fourteen

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Jeremiah asked Ivan for the nth time. Since they were not at home and at his and Ivan's father's promotion. A promotion that not only brought Ivan's father closer to being the leader, but that also placed Jeremiah under him.

Now, Ivan's father was training Jeremiah for a future spot too, to be his successor one day.

Ivan didn't want to miss such a thing, but he especially didn't want to be alone. He found himself being attached to Jeremiah to a degree he never has before.

Such clinginess was embarrassing to him, but Jeremiah didn't notice it. He just thought that Ivan was still recovering.

"I'm fine, right Luka?" Ivan smiled at their son who nodded excitedly. Holding onto Ivan tightly, he leaned his head on his shoulder.

"Yes! Mommy's okay. He has to be, my mommy is okay." Luka clung to him, snuggling his head into Ivan.

When before, Luka would've preferred to be held by Jeremiah. Now, he preferred Ivan's hold and he already knew it was because of the scare. The scare that he was 'napping' for so long.

Being unable to speak to him probably freaked him out a bit.

"I'll take your word for it then." Jeremiah smiled, cradling Ivan's face as he saw him grin. "You...are very brave. I would not have come here so early in my recovery. I'm very thankful you came."

"Of course. You're my husband after all, and my Alpha," Ivan says clearly as he looks straight into Jeremiah's wide eyes. "How can I miss this? What's important to you it's important to me."

"Oh..." Jeremiah became shy, not expecting to hear such kind words from him.

He wasn't used to things like that from him yet. Words of kindness, affirmation, love... It all seemed too good to be true and he almost wondered if he was dreaming. While at the same time, he knew he wasn't...but Ivan made him feel like he was in the middle of reality and a dream.

"You're making me shy." Jeremiah smiled awkwardly, clearing his throat as Ivan began to smile cockily at him. "I'll get us something to drink! Yes! Luka, do you want anything too?"

"Kool-Aid, please!"

"On it!" Jeremiah smiled, rushing off to help calm himself.

He felt so embarrassed hearing such things. His hands ran over his hot cheeks as he tried to calm down. Getting a cold glass of water, gulping it down.

Only to look down and see Tate right beside him.

"Oh, hey!" Jeremiah smiled, watching Tate grin at him as he got a cup of water too. "Thanks for coming. It's a little grand...all of this."

Tate looked around the large ballroom that was full of workers, associates, conglomerates, even the current leader. All of it decked out, people celebrating not just Ivan's father, but Jeremiah too. "A little? That's an understatement. So many people love you two."

Jeremiah became shy again, digging in the inside of his suit pocket as he pulls out a Kool-Aid to drink. Always carrying some on him for Luka's sake when they go out, Tate smiling at such a thing.

"They aren't really here for me. It's Ivan's father we should be talking about. I'm not important," Jeremiah got Ivan a glass of lemonade, heading back over as Tate walked with him.

"Where are you headed to with those?"

"To Ivan and Luka? Have you met them two yet?" Jeremiah asks innocently as he brings them over.

Ivan's eyes setting on the person who was right beside Jeremiah. The same person in the other reality who clung to him...had him, loved him. Except this one was maintained and clearly hid his true feelings.

How different were they. All he knew is that Tate was here too...and it left him frozen speechless.

"Here's your Kool-Aid, Luka-patootie," Jeremiah smiled at Luka as he hands it him, extending the glass of lemonade to Ivan, "and Ivan?"

Jeremiah saw the fear in his eyes, a frown coming to his face as he was confused as to where the fear was from. Looking back at Tate who was just as lost, smiling awkwardly at Ivan.

"You..." Ivan faltered when he saw Tate clearly standing beside Jeremiah.

He found himself holding on tighter to Luka, fear taking over despite Tate looking at him in confusion. Jeremiah instantly noticed Ivan's discomfort as he set the lemonade down and came towards him, caressing his shoulder gently.

"Ivan what's wrong? Is it too soon?" Jeremiah asks him softly, trying his best to not bring too much attention to Ivan's panic. Except Tate was seeing it and he didn't know why he looked so afraid to see him in the first place.

He almost wondered if he knew about how he really felt about him. Except he also knew that couldn't be it because Ivan didn't care about what anyone thought of him. At this point, he didn't know what it was.

It was clearly a different dynamic with the two of them. As Ivan was actually letting Jeremiah touch him of his own free will, he didn't have to ask to be in his space, and Ivan was even getting comfort from him.

The way Ivan began to relax into Jeremiah's chest while holding their son, he cleared his throat as he made his way over.

"I hope you're okay." Tate tells him, Ivan's eyes flying open upon him as he grins kindly. "I heard you were in a coma for almost two weeks! I'm happy to see you're well, Jeremiah was probably losing his mind I bet, knowing him."

"I was!" Jeremiah cried, hugging Ivan and Luka close as he let his finger hover above his lips. He didn't want Luka to know that word...that Ivan was in a coma. All he knew was that he was in a long nap. "Luka missed him too, right?"

"Yeah!" Luka nods, hugging Ivan tightly. "Mommy..."

Except Ivan was still looking dead at Tate. Who looked away awkwardly, Ivan swallowed the nerves.

"Tate...right?" Ivan says, causing Tate's eyes to widen in surprise to him even knowing his name.

"Yes, I'm surprised you know. Has Jeremiah said anything about me? I'd be very surprised if he did."

"I have not," Jeremiah spoke up quickly, causing Tate to snort. Unaware that Jeremiah found himself jealous that Ivan even knew who he was, "How do you...know him Ivan?"

"High school." Ivan answers, Jeremiah still uncertain about that. "I forgot you existed until I saw your face."

Tate sighed, instantly remembering what kind of person Ivan was. Hearing him say that helped clear up any possible regret he had for thinking ill of him, one-hundred percent.

"What he means to say is that he forgot how you were until he saw your face. You have a very memorable face Tate, may I just say." Jeremiah smiled, wrapping his arm around Ivan's shoulder as he pulled him close.

Tate felt his face become pink, looking away quickly. Except Ivan noticed in an instant, feeling his heart begin to beat so harshly that it hurt.

Jeremiah thought nothing of Tate's reaction, unaware of the feelings he had for him. Ivan, however, was already aware.

The other reality told him so.

Ivan pulled away from Jeremiah, handing Luka to him as he puts on a fake grin towards Tate. "I want to talk to you, one-on-one. If you have the time."

"Oh...sure?"

Tate looked at Jeremiah who was already looking at Ivan. The absolute confusion that was all over Jeremiah's face was obvious from a mile away.

Unaware that that confused look, had jealousy bubbling under the surface. He knew Ivan wouldn't with Tate because he was an Omega too, but... At the same time, he didn't know what to think.

His eyes divert off of them both when they began to walk away, and he put on the best smile he could muster.

This was a celebration for Ivan's father...his promotion. Closer to becoming their leader, and Jeremiah was promoted to take the spot Ivan's father once filled. This was a happy occasion.

He couldn't let such negative feelings overcome him.

Ivan took Tate onto the terrace, watching him begin to look more and more uncomfortable. He folded his arms, having to keep himself from treating him the way he wanted to.

This Tate wasn't the same one from the other reality, so he couldn't do that. Except he still felt so...annoyed.

"How long have you two been working with one another?"

"A while, I guess?" Tate answers awkwardly, glancing over at Ivan who had a forced grin on his lips. "He was kind enough to get me a spot since I was struggling to find a job once we graduated. I heard he got a job instantly because of your insistence."

Ivan had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

He didn't insist on anything. His father gave Jeremiah the job not just because they were getting married, but also because he liked him. The care was there, that was all.

"You can think what you will, but Jeremiah deserves the job and position he has now."

"I wouldn't disagree. Jeremiah is an amazing person, I would never...look at him in a negative light. Everything he has, he deserves," Tate hesitated as he saw Ivan look away for a moment, "most of it. We can even say some of what he has doesn't deserve him."

Ivan already knew what Tate was trying to imply. He didn't have to pretend like he was someone else because this Tate was just like the other one. The only difference is that he hasn't been able to have Jeremiah yet, and he never would.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing."

"You obviously are, I'm not an idiot."

"I never said you were." Tate replied back quickly, folding his arms as he tried not to come too rude even though he one-hundred percent meant to be. "You're assuming the way I think of you, and that's not right. I barely know you, but I know and have heard enough."

Tate stepped towards Ivan, no longer feeling intimidated when he saw the look in his eyes. The look of regret, anger, and frustration. Maybe even disappointment in himself...and he was going to take this chance to say what he has always wanted to say.

In defense of Jeremiah.

"Jeremiah doesn't behave like this now, and I don't know what's changed; but I remember when he'd come to work. He'd look so tired, hurt, in pain... He always looked like someone was squeezing his heart tightly and trying to hurt it. You were doing that, but he loved you so much that he'd let you treat him like shit. He's so delusional that he doesn't see how horrible you were and probably still are. It's not fair...you do not deserve him, and he doesn't deserve to have to be put through your torment and abuse.

"I know, deep down in my heart - because I have one, that I am right. I'd be so good...the perfect Omega for him. I wouldn't treat him the way you have and torment him. I don't know what you've done for him to be so wrapped around your finger, but it won't last forever. He'll realize eventually just how horrible you are. We all see it. We see through your fake facade like you woke up from your coma and you're some different person, but you're still the same."

Tate saw Ivan remain silent, his arms no longer folded to his chest as they hung loosely to his sides. He wanted to hurt his feelings and see the pain on his face that he left on Jeremiah's.

He knew he didn't have the right, but he didn't care.

"Everyone thinks it's for the best you two separate anyway...even your own parents and his Jeremiah's parents." Tate told him unprompted, watching Ivan still stay silent. "You think I'm lying, right? I can prove it to-."

He suddenly felt a tight grip on his arm, being yanked back as he made eye contact with Jeremiah. All of his confidence disintegrated to the ground as he almost felt his legs get weak under his threatening stare.

His legs began to tremble and the smell of his pheromones felt so suffocating that he struggled to breathe. "J-J-Jeremiah wait, please, it's a misunderstanding-."

"There is nothing to misunderstand with you talking to him like that." Jeremiah fumed, almost unsure of what to feel as his grip on Tate's arm became tighter. "Have you lost your mind? Who do you think you are talking to my Omega that way?"

Ivan flinched when he heard Jeremiah call him his Omega. Except he wasn't upset by him saying such a thing as he saw Jeremiah getting so upset for his sake.

Tate began to beg him to let go, but Jeremiah wasn't budging. He was seething with anger from what he did hear of the conversation. Jeremiah could only imagine all of the horrible things Tate said that he didn't get to hear.

He only came over in the first place because Ivan's father was about to get congratulatory speeches and sit downs. Except right when he came up, he heard nonsense.

Nonsense...and the expression on Ivan's face broke him.

The look on his face was like that of someone who already accepted everything being said to be true. When in Jeremiah's mind, it was not.

"How dare you? How dare you bring up his coma in such a way? You should be ashamed of yourself...I'm ashamed right now to have ever called you 'my friend' if this is how you always felt about Ivan-."

"Everyone feels this way about Ivan!" Tate shouts, trying to yank out of the grip but failed once again. "I'm n-not the only one! I just said it out loud, finally! Don't act like Ivan's dad and your parents haven't told you that if you wanted to leave Ivan, they would completely understand-!"

"You have no right bringing up such things!" Jeremiah shouted, and Ivan began to see Jeremiah's own parents rushing over first.

He knew it was best they did before others realized what he was doing. As they got him to let go of the tight grip on Tate's arm, there was a dark bruise already beginning to take color.

Jeremiah pulling away from his own parents harshly as he glared at them to Ivan's own dismay. "You two think the same thing too. Tate is right, you all think it'd be best if I left him! But it'll never happen, he's mine!"

Ivan watched as Jeremiah went over towards him, grabbing his hand gently despite how angry he appeared to be. He pulled him past everybody else and back to the main event.

Except Ivan stopped him, causing Jeremiah to look down at him nervously.

"Jeremiah..."

"I know." Jeremiah pulled him aside, becoming ashamed of the way he behaved. "I called you 'my Omega', and I didn't have the right to. I was just so-."

Ivan gripped his face, pulling his lips against his. Kissing him deeply as he held onto him tightly, only to look him in the eyes.

"Thank you...for defending me."

"Of course...how can I n-not?" Jeremiah stammered, feeling his own anger intensify to the very thought of Tate's words. "I don't...know what more he said, but I just want you to know that he's wrong. You're not...a horrible person."

"You don't have...to lie." Ivan murmurs, stepping back as Jeremiah looked at him sadly. "I know I'm not...the kindest person out there. This is about you right now...so let's go back so that people don't think I'm ruining you any more than they already think I do-."

Jeremiah captured his lips feverishly, bringing his body against his. He didn't care who could see as he didn't realize that his pheromones were spreading sporadically.

Wrapping around Ivan as they made sure to tell everyone in that ballroom, that Ivan was his. That he loved him, and that their hatred for him only made him want to defend him more.

As his tongue shoved within his mouth, Ivan gripped his shoulders as he became weak in the knees. Smelling how overwhelming his scent was, overwhelming him entirely. Jeremiah's hands gripping Ivan's hands from his shoulders and placing them firmly by his sides as he pressed him up against the wall.

Ivan almost couldn't breathe by the time Jeremiah pulled his tongue from his mouth. Looking down at Ivan, he saw how frazzled he was and how much he smelled like him.

He pulled him against his chest, only to look to his left as he saw him.

Saw Tate with his mom as they looked on. His mom looked embarrassed, while Tate was red in the face. He found his anger to be self-implicating...but he didn't care.

It just told him all he needed to know.

"Let's go back Ivan. I bet Luka misses us." Jeremiah murmured within his ear, feeling Ivan nod as he turns his back to them.

Only to walk themselves back to everyone else, Jeremiah holding on tighter than before. Even angrier than he was before too.

Angry at everyone against the one he loved.

It had him wanting to be against them too.

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