Work Text:
***
In retrospect, Xie Lian should have known something was different the moment he walked through the door that late evening.
Usually, when he came home late, he would find Hua Cheng either curled up on the living room couch or sitting at his desk, headphones on, lost in the music. Tonight, however, the house was quiet. Finding the Omega fast asleep in their shared bed wasn’t unusual in itself, but the small, fluffy white ball tucked securely in Hua Cheng’s arms certainly was.
Xie Lian froze in the doorway, brown eyes widening as he took in the sight of Ryoue, their adopted cat of six years, willingly cuddling against the Omega’s chest. His hand flew instinctively to his pocket, fingers fumbling for his phone. He managed to snap a few quick, hurried pictures, terrified that the slightest movement would shatter the bizarre tableau.
Ryoue didn’t exactly hate Hua Cheng. It was just that... well, ever since they had brought her home, she had imprinted on Xie Lian. She was an Alpha’s cat, through and through, demanding his attention and lounging in his lap. She never showed aggression toward Hua Cheng, but she certainly never chose the Omega over Xie Lian. In fact, she often displayed flashes of jealousy whenever the couple got too close, abandoning her post to jump onto Xie Lian’s lap and reclaim her rightful spot.
Consequently, they had a mutual agreement to lock the cat out of the bedroom during their more intimate moments, especially during ruts and heats. Afterward, Ryoue would always be irritable—even with Xie Lian—clearly displeased at being shut away for days on end. She would sulk, refusing to eat properly and avoiding them both in protest.
Since Hua Cheng’s heat had ended only the day prior, Xie Lian hadn't expected Ryoue to forgive them so soon, let alone seek comfort from Hua Cheng. He hesitated in the doorway, torn between the desire to kiss his husband’s forehead and the fear of disturbing the endearing scene. Ultimately, his impatience won out. He crept toward the bed, hoping to join the cuddle-puddle.
And, in retrospect, Xie Lian should have realized that something was wrong the moment he stepped into the room. Because when he leaned in, intending to plant a kiss on his Omega’s flushed cheek, the last thing he expected was a sharp, warning hiss in his ear and claws digging into his skin.
He yelped, reeling back as his hand flew to his cheek. He stared in disbelief as Ryoue rose to her paws, tail swishing defensively. She eyed him with hawk-like intensity, seemingly calculating his next move.
On the bed, Hua Cheng groaned, eyelids fluttering open as he sensed the sudden tension. "What’s happening?" he murmured, his voice heavy with sleep. He sat up, blinking confusedly.
"I’m... not sure," Xie Lian said, watching in shock as the cat immediately turned her attention back to the now-awake Omega. She rubbed her head affectionately against Hua Cheng’s bare arm before plopping back into his lap, purring louder than Xie Lian had ever heard. "She just scratched me when I tried to kiss you." He pointed to the red marks on his face.
"Oh?" Hua Cheng frowned, looking down at the cat. Ryoue had positioned herself squarely in his lap, pressed against his chest, but facing outward so she could keep a wary eye on the Alpha. "What’s wrong, girl?" Hua Cheng cooed, carding his long, slender fingers through her white fur. He looked up at Xie Lian, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Do it again."
"Do what?"
"Kiss me. I want to see how she reacts."
Xie Lian tentatively sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in. As his lips brushed Hua Cheng’s, Ryoue’s tail gave an agitated swish, but she didn't strike.
"See?" Hua Cheng beamed, pressing a kiss between the cat’s ears. "I think you just woke her up too suddenly. She’s being extra sweet today. She must have missed me."
"I... can see that, yeah," Xie Lian conceded, though he wasn't entirely convinced.
They left it at that. Xie Lian headed for the shower while Hua Cheng went to the kitchen to heat up leftovers, Ryoue trailing faithfully at his heels like a shadow. Looking back, Xie Lian couldn’t believe he had deluded himself into thinking it was a one-time fluke. It was only the beginning.
★
…with a shuddering breath and a final thrust, Xie Lian pushed his knot in, groaning as he emptied into his Omega’s tight heat. He quickly maneuvered them onto their sides, Xie Lian plastered against Hua Cheng’s back, waiting for the swelling to subside.
They lay in silence for only a few seconds before Hua Cheng went rigid. A small, distressed whimper escaped him.
"Sweetheart?" Xie Lian frowned, propping himself up on an elbow to check his husband’s face. "Are you okay?"
"Has... has it gone down?" Hua Cheng’s voice was small, fragile in a way Xie Lian had never heard before. "Can I stand up?"
"No, San Lang. You know it takes at least ten minutes," Xie Lian said softly, concern spiking. "What’s wrong?"
Hua Cheng let out a defeated whimper. "I’m so sorry."
Before Xie Lian could ask why, the Omega scrambled toward the edge of the bed as far as the knot would allow, retched violently, and emptied his stomach onto the hardwood floor.
An hour later, Hua Cheng was bathed and swaddled in his crimson robe, tucked into bed while Xie Lian fussed over him.
"Are you sure you’re okay now?" Xie Lian asked for the tenth time.
"Gege, please I promise I'm okay now," Hua Cheng sighed, sipping peppermint tea. "Can you let her in? Her crying is driving me insane."
Xie Lian nodded and hurried to the door. The moment the latch clicked, Ryoue burst into the room. Her pupils blew wide when she saw Hua Cheng. She scrambled onto the bed, climbing the pillows until she could sniff his face directly.
"Ryoue, stop, I smell like vomit," Hua Cheng chided softly, trying to push her away into his lap.
But the cat was stubborn. Within minutes, she was back, pressing her forehead insistently against the exposed curve of Hua Cheng’s neck. Hua Cheng gave up, realizing that the strange, repetitive motion was oddly soothing, settling his nausea.
"What is she even doing?" Xie Lian asked when he returned from the kitchen with a plate of toast.
"She’s scenting me," Hua Cheng murmured, a small smile touching his lips as he stroked the cat’s fur. "I think she sensed I wasn't feeling well. She’s trying to help."
"She’s never done that to me before."
"I don't know, gege. Maybe she has her favorites, after all."
"Right. What caused this, though?" Xie Lian frowned, sitting down at a safe distance, still wary of the cat’s claws. "Was it my stew? I told you not to eat it if it tasted off."
Hua Cheng rolled his eyes. "Oh please, it was good. I liked it. It’s probably just stress. I’ve been overworking myself at the studio lately." He sighed. "I should take a few days off."
"Yin Yu is going to be so mad," Xie Lian laughed. "But of course. Whatever you need."
★
"...and then, when I just leaned over San Lang to grab a cereal bowl, she launched herself at me! She clung to my pajama pants with her devil claws until I backed away. It’s getting out of hand!"
Xie Lian leaned against the counter of the convenience store, watching his best friend restock shelves.
"Did you take her to the vet?" Mu Qing asked, pausing to wipe sweat from his temple. He shot Xie Lian a look that suggested he was well aware he was being bothered at work.
"I... no. Vet trips stress her out too much. We only go when it’s absolutely necessary," Xie Lian admitted.
"Well, unless you want to wake up without a face, I suggest you reconsider," Mu Qing deadpanned. He turned as a customer approached the register. "Will that be everything?"
The woman nodded, handing over cash for toilet paper. Then, instead of leaving, she turned to Xie Lian. The Alpha took a polite step back and bowed slightly, confused by her intense gaze. She was an Omega, and by the scent of her, a mated one.
"Can I help you?" he asked gently.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," she said, reaching into her bag. "Your Omega... you might want to give him this." She pressed a small, rectangular box into Xie Lian’s hand. "Animals can sense hormonal changes. Especially females. My kitten, Princess, was the first to know."
She smiled, pointing toward the entrance where a stroller was parked, a baby cooing happily inside.
The heat rushed to Xie Lian’s face. His mind raced, flashing back to Hua Cheng’s sickness over the past week, the cat’s strange behavior, the exhaustion. He stared down at the pregnancy test in his hand.
No way.
★
"A pup?" Xie Lian’s voice came out as a scratchy squeak.
"Yes?" Hua Cheng whispered, his eyes glued to the test stick resting on the bathroom counter.
"San Lang... do you reckon you’re going to be sick within the next five minutes?"
Hua Cheng frowned. "No?"
"Okay. Good. That’s... perfect."
Without another word, Xie Lian dropped to his knees and promptly threw up into the toilet.
Truthfully, Xie Lian couldn't remember the last time he had been sick, but the sheer stress of the drive home, the anxiety of asking Hua Cheng to take the test, and the impending reality of their lives changing forever had finally overwhelmed his system.
For the first five years of their marriage, they had been careful. Between Hua Cheng’s birth control and their own caution during heats and ruts, they had prioritized their time together as a young couple. They were only twenty-five, after all. But when the side effects of the medication began to take a toll on Hua Cheng’s health, they decided to stop.
They weren’t actively trying—not tracking cycles or obsessing over optimal fertility like some of their friends—but they had stopped preventing it, choosing to let fate take the wheel.
And now, fate had arrived.
Behind him, Xie Lian heard a gasp. "It’s positive! Gege, I’m pregnant!"
Hua Cheng’s joyous exclamation was followed immediately by the sound of Xie Lian retching into the toilet once more.
★
"Should we be jealous?"
Xie Lian rested his chin on Hua Cheng’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around his tall husband’s waist as they stood in the nursery doorway. They watched the scene before them with teary, contented smiles.
"I think she might honestly love them more than she loves us," Hua Cheng chuckled, leaning back into Xie Lian’s chest. He hummed happily as the Alpha rubbed soothing circles against his arm.
"I think I’m okay with that," Xie Lian grinned. "I get it. We do make cute babies."
The peaceful moment was shattered by a sharp wail, followed quickly by a second. Hua Cheng sighed, watching as Ryoue meowed in annoyance at the noise. The cat stood up from where she had been curled at the bottom of the twins' cot, right by their tiny feet.
"Oh, yeah? Well, you don't get to only love them when they’re quiet," Hua Cheng scolded gently as he approached the crib.
With a defensive meow, Ryoue cast one final look at the crying babies, hopped out of the cot, and marched out of the door, leaving the parents to handle the chaos.
What a strange cat, indeed!