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With his tall stature, strong build, commanding presence, and desire to protect, everyone around Ludwig assumed he would be an alpha. But he never showed any signs of being either secondary gender, so by the time he physically grew to twenty years old, it was deemed that he was simply beta.
Ludwig was quite content with that. Now he didn’t have to worry about pesky biology like heats and ruts getting in his way of work or the things he enjoyed. He could carry on with a peaceful life–or as peaceful of a life as one could have as a nation. But life never seemed to let Ludwig be peaceful.
In the dead of night, Ludwig woke up with a scalding pain in his lower abdomen and drenched in sweat. It didn’t feel like indigestion or the flu, and it wasn’t like he strained the area recently. He didn’t want to get up, but he needed pain medication and maybe a cool cloth. But he'd give himself a few minutes and hopefully the worst of the pain would subside so he could get up.
When it didn't, Ludwig forced himself up and hobbled to the bathroom. He knocked over a few things as he scrambled for the bottle of Ibuprofen. He gulped it down with a glass of water and trudged back to bed. When he returned, Feliciano was sitting up in his bed. Right, he had snuck in again. Though at this point it wasn’t really sneaking in. Ludwig always left a window unlocked.
“Are you alright Luddy?” Feliciano asked, words running into each other in his half-asleep state.
“Yeah…I don’t know. Dinner didn’t agree with me, or something, but I should be fine in the morning.”
Feliciano tilted his head. “Okay. Hey, do you smell something?”
Ludwig collapsed into bed, trying to get comfortable. “Huh?”
“Something…Sweet. Like something baking.”
Ludwig huffed, the pain wearing his patience thin. “Just sleep,” he barked.
“Fine. I’ll make sure to make a light breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Feliciano seemed to fall asleep quickly, his breath evening out. Ludwig wasn’t as lucky. But after two hours, the pain dulled, and he could finally embrace a restless sleep.
- - -
Feliciano awoke with Ludwig cemented against his side, clinging to him. Though it wasn’t the first time they woke up tangled in each other’s limbs, something was off about this morning.
First off, Ludwig was panting and whining in his sleep. And not the kinds of whines and pants like he was in pain. Feliciano swallowed thickly.
Second, it was 9:00 AM. Ludwig rarely ever slept in past 8:00 unless something was really wrong. But he was ill the night before so surely that was why he was still asleep. Feliciano felt Ludwig’s forehead, finding it scalding.
Third, and the most incriminating off-set, was the suffocating, caky scent that layered the room thickly. The same smell he had caught a whiff of the night before. Feliciano bolted up. How did he not realize this before? The scent, the flushed skin, the stomach pains. Ludwig had gone into heat. And not just any heat. His first heat. Feliciano needed to get out of there before–
Even as an alpha, Feliciano could never beat Ludwig when it came to physical strength, and Feliciano never before did he wish he was any different. But that supposed "alpha strength" would come in handy right about now.
He took in a deep breath and immediately regretted it, the pheromones burning his throat and blanketing his mind. No. If there was any time he had to focus, now was the time. Holding his breath, he attempted to wiggle out of the hold. It took a few minutes, but he was finally free, feet hitting the chilled wooden floor, grounding him.
He thought he was in the clear, but in his escape, he had awoken Ludwig. He groaned, and on instinct, Feliciano turned around. Ludwig looked up at him, eyes hazy, completely disheveled, ready for the taking. Feliciano smacked his burning cheeks before his mind could wander anywhere else. He skittered to the door.
“Feliciano…” Ludwig rasped, thin lips slightly parted. God how the Italian wanted to kiss those lips (as well as put them to other uses).
“You’re not in your right mind Luddy,” Feliciano chuckled nervously, gripping the door knob. “Um…I’ll get you some water…And maybe I can find someplace to get toys and–”
“What’s happening to me?”
For a moment, Feliciano’s lungs cleared, and the strain in his pants became a distant throb. “You’re…You’re experiencing your first heat. And I need to get out of here before I do something to you I'll regret.”
“Oh…”
Feliciano smiled in spite of everything. What a thoroughly Ludwig-type reply. “I’ll be back with things to help soon–”
“Don’t go!”
He was so close. Just open the door and run. Far away. He was good at that. And it was for the best. No one got hurt that way. But his feet refused to move.
“Ludwig I…I won’t be able to control myself I–”
Ludwig took a deep breath. “I…I know enough of how this all works. You can help me. I-I need you to help me. Please…Please fu–take care of me.”
Something snapped, and the next thing Feliciano knew, he was straddling Ludwig, pushing him down on the bed. It wasn’t Ludwig below him. It was an omega. An unmated omega in heat. And as any good alpha, it was Feliciano’s duty to fu–
“Luddy…” Feliciano swallowed, coming back to himself despite the dizzying smell.
“Please…I’m hot, and everything aches, and…I need…I need…I don’t know. I read manuals about this but–”
“Shhh…I’ll take care of you. J-Just relax and be a good omega for me.”
Run. Run. You need to run. You’ll ruin everything. Just RUN.
Reason was screaming at him, but when he was this close, lips centimeters from Ludwig’s, its voice became muffled and desire took over. Hungrily, he claimed Ludwig’s lips, thrusting his tongue in forcefully, claiming Ludwig’s mouth.
Ludwig moaned into the kiss, arms wrapping around Feliciano’s neck, pulling him close.
Feliciano felt like he was being torn in two. As much as he wanted to relish in the fact he had Ludwig where he had always wanted him, and as much as his rut was encouraging him, he wouldn’t let himself enjoy it. He had to stay focused and…
God Ludwig smelled good. When Feliciano pulled away, he couldn’t help but sniff along Ludwig’s neck. Ludwig smelled of cinnamon and apples, like a pie or even kuchen. Feliciano wondered if he tasted just as sweet.
With one last quick peck, Feliciano moved down to Ludwig’s boxers. He ripped off the article of clothing, unable to hold back anymore. Slick leaked down Ludwig’s thighs, glistening in the early morning light. Who would have thought the strong, stern, tough German nation was an omega all this time? Especially such a cute, needy looking one.
His instincts may have been in the driver’s seat currently, but he had enough of a mind to stretch Ludwig nicely. Couldn’t have him tearing now. He eased in two fingers. Despite this being their first time, Ludwig took him easily. Biology sometimes had its perks. Slowly, Feliciano began to thrust and curl his fingers.
Ludwig gasped, gripping the sheets. He sucked Feliciano’s fingers in, wordlessly begging for more.
“Oh don’t be like that Luddy. I want to hear you, I want to see you. Now be a good boy and look at me.” Feliciano never thought he was capable of growling like he did those last words.
And Ludwig obeyed. Looking up with shining blue eyes, pupils blown wide, giving him timid bedroom eyes. Feliciano couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled out his fingers and slicked up his cock with the natural lube his partner was secreting. Again, sometimes biology could be convenient. He pressed in without any hesitation.
Ludwig arched his back, letting out a strangled cry at the intrusion. It immediately pulled Feliciano back into himself.
“Mio Dio! Ludwig? Ludwig, are you alright? I-I’m sorry I–”
“Move,” Ludwig gritted out, “Bitte… Move .”
“Okay…” Feliciano took in a breath. “Okay. Just tell me if I hurt you.”
This will make him feel better. You’re helping him. It will be okay.
Feliciano rolled his hips in an experimental thrust, ears perked to Ludwig’s reaction. Ludwig moaned softly, eyes fluttering closed, muscles clenching around Feliciano’s cock. Feliciano couldn’t help but groan.
Without a second thought, he pounded into Ludwig at incredible speed. He couldn’t remember ever moving that fast in his life. Not even during retreat. But pleasing Ludwig was more important than any war duty.
All Ludwig could do was gasp and moan, the sounds becoming louder with each thrust. Feliciano smirked. The straightlaced, no-nonsense German was coming undone so easily and it was all because of him. The thought went straight to his groin.
“Yes…” Ludwig panted, “Yes, yes, yes. Faster…F-Faster.”
Feliciano didn’t know if he could go any faster, but for such a sweet omega, he would try. He snapped his hips, gripping Ludwig’s to keep him balanced. If they happened to get bruised in the process, that was just a bonus. Ludwig let out a cry of both pain and pleasure.
Feliciano leaned down, nuzzling Ludwig’s neck, tempted to sink his teeth into the skin. Despite the dizzying smell messing with his mind, he still had enough of himself to shake that idea out of his head. He already went too far. He couldn’t mate Ludwig like this. His lips instead trailed down Ludwig’s collarbone to his chest, leaving open-mouth kisses along the way. Ludwig shivered.
Feliciano grinned against the flushed flesh. When he reached Ludwig’s chest took one of the nipples into his mouth, sucking gently.
“Ah~” Ludwig moaned breathily, “Feli Ich…”
“Awww. Are you close? Do you want to come?”
Ludwig nodded.
“Oh caro,” Feliciano purred, backing up. He pulled out to really make Ludwig desperate. “Use your words. What do you want?”
“Bitte...bitte lass mich abspritzen.”
“Good. Good boy.” Feliciano thrusted in right to the hilt, filling Ludwig up completely. For good measure, he twisted Ludwig’s nipples. Ludwig arched and with a choked moan he came and came and came. Feliciano didn’t know it was possible for someone to come that much.
Heat pooled in his lower abdomen at the sight of Ludwig’s pinched face, mouth hanging open, tears in his lashes. He could already feel his knot expanding.
“Feli what’s…ah!”
“I-I’m sorry I can’t help it. B-B-But don’t worry. It’s just my knot. Everything is okay.”
“Oh…right.” Ludwig looked away red-faced, laying back on the bed as he was filled to the brim. He winced every now and then, but otherwise, he seemed to be getting comfortable.
“It’s…It’s not too painful is it?” Feliciano asked softly. The dizziness and fog were going away. Ludwig’s pheromones must have been depleting thanks to the orgasm. Perhaps now he could properly care for Ludwig in this state.
“No. Just…weird. But my cramps and thirst are gone.”
“Good…”
Feliciano shifted his weight, so he was laying on top of Ludwig. Knots could take a while sometimes, and considering how worked up he got, there was a good chance this was going to be one of those longer times. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Ludwig and instead rested his head on Ludwig’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“This might take a while,” Feliciano warned.
“That’s okay. It would probably be sore to move anyway.”
Ludwig sounded so calm despite being in the middle of his first heat which he didn’t prepare for, and getting his brains fucked out by his best friend. Feliciano wasn’t holding up as well. He enjoyed it, and he was disgusted by that.
Feliciano felt sick to his stomach. If he wasn’t literally attached to Ludwig he would have locked himself in the bathroom, perhaps gotten sick, and scrubbed himself until he finally felt clean.
Ludwig burrowed his nose into Feliciano’s neck. “Thank you…” he whispered.
“Don’t.”
“I know this isn’t the end, but I feel a lot better now. So you deserve gratitude.”
Feliciano squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry. “I couldn’t control myself.”
“You had enough control to make sure I was alright.”
“But not enough to not fuck you without consent.”
“I was practically begging,” Ludwig scoffed.
“For all we know, it was just your heat.”
“I’m telling you it was not. At least not completely.”
“Ludwig you’re in such a vulnerable state right now. You’re still in your heat period. Your first heat. Which tends to be the worst and the strongest. You’re not in your right–”
Ludwig flipped them around, pinning Feliciano to the bed. His eyes were cold and alert like Feliciano always knew them to be. “Don’t you dare question my mental state. I may be an omega in heat, but I’m not helpless and I’m not some…thing…that can’t make choices. I’m relieved you helped me. I wanted you to help me. And if you’re willing, I still want you to help me. I couldn’t dream of doing this with anyone else.”
Feliciano lay slacked jawed, words jamming in his throat before a phrase finally pushed through. “Is this your idea of a confession?”
Blush blotched Ludwig’s cheeks all the way to his chest. “Maybe…”
Despite the last few threads of lingering guilt, Feliciano burst out laughing. What a way for the universe to get tired of their bullshit and shove them together. “We’ll talk about it more after your heat,” Feliciano concluded, “But I will help you in the meantime. After we’re…um…freed I guess? And we’ll have something to eat and drink before your symptoms return. Okay?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ludwig mumbled, eyes drooping.
Feliciano smiled softly and flipped them back around, so Ludwig was laying down again. “Are you already tired?”
“A little…”
“Well, while I’m out getting everything we’ll need, you can rest. Hopefully, it will be a little while before we have to start up again.”
Ludwig hummed, his hold on Feliciano becoming weaker.
By the time Feliciano could dislodge, Ludwig was fast asleep. With a kiss on his forehead, Feliciano set off to get breakfast, water, and suppressants. He'd need them if he was going to get through these next few days.