falling into formation

onri / 95.4k words / mature

In which Ryo presents as an omega on the eve he turns eighteen, Sion is famously not good at dealing with things, and Riku is just trying his fucking best to keep his family together.

the most painful fic ive ever written in my life. im gonna have a page with the original draft below! that was an iteration before the ryo omega storyline :3 and im gonna dump everything else sorry.

ORIGINAL DRAFT HERE

[x] group live….
- [x] sion won’t stop checking in.
- [x] riku and the pups are suffocating.
- [x] ryo presented… among other things….
[x] ryo presntation flashback
- [x] non-explicit obviously
- [x] felt it coming on
- [x] terrible heat. everyone else had to leave while riku stayed. ryo’s mom and sister flew to korea
  - [x] worried about baby omega in a dorm full of alphas
  - [x] conversation….
- [x] sion pledges his… protection?
[x] back to the present, things are tense. there is clearly a lot on their leader’s mind. and it’s not all good.
- [x] riku and sion complicated feelings on early presentations
- [x] ryo… adjusting
- [x] tense. tense.
- [x] sion and yushi brawl almost
  - [x] hyungs intevention
[x] this comeback is a rough one.
- [x] onri tension
- [x] maknae doting
- [x] yushi and sion
[x] riku preheat at fanmeeting
- [x] sion goes into pre-rut
- [x] their first synced cycle in a yuear
- [x] scenting at fanmeeting
  - [x] riku is pissed. sion gets growly and snaps at him
[x] riku spends heat alone.
[x] riku comes out of his heat
- [x] sion is in the hospital. his rut wont satiate
- [x] he will most likely go feral if riku sees him
- [x] medical stuff. maybe there is talk of microdosing riku’s scent
[x] riku and yushi have a Talk
- [x] what has sion done to earn forgiveness?
[x] sion comes out of his rut
- [x] riku goes to the hospital to see him. he is gaunt, barely himself
- [x] tearful reunion. riku cries. youre so skinny and i love you.
- [x] talking it out
  - [x] things are different now. or, at least, theyre supposed to be. more settled. riku is not across the pacific, not anymore. they cant chase each other, high off of desperation.
  - [x] the stress of idol life naturally puts stress on their bond
  - [x] sion simpers. he is scared. they both are. they cannot only live in fear
  - [x] ryo, early presentations.
  - [x] bonding. pups. the works.
  - [x] we are okay. why are you afraid?
  - [x] reflection….
  - [x] lay with me in the nest. dont think about the pups. just lay with me,
  - [x] making up. compromise
[x] group talk. forgiveness. family feels
- [x] yushi and sion
- [x] sion and daeyoung
- [x] the pups :-)
  - [x] saku does sion’s hair…..
- [x] resolution stuff
  - [x] lay with me in the nest. dont think about the pups. just lay with me,
  - [x] okay, jagi
    - [x] and for once, they get a full night of rest
[x] a little epilogue
- [x] they are at a schedule and sion doesnt react to an alpha or something and riku goes. why did i want him to.
  - [x] he brings sion aside. where is my alpha. i still want you to be yourself. i like you so much i could die
    - [x] they are both insane.
  - [x] sion smiles. are you sure, riku?
  - [x] riku: whatd you just call me?
  - [x] sion: are you sure, princess?
  - [x] yes. riku is very sure.
    - [x] they are so silly…
[x] riku planning. he is not good at planning, really
- [x] the pups more tense i think
[x] sion comes back
- [x] more insecure at the top
- [x] how does someone like oh sion clean up a mess like this?
  - [x] he’s such a meticulous planner but even he is afraid
    - [x] guilt
- [x] teasing versus vulnerability
  - [x] less confident. this is hyung’s first life too. defensive? orrrrr
- [x] sakuya
  - [x] more indifferent…?
  - [x] why does sion have to ask for forgiveness?
    - [x] specific examples
    - [x] backstory
      - [x] ease into it….
      - [x] relationship with a head alpha. hierarchy and its consequences
    - [x] sakuya complexities
      - [x] eldest vs maknae
      - [x] easy going vs immaturity of a teen
        
        [x] what does this kid internalize?
- [x] daeyoung: more bitter, less resolution
  - [x] more tension
    - [x] respect as a hyung and alpha vs what sion said
      - [x] does he put the pack over himself? yes. but what about his relationship?
      - [x] complexities of syondaeng dynamic
  - [x] the role of an alpha… him and ryo
  - [x] frustration with himself
    - [x] over being timid? over refusing what to say what’s on his mind?
      - [x] nuances of gender dynamics and alpha submission
    - [x] visibly bottling things up
      - [x] factor of family life…?
[x] yushi and the intricacies of outsider character analysis
- [x] yushi himself vs how the other members (hyungs) view him
  - [x] riku pov is not always reliable. lol
  - [x] how daeyoung treats him i think
- [x] line between emotions, overstimulation, rati4onale
  - [x] unmasking…. hm
    - [x] more embarrassment and shame? self awareness?
    - [x] how does yushi express anger when he is pushed to his limit? would he continue to fight or would he shut down?
      - [x] tokuno yushi and the concept of forgiveness.
    - [x] emotional intelligence
      - [x] middle child syndrome
[x] riku: has he gotten everything he needs?
- [x] the difference between the hospital and now
  - [x] his family or his relationship? do distinctions always needs to be made? does one of them need to be prioritized?
  - [x] what he knows about sion’s earnesty/sacrifice versus what the others know.
  - [x] instinct vs rationale
    - [x] forgiveness
[x] sion vulnerability
- [x] insecurity
- [x] leader pressure
  - [x] fears about the kids
  - [x] sion only knows what he has always done, which is coddle them. tease them. but they are growing up and he is the only consistent thing in their lives.
    - [x] guilt and the pups’ emotional maturity
- [x] rut
  - [x] physical effects and insecurity manifesting
  - [x] onri guilt maybe idk
[x] ending this on a more somber/open note instead of a joyous one. more depth.
- [x] i don’t have to worry about you guys. i’m sorry.
- [x] hyung, you can lean on us too

While it’s true that none of them know Yushi as well as Sion does, there is devotion in Daeyoung that exists for no one else. Not even Sion puts Riku above the group, but Daeyoung will sometimes play favorites; he prods Riku or the pups off his lap so Yushi can sit there instead. He will feed his boyfriend first. He will go out and pick up gifts and talk incessantly about what Yushi would like - Yushi this, Yushi that. They all know that their beta is obsessed with his boyfriend and while Daeyoung is not so painfully blatant, he is equally obsessed. Truly. There is no one else who could compel him into defying a hyung. Daeyoung still won’t refuse Sion outright but he is tense like he wants to and somehow this is the most concerning part of this months long situation - the fact that Daeyoung won’t even look Sion in the eyes. Usually he would.

Their alpha’s hand is bigger than their baby’s only the slightest bit but where Sakuya is soft, their leader is grown and firm and reliable.

If anything else had happened, Daeyoung would probably be more receptive to their leader. After all, he always listens. He is hard-wired to obey his pack alpha and he is submissive even to the omegas of the group. But there’s an extra layer of complexity when it comes to Yushi - Daeyoung sees himself as the beta’s alpha. It’s something none of them are contesting nor would they ever and so somehow Daeyoung has taken on the responsibility of the argument himself in lieu of his mate. Yushi is not forgiving, not outright, but when you’re close to him you can see the ways in which he will dismiss his own worries. And Daeyoung knows this better than anyone. And Daeyoung has always been the overprotective type. And Daeyoung has always been a little too doting. The baby alpha is a sweetheart and it’s in his nature, really, but the biggest difference between him and Sion is that Sion feels no reservations to posture if he needs to. His domination is encouraged; it is a good instinct to have as a pack leader. Daeyoung, in comparison, is so hesitant that he refuses to show anything outright but is still obvious in the way he hovers and scents and dotes and follows Yushi around like a puppy, sandalwood smelling worried in the air. He can be more overbearing than even Sion. Riku certainly would hate it. But Yushi is the obsessive type and has never once minded and goes around wearing his alpha’s scent like it’s his pride and joy and so therein lies the issue - the two of them only encourage each other.

It takes hardly any time at all before the pups come out of their subdued scenting state but even still they aren’t making a fuss, really, and overall everyone is being rather well-behaved. Sion is half laid on Sakuya’s shoulder and the pup is tying his hair up into an apple hairdo like he often does at practice - recently Sion has been claiming that he wants to match and it’s been very touching to see Sakuya indulge so earnestly - meanwhile Ryo is tucked properly into the alpha’s side and holding Sion’s hand with both of his own, rather indifferent to all of tension that’s plagued them for months now. Yushi’s face is buried into Sion’s knee and their hyung has a hand on his back; Sion has always called those three his babies.

The four of them cuddled up together is nothing unusual but it’s worth mentioning that they have another baby; a scent-drunk pouty alpha. Riku takes the chance to encourage Daeyoung to get closer. He and Sion are close as everyone else is - after all, they are the only Koreans and the only alphas at that - but in group settings he tends to default to only acting on his affection when he thinks it’s needed. But Riku knows the kid wants to join in and so he prods him in the other direction - Daeyoung pulls the rest of Yushi’s body across his lap and leans in close enough for his and Sion’s shoulders to touch.

Yushi is fully turned around towards the table, literally licking his lips because his brain is so one-track-minded that it physically hurts. He even tries to get up before Riku pulls him down. The omega hisses: “We’re talking first.”

“But I’m hungry,” Yushi is petulant - he is only ever this petulant to Riku, which means he needs to stop indulging in it even though he never will. But it’s obvious that the beta is pretending like he’s not moved by Sion coming home, even though he definitely is; trying to come off as indifferent. Which never works. Not to the hyungs.

Riku pinches his ear. “Embrace your emotions.” And then he adds, like an afterthought: “I’ll even serve you first if you’re nice to him.”

That manages to get Daeyoung’s attention because he is the most stereotypical alpha in the entire world. “But I’m supposed to-” He is stuttering. “Hyung, what about-”

But Yushi seems tempted by the offer. Really tempted. He isn’t making eye contact - he never does when he’s overwhelmed - but he looks between where Sion is nuzzling into their maknaes and where Riku is offering him a reprieve from scary emotions and makes up his mind very, very quickly.

“You’ve got a deal, Ku-chan,” their beta says in a low voice.

Daeyoung pouts. “But hyung-”

Riku pinches both of their ears this time. “You two are ridiculous.”

Riku really wants to hover, especially since the pups are involved, but it’s obvious by their reactions that he needs to stay out of it and let his mate take on the rest of the pack himself - the Sion-Riku joint parenting thing is real but the Sion Appa thing is even more real and they’ve known this for years. The way they both cling and indulge in his antics only makes that more apparent. So Riku opts to sit cross-legged on the floor by Yushi’s feet, watching as Sion gives their youngest baby attention. Sakuya is pliant as he always is around their leader, letting himself be coddled, but it’s a little surprising when he reaches up into his hyung’s arms and hugs him around the waist.

He will be back to bother them, certainly. If they don’t get up, he will be back quickly. The last thing he needs is for Sion to come home to a dorm full of sleepy pups too fussy to talk properly and clamouring for breakfast and making his hyung even more tired and-

Well, anyway, enough of that. There are more important things at hand. Like the fact that the dorm looks and smells like a pig sty.

So Riku starts with the living room, turning his nose up when he immediately encounters a mountain of ice cream bar wrappers. They’re going to have roaches at this rate and he has a hard time believing that the babies will enjoy the presence of bugs in their space, not when they’re so squeamish. If only Ryo had more omegan traits, Riku laments. But alas. The pups are adverse to chores, both of them, and that will never change because omegan instincts only make you fawn more on the things you already like - Riku is naturally inclined to homemaking and being an omega has no bearing on that. In Ryo’s case, it just means he’ll be obsessed with hoarding nesting materials until he dies, probably. Which doesn’t help with their mess of a laundry situation.

They haven’t talked through even half of what needs to be talked through but Riku knows they’ll figure themselves out; they always do. They may be young but they aren’t as stupid as you’d assume. The two of them would not have been able to keep the pack afloat for as long as they have if they were even the tiniest bit incompetent.

(…Well. They might be a little incompetent. But just a smidge.)

That’s the main reason why Riku has come to the conclusion that Sion’s territorial behavior is mostly a symptom of their bond than anything else. He’s always been overprotective but it’s rare for him to posture or do anything menacing. Not that Riku ever had complaints about him posturing, really, but he’s not going to dwell on that.

And he’s also sweat-soaked and aching all over and coming out of it isn’t even a relieving thing, really, because even though the actual heat is gone he still has to deal with… everything else. All the other bullshit. His pups and the stress of idol life but also Sion. He is not under the impression that his alpha’s rut was a good one after what happened before they went under.

What a mess he has to clean up. The mess between him and Sion and everyone else.

His body is still a little dazed from his cycle but his mind is clear and he knows the inevitabilities; the aftermath; the next steps. He has let negative things simmer for far too long. Both of them have. He and his mate may be piss-poor at communication about ninety percent of the time, but this is a new low even for them - they need to have The Talk.

The Talk that should’ve happened months ago. It definitely should’ve happened months ago.

[ ] sion has a terrible rut
- [ ] hyung feels guilty and avoids him
- [ ] tending to the group.
- [ ] things are different now. or, at least, theyre supposed to be. more settled. riku is not across the pacific, not anymore. they cant chase each other, high off of desperation.
- [ ] the stress of idol life naturally puts stress on their bond
- [ ] sion simpers. he is scared. they both are. they cannot only live in fear
[ ] yushi and riku talk
[ ] they are at a schedule and sion doesnt react to an alpha or something and riku goes. why did i want him to. realizes there is such thing as a compromise.
- [ ] he brings sion aside. when we are home i want you in my nest. got it, alpha? if you ask for permission i’ll kill you
- [ ] sion does not scent him but at least meets his eyes. okay, riku.
- [ ] riku: whatd you just call me?
- [ ] sion: okay, princess
[ ] they talk
- [ ] lay with me in the nest. dont think about the pups. just lay with me,
- [ ] ryo, early presentations. bonding. pups. the works.
- [ ] we are okay. why are you afraid?
- [ ] reflection….
- [ ] making up
[ ] the most tender sex ever written by man
- [ ] the concept of the anti-breeding kink: the kink for people who have a breeding kink

on top of Riku’s absence in the nest, which he hasn’t stepped a foot in in weeks. He only goes back to his room when he’s certain that Sion isn’t in there. The idiot has his own room he could use but he is still sleeping alone in the nest like a pup that got abandoned on the side of the road.

But the truth is that Riku’s not the only one worrying - Sion has gone fully territorial in the month since. Full alpha. Which is something none of them have ever seen before, Riku included. Their hyung is wary of new staff members, doesn’t let the alphas managers near the pups unless they have to be. Sion refuses to leave the omegas alone. Neither Riku nor Ryo. If Riku is being honest with himself, he finds it a fucking suffocating. But he is also having a really hard time coming up with a reason to discourage their leader.

After all, Ryo is small. And alphas are huge. Towering. Sharp teeth. They bite. And it is Sion’s job to make sure that they don’t.

He does not normally break up arguments with a sickly sweet tone because he isn’t actually their mother - despite the fact that they all seem to be convinced he gave birth to them himself - but he

(…But Sion is still cute even when submissive and blushing and in an incredible amount of trouble. Which is a concerning thing to notice and Riku considers checking himself into the hospital just on the off-chance he hit his head on something.

Because even the maknaes snicker a little bit even though they should be more obedient by now, really. But that’s a conversation they can have later.)

A mess quickly turns into something adjacent to a crime scene - the hyungs’ appearance turns things chaotic by definition. There is the typical posturing the six of them try to keep up around the sunbaes, but with Sion on the floor, it’s difficult to save face. So by the time they’re able to explain the situation to Doyoung and Kun without anyone getting too excited over it, their leader has come out of his submissive daze from being scruffed.

Because while Yushi is notoriously stubborn, he is normally quick to disengage when he realizes Sion isn’t letting up. But instead of sulking like he usually would, his anger only grows.

Which is sound advice. Mostly. If Sakuya really does end up being an alpha Riku will have to devise a way to keep him and Ryo from fighting too much. Baby alphas are bad at holding their fangs back. And Ryo, as mature as he is, is a fucking instigator if there ever has been one.

Apologies are given although more will be necessary. Yushi lets Sion hug it out with him and Riku is pleased when his alpha returns to his side, burying his face in Riku’s shoulder. He smells calm, now. He’s been so anxious this past month that it leaked into his scent. They really needed the hyungs to talk some sense into him, huh. It turns out that public humiliation works on Oh Sion like a charm.

Riku tucks that piece of information away in the back of his mind. Good to know. There will be more for the two of them to talk out anyway. And he is not keen on getting steamrolled again.

“I’ll have Taeyong hyung scold you over KakaoTalk,” Doyoung hasn’t let him completely off the hook, even as Sion curls into Riku’s side and reeks of embarrassed alpha. “He’s good at keeping emotional kids like you in line.”

Sion groans. It’s the truth. Most people expect alpha leaders to be stone-cold and serious, but Sion is silly and easy going and can, at times, be sensitive. Especially when it comes to his job. He can take criticism a little too harshly, always determined to take the burden of leader on by himself. Takes any attack towards any of them as a personal insult. Almost to a fault.

“I’m not emotional,” Sion lies, petulant.

Doyoung huffs. “All alphas are emotional. It’s the hormones.”

But Sion, at the very least, takes it well. He always takes advice well, even if Doyoung isn’t exactly the most nice about it. He’s always been motherly to the six of them, but he really likes to nag, and Riku has made a point to make sure his kids always have their polite smiles on when Doyoung hyung comes around. Ryo, at least, is easy to please. He gets all starry-eyed whenever a sunbae turns up.

“Yes, hyung,” Sion agrees. His voice is muffled as he hides his face in Riku’s sweatshirt. “I’ll be less emotional.”

Doyoung’s eyes shine. “Well you better, because-”

It gets to a point where Kun has to drag Doyoung away. Scolding only does so much, and they have a comeback to prepare for. “It’s growing pains, Sion-ah, you’ll get used to it,” Kun says. “Text me if you need help with anything. And the rest of you, don’t rile each other up.”

Everyone nods. While they’re all used to teasing Sion, the pups act so well behaved around older alphas. It doesn’t help that Sion - always so fucking territorial - had no issue submitting to Kun. It’s the kind of vibe he gives off, maybe. Makes you want to listen. Like a strict dad who gets all no-nonsense about getting good grades.

Doyoung frowns at the dismissal but runs the inside of his wrist over Riku’s neck. “Let me know if he gives you any trouble, Riku-ah. Even Kun used to be quite sensitive back in the day. He’d get so butthurt every time Tennie would-”

“Yah, Doie,” Kun says, exasperated. “Don’t spread lies.”

Doyoung smirks, self satisfied. “See? They’re easy.”

Riku grins. No man in this entire company would dream of talking back to someone like Kim Doyoung and you can smell Kun’s subdued scent of ginger going stale as Doyoung stalks back over to him. Like he’s exhausted. Riku hopes one day he’ll run circles around his own group’s alphas like that. Not that it would be very difficult - Daeyoung is about as intimidating as a puppy and Sion is immune to telling him any variation of “no.”

Hmm… can’t be that hard.

Their hyungs slip out the door, bickering all the while, and shut it behind them. Silence falls over the group. So much hurt has built up over the past few weeks and even a scruffing cannot solve all of it. Especially not when it comes to Tokuno Yushi, who holds grudges like it’s his hobby.

“So you’ll stop being such an idiot now?” Yushi prods Sion with his foot. “You’ll stop breathing down Riku’s neck?”

He is not asking, really. Yushi is not a person who will ask an alpha for anything. He’ll demand it from them. But there is no one he can order around like Oh Sion, age hierarchy and sub-gender notwithstanding.

Sion falls into Riku’s lap, hiding his face. “Yushi started it,” he says. Which is a lie. But he’s not being serious, really, so Riku tugs on the stupid alpha’s hair.

“You started it, hyung,” he says. “By being overbearing.”

Sion’s scent goes sour. But he sighs when Riku brushes his fingers against his nape, threatening. A reminder.

“I’ll stop,” he concedes. He grumbles it, but it’s an agreement. “I won’t be annoying anymore.”

A collective sigh of relief echoes throughout the group - that’s all they want to hear, really. Having a very potent alpha stalk around like a growly little wolf when anyone even tries to touch his omegas gets tiring after the first few times. Especially when it’s Sion. He often looks more like a bunny than a wolf.

“Good alpha,” Riku says. “You’re not off the hook.” And he means it, obviously, because Sion looks up at him with round, pleading eyes.

“I’ll be so good,” Sion swears, pulling Riku down with an arm around his neck, ignoring the dry heaving from Sakuya and the very audible grumbling from Yushi. Sion brushes their noses together. “Can I get an award, Riku-chan?”

Riku frowns. He nips at Sion’s cheek. “If you’re nice today, I’ll consider it.”

And, well. That’s that. They have practice to get back to, and after all, their comeback waits for no one. Sion is well behaved and incredibly docile and has to bow out halfway through when he gets a call from Taeyong. He takes it into the hallway but they hear angry omega shouting through the speaker.

“I love seeing Sion hyung get scolded,” Ryo sighs dreamily, watching him go.

“Serves him right,” Sakuya says. “He’s been awful.”

Yushi looks a little too self satisfied for comfort, considering Sion probably could’ve bit his arm clean off, but Riku can admit that things worked out relatively fine enough. His alpha, after all, is seemingly calm. He’s letting Riku breathe. He smells like himself again. There is more to sort out, more to talk about, and there is still the past month of guilt and hurt and fear hanging over them. This is not something that disappears after one conversation and the two of them have never really been great at communication to begin with, really.

So:

“No slacking off!” Yushi reminds them. “We still don’t have the chorus down yet!”

Riku wipes his sweat off of his brow. Time to get back to work.