Killian would usually describe himself as a patient, composed man. He knew when the situation required him to wait it out or when a slight push was necessary. This quality alone made it possible for him to make his pharmaceutical company go from an underdog to the main source of medicine related to the secondary gender.
Yet here he was pacing the floor of his apartment, frustrated and angry. He never doubted his charm before. God knows he was the kind of gardener that could make any flower bloom. Apparently not Luther.
-Tom, my man, how are you?
-No, absolutely not, Killian. We close our deal. We don't do any more personal business with each other. It almost cost me my friendship with Luther last time.
-You're no fun. Don't worry, I just need a bit of new information. I could pay for it. You know I'm a generous man.
-I have enough money. I'm hanging up!
-2% additional of the first 10 months of the new drug. You know how big of a hit it will be.
-2% of nothing. Luther would never approve.
-Gamble it. I'm a good bet!
-What do you want?
-One more date with Luther.
-Why don't you call him?
-I have a plan. Calling him means losing the upper hand.
A loud sigh echoed from the other side of the telephone line.
-This is the last time, Killian. I am not risking Luther for any more business.
-Fine, fine. So? My date?
-Luther will be at Sage&Salt tonight. He has some affairs to deal with.
-At a hotel?
-The hotel restaurant. I gotta go. Don't do something stupid, Killian!
Killian made a mental recap of his plan. He would nonchalantly go to the restaurant and sit at a table just close enough for Luther to see him. He would, at some point, pay the waitress to let whoever Luther was dining with know that his car was keyed. Then he would sit at Luther's table and work his charm on him while releasing small hints of pheromones.
"It's the perfect plan" Killian thought to himself.
But upon entering the lobby of the hotel, he saw nothing besides a tall blonde guy, hovering over Luther, leaning in for a kiss. And Luther did nothing to stop him
"Is that why he didn't call me all week?"
Killian felt jealous before. It wasn't a new emotion for him, but the intensity of it drove him out of his mind. He worked so hard to conquer Luther, yet this fried-hair blonde was going to town? Not on his watch!
As for Luther, he was too stunned to move. He couldn't exactly point to the feeling. He was sitting between excitement and guilt, love and resentment, fear and comfort.
He was ready to meet the new CEO of Greenleaf Pharmaceutical to eventually strike a deal for half of the state supply of heat and rut inhibitors and instigators. Luther decided not to cut ties completely with the Akna company.
Not because of what happened with Killian or because of whatever confusing personal feelings he might have had, but because if you have such a ticking bomb under your nose it's better to keep an eye on it.
So he put on a nice blue suit and chose a hotel with a spa and a restaurant. He would have dinner, close the deal and then unwind after the stressful week he had because of Killian.
Yet, waiting for him in the lobby, instead of the Greenleaf new CEO, there stood Claus, his childhood best friend.
-You're a man hard to reach, Lu! said Claus.
Luther couldn't believe his eyes. Everything he knew about Claus was a lie? What about him being paralyzed because of Luther's poisonous scent? What about Claus asking for a restraining order after? Why hasn't he contacted him until now?
-Are you just gonna sit there? How about a hug? I missed you, Lu…
-They told me you were left paralyzed… that you never wanted to see me again. Oh my God, Clo, they said you barely survived…
-Well, you know how parents exaggerate. Lu…shrugged apologetically the man.
The man closed the distance between them. He put his hand on Luther's cheek, wiping away the tears that were forming. The omega snuggled that side of his face deeply into Claus's hand searching for something not even he was sure what it was.
Luther looked at the boy he grew up with, dropping any self-preserving act. Instead of the frail blonde boy who always gave him his desserts, whom he used to run in any rain pond they could find, the first boy he ever kissed, there was a tall man built like a door looking at him endearingly with a mist of uncertainty and mystery.
-I can't be around you, Claus. We both know what happened last time.
-No, Lu, only I know what happened. My secondary gender came after I was admitted to the hospital because of your pheromone. I am a dominant alpha.
-Really? I thought you were a beta at best, chuckled Luther softly.
-Color me surprised too, said Claus smiling warmly. But something else happened because of that kiss, Lu. I lost my sense of smelling any scent. No matter the omega, "weed" or "softly poisonous", they are all blank to me.
Luther tried to take a step back, but Claus held him steady in the same position.
-Except yours, Lu
-What?
-Last year, the Christmas party in New York? You went out for a smoke. I don't know why you were angry, but you left a scent trail behind you. Barely any smell, yet it was the only one I've smelled since our kiss 11 years ago.
-W-why wouldn't you stop me there? Why now?
-My father. Taking over the company was the only way I could ever see you again, Lu. Please, please don't look at me like that.
Luther's eyes were filled with doubt. Nothing made sense. Why would his family lie to him about Claus? Why would he appear now? Was there really someone who could stand his pheromones?
-I can prove it, Lu. I can show you that your pheromone effect on me is nothing like it used to. You smell so good tonight, would you - Claus hesitated just for a moment -may I kiss you?
Luther was too stunned to speak, to move, to think. All that until he heard Killian yelling across the hallway, turning every head in the perimeter towards them.
--You're cheating on me?
Seeing Killian walking towards them with nothing but pure rage, exploding his room with a rain of pheromones, snapped him back just enough to see how close Claus was to him and to feel his hand still caressing his cheek. All he could articulate was :
-Fuck…