He Hates Me, He Loves Me Not

"Do you miss going to work?" Collin asks Dylan slowly, with no teasing or playfulness in his voice.

Although Dylan doesn't feel himself stiffen in the Alpha's embrace, Collin does. The Alpha pulls his Omega back, blanket and all, in an unspoken apology. The question sounds light, almost like he's asking about the weather, but they both know it's not true.

A moment passes with nothing but Dylan releasing his heavy pheromones in the room, conveying the feelings his mind is too slow to process. On automatic, Collin releases his own to appease the swirl of downcast pheromones they're in. 

"Yes," Dylan says with no emotion in his voice. "I miss being on set."

Collin says nothing, merely scenting the blanket Dylan is covered with. Dylan looks like he has more to say, so he gives his Omega the space to do that.

"I miss having my makeup done and reading scripts in my dressing room. I miss hearing the director yell, 'Cut. Good job.' I miss acting."

"Do you plan on going back?" No 'when' and no 'if'—Collin's question has the uncertainty that Primo's fans don't dare to consider.

What if the hiatus becomes permanent? What if he announces his retirement?

Primo is at the height of his career. There is no one who doesn't know his name, beloved by people of all ages. His past endorsements continue to bring revenue, even if he's on a break, proving how marketable he is. What will happen if he decides to leave?

Dylan answers in a way that will make his fans cry: "I don't know."

Collin hums his reply, no longer wishing to continue this conversation if it depresses his Omega. Dylan's pheromones are becoming heavier by the second, and anyone but Collin would have been repulsed by now.

However, once the gate has been opened, there's no stopping the flood that arrives.

Dylan's voice is faint when he admits, "But it's the only thing I know how to do."

"That's not true," Collin immediately disagrees. He knows there's a lot Dylan can do aside from acting; the little star simply hasn't found his other passions yet.

"It is," Dylan says, obviously with a different assessment about himself. "All my life I wanted to become an actor, so what do I do once I'm not?"

Before Collin can reply, Dylan says, "I don't have other talents, and I'm not good with business. I might ruin the family if I help."

You have me, Collin wants to say. He wants to promise that Dylan won't have to worry about the money or the family business as long as he's around, but he keeps it to himself. It's not right to insert himself into the conversation, especially when it's one of those rare times that Dylan lays his fears and insecurities bare for Collin to see.

So, in the silence that follows, Collin strengthens his resolve to do better at work as he acts on behalf of Dylan. It doesn't matter that his older brother doesn't approve that he's working for another family. He has no intention to disappoint his future mate.

Oblivious to Collin's thoughts, Dylan continues saying, "I don't miss the burden that comes with fame."

Collin says nothing as Dylan sighs, the sound heavier than the thick cinnamon scent in the air. He pulls his Omega even closer. His arms and legs outside the blanket stop him from smothering Dylan in a tight hug.

"I knew what I was getting into," Dylan says slowly, tasting the words in his mouth. "I said goodbye to my privacy the moment I signed my name on that contract."

Collin brings his face down and places it in the crook of Dylan's neck. It's where the scent is the strongest—where he can feel sadness and regret oozing from him. It's not the same, but Collin supposes he'll feel Dylan's emotions stronger than this once they've bonded.

"It's nice like this, being in my own world without worrying about how other people see me."

Then, quietly, almost as if he's afraid to let the world know, Dylan says, "I don't have to worry if my fans are stalking my friend."

Collin whips his head so fast that he's afraid he broke his neck. "It's not your fault."

"It is," Dylan says, voice shaking and swallowing the cry that almost escapes his throat. "Kaiden said that he doesn't—he /can't/ work in the entertainment industry. I didn't understand why back then but I know now."

There's a stillness that passes the both of them, with Dylan recalling the memories he has of his best friend while Collin uses this moment to properly think about the other Omega for the first time.

It's not that he isn't aware who Kaiden Wester is. After all, he's done his investigation into the Omega. It's just that there's no space in Collin's head aside from /his/ Omega. His recent actions have been done with a singular purpose, and he won't spare a second of his attention on Kaiden if it isn't for Dylan.

Now that the words have been said, it's easy to come to a conclusion. With no room for doubt, the Alpha says, "He was hiding."

"He's still hiding," Dylan agrees, "from that /family/ of his or whatever."

"Were they abusive?" The question comes not as a surprise. No one goes as far as to fake their own death if there isn't anything—or anyone—that they fear. Collin, however, keeps his second question to himself—what do they want?

"I don't know. He doesn't talk about it. Lucy doesn't say anything either"

There's no need to. The refusal to clarify says everything. The ugly part of Collin is glad that at least his Omega is not made aware of the horrors his friend went through. He knows it'll break Dylan's heart.

"But I'm sure they are. It was his father who last visited him before he d—" He pauses, trying to hold back his tears as he says, "It was that man who last saw him before he disappeared."

There's something that's missing there, Collin surmises in his head. Questions about how Kaiden escaped from the hospital and how they haven't found him until then flicker in and out of his head.

His train of thought crashes when he hears Dylan cry, forcing through hiccups to say, "I thought h-he was dead. I was so s-scared."

"It's okay." He wraps the blanket tighter on the trembling Omega. "You're safe with me."

"I thought I k-killed him."

"You didn't. He's alive and healthy somewhere." Collin doesn't hesitate to pour out his soothing pheromones, his inner alpha angry at him for letting this happen. He thought that Dylan will be okay upon knowing that his best friend is alive, but the shivering and the crying say otherwise.

"Then why can't I see him?" Dylan asks through sobs. "Lucy won't tell me where he is."

"It's okay, baby," he says with a gentle tone but there's a glint of rage that passes through his eyes. It's that name again. He really needs to get in contact with Lucy. He can't handle seeing Dylan like this.

"I'm a bad friend." Dylan's scent spikes from anger to sorrow to anger again, all of it directed at himself. "Bad omega."

"Don't say that. You're a good friend, and even better omega," Collin repeats over and over until Dylan settles down enough that he can breathe properly.

The apartment, which used to be filled in Dylan's scent, is now covered with the pheromones of the Alpha. His scent seems to take effect, for Dylan eventually calms down and goes limp after he's done crying.

After arranging Dylan so that he's more comfortable, Collin turns the TV back on to hopefully distract the deflating Omega in his arms. A commercial for a cough medicine comes on, advertised by kids in a school play. The sight brings back fond memories for Collin.

"Do you remember the first time you acted?" he asks Dylan even though he knows the answer.

"Of course," Dylan says, drowsy from crying and drunk in Collin's scent. "I played as the prince in 'The Prince and His Dragon' in a school play."

Collin kisses the top of his head. "You were shining even as a child."

"Is that when you fell in love with me?" The question is quiet, but there's a teasing tone underneath.

Still, Collin is firm when he says, "I knew you're the one for me since the first time my eyes laid on you."

A pause, then, in a quieter voice, Dylan says, "I'm sorry I keep making you wait."

"Don't be sorry." He kisses the top of Dylan's head again. "You can take your time."

Collin wants to say more, but he stops himself when he sees that Dylan is slowly closing his eyes.

It doesn't matter when his Omega decides to bond with him, or whether he wants to continue acting or not—he can take his time. Dylan will be by his side no matter what.

Lulled by the sound of his Omega's peaceful breathing, Collin completely forgets to share the news about Heath.