The message

"Here is your darn permit. I hope you are happy to see me jump around for your amusement" the kid came back around almost an hour late and he looked a little ruffled. His face sported an unhappy frown but he did have the permission letter in his hand.

Su tried to ignore all the interested eyes on him as he watched the kid deal with his fluctuating emotions. The kid looked like he would flee the situation at any given second.

"Let me see the letter. I need to confirm its authenticity and then you are ready to go" the librarian held her hand out and Damina dropped the letter in her hand as if it had personally offended him. His face held a muted anticipation and his eyes seemed to be shifting around the room in a muted hurry.

"Everything is in order. You are authorized to take the books out but only two at a time. Be sure to return them at the end of the week" the librarian finally replied as she put the note in her hand face down on her bed.

For some who had been ready to deny them the issue, the librarian looked like she had no care in the world. Su could not read her mood and he didn't have any will to read it either.

Not with the amount and volume of whispers that had broken out behind them.

'He got the permission? But then again, he is tight with the emperor', 'My grandfather said that he only got the current position because of his grandfather. He's nothing special on his own'

And of course, the cruel voices did not stop their input. Su could see those words start to infect the kid's mind and he made up his mind.

"I'll take these two books with me. I'm sure Master Nark has a thesaurus I can borrow' Su took Damian's hand in his own and he could see the startled expressions on the kid's face.

This act of intimacy did not suit his tastes but the kid held his tongue.

It only lasted as far as the library hall and then the kid exploded in a justified fury.

"What did you think you were doing? You do not get to drag me out like that without consequences. It would damage my reputation" the kid whisper-yelled and Su could see these lovely pair of eyes get wet with unshed tears.

Whatever had triggered the kid, it had been massive enough to reduce him to tears. Su felt bad for the kid but he honestly was not guilty for wanting the kid to get the kid out of that situation. All those words could not be good for the kid's mental health.

"I thought the emperor called for us? To be honest, the place did not suit my tastes and I just wanted to get out of there" Su's words seemed to pacify the kid.

Su was sure it was more so the fact that he mentioned the emperor than his own opinions but Su found himself not caring. His words did their job and snapped the kid out of his misery-filled state.

"I guess I can see the merit of your words but you don't get to do that next time. I won't suffer another humiliation because of your inability to act properly and know when to not perform certain acts" the kid huffed once he was finished speaking. Su found his attempt at being an adult to be quite charming and endearing.

Looked like Spectral children were not that different from their human counterparts. The omega inside Su could not help but purr at having a pup so close. His instincts as an omega had always been strong but they seemed particularly keen once he had mated his alpha.

The thought of his alpha damped Su's mood and he tried not to think over it.

"Let's go. Keeping the emperor waiting is not a good idea. Also, at least attempt to read those books so that we can start on your magic training tomorrow" Su felt a wave of fondness blow over him.

He could just not help it. He ruffled his hands through the kid's hair and took a lead. He did not need anyone to show him the way toward his alpha. His omega could sense the presence of their bond and be happy enough to lead them.

Su entered the room without delay and watched the kid freeze at the door. The kid looked unsure of whether he should enter the space or not and it made Su whine lowly in his throat.

He wanted the kid inside with him. To have the pup's comfort in his nest would be a good thing to have for his inner omega.

"Damian, you can leave for now. Send the omega inside first" the voice was pure alpha and Su felt his inner omega purr and drool at it. It was filled with enough power and intent to make Su take a step forward without hesitation.

His human part did not agree and protested against the step forward his body took.

This was not a time for that kind of thing, no matter what his body said.

"Are you sure this is wise, your majesty? Your bond has still not settled enough for you to start pushing for more and -" Su felt magic boil where the kid had been and take him over. It felt like a small inferno of power and made Su shiver with content.

He wanted that power to take him over right at that instant.

"Do not question me. Just go for now and leave my omega to me" Su hated how his omega swayed at the tone and the claim. It had been the same when they had been children but it had been much more muted back then.

It was just a mess right now.

"B-but, it is not safe-" the kid tried again and Su felt the danger rise. Whatever the problem with the emperor was, arguing just made it that much worse and Su quietly placed himself between the kid and the emperor.

If worse comes to pass, then he would protect the kid with his body and pray that the alpha would not attack him as well.

"Kid, you can go. I have it all handled here" Su signaled to the kid but he still felt the hesitation. He also felt the anger rise inside the emperor at those words.

Su carefully walked the kid out of the way and toward the door. Su felt the start of a protest form on the kid's tongue but he quitted him with a quick wave of his hand.

"Be a good kid and leave. He won't hurt me since we're bonded and all" the kid still hesitated but he no longer protested the protection.

And finally, Su felt the kid slip out of the room and take a good chunk of tension with him.

"Are you alright? That was an intense reaction to a pup" Su asked as he carefully navigated his way to his alpha. The tension was still high in the room but it was no longer as consuming as it had been before.

The alpha looked as if he was coming down from a high and it looked painful to watch that body react like that.

"Sorry. The kid's a prime example of alpha in making and my body could not help but react to it in the worst way possible. It would all blow over soon enough once our bond settled down a little" Su felt the convictions in those words but his doubt did not fade away.

He would have believed the alpha if not for the tense air he presented. Su could still feel the lingering tension in the air and it made his throat dry.

He knew what that smell and what need meant. However, he was not mentally ready to provide the alpha with it outside of his heat. Their bonding had been a one-time deal or so had Su thought.

But the alpha looked ready for around two and this time, it was not Ignis that was in control. It was the emperor's blue eyes looking at him in need.

"Look, we can talk about it before -" Su never got to finish his words because the alpha struck out his hand and pulled Su toward his own body.

There was a second of panic before Su felt the magic and scent of his alpha around him. The emperor still felt like Ignis but he held none of the tenderness his golden eyes counterpart held in him.

"I don't think I can wait. You smell far too good and my other counterpart made decisions that have consequences. You'll have to take responsibility" Su had meant to protest, he had. But a press of familiar lips on his own cut him off and made him forget everything he had been about to say.

It pushed and dragged Su into a sea of sensations.