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Akira was still young. He’d only had a handful of heats in his life so far, and they were erratic. Perfectly normal, the result of teenage hormones stabilizing with age. Keeping track of his cycle was still a skill he was learning and, frankly, he had more important things to worry about these days.
In an ideal world, he didn’t think he’d have heats. But even if he did, wouldn’t they at least be regular? Shouldn’t he know when they were coming? If this was paradise, then why had he suddenly doubled over inside Maruki’s palace, too far from a safe room, too far from his friends, too far from home?
He crawled into the shadow of a table and tried to think. He’d made it nearly to the auditorium, just intending to scout out the route, and as far as he knew he’d avoided detection. But that might not last long. Could Shadows detect pheromones? His body was about to start broadcasting his location and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He shouldn’t have come here. His friends barely knew him, much less about their lives as the Phantom Thieves. Kasumi - Sumire - was missing, somewhere in the depths of the palace. Akechi was the only person he could possibly call for backup, but in this state... the risk was too high. But what option did that leave him?
He just needed to get out of the Palace. Retrace his steps, go out the way he came. Quiet, easy. Then he just needed to get to the subway - no, he couldn’t take the subway like this. A cab, then, an expensive cab ride and praying the driver wasn’t an alpha. A cab to Leblanc, and then he could lock himself upstairs and ride this out in safety. Some of the customers might notice, but Sojiro wouldn’t let anyone get near him.
Retreat, a cab, Leblanc. One step at a time. He could make it. He could -
A fresh wave of warmth and want came over him and he slumped against the wall, panting. He couldn’t. Was he seriously going to die from going into heat? After everything he’d gone through? It wasn’t exactly ironic, but it pissed him off anyway.
He heard the Shadow approaching, but couldn’t do anything about it. He was feverish and weak, all the strength sapped from him, incapable of anything but lying there and waiting for an alpha to find him and take him. He was beyond an easy target.
The Shadow shuffled into view. It paused, turning its mask back and forth, searching - and it froze when it spotted him. Akira tensed up, getting one hand on the hilt of his knife. Would his Personas even manifest? He couldn’t focus. It was all driven by willpower and cognition and his head was full of cotton and felt like it might float off.
The Shadow, however, didn’t pounce. It tilted its head, as if inspecting him. Then it turned and went back the way it came.
The relief was temporary. His situation hadn’t improved. In fact, his condition was deteriorating rapidly. He needed to get out of here. He needed someplace safe and soft and warm. He needed to curl up in the arms of his alpha, who would take care of him.
He didn’t have an alpha. He didn’t want an alpha.
With a groan, Akira hauled himself to his feet.
He staggered down the hallway, failing to hide his passage. Didn’t matter. He was moving, which was better than not moving. If he could get out of the Palace, maybe Sojiro could pick him up. He’d have to close down the store to do so, and Akira’d get chewed out for his carelessness, but maybe - maybe -
Akira wobbled, and fell to his knees with a sob. He couldn’t. He couldn’t go further. He couldn’t make it. He wasn’t getting out of this Palace. He would die here, made useless by his heat, either from a Shadow’s attack or just succumbing to the overpowering desperate thrumming need flooding his veins.
“Oh, you poor thing.”
Akira froze.
He should have seen Maruki coming, heard his footsteps, hell, smelled him, anything. He shouldn’t have been taken by surprise. But he was, and could do nothing but stare as Maruki, flanked by Shadows, crouched in front of him, and reached out -
And pressed the back of his hand against Akira’s forehead.
“Oh, dear,” he said, pulling his hand away. “Oh, oh you poor thing.”
Akira tried to glare at Maruki, but it didn’t work. His face wouldn’t do it. Not when he wanted so badly to lean into Maruki’s touch, to yield to his will. It would be so easy, here and now.
“Don’t worry,” Maruki said. He caressed Akira’s cheek and Akira’s mind fizzed into static. “I won’t hurt you. You know that.”
Ah. Maruki was an alpha. Akira wasn’t sure if he knew that before. He knew now, though. It was in the subconscious scent of his pheromones, but it was also in the touch of his hand and the gentleness of his smile and the confidence of his voice. Akira struggled to remember why he was here, why he had resolved to fight Maruki, but it was so hard to remember.
“Oh, dear,” Maruki said again. “Did it just start? You must feel awful.”
Awful, yes. Awful and tired and weak. It was hard not to whimper.
“Come on.” Maruki grabbed him by the bicep and pulled him to his feet. “Let’s get you somewhere more comfortable.”
Akira stumbled. For a brief moment, he leaned against Maruki, and his body screamed at the touch, begging for more. He barely managed to shove Maruki away to stand on his own feet. He didn’t want to touch Maruki. He didn’t want Maruki to touch him. He didn’t. He didn’t.
Maruki hooked an arm around Akira’s slender waist, and Akira moaned.
“I know,” Maruki cooed, like he was comforting a scared animal. “It must feel overwhelming, doesn’t it? Especially at your age. All alone in a place like this… you must have been so scared.”
Scared? That wasn’t the word. He’d been… concerned, yes, but he wasn’t scared. But he couldn’t think of a better word - and even if he had, he couldn’t speak. It was too complicated, all lips and tongue and lungs, all parts of his body that had been reduced in importance. What little energy he had went elsewhere.
He’d lost track of where he was being taken, only that it was deeper into the palace. The world beyond Maruki was little more than shifting colors, and it became harder and harder to keep his balance. His feet dragged until he was lifted off them. Maruki? No, a Shadow, but Maruki’s hand remained on his shoulder. An anchor. A shackle.
Akira closed his eyes. He relaxed. Just for a moment, just for now, while he was being carried and had no chance to resist. He was gathering his strength. He was waiting for his moment. He wasn’t going to let this happen.
Maruki squeezed his shoulder gently and all those thoughts turned to static.
When he stopped moving, he opened his eyes again. He was at the base of a vast tree, branches reaching high beyond the limits of his sight. Soft golden moss cushioned him, and everything was bright and warm. As he looked blearily around, Maruki settled down next to him.
“See?” he said, gesturing at their surroundings. “You’re safe here. I know you haven’t made your decision yet, and I won’t force you to stay. But it’s not so bad here, is it?”
It was hard to understand what Maruki was talking about. What decision? Where were they? None of that was important right now, anyway. Akira lay back, propped up by the trunk of the tree, and tried to focus on breathing.
“Do you need anything?” Maruki snapped his fingers. A figure came forward - a Shadow? A Cognition? A person? - and held out a silver tray bearing a goblet of amber liquid and an array of sliced fruits. Maruki took a grape and offered it to Akira.
Akira turned his head away.
“It’s not poison,” Maruki said with a laugh. “And it will fill you up and give you energy, just like food out there. You’ll need your strength.”
Maruki leaned forward and held the purple grape against Akira’s lips. Slowly, he pressed, slipping it between them until it fell into Akira’s mouth and Maruki’s finger brushed his lips.
The grape was fine. The touch was agonizing.
“There you go,” Maruki said, satisfied. “See? Not so bad.”
Akira’s clothes were too tight, and too hot. He fumbled with his coat, pulling it off and letting it fall aside, and picked at the buttons on his vest. He could feel Maruki’s eyes on him as he shed layers, but he didn’t care. He didn’t mind. He liked it.
“Another grape?”
Akira finally managed to speak, but all he could do was whisper, “Maruki…”
“Yes, Akira?” Maruki leaned in, like he was trying to listen more closely. “Do you need something?”
Akira was painfully aware of what he needed. He didn’t want it, but he felt sick and scared and exposed and this was just the start of it. And he hadn’t even thought about -
Akira jerked his mind away from that like a hand from a hot stove. No. If he started thinking about - if he listened to which part of his body were clamoring for his attention - he wouldn’t be able to -
“You’re being very strong,” Maruki murmured, much too close. “I’m impressed. Most boys your age would be begging by now.”
Begging, yes, begging for - Akira bit his lip.
“Why do you insist on making yourself suffer?” Maruki stroked Akira’s cheek with the back of one hand, and this time Akira couldn’t completely suppress a whine. “Let me take care of you. I can make it better. I can make you happy. If you’re not ready for forever, then just for now. Relax. Rest. This can be good. I can make it good.”
Every word dripped down Akira’s skin like honey. He wasn’t - he couldn’t -
Just for now -
He broke.
Just for now. Just for now, he lunged at Maruki, smashing their mouths together in something too harsh to be a kiss. He threw his arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of him, spread his legs instinctively, whimpered against Maruki’s lips. Maruki’s hands were on him, pulling at what remained of his clothes.
“Beautiful,” Maruki moaned. “You’re so beautiful.”
The words didn’t register, but Akira felt them anyway, deep in his chest, and he wanted more. He wanted his alpha to praise him. More than that, though, he wanted his alpha to - to -
To breed him. There was no way to deny it any longer. Everything in him was screaming for it. It wasn’t completely new - every heat gave him that craving - but for the first time there was actually an alpha here. He wasn’t safely locked alone in his room, huddled miserably under the blankets desperately fingering himself and waiting for it to be over. He had an alpha, stripping him bare, pinning him down, perfect. The way it should have been.
“Akira,” Maruki gasped against his skin. He kissed his way down Akira’s neck and down his now-bare chest. “Oh, god, Akira…”
Maruki’s hands finally undid Akira’s trousers, and with one swift tug suddenly Akira was exposed. He shivered, and again at the way Maruki was looking at him. He felt something pressing at his entrance and forced his legs apart wider, as far as he could, beckoning.
Maruki groaned, and thrust his hips, and for the first time in Akira’s life he was full.
His body welcomed the intrusion as his mind went blissfully blank. He wasn’t trying to think anymore, wasn’t trying to fight it. He could just feel, and it was like fireworks in his chest. It didn’t take long at all before he was gasping for air, scrabbling at Maruki’s back, the words beyond him but his body crying yes, please, more -
Everything went white. He clenched around Maruki and threw his head back, moaning, as every muscle in his body flooded with the most heavenly light. Maruki didn’t stop moving, and every thrust cranked it up higher and higher and somehow, impossibly, up over the top again. Akira felt light and hollow all at once, and his alpha could fill him, was filling him, Maruki groaned and pulsed into him and Akira fell away.
It took a long, long time for Akira to open his eyes again. He lay there, in the soft moss, his chest heaving. Maruki wasn’t on top of him anymore but beside him, holding him close, stroking his hair and murmuring. Akira ached. His thighs were sticky with something warm. His head cleared, and with it he was able to finally comprehend the magnitude of his situation.
Maruki -
Akira shivered.
“Are you cold?” Maruki asked. “Here.” He snapped his fingers, and moments later one of the figures arrived. It unfolded a soft, thick blanket and laid it gently over their bodies.
“Are you feeling better?” Maruki asked. “That should have helped.”
He felt much better. Good enough to remember everything. Where he was, who he was, who Maruki was. “You - “ He coughed; his throat was dry and scratchy. Maruki held the goblet up to his lips and Akira drank. It was sweet and cool and he was so thirsty.
“Take it easy,” Maruki said. “You’re still weak.”
Akira’s voice was faint, but he could at least speak. “I’m not choosing your paradise.”
“Not yet,” Maruki answered, a laugh in his voice. “It’s okay. You don’t have to. I’ll take care of you anyway.”
Akira wanted to protest. Instead, he leaned his head against Maruki’s chest and said, “I’ve never done that before.”
Maruki paused for a moment. “Oh?” His voice quivered.
“Never… with an alpha.” Never with anybody, really, but the distinction wasn’t important.
“I see.” Akira could hear the smile in his tone. “I’m honored.”
He shouldn’t be; Akira didn’t choose him. It was just bad timing. Akira was lucky it wasn’t worse. This could have happened in Kamoshida’s palace. He shuddered at the thought.
“Shh, shh. Rest.” Maruki kissed Akira’s forehead, tenderly. “You’re not in any danger here. I promise.”
He really shouldn’t have trusted Maruki, but it was so hard to resist. Probably because of the pheromones. Maruki was an alpha, and Akira’s omega body wanted to do what it was told, regardless of what his mind wanted.
He forced himself to sit up. “Where’s Sumire?”
“She’s perfectly safe,” Maruki answered. “She’s down in the treatment rooms.”
“Getting brainwashed.”
“Getting helped. Don’t worry about her right now. Just focus on yourself. A heat can take a lot out of you and you’ve just started.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that.” It was a weak protest, and they both knew it, but he had to say something. He couldn’t just let Maruki think he was happy to be here. “I need to go home.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” Maruki’s hands were light. “You never know when you’ll have your next… episode. And even if you could make it, you’d draw the attention of every alpha you pass. Especially given that you have my scent all over you now. A young, beautiful omega in heat, smelling like an alpha but completely unattended - you’d be difficult to resist.”
Akira really didn’t want Maruki to be right. He felt normal, for now, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he was begging Maruki for more. Especially now that he knew how much better it was than being alone. If he made it home safely, his reward would be days of misery.
Or, he could stay. It would be easier. Much easier. And it didn’t mean he was giving in to Maruki’s will, in the long run. It was… like a truce. Biology had interfered, and they both would wait for it to run its course before returning to the difficult questions.
With a sigh, Akira lay back down. Maruki hummed contentedly and pulled the blanket up over him. “Good,” he said, “very good. It’s important to listen to your needs. I’m proud of you.”
Akira tried not to care.
He woke up dazed. Everything was so bright, and he was so hot, sweating under the thick blanket. He kicked it off, but it only made him feel exposed. And his body was - he was tingly and itchy and felt - he needed -
He needed his alpha -
He remembered what happened, but that did little to help alleviate his condition. Maruki had said he’d take care of him, but where was he? Akira was alone, now, except for the strange figures lounging about in twos and threes, and none of them could give him what he needed.
“Maruki!” Akira shouted.
The name echoed off empty walls.
“Maruki!” He looked at the figures, some of which now faced him. “Where is he? I need - I need him. Help me. Can you tell him? Or find him? Anything? Please!”
The figures did not respond, only drifted away. Akira fell back, wrapping the blanket tight around his own shoulders. He couldn’t make sense of it. Maruki had left? Abandoned him? Why? After - after -
“Easy, easy.” Maruki’s voice was as soothing as the hand that landed on Akira’s back. “I’m right here. It’s okay.”
Akira whimpered, ashamed. How had Maruki known he was freaking out? Pheromones, probably. Goddamn pheromones.
“Again?” Maruki asked. He slid a hand down Akira’s chest, and Akira nodded. The need wasn’t as urgent, yet, but if he didn’t do something soon -
“I’m here,” Maruki repeated, leaning in. “I’ll give you what you need.”
Akira sighed as Maruki guided him into his back. Yes, this - this was what he needed. He let his knees fall apart and arched his back.
“I didn’t know that was your first time,” Maruki said apologetically. “I would have been gentler.”
“Didn’t want gentle,” Akira managed. Words were getting hard again. Thoughts took up energy that he needed for something else.
“Still, if I hadn’t gotten carried away I could have made it better.” Maruki’s wandering hand roamed further south, skating over Akira’s abs and tracing his hipbones. “I’d like to try again.”
Akira could have laughed if his breath wasn’t coming in pants. “I need - “
“I know what you need. Of course you do. And you’ll get it. There’s just a couple of things…”
Maruki’s hand reached between Akira’s thighs. Akira gasped as Maruki’s fingers circled his entrance, tantalizing, teasing. He canted his hips, chasing the feeling. It was so hard to think about anything other than being bred and taken and filled up and used, but Maruki still didn’t climb on top of him. Instead, he slipped two fingers inside.
“Oh, wow, you are dripping wet,” he said admiringly.
Akira keened. It was hard to say what affected him more, the praise or the tease of two fingers in a hole designed to take so much more. Even when Maruki slowly pumped his fingers in and out it was nowhere near enough. But then, finally, Maruki did - something - and it hit something vital and Akira gasped, jerking and writhing under him.
“See?” Maruki kept doing - whatever it was he was doing, maybe just as simple as curling his fingers but it had Akira quivering - and rested his other hand on Akira’s chest. “There’s so much more I could show you. And you could show me.”
Akira couldn’t - he wasn’t - it wasn’t enough, this strange and thrilling new sensation. He was close to the edge, close to release, but his body needed to be bred. He needed his alpha inside him. It was what he was made for.
And he couldn’t verbalize it, but he could moan, “Please…”
Maruki’s eyes widened, and for a moment his smile grew hungry. “Do you have any idea how delectable you are? How much effort it’s taking to hold myself back?”
“Don’t - please - I need it - “
Maruki growled, low in his throat, and withdrew his fingers. “How could I ever say no to you?” Even as he spoke he moved, hoisting one of Akira’s legs up over his shoulder. It was a ridiculous position; Akira had no leverage, was totally spread out, couldn’t do anything but dig his fingers into the moss and cry out when Maruki finally slid inside.
“So wet,” he muttered, his thrusts agonizingly slow. “Look at you, taking me so easily. Beautiful - my beautiful omega. So good for me.”
Akira wailed as Maruki kept teasing him - even now, even with that big perfect alpha cock inside him, it was moving so slowly he thought he might cry - until after an eternity he was driven over the edge, howling. His orgasm broke what little control Maruki had left and suddenly his pace turned punishing and the slap of skin on skin echoed.
Akira came three more times in such quick succession that he barely had a chance to breathe. Maruki groaned and thrust into him; Akira could feel his seed flowing into him, and it was heavenly enough to make him come again.
He cried, at some point. He didn’t realize it until later, when he found dried tear tracks on his cheeks. Maruki cradled him gently, massaging his arms and his shoulders and wherever he could reach without disturbing Akira. It was so wonderfully warm, and calm, and peaceful. Here in Maruki’s arms. In his Palace. In his paradise…
Akira inhaled sharply and twisted away. No. He wouldn’t - he couldn’t let this get to him. He’d be strong. He’d resist. Maruki couldn’t win him over like this. He had to get out of here and rescue Sumire and all his friends, trapped in their perfect happy lives. Lives he had to shatter.
“I’ve got you,” Maruki whispered, holding him from behind, and Akira shivered.
It was hard to keep track of time. Day and night didn’t seem to pass normally in this place, and Akira was either asleep or painfully aroused. He had to rely on Maruki to know how long he’d been here. He had to rely on Maruki for everything.
“Your guardian believes you’re on a ski trip,” Maruki informed him, sliding juicy slivers of sweet melon into his mouth.
“You’re going to look incredible with my baby in you,” Maruki moaned, nearly bending Akira in half. Afterwards, he apologized for getting carried away. “You won’t actually get pregnant from this,” he said. “I can make sure of that.” His hand still lingered on Akira’s stomach.
“Of course omegas still have heats.” Maruki was fingering him again, drawing it out as long as he could. “You don’t want to feel this way? It’s beautiful.”
Every time Akira’s head cleared, he remembered. He was here, stuck in this hedonistic paradise, with his every carnal desire met by a man he’d sworn to resist. Every moment he lingered was another moment of his friends living shallow lives in a sham of a world. It was so easy to let the thoughts go and sink back into the warm comforting haze of his heat, only to come up again and feel ashamed for retreating. No matter how much he fought, it was inevitable. Again and again he found himself under Maruki’s hands and loving it.
Akira couldn’t remember removing his mask, or Maruki taking it off him, but it was gone.
Akira woke up sore and exhausted when his heat finally broke. His skin felt disgusting and sticky, coated in sweat and worse. He was still naked, on the soft moss, at the base of the tree, and everything was still so bright and golden and blinding. Cautiously, he sat up, drawing his legs up and wincing at the ache in his muscles.
“Well, hello.” Maruki sat nearby, fully dressed and clean. He didn’t look like he’d just spent days fucking Akira within an inch of his life. He smiled benignly. “Here. I thought you might want this.”
Maruki picked up a black bundle and offered it. Akira took it gingerly, eyes fixed on Maruki. It was… clothes. His clothes. His Phantom Thief clothes, which - weren’t they just a cognition? When he’d taken them off, had they disappeared, or - he filed that question away for future consideration. Not important right now. Slowly, he started getting dressed. “How long has it been?”
Maruki looked away while Akira stepped into his pants. “A week.”
A full week. Shit. Akira pulled his shirt on, but paused, his vest and coat draped over one arm. Did he need to put them on? He was desperately in need of a long bath, and the idea of putting on more clothes instead -
Maruki looked at him again, and Akira pulled his coat on.
“You can leave,” Maruki said. “You won’t be stopped. And I won’t tell anybody about this. I assume you wouldn’t like that.”
A chill ran down Akira’s spine at the thought of Maruki revealing to his friends that Akira had spent a week here, doing nothing but being a pathetic needy omega. What would they say? Would they look at him with pity or disgust?
Maruki added, “I promise.”
As if that meant anything. Akira didn’t have a choice, anyway. He slid his hands back into his gloves. Every layer of clothing made his skin crawl, but he needed his armor back. He needed to hide. He needed -
Maruki held out a hand. “I assume you’ll want this.”
Akira’s mask. Joker’s mask. Why did Maruki have it? Why was he giving it back? Why hadn’t it manifested on Akira’s face like normal? Why, why, why -
Akira took the mask and slotted it back into place. He was Joker, again. He was Joker, and he was a thief, and this was a palace. He wavered for a moment, trying to think of what to say.
But Maruki beat him to it. “In light of your incapacitation, I’ll grant you an extra week to make your decision.” He smiled. “I’m not your enemy, Akira. I want nothing but happiness for you and your friends. I truly hope you can realize that.”
Akira stepped back into the shadow of the great tree. “I’ll be back,” he said.
Maruki nodded. “Good. I’ll be waiting.”