Steven’s secondary gender had never been something he thought much about. When his eighteenth birthday had come and gone, he confirmed what he and his family had always assumed. Steven was sure he was a beta, just like his father. After all, it’s not like anything else should have been swimming around in his gene pool. Gems didn’t have secondary genders, so it was one of the very few things in his life that his mother had no influence over.

Steven was content with being a beta. After the meltdowns and mood swings that accompanied his teenage years, he figured that any more hormones wreaking havoc on his body might just make his head explode. Plus, from what little he understood about the other two genders, he considered himself lucky he didn’t have to deal with the whole mating aspect of things. He didn’t even have a partner. Connie, who had presented as an alpha, had broken things off with him right before leaving for college this past fall. With Steven on the road seeing new sights and Connie drowning in her studies, they didn’t really have the time or space to keep up a romantic relationship. That had been hard for Steven to accept, of course. He dreaded to think about how many other people Connie could be involved with, meeting new people in class and attending frat parties and the like. Steven never stayed in one place long enough to really get to know anyone. Driving from city to city, state to state was exhilarating and eye-opening, but he often got lonely.

Right now, Steven was making his way through the dirt roads and landmarks of Aqua-New Mexico. Blasting his music, windows cracked, he took note of the darkening sky on the horizon of the empty highway. He yawned. He’d been driving for at least three hours, seeing barely even a gas station while he made headway through the desolate part of this state. It was scenic, sure, but pretty deserted. I guess that’s to be expected in the desert.

After a while longer, Steven eventually saw an exit sign detailing a fast food restaurant, gas station and motel. He used his turn signal out of habit, even though there was no one on the highway to see it, and pulled off into the exit.

He’d been living out of motel and hotel rooms for the better part of two years now, the time flying so fast he couldn’t believe he was almost twenty. He visited home every once in a while, stayed for maybe a month or two before the setting and stasis got too eerily familiar. He loved his family and he loved Beach City, but he couldn’t stay there for long. There were too many reminders of bad, bad things that haunted him. Pearl’s home cooked meals were always nice, though.

Steven fondly remembered some of his favorite recipes as he paid for a burger and fries in this dimly lit, single staffed fast food joint. Not exactly what he should be eating, but it’ll do for now. He thought about how long it’d actually been since he visited home, and promised himself he’d start making his way back soon. Right after he visited the Grand Chasm.

Pulling up to the motel, he noticed how much it looked like the first one he’d ever been to in Keystone. Most motels looked exactly the same, if he was being honest, but maybe all this thought of home was making him see something familiar in this old, run down place. He put down his dad’s credit card at the front desk, an act he’s done countless times since leaving home. He’s always felt kinda guilty about using his dad’s money so flippantly, especially at the nicer hotels or in towns where the gas prices were an arm and a leg. However, Greg always insisted on it. After all, those ten million dollars were exceptionally hard to make a dent in, with interest and all the other bank stuff Steven barely understood.

Once settled into his room, Steven slumped in exhaustion. He hadn’t really realized how tired he was. He’s long since learned that sitting in a car for hours on end, while it may seem low effort and relaxing, really drained him after a while. That being said, he felt exceptionally exhausted all of the sudden. He flopped onto his bed, not bothering to do the cursory bed bug check his dad always stressed the importance of. He barely wanted to eat,  and if it weren’t for his rumbling stomach he might have just fallen asleep right there in his jeans. Grasping the forgotten bag of food he’d dropped by his dangling feet, he dug in.

It wasn’t the most satisfying of meals, and by the end of it Steven cursed himself for not buying a milkshake or something while he was there. The thought of ice cream, or chocolate, or some kind of candy was so strangely appealing to him right now. He’s been pretty good about his sugar intake in recent years, going for water instead of sodas and only eating the occasional ice cream, but right now all he could think about was a big tub of rocky road.

His mouth watered at the idea, but his exhaustion won over. Pulling off his jeans and tossing them aside, Steven crawled under the stiff covers of the motel bed. He haphazardly reached for the lamp switch, flicking it off, burrowing into the two dingy pillows and bunching up the blankets before succumbing to a deep sleep.

————

At 5 am, Steven woke up restless and sweating. Normally, if he woke up with damp bed sheets, it was because of cold sweats after a particularly bad nightmare. This, however, was not due to any nightmare, at least not that he could remember.

What he did know, however, was that the room was absolutely sweltering. Steven felt hot and sticky, as if it was the dead of summer in his humid hometown. Which was bizarre, considering it was early spring and this desert area of the country was usually freezing without the sun to warm the air. Steven fought with the covers, stumbling out of bed to open his window and let the cool air start circulating in. It didn’t help as much as he thought it would. For whatever reason, even with the chilly early morning breeze creeping into his room, Steven was still burning up.

What’s happening to me?  He thought, baffled. He felt light headed as he ran a hand through his damp curls.

Steven vaguely remembered Connie telling him about fevers, where your body temperature rises when you get sick. Was Steven sick? The worst he’s ever had to deal with was allergies when he was a kid and the physical aftermath of his big meltdown. He’s never been ill before, not like a regular human. He always assumed that his gem protected him from any viruses or infections; his healing powers would just nip it in the bud. He had no frame of reference for what a fever was like, so how could he know for sure?

The only thing he could think to do to cool himself down was take a cold shower. Padding unsteadily over to the bathroom, he fumbled with the faucet before setting it to cold and stripping down. Without needing to wait for the water to heat up, he jumped straight under the stream. The shock of cold water made him gasp involuntarily, curling into himself and falling back against the shower wall. He shook as his body temperature warred against the water. After a few minutes of getting used to it, it actually started to feel nice. Steven relaxed into it, letting the water pour over his head and down his body.

He had grabbed a tiny bar of soap from the sink to use, unwrapping it and sudsing himself up. He had his own shampoo, conditioner and body wash in his luggage, but he hadn’t thought to grab it from his car last night. So Steven made do with what he had.

Rinsing off under the stream, Steven sighed in relief. He was starting to feel normal again, so he didn’t have to worry about being sick, right? That was, until a sharp pain in Steven’s gut made him keel over, frighteningly close to slipping in the shower just from the surprise.

Steven grunted and gasped, slowly falling to his knees in the tub as his stomach cramped intensely. He wrapped his arms around his torso, whimpering in confusion and pain as he toppled onto his shoulder and curled into the fetal position. The water flicked onto him annoyingly as the cramps his body was enduring started to make him nauseous.

What’s was   happening to him???

The pain ebbed and flowed while Steven groaned and panted, shivering in the tub. When his body gave him a brief moment of reprieve, the hybrid reached up to the faucet and set the water temperature over to hot, hoping it would do something to fight against the ache rippling through him. To Steven’s surprise, his idea actually worked. The warmth pouring over his midsection soothed his cramps enough to allow him to pull himself up to a standing position, leaned against the shower wall for support.

Unfortunately, however, the water temperature caused that same unbearable heat boiling Steven alive to resurface. He whined, confused and frightened as frustrated tears prickled at his eyes.

When he eventually realized the shower couldn’t do anything more to help him, Steven shut off the water and grasped for a towel. He did his best not to slip on the linoleum floor of the bathroom before making it back to his bed and face planting.

He couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He’d never felt anything like this before, and it scared him. Was it some kind of disease he’d never heard of? Where did he get it from?

…

Could it be some kind of Gem sickness?

Steven pawed over his gem, shivering from the weird sensation it evoked. Flopping onto his back and peering down at himself, he studied the glittering diamond. It looked normal as always. He wasn’t glowing or swelling. Do Gems even get sick? He’d never heard of anything other than being cracked and corruption, which he didn’t really count as sickness.

Another intense cramp wracked through him and he cried out. A strange rushing sensation accompanied the pain, causing an odd damp heat to settle in between his legs.

Steven froze. The only thing he could imagine had come out of him was blood. Hesitantly, he reached a hand down under him and found the wetness. When his shaking hand came back into view, he breathed in partial relief. It wasn’t blood. In fact, it almost looked like water if it weren’t for the sticky, almost viscous quality to it.

Somewhere in the back of Steven’s mind, he knew what this was. Denial was a powerful thing, though, and that fleeting idea went against everything he knew.

Stuck on the theory that this had to be some kind of human illness, Steven went to his last resort. He searched for his phone, finding it tucked under one of the pillows. His shaking fingers typed in his passcode and he went straight to his contacts.

He dialed, setting the phone to speaker and resting his head against the blankets as he listened to it ring. This was the only person he could think of that might be able to help him, and one of the only people he trusted to.

“Steven?” A groggy, quiet voice eventually picked up, along with some rustling on the other end of the line. The man’s voice was scratchy and rough but comforting all the same. “Boy, you’re sure up early, Schtuball. Is everything okay?”

“Dad…” Steven croaked, muffled against the covers of his bed. “Dad, I… S-something’s wrong with me.”

Suddenly, his dad sounded much clearer, his tone shifting from wary to alarmed. “What? What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”

“I…” Steven clenched his teeth and fought back a whimper as another cramp passed over him. His voice trembled over his words as he spoke. “I’m sick, I-I think I might have a f-fever. I-I don’t know, my stomach hurts, too. I don’t know w-what’s happening to me.”

“Sick? But you’ve never been sick…” Greg sounded incredulous and thoughtful, with an undertone of worry. Steven heard him clear his throat. “Where are you? Are you close to a pharmacy, or a hospital?”

“I’m in the middle of nowhere!” Steven whined pitifully, already knowing how screwed he was. Tears dripped down his cheeks, his breath stuttering unevenly. He felt more like a child than ever, begging his dad for help like this. “I-I’m in a motel in the desert, I just guh-got here last night. What am I supposed to do?”

“Oh, bud…” Greg sighed sympathetically. “Hold on, lemme check something… Did you use the credit card to get the room?”

“Yes.” Steven breathed, rubbing his tear-stained cheek into the covers.

A minute went by, Steven suffering through the ache and heat as he listened to his dad tap on his phone screen.

“Dusty Road Inn?” Greg eventually spoke up, “Is that where you are, Schtuball?”

“Mhmm…” Steven hummed, his tense body relaxing slightly as the pain passed for a beautiful, merciful moment.

“Okay, lemme look it up on the map…” A little more tapping, the soft sound of his dad breathing and then a regrettable: “Oh, boy… You weren’t kidding, huh?”

Steven groaned aloud. He was fucked.

“Okay, it’s alright. I’ll have some stuff delivered to your room, it just might take a little while. Some pain reliever, fever reducer… maybe some soup?”

Greg paused, supposedly waiting for some kind of response but Steven was too busy trying to ignore his growing discomfort. “Do you have any other symptoms, Schtuball? Headache? The sniffles? Cough?”

“Nuh-uh,” Steven admitted, grateful that his dad at least had some idea of how to help him figure this out. There was one thing the hybrid was neglecting to mention, however, something that made his cheeks light up in embarrassment.  If there was anyone who wouldn’t judge him, though, it was his dad. “But u-um, there is… it’s like...” His voice fell to a shameful mumble, “Wet. Down there.”

The other end of the line was silent for a few, excruciatingly still moments. He could feel the realization slowly dawning on his father through the phone. “What do you mean, bud?”

Steven was burning up, and not just from the fever. He licked his dry lips, wishing he hadn’t said anything at all. He had to continue, though. He couldn’t just leave it at that. “Th-there’s all this slick stuff, I don’t know… I-it’s clear.”

He heard Greg take in a breath, “Steven…” the man hesitated, and his tone was strained and light when he spoke, “I think that, uh… I think you might be in heat.”

Steven’s stomach dropped.

In heat.

He had been avoiding that phrase, unsure of what exactly it meant for him. It was far too ultimate, and it rewrote so much of how Steven saw himself and how he thought of his life. Hearing it said aloud, however, when he’s stuck in the throes of something he doesn’t understand, the phrase feels very apt.

“No,” Still, Steven wanted to deny it. Why now? It had been so long, Steven was sure that there wouldn’t be any surprises. “I’m a beta. I can’t…”

He wasn’t prepared for this.

“I mean,” Greg’s voice sounded stretched with discomfort, trying to remain delicate. “You’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer, kiddo.”

“No…” Steven groaned. He couldn’t be an omega. He didn’t know the first thing about being an omega! Well, maybe he did, considering he was living it at this very moment, but it’s not like he knew how to deal with it.

“Okay. Now, don’t worry, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I, uh–“ Greg choked on his words, breathing a nervous sigh. “I know I never really gave you much of a talk about this, and I’m sorry about that. But uh, well, ya see, when your body goes through these changes–“

“Dad, p-please stop.” Steven protested through the hands covering his face. This was mortifying. He panted, feeling like his guts were tying themselves into knots. “D-don’t do this. I seriously cannot handle this conversation right now.”

More slick began seeping out from between Steven’s legs, proving his point. He crossed them and pulled the towel to further cover his lower half, disgusted with himself.

“H-how do I make it stop?” The hybrid pleaded. There had to be some way to end this, some way other than with an alpha.

“Uhh,” Greg furiously tapped on his phone, “Hold on, I think the pharmacy might carry a temporary heat suppressant. Lemme see if I can’t swift-cart it to you. What room are you in?”

“Three.” Steven whimpered, growing more and more delirious as his fevered body began to burn hotter, almost seeming to fry his brain.

“Okay, I found something. Lemme see here, it says it’ll take…” Greg paused, holding his breath. “Five hours to get to you. I-I’m sorry, bud. Do you think you can hang on that long?”

“J-just do it.” Steven sobbed. “Please. Anything.”

“Okay, alright. It’s on its way.”

“Thank you.” The hybrid whispered.

“In the meantime, uh…” Awkwardness pervaded the silent space in the call, “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but it might help for you to, ya know. Try to… take care of yourself.”

“Don’t–“

“It’s perfectly natural, and, uh, I can text you an article about how to help an omega in heat, or-or something along those lines. I won’t say another word, don’t worry–”

“O-okay, alright, thank you, Dad!” Steven said through gritted teeth.

“Remember to stay hydrated, kiddo! Drink plenty of water, and order yourself something to eat, something sweet–“

“Bye!” Steven slapped the end-call button and pushed his phone as far away as possible so he didn’t have to see any messages his dad thought to send him.

Well, that was the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened.

Steven tried to even his breathing, the heat rushing through him making his mind foggy and dim.

He didn’t want to have to deal with this.

Steven should have been a beta, there was no reason for him to present as an omega. The hybrid figured it was just another way for the universe to fuck with him.

It wasn’t   fair.

The hybrid cried out as that deep, awful ache rocked through him again and more slick poured down his squeezed-shut thighs.

Make it stop, please make it stop.

As much as Steven would like to claim ignorance, he wasn’t all that innocent. He’d seen porn before, obviously. Alpha-omega stuff littered the websites he would occasionally frequent. He wasn’t an idiot.

Another cramp twisted through him, and he writhed in discomfort and abject frustration.

“Stars, please… fine. Fine!”

Desperate for this clawing, wrenching pain to stop, Steven reached down and opened his legs shakily. This wasn’t completely new, at least. He’d experimented with himself in the shower once or twice, but now that his body was more or less designed for this, it became so much more daunting. He was hesitant as he trailed his hand down to this new, unfamiliar territory.

Oh, stars.

He was so wet.

Shame reddened the tips of his ears.

Was he really gonna do this?

His entrance spasmed when the tip of his finger lightly brushed against it, begging for more.

He didn’t have a choice.

Steven cautiously pressed the tip of his finger inside and was met with zero resistance, only slick, wet heat and tiny sparks of pleasure dancing along his spine.

The hybrid shuddered and moaned outright, his voice full of aching relief. He inched his finger in deeper and sucked in a breath, his eyes rolling back from how amazing it felt. It was almost terrifying to realize how much his body needed this, especially after he had unwittingly denied it this whole morning.

Modesty be damned, Steven needed this.

Grasping onto the covers with one tight fist, Steven worked his finger in and out of himself, gasping and whining as the pleasure built faster than his brain could keep up with. Suddenly and without warning, he was tightening and spasming around his own finger, his hips bucking involuntarily and slick gushing out over his hand.

“Aahhuh—nnnh!”

The feeling took over his entire body and he shook and gasped, his eyes screwed shut.

“Hah, hah…”

Euphoria washed over him, dazing him as his hips settled back onto the bed and he slowly slipped out of himself. He was panting hard, feeling like jello as his bent knees slid out from under him and his arms fell loosely to his sides. When his brain finally had the chance to catch up to what happened, Steven was stunned.

Did he just come?

Well, there was no denying that. It was definitely an orgasm; his body was shivering with aftershocks and the bed beneath him was soaked. He had been fucking himself for less than fifteen seconds, though, with just a single digit and no other stimulation.

Looking down at his nude body, Steven saw that his cock was completely hard against his belly, oozing copious amounts of precum over his gem. The realization struck him with a strange mix of dread and curiosity.

He came like an omega.

That was definitely a new feeling. The few times he had played with himself down there had never felt anything like that. It was like his mind had gone completely blank, an instinct he never knew he had taking over and giving his body what it was craving without hesitation.

It was scary how right it felt.

And the relief, stars.

The cramping, the discomfort, the sweltering fever had eased pretty much as soon as he started fucking himself. It was heavenly to get this kind of reprieve, especially after such an amazing orgasm. Steven hardly realized he was smiling like an idiot before he felt himself start leaking again, his entrance squeezing around something that wasn’t there.

Before he could even think, he was reaching down again and slipping his first finger back in all the way up to the knuckle.

“Ahhh–“ Steven moaned highly, his back arching and his legs kicking. It was only after few hard, deep pumps that he slipped another finger in along the first, spreading himself wide with no resistance. A strangled cry ripped from his throat. “F-fuck!”

He forced his fingers deeper, twisting and scissoring at a frenzied pace all while he whined like a bitch in heat. Well, that much was accurate. A third finger joined the other two, and Steven howled.

Yes! Good! Steven’s brain screamed in delight.

Deeper… Faster…More!

Steven tried to push as deep as he possibly could, and when he curled those digits experimentally, it was all over.

There was something there, something that made Steven all but lose his mind. That one spot made his entire body seize, made him suck in a huge, gasping breath, and made him fall apart instantly. He shook and jerked with the force of his second orgasm, repeatedly pressing over the spot that made the brightest of stars explode in his belly.

Steven was keening, unable to stop the debauched sounds from pouring out of him. He didn’t even need to touch his cock, the stimulation from his fingers alone making him come all over himself, white ropes painting his chest and slick coating his wrist.

Recovering from the mind blowing euphoria Steven just experienced took what felt like several minutes. The hybrid was on cloud nine, little jolts of left over pleasure rocketing through him and making him whimper. His entrance was squeezing his fingers so tight, almost like his body was trying to keep them inside for as long as possible.

As amazing as it all felt, Steven was starting to sense that there was something missing. There was a strange feeling of emptiness inside him, as if there was some other space that he couldn’t seem to fill.

Knot. Steven’s instinct whispered to him.

Of course. That’s what all those omegas were always begging for in those videos Steven pretended he didn’t watch. They wanted their alphas to knot them.

They wanted their alphas to mate them.

Well… how was he supposed to do take care of that on his own?

The pit of emptiness inside him grew the longer Steven pondered it. He wiggled his fingers a bit, trying to maneuver them deep enough to reach the space inside him that needed to be filled. He whined, frustrated that the more he tried, the more desperate his body grew, and the more insistent that little voice in his head became.

Knot! Knot! Knot!

Tears pricked at the corners of Steven’s eyes as he twisted and writhed, trying to reach a place that he already knew he couldn’t reach. He let out a small sob, pulling out his useless fingers and pressing both hands to his lower abdomen. He could feel it right there, that gnawing hollowness that was slowly beginning to eat him alive.

Steven felt like crying, the loneliness and neglect of his physical needs making him increasingly miserable. Curling up onto his side, Steven let the tears trickle, sniffling and hiccuping. He felt so pathetic, his emotions running especially high due to the hormones that were currently wreaking havoc on his system. He knew it wasn’t his fault for feeling this way, and that fact made him angry.

Why did this have to happen to him? Why now, when he was stuck in the middle of nowhere, more alone than ever?

Steven didn’t see, but could feel his gem flicker in response to his distress. That happened pretty often, and he had been working extremely hard in therapy to make sure his destructive powers wouldn’t get the better of him when he was upset or in a panic.

“I don’t need that right now, thanks.” Steven mumbled to his gem, his voice raw and tearful.

And that’s when, suddenly, a thought occurred to Steven. Or, more like a memory.

‘It’s okay, Steven. I’m never alone.’

Garnet’s voice rang through his head, and then, gradually, the gears in his head started turning.

Steven had an idea.

Taking a deep breath, the hybrid used his clean hand to wrap his fingers around the edges of his gem. The sensation alone was enough to make him flinch, if it weren’t only for the psychosomatic response to the feeling of something clutching his gem.

You know, what with all the trauma.

Ignoring the fact that his therapist would not recommend this, and ignoring his own natural fear, Steven held his breath and pulled the gem embedded in his flesh free.

And the sheer pain of it made him immediately pass out.

———

He came to what seemed to be only a few moments later, blinking his heavy eyelids and squinting at the bright pink glowing figure hovering directly over him.

The naked bright pink glowing figure.

Right. Steven thought. What was I expecting?

It still made him blush.

“Hi,” Steven greeted meekly.

The other version of himself’s eyes were wide, fixated on Steven’s face. The gaze that bore into the human was as intense as ever.

“Fuse.” The Pink Steven commanded. His electronic voice reverberated through Steven’s ears, making Steven shiver. Under the blankness of his expression, he seemed confused. Concerned.

“N-no.” Steven tried to argue.

“No?” Pink Steven immediately snapped back, now visibly confused.

“No, I-I brought you out f-for a reason!” The conviction in Steven’s voice slowly petered out, replacing itself with shame. “I-I need your help.“

“You are distressed.” Pink noted, eyes flickering over the tear stains on Steven’s cheeks.

“No… w-well, yes, but—ah!” Just then, another shooting pain twisted in Steven’s abdomen, making him hiss.

“You are hurt.” Pink announced definitively, “I will heal you.”

Before Steven could stop him, Pink leaned down and kissed Steven on the forehead. A glittering light emanated from his lips, a zing of electricity sparking through Steven but not due to any aspect of their healing powers. Pink pulled back, looking at his human for any sign of a positive affect. Steven just looked surprised, a little dusting of pink on his cheeks. Still, the Gem had no reason to believe his powers hadn’t done the trick.

“Fuse.” Pink insisted.

“Th-thanks, but it’s uh, it’s not that kind of hurt.” Steven told him sheepishly. “I don’t need healing from you.”

Pink’s brows furrowed pensively. “What do you require?”

Steven averted his eyes, flushing with an intense heat that didn’t necessarily have to do with being an omega. His gaze traveled along one of Pink’s arms, traipsing down his torso and staring at the bright, glittering gem for a long moment. Then, his eyes made their way a little bit lower. He bit his lip, feeling the pull of his instincts.

Pink’s cock was hard, whether the Gem knew what that meant or not. It made sense, considering the fact that so was Steven’s when they separated. Pink was nearly a perfect copy of him, frozen in time, if it weren’t for the gem, the pink glow and the owlish, unblinking diamond eyes studying him so intensely.

“Uhnn…” Steven moaned, feeing his body urging him to do something by undulating and pouring out even more slick. He arched, breathing heavily through the embarrassment and fierce arousal boiling his blood. “P-please, I need you to touch me.”

Pink blinked twice and quickly acquiesced to Steven’s request, placing his impossibly hot hands on Steven’s arms. “Like this?”

“No, ah, lo-lower…” Steven begged, tucking his chin to his chest self-consciously as he took a hold of Pink’s hands. He slid them down past his torso and onto his hips which trembled finely in the Gem’s grasp. The human shivered at the contact. The feeling of another pair of hands on his feverish skin was indescribably good, and he whimpered for it.

Pink, to his part, appeared to be somewhat nervous, staring down at his own still hands with a dozen questions whizzing behind those sharp, analytical eyes.

“Is this what you required?” The Gem asked with as much warmth as a popsicle in a tundra and a hint of what Steven could only assume was uncertainty. “Can we fuse now?”

“Oh, fuck it,” Steven growled in frustration, latching onto the sides of Pink’s head and pulling himself up to smash their lips together in a hot, frenzied kiss.

“Mmpf!” Pink replied into Steven’s mouth, the most animated sound Steven had ever heard him make. The Gem’s eyes were as wide as saucers, pure shock overriding his system, yet he still kept Steven’s hips firmly in his grasp. He allowed himself to be pushed backwards by his human’s meager strength. The human wasted no time in climbing on top of him, seating himself on Pink’s lap as his hungry tongue delved deep and his body began to rock of its own volition.

“Mm-ohhh, stars, yesss…” Steven whined past Pink’s lips, moaning shamelessly as he ground his hips into his Gem’s. It was like he wasn’t controlling his own body, his omega instinct taking over and doing everything in its delirious power to touch, kiss, fuck, mate. When their cocks unintentionally brushed together, Steven whimpered, digging his nails into Pink’s shoulder and attempting to grind their cocks together with more vigor. Much to Steven’s surprise, he heard and felt a distinct breathy sound leave his Gem’s mouth from the motion. A string of saliva trailed down Steven’s chin as he pulled back, trying to focus on his Gem’s face.

Pink… Pink was blushing?

It was a little hard to tell, but there was a noticeable dark splotch settling on the Gem’s cheeks, his mouth slightly agape in wonder, his glowing eyes burning hotly instead of coldly as they gazed at him.

“Do…uhhn… do you feel this?” Steven reached down to brazenly grab Pink’s cock, giving it a few clumsy, experimental strokes. Despite the lack of technique on Steven’s part, Pink closed his eyes, a soft sigh of pleasure barely audible over Steven’s own breathless panting. Then, Pink blinked his bright, lidded eyes back open and nodded slightly, affirmative.

Steven smiled, reassured that he at least wasn’t being totally selfish about this.

“W-well, then this should be guh-good for the both of us…”

Lifting himself up, Steven angled Pink’s cock as skillfully as he could to line up with his entrance, shaking with arousal and adrenaline. Feeling the throbbing head pass over it until finally catching, the human wasted no time in sinking himself down onto Pink’s cock.

“A-aahhh…!”

Steven cried out, a sharp, high sound that ripped from his throat as Pink’s cock slid into him to the hilt. He was nearly sobbing from it, feeling so achingly full and fulfilled already. It was mind-blowing, and it had barely even started. Steven clawed his nails down Pink’s back, tucking his chin into the Gem’s shoulder and trying his best to hang on as his limbs weakened from the sheer pleasure of having a cock fully seated inside him.

Pink remained completely still, tensed with obvious pleasure but ultimately unsure of what he was supposed to do.

“Puh-p-please…” The human’s voice sounded whiny and pitiful even to his own ears, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He felt his strength being sapped, his instinct forcing him to rely on the one who had unwittingly claimed him. He tried to rock himself back and forth, but he had little power to do much of anything except succumb to his honorary alpha’s whim. He felt tears building up, his own helplessness making him desperate to appeal to the person his instinct viewed as having all the power. He keened pathetically, jerking back and forth on Pink’s lap. “Fuck, please f-fuck me.Uhnnffuck me…fuck me, p-pleassse.”

“Whatever you wish, my Steven.” Pink’s voice sounded uncharacteristically sultry and teasing to the human’s ears. It caused goosebumps to raise along his skin. He didn’t have time to really register those words, parse through their possessive, reverent phrasing, before Pink shoved them both down onto the bed and Steven’s mind went blank.

The human hardly registered that he was now on his back and the length inside him had sunk deeper from the change in position. Mindless, Steven was mewling, wordlessly begging for Pink to move, to get rough, to shove him into the mattress and have his way with him.

Despite all of these fantasies, the Gem started with slow, short thrusts, the unpracticed motion slowly rocking Steven’s limp body up and down. Even with the gradual start, the human was in paradise, wrapping his legs around Pink’s back and hooking his feet, arching himself into the thrusts, moaning and whining wantonly for more, more, more.

And Pink did not disappoint. With the permission, he sped up, deepening his thrusts and causing the human below him to squeal in delight. Pink’s cock was grazing over the spot inside Steven that had him writhing, gasping, clawing and gripping onto Pink’s shoulders for dear life.

“Ahhnn…! Oh, starsss, oh fu-uck!” Steven cried, his voice pitched high and cracking all over the place. In another situation, Steven might have been embarrassed by his reactions. Right now, though, even with all his squeaking and stuttering, the only thing he could focus on was Pink.

Pink grunted, the increasing tightness around his cock and the way Steven’s claws started digging marks into his shoulders distracting him from his mission. His Steven needed him. He shouldn’t be getting caught up in his own pleasure. He shouldn’t be focusing on the attractive way Steven’s body glistened with sweat and slick, or the beautiful sound of his voice giving out, or the way he twisted and writhed along with everything Pink did.

“H-harder… ahh… faster!” Steven begged breathlessly, tipping his head back and exposing his throat in a naturally submissive gesture. He was all but drowning, diving deeper an deeper into his instinct with every thrust. He mewled, “Ple-ease… Alpha, please!”

Instead of having the desired affect, Pink started slowing down gradually, until it came to little more than a snails pace, and then stopped completely. Confused and irritated, Steven looked back down and tried his best to focus on Pink’s face with his fuzzy, heady gaze.

“I am not an alpha.” Pink told him very matter-of-factly, his head slightly titled like a confused puppy. The human almost clicked his tongue in annoyance. Who cares about the semantics? This was the closest thing to an alpha Steven could get right now! He almost responded as such before Pink firmly corrected: “I am a Diamond.”

Steven’s eyes widened. Hearing that come out of his Gem’s mouth wasn’t necessarily something he was ready for. Of course, Pink wasn’t wrong about that. However, the connotation to that word was something Steven didn’t currently have the brain power to unpack. Not now, at least, not like this. Especially since, with all the disorienting hormones flooding Steven’s brain, the title that Pink had just claimed for himself was a little…or perhaps very… very hot.

“O-okay… Diamond.” Steven tested the word out on his tongue nervously, seeing how it tasted. He reached over with a shaking hand to caress Pink’s torso, his thumb just a few centimeters away from making contact with his gem…his diamond. Pink tipped his head down and watched this happen. His human was so close to touching the source of his power, the thing that normally binds them together, but he fell short at the last second. Steven’s hand retracted, gripping onto Pink’s forearm instead and leading him to place his palm on the center of his chest.

Pink met Steven’s eyes, the moment filled with electric tension.

“My Diamond…” Steven said, voice hoarse.

Pink’s breath stuttered at that. Something strange passed over him with those two words, filling him with a syrupy, warm rush. Hearing it come from Steven, watching the words pass his bruised, bitten lips, it made something buried deep in his gem start to come alive.

“I w-want you…” Steven was growing quite pleased with himself through the haze of his heat, seeing what affect he was having on his Gem. His lips were upturned, sly, as he slid the Gem’s hand up his own chest, past his collar, until finally bringing it to rest over his throat. “To ruin me… my Diamond.”

Pink’s eyes flashed, the stark white diamond-shaped pupils so clearly apparent for a split-second. It alarmed Steven only slightly, sensing a distinct change in his Gem. If he had known that getting a little formal would be the way to get Pink to fuck his brains out, he would have done it immediately.

It did in fact seem to do the trick: the Gem visibly relaxed with a confident grin, a strangely expressive look on him. He leaned down, bringing his lips mere inches away from the human’s, and then wrapped his fingers securely around Steven’s throat. The human gasped, lifting his chin to give Pink better access.

“Say it again,” Pink asked, demanded. He started rolling his hips at an excruciatingly slow pace, making Steven whine and grind down into them in an attempt to get more friction going. In a flash, Steven’s hip was caught by Pink’s free hand, immobilizing the human’s pelvis with an iron grip. “Say it.”

“My Diamond!” Steven sobbed, so desperate for that wonderful, satisfying friction that was just out of reach. He was so unbelievably horny for it, too, now that this stark change in Pink was illuminating fantasies he didn’t even know he had. His hands mindlessly went to try and pry off Pink’s hold on him, causing the Gem to instead catch both of Steven’s wrists in one hand and force them into the pillows above his head. He fully shoved Steven down, pressing his weight into him and subsequently pushing his length deeper inside, brushing up against the human’s sweet spot. Steven cried out, swept up by the power of someone so much stronger than him, forcibly held down, pinned by his wrists and neck and, of course, by the cock throbbing inside him.

“Keep going.” Pink prompted.

The human begged profusely, tears trickling down his cheeks and voice completely shot. “My Diamond! My Diamond, please, please fuck me hard a-and fast. C-claim me. Make me yours, fuck, please, my Diamond, I-I need it. I need you. Please, my Diamond!”

Pink kissed away one of his tears, a subtle sparkle of light bursting off of his cheek. “Good Steven.”

At that, Pink got straight to the point. He began pounding away into Steven with as much force as he knew the human could withstand, causing Steven to yell and moan and cry in a raw, ruined voice. The Gem panted and groaned with the way Steven’s entrance spasmed around him, admiring the hopelessly fucked-out expression on the human’s face and enjoying the pleading nonsense spilling from his mouth.

Steven was pretty much incoherent at this point, unable to control the babbling or the way his body continuously arched into Pink’s. Even with the little amount of leverage he had, Steven did his best to meet each thrust, pushing further and further to the bright precipice of white hot pleasure only Pink could help him reach.

Pink’s hot breath ghosted over Steven’s cheek until the Gem turned to join their lips in a kiss, his tongue quickly dominating Steven’s mouth and muffling his helpless cries. Pink’s hand still rested over Steven’s throat, feeling the rapid thumping of his pulse and the vibration of his voice beneath his fingers. The Gem decided to give an experimental squeeze, gentle so as not to cut off his human’s air supply. The reaction was instantaneous, Steven breaking the kiss to throw his head back and try to push into Pink’s grip.

“A-alpha…” the human gasped, his eyes shut and his brows knitted. He was clearly in a world of his own, far away enough to forget that the person laying their claim on him went by a different title.

Pink growled, relinquishing his grip around Steven’s throat to grab his jaw firmly, forcing the human’s head back down to face him with a rough jerk. Steven’s eyes blew wide open at the gesture, meeting Pink’s glowing gaze instantly, giving his alpha his full attention.

“That is not my name.” Pink snapped, causing Steven to flinch at the reprimanding tone. The Gem pulled his hips back, slipping out of the omega until only the head of his cock remained, squeezed tightly by Steven’s entrance as if his body was begging for it to stay put. Pink let go of his pinned wrists but pressed the human’s hips down onto the bed, giving him nowhere to go. “Now, what are you to call me?”

“My Diamond!” Steven corrected himself, strained and urgent. He then slurred and stuttered out a litany of apologies, trying his best to appease his Gem with the desperation of a dying man. “I’m s-sorry, my Diamond. Pleah-please don’t st-stop. Sorry, m’sorry.”

Pink smiled as he caressed Steven’s cheek, thumbing away a tear drop as it cascaded down. Admittedly, it was fun exercising this much power over the human, making him grovel and obey. Some part of Pink wanted to see how much further he could take it.

Feigning carelessness, he let go of Steven, pulling out of him completely with a pop and watching as the human’s face lit up with panic. Pink shuffled back on the bed, severing any contact with Steven and staying out of reach as the human weakly scrambled and tried to cling.

“N-no, my Diamond, please, don’t l-leave me.” Steven cried, attempting to crawl onto his front and get closer to Pink on the bed, a pathetic display that made Pink’s gem warm. “I-I’ll be good! Please don’t go! Please, my Diamond!”

Pink chuckled. The snarky confidence building in his stature and the natural dominance emanating from his diamond was causing his physical form to shift and change. A glow overtook his body, reforming him in this new, Diamond-like image. He was bigger, more imposing, a perfect picture of the strong, broad alpha Steven was so in need of.

Steven didn’t even seem to notice this change, too drunk from his heat and distressed by the abandonment to focus on how his Gem’s form now differed from his own.

“Pitiful little thing.” Pink lilted, his expression affectionate and cruelly delighted. Steven had made it close to him at this point, weakly clawing at his thigh and whimpering like a wounded animal. “Thinking you have any control over what your Diamond gives you. You must be put in your place.”

When Pink reached over and grabbed the back of Steven’s neck, his immediate response surprised the Gem. The human went completely limp, his hand sliding off of Pink’s leg and his knees and elbows giving out beneath him. His begging quieted, only soft, wordless whines escaping him now. Pink lifted him up from the prone position, watching curiously as the omega just dangled. He was basically a rag doll in Pink’s hold, and the Gem suddenly recalled a fuzzy memory from their time as a fusion. In a video they once watched privately, an alpha did this to a standing omega and it made her collapse onto the floor, presenting for him. It was a pressure point, some kind of trick to get an omega in heat to submit to their alpha.

Thrilled with this discovery, Pink grinned deviously. He threw Steven onto his front, pressing his face and chest into the covers while keeping his grip on the back of his neck firmly in place. He watched in amazement as the omega’s body naturally presented itself to him, his back arching beautifully with his knees spread wide.

The portrait Steven made was too inviting to resist, so, without further ado, Pink shuffled behind him and lined up his length to Steven’s slick entrance. The omega tensed slightly and whimpered in anticipation but otherwise stayed still, bound by Pink’s hold on him.

“Who am I?” Pink asked one final time.

“Mm-myyy Diamond…” Steven murmured past the covers his face was being pressed into, tears of joy and relief soaking into them. His Diamond wasn’t abandoning him. His Diamond was right here, right about give Steven exactly what he needed.

“Good boy.” Pink praised before slamming into Steven to the hilt and resuming a fast, punishing pace.

The omega keened loudly and drooled, his eyes rolling all the way back into his head. This new position made every single one of Pink’s thrusts hit his sweet spot with dead accuracy. He would have been thrashing, shrieking, tearing into the pillows if it weren’t for the hand on the back of his neck subduing him. It was like he had been sent into a totally different headspace, one where he was only half-aware of what was going on. He wasn’t Steven anymore, just an omega under the control of his alpha Diamond, vulnerable and willing, relying on his Diamond to take care of everything while all he had to do was submit.

Pink was whispering sweet nothings as he pounded the omega beneath him, however, they all pretty much fell on deaf ears. All Steven could register was the immense pressure building in his gut, and every move Pink made brought him closer and closer to his ultimate climax.

“Ahhhn! Ahhhn! Na-aahh!” Steven’s moans continually rose in pitch, in volume, as white hot pleasure bloomed in his belly. His instinct became increasingly more vocal, more bold. It was telling him exactly what he needed, and he didn’t waste time letting his Diamond know as well. “Nuhhh…Knot…kn-knot! Pluh-p-pleeease, give it-t-to meee… knuh-knot me…Knot me!”

Pink listened to his human beg, watching him attempt to fight the paralysis he instilled with tiny little jerks and spasms. He knew what the omega needed, remembering what a knot was from the videos they’ve watched. Even though Pink hadn’t realized it at first, the human had given him the sole purpose of mating with him the moment he had ripped them apart. It was Pink’s mission, his way to help Steven through this. So what, if he ended up having a little fun in the process?

Now, however, it came down to knotting him, finishing this and giving Steven a reprieve from the intense, all encompassing heat that had long been melting his brain and boiling his blood. Luckily for Steven, Pink could shapeshift, and even though he wasn’t an actual alpha, he was able to augment his form in order to take the place of one.

Anything for his human.

Pink rocked deep into him, punching harsh, guttural moans out of Steven as he helplessly took the force. Pink leaned down until his mouth was next to the human’s ear, letting his breath ghost over it in a hushed voice.

“I will always give you what you need, my Steven.”

At that, the Gem began shapeshifting his length into what his human required. He had it swell gradually, letting Steven feel the burn of friction inside him grow and grow, and listened to him scream for Pink in frantic ecstasy. He was almost able to meet his thrusts with what little movement he was allowed, so desperate to finally be knotted, to feel the release of pressure and flood of hormones take over his entire body.

There was just one single, tiny thing missing, though.

This time, Steven’s mouth was way ahead of his brain, unable to think about any potential consequences, far too enraptured by the heat of the moment.

“Buh-b-bite… bite me…” the omega panted, begged, looking up at his Diamond pleadingly, meeting his eyes as best as he could from this difficult angle. He wanted his Diamond to mate him, and biting is what mates do, right? Fuck, knot, bite… these were all of the things Steven’s instincts were screaming for. “Ple-ease, bite me, c-claim me…”

Seeing Steven so debauched, so helplessly needy for him, gazing up at him with those adoring, sweet brown eyes… well, how could Pink possibly resist him?

The Diamond gave in, letting go of the omega’s pressure point in favor of wrapping his hand around his torso and pulling him flush against his chest. Steven cried out and sprawled, now free to move of his own accord. He used the opportunity to clutch the arm secured around him, digging his claws in and rocking in tandem with Pink’s increasingly sloppy thrusts. When the Diamond’s mouth latched onto where Steven’s neck meets his shoulder, he gasped, arching into it. When the Diamond sunk his teeth into the flesh deep enough to draw blood, Steven screamed, in equal parts pain and pleasure.

The dam finally broke. With the bite, Steven came harder than he thought possible, his vision whiting out for several seconds and his mouth gaping open in a silent scream. Pink kept going, fucking Steven through his orgasm and overwhelming the poor omega as he sobbed in devastating ecstasy. Soon enough, Pink’s pseudo-knot finally caught, making the myriad of sensations Steven was already being assaulted with somehow escalate to new heights. He was so full, so complete, and he sagged against his Diamond when his body simply couldn’t withstand the intensity any longer.

Pink was growling into the bite wound as he came as well, letting all of that built up tension release deep inside the omega in several quick bursts. Releasing Steven from his jaws, he licked away the blood but neglected to heal the actual wound. He would do it if Steven asked him to. For now, though, he wanted it to remain.

Steven was jolting hard in Pink’s grasp, his whole body trembling finely but twitching every time another shockwave passed over him, or when Pink shifted even a millimeter. The omegas breath stuttered even as he tried to slow his panting and breathe deeply, the exhaustion quickly catching up with him. Steven felt the heat slowly drain from his body, being replaced by oversensitivity and soreness.

Pink held the human securely on his lap as he shook through the aftermath of it all, his cock still seated deep inside him. Slightly curious, the Gem decided to test the strength of their physical bond by very gently attempting to pull out. Steven cried out in obvious pain, reaching behind him and gripping onto Pink’s thighs to try and stop him from moving an inch.

“Don’t do that!” Steven wailed, his entire body rippling in response to the minuscule movement Pink had made. He was extremely sensitive right now, and any action that was pleasurable to him before now registered as painful. He pouted miserably. “It hurts. P-please just stay still!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Pink murmured, kissing along Steven’s shoulders apologetically.

Steven shivered at the feeling, whimpering as his aftercare needs started making themselves more apparent, his post-orgasm haze continuing to fade. “H-hold me tighter… please.”

Pink fully embraced the smaller human, wrapping his arms over his shoulders, encompassing him in his body heat and squeezing him tight. Steven sighed, the pressure of his Gem’s body encasing him serving as a huge comfort.

Several minutes passed of them in this position, stock still aside from Steven’s shaking and breathing. Pink was absolutely content to give Steven all the time he needed to recover. Eventually, though, Steven’s eyes fell shut and his head lolled. He blinked, realizing how much he really needed to be horizontal right now.

“Could you lay us down?” Steven asked meekly, knowing it was going against what he had just begged Pink not to do, “A-as gentle as you can?”

Pink, silent, just nodded. He retracted one of his arms, using it to support their combined weight as he slowly lowered them onto their sides. Steven tensed and whimpered as they went, crying out when their hips shifted as they landed on the bed and had to adjust slightly.

“Are you alright?” Pink whispered, feeling guilty for unintentionally harming the human again.

Steven sniffled. “Mmhmm. It’s okay. I-I’m okay.”

The human burrowed his head into the pillow and sighed, ready to fall asleep and not wake up for at least the next six years. That is, until something suddenly occurred to him. He cracked his eyes open, lifting one of his hands to touch the spot where his neck meets his shoulder. He hissed, the sting from the fresh bite mark there lighting up as he grazed over it.

…Oh, fuck.

“Y-you bit me?” Steven asked, hushed with shock.

Pink was silent for a moment, unsure how to respond. “You asked me to.”

Steven snapped his scandalized mouth shut.

Oh… he thought.

Oh shit.

Yeah, he definitely remembers saying that now.

He dropped his arm back to the bed.

“Fuck. Well, that’s not good.”

“Why not?” Pink asked innocently.

“What do you mean, why not?” Steven replied incredulously, and it would have been more impactful if his voice wasn’t so scratchy and hoarse. “Because you’re my gem and you mated me. You claimed me as your bonded mate.”

“I thought that was what you wanted.” Pink argued, his voice much more calm than Steven’s but still pinched with a hint of defensiveness. “That was all you kept saying. ‘Claim me. Knot me. Bite me.’”

Steven blushed brightly, the conviction that he felt slowly fading away until it was replaced by sheepishness.

“Really?“

“Yes.”

“…Geez.”

“Was this not true?” Pink interrogated, making Steven wince. “Did you not want me to mate with you?”

Steven sucked in a breath. He wanted to protest, to tell Pink there was no way he would want to mate with his Gem. Are you kidding? But… he couldn’t. His emotions were too raw, too real, and no matter how much he wanted to mask them, he couldn’t hide right now. Not from him.

“N-no, it–… I did. Want it.” He bit out.

Pink snickered slightly, his breath tickling the back of Steven’s neck. “I thought so.”

Slowly, gradually, Steven felt the constriction keeping Pink’s knot locked inside him finally release. He sighed in relief.

“You, uh… you can pull it out now.”

Pink looked down at where their bodies were still joined. “Oh.”

Steven grit his teeth as he felt Pink pull out, the general discomfort bothering him more than any actual pain. He whimpered when the Gem finally pulled himself free, the sudden emptiness chilling him to his core and making a strange, distant ache throb inside his chest.

In response to the sudden negative feelings he didn’t quite understand, Steven twisted over to face Pink and immediately clung to him. He buried his face in his chest, wrapped his arms around his sides, tangled their legs, and snuggled into the other’s warm, glowing form.

“D-don’t leave me.” Steven’s tone was vulnerable, muffled and slightly tearful. His breath hiccuped, and he bit his lip hard. He was crying all of the sudden, not truly understanding why it came on so strong or what it was even about. He was a mess of conflicting emotions and hormones, and he just wanted to be held. To feel loved. To be close to someone. He felt completely ridiculous for it. Of course, he would be one to break down and cry and be all needy after having sex. Still, he couldn’t help but plead with his Gem: “Please just… don’t l-leave me alone. I-I don’t wanna be alone anymore. I don’t wanna be alone.”

Pink was shocked by the sudden mood swing but cradled Steven all the same, only wanting offer to him comfort and soothe his rampant emotions.

“Oh, my sweet Steven…” Pink cooed, rubbing the human’s back with one hand and brushing through his curls with the other.

Steven peeked up at him, wet eyes looking at him expectantly, reverently, like Pink was the only one in the world that mattered to him.

“We will never be alone.”

Steven sniffled, smiling shyly as he burrowed his head back into Pink’s chest. The tears he’d been shedding morphed into those of joy and relief. Rightfully exhausted, Steven eventually, finally fell asleep, cuddled up into Pink’s arms.

Pink idly traced a finger along the tender flesh surrounding the fresh bite wound, not getting close enough to it for Steven to feel the sting and be woken up. The Gem smirked, admiring the way his human looked with his Diamond’s mark on him.

‘We will never be alone.’

It was true.

…Pink had made sure of it.


"This is all your fault, England." France was the first to speak.

England, who'd been staring at America with an odd, fixed intensity, snapped his head up and glared.

"I beg your pardon?"

"It is entirely to your blame! You were the one who had given him those damn Puritans. Look how they have retarded his development!"

England sputtered, but to everyone's surprise he calmed down. Completely straight-faced - aside from a wicked gleam in his green eyes - he actually said, "You're right, France."

France immediately felt an urge to check if England was ill, delirious perhaps.

"It is entirely my responsibility," England went on. "I shall now take it upon myself to bring America's sexual education up to date."

"....what?" America gurgled.

France was already shaking his head. "Non, non, Angleterre," he purred, his accent deliberately thickening. "What young America needs is guidance from someone who is actually skilled in the arts of the bedroom."

"France is right!" China said, and observers wondered how often that phrase was going to be used today. "And my long and storied history of four thousand years obviously qualifies ...."

"Excuse me, China-san," Japan interrupted. "But I believe in this case, I am the more qualified. I already have several helpful guides to sexual intercourse, produced over a wide variety of multimedia channels, ones I'm sure America-san will find suitable to his needs....I have already given him similar items, so...."

Italy pushed past them to kneel beside America, beaming, German being pulled along behind him. "Americaaaaa~ why didn't you tell us? Sex is a very awesome thing, like pasta, only it's not food but like the equivalent of pasta in your pants, and Germany and I will be glad to help you...."

"No, I think not," England interrupted, moving closer to America protectively. "I don't think I want Germany's dogs involved in my America's sexual education....and we all know that's how it would end up, you told us yourself, Italy."

"He's not yours anymore, England!" Spain protested.

Japan was politely but acidly telling Korea and China that any 'guides to sexual intercourse' they would produce were only cheap, inferior copies of his own; France was eying Canada - who was still sitting beside his brother's head, stroking his hair gently - and obviously plotting; India was reminding everyone she owned the Kama Sutra, the concept of tantric sex, and the ropes tying America up; Mexico and the countries of South and Central America were discussing how to propose a "Let's Have A Pan-American Orgy You Other Continents Keep Out of It" initiative; Switzerland was smiling widely as he discovered that the gun that had been in America's back holster was a Swiss-made Sig; and Lovino was simultaneously managing the betting action among the observers while keeping an eye on Spain. The observers were munching, video-taping, discussing excitedly, having their own sexual liasions underneath tables....in short, it was chaos.

America's voice, loud, brought the room to a standstill. "Are you all really arguing over who gets to lecture me about sex-ed? Jeez! I know you guys think my school-system sucks, but really..."

There was a collective twitch about yet another example of America's density, which approached in size and severity the status of a black hole, and that was it. England couldn't take it anymore.

He swung himself over America's waist, straddled him, hauled him up by the shoulders, and kissed him hotly.

America gasped, his eyes widening, and panted for breath as England released him - only to gasp again as his head was wrenched to the side and Canada sealed their mouths together. Unseen hands - unseen because Canada's head was blocking his view, and his eyes kept wanting to slide closed, began to tug at his jeans.

When Canada broke for breath, America's head was turned again, more gently this time, and France began laying soft kisses all over his face. America squirmed. There were a few answering gasps and someone tugged on his hair.

The observers licked their lips, almost simultaneously, and began reassessing their chances. They couldn't win America one-on-one, but perhaps joining in the orgy now beginning in the center of the chamber was a possibility...

It was then, while America was tied up and helpless and the other countries either watched hungrily or molested him, that the Bosses walked in to collect their Nations.

***

There was another moment of charged silence, in a day that seemed full of them. The Bosses gaped at their Nations. The Nations gaped back at their Bosses.

America's Boss was the first to speak. "...are you gang-raping my country?" he asked, blankly, politely, his hands making involuntary little twitches.

The other Bosses began to sweat as their Nations couldn't find words to even begin to describe what was going on. Visions of an America who felt violated - and they all knew what happened when America felt it had been violated - danced in their mind, along with visions of Tomahawk missiles, airborne troops being dropped into their cities, US Naval carriers sailing into their harbors with decks packed full of fighter aircraft, populaces being forced to watch American cable television.

"Nyet," Russia finally answered, which was sadly undermined by the fact that he was kneeling between America's spread legs and he was pulling down America's pants, exposing boxers dotted with little X-Wings and TIE fighters.

"Then why is he tied up, and...and.... why are you stripping him, and why are you...." America’s Boss tried to find an act he could describe decently, couldn't, began to shake.

"Boss..." America said, plaintively, his eyes big and blue and very shiny. No one ever found out what he was going to say, because America's Boss began yelling, American Secret Service began streaming in and pointing guns at everyone, which prompted the other security details to start getting antsy, and then the bosses of Poland began to shriek shrilly as they discovered their Nation in the middle of sex with Lithuania.

When it was over, half-naked America was standing, rather dazed-looking, behind his shorter Boss, who glared at the other countries like an overprotective father (England was visibly miffed, had been stepped on by America's boss while he was collecting Alfred, and had to be held back by his Prime Minister) and the Secret Service were asking people for America's clothes.

They found nothing. (Canada would later drop the leather jacket off - somehow no one would notice him doing so.)

America was shooed away in the hubbub, while no one was looking, somehow. His President stayed a while longer to yell at everyone, but everyone was so busy yelling/questioning/looking for their own Nations that no one answered, and then he left too.

It was an altogether very eventful day.

***

Original AN: thanks for all the nice reactions. I actually have no idea who ought to take his virginity, so...heh. What would you guys do if this was the last part?

2019 note: I really had been pondering ending the fill here originally. Instead it became....something else.


Jaime didn’t say much to his friends on the phone. They knew there was big trouble before they bounded into the barn ready for war. He decided on brutal honesty and they would hear it as Claire heard it. Angus was on his feet sending the chair into the wall. His eyes were huge with fury. Rupert was taking deep breaths with his hand on his chest. “Why couldn’t this fight be with a man!” Angus shouted. Jaime waited for them to settle down and continued with Laoghaire’s visit to the barn. Both men were on their feet and Jaime asked them to please sit. “We have to make a plan before Claire is hurt or the barn burns down with the horses in it.”

Rupert asked why she hadn’t been arrested yet. “She was no longer at the Princess when Phoenix PD arrived to arrest her. She was not at her home when Mesa PD came to arrest her. The Mesa officer I’ve been workin with stays in contact, thank Christ, or I might lose my mind. Because of the previous attempt and her threat to have Claire killed they are posting officers to watch her house until she is caught. It won’t be long now.” Jaime let out a long exhausted breath.

Rupert and Angus took their seats as the gravety of the threat became crystal clear in their heads.

Claire paced in front of Jag’s stall. He watched her but after several minutes he kicked the bars and Claire almost jumped out of her skin. “Oh, sorry. I bet that’s irritating to watch someone pace.” She had to do something or lose her mind. She left a note for Jaime on the board. ‘Checking Fred and Ginger, back soon’. Claire grabbed two apples from the supply she kept in the tack room and walked to the back pasture again. Once inside she sat on the fence facing the sunrise. Now that she was alone there was no stopping the tears which were soon sobs. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and cried so hard it brought Ginger to her. She handed her an apple but could not speak. Fred bumped her arm on the other side and looked directly into her eyes. Claire thought, not for the first time, that somehow he knew she was hurting. She handed him an apple. Ginger wandered away to eat grass but Fred continued to bump her arm until she turned around facing him. She jumped off the fence and rubbed his belly until her arms were sore. “I’m okay Fred. Just needed to get that out.”

Rather than go back to the barn she walked to the house to let pup out. She grabbed bagels and cream cheese and a couple knives for the guys. Back at the keypad she looked around for Pup and saw him in her peripheral vision running full speed for the barn. She was too far to hear him hup but she saw his mouth move like he was barking. He was jumping up to see Jag over the half door when she heard it. Pup barked and then ran under a bush with his tail between his legs. Claire punched the numbers and ran toward the barn. Jag had lowered his head so Pup could lick him then he ran for Claire. He had so much energy she just sat down on the grass until he barreled into her. He circled her sniffing and poked his nose in her chest, stomach, armpits, and hair, finally pulling a giggle out of her. She put her hands up in surrender.

Odd behavior from this little dog, well, not so little anymore. Why hightail it to Jag’s half-door and run back? “It’s because you are a silly pooch in love with a horse, who is a boy same as you. Just sayin.” Claire and Pup walked back to the barn with the bagels. She could see her trailer as she walked. She could be packed, lease broken, horses loaded, and headed somewhere far from here by noon. She could ditch her cell phone and never have to speak to Jamie Fraser again. Colorado didn’t have a six-month wait for transfer of medical license. She could be in an operating room by next month. Colorado did not have the heat and definitely had better horse shows. Colorado had the Rocky Mountains and amazing small towns, like Loveland, where she attended a conference. She loved it there. She could be headed there by noon. She felt hot tears again, then the sobs. Pup hupped at her, obviously worried, and another bark came out scaring the shit out of him. He sat on his tail and pressed against her leg shaking and looking around. Claire wiped tears away and looked down at him. She felt him shake and started laughing. He was still looking around for the bigger dog that barked at him. Claire dropped to her knees and hugged him. She was sobbing and laughing at the same time. “That was you who barked Pup and you’ll do it again, many times. Don’t be scared. He looked up at her and licked her face. Somehow he knew he had much to be scared of right now.

Pup planted his butt on the road and refused to get up or even look at Claire. He reminded her of a two-year old that put his blanket over his head because it was safe under there. How could he not feel the shift in the energy. Dog’s were amazingly perceptive. Claire called Jaime’s cell. “I am sorry to interrupt but Pup is sitting in the middle of the road and won’t get up. He’s scared of something I think. Anyway, you can whistle for him?” Before a minute passed they heard Jaime’s distinctive whistle and Pup’s head whipped in his direction. Claire was calling him and trying everything she knew to get him up. Pup just stared at Jaime but wouldn’t get up. Claire tried to pick him up but his body went limp and he was just too heavy. She watched the road in both directions praying a car would not be barreling up on them.

“Well, Laddie, ye got yer butt stuck to the road did ye?” Jamie saw his ears pressed back against his head and the tail tucked tightly between his legs. “Looks like the lad got a snoot-full of somethin that scared him to the marrow.” He scooped Pup into his arms and carried him to the soft grass. Claire watched Jaime drop to his back and lay quietly while Pup walked a few steps, tail tucked and head down. She was so grateful that Jaime would take the time to lay in the grass when air-raid sirens were going off in his world. “Maybe we can get ye mistress to join us?” Jaime looked in Claire’s eyes and his heart nearly stopped. He held his arm out to her smiling but his mind was in a meltdown. No, no, no, Sassenach, don’t run, don’t leave. Sweet Jesus I can see what yer thinkin and ye will tear my heart out if ye do this. He wanted to beg her and promise her everything. Claire laid down and put her arm around his waist. Pup walked around them and the tip of his tail was moving back and forth but still tucked between his legs. The danger was still somewhere close by. He could feel it.

“Sassenach. Dogs are perceptive, more than we give them credit for, I know it. Pup is afraid of what ye were thinking right before he sat down.” Jaime lowered his voice, “I’m afraid of what ye were thinkin too mo chridhe. Don’t go Claire, please don’t run. I’ll spend the rest of my days lookin for ye, be sure of that. I won’t ever stop lookin for ye love.”

Claire was full of fear and in the throws of fight or flight. Laoghaire’s taunting played on an endless loop in her head. They were sent to kill her in the vilest way humanly possible. She felt Jaime under her arm and hand. He was solid, and real, and promising to protect her. She heard his honesty. He would turn his back on the business, horses, and clients and drive down unknown highways looking for her. She had not put his loss into the equation. If she ran away, Angus and Rupert would lose Jaime and the life they have built here. What would happen to Jag if she ran out on him? He could end up under one of those sadistic Olympians or worse. She saw the domino blocks crash into one another as the interconnected lines all fell. That’s what would happen if she ran away. Like it or not she was a part of something bigger than her. Like a family. Her eyes closed against big tears and she felt them come in sobs that gripped her stomach and she clung to Jaime. She felt his strong arms come around her. “Oh God, my God Jaime. I could never, would never leave you.” As her body shook with tears her mind cleared and she understood the team was like a family. She would rather fight to the death than leave them.

“I’m sorry Jaime. Can you forgive me for thinking such selfish things? I love you too much to leave no matter what the threat is. I love all of you too much. Please say you forgive me!” Jaime held her close and kissed the top of her head. “There’s nothin to forgive, ye ken?” She looked up at him, “what?” Jaime smiled when he looked in her eyes. He saw her clarity and resolve. Thank Christ, he thought. Claire needed forgiveness, absolution for considering something devastating to those who loved her. “Ye need to forgive the Laddie for sittin in the road and tryin to kill ye.” Claire looked incredulous, “that’s not why he sat down. He was so scared he couldn’t move. There is nothing to forgive!” As the words tumbled out of her mouth her mind saw the parallel. She jumped on top of Jaime hearing him grunt before she kissed him everywhere she found skin. Jaime was laughing and making her work for every landing. He held her face and said, “every fiber and cell in me thanks ye Claire. I gave ye my heart and when survival instincts were screamin at ye to run, ye hunkered down and protected it.” He kissed her with all the love and gratitude he felt and she did the same.

They walked back to the barn with Pup on their heals, wagging his tail and jumping happily at bugs in the air, real or imagined.

Claire spoke to Rupert and Angus and assured them she was fine and on board for the show next weekend. She smiled with anticipation. They showed her the board where the three of them were listed in the calendar. “We take turns sleepin here until that cu… sorry lass, that bitch is caught. Ye ken? Jaime’s gonna hire a security guard for next weekend and I’m stayin here to watch over everything.” Claire’s head jerked up, “what?” Claire felt Rupert’s sacrifice and knew his absence would be felt. “Who will I have to bump into Rupert?” He smiled and looked at his shoes. “We’ve got ye lass.” Claire smiled at him, “I know you do and I’m grateful Rupert.” He blushed fiercely at her heartfelt words.

Angus walked up behind them, “party at two o’clock” he said to Rupert.

“You guys have a party… in the middle of the day?” Claire could not imagine anything so important that both of them would leave. “Jaime too,” Angus said walking to the arena. Claire could not believe her ears. Jaime did not mention going to a party and no one invited her. Probably nothing.

She poked her head into Jaime’s office before going back to the house. “I’ll be here and ready with Jag at two-thirty.” She searched his eyes and saw nothing. He kissed her and crushed her to him. “See ya then Sassenach.” Jaime went back to his chair and bent over his ledgers. Claire decided he must not be going to this party she wasn’t invited to. Her feelings were a little hurt from being left out but she pushed on calling for Pup.

Claire’s body and mind were exhausted. She laid down on Jaime’s bed and pushed her nose into his pillow breathing in his smell. Fatigue pulled at her and she surrendered to it. In what seemed like just one minute she heard and felt her phone vibrating to pull her back to consciousness. It took great effort to open her eyes and she felt the deep fatigue when she swung her legs to the floor. She considered an early dinner of comfort food, like a southern recipe, designed to knock everyone unconscious within thirty minutes of eating the meal. She smiled at that thought. Only three rides to go before the show. She dragged her body back to the barn.

Claire walked down the main aisle and felt weird energy. She waved to people she knew and decided they all seemed odd. What the hell is wrong with everyone? She wondered. She carried her brush bucket into Jags stall and was assaulted by his nose sniffing for treats. She wondered if the guys were at a party she wasn’t invited to. She pulled out a curry comb and told Jag to mind his manners.

“Ah, Claire?” She was bent over picking a rear hoof and looked behind her. “What’s up Rupert?” She lowered the leg at the weird sound of his voice. “Jaime asked me to give this to ye.” Claire looked at his cheeks blushing like a rose. He feels guilty for not taking me to the party, she thought. Claire opened the large envelope and pulled out a single piece of paper. She scanned it quickly and asked Rupert what she should do with this. He was nearly coming apart with excitement when he pointed to the registered name of a horse. His smile was huge. Claire read the name, “The Sassenach’s Jag, Rupert what is this?” He pointed at the owner’s line. ‘Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp’. Her eyes jerked up at Rupert who was now bouncing on his toes with delight. Claire pointed at Jag, “he’s…” Rupert nodded his head. Claire was feeling dizzy and her heart was ramming in her chest. With wide eyes she read the document title, ‘Transfer of ownership’ and saw his new registered name, ‘The Sassenach’s Jag’.

When Claire’s brain finally allowed her to accept what was right in front of her, she screamed at Rupert, “he gave me Jag!” Claire threw her arms around Rupert and hugged him tight, then she bounded out of the stall and saw Jaime. He was smiling. Claire leaped into his arms and squeezed his neck. “You gave me Jag!” said through tears of incredulous joy that were streaming down her face.

Claire became aware of all the people standing around them. She looked at each one of them, “you all knew about this?” All heads were nodding. “Oh! Best surprise ever!” She blushed looking at the people who came for her ‘party’. “I love you guys. And I suppose it’s no secret that I love this man.” The girls giggled. Two members of the Pony club walked toward her. They dropped something metal in her hand and said congratulations. Claire held a beautiful shiny brass saddle tag “The Sassenach’s Jag.” Claire hugged them both with renewed happy tears. She turned around and Angus put another one in her hand, “from me and the big dummy.” Rupert’s smile fell off and he glowered at his friend. It was a halter tag, “The Sassenach’s Jag.” Her arms flew around both their necks and she kissed them on the cheek.

Jag was kicking his bars after watching all the excitement. Everybody laughed at his curious expression. Claire held his head and kissed him scratching his face. When she looked up Jaime was dropping the new nameplate into the holder on the front of the stall. ‘The Sassenach’s Jag, Owner: Claire Beauchamp.’ She put her arms around his waist and her head next to his heart. “I don’t have the words I need. They are all too small.” She smiled up at him and her eyes sparkled like diamonds.