Chapter Text
Anaxa isn’t a romantic person, he tends to be more pragmatic about feelings, microanalyzing every emotion he feels in a rational lens. It’s more his sister’s forte, and Anaxa grows up surrounded with her sister’s affection, and even when he acts like he doesn’t need it anymore, it always makes his chest warm when his sister is still babying him.
And now as they live separately, settling in different cities, Anaxa finds himself missing her more than ever. But he doesn’t miss anytime his sister starts poking around his love life. She even goes as far as setting blind date with her friend, and she doesn’t even live here!
And it becomes Anaxa’s mission in their weekly call to annoy his sister by giving her the most impossible criteria he can possibly think of. They don’t need to be an Alpha, he’s okay with Beta, but they need to have chiseled jaws, beautiful eyes, taller than him, anything that can keep her sister busy. Now it’s her sister's turn to rack her brain.
But it’s not because of her sister’s connection Anaxa met the love of his life. It’s because of his ex.
In hindsight, their first meeting seems to be straight out of a rom-com movie.The kind people watch when it’s nearing Christmas time, except it’s not a christmas and Anaxa actually likes when it’s time near one. The Grove becomes quiet and he can do experiments he’s been putting off since the new semester starts, all he wants, no interruptions. Or until Hyacine comes to check up on him, sees him never go home or take a small break between tests in all the time he’s been cooped inside and confiscates the keys.
Anyway, the story begins like this:
Contrary to what society dictates, as an Omega he never likes to date, only mingling between friends in a bar he frequently comes to; and the people he comes across to date are the ones his friends introduce him to. Lygus is included in that, he looks decent. Actually Anaxa has a good feeling about him because they come from the same association where Anaxa is the newcomer and Lygus is the senior.
With a serene smile always perched on his face, glasses on his face, and also serving his position in the Senate of Okheman people, Lygus has a look that makes the public feel listened to and safe. It’s not rare for some to be seen in his office, giving aspiration and demanding for a better life.
And because of their shared interest, it’s not hard to have conversations about Lygus’ expertise. He even recommends the idea of research theory Anaxa can resume.
Besides that, they have much in common. Anaxa likes to read before bed and Lygus likes to help people in boosting their quality of life. Anaxa has mild to acute gastritis and Lygus has superior complex. Anaxa likes unveiling the secrets of the universe while Lygus likes to play god.
It’s all fine and dandy until one of them deems it isn't enough (it’s Lygus).
As an Alpha and comes from an affluent background, Lygus already has everything at the palm of his hand. He even views it as given. But he can also be thoughtful of others. Like when Anaxa is still under surveillance because of his new affiliation and it is starting to get under his skin, Lygus offers to halt it.
So Anaxa will try to be one too. He can not stand on leaving the favor unpaid. He tries to remember important dates for Lygus so he can get ready for the occasion. Lygus likes getting mementos from his work, Anaxa installs a new display shelf near the entrance door so everyone can see them. Lygus only likes home-cooked meals, so Anaxa will try to learn for him, though it is still work in progress.
Anaxa almost thought perhaps they would become serious. Anaxa is ready to introduce him to Until he brings home a pregnant Omega and asks Anaxa to put him in the guest's room while he is getting ready to have dinner together that night.
In Lygus’ defense, it’s already in nature to have more than one omega at home, moreover the one as successful as him. And in Anaxa’s defense, it’s already time for them to go separate ways because of their different views that keep on accumulating.
He doesn’t need to hear the other party's arguments, without hesitation he just takes his bag and leaves. Anaxa thanks his past self for menunda to browse for a new apartment because they have conflicting schedules, not that Anaxa finds the idea appealing. He just likes his own space, okay.
And that happened a year ago. Since then, Anaxa has been a single, happy man, chasing his own dream.
Because of his differentiation, Anaxa has a small, lithe figure. Combined with his weak constitution and his dislike of exercising, his skin is so pale and when he sees himself in the mirror, he can see the bags under his eyes are getting darker. Ribs sticking out of his skin, feet that are always cold even in the summer.
He also prones on getting sick. One time, the spirit of a Victorian child possessed him, for him to catch a fever when summer hit no less and next winter got him straight up locking himself inside his bedroom, heater on 24/7 with a nasty cough.
And also having the worst luck humankind can ever imagine.
Because there is no way he forgets that Lygus also belongs to the same community, and therefore having the same invitation to the symposium Genius Society holds. Actually he’s banking on Lygus having another more important matter so he can skip this one. Which is why when Anaxa happens to spot him from miles away, he turns around to the way he came before, hand already covering his face.
Of course Lygus also spots him. Of course he also chases after him. Anaxa curses every deity he knows on making his luck bleak. He is totally going to the shrine after this one pass.
"Hey, Anaxagoras! Wait for me!" Who wants to wait up for you, dickhead. Anaxa is walking borderline on running, hoping his gait can offer that anything unfazed him. The notion proves to be hard when he is also pulling his big luggage with one of the wheels already detached. Unfortunately for Anaxa, with Lygus’ tall stature, he catches up to Anaxa in long strides in no time.
Anaxa needs a new strategy. He needs a distraction, something that can make Lygus understand he already moves on from him. If the man knows Anaxa never dates anyone after him, Lygus will make it sound like he never leaves Anaxa's mind.
Anaxa is a busy person, okay. He has many things to do. He needs papers to grade, symposium to attend, lab to experiment on, and-
A man that can help him out of this predicament.
From where he sits, Anaxa can tell the man is waiting for his flight. He sees the next flight is scheduled for another two hours. Perfect, because the charade will be over the moment his flight is announced.
Anaxa spots a tuft of white hair blocking the man's face. Sporting white shirt, black tie, pressed trousers and a cap that sits next to him, Anaxa makes a decision. He doesn't need to see his face, if the man has a strong build like that. An Alpha. Even better.
He searches for every psychological advantage he can remember at the top of his brain to attract that man's attention. But he resorts on using the crude, loud, to the point to make.
"Baby? When did you arrive?" He puts every tone he knows in the sentence. It contains confusion, joy, and affection. Several heads look up on cue. And to his immense delight, he sees the man look up from the smartphone he's using.
Wow. That man is definitely his type, if he hasn't made one. When Kephale made all his creations one by one, every mankind would only take about one hour. But with this man, He would take 99 days, focusing all his craftsmanship in sculpting his face, giving him the most perfect visage Anaxa has ever seen.
Not that Anaxa believes the old tales. But it is still fun learning all that just to rebuke them in the end. Not that he is wrong.
Anaxa jogs to where the man is sitting, almost trips by luggages that separates them. Anaxa has a mindset to never feel embarrassed. If he has done something that warrants the embarrassments, then let other people feel the shame.
The man almost jumps out of his seat the moment Anaxa plops and makes a seat on his lap. Anaxa hugs him so tightly, arms circling the man’s neck, positively hiding his face on his shoulder, while also whispering to his ear, "My ex is chasing me, and I need your help in driving him away. Pretend to be my boyfriend."
The man understands, shoulders drop in acknowledgement and proceeds to hug him in return. Arms pulling him into a more comfortable position. It barely counts as a confirmation.
The man hums before letting out a little bit of his pheromones, still appropriate in public so their combined scent leaves a trace on each other's clothes. Anaxa almost holds himself from recoiling before he smells it.
Bergamot, citrus and cedarwood near his gland. It feels like catching up with friends under spring’s sunlight while telling each other’s day. It reminds Anaxa about the time when he and his sister play together in their garden while waiting for their parents to come from work. That time might have been hard for their parents but it left a memorable core memory for him. From picking apples from the orchard, assembling a mechanical bird that announced his parents’ arrival, to petting familiar dromas his sister sneaks him in.
It's been a while since Anaxa is reminiscing about the past; musing something that won’t let him feel downcast for the remainder of the day. He also lets out a little bit of his pheromones. Eucalyptus, cypress and a hint of clove. Blend of aroma that Lygus never likes because its odor makes him seem so masculine and not like a conventional omega.
After that, he always wears a scent patch even at home, careful in not leaving any traces of his scent in case Lygus abruptly visits him. but he never does. The adhesive always left an ugly mark on his skin and made it redder and even more sensitive after peeling. Now that he thinks about it, why did Anaxa always cater towards whatever Lygus wanted, at the expense of his own comfort?
What kind of witchcraft did Lygus put him under?
But this man, the man he just met today, doesn't utter any complaint. He even lets out a little whine when he catches a whiff of the smell that catches on his clothes. "You smell so heavenly. I’m not going to wash this shirt. I miss you." Granted that Anaxa told him to pretend to be his lover.
Anaxa won’t admit that his heart makes a little stutter hearing the word. He slaps the man’s hand playfully before breaking their hugging session. “You don't need to do that. We can always meet each other later, right?”
“But I still have four more flights for this week.” He pouts. Anaxa doesn't know whether it’s a good thing or not, but he will conduct a thorough research about it. He needs to survive this ordeal first.
Arms still circling his waist as he rests his own cheek on Anaxa’s shoulder. It’s rather jarring seeing a man almost twice as big but still folding himself smaller and doing something playful. Anaxa snorts in amusement hearing that sentence.
“Well, no worries. I have taken a week off, because a certain someone has promised to show me his favourite part of the town,” his mouth answers while his eyes land on the nametag and finally he can put a name on this man’s face.
Phainon Khaslana. Amphoreus Airline. Along with a string of numbers and a row of barcode at the bottom of it.
Anaxa counts the white stripe at his shoulders’ pads of Phainon’s uniform. Four, he knows this basic knowledge which means he is already a captain. So young and already accomplished. Anaxa nods in satisfaction. He likes seeing the new generation emerge and thrive in their own affairs.
"Really? No take-backsies?"
A grown man talks like that. Anaxa rolls his eyes in amusement, takes Phainon's sunglasses that are hanging on his breast pocket and puts them on. But it still doesn’t help him to lessen brilliance from Phainon’s blinding smile.
Anaxa makes himself even more comfortable using Phainon as his seat, now his ears pillowing on his chest. He should’ve deduced, by sitting in the reserved seat only for the airlines, it also makes Phainon work in one.
The lack of people sitting next to them makes it easier for Anaxa to swing his legs in merriment. The thing with playing pretend with someone he just met and won’t meet again in the next occasion means he can do the things he usually won’t do.
If he can feel a prick on his skin which makes it a certainty that Lygus has been watching them from somewhere. Phainon puts his palm on his knees to stop his dangle, thumb strokes in motion. His hand is so big it envelops its entire cap. Now it’s Anaxa’s turn to pout.
Phainon laughs before he shoots his question, intrigue laces in his voice. "Why didn't you tell me you are also here?" A hot person being curious about him never fails to make Anaxa feel like the most interesting person on earth.
Anaxa tries to act nonchalant, voice not betraying his emotion. But his finger twirls at his long hair that escapes from the elastic band. "Surprise? And besides, you were the captain earlier. My safety is already guaranteed."
“Then I should’ve come out from the cockpit to bid farewell one by one to the passenger.”
Anaxa raises his head from Phainon’s chest, eyes peeking above the sunglasses just to see his perfect sculpt of jaw. There’s mirth in his baby blue eyes, and Anaxa thinks he can get lost inside them. “For what? There’s nothing major happening, isn’t it?”
“Well, for one, I need people to also come and appreciate together with me how beautiful you are today.”
Anaxa scoffs. Talking like he himself isn’t looking like someone fresh out of a fashion magazine. With white hair tinted gold, gleaming from afternoon sunlight that comes from the big steel-glass facade behind him, Phainon really appears to be someone who becomes Kephale’s favorite child. “Just today?”
Phainon mocks on pondering, lips curling, thumb still strokes gently on Anaxa's knee. “I don’t know, you never sent me a picture of you yesterday, so I can not make a hypothesis.”
Anaxa follows his curious thought on feeling Phainon's skin so he resorts to pinching his cheek. It does feel soft under his fingers. “Cheeky.”
“So? More pictures for me?”
Anaxa rolls his eyes. “Let’s decide-”
Then a cough stops their conversation. Anaxa turns his head around to the source but still won't get up from his position. Curled around Phainon’s chest like an overgrown cat.
"Anaxagoras, it's been a while since we have conversed.” Lygus dons his usual polite smile. “How have you been lately?"
"Lygus,” Anaxa feigns surprise, even when the other man is his ex, Lygus is the first and foremost Anaxa’s senior in Genius Society, he still doesn’t want to burn any bridges before his research finalizes, “I didn’t know you were here. I’ve been great. Fantastic." Anaxa then drapes himself over Phainon like the man is his own personal chaise.
“It’s not like you to hang around here after arriving. Are you not going to the hotel? Can I ask where you stay?” There’s a worry lacing on Lygus’ tone that makes something under Anaxa’s skin crawl.
The mint-haired man abstains from mentioning any name that might lead him into a more precarious situation. “Just looking for merchandise while waiting for the hotel's check-in to arrive.”
“How come? Are you not staying at the usual place? Don’t you have a friend that can help you to connect to a better hotel?” Wow. The man still has an audacity to care for his past emotional entanglement. Or perhaps it’s only a concern he has as his senior.
Anaxa’s mind suddenly steers off to the only person he knows from the city. “It’s fine, I don't want to bother him.”
Lygus nods unsure. "If you say so.” This time he nods in greeting towards Phainon who watches their interaction closely. “And you are?"
"His lover." Phainon answers with no hesitation. The way his sounds make it more intimate than Anaxa’s mind calculates. It almost makes him blush, and Anaxa doesn’t do blushing. But he still covers his face towards Phainon’s chest, which makes the man instinctively hold him tighter, if it’s possible.
“How long since you two have been together?”
“Barely two months.”
“Ah, so you’re the one who made his thoughts drift during one of his seminars in Aidonia.” No, it’s actually because his sister confessed to him that she still buys goods from the first website she saw on social media that delivered different products than the pictures suggested. Anaxa is still facepalming because after all his nagging, this habit of hers is still sticking like a leech.
But Lygus doesn’t need to know that. But it makes Phainon’s expression turn smug, displaying his suave countenance. “Did I now? Do I still make your thoughts wander?”
Anaxa rolls his eyes. All the rolling makes his left eye itches more than usual. He holds himself from rubbing it raw. “Please, Senior, don’t make his head bigger than it already has.”
“But I thought you rather like this head?”
“You–!”
All these bantering-slash-flirting between the two of them perhaps made Lygus recall his own relationship with Anaxa as the man grows pensive. But Anaxa doesn’t like that, he can’t do it to Lygus’ new spouse.
So Anaxa takes it a notch by kissing Phainon’s jaw and can see how the blush is gradually forming on Phainon’s youthful face. It starts from his cheeks all the way to his ears. Anaxa follows his brains that keeps yelling, ‘Cover it! See how they feel beneath your skin!’
They are warm.
Phainon coughs, tries to compose his bearing, but perhaps even Lygus can see there’s still remnants of flush on both of his cheeks. "I would love to shake your hand here, but as you can see here..."
“There’s no need, Phaichan.” There’s a whine rumbling under Phainon’s chest at the sound of his shortened name. “Senior here isn’t in need of ceremony at all, right Senior?”
Usually, people get uncomfortable at the blatant display of affection in public, and they will withdraw when the next moment arises without requiring being told to. But Anaxa gets reminded again as Lygus isn’t like any other people as he has a gall for taking a seat next to Phainon.
Anaxa has a heart to kick him from where he's sitting. But Phainon, like he can read his mind, stroked his legs lightly and put some distance between the other man from being knocked by his shoes.
"Be good, okay?" Phainon whispers, each of his breath gently caressing his ear. And now it’s Anaxa’s turn to feel a little weak on his knees. Thank goodness he’s already taken a seat, then.
“Are you presenting some of your newest theories or something?" Lygus questions.
“No, I am here to see Herta’s.” The symposium usually only accepts a limited number of speakers, in the first-come-first-serve type of gathering, where the public can attend. Some do this for fame or recognition, or even a simple glance from Nous, the association’s founder.
How They create and prepare all events for the Genius Association is still unknown, despite some members keeping tabs open about Them. Anaxa only received his letter containing his integration into the group at his work desk on his typical Tuesday. His first thought was, it was clearly a prank and was going to discard it, before a call came to his private number.
An unknown number and static voice vocalized his inner doubt, of believing it as a prank or not, he just needed to come to X Hotel, where he could see for himself. A recipe for kidnapping, he mused. But his name isn’t Anaxagoras if he wasn’t curious.
“Do you mind if I wait here with you two?”
Anaxa has a mind to blurt, ‘Yes I do mind, can you please get away from here to whatever you need to be doing?’ instead he gives him a barely formed smile. Lygus then takes out his phone and furiously types. Must be to his subordinates.
Phainon exchanges glances with Anaxa and pats his back unhurriedly, like his sister used to. While he was five. Granted, it makes him loosen up from all the stress he’s been holding on. Anaxa gives the biggest yawn he ever makes in public, both hands up before they come back to circling Phainon’s neck, his face buried to inhale another sun-scent that comes from his nape.
Oh, now that he can observe it freely, it turns out Phainon wears a choker that covers his sun tattoo. Wow. His tattoo is so pretty up close here. His thumb rubs it gently to feel the texture. The slow patting makes him drowsily close his eyes.
It must be told from the way his eyelashes gently touch Phainon’s side neck, the white-haired man says to him in muted tones, “Sleep, now. I’ve got you.”
Anaxa jolts awake. “No. If I sleep now, then I won’t sleep easily tonight.” He searches for his small bag that contains his gamebot, rummages inside and takes it out. “I will push for the next level.”
Unconsciously Anaxa brings it forward as he boots it on so Phainon can observe it with him. The white-haired man abruptly stops his patting, making Anaxa glares. “Well, don’t stop now.”
“Okay, okay.” Phainon gives a chuckle. He continues to pat while Anaxa opens his game pre-face, and the font comes up with its title, ‘Dromas World’.
“Oh, I know this one. My sister also plays it.”
“Really? What’s her ID?”
Phainon rubs the back of his neck. “I forgot actually. Let me ask her later. She told me she only plays casually.”
“I also play casually.” The game opens with music which is barely heard with all the noise around them but Anaxa can perfectly replicate inside his mind. It then shifts inside the forest where dromas can play inside their habitat alongside exploration for the tourist who wants to feel the dwelling. The main character acts as a keeper and manager for the park.
Anaxa can feel Phainon’s blue eyes bulging in surprise when seeing his level. “You’re on level 134? I don’t even know there are levels above 80. And you said you play casually?!”
“Well, this is my casual gameplay.” Or as casual as possible with all the gruelling work he’s been doing. This is Anaxa’s relaxation after work’s done, his reward after archiving his perfect outcome of his experiments.
And he works swiftly like a man on a mission. Coins spent on improving dromas’ standard of living, buy the most premium red soils for their feeding. He’s cooing at every egg inlaid inside wooden crates. Sometimes even stroking them through a screen between them.
Anaxa sighs, if only their cradle nowadays can take notes from his account. Perhaps dromas wouldn’t be as scarce as now.
Phainon nods at every elucidation Anaxa gives, he even throws his own question after letting Anaxa finish talking. Now, now, if there’s anything he likes more than inquisitiveness is that people let him finish his wording. Too many times some people cut off just because Anaxa is an Omega therefore he doesn’t know better than them.
But Phainon seems different from Alphas he knows from Grove. From all the notions of searching knowledge they seem to be seeping with misogynistic.
“I never knew the game to be so fun, at least while I watched from my sister’s gameplay.” Phainon notes in amazement, from where he observed he could see that Anaxa runs its course of play tighter than marine runs their practice.
He even gets to start his own playthrough in Anaxa’s console, new account of course. Even Anaxa doesn’t have a heart to let his sweat, blood and tears journey be messed up by his supposed lover.
Together with Anaxa’s advice, Phainon is off to a good start. He applies every recommendation, of which place first needs to be built first (the dromas’ pen of course), of which advertising needs to be picked first, or even as mundane as how to balance life-work for his main character. But still retains his own style, where the colour scheme consists of purple-yellow and their companionship of chimera.
They play together almost like creating their own bubble where anything or anyone can’t be heard inside, until it punctures by an announcement that has been calling for Captain Khaslana for several times.
“Oh, I’ve been summoned.” But Phainon makes no move to chase Anaxa from his lap. He just gathers his small suitcase and wears his hat.
Anaxa feels dejected all of sudden. He takes the console and holds it tightly. The game he loves to play without seeing time or place feels rather unsatisfactory now. He even does something he really hates; instantly shutting off without saving and going back to the interface to save their recent play.
But he tries to play it cool and stands up from his place without being told to. “Then I shall see you later.”
“No, no. You can come with me.” But Phainon’s grip on Anaxa’s wrist says otherwise; of not letting him go separately. Anaxa tries not letting his giddiness feel through their intertwined hands.
“Really? Are you sure I can tag along?” He politely asks but his other hand is already packing his gamebot and his phone inside his bag. He even tries to help Phainon on his feet on his own accord.
Who can guess that all the time Anaxa’s been perching on Phainon’s lap can make his legs go numb? As the Alpha tries to stand on his own legs, he can feel his blood slowly coming back to his supposed bloodstream inside his limbs. But when he tries to take a step, he almost has his face kissed to the floor if not for Anaxa steadying his grip on his waist.
He takes his chance on embracing the smaller man, inhaling his shampoo scent on his hair. Anaxa’s height makes it easier for Phainon to peck his forehead. But he won’t do it now, in the future he will create more opportunities to make it a reality, not playing pretend like they do at the moment.
Phainon bids farewell to Lygus who turns out to have been watching them. “I’ll see you at the next opportunity.” He tilts his cap towards him, holding Anaxa close before taking his suitcase which is missing its one roll.
“No, no–” Anaxa tries to take his own suitcase from him, but Phainon won’t budge.
“It’s fine. Let me. The employee’s lounge is not far from here.”
Not far turns to be passing five gates between but it’s still not close to where Phainon needs to be. Anaxa almost wants to yell, ‘Then why are you waiting not at the lounge but instead to the waiting room that far?!’
But Anaxa puts up a smirk whenever Phainon checks up on him, which seems to be the often as they continue walking towards exit exclusive for flight attendance. Anaxa seems stunned before getting a hold of himself.
Phainon stops walking before the exit gate looming in front of them. He gives Anaxa his charming smile. “Okay, this is as far as I can go, I need to go before someone spots me and reports me to HR.”
“Okay, thank you very much for all your help.” Anaxa nods in gratitude, but none of them seem to take a step to where they’re standing.
At the nth announcement calling for Phainon, it’s time for Anaxa to thank him again. “Once again, I’m truly grateful for your help.” He then takes his suitcase and walks towards the exit, just for Phainon to halt his step by holding his elbow.
“How are you planning to go to the hotel? I can ask one of my friends to drive you.”
“There’s no need. I can catch a cab.”
“Right, there’s many taxi pools around here, yeah.” He then rubs his neck.
If Anaxa were to wait for Phainon to make a move first, they could stand here for all day. Unfortunately, Phainon has somewhere he needs to be, and honestly Anaxa can feel his sincerity behind his baby blue eyes that have been staring at him timidly.
Anaxa takes out his spare namecard from his pocket and writes his personal number behind it. “When you have spare time, text me?”
Phainon looks at him like he personally hangs stars and moons for him. Anaxa even swears he can see the glittering stars on his pupil. “I will!”
“Then, see you later?”
“Um, see you later!”
Anaxa walks decisively, enduring not to see the pilot behind as he knows he will falter if his eyes get a glimpse of him. Every step he takes, makes him closer to the taxi pools and farther from Phainon.
He stands in front of the reception to rent a car to take him towards Y Hotel in sub-urban Penacony.
The wait he takes inside the lounge isn’t long as they need to check the availability of the vehicle. When he’s already inside the cab, there’s a ring coming from Anaxa’s phone and he sees a string of unidentified numbers. He raises his eyebrow, but there’s a hint of smile coming from his face. “Hello?”
“Hello, hi-” There’s a crack in Phainon's voice which he tries to save with coughs, but Anaxa stifles a laugh at that, “I didn’t think you would answer it.”
“Why not?”
“Because, I thought it was only a one-time thing only.” His voice sounds unsure amongst the tumultuous surrounding. Anaxa even hears the uncertainty dripping on it.
“Do you want it only to be a one-time thing only?”
“NO! Please, no. I- um-” There seems to be someone calling for Phainon as Anaxa can hear him say, a minute! “So, um. Can I still see you later?”
“Well, isn’t there someone who already promised me to show what this town has to offer?” Anaxa puts his leg up on his other. “Are you rescinding the offer?”
Phainon’s voice perks up at the sound of it. “I will take you on that. I promise to text you!”