to your mate like that.'' Teases Kakuzu.
''Pff, bad choice of mate then.'' Hidan uses a towel to remove the slick and cum leaking on his thighs. ''And was it true you're sterile?''
''Yes. Prisoners of Waterfall were all sterilized.''
''Oh... Good thing then. I suppose with all my sacrifices, a baby would have no chance of surviving.''
----------------
In the morning, Hidan is glowing. He feels lighter, and calmer, has no yearning, and no inexplicable stress. He smells pine and immediately nuzzles in Kakuzu's neck. He touches his own neck, trying to see if the bite has stayed, but no, there's not even a mark. He pouts, but the waterfall nin turns around and bites him. Hidan moans softly, hormones fogging his brain again.
''I don't mind it being a daily occurrence.'' Whispers the older man against his skin, licking the wound.
''Jashin, we have to take missions separately sometimes. I'm not sure I'll be too happy about those.''
''It will just make it even more pleasurable then. And I know you won't let anyone else do it.'' Kakuzu stretches lazily and sits up. ''We have to go. The clerk must have a lot of noise complaints.''
Hidan sits as well and kisses his mate softly. ''Lead the way.''