#*huffing and puffing* middle aged... yuri... middle... middle aged yuri...

[dandelion-roots]

[ID: a digital drawing of sandra lynn and sklonda from fantasy high. sklonda is sitting on sandra lynn's chest in her underwear and caressing sandra lynn's face. sandra lynn is naked and holding sklonda's thighs. neither woman's face is visible as they're looking at each other. the background is pink and says, how did you get infected? End ID]

[dandelion-san]

Yuri Plisetsky & the Glowing Rock Person (4/?)

notes: Victor still hasn’t shown up lol. Otabek is vaguely from the late 1800s. i think 1870s, probably England or Scotland idk. 

Previous

--

4.

 One day, Yuri grabbed the star’s hand and a butterfly net, and dragged them out to the fields near the forest by their home. He had put on a funny hat with a wide brim and had forced the star into carrying a heavy backpack that clanged ominously when he walked.

“Where are you taking us?” the star asked sullenly. He was still not used to the heat of the sun or the calluses that were forming on his feet. He eyed the butterfly net with great suspicion. “Are you trying to catch faeries again, Yuri? You are lucky they have not cursed you yet.”

“I am not,” said Yuri, outraged. “And that was a long time ago!”

“Two months is not long at all,” the star replied, amused even as his feet ached in protest.

Yuri loudly disagreed for two months was a long time for a boy, after all. He was secretly embarrassed for that incident had happened because he was tricked into believing that the lesser faerie creatures could grant wishes, once caught. Instead, he had gotten blue eyebrows for an entire week.

The star tugged on their joined hands, forcing Yuri to stop. “So no faeries?” They paused at the edges of the forest where the branches and roots spilled over like hands scraping across the dirt. The star peered into the dense thicket, nervous for he could not see well.

Yuri let go of his hands and brought the net out like a sword. “Nay, my good sir. We are going on an adventure!” he announced pompously. Then he shrugged, voice dropping back to its normal tones. “Everyone says that the will-o’-the-wisps are near here. That’s why I brought the net and the jars, so we can make our own faerie lights.” It would certainly last much longer than regular faerie lights, and save Nikolai a bit of coin.

The star groaned. “Yuri! So we are catching faeries!” He set down the backpack and fanned himself, disgusted by the sweat drenching his shirt. He never leaked like this back when he still danced in the skies.

“They are not actually faeries,” Yuri protested. “We are just… taking them from faeries.” He crossed his arms with a scowl when the star refused to look as excited as he.

“Shouldn’t we wait until the sun sets then?”

Yuri refused to answer, not wanting to admit his slight fear of the dark.

“We will be cursed for sure,” the star said, but then sighed and hefted the backpack back on. He threw Yuri a warning glance. “But just this once. Nikolai will not be pleased if I leave you alone.”

 --

The star was tense all the way through, although he was not frightened of the large insects like Yuri was. But the forest was not as dark as they had both initially thought with the few sunbeams that managed to reach the leaf-strewn ground.

“Haven’t you been here before?” Yuri complained, heart pounding from nearly walking into a large spider web. He was starting to regret this venture. “Last year, back when Grandpa picked you up?”

The star shook his head. “I was in a lot of shock that time,” he said. “I was also too miserable to notice much of what was happening.”

Ahead of him, Yuri ducked his head and bit his lip. The star – no, Yuuri – was not miserable anymore, probably. At least, he did not seem to be hit by melancholy as much as he was the first month or so. Not that Yuri cared that much, but surely Yuuri would let him and grandfather know if he was unhappy with his current life, right?

Oblivious, the star swatted at a flying beetle that drew too close and huffed, blowing sweaty bangs out of his eyes. “I do wish to go back now,” he said.

Yuri did not listen, stopping right in front of the star. He held out a hand, forcing him to stop.

“Shh, look!” he whispered. He pointed through the trees. “A light!” And there, bobbing gently near their path, was a flickering orange flame with a shadow near it.

“Oh no,” Yuuri said.

Yuri ignored him. He readied the butterfly net and without a second thought, charged forward with a roar. “Give up the wisp, faerie, or I’ll knock you right out!”

The star scrambled after him, panting under the heavy weight of the jars. “Yuri, wait!” he called after him. “Do not shake the poor creature down like some thug – you will get us cursed – YURI.”

Yuri did not wait for the star to catch up before he leapt into the bramble. He was agile and quick, managing to bring the net up and down toward the light gracefully. But when he drew closer to the flame, what he saw was not an ugly faerie creature holding the flame captive, but the face of a surprised, handsome older boy holding a lantern.

The boy said, “What-“

Yuri did not have the time to pull back or even stop before he barreled into him and sent them both to the ground before the other could finish what he was saying.

“Owwww,” Yuri hissed, feeling the scrapes on his arms and legs.

“Yuri!” The star had finally managed to catch up to him and rushed over to pull him up. He checked him over frantically. The star winced at his injuries and wished he could take them away. They were both distracted by a groan on the ground from the other boy who Yuri had crashed into.

The boy stared at them both. There was wary surprise lingering in his dark eyes as he recovered from his fall.

“What are you doing here?” Yuri finally asked, accusing.

The star put a hand on his shoulder. “Peace, Yura.” He turned to the boy and helped him up. “I apologize for my young friend. Are you from the village?”

The boy faltered, a little dazed. “I – well, yes. Are you two travelers? I do not think I have ever seen you in the village before.”

Yuri shoved the hand off his shoulder and took a step forward, jabbing a finger to his chest. “Well I’ve never seen you before. And what are you doing, carrying a lantern in the middle of the day?”

The boy blinked. “Day?” he said. He looked down, at the light in his hand. Then he looked around, staring in bewilderment at the little patches of sunlight around them. “This is…strange. Was it not just night?” His lips turned down at the corners, as he searched the bramble around them. “Where is the path? Where is my horse?”

The star tilted his head thoughtfully. “Perhaps we should take care of your injuries back inside the house,” he said slowly, obviously thinking that Yuri must have hit him too hard.

“But the wisp,” Yuri whined, refusing to feel guilty. But he relented and threw a glare to the older boy. He could see the irony in how they had gone to the forest and found a stranger, just like with Yuuri, but he did not find any humor in it.

 --

Yet, by the time the three of them had crowded themselves into Nikolai’s home, Yuri had warmed up to the stranger who treated him kindly despite him being a ‘Russian’, whatever that was.

“And who is this?” Nikolai asked, after fussing over Yuri’s injuries. “You look like you need a good meal in you, boy. And some bandages as well.”

“This is Otabek Altin,” Yuri piped up excitedly. “He’s a foreigner.”

“I live in the village at the other side of the woods,” Otabek said, politely. “It seems I got a little lost.”

“He thought day was night,” the star added in, concerned.

Yuri rolled his eyes. They had argued a lot over their walk back over who had seen whom in the village and Otabek must surely be confused for everyone knew there was nothing on the other side of the forest, but for the sea itself. His grandfather must have thought the same because he eyed Otabek dubiously and stroked his beard.

“And where were you going?”

Otabek shrugged. “Liverpool. It is a bit far, but there is a man there willing to give me an apprenticeship.” He gave a small smile. “He is an extraordinary man, on the likes of Leonardo da Vinci if I do say so myself. But obscure, so it really is my luck that I came across him and he was so willing to take me on at my age.”

Yuri burst out laughing. “Da Vinci! What a strange name. Who is that?”

Surprised, Otabek turned to him and said incredulously, “You don’t know who da Vinci is?”

“No?” Nikolai shook his head as well but the star looked thoughtful.

“I think he made a wish on me once,” he started to say, but was interrupted by both Yuri and Nikolai who talked over him frantically.

“Tell us more!” Yuri shouted.

“Perhaps he is from a different kingdom,” Nikolai suggested. They both threw Yuuri a glare.

Otabek furrowed his brows and shook his head. “Please, I really think I should have a map. I lost mine since it was with my horse.”

Nikolai said, “Well, we should have an old one around here somewhere.” He told the three of them to wait and went to his room, emerging a minute later.

Yuri took the time in between to observe Otabek. He was surprisingly stoic-face for all that it was easy to tell his emotions. Yuri thought him a little strange, but exciting for his talk of ‘electricity’ and machines. Maybe he was from Stormhold. Yuri has heard many things about Stormhold.  

Otabek unfolded the map and studied it in silence. “This is not England,” he said finally. His fingers were curled so tight that Yuri feared the map would tear. “This – this is not a map. Is this a joke?” He looked up, eyes fierce. Nikolai frowned.

“I won that map off a goblin, boy. It is certainly not a joke.” He puffed up in pride. “It is faerie-made and changes as the land does.”

“A goblin. Faeries?” Otabek took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I am either surrounded by madmen or I am mad myself.” He opened his eyes. “Where am I?” He sounded so lost and unsure.

“Rosehill,” Yuri answered this time, naming their village. When Otabek looked uncomprehending, he added, “Cloudhold?” Otabek looked even more confused. “Faerie! You are still in Faerie!”

Otabek closed the map. “I think,” he said, “I think that I am very lost.

 --

Otabek stayed with the Plisetskys for only three days before setting out for Stormhold with Nikolai’s map.

“Perhaps you stepped into a faerie ring or crossed the path of an Unseelie,” Nikolai had said. “It happens, sometimes. But there is a place in Stormhold where the veil between Faerie and the Other Side is blurred. A place called Wall, I believe.”

The boy put on his most staunch expression, trying in vain to hide the trembling of his hands.

“Thank you,” Otabek could only say.

Nikolai shook his head. “Just be safe and do not trust any other maps. The land is whimsical after all. Stay on the paths and stay clear-headed.”

“Yessir.”

Yuri lingered nearby, miserable for he had become attached to the older boy in those three days and his fantastical stories of his world. Railroads, telegraphs, and science. It was exciting, yet Otabek seemed more interested in the world of Faerie like the airships. The boy was an inventor and artist and had drawn pictures of his described trains, the steam engines, and gears of mechanical men he called ‘automatons’.

Otabek shook Nikolai’s hand and turned to Yuri, giving him a fond clap on the shoulder. He nodded towards the star as well.

“Thank you,” he said. “You have been kind to me and given me hope.”

They watched him go from the doorway. When he was halfway down the path out of their village, he turned one last time and waved.

[emeraldwaves]

Title: Soulless Chapter 2 Pairing: OtaYuri Rating: M Word Count: 6,225 AO3 Read from Beginning on AO3 or Prologue  CH1 Summary:  When Otabek Altin turns 18, his soul ritual doesn’t exactly go as planned. Two years later, Yuri Plisetsky’s doesn’t either. Together, the two set out to find a way to fix, what they believe, went wrong.

Full Fic Under Cut, Thanks to @its-love-u-asshole for beta-ing!

 "Isn't that the Plisetsky boy? He just came of age I see."

 "I heard his Soul Animal is a cat!"

 "Aren't all Plisetskys cats?"

 "No, I mean a regular cat. Not a big cat like the rest of his family."

 "Oh!"

Yuri twisted the towel around in his hands, his knuckles turning white from how hard he was clenching at the fabric. He wanted to rip it into shreds, but that would've defeated the purpose of him returning the item in the first place. If he really could have his way, he would've punched the gossiping hag directly in the face.

It had barely been a week since his Soul Ritual, and already word had spread fast around the village about the results of ceremony. Yes, Yuri Plisetsky was a regular house cat...and an Omega one to boot. It sucked, and it sucked even more that everyone was still talking about it.

His parents had been surprised, to say the least.

"We can't say we're not shocked," his mother had said. "I'm sure you were too." Both of them had stared at him, trying to process the information. And though both of them had hugged him and said they loved him no matter what, he'd seen the disappointment flash across his father's green eyes.

"Don't worry darling," his mother had said, smoothing the ears down on his head. "I promise I'll help you with everything you need to know about your first heat and mating ceremony." It was nice of her to say, but Yuri wanted nothing to do with either of those things.

He'd spent the first few days moping about in his room, refusing to shift besides the one time his mother had forced him. And finally, when he did leave his room, people around town had stared at him, and he assumed whispers of his poor circumstance had seemingly spread beyond his house. So, Yuri had decided to spend a few more days in bed.

That was, until his mother forced him up, shoved the towel he'd borrowed from Otabek into his hands, and sent him on his way.

He flicked his tail back and forth, and sent a glare in the direction of the two loud women. As much as he wished he could shut them up, he knew his parents would not be pleased with his behavior if he started attacking random people for saying a bad word or two about him.

Of course Otabek and his mother had to live on the complete opposite side of town, leaving Yuri to walk the entire length of the village, until he reached the path which curved by the edge of the forest. Otabek and his mother lived on the edge of the forest and the meadow, directly where many of the wild flowers grew. Yuri hadn't ventured over to this side of town very often, but with spring on the horizon, the newly blooming flowers were lovely as they rolled through the breeze.

It wasn't difficult to spot Otabek, his dark hair sticking out against the yellow and pink flowers he stood above. Standing on his tip toes, Yuri waved his hand back and forth. "Oi! Otabek!" There was no answer, Otabek hadn't even flinched. Growling, Yuri's ears flopped down and he stormed towards the front door, knocking.

"Hello, can I help you?" A woman, who Yuri presumed to be Otabek's mother opened the door, her long lamb ears twitching as she stared down at the younger male.

"Yeah, uh, I'm looking for Otabek. I have to give this back to him," he said quietly, thrusting the towel out in her general direction.

She blinked, staring at the boy. "Otabek?" she repeated quietly. Her eyes lit up, and her ears twitched, a smile appearing on her lips. Yuri assumed Otabek probably didn't get many visitors, given his status. "O-Okay!" she said. "He's out in the back meadow, come along!" she said.

Yuri opened his mouth to protest. He hadn't come over to hang out. It was supposed to be simple; drop the towel off, say a quick thank you and then he'd be on his way, back through the town of obnoxious people. However, seeing how excited Otabek's mother looked, Yuri couldn't bring himself to say no.

"Are you Yuri Plisetsky?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, not wanting to ask her how exactly she knew that.

"I thought so. Otabek mentioned running into you a few days ago," she explained, the smile still present on her face.

He followed her through their tiny house. It was quaint, and warm, even without the fireplace on. She led him through the main living area, filled with a couch and some chairs, plus three bookshelves. On the table in the middle was a beautiful arrangement of orange flowers, Yuri could smell the fresh scent the moment he walked in the room.

She opened the back door, and waved her hand. "Otabek! Yuri is here to see you!" she called out.

The dark-haired boy froze, and turned to face the deck of his house. His dark eyes were surprised, probably because he hadn't expected to see Yuri again. In his hand, he held a messy, but gorgeous bouquet of pink and yellow flowers, and they shone against his dark hair, blowing across his forehead in the wind. Yuri felt his face flush, Otabek was incredibly handsome, his tan skin glistened as a perfect match against the colors he held in his hand.

"Thanks," he muttered, and stepped down off of the porch, his tail swishing back forth as he followed the path towards Otabek, the towel still clenched tightly between his fingers.

"Yuri," Otabek greeted, and Yuri had almost forgotten how deep Otabek's voice was. "What are you doing here?" he asked flatly.

Swallowing, Yuri held out the towel awkwardly. "This. I needed to give it back."

Otabek glanced down at Yuri's hand, then back up to his face. Pursing his lips, Otabek shrugged. "I told you you didn't have to bring it back. You could keep it," he said.

"Yeah well, I brought it all the way here! The least you can do is take it back!" he snapped, and bounced his hand up and down once, as though to push it towards him. He hated how flushed his face felt, his blood rushing to his cheeks.

"Thanks," Otabek replied, taking it from him as he wrapped it around the bottom of the flowers. "Like I said, you didn't have to."

Puffing out his cheeks, Yuri shrugged. "Whatever," he scoffed, flicking his tail back and forth. "What are you doing out here anyway?" he asked.

Raising an eyebrow, Otabek stared at Yuri. "You can't tell? I'm picking flowers for my mother's store."

"Oh..." he muttered, realizing it had been somewhat of a silly question.

Reaching into the bouquet, Otabek pulled out a yellow chrysanthemum holding it out to Yuri. "Here. It matches your animal form."

Glancing at the flower, Yuri reached forward and tentatively took it from him. "...Thanks," he said, pouting a bit as he ran his thin finger over one of the petals. Seeing Otabek made him feel guilty for being so upset about his Soul Ritual. "And uh, sorry for what I said again the other day," he muttered awkwardly, twirling the yellow flower in his hand.

"You didn't know," Otabek shrugged. "It's fine. You're not the first person. Were your parents mad?" he asked, immediately diverting the subject. Clearly it was something he didn't want to speak on.

"I think my father is disappointed, though he won't say. My mother got all excited to tell me about Omega things," he growled. "I don't really care about any of that stuff though!"

Chuckling, Otabek shook his head. "I knew you'd be fine."

"I'd be a hell of a lot better if the people in town would keep their damn mouths shut!" he snapped.

"You'll get used to it," Otabek muttered. "Or they'll forget in a week or two."

Yuri opened his mouth, but slammed it shut. Otabek had probably been dealing with this sort of thing for years. Honestly, Yuri didn't know how the guy did it.

"Whatever. They're all shits!" he snapped. "You shouldn't listen to them either."

"I stopped a long time ago," Otabek chuckled softly.

"G-Good!" Yuri said, blushing. He was impressed by Otabek, his resilience and his ability to let such hurtful things roll off of his chest.

"Everyone does things differently. Everyone takes their own path," he shrugged. "Even if it doesn't seem right to other people, doesn't mean it's wrong."

Listening to Otabek's words, it was then Yuri decided Otabek was one of the smartest people he'd ever met.

Of course, Otabek had been dealing with people's whisperings for almost two years now. It made sense he'd grown a thicker skin, though Yuri was angry that he even had to. He knew most of the people in town spoke badly of him, but during the few conversations they'd had, Yuri found himself only more intrigued by Otabek, rather than repulsed, as most of the town seemed to be.

"I guess," he muttered. He felt childish, standing in front of Otabek who seemed so unaffected.

"It'll pass. Something new will happen, and they'll focus on that. Your situation is the gossip of the week, if you know what I mean. I doubt they'll give you strange looks for the rest of your life."

Yuri's ears folded back. He couldn't imagine what Otabek felt like. Even with how angry he was, Yuri liked the warmth shifting brought him, it was a comfort he was grateful for, even if he was far too fluffy for his own liking. Yet, here he was complaining again, to the one person who really didn't deserve to hear his griping.

"All those idiots are missing out," Yuri huffed finally.

"Huh?" Otabek asked, staring at the shorter blond.

"You're a pretty interesting guy. If they don't wanna see that, then they're idiots!" he said.

With a chuckle, Otabek turned back to the flowers directly in front of him, "I don't know about that."

But Yuri knew he was right.

~~

Otabek had never expected to make a friend in Yuri Plisetsky, but ever since he'd returned the towel, the blond came over to visit practically everyday. Otabek hadn't invited him, nor was he disappointed, it just turned into their daily thing. Actually, Otabek felt rather honored to spend so much time with him.

Slowly, he was growing addicted to the blond's presence. He loved the way his green eyes burned with passion and anger, especially when he talked about his father or the townspeople. He liked the way his nose and ears twitched when he smelled a new flower Otabek hadn't shown him yet. Otabek had never had a friend before, and he was growing more and more greedy, desperate to spend as much time with Yuri as he could.

"Do you know what she said then?" Yuri snorted, flicking his tail back and forth. Admittedly, Otabek hadn't been listening as he'd been too focused on the angry emotions swirling around the blond's green eyes.

They were sat together on the porch, Yuri angrily ranting to Otabek as he worked on trimming the flowers.

"Hm?" he asked, arranging a few of the flowers on the deck.

"Are you even listening, Beka?" Yuri hissed.

"'Course," he replied. "What did Mila say?" Using clippers he began to snip at some of the thorns and excess leaves on the stems of the flowers.

"It doesn't even matter. She's an idiot," he huffed, flicking his tail around. His arms were folded, pressed tightly against his chest, and his cheeks were puffed out in frustration. Otabek would never tell Yuri he looked cute when he made faces like that. It was a sensitive subject for the Omega boy.

"You say that every time you talk about her," Otabek teased. He picked up the yellow roses, and placed them in one of jars on the porch as he moved onto the red ones.

"I say it because it's true! She kept going on and on about what Omegas have to do during the mating ritual and I didn't care," he growled.

"Mmm," Otabek hummed softly. "It might be good to listen, Yura. The next full moon is coming up. Tomorrow isn't it?"

"Ugh. Yes," Yuri groaned and flopped back on the deck, leaning back. "And what do you know?! You don't even have to participate!"

Otabek's hands froze, stopping cutting the flowers in front of him. Spending time with Yuri was fun, but there were a few comments the blond made without thinking, causing Otabek to have a reminder of who he was thrown directly into his face. Swallowing, he returned to snipping at leaves.

"It's a good thing, I promise," Yuri muttered, pushing himself up on his elbows. From the look on his face, Otabek could tell Yuri had realized his mistake. "You wouldn't want Alphas crowding around you, trying to get you to pick one of them. I'm not going to pick any of them!" Yuri snorted.

Otabek felt the hair on the back of his neck raise as a shiver ran down his spine, Yuri's scent wafting into his nose. His pupils dilated, imagining Alphas crowding the blond cat, wanting to have him for their own, and take him. He clenched his fists, feeling oddly possessive. It didn't make much sense, seeing as Otabek wasn't an Alpha...or any sort of animal. He didn't have the right to claim Yuri, but the thought of him with another made him quiver with soft frustration.

Taking a deep breath, he tugged a few dead petals out of the rose in his hand. "Do you have to pick someone?"

Yuri blushed and turned his face away. "I dunno," he muttered. "I'm sure it would make my heat more bearable. But who knows! Maybe I just won't have a heat! I haven't noticed any changes really," he shrugged.

Otabek found that extremely hard to believe. There was no way Yuri wouldn't hit his first heat after the first mating ceremony. He was a male Omega, which was an oddity, yes, but that didn't exempt him from the biological rules Omegas followed. "You should prepare as though you are going to," he muttered, placing the finished red roses in another jar.

"You really are lucky," Yuri growled, sitting up, he clutched at his ankles. "I don't want anything to do with this. What if I just stayed here tomorrow?"

Otabek blinked and sighed, rubbing at his neck. "That's...not a good idea."

"What? Why not?!" Yuri said, leaning towards Otabek. His green eyes shimmered with the determination Otabek adored. He knew Yuri wasn't going to let this idea go easily.

"'Cause," Otabek stated flatly.

"That's not a reason!" Yuri snapped. "It's perfect! You're a Beta, so even when I get all...weird from my heat, you won't be affected!" he said, his tail flicking back and forth excitedly, as he leaned in closer.

"You'll get in trouble if you don't participate. And don't act like people won't notice, because they will," Otabek said, poking at his forehead to push him back.

Yuri's ears folded back against his head. "But you could hide me! They wouldn't notice if I was here, I promise!" he continued.

"Yura, the town already hates me," he sighed. "I don't think it's a good idea. If you get caught here, I'm sure they'll blame me and what will you do if you're not allowed to come even hang out," he grinned, certain Yuri wouldn't like the idea of being kept away from here, since he'd spent almost everyday at Otabek's.

"You're no help, Beka!" he snarled. "You're supposed to be my friend!"

Friend. It was such a foreign word, Otabek was surprised to hear it from Yuri. He really shouldn't have been, given how much time they had spent together at this point, but still, he couldn't help the smile on his face. "I am your friend," he said, a hint of pride in his tone. "Which is why I'm telling you not to do this. It won't be good for you."

"Fine," he muttered. "I'll go. But I won't be happy about it! And if anything bad happens, I will be blaming you!" he snorted.

"Alright," Otabek said, placing the white roses in the third and final jar. "If you wanna blame me, go ahead. I'd rather you blame me, than get in trouble." He shrugged, brushing some of the dead leaves off onto the ground.

"You're so weird, Otabek," Yuri said, standing up as he stretched up.

"That's what they say," he shrugged, rotating his shoulders back. "Are you staying for dinner?" he asked, diverting the subject.

A pout appeared on Yuri's cheeks but quickly disappeared.

"I shouldn't," he sighed. "My grandfather is cooking tonight." Yuri smiled, his face gleaming against the now setting sun. Otabek blushed; seeing Yuri happy always warmed his heart, and made him forget all his frustrations.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then," Otabek nodded, waving as the shorter boy jumped down from the deck, making his way around the side of the house.

Carrying the jars into the house one by one, Otabek placed them in the storeroom on the side of the house.

"Did Yuri leave already?" his mother asked, peeking in from the front of the store.

"Yeah. His grandfather is cooking tonight, he had to get back," Otabek said, wiping his forehead.

"I see. I'll come inside in a moment," she said. "Just let me close up."

Otabek nodded, stepping into the kitchen as he turned on the stove to heat up some water to start on their meal for the evening. He sighed, wondering if Yuri would just show up tomorrow. That kind of seemed like something he would do. He knew Yuri had a point, Otabek was a Beta, and by all rules of nature, he wouldn't be affected by Yuri's sweet scent, yet so far, Otabek had noticed Yuri's scent, and he was growing more and more attached to it. And what Otabek said still stood true; if Yuri was caught here instead of the town center, it wouldn't be a good situation for either of them. Otabek could only imagine what people would assume. He was used to the town judging him, and speaking of him poorly, but Yuri's gossip had mostly died down and Otabek didn't want to re-ignite any sparks of drama.

"Smells good in here!" His mother's voice pulled him from his thoughts immediately.

"Ah, good," he said, stirring the vegetables into the pot. "Soup should be ready soon."

"Wonderful," she said, taking a seat with a pleased hum. Bringing over some bowls, Otabek placed a few on the table, letting the rest of the stew simmer. "Are you enjoying spending time with the Plisetsky boy?" his mother asked, a small smile on her face. He assumed she was happy to see he finally had made a friend.

"He's interesting," Otabek shrugged.

"He seems quite attached to you," she hummed. "Still, Otabek, be careful. You're a Beta, and...well he...is the son of a prominent family in town. I don't want you getting into any trouble."

Frowning, Otabek turned away from the table to pull the soup off of the burner. "I don't think I have anything to worry about. We're just friends, is there anything wrong with that?" he muttered, carrying the hot pot to the center of the table, steam from the liquid rising into the air.

"No, of course not! I'm thrilled you've met someone you enjoy spending time with. I...just don't want you to get hurt," she muttered.

Otabek had been hurt plenty of times in his life at this point, and for once he wasn't focusing on all the hurt, and he was simply enjoying his friendship. Why his mother felt the need to warn about something like this was confusing to him. Couldn't she be happy he was finally being sociable?

"I'll be fine."

~~

"Stupid Beka!" Yuri grumbled, kicking the ground. Really his plan had been genius! He could spend the mating ritual away from the gross Alphas he wanted to avoid. It wasn't like Otabek would be affected by his scent, and his mother was far beyond her prime. It would be a safe spot for him. Why couldn't Otabek take his side? They were friends weren't they?

Yuri had never been particularly good at keeping friends. Usually he came across as too angry, and often times he was focused on other things, personal growth. He didn't have time for other people. But Otabek was so interesting, and Yuri had never had a person he could label as a friend before. He wanted to call Otabek his friend, more than anything. He'd spent almost everyday bugging the guy at this point.

"I'm home!" he called out, kicking his shoes off as he stepped inside.

"Where were you?" His father's deep voice boomed through the front hallway.

"I was with Otabek," he said, slipping his jacket off, as he stepped into the kitchen.

His grandfather smiled, and nodded. "Did you have a nice time, Yurochka?"

His tail swayed back and forth as he stepped forward to grab an apple from the fruit bowl in the middle of the table. "It was fine." He didn't feel like divulging any more details, especially since his grandfather was giving him quite the smug look.

"Otabek? Otabek Altin?" his father asked, his ears twitching as he glared at his own father. "The Soulless boy?"

"Uh, yeah?" Yuri said, taking a bit into the shiny red fruit. "Is that a problem?"

"Is this your doing?" his father asked, gesturing in frustration to Nikolai while he ignored Yuri's question.

He shrugged his shoulders, his tail swaying back and forth slowly. "Perhaps."

Turning back to Yuri, he glared in frustration, his green eyes burning with anger. "Do not visit him again. I don't want you associating with someone like that. The mating ritual is tomorrow and soon, you will have to pick an Alpha. Someone like that is not good for you to spend your time around!"

"Hah?! Father, that's ridiculous. Beka is a good person--" Yuri interjected. Slamming the half eaten apple on to the table, juice splattering on the wooden surface. How dare his father try and stop him from hanging out with the one person he'd connected with in so long.

"I don't care what kind of person he is. You shouldn't be associating with the likes of him," his father snapped.

"I can associate with whoever I want," Yuri snapped back, equally angry. Standing up, he kicked the chair and stormed down the hall to his room.

Nikolai chuckled as he set out a dish of food. "You've finally found your match when it comes to your temper," he snorted.

~~

There was a knock on his door, but Yuri ignored it, shoving a pillow over his head to cover up his ears. He didn't want to speak to his father or grandfather, or anyone for that matter.

"Yura." The gentle voice of his mother echoed against the door.

With a groan, Yuri rolled onto his back as he pushed himself up, crossing his legs. "It's open."

"Hello Yura," his mother smiled, her fluffy ears twitching on her head as she took a seat next to her son. "You have to come eat."

"I'm not hungry," Yuri growled, folding his ears down.

"I know you're angry at your father," she hummed and pulling her fingers through his blond locks, gently stroking behind his ears.

"Of course I'm angry at him! Otabek is my best friend, my only friend! If I want to be friends with him, I don't see why that's a damn problem!" he glared at her, shaking his head to get her hand away from his head.

His mother sighed, "Yura, your father wants you to be happy. Being an Omega, you'll have to pick a partner during one of the next few mating rituals...and we want you to find someone you have a connection with. You will never have that with...someone like Otabek."

"'Someone like Otabek?' What does that even mean, Mother?! You don't know anything about Otabek. Everyone has had some sort of damn comment about this whole Omega situation," he yelled, pulling away from her as he stood up. "Everyone has said something about how...strange I am. I get it. I get it. And you know who hasn't said anything to me? Otabek. And he's dealt with people being so damn shitty to him, and he's never once said anything to me about this! So I don't understand why it's such a big deal that I want to spend my time with him!" he yelled.

"Yura, you're an Omega--"

"I know! I know I'm an Omega. A male Omega. It's shitty and weird! And I like that Otabek doesn't care!" he yelled more.

Standing up, his mother pulled him into a hug. "Yuri, please. I understand this is an emotional thing for you, but you have to know that only an Alpha can satisfy in the way you will need. I...don't want you to get hung up on a person who won't be able to fulfill that for you," she whispered, cupping his cheeks. She tucked his hair behind his ear and sighed. "Tomorrow, we'll make sure your hair looks lovely and we'll pick out a nice outfit, an Alpha will be sure to pick you, or you’ll find one you want to pick."

"You're not listening to me," he snapped. "I don't want an Alpha to pick me! "

"I know, but Yura, this is the only option. Now, come eat dinner. You'll need energy-"

"Forget it," he snapped. "Leave me alone." Pulling away, he moved back towards his bed.

"Yuri-"

"I"m not hungry!" he growled, shifting down into his cat form, he leaped on the bed and curled up, tucking his long blond tail around his tiny body.

~~

He hated the outfit more than anything. The robes were long, red and pink, flowers swirling around the long sleeves. It flowed to the ground, and the way the sash tied around his waist made it look as though he were wearing a dress. His mother had braided part of his hair, pulling it back into somewhat of a half ponytail, the braids sitting snugly on his head under the ears atop his head. If it hadn't been for his grandfather being in the room with his mother, he would've stormed away.

"I know you're not happy about this, Yurochka," he said, placing his hand on his shoulder. "I know it's not what you wanted, but your Mother has done a wonderful job."

"Whatever."

"Yuri, please try and be more agreeable," his mother said, fixing the sash on his waist, tightening it.

"Just because I'm an Omega doesn't mean I have to be pathetic!" he groaned.

She sighed, standing up as she brushed off her knees. "I know I can't change how you'll act. You're as stubborn as your father. But know that not all Alphas are friendly, and you are there to present to them," she said. "I only...ask you to consider your attitude to stay safe," she whispered, adjusting the side of his robe. "Nowadays Alphas are considerate, but you never know."

"I'll be fine," he sighed, rolling his eyes. "I can handle myself."

Yuri had never witnessed the mating ritual, but he knew generally what happened. The un-mated Alphas and Omegas stood in the center of town and attempted to bond with one another. Omegas were to release their scent and present themselves to Alphas, while the Alphas had their choice of the Omegas. Sometimes the numbers were even and people paired off easily. Occasionally, people would plan who to bond with ahead of time, though sometimes Alphas would argue and fight over who wanted who. Omegas still had to accept the proposition, but by the time the Alpha's decided, the Omegas heats usually hit, and many no longer cared who it was helping them. It was an old tradition, one that Yuri felt needed changing, but he really had no say in the matter.

Mated Alphas and Omegas also participated, as they would shift and spend the evening with their mate doing as they pleased. However, Betas and people who had lost their mate were not allowed in the center of town.

His mother and father led him to the center, where the other few Omegas had gathered. All of them were young women, all pretty with their hair done up in elaborate ways, makeup and jewelry adorning their faces and robes. Actually, Yuri felt a bit plain compared to them, which made him hopeful that an Alpha might overlook him.

The sun was setting, and the girls began to line up. He didn't say anything to his parents, knowing he would probably get annoyed at anything the two said to him. So instead, he stood in his place as he watched the Alphas line up.

Folding his ears against his head, Yuri hated the number of Alpha's in front of them on the other side of the circle.

"I forgot, we have a male Omega to choose from this time," one of the taller Alpha's sneered. "Lucky us," he grinned.

"I bet he smells really good." Another male chuckled, licking his lips. The two brutish looking men stood opposite from Yuri, their tails flicking back and forth. Of course they had to be some kind of wolf, or so it seemed. Their tails were gray, long and bushy, their ears perked and alert as they began to take the scents in.

Wrinkling his nose, Yuri turned his face away from them, folding his arms. He definitely wasn't going to accept any proposal from them. As long as he could keep his heat in check, he knew he could handle it.

The two wolf boys howled as the moon began to rise higher in the sky, and immediately Yuri could smell a myriad of scents surrounding him. Most of the girls had already begun to release theirs, and Yuri felt his chest constrict and his body began to shake. He shut his eyes, hoping to focus, but it only made the mixture of scents even worse. Placing his hand on his forehead, he felt dizzy.

"Focus," he muttered, feeling his hands trembling. His fingers felt sweaty, and he began to pant, his scent starting to leak from his glands. He hated it, he had expected to, but it was even worse than he realized.

"You're not supposed to resist your mating ritual." A voice broke Yuri of his focus, and he opened his eyes, seeing a wolf boy in front of him.

"Get away from me. I have to accept anything you do, and I don't," he growled, his ears folding down as he took a shaky step back.

"Don't be like that!" the boy smirked, reaching forward to take Yuri's hand. "You're sweating," he noted. "There's no reason to put yourself through this pain," he hummed. The Alpha's scent was overwhelming, and Yuri tugged his wrist away, not wanting anything to do with the wolf.

"I said I don't accept!" he snarled, yanking at his wrist. He slammed his eyes shut, and thought of Otabek, how he'd never judged Yuri for being an Omega, how he'd never cared. It was better when he was around Otabek, always better. Always safe.

The Alpha laughed callously. "You're not gonna have a choice once you let your heat take over-"

"He said no." A new voice broke Yuri's concentration, and he opened his eyes, staring at a lion Alpha. He was tall with messy tan hair and a messy beard to match. His smaller ears twitched angrily, and he yanked the boy's hand away.

"Emil, leave us alone. I already claimed him," he growled.

"Uh. I seem to recall him not accepting," he grinned, stepping in front of Yuri.

"Well it's not like he's accepted you!" The wolf snarled.

"True," Emil smiled. "But he rejected you. So leave us alone."

Glaring, the wolf boy looked as though he wanted to attack, but Emil was correct, and based on tradition, there was nothing the other could do. "This isn't the end of this Emil," he snapped, storming away from the two.

"Well, now that that's over," Emil sighed. "Sorry, I promise not all Alphas are terrible," he winked.

Yuri opened his mouth to tell Emil he could've handled it himself, but he felt his chest constrict more, and he clutched at his robes, grabbing onto Emil's arm to steady himself.

"Whoa, Yuri, do you...are you okay?" he asked, tilting his head to look at him. "Do you need..."

Yuri quickly shook his head. "I...I don't want it," he whimpered.

Glancing around, Emil took his wrist gently in his hand and leaned toward him. "Do you have somewhere I can take you? Somewhere safe? If you stay here like this, one of them could try and take you whether you agree to it or not."

Somewhere safe? Otabek was Yuri's first thought, but the Soulless boy had said not to show up. Swallowing, Yuri pursed his lips. He couldn't go back home, his parents would be incredibly angry with him...and he couldn't stay here riding out his heat with Alphas who wanted him. Even Emil wouldn't be trustworthy for long if Yuri let the heat take his body completely. Otabek was the only one he could trust not to do anything. As long as he explained...there was no way Otabek would actually be mad.

"Y-Yeah. I know a place..."

~~

Otabek hated the nights of the full moon. He was never invited to the mating ritual, not that he really wanted to be. Though it didn't change the frustrated scent which wafted through the air. It was a faint smell for Otabek, but an unpleasant one. It always made his skin tingle and his body feel on edge.

Shaking out his shoulders, he tried to focus on the book in front of him, but he couldn't stop thinking about Yuri. It was his first mating ritual, but Yuri was...beautiful, and a rarity. There was no way an Alpha wouldn't pick him...if he'd let them. Otabek let out a small chuckle, thinking of Yuri's angry green eyes. He was such a fighter, there was no way he'd accept just any Alpha.

Of course if he did, Otabek could assume Yuri probably wouldn't come to visit very often. He'd have a mate, and they'd probably want a family, and have plenty of other things to focus on. His heart felt heavy thinking of his life without Yuri now. They had barely been friends for a few weeks, but his presence was a comfort Otabek had grown used to, and it was something he wasn't quite ready to give up. Yuri made his life feel...warmer.

With his eyes shut, Otabek could almost smell his scent, as ridiculous as that was. It was impossible, with how many scents there were floating around in the air, but Otabek could imagine the sweet scent that smelled like a mixture of strawberries and the fresh river.

"B-Beka!"

And it was almost as though he could hear him too.

"Otabek!"

Opening his eyes, Otabek gasped when he saw Yuri practically falling onto his porch, followed by another male. He was actually there it seemed, and Otabek wasn't the least bit surprised. Of course Yuri hadn't listened to him.

He clenched his fists, wondering if this was who Yuri chose to be his Alpha. Yuri was panting though, and clutching his chest. His body was trembling, as though he could barely stand up.

"Yura?!" Otabek dashed forward and helped him up, leaning his thin body against his own. Yuri's scent was incredibly strong, and Otabek swallowed, feeling his mouth go dry as he tried to ignore how strongly Yuri smelled. "What the hell happened?" he growled, glancing at the Alpha male.

"He was getting harassed by some wolf Alphas, so I helped him get away. He said this was the safest place..."

"Emil helped..." Yuri groaned. "B-Beka. I didn't want them."

Otabek sighed, unsure of why Yuri had even gone to the ritual in the first place. Of course he had to, but anyone with a brain could've seen that he was going to resist the whole time.

"Can you...handle it?" Emil asked, stepping back. His pupils were dilated, and he flicked his tail back and forth, clearly affected by the strong Omega scent.

"I've got him," Otabek said, helping him onto the porch, as he slowly sat Yuri down. "Thanks," he nodded.

"Glad to help," Emil muttered, bowing as he dashed away, not wanting to be affected any longer.

"B-Beka..." Yuri muttered, clinging to his hand.

Otabek sighed, and squeezed his palm gently. "You're an idiot, Yura," he muttered, trying to ignore how amazing Yuri smelled. He was a Beta, and he shouldn't have been affected at all. But Yuri was in heat and Otabek wanted him.